In any study of the resurrections and who participate in each event, it is important to
realize that small special groups are raised up at different times but are not considered
under the general resurrections.
A group was resurrected at the time of Christ's crucifixion and it is considered by
many that the 24 elders who sit on thrones in heaven are that group, or are members of
that group. At the time of His trial and abuse, Christ told the high priest and all
who had a part in those activities these words:
Matt. 26:63,64 -- The high priest said to Him, "I
charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of
God."
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus
replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting
at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
By this we know there must be a special resurrection of all of this group to have a
front row seat to see Him coming in His glory at the Second Coming. This will
include those who said for His blood to be "on us and on our children."
The major resurrections consist of what the Bible terms as the First Resurrection and
what may be called the Last Resurrection -- at the Great White Throne Judgment
where all who are in their graves come forth. This occurs on earth's last day as the
very next event is the creation of a new heaven and a new earth.
To begin, we will give the description of the First Resurrection from Scripture:
Rev. 20:4-6 -- I saw thrones on which were seated those
who had been given authority to judge. (This is the 24 elders and their thrones --
to verify the scene is in a heavenly setting.)
And I saw the souls of those who had
been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the Word of God.
They had not worshipped the beast or his
image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands.
They came to life and reigned with Christ
a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1000 years
were ended.
This is the First Resurrection.
The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of
Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
Several descriptions of this group greatly restrict its candidates. They are:
1. All martyred because of their testimony for Jesus. (The testimony for
Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy -- Rev. 19:10 -- these are martyred
prophets.)
2. And for the Word of God. (They are martyred because of proclaiming the
everlasting gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people.)
3. Refused to worship the beast or his image and had not received his mark on
their foreheads or their hands -- (only from those who experienced the great
tribulation.)
4. They came to life and reigned with Christ for 1000 years.
5. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1000 years were ended.
6. This is the First Resurrection. (This places a stamp of approval from
God that the rest of the dead must await the Second or Last Resurrection at the end of the
1000 years.)
In the description of the 144,000 given in Revelation 14 it describes them as having
been redeemed from the earth and in heaven when this description was given ("they
were before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders.")
Notice this important piece of their description:
Rev. 14:4b -- They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They
were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.
Remember that in cutting the grain at the time of the harvest, the firstfruits were
harvested first of the choice grain and dedicated to the Lord, following which it was
given to the high priest (who was a representative of Christ) and he and his family only
were to eat it.
Lev. 23:9-10 -- The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the
Israelites and say to them ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you
reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest.
Vs. 11 -- He is to
wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf.
This is to be handled separately from the harvest and is to be dedicated to God and
given to the high priest and his family for their consumption only. God, in speaking
to Aaron the high priest, advised him as to the use of the firstfruits offering.
Num. 18:11 -- This also is yours: Whatever is set aside
from the gifts of all the wave offerings (firstfruits) of the Israelites. I give
this to you and your sons and daughters as your regular share.
This service of the firstfruits is pointing to the 144,000 who are harvested first in
earth's final harvest. They are dedicated to God and given to Christ (our high
priest) and become His personal possession. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes
because they have been given to Him as God's firstfruits. They are important enough
to God that Rev. 20:5 states that they constitute the First Resurrection. Verse 6
says that the rest of the dead lived not again until the 1000 years were ended.
Notice the description of God holding a scroll in His hand sealed with seven seals and
no one in the universe was found worthy to remove the seals except Christ, as we find in:
Rev. 5:9,10 -- You are worthy to take the scroll and to
open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from
every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and
priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.
See how perfectly this fits with the last sentence of the description of those in the
First Resurrection. All are descriptions of the 144,000.
When does this reigning on this earth take place? It certainly hasn't happened
yet, and we are also told that it lasts for 1000 years. I would like for us to turn
our attention to a wonderful and much neglected book of the Bible.
Micah 5:1 -- Marshall your troops, O city of troops, for a
siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a
rod.
(See Matt.27:28-30 -- "They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him,
and then wove a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His
right hand and knelt in front of Him and mocked Him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’
they said. They spit on Him, and took the staff and struck Him on the head again and
again.")
Vss. 2-5 (Cont'd) -- But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though
you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be
ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
Therefore Israel will be abandoned
(Because of striking Israel's ruler with a rod) until the time when she who is in labor
gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites (The
redeemed Gentile Christians from all the nations of the earth).
He (Christ) will stand and
shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His
God. And they will live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the
earth. And He will be their peace.
Because Israel shamefully abused and crucified Christ, Israel was to be abandoned (not
permanently rejected) until she who is in labor gives birth.
Another reason Zion giving birth to a male child can't be speaking of giving birth to
Christ is that Israel isn't abandoned until the crucifixion. They are then
prophesied to remain abandoned until "she who is in labor gives birth.
Rev. 12:1,2 -- A great and wondrous sign appeared in
heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars
on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.
Vs. 5 -- She gave birth to a son, a male child, who
will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God
and to His throne.
Remember that Revelation was written by God to show His servants (144,000) what must
soon take place. This can't be speaking of Christ being born as that would be past
history. This is speaking about events which are still scheduled to take place.
Isaiah gives us the key to understand the meaning of this prophecy.
Isa. 66:7,8 -- Before she goes into labor, she gives
birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. Who has ever heard
of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day
or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than
she gives birth to her children (144,000).
Vss. 14-16 -- When you see this your heart will
rejoice and you will flourish like grass, the hand of the Lord will be made known to
His servants, but His fury will be shown to His foes.
See, the Lord is coming with fire, and
His chariots are like a whirlwind; He will bring down His anger with fury, and His rebuke
with flames of fire. For with fire and with His sword the Lord will execute judgment
upon all men, and many will be those slain by the Lord. (Second Coming)
Isaiah is prophesying that the hand of the Lord will be made known to His servants
(144,000). Revelation is the promise of this prophecy being fulfilled.
Rev. 1:1 -- The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave
Him to show His servants (144,000) what must soon take place.
Now we have a better understanding of how long Israel will be abandoned due to their
rejection and crucifixion of Christ. It will be until Zion gives birth to her
children, a male child -- the 144,000. Does this mean we have to go back to plan A?
I believe we have no way out of it. Now we return to Micah speaking of this
end-time period:
Micah 5:5,6 -- When the Assyrian invades our land and
marches through our fortresses, we will raise against him seven shepherds, even eight
leaders of men.
They will rule the land of Assyria with
the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. He will deliver us from the Assyrian
when he invades our land and marches into our borders.
This must be speaking of the Battle of Armageddon. It certainly has never
happened in the past. The Israelites have never ruled the land of Assyria or the
land of Nimrod (Babylon) with the sword. We know that after this battle all these
kingdoms will be ruled by Christ and the 144,000, with an iron scepter. Notice this
same scene prophesied by Isaiah:
Isa. 30:31-33 -- The voice of the Lord will shatter
Assyria; with His scepter. He will strike them down. Every stroke the
Lord lays on them with His punishing rod will be to the music of tambourines and harps, as
He fights them in battle with the blows of His arm.
Topheth has long been prepared; it has
been made ready for the king. It's fire pit has been made deep and wide, with an
abundance of fire and wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of burning sulfur, sets
it ablaze.
(This is obviously speaking of the same time and event.)
Isa. 31:9 -- Assyria will fall by a sword that is not of
man; a sword not of mortals will devour them. They will flee before the sword and their
young men will be put to forced labor. (They will be ruled by the iron
scepter.)
Their stronghold will fall because of
terror; at the sight of the battle standard their commanders will panic, declares the
Lord, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
Let us see what is happening to Israel in this same passage, to see the context:
Isa. 31:4-6 -- This is what the Lord says to me: "As
a lion growls, a great lion over his prey -- and though a whole band of shepherds is
called together against him, (the 10 kings of the earth at Armageddon) he is not
frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor -- so the Lord
Almighty will come down to do battle on Mt. Zion and on her heights.
(Armageddon)
Like birds hovering overhead the Lord
Almighty will shield Jerusalem; He will shield it and deliver it, the Lord Almighty will
‘pass over it and will rescue it.’
Return to Him you have so greatly
revolted against, O Israelites. For in that day (the Day of The Lord) everyone of
you will reject the idols of silver and gold your sinful hands have made.
Isa. 32:1-5 -- See, a king will reign in righteousness (Christ)
and rulers (144,000) will rule with justice. Each man will be like a shelter
from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the
shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.
Then the eyes of those who see will no
longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. The mind of the rash
will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear. No
longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
This has to be speaking of the Battle of Armageddon when the One World Order with their
ten kings and their armies surround Israel. They are met by the rider on the white
horse (Christ) and His army. After passing judgment on them they are destroyed and
the remnant in Jerusalem are set free.
Then the land of Nimrod (Babylon) and the land of Assyria and all the other countries
of the earth will be ruled by Christ and the 144,000. They will reign on this earth
for 1000 years. Notice the relationship the redeemed have with the nations that
remain on the earth. Micah continues:
Micah 5:8-15 -- The remnant of Jacob will be among the
nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forests, like a
young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can
rescue. Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes
will be destroyed.
In that day, declares the Lord, I will
destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots. I will destroy the
cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds.
I will destroy your witchcraft and you
will no longer cast spells. I will destroy your carved images and your secret stones
from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.
I will uproot from among you your Asherah
poles and demolish your cities. I will take vengeance in anger and wrath upon the
nations that have not obeyed me.
This doesn't sound like these nations that remain on the earth will be coddled, does
it? I believe this is truly what it means when it states that Christ will rule
these nations with an iron scepter. There are four places in the Bible (NIV)
which mention an iron scepter. Notice them carefully:
(1) Psalm 2:1-12 -- Why do the nations rage and the
people plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers
gather together against the Lord and against His anointed one. . .
The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the
Lord scoffs at them. Then He rebukes them in His anger and terrifies them in His
wrath, saying, "I have installed My King on Zion, My holy hill!" I
will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to me, "You are My Son; today I have
become Your Father, Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of
the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; You will dash
them to pieces like pottery." Therefore, you kings, be wise; he warned, you
rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss
the Son, lest He be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for His wrath can flare up in
a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
God the Father says, "I have installed My King on Zion, My holy hill."
This occurs immediately following the Second Coming. The nations of the earth and
all the ends of the earth are Christ's inheritance. These nations are the survivors
of His Second Coming and in no way can they represent the saved. He will rule them
with an iron scepter and dash them to pieces like pottery -- (if necessary).
(2) Rev. 2:26,27 -- To him who overcomes and does my
will to the end, I will give authority over the nations -- "He will rule them with
an iron scepter; He will dash them to pieces like pottery" -- just as I have
received authority from My Father, I will also give him the Morning Star.
Christ's words are directed to the church at Thyatira. Their main problem is with
a woman listed as Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. This is a false church or
religious system. She is guilty of immorality (false doctrines). Those who
commit adultery with her will suffer intensely.
This is the harlot, also called the great prostitute of Rev. 17. She is described
in Rev. 17:6 as being drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore
testimony to Jesus (the testimony to Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy, Rev. 19:10).
This blood that she is drunk with is from martyred prophets. The only group of
prophets mentioned in Revelation is "His servants the prophets" --
144,000. The fact that their blood was found in her is evidence that they overcame her by
refusing her false doctrines.
"To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the
nations." This is speaking of the 144,000. Remaining faithful to the end
in their case is until their martyrdom by the beast from the Abyss, after they have
completed their 1260 days of prophesying. After 3-l/2 days they are raised to life
(First Resurrection) and are called up to heaven by a loud command from heaven. They
are the ones who will reign with Christ for 1000 years. Rev. 5:10 states that they
will reign on the earth. This is where they will be given authority over the
nations, whom they will rule with an iron scepter.
"Just as I have received authority from My Father, I will also give him the
Morning Star." The Morning Star refers to Christ. So this is stating that
God has given Christ authority to rule the nations of the earth with an iron
scepter. Christ has, in turn, given the 144,000 His authority to rule those nations
with the same weapon. This is what it is speaking of when it states that they
(144,000) will reign with Christ for 1000 years. In speaking of the 144,000
Revelation states:
Rev. 5:10 -- You have made them to be a kingdom and
priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.
Is this some big mistake that John has made? Or does it mean that there is
perfect harmony in what the Old Testament prophesies and the New Testament reveals --
and that all this reigning and ruling for 1000 years is still on track and scheduled to
begin on this earth after Christ's Second Coming? I prefer to believe the latter.
(3) Rev. 12:4,5 -- The dragon stood in front of the
woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was
born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with
an iron scepter.
In spite of how obvious it may appear, this scene can't be describing either Mary or
God's church giving birth to Jesus. Revelation's opening statement is that it was
authored by God to show His servants (144,000) what must soon take place. (Future!)
(4) Rev. 19:13-15 -- He is dressed in a robe dipped
in blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven follow Him, riding
on white horses, dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with
which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter.
Here, Christ, at the Battle of Armageddon, strikes down the nations with the sharp
sword that comes out of His mouth -- the Word of God. He will rule the
remnant in all these nations with an iron scepter.
It is interesting to note that in these four instances where mention of an iron scepter
is made, that twice it is referring to Christ using it to rule the nations of the
earth. The other two times it refers to the 144,000 ruling them with this same
weapon. This shows the close relationship that Christ has to those who will reign
with Him for 1000 years on this earth.
After the smoke of battle has settled and the redeemed are settled in their abodes in
the Holy Land, Micah gives us a beautiful picture of life there:
Micah 4:1-5 -- In the last days the mountain of the Lord's
temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the
hills, and peoples will stream to it.
Many nations will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of
Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths."
The law will go out from Zion, the word
of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle
disputes for strong nations far and wide.
They will beat their swords into
plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword
against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
Every man will sit under his own fig tree
and under his own vine, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has
spoken.
All the nations may walk in the name of
their gods; we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.
This passage recalls that there will be those who are interested in having the Lord
Almighty teach them His ways so they can walk in His paths.
It also shows that there is a no nonsense environment enforced. All weapons are
converted to peaceful pursuits, no armies or training for war permitted. No crime
tolerated. All may feel comfortable and secure under his own fig tree. This is
because the law to enforce this has gone out from Jerusalem -- the word of the
Lord. No crime tolerated for the Lord Almighty has spoken. I believe this is
demonstrating to these nations of the earth that the Lord Almighty rules with an iron
scepter.
Now I would like to get back to a consideration of the resurrections.
Luke 20:27-36 Phillips -- Then up came some of the
Sadducces, who deny that there is any resurrection, and they asked Him, "Master,
Moses told us in the Scripture, ‘If a man's brother should die leaving a wife but no
children, he should marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother.’
Now, there were once seven brothers.
The first married and died childless, and the second and the third married the
woman, and in fact all the seven married her and died without leaving any children.
Lastly, the woman herself died. Now in this ‘resurrection’ whose wife is
she of these seven men, for she was wife to all of them."
"People in this world," Jesus
replied, "marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy
of reaching that world, which means rising from the dead, neither marry nor are they given
in marriage. They cannot die any more but live like the angels; for being children
of the resurrection, they are the sons of God.
In relating the same incident, Matthew brings out in Christ's answer to the Sadducees:
Matt. 22:29 Phillips -- "You are very wide of the
mark," replied Jesus to them, "for you are ignorant of both the Scriptures and
the power of God.
The story is very clear. Those who live in this world marry and are given in
marriage, but those who are found worthy and are raised from the dead to inherit the world
to come will not marry or be given in marriage. They will be like the angels.
I would like to show from Scripture that the redeemed who inherit the Promised Land
during the Millennium continue to increase in numbers and with the difference being that
none of them die. There are many passages to emphasize this point, but I will select
a passage from each of the major prophets -- Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel to
establish this:
Isa. 60:20-22 -- Your sun will never set again, and your
moon will wane no more; The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow
will end.
Then will all your people be righteous
and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the
work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.
The least of you will become a
thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time I will do
this swiftly.
This statement doesn't beat about the bush. Their numbers will greatly increase.
Jer. 3:14-17 -- Return faithless people," declares
the Lord, for I am your husband. I will choose one of you from every town and two from
every clan and bring you to Zion.
Then I will give you shepherds after my
own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.
In those days when your numbers have
increased greatly in the land," declares the Lord, "Men will no longer say,
‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ It will never enter their minds or be
remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made.
At that time they will call Jerusalem the
Throne of The Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the Name of the
Lord.
(No doubt about it -- this is during the Millennium with Christ's throne in
Jerusalem.)
Eze. 37:24-27 -- My servant David will be king over them,
and they will all have one Shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep
my decrees.
They will live in the land I gave to my
servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their
children's children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince
forever.
I will make a Covenant of Peace with
them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase
their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place
will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.
The redeemed at the time of Christ's Second Coming will obviously be marrying and
giving in marriage and increasing in numbers greatly. The resurrection Christ is
speaking of is the righteous dead of all ages who must be raised at the last day to be
citizens of the New earth where all the redeemed will live like the angels.
The Sadducees didn't believe in any resurrection, but they prided themselves on their
knowledge of the Scriptures. Jesus told them they were in error because of their
ignorance of the Scriptures. "People in this world marry and are given
in marriage." Certainly during the millennium we will be living in this
world. "But those who are considered worthy of reaching that world, (the earth
made new) which means rising from the dead, neither marry or are given in marriage."
This can only be speaking of the earth to come and the resurrection can only be
speaking of the one on earth's last day -- The Great White Throne Judgment Day.
John 5:26-29 -- For as the Father has life in Himself, so
He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, And He has given Him authority to judge
because He is the Son of Man.
Do not be amazed at this, for a time is
coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out -- those
who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be
condemned.
Those who have done good will be raised to live -- citizens of the world to
come. Christ gives no other option for the righteous who are in their graves.
All will hear His voice and come out. The righteous to life -- the wicked to
death. This all occurs on earth's last day.
The Two Resurrections can briefly be summarized as follows.
The First Resurrection
The First Resurrection is limited to the 144,000 who are raised to
life 3-1/2 days following martyrdom by the beast from the Abyss. They
are called to heaven by a loud command by voice from heaven. This occurs immediately
before the Seven Last Plagues are poured out and announced by the Seventh Trumpet.
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The Last Resurrection
The resurrection for all who are in their graves is on earth's last
day. It occurs at the time of the Great White Throne Judgment.
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The 144,000 return with Christ at His Second Coming -- to the Battle of
Armageddon. They remain with Him where they reign with Him for 1000 years.
The term "At the Last Day" is found six places in the New Testa- ment, all in
the book of John.
(1) John 6:39 -- And this is the will of Him who sent
me, that I should lose none of all that He has given Me, but raise them up at the last
day.
(2) John 6:40 -- For my Father's will is that everyone
who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him
up at the last day.
(3) John 6:44 -- No one can come to me unless the
Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
(4) John 6:54 -- Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My
blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
(5) John 11:24 -- Martha answered, "I know he will
rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
(6) John 12:48 -- There is a judge for the one that
rejects Me and does not accept My words; That very word which I spoke will condemn him
at the last day.
These six verses are describing events that will happen at The Last Day. It is to a
specific day and a very important one for sure.
The first four verses could be summarized in the second one; "Everyone who looks
to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life and I will raise him up at the last
day."
The fifth is Martha relating to Christ her belief that her brother, Lazarus, who had
died four days previously, would rise again in The Resurrection at The Last Day.
The sixth is Jesus speaking to the unbelieving Jews who refused to believe that He was
who He said He was. Christ states that their judge (for those who reject Him) will
be the very words which He spoke to them. And that these words will condemn them at
the last day.
This indicates that when the wicked, unbelieving of this earth are judged, they will be
judged by the very words that Christ presented to them. When this judgment is set
and the books are opened, wouldn't this be referring to the books of the Bible? It
is the words of these books that their deeds are judged by.
When we try to fit this judgment to all those who have rejected His words, which
applies to the unsaved of all ages, it can only come at one time; The Great White Throne
Judgment of Rev. 20:11-15. This is "The Last Day" that we have been
reading about in the book of John. Does this day fit the description of "The
Last Day?"
Consider this: At the time of judgment all whose names are not found in the book of
life (the wicked) are cast into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the Second
Death. Those righteous who are resurrected at The Last Day -- our first five
examples -- are raised to life. The very next event follows in
Rev. 21:1 -- Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for
the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
With the judgment and execution of the wicked at The Last Day -- a whole new
earth and new heaven were then created; no more night and day. They had been
replaced by eternal day. This was earth's last day as we know them. Could
there be any resurrection of the righteous at the last day? Re-read the first five
events that Christ states will happen at the last day.
When you study the events that happen at The Last Day you can see it can only fit the
events scheduled at the time of the Great White Throne Judgment and for a certainty it is
at The Last Day.
It should be coming into focus that both the righteous and the wicked are raised at
that Last Day, but only the wicked are judged. The righteous have already been
judged through Christ. His life, character, and death have been judged perfect and
these He freely bestows on those who believe on Him and commit their lives to Him.
To these He gives His perfect robe of righteousness and they are raised to receive their
reward. Their names will be found in the book of life which is their passport to
eternity in the earth made new.