The First Resurrection Is Preferable

If you will study the two resurrections mentioned in the twentieth chapter of Revelation you will notice some remarkable differences. One of the more remarkable differences is that no judgment of the individual takes place at the first resurrection (we will have more to say about this later). In fact those who rise in the first resurrection are the judges. Yet the opening of the books of record are the conspicuous aspect of the second resurrection, the resurrection of the dead, the general resurrection of mankind.

Now, what will this mean to you and me?

Picture this. You have died and your body has been interred somewhere. Suddenly you hear the voice of the Lord Jesus.

"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." (John 5:28,29—NIV)

You hear the voice and stand upright on the ground. You look around.

If all you see is saints robed in glorious light you know you have attained to the first resurrection. Soon you are having fellowship with others who are equally astonished at their sudden awakening on the earth.

It comes into your mind there will be no more judgment for you. You had been judged previously during your discipleship on the earth and now you have been sentenced to eternal life and immortality in the Presence of God.

You have no more fear of the dangers to be found on the earth because you are in an incorruptible body. The sky overhead is flaming with light and glory. There comes a militant shout of visible and invisible warriors in the sky. Then you hear what seems to be a voice like thunder, a voice of command. Immediately there is a blaring of trumpets increasing in volume until it seems the earth is shaking.

Then you notice you are not standing on the earth. You are being drawn upward surrounded by multitudes as far as your eye can see. Dimly at first and then with increasing clarity you can observe the armies of Heaven on white horses, all in their places, ready to invade the earth.

You are experiencing wild, exultant joy mixed with astonishment, wonder, and an exciting kind of fear. You sense you are being guided to your place in the army although you cannot tell what is directing you.

There on the leading horse is the One for whom you have been waiting, the mighty Champion on His huge white stallion, His robe dipped in blood. Even though you are one of millions you realize He is looking directly at you and knows all about you.

Events are moving so quickly you hardly have time to meditate on the fact you are beginning a new life of incorruptible immortality in the very Presence of God. You have pleased the Lord. You have entered His joy.

This is what will happen to you in the near future if you have attained to the resurrection from the dead.

But let us say you hear the voice of Jesus and awaken. You stand upright on the ground. As you look about you can see people of all kinds being gathered into groups. Then you notice the ground has disappeared and there is no more sky over you. Instead there is a gigantic white throne as though carved from ivory.

You are with a group of people who seem to be somewhat like yourself. Then you notice someone you recognize, one of your friends from church.

The two of you talk and wonder why you are not being caught up to Jesus to return with Him to your mansion in Heaven. Instead there is only this huge throne that seems to overshadow everything.

As you discuss this you begin to think, "Where did I read about a white throne? Didn't the white throne have something to do with the unsaved? About people being cast into the Lake of Fire?"

Slowly you come to realize the thousand years have already passed and you are going to be judged for your works. You know also that the maximum penalty that can be imposed by the Court is eternal confinement in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.

Now you are beyond all terror, only numb as you wait for your name to be called and the books opened that contain all you have thought, said, and done during your lifetime.

There is no earth to stand on, no way to faint or die. You are being held in the hand of God Almighty. Now you must wait to know the verdict of the Court.

Please do not regard the above as idle words. They are what the Scriptures teach. The Christian formula of how to be saved is terribly lacking in substance and truth. The prime error of today's Christian teaching is that once we "accept Christ" it is not critically important how we behave.

We are teaching and believing error!

Notice the words that the Lord Jesus spoke to some church people:

I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. (Revelation 2:23—NIV)

"I will repay each of you according to your deeds."

We are so abysmally deceived that when we read the Lord's warnings in the unchangeable book of Revelation we think "I am saved by grace" and are blinded to what we are reading. We do not stop and realize, "the people being addressed by the Lord and warned were also Christians who were ‘saved by grace.’" We have been terribly, horribly deceived!

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