Hello brother. My name is Jay. I was listening to your program thursday night on WROL 950am in Medford, MA. Praise the Lord for your zeal to get Bible truth out there!
I just had a question. You said you didn't believe in the pre-trib rapture because you don't believe the Bible has two resurrections.
Revelation 20:5-6 says, "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the FIRST resurrection. 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" (emphasis mine).
Right there the Bible says "first resurrection" twice in two verses. So how can there not be a second resurrection when the Bible says there's a first? Why mention a "first" if there's nothing after the "first" (i.e. a second)?
But I do agree with you that nobody perfectly understands prophecy but where the Bible is clear, that's where we need to draw our conclusions.
I do not believe there are 2 resurrections for those in Christ..i.e. one at the beginning of tribulation, and one somewhere during tribulation. Chapter 20 is after Jesus has come for the church. According to the promises to the 7 churches to the "overcomers" (we who by faith are victorious in Christ. See list below) we will not be hurt by the second death, we will reign and rule over the nations (1000 year reign), our names will never be blotted out of the Book of life..and so on. These are keys to unlocking chapter 20. There are not two resurrections for those in Christ. The Resurrection of the dead is the "2nd Death" for those not in the Book of Life, and who will be thrown in the "Lake of Fire" which is the 2nd Death. Daniel 12:1-4, John 5:24-30, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 all speak of the Resurrection for those in Christ Jesus. The other "Resurrection" (and technically is a Resurrection) is for those that are condemned who refused God's free gift of life while they lived on earth. Sorry for any confusion and I should have clarified what I meant. I think of resurrection as coming to life again to live eternally with Jesus, and reign with Him for a 1000 years. Then the judgement (chapter 20) comes and the dead are judged, and next seeing the New Heavens and Earth (chapter 21-22) where we will be with the Father, Son, and Spirit forever! Thank you for your question! May I encourage you to seek God on the answer and what I explained in this email. Blessings, Clay To him who overcomes (nikao: to conquer, subdue, prevail, get the victory)….
1. …I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
2. …will not be hurt at all by the second death.
3. …I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
4. …I will give authority over the nations— ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star.
5. …will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.
6. …I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.
7. …I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.
These 7 encouraging promises are also 7 keys to provide us insight. They will be vital in understanding the Revelation as it unfolds and where we are in the plan of God.
Hello brother. My name is Jay. I was listening to your program thursday night on WROL 950am in Medford, MA. Praise the Lord for your zeal to get Bible truth out there!
ReplyDeleteI just had a question. You said you didn't believe in the pre-trib rapture because you don't believe the Bible has two resurrections.
Revelation 20:5-6 says, "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the FIRST resurrection.
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" (emphasis mine).
Right there the Bible says "first resurrection" twice in two verses. So how can there not be a second resurrection when the Bible says there's a first? Why mention a "first" if there's nothing after the "first" (i.e. a second)?
But I do agree with you that nobody perfectly understands prophecy but where the Bible is clear, that's where we need to draw our conclusions.
Lord bless you!
Hey Jay
ReplyDeleteThank you for listening!!
I do not believe there are 2 resurrections for those in Christ..i.e. one at the beginning of tribulation, and one somewhere during tribulation. Chapter 20 is after Jesus has come for the church. According to the promises to the 7 churches to the "overcomers" (we who by faith are victorious in Christ. See list below) we will not be hurt by the second death, we will reign and rule over the nations (1000 year reign), our names will never be blotted out of the Book of life..and so on. These are keys to unlocking chapter 20. There are not two resurrections for those in Christ. The Resurrection of the dead is the "2nd Death" for those not in the Book of Life, and who will be thrown in the "Lake of Fire" which is the 2nd Death. Daniel 12:1-4, John 5:24-30, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 all speak of the Resurrection for those in Christ Jesus. The other "Resurrection" (and technically is a Resurrection) is for those that are condemned who refused God's free gift of life while they lived on earth. Sorry for any confusion and I should have clarified what I meant. I think of resurrection as coming to life again to live eternally with Jesus, and reign with Him for a 1000 years. Then the judgement (chapter 20) comes and the dead are judged, and next seeing the New Heavens and Earth (chapter 21-22) where we will be with the Father, Son, and Spirit forever!
Thank you for your question! May I encourage you to seek God on the answer and what I explained in this email.
Blessings,
Clay
To him who overcomes (nikao: to conquer, subdue, prevail, get the victory)….
1. …I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
2. …will not be hurt at all by the second death.
3. …I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
4. …I will give authority over the nations— ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star.
5. …will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.
6. …I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.
7. …I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.
These 7 encouraging promises are also 7 keys to provide us insight. They will be vital in understanding the Revelation as it unfolds and where we are in the plan of God.