1Jn 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
There is not anyone who can claim he is without sin. If anyone claims he is without sin than his is a liar. In any situation where we have wronged either another person or God, and we refuse to admit this than we make God a liar and his word is not in us. The Lord Jesus Christ is not able to work with pride in anyway (1 Peter 5:5). I have seen marriages that have split up and both sides refuse to admit any wrong. This is pride and God is not able to work with pride. Whenever we do sin we should confess our sin before the Lord Jesus Christ and he will cleanse us of all unrighteousness. When we do this than we are able to maintain a right standing before God and his is able to save us:
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
This word “save” is used in the present tense and should not be confused with the salvation we have in Jesus Christ when we trusted in Him as our only savior from sin. The context of Hebrews 7 is dealing with Christians in respect to the cleansing they need from daily sinful traits that stem from our old nature. Jesus Christ is our High Priest and his is presently able to save us if we come to him in confession and then He is able to make intercession for us. Notice how this comes out in 1 John 2:1-2 being in the same context of 1 John 1:9:
1 J0hn 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation FOR OUR sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Notice he is the propitiation for those who are already believers. When we confess our sins than Jesus Christ as our High Priest becomes the propitiation for our sins and he cleanses us from all unrighteousness. These verses line up very well with Hebrews 7:25 because an advocate is one who acts as an intercessor. Notice the definition of propitiation from Webster’s unabridged Dictionary of 1913:
(Theol.) That which propitiates; atonement or atoning sacrifice; specifically, the influence or effects of the death of Christ in appeasing the divine justice, and conciliating the divine favor.
We should also carefully note that their remains no sacrifice for willful sin. This warning passage in Hebrews 10:26-30 is addressed to real Christians because the author includes himself in this warning by using the personal pronoun “we.” Whenever we do not confess our sin then we are in danger of sinning willfully and we will not be saved from the negative consequences at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Whipple has a very important insight concerning 1 John 1:9:
This might be the second most important Scripture in the Bible next to John 3:16. Confession of sins is something we should do every day, every minute, or every second if needed. Then Jesus, who is our High Priest at the right hand of the Father at this moment, will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This, in turn, will cause us to continually yield our lives to Christ’s control so that he can live his life through us and produce through us the fruits that will be accepted at the Judgment Seat of Christ. (Shock and Surprise Beyond the Rapture: Gary Whipple; Pg. 69)
Pride keeps us from admitting our sin before God and those we have offended. Our Lord is not able to work with us if we have pride.
Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isa 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Matthew 5:3-4 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
If we are careful to maintain a humble spirit than the confession of our sins will not lose its meaning by becoming a mechanical routine. If we are careful to maintain a contrite heart before God; then we will not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13). The bible also clearly teaches that unless our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees than we will not enter into the kingdom:
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
One of the sin of the Pharisees is that they were hypocrites. They appeared beautiful on the outside but on the inside they were full of all extortion, excess, and all uncleanness:
Mat 23:25-27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. (26) Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. (27) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
There are many Christians who are no different than the Pharisees. They clean the outside of the platter by going to church three times a week. Yet, when they leave church their conduct is full of worldliness and uncleanness. Although, they appear to have many good works from the outward perspective, it’s done under the power of the flesh and the Spirit of God is not behind it. We are specifically warned in the New Testament that many in that day will not be permitted entrance into the kingdom even though they had many good works:
Mat 7:21-27 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in THY NAME done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (25) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (26) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: (27) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
These verses are not talking about how a person is saved in eternity! The phrase “Not everyone” actually indicate that there will be some among those who say “Lord, Lord,” who shall be permitted entrance into the kingdom of heaven. In 1 Corinthians 12:3 tells us that no man can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Ghost. This warning is addressed to saved people and it takes place at the Judgment seat of Christ. The word “therefore” at the beginning of vs. 24 ties this passage (vs. 24-27) in with vs. 21-23 and the rest of the Sermon on the Mount. Even though these people had many wonderful works and they called Jesus Lord they did not build their life on the Rock. Those who are not permitted entrance into the kingdom of heaven actually lay claim to their works. Their works were not done in the power of the Spirit; they were done under the power of the flesh. Our Lord’s main charge against the Pharisees was hypocrisy (Matthew 6:2-5; 23:13-15; and 23:25). Jesus warning in Matthew 5:20 should be taken at face value:
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Throughout the Sermon on the Mount Jesus constantly warns us that practical works of righteousness without iniquity were necessary in order to enter into the kingdom of Heaven (millennial life at the first resurrection). Jesus also warns us in this Sermon (Matthew 5-7) that we must also have a transformation and a renewing of the mind before we can produce the proper works of righteousness necessary in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven. In order to enter into the kingdom of Heaven a Christian must have practical works of righteousness done in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees had practical works of righteousness done under the power of the flesh:
Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Whipple’s observation on Matthew 7:21 important to this subject matter:
Contrary to the teaching of many, not all believers will automatically inherit the kingdom of heaven. This spiritual truth is revealed in out above text, which teaches that it will be given only to those believers who do his will. This verse speaks to Christians concerning rewards, not eternal life.
Many Christians in that day (at the Judgment seat of Christ) will attempt to prove that they are worthy of the kingdom. They will cry, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and cast out devils in your name, and so many wonderful works in your name?” But the Lord will say, “Depart from me, ye that work iniquity, I never knew you” (verses 22 and 23). As the reader ponders this indictment, he will see that those whom Jesus will address in that day are not lost, but saved (the body of Christ). Consider this clear evidence: first, those of this verse will be at the Judgment seat of Christ where no lost man will appear; second they will call him Lord, thus showing that they possess the holy spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3); third, they will have done what they consider as many wonderful works. However, these works will not be the works of Christ through them, but religious efforts of the flesh, symbolized in 1 Cor. 3:12 as wood, hay, and stubble. Consequently, since this group will be of the body of Christ, the indictment of Jesus upon them will not be to depart into hell, i.e., everlasting fire (as it will be to the lost nations in Matt. 25:41,46), but to depart from his presence (outside the kingdom).
There will also be a favored group of believers at the judgment seat whom He will chose out of the body of Christ; they will be privileged to go into the marriage. They will be made up of the “weeding guests” (Matt. 22:10) and the bride of Christ. (Matt. 25:10). Consequently, those who are saved and are not members of the bride or the wedding guests will not be allowed to enter the wedding (inherit the kingdom). Hence, the words know, or knew, as it is connected to the judgment seat of Christ, means that He will not recognize this group as being part of the bride of Christ. To “know,” here, means intimate knowledge, as in marriage (Matt. 1:25). Therefore the bride of Christ will be those who are known by Christ as a special and submissive people who allowed the Holy Spirit to rule over their lives and to produce spiritual fruit through them. This will be accomplished by obedience to the word of God and by “doing” his commandments. (The Matthew Mysteries: Gary T. Whipple; Pgs. 106-107).
Notice what Jesus said about the Pharisees in the following verses:
Matthew 23:25-27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but WITHIN they are full of extortion and excess. (26) Thou blind Pharisee, CLEANSE FIRST that which is within the cup and platter, THAT THE OUTSIDE of them may be clean also. (27) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
Carefully notice how our Lord actually ascribes a number of good works to the Pharisees. The problem with the Pharisees is that their works were done under the power of the flesh because they were never transformed on the inside. There are many Christians who are no different than the Pharisees. There are many Christians who are keeping manmade rules and regulations under the power of the flesh. This is not pleasing to the Lord because we cannot please God in the flesh (Romans 8:8), no matter how good it appears from the outside. Most Christians have never learned the value of digesting Romans 5:9 to 8:39. It is only when we are converted from the power of the old man (Eph. 4:22) and then renewed by the inner man (Eph. 3:16) under the power of the Holy Spirit are we able to please God and bring forth spiritual fruit. Our Lord’s main charge against the Pharisees is their hypocrisy. Carefully notice the definition of hypocrite in Noah Webster’s Dictionary of 1828:
1) Simulation; a feigning to be what one is not; or dissimulation, a concealment of one’s real character or motives. More generally, hypocrisy is simulation, or the assuming of a false appearance of virtue or religion; a deceitful show of a good character, in morals or religion; a counterfeiting of religion.
One of the problems we confront in living the Christian life is that there is a danger of doing good works under the power of the flesh without the renewing of the mind:
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The word “transformed” in this passage comes from a Greek word “metamorphoo” and is related to the English word metamorphosis. This word in many English Dictionaries refers to a complete change in form and structure. This change can only take place when our mind is renewed. There are many Christians, who keep man made rules, yet their minds have not renewed and thus everything they do is under the power of the flesh. Our minds can undergo this metamorphosis through the word of God:
2 Co 3:17-18 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (18) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
By looking at the context we learn the “glass” in this passage is referring to the Word of God. Notice in this passage that the Holy Spirit transforms us into His image by using the Word of God. Carefully notice from Romans 12:1-2 that we are unable to present our bodies a living sacrifice until we are transformed by the renewing of our mind. This can only be done by spending time in the Word of God and allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us and produce the change in us. Notice this change causes us “to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.” (Eph. 3:16). In the New Testament that we are commanded to change the heart before we can properly deal with the outward conduct. Notice the following verses which speak of this:
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
It is only when we properly deal with the renewing of our mind are we able to make our bodies a living sacrifice unto the Lord. It is impossible to please God in the flesh (Romans 8:8). In Matthew 23:26 Jesus told the Pharisees to cleanse that which is within cup and platter first (referring to the Heart) that the outside may also be clean. In his prayer of repentance David asked the Lord to create a clean heart within:
Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
The New Testament teaches us that it is possible for a Christian to have his mind corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ:
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
It is possible that many Christians are keeping a set of manmade religious rules under the power of the flesh and believe they are becoming holy by these religious activities. It could be that these religious traditions of men are part of a last day’s deception and therefore could be considered doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:2). Notice the following warning in the book of Galatians:
Galatians 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
There are many Christians who are performing a set of man-made rules under the power of their own flesh. Some of these man-made rules could include a dress code or even various church programs or traditions Christians perform in order to please the Lord. The flesh (old nature) tends to deviate in one of two extremes in the Christian life: it either deviates to the world or it goes to the other extreme and deviates to legalistic activities.
Eph 6:11-18 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Notes from Ernest Rockstad on Ephesians chapter six:
Having girded your loins with truth:
The Christian soldier is to gird his loins with truth. The Greek verb indicates this is an action to which the believer is himself responsible. He is to equip himself for encounters with the father of lies (John 8:44). One must be buttressed on every side by the truth to be able to stand against him. The Lord Jesus declared, ‘’If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’’ John 8;31-32. We must take the objective truths of the Word of God and apply them to our lives. This involves having intellectual convictions so we are not “carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Eph. 4:14). Knowledge is an important component to add to our faith (2 Peter 1:5). We must learn and apply to ourselves the great truths concerning Him who is Truth, the Lord Jesus Christ: His finished work, the believer’s union with Christ, His righteousness our righteousness, His nullification of Satan’s power and authority, etc. Only thus will we be able to distinguish between “the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6) so we do not turn aside from the “simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
The Lord can only be an amour whilst we walk in truth; truth first and foremost in everything; in the inward parts; in an attitude to God over sin; in dealing with our fellowmen. No prevarication can be tolerated, no willful giving of wrong impressions, no exaggeration of facts, no coloring of actions. Always, everywhere, in everything, at any cost, or sacrifice, facing the truth as it concerns ourselves in the light of others and of God, and looking to God with keen desire for the light of His truth to be streaming upon us within and without day after day. …Satan is the father of lies, and to whatever extant we countenance falsehood or deceit, we give him opportunity to work….We must also be aware about lies about other people. Satan is the slanderer, and when we accept his insinuations concerning anyone or when we in any way slander others, we give place to him. (The armor of God: Ernest Rockstad; Pgs. 11-12).
Breastplate of Righteousness:
What it means to where the breastplate of righteousness is well stated by Paul in his farewell to the Ephesian elders: Act 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. A constant endeavor to keep the conscience clear vertically and horizontally! How is this to be accomplished? It can only be done by consistently making use of our resources in Christ. We live in a body which has indwelling sin, but if we walk by the Spirit, and by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body, we will not carry out the desire of the flesh (Gal. 5:16; Romans 8:13). Our old man has been crucified with Christ, and we have been raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-6). We can maintain a walk of practical holiness and thus have on the breastplate of righteousness by reckoning ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11). (The armor of God: Ernest Rockstad; Pgs. 13).
“Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace:”
The lesson intended is evidently a stance and a walk in peace, undisturbed by the turbulence round about. One aspect of Satan’s attack is to stir up storms. While the waves of the storm may beat against him, the child of God is to have the inner peace of the ocean’s depths. This makes it possible for him to stand firm and steadfast regardless of what the circumstances may be. Satan’s buffering’s are planned to keep one off balance, but the peace of God in the depths of the heart can make him stable and strong.
The footwear of the Christian soldier also involves peace with others. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mar 11:25). We cannot avoid having enemies, but we must avoid having enmity in the heart. And our footing will be unstable against the power of darkness if we fail to forgive anyone who has wronged us. The failure to forgive affords Satan an opportunity to take advantage of us (2 Cor. 2:10-11). The one who does not forgive his brother from the heart will be turned over to tormentors, according to the Lord Jesus (Matt. 18:34-35). And who but Satan’s emissaries are the tormentors? (The Armor of God: Ernest Rockstad, Pgs. 14-15).
The shield of Faith:
Here is an indispensable defensive weapon available to every child of God, but it must be taken up and it must be used. The protective shield is simply faith in God. It is made effective by exercising faith in Him at all times and in all situations. Just as the shield was the maneuverable part of the amour, raised to apprehend the approaching missile, faith is to be exercised to apprehend and extinguish the burning suggestions and accusations of Satan…This involves choosing to believe the promises and revealed truths of the scriptures regardless of appearances. It is learning to operate on what is not seen rather than what is seen (2 Cor. 4:18; 5:7; Heb. 11:1). Satan seeks to keep us occupied with present circumstances and problems which we can see and feel. These are illusionary and passing, however, while the true and lasting realities apprehended only by faith, because they are invisible. True faith looks to God, “who calls the things which do not exist as existing” (Romans 4:17b, literal). Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees and looks to God alone/laughs at impossibilities and cries it shall be done.” (The Armor of God: Ernest Rockstad, Pgs. 16).
Helmet of Salvation:
The word salvation is multifaceted in the New Testament. The first aspect of salvation is when we trusted Jesus Christ as our only savior from the penalty of sin:
Act 16:30-31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
When we believe the Gospel it gives us assurance and we know we have eternal life because of what the word of God says:
1Jn 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
We can have assurance because this aspect of salvation is totally based on what Jesus Christ did on the cross and on has nothing to do with what we have done or will do in the future. Without assurance we will be an easy target for the Devil because our mind will be vulnerable to accusations and doubts about our security in Jesus Christ:
Rom 8:31-39 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. (34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When we have this assurance we are able to handle the problems and distresses of life without caving in under pressure. When we do not have this assurance we are an easy target for the Devil and his demons to assault our mind and life. The second aspect of salvation has reference to Christians have victory over the power of sin:
Romans 6:11-13 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (13) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
We cannot have victory over the power of sin by relying on the power of our own flesh. We cannot be made perfect (mature) with the flesh (Gal. 3:2). We must abide in the Jesus Christ and avail ourselves to the resources that come through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is only than we can have victory over the power of sin.
The third aspect of salvation involves Christians being saved from “suffering loss” at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:12-15). This aspect of salvation involves the idea of hope and is not a certainty:
1Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
We are to put on as a helmet the hope of salvation. Hope is something that may or may not be realized thus this salvation may not be attained. It involves the inheritance and reigning with Jesus Christ during the millennial kingdom. This is a hope and we must endure until the end to realize the hope of reigning with Jesus Christ (millennial salvation).
Sword of the Spirit:
In Sword of the Spirit is the word of God. In order of the word of God to be effective we must have knowledge of the word of God and become doers of the word (James 1:21-23). In the word of God is broken down into three time periods: First, there is a present age which we live in. Second, there is the millennial age and third there are the eternal ages. The promises of the millennial age must be kept separate and distinct from the eternal ages. There are three main groups of people in the bible: the Jews, Gentiles and the Church of God. Everything in the bible is written for you but not everything in the bible is written to you.
In order to properly understand the word of God we must take verses in there appropriate context. Verses should not be isolated and interpreted separately from the context they are used in; neither should words be interpreted apart from the context they are used in. The word of God has to be rightly divided:
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
In our day the word of God is under attack. This is done by proliferation of multiple bible translations. Many of these attack the Christological doctrines of the bible such as the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the second coming of Jesus Christ. This involves the removal of thousands of words and omission of multiple phrases. Many bibles that claim to update the archaisms in the King James Bible have ended up attacking its vital doctrines in the supposed process of revision.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit:
We should all have a prayer life and this involves time and discipline. In our prayer life we should ask the Lord to destroy the works of the Devil in our life and family and in the life of others. Notice the following verse:
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
The Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished the victory over the devil on the cross. Yet in order for Christians to appropriate this victory they must ask the Lord in prayer to destroy the works of the Devil by cross of Jesus Christ. They need to personally ask the Lord to appropriate Christ’s victory on their behalf against the powers of darkness. This should be done daily through prayer and supplication. This should be done on behalf of all the saints.
The Great White Throne Judgment and the Second Resurrection
G. H. Pember:
Hence the decisions issued from the Judgment-seat of Christ will have the following results:–
Those servants of the Lord who shall be found to have been faithful will be judged worthy of the First Resurrection, and will immediately be made Priests of God and of his Christ, and will reign with Him for a Thousand Years. They will thus enjoy the great Sabbath that remains for the people of God, and will themselves rest from their works, even as He did from His.
But the unfaithful servants will be banished into the darkness without the pale of the Kingdom, where they will be detained and dealt with according to the sentence of the Lord, until the Last Day. Then, when the time of reward has passed by, He will raise them up to everlasting life, even as he has promised to do in the case if all who have believed on Him.
The remainder of the inhabitants of the earth will not appear before the premillennial Judgment-seat. But the Jews who survive, together with the remnant of the Gentiles, will form the nucleus of a population for the renewed earth; while the unsaved dead, imprisoned in either hades or the Abyss, will be left where they are, until the end of the Age which follows that of their own earth- life. Then, before they can be cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, they must be brought before the foot of the Great White Throne to receive their sentence.
These various destinies may seem strange to the ordinary readers of the Bible, who merely seek to find in it the few doctrines which they have adopted, and allowed to become fossilized in their minds. But it will not be so with painstaking and minute students, who are earnest in prayer that their minds may be kept open and ready to apprehend and receive whatever the Spirit may present to them. Such persons will be privileged to aid in bringing to light the still unknown truths which lie embedded in the Scriptures of God. (George H. Pember. The Great Prophecies of the Centuries concerning the Church; Pgs. 104-105; Schoettle Publishing Co. Inc, 1984.)
The most popular interpretation among many fundamental and evangelical churches is that no believer could ever appear before the Great White Throne Judgment. Is this really what the bible teaches? Can fundamentalist and evangelicals really prove this popular teaching with the bible? Most fundamental churches and some evangelical churches proclaim in one way or the other that their final authority on doctrine and practice is the bible. However, this does not seem to be the case when it comes to their dogmatic assumption that believers could not appear before the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20:12-15:
Rev 20:12-15 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man (this is contrasted with whosoever in vs. 15) according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever (not the same as every man in vs.13) was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (KJV)
When I was in Middle school (8th grade) I thought this passage taught that both believers and unbelievers would be present at this judgment. As a young student logic told me that the word “whosoever” combined with the fact that the book of life is opened proved there would be others present who were found written in the book of life. I was quickly told I was wrong by my bible teacher at the private school I was attending, along with my Pastor at church. Both of them were godly men and educated from respected seminaries so I thought they knew more about it than I did. Years later it started bothering me again because it did not make any sense.
First, the book of life is actually opened at the end of the Millennium. This clearly indicates there are going to be many people present at this Judgment who are found written in the book of life after the thousand years has ended. Second, whosoever is not found written in the book of life is cast into the lake of fire. These are all the unbelievers who have rejected Jesus Christ; this includes everyone who did not believe in Jesus Christ as their only savior. Third, the word “whosoever” does not mean nobody; neither does it mean everyone. Fourth, when you look at vs. 13 and 15 of our text there is a CONTRAST between “every man” who is judged in vs.13 and “whosoever was not found written in the book of life” in vs. 15. Fifth, by using the word “whosoever” the Holy Spirit is telling us that there will be many others present (not the same as ever man in vs. 13) who are found written in the book of life. These are Saints, who according to Revelation 20:5 will live again after a thousand years.
Even though there is nothing in this conclusion that is contrary to the facts found in the biblical text many will deny this because of the incredible theological bias in most churches. It is important to identify some indisputable facts about the passage from a careful reading of vs. 12 and 15: Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book WAS OPENED, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works…Rev 20:15 And whosoever (different than “every man” in vs. 13) was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Laying aside what you might have been taught in the past, or what you may have heard in bible school; here are the facts:
(1) The book of life is opened.
(2) Whosoever is not found “written in the book of life” is cast into the lake of fire.
Those who deny that there will be genuine Christians at this judgment should ask themselves a couple of questions. (1) Why is the book of life opened? (2) If there are no saved people at this judgment why didn’t the Holy Spirit replace the words “And whosoever was not found” with “And everyone was not found?” Furthermore, the expression “whosoever is not found written in the book of life” is contrasted with “every man judged” in vs.13. This clearly leaves you with the impression that there will be many others present who are found written in the book of life. Another place the expression “whosoever” can be found is in Revelation 14:11:
Revelation 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
After reading this verse most bible students (if not all of them) would never come to the conclusion that everyone present on planet earth during the tribulation is going to end up receiving the “mark of his name.” Yet, we definitely know that the word “whosoever” cannot mean “everyone” because of following text:
Revelation 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
There were clearly many Saints who did not receive the mark of the beast. Therefore the word “whosoever” in Revelation 14:11 definitely does not have the meaning of “everyone.” Even though many examples could be given one other example is worth noting from John 3:16:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
When you read the phrase “whosoever believeth in him;” do you come to the conclusion that everyone in the whole world is going to believe on Christ?? Of course not!!!! That would be really silly to say the least!! If this is the case why should we from Revelation 20:15 come to the conclusion that “whosoever was not found written in the book of life” has the meaning of “everyone present?” Of course we should never come to this conclusion because it would be silly! It would deny the simple logic found in the phrase “whosoever is not found written in the book of life.” This is written is such a way where it clearly leaves the impression that there are many others present who are found written in the book of life. At this point it would be helpful to look at quotations from other pre-Millennial authors relative to the Great White Throne:
George N. H. Peters has this statement about the Great White Throne Judgment:
“For while translations, glorifications, etc. may result during the Millennial age as a reward for holiness, yet the mention of the book of life and reference to all the dead then existing may imply that others, not accounted worth of special honor and exaltation – although ultimately to be saved – are included in those dead.” (The Theocratic Kingdom: vol. 2, pg. 290, George N. H. Peters)
G. H. Lang in his book “Firstborn Sons: Their rights and Risks” makes this statement about the Great White Throne Judgment:
“That there will be saved persons at the Great White Throne judgment is obvious from the phrase used in Revelation 20:15, “if any (man’s name) was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire” If this indefinite, negative mode of expression was not intended to show that the name might be found in the book of life, it is, to say the least, singularly calculated to mislead, a fault which may not be imputed to Holy Scripture. What would be the force of the statement that- a great crowd was at the barrier, and if anyone was not found not to have a ticket he was not allowed to pass? Would not this imply that some there had a ticket” (Firstborn Sons: Pg. 212, G.H. Lang)
Unfaithful saints of Jesus Christ will die during the millennium and receive temporary chastisement (in different degrees) in the prison of the underworld:
Romans 8:12-13 Therefore, brethren, (genuine Christians) we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. (13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: (during the Millennium) but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
The death in this verse cannot have reference to this age because every genuine Christian will die in this age including those who live very holy lives! The death and life spoken of here has reference to the 1000 year kingdom age. All genuine saints of Jesus Christ will be raised to stand trial at the Judgment Seat of Christ at which time all of them will be immersed into a baptism of fire (1 cor. 3:13). Those saints who through the Spirit suffered against sin and worldliness will be translated into glorified bodies at this time. On the other hand all saints of Christ who lived life after the flesh (by indulging in sin and worldliness) will experience the second (1 Cor. 3:17…destruction). They will be sent to the outer darkness or fiery prison of the underworld for 1000 years and at the Great White Throne Judgment they will be raised to immortality because they were found written in the post millennial book of life (not the same as the pre-millennial book of life: Rev. 3:5).
Tertullian A.D 160-240: We do confess that a kingdom is promised to us on the earth although before heaven, only in another state of existence;…..After its thousand years are over, within which period is completed the resurrection of the saints, who rise sooner (before the Millennium) or later (after the Millennium) according to their deserts there will ensue the destruction of the world. (Tertullian: Ante Nicene Fathers; Volume 3)
The words in parentheses in the above quotation are my emphasis. The interpretation given above would necessitate that there is a resurrection of Saints at the end of the Millennium according to his own writings. Wow!! This is way back in the middle of the second century! Where did Tertullian receive his information? He received it from Polycarp. Where did Polycarp receive his information? He received it from the apostle John!! At the end of 1ooo years these unfaithful Christians who lived life after the flesh will “live again” (Revelation 20:5). In order to demonstrate the importance of this biblical doctrine we will do a review of it in Revelation 20 and 21 without a chapter break:
Rev 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: (the book of life is open at the end of 1000 years which argues that there will be many present who are found written in it) and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man (not the same as “whosoever” in vs. 15) according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not FOUND WRITTEN in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (THIS CANNOT BE THE same as “every man” present in vs. 13) Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea…Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, (this agrees with Rev 20:5 where there are many who live again after 1000 years. This cannot be true of unbelievers because they have already been sent to the Lake of Fire) neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things (has reference to unfaithful Saints weeping and gnashing their teeth in the prison of Hell) are passed away.
Wow!! Did you get that?? Death itself will not be removed until after the Millennium is over. This cannot be true of unbelievers because they will suffer the second death for all eternity in the Lake of Fire. Therefore the “no more death” in Revelation 21:4 indicates that God will not remove death for unfaithful Saints until the end of the Millennium. After 1000 years they will come out the prison of Hell. At this point they will be translated into glorified bodies and the Lord Jesus Christ will wipe away their tears.
Here is another passage which speaks of the different orders of resurrection:
1Co 15:22-26 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (23) But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. (This is the first resurrection in Philippians 3:11-14) (24) Then cometh the end, (This is the second resurrection in Revelation 20:15 and 21:4) when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (25) For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. (26) The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
The context of this passage is dealing with the different orders of resurrection. Notice from vs. 22 that all in Christ shall be made alive. Then vs. 23 enumerates that “every man is raised in his own order.” Therefore all believers in Jesus Christ are not raised to glorification at the same time. Jesus Christ was the first resurrection from dead. The next order is “they that are Christ’s at his coming.” This is the first resurrection spoken of in Rev 20:4-6. These Saints are called blessed and holy and they will live and reign with Christ a thousand years.
When we study the context of the phrase “but every man in his own order” we can understand that there will be group of Saints raised to glorification before the Millennium and another group of Saints raised to glorification after the Millennium. In order to see the last order of Saints raised to glorification at the end of the Millennium we must pay careful attention to the phrase “then cometh the end” in vs. 24 of our text. The first definition for the word “end” in the Concise Oxford English Dictionary is “the final part of something.” This is also the first definition given in the New Oxford American Dictionary and the Oxford American College Dictionary. In this passage “then cometh the end” is referring to the “final part” to the different orders of resurrection. This last order of resurrection takes place at the end of the Millennium. How do we know “then commeth the end” is the final order of Saints raised to glorification at the end of the Millennium? The reason is because it is followed by the statement “when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God.” We also know this from vs. 25 when it tells us Christ will reign till he puts all enemies under his feet.
The use of the English word “end” in the KJV is further confirmed by its Greek counterpart “telos.” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon under definition 1b for “telos” (end) has “the last in any succession or series.” Carefully note from the context of vs. 22-25 of 1 Corinthians 15 that “telos” would be the “last in a series to the different orders of the resurrection.” In Bullinger’s Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament-the first definition for telos states that it is “the fulfillment or completion of anything…”
Telos is not just the completion of time as we know it on earth but rather from the context the completion to the different orders of resurrection in vs. 22. If one does not view “then cometh the end” as the final order of the resurrections at the end of the Millennium; then you would have the end of the Millennium at the second coming of Christ. Pre-Millennialists who do not interpret this as a resurrection of Saints at the end of the Millennium are forced to embrace an A-millennial (no millennium) or postmillennial view in this passage.
Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Notice very clearly that everyone who has part in the first resurrection shall reign with Christ for 1000 years. What about the saints who do not reign with Christ? They are included in “the rest of the dead” who live again after a thousand years (Rev. 20:5). This is why when you come to the post-millennial Great White Throne Judgment you have those (not the same as every man judged vs.13) who are found written in the book of life (Rev. 20:15) after they have been in the prison of the underworld (Rev. 20:13) for 1000 years. As was stated earlier in the book some unfaithful Saints will not be in there that long because they will die at different time while in the outer darkness before they are sent to Gehenna. They have their tears wiped away at the end of one thousand years (Rev. 21:4). One particular passage which is very clear in presenting the first resurrection as a reward is Philippians 3:11-14:
Philippians 3:11-14 If by any means I MIGHT attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
There are many commentators and Pastors who try to make this resurrection figurative in order to avoid the obvious conclusion; namely that the resurrection here is a prize that Paul was trying to earn. By making this resurrection figurative that gives anyone the right to make any other resurrection in the bible figurative. The resurrection here is literal, and it’s the first resurrection at the end of this age spoken of in Rev. 20:4-6. There are two important truths to this passage. First, by using the word “might” Paul actually tells us he was still uncertain as to whether he had attained unto this resurrection. He confirms this in vs. 12a when he tells us he had not attained unto this resurrection at that time (still early in his ministry). Second, in vs. 14 the Holy Spirit tells us in no uncertain terms that the first resurrection is a prize.
A couple of years later we know from a passage in 2 Timothy that it was revealed to Paul that he would have part in the first resurrection:
2Timothy 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. (7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
I recently came across something very interesting on an Internet blog where some people were discussing selective resurrection and millennial exclusion for unfaithful saints of Jesus Christ:
“Some of us will rise with the first resurrection” – Art Katz
Hi all,
I am a great admirer of Art Katz. His teachings always cut me to the heart, and I believe the Lord will continue to use his material for a long time to cut through to my innermost parts and probe, test and challenge me.
When reading through Apostolic Foundations, which I think is spot on in the challenges that it presents, I came across some eschatological views of Art’s that I hadn’t come across before. One of which is the idea of a separation of saints between the first and second resurrection, what do you think?
NB: I still think the challenges even of this passage are worth us taking to heart, whatever our doctrinal conclusions and persuasions.
THE MYSTERY OF REWARDS (from Apostolic Foundations)
Neither will we all rise at the same time. Some of us will rise with the first resurrection of a first fruits kind, that is to say, those who will rule and reign with Him in His millennial Kingdom. Others will sleep through the Millennium, and only rise with the general resurrection of the dead that is described in Revelation Chapter 20, where the books will be opened, including the Book of Life, to see if their names are written in it.
Some of us will not be equipped to rule and reign with Christ, because we have ignored, or forsaken, or have had no stomach for this kind of responsibility, though we could have obtained it in this life. Those Christians, who have been content to sit passively in fellowships their entire Christian life, because they were assured they were “going to heaven” may well be profoundly disappointed. I would not want to miss the first resurrection, and that is why Paul is continually exhorting the saints to be found blameless in the Day of the Lord’s appearing. We have an eternal incentive to obtain a distinctive reward of the high calling in Christ Jesus. Apparently it is not for everyone; for it says that the rest shall sleep:
Rev 20:4-5 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (KJV)
It is a remarkable reward for a remarkable service in a remarkable time of Last Days’ oppression and persecution, where the greater number evidently could not stand in a faith that could resist succumbing to the mark of the Beast. The ‘beheaded’ are a people who will prefer to perish rather than take the mark, of which we are warned, that if we take it, we will be cast into the lake of fire with the Devil.
THE FIRST RESURRECTION
Rev 20:11-12 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works,… vs. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Just from a simple reading of that text, I would have to say that those who were not qualified to rise with the blessed, holy and priestly saints had to wait a thousand years. They missed the initiation of God’s Kingdom, and any participation in it. The clear and literal deduction must include a number of those who were saved, but who lived lives without any significant distinction that would have earned them the reward of a first resurrection, and were therefore to be judged with all the other dead. They did not rise with the first resurrection; otherwise there would be no need to consult the Lamb’s Book of Life. Those who rise in the first resurrection, and because of that rising, reveal the approval and acceptance of being found in Christ. Their walk, their conduct, character and works qualify them for the resurrection. If we do not rise, then we have not qualified. We were not found worthy for that first resurrection. Paul said that he strove to obtain the resurrection. It is not automatic, but rather a ‘being found worthy.’ Those who are mature, those who are overcomers, those who have the character of Christ, who are in Christ, and who can hear His trump will rise. Those who are not in Christ, who are immature, untested, unqualified and unworthy, will sleep for a thousand years.
Those whose names are found in the Lamb’s Book of Life are going to be saved out of hell, and from being thrown into the Lake of Fire with all the rest of the dead, but I would not want to wait to see if my name was written. There is a possibility that it might have been written, and has since been blotted out. It was so paramount for Paul to qualify for that first resurrection. And we will never be blessed, holy or priestly – the qualifications for the first resurrection – unless we have the kind of determination that Paul had, namely, to be found worthy of that first resurrection.
I would like to clarify an important distinction for my readership. There is a difference between the premillennial book of life and the post millennial book of life. The premillennial book of life can be seen in Rev. 3:5:
Rev. 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (KJV)
This teaches us that saints of God can be blotted out of the premillennial book of life because they do not overcome. The fact that there are people found written in the post-millennial book of life after coming out of death and Hell proves they can be blotted out of the premillennial book of life; yet they are still found written in the postmillennial book of life after they experience the second death for 1000 years. At this time their tears will be wiped away (Rev. 20:15-21:4). When the doctrine of selective resurrection and its relationship with the Great White Throne Judgment is clearly understood and believed it protects the freeness of the Gospel and it proves the doctrine of eternal security.
This argument allows us to take both passages regarding the book of life at face value without manipulating and twisting them out of their respective context. The different books of life also correspond to the two different aspects of eternal life. The first aspect of eternal life is a free gift by believing in the Gospel:
Joh 6:39-40 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (40) And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
When we recognize our own sinful condition and believe that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God; and we trust in His death and resurrection as our only source of salvation than we are given eternal life as gift. This guarantees us resurrection to immortality on the last day (second resurrection) at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:12, 15; 21:4; 1 Cor. 15:24). Yet, if we are to attain unto eternal life at the first resurrection than we must sow to the Spirit:
Galatians 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Eternal life at the second resurrection on the last day is available to every lost person who is willing to stop trusting in himself and believe entirely in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (divine Son of God) as his or her only source of salvation. On the other hand eternal life at the first resurrection is available to every disciple of Jesus Christ who willingly gives up his own selfish desires in order to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:11-12 If by any means (it’s a struggle) I might attain (he is not certain) unto the resurrection (first resurrection: Rev. 20:4-6) of the dead. (12) Not as though I had already attained, (unto the first resurrection) either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
“Two things connected with Rev. 20:4-6 may be noticed–the persons raised and the time when raised…Burgh, and many others, insist that martyrs are designated.” (George H.N. Peters, Theocratic Kingdom, Volume 2, Pg. 285)
“I would only add that in using the word martyrs in the preceding remarks, as a designation of those who shall reign with Christ, I would not be understood to confine it to its received sense: because it is evident that all ‘sufferers,’ as well as those who have actually lost their lives for Christ are included in this blessed hope. (William Burgh, Lecturers on the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ)
…The view appears to have almost dominated premillennial thought by the middle of the nineteenth century. Many early scholars held to the belief that the foolish virgins are ultimately saved, though excluded temporarily from either the pre-trib rapture or the millennium or both. Early influential writers such as William Cunningham (1775-1849) and some of the other Albury Park (1826-28) scholars (among whom the pre-tribulation and secret coming revived in the mainstream), held to the belief that the foolish virgins are ultimately saved, though excluded temporarily. Other early, prominent scholars who held this view of the virgins include Thomas Evill, Tilson Marsh, John Cummings, Charles D. Maitland (1830), J. Hooper, Robert Polwhele, J. Coleman, Colonel Rowlandson, C. Beale, R.A. Purdon, D.N. Lord, J. Echlin, E. Bickersteth, etc. (Michael Baxtor, Forty coming wonders (London: Christian Herald Office, 1887) 64, 149. Many applied this exclusion to the whole millennial age. Phillip Schaff in Lange’s commentary on Matthew states:
“Fr. Von Meyer, and Millenarian commentators, take the same view, and generally assume that the five foolish virgins will be excluded only from the blessedness of the first resurrection and the thousand years reign of Christ on earth, but not from final salvation…it may be argued in favor of this view that the virgins are not divided into good or bad, but into wise and foolish virgins, and that the latter are not represented as unbelievers.” (Lange’s commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Matthew, translated from the German and edited with additions by Phillip Schaaf (Zondervan), 439 (J.D. Faust: The Rod, Pgs. 296-297).
Schaff lists the view as the “general” teaching among early premillennialists. (my emphasis) There were a few early, Calvinist writers such as John Gill (1697-1771) that taught that all Christians are raised to enter the Millennial Kingdom. Nevertheless, millennial exclusion was so general in early pre-millennialism that is listed as the only interpretation under the heading Millennialism in many bible encyclopedias and dictionaries. (Emphasis mine) For example, the Dictionary Of Doctrinal And Historical Theology from 1892 states:
“The Millenaries, or Chiliasts, accepting this prophecy (Rev 20) literally, hold that … there will be a first resurrection of martyrs, and of those worthy to share the martyr’s crown; that for the thousand years these will live and reign with Christ on the earth…that after this will be the general resurrection.” (Dictionary of The Doctrinal And Historical Theology, edited by John Henry Blunt (London: Longmans, Green, And Co., 1892)
David Brown (1803-1897), whom pre-millennialist E.R. Craven calls one the most able opponents of pre-millennialism to have ever been published, is quick to point out that earlier pre-millennial prophecy experts did not believe every Christian entered the millennium. (Emphasis mine) He also reminds his readers of those pre-millennialists who do believe all Christians enter the kingdom; that the most distinguished are nevertheless them-selves doubtful about the certainty of it:
“But do all those who take the prophecy (in Rev 20) literally interpret it alike? By no means…Bishop Newton calls this first resurrection ‘a peculiar prerogative of the martyrs and confessors above the rest of mankind.’…even those who take it literally (the first resurrection in Revelation 20) are not agreed as to the parties intended by it; and those who conceive it to embrace the righteous at large, some-and the most distinguished – have come to the conclusion with much hesitation, and with great diffidence as to the soundness of that opinion.” (David Brown, Christ’s second coming, Will it be Pre-Millennial? New York: R. Carter, 1876), 221-224, 226.) (As quoted from J.D. Faust: The Rod, Pg. 298.)
Joseph Mede(1586-1638)
“Joseph Mede, of England, ‘a pious and profoundly learned man,’ was Greek lecturer at Cambridge, and was noted as an antiquarian, philosopher, mathematician, philologist, linguist, and logician.” (Jesse Forest Silver, The Lord’s Return (Fleming H. Revell, 1914) 188.) (As quoted from J.D. Faust: The Rod, Pg. 375).
“Premillennialism rose to much prominence in the 17th century, First, and highest on the list stands the illustrious Mede, whom Rev. David Brown, of Scotland, styles ‘The prince of Millenarians.’ Twiss and Usher sit as pupils at his feet, and Baxter modestly says, ‘I cannot confute him.’…Dr. Ellicot gives his Apocalyptic scheme, and says that ‘his works have generally been thought to constitute and an era in the solution of the Apocalyptic mysteries, for which work he has looked on and written of, as a man almost inspired.’” (D.T. Taylor, The Voice of The Church (H.L. Hastings, 1855), 166-167, 172.) (As quoted from J.D. Faust: The Rod, Pg. 375).
Mede: “The rising of the Martyrs is what is called the first resurrection, being, as it seems a prerogative to their sufferings above the rest of the dead; who as they suffered with Christ in the time of his patience, so should they be glorified with him in the Reign of his Victory before the Universal resurrection of all…The second resurrection to be after the end of the 1000 years, Justin Martyr, by way of distinction, calleth… the Eternal and Universal resurrection of all together; namely, in respect of the former which was Particular, and but of some. And that it is common both to the Godly and to the wicked, and not the wicked only, may appear, in that there are two Books opened for the Dead, (ver. 12) whereof one is the Book of Life; which argues two sets of Dead to be judged…The reason was, because this having part in Resurrection prima (First resurrection) was not to be common to all, but to be a privilege of some, namely, of Martyrs, and confessors equipollent to them, if God would so accept them. Moreover, the belief of this prerogative of Martyrs in Resurrection prima was that which made the Christians of those times so joyously desirous of Martyrdom. These things will perhaps seem strange, but they will be found true, if duly examined…(The works of The Pious And Profoundly -learned Joseph Mede (London: Printed by Roger Norton, 1672) 604-605, 772) (The Rod, Pg 377).
In closing let us encourage each other to walk the narrow path:
Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and NARROW is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
The English word “narrow” was translated from the Greek word Thlibo. One of the ideas behind this word is affliction or tribulation. In the KJV it is translated “afflicted” 3 times, “troubled” 3 times, narrow 1 time, “throng” 1 time, tribulation 1 time, and trouble one time. This is why the path to the first resurrection is narrow; because it will lead us on a path that may require affliction, trouble, and tribulation. It’s the path to the first resurrection. Let’s encourage each other with these truths!
In the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Donald Fitzgerald