We Need to Know.

 Knowledge. What do you know about the Sanctuary Services of old? For that matter what do you know about the Sanctuary in general? Does it matter if you know anything at all? Yes, it really does matter. Right now our Savior is in the Heavenly Sanctuary, and the earthly Sanctuary was modeled after the heavenly when it was built.  For many years the earthly Sanctuary existed- first, and a portable tabernacle the Israelites used as they traveled the wilderness for forty years and later in a temple built by Solomon, and since that temple was destroyed another was built by Herod the Great, and that temple was destroyed in 70AD and has never been rebuilt.  

For Christians, we recognize that on the Day of Pentecost in 31AD Peter spoke to the Jewish people saying this- 

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

They didn't repent. In fact they went on and sealed their fate the day they stoned Stephen in 34AD, there were no more calls to repentance for them, none. The gospel went to the Gentiles after that. 

Christians recognize that when our Savior was crucified the Veil in the Temple was rent in two halves from top to bottom. Christ was the last and ultimate Sacrifice that would ever be needed, not a single temple sacrifice made after His meant anything. He was the LAMB that was slain for us all. And when He died He returned to heaven to sit in the Heavenly Sanctuary with God the Father!  He went to the heavenly Sanctuary…

Heb 8:1  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 

Heb 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 

Heb 8:3  For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 

Heb 8:4  For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 

Heb 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 

Heb 8:6  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 

Heb 8:7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 

Heb 8:8  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 

Heb 8:9  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 

Heb 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 

Heb 8:11  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 

Heb 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 

Heb 8:13  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. 

We do need the knowledge of the Sanctuary of old to comprehend more in full the Heavenly Sanctuary so we're going to study this for a bit, along with our continuing study on the following… (May God bless us and keep us in Him always, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!! Amen!)

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Resurrection of the Just and Unjust

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(EXCERPT)

The unjust will be resurrected, some object to this truth. The article we've been studying is vindicating the truth of the resurrection of the unjust- scripturally, logically. Pray for enlightenment through our Savior, by the Holy Spirit.

A Vindication of the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Unjust By J.H. Waggoner

CONTINUING STUDY….

Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Now I appeal to the reader, Does Rev. 20 exceed the statements of the several scriptures here noticed? Is it not in perfect harmony with them all? I am willing to leave it with the candid inquirer for truth that Rev. 20 teaches no new doctrine; not even a single idea which is not clearly brought to view in other scriptures.

Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 

Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 

Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 

Rev 20:4  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. 

Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 

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. 

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 

Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 

Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 

Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

Rev 20:11  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. 

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 20:13  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 according to their works. 

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

In these remarks I have intimated that it is objected that Rev. 20 should not be relied on as proof on this subject. I think I might safely leave it to the reader with the foregoing examination, yet I prefer to notice the positions of the objectors, and remove all distrust that has been placed upon that chapter.

It is assumed that, because Paul said he kept back nothing that was profitable, all that he did not say is unprofitable; and as he said nothing about a "second death" it is not profitable, and therefore not truth.  1.Paul also said he had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God. He did not shun to declare it-he did not keep it back, as if unwilling to give all his testimony. But this certainly cannot mean that every statement in the Bible is unprofitable except those written by Paul. He was at Ephesus for "the space of three years," preaching and laboring among them; and it was of this labor he spoke, and not of what he wrote to them; for we know that he wrote but little to the Ephesians. If the objectors know just what he did, and what he did not, preach during those three years, then they are competent to say whether he ever said anything about the second death in his ministry at Ephesus; otherwise they are not. The prophets and evangelists and other apostles say many things that Paul did not write. Are they all unprofitable? Such a construction of Paul's language is a great perversion. Indirectly he taught a second death in such statements as this; "If ye live after the flesh ye shall die." If this refers to temporal death it is equally true that if we live after the Spirit we shall die! Then what force is there in his declaration? "They that sow to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption." 

Now our opponents say the wicked have this fulfilled in them already; they have suffered their penalty; they have seen corruption. But Inspiration says, "David fell on sleep and saw corruption." Is he also numbered with them that fail of everlasting life, because he saw corruption? The truth is, all see corruption alike all die the first death; the righteous "reap life everlasting" in the resurrection; they are "raised in incorruption." The wicked "reap corruption" in their resurrection, because it is a "resurrection of damnation"-a resurrection whose partakers are subject to the second death. If we live after the Spirit, we shall escape that death we shall live. But if we live after the flesh, we shall die a death that they will not die who live after the Spirit. Living after the flesh or after the Spirit has no influence whatever over temporal death; therefore that is not the death to which our probation relates, and not the death referred to in these scriptures. Many quotations of like import might be given from Paul's writings. See also comments already made on "the day of wrath."

2. It is assumed that the first resurrection is not a resurrection first in order, but the "chief resurrection," as the word may be so translated. Life from the Dead, p. 70. Granting that it may, important considerations forbid its being so translated here. It is the word translated first when order is expressed, as in 1 Thess. 4:16: "The dead in Christ shall rise first." Acts 3:26: "Unto you first, God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you." Chap. 13:46: "It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you." And many others. And it is proved to mean first in order in Rev. 20:5, by the context. It is the

first resurrection in distinction from that of "the rest of the dead," who do not live again till a thousand years afterward. The connection also speaks of "the second death," which involves a second resurrection, inasmuch as that death has no power on those who rise in the first resurrection.

3. It is asserted that the first clause of verse 5 is apocryphal: "But the rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished." But this sentence exactly corresponds with the connection in every respect. The Emphatic Diaglott remarks on the omission of this from the Vatican Manuscript, "These words were probably omitted by oversight by Vat. MS., as they are found in a, b, c,-though not in the Syriac." Griesbach, than whom there is no higher authority on such questions, says it should be retained. The evidence, both

internal and external, is in its favor. The application of this text by Elds. Storrs and Curry, I have noticed.

4. It is affirmed that the term "second death" is figurative, and refers, not to the wicked, but to "death and hell," and "the lake of fire." It seems unnecessary to say, I am astonished at such "criticisms." Thus I quote: "It may be answered, What and when' is the second death of death and hell, if  death and hell die not once? certainly not twice." Similar to this is the exposition I heard a preacher of that faith once give; "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This [the lake of fire] is the second death." And then he affirmed that it did not refer to the wicked, but to the lake of fire! If death and hell were cast therein, all who were under the dominion of death and hell were cast therein. The lake of fire is the second death-not to the lake of fire, which is nonsense, but-to whosoever was not found written in the book of life. If such declarations appear to partake more of the spirit of caviling than of

reverential reasoning, let us attribute it to the necessities of the theory; for I have never met with a teacher of that faith who I thought would willingly harbor such a spirit. But I must think they appreciate the necessities of their system when they write and speak thus. A more careful examination of the Scriptures would obviate the difficulty in their minds. Verse 6  says the second death has no power on the blessed an? holy. Of course it has power on such as are not blessed and holy. This determines who are the subjects of the second death. Also chap. 2:11. They who do not overcome will be hurt of it.

5. It is said again that no claim should be asserted on the phrase, "second death," as it is found only in the book of Revelation, a book so highly figurative that no doctrine should be based on it. I hope that reverence for the Giver of the book of Revelation may yet correct this impression in the minds of the objectors. His words are these: "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein." It is the more surprising to read such an objection when made by those who claim to be "Adventists;" as it has long been a standing objection against their whole faith, and a valid one, too, if it is of any force whatever. What would William Miller have

done with such an objection? or what would he have accomplished had he  admitted it? "Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth." The book of Revelation is the only book that describes the seven last plagues; shall we therefore say they will never be? Many things might be noticed which it alone, of all the books of the Bible, expressly mentions. Considering the subject and scope of the book, to reveal the appearing of Jesus and the consummation of God's purposes towards this earth and its inhabitants, it is the book of all books to which we should look for information on judgment scenes and destinies.

One very important thing stated in this book is, that if any one takes away from its words, his part shall be taken out of the book of life. Let us then be careful how we take any position to discredit its testimony; for we might as well entirely take away its words, as to cause men to discredit them, or to take away their force and power. I will now examine the direct Scripture argument of those who oppose the doctrine of the resurrection of the unjust.

To be continued…

Remember,

 Remember- I remember. I remember many people through memories. Memories triggered by sight, sound, smells, touch, taste.  I see a cloud, I remember your love of clouds. You would have liked that example of remembrance. I hear a song and I remember your smile as it played when we were together. You would like that example of remembrance. I smell spaghetti sauce cooking, I remember your wonderful sauce, you would have liked that example of remembrance. I feel the softness of your fur and remember the unconditional devotion to me you had. Such a wonderful example of remembrance. I taste a sugar cookie and oh how the memories of you flood my mind. You would have liked that remembrance of you. So many things, so many people, so many leave the memories we cherish. 

I have no memory to cherish for any of my great, great grandparents, not one. I have nothing that I do that links me with their past as being a part of my life. I know of nothing they did that they passed to their children, my great grandparents to pass on to the future generations. I do have a few memories of my great grandparents and some things in my life that bring remembrance of at least one of them. Would they have wanted to be remembered by me, my great, great grandparents- my great, great, great grandparents? If I had grown up with traditions of remembrance that went way back into my family tree passed down from generation to generation- how wondrous that would be. Some people have this dating back many, many years. If they wanted to be remembered and then told their offspring to do something in remembrance, and that lasted through generation after generation- how amazing. 

We are told- Do this in remembrance of me. Not for any other reason but remembering Him, all of Him, only Him, everything about Him. Do this worthily. Do this believing. Do this with faith. Do this with the knowledge of why the blood had to be spilled, why the body had to be broken. Do this accepting the sacrifice. Do this in great solemness. Do this recognizing holiness. Do this knowing forgiveness. Do this in remembrance. Do this- never forget to do this. Never forget to remember Him!

 You can do this, I can do this, we need nothing but the bread, the wine. If we have no bread, no wine, we can do this with what we have rather than not doing it at all. We aren't to forget because we do not have. We were given food and drink as symbols we need food and drink to live, our food and drink consecrated simply by doing in remembrance of Him.  Make it hard, make it impossible, deprive yourselves in ways of remembrance He never intended -how utterly wrong! He came for the poor, the meek, the humble, the homeless, the sick… He would never want them to forget. He would never have wanted them to lament not being able to do this in remembrance of Him. Cry sacrilege! Cry foul! Cry blaspheme! He would be the first to understand- you Pharisee, you scribe, you of those who love to put Him out of reach for your own ceremonial laws, not His! 

Do this in remembrance of me, He said.

Take Eat. Sup With Him. Bread of Life. Word Made Flesh. Example- of the vine Jesus would not drink again from until He's with us in the Father's kingdom- Drink in remembrance. Flesh and blood- a sacrifice of both- example - remembrance. Do this in remembrance. Remember Jesus the Word made flesh. Remember Jesus the bread of life. Remember Jesus whose blood was spilled. Remember Jesus whose body was broken. Remember the Son of God Our SAVIOR!

Don't be LUKEWARM!

'And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art LUKEWARM and neither cold nor hot, I will SPUE THEE OUT of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches'  Revelations 3:14-22

Faith (gold tried in fire), Christ's Righteousness (white raiment), Holy Spirit Guidance to Truth (eye salve) - we NEED THESE THINGS we need to seek them as if they were something we HAD to buy at all cost! They will be given to us freely, but our desire for them has to be such that we want them desperately!

We are being rebuked and chastened because we are LOVED by GOD!

We must REPENT! We must OPEN THE DOOR and LET CHRIST IN TO SUP WITH HIM AND HE WITH US!  And supping is eating the bread of life, the WORD of GOD! We must devour the WORD of GOD we have the privilege of having access to! We must feast on the WORD OF GOD every day for our very eternal life sake! DO NOT starve your eternal life away!

All through the glory of GOD and our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, now and forever! Amen!!!!!!!

The Dead Are Dust.

 We all know people who have died. '… for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.' Gen. 3:19 (GOD SAYS THE DEAD ARE DUST because man was made from dust to begin with.) 'And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground…' Gen. 2:7 The Bible also tells us the following about those sleeping in the dust of the earth (the dead) -'And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.' Dan. 12:2 Everlasting life or everlasting contempt.

Obviously those who are sleeping in the dust are dead people, those who have returned to the dust they were created from. They sleep in the dust, sleep until they are awakened once more.  If you sleep, you wake from sleeping having only known the time before you fell asleep, not what has occurred while you were sleeping. Many people have woken up to amazing news of things that have happened while they slept. Good things and bad things occur while we sleep, but while we are sleeping we don't know they are occurring. 

When all our dead loved ones wake from their sleep in the dust they are waking up to the reality of eternal life or eternal death. They will have one or the other. This is truth. Until that moment they are woken up they know nothing. Thousands of years could have passed from the moment of one's death and they won't have known that, and it won't have mattered. It won't be as if they are waking up to live in our modern world -they are waking up to rise to meet their LORD in the air! They are rising to go to their heavenly home!  Some might think they rise to their heavenly home upon their death - a lie perpetrated by Satan to deceive. The truth is they are rising some of them thousands, some hundreds of years after they died.  The Bible tells us this- Heb 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.   

They without us are not made perfect and this is talking even of Abraham! Abraham will rise on the same day as anyone else who has died in the Lord. They will rise together, they will be made perfect together, they will receive their heavenly home together! There will be no mourning not having gone to heaven right upon their death some thousand, hundred, ten, a single year ago, because to them they have… they fell into death's sleep and then woke to heaven's reward, unaware of all the time in between the two facts! They've had NO concept of time passing, none! What a wondrous mystery this all is. The revelation of what death is can bring us such comfort! Comfort knowing our loved ones are truly at peace! They aren't up in heaven looking down on us as we suffer their passing. How terrible that would be. A mother in heaven having to watch her children suffer emotional agony when she dies. Maybe having to watch them be separated and placed into foster care and not good foster homes- we know there are many horror stories of terrible foster homes. Yet, people want to imagine everyone just going on to heaven upon their death, able to witness all the agonies of life below on earth. That is monstrous! That is sadistic That is such a horrific imagining, not the comforting that people have lulled themselves into believing, as Satan has spun his death's lullaby to seduce millions and millions into believing lies not truth. So many say they are comforted knowing their loved one is in heaven, a better place, a peace, not suffering, and they are there with full knowledge of the loved ones below missing them, longing for them, still loving them. How could we ever wish that upon our loved ones?! How cruel are we to want them to know of our agonies here on earth living through all the many ups and downs life throws our way. How cruel to believe our loved ones watch every single moment of our lives below, that is NOT anyone's idea of heaven or rather is should not be anyone's idea of heaven. The sad truth is, that is millions of peoples idea of heaven. God please, open the hearts and minds to truth, Your amazing truth! Please! We want only Your truth to live by!

All through the name of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST now and forever!!!!!!! Amen! 

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Resurrection of the Just and Unjust

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(EXCERPT)

The unjust will be resurrected, some object to this truth. The article we've been studying is vindicating the truth of the resurrection of the unjust- scripturally, logically. Pray for enlightenment through our Savior, by the Holy Spirit.

A Vindication of the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Unjust

By J.H. Waggoner 

CONTINUING STUDY….

Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Rev. 1:7 says, "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they which pierced him." I do not know of any construction of this text which  makes its fulfillment possible without a resurrection of them that pierced him. 

Other scriptures which speak of "all" in such relation are evaded with the declaration that they only refer to all then living. But this text clearly points to his crucifiers, who shall see him at a future time, and of course must have a resurrection. 

Another positive testimony on the resurrection of the unjust is found in Rev. 20; not in a single verse only, but in the harmony of the entire chapter. The first evidence is found in verse 5. After stating that they who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, lived and reigned, it says: "But the rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished." This is equivalent to a direct statement that they shall live again after the thousand years are finished.

Again, it is said of the re-living of the righteous: "This is the first resurrection." This implies that there will be a second resurrection; and, taken in connection with the previous statement and others in the chapter, it amounts to a certain affirmation that there will be a second resurrection. Again, it not only speaks of a first resurrection, and of the rest of the dead who do not live again until after a certain period, but also of "the second death" that has no power over those who are raised in the first resurrection; therefore, there will be a second death which will have power on them who have their part in the second resurrection. And this is confirmed by verses 14 and 15: "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." This is declared to be the second death. And also by chap. 2:11: "He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." Three points are proved by this text. 1. There will be a second death. 2. Some will be subject to its power. 3. They will be hurt of it. And thus it appears that if we set aside Rev. 20, on the

subject of the second death, we must set aside chap. 2, also. 

And again, "death and hades delivered up the dead which were in them;" "and whosoever"-of whom? Of them that were delivered up of death and hades-"was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." This is the second death. But it is objected, if death delivered up all the dead, there was then no dead. This has only a degree of technical plausibility; in fact, there is no reason in it. Death is not destroyed while there is a sinner in existence; for the wages of sin is death, and while a sinner exists, death is ever ready to claim its own. But, on the other hand, it is a fact that when death delivers up the dead which are in it, they are not thenceforth dead until death receives them again. Death cannot deliver them up and they still remain dead. But when death receives them again in the lake of fire, which is to them the second death, then it is said that death and hades are also cast therein. For, from that time onward, even to eternity, there are no more subjects for death to prey upon. The work of death ends with the utter destruction of the wicked in the lake of fire. Now in regard to the objection that this is the only scripture that speaks of the second death, I remark that one plain declaration of Scripture is sufficient for those that "tremble at the word;" and this is in perfect harmony with the general tenor of the Scriptures, which largely bring to view a future judgment of "indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, to every soul of man that doeth evil;" also there are numerous texts which plainly speak of the same things revealed in Rev. 20. A few I will notice.

John the Baptist compared the wicked to chaff, and said they should be burned up with unquenchable fire. Rev. 20 confirms this statement, and gives the time and order of the event. Mal. 4:1, 3, also speaks of the same day, when "all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be stubble, and the day that cometh shall burn them up." There is nothing in Rev. 20 that is not taught here, either directly or indirectly. Directly, in that it says all the wicked shall be burned up in the day that cometh, that is in the coming or future judgment day. Indirectly, in that if all that do wickedly are burned up in that day they must have a resurrection to meet that fate. Many other declarations in the prophecies and Psalms are similar to this.  2 Pet. 3; 7-10 says the heavens and earth which are now are reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men; and in that day the fire shall melt the elements and the earth. This is not figurative language. It agrees with Malachi, and embraces all that is found in Rev. 20. The earth is melted-becomes a lake of fire; it is in "the day of judgment" unto which the unjust are "reserved;" it is the day of perdition of the ungodly, because in that day, and in that lake of fire, they shall be burned up, root and branch-devoured. This destruction in the lake of fire is the second death: the only death to which their probation related; and to fulfill all and any of these scriptures a resurrection of the unjust is necessary. Paul identifies this day of judgment as "the day of wrath," in which "every soul of man that doeth evil" shall suffer "indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish." Rom. 2:5-9. And Job, using the same language that Peter afterward used on the same subject, said, "The wicked is reserved to the day of destruction," and also, "they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath." Job 21:30. Language could not more forcibly express the doctrine of Rev. 20. 2 Thess. 1:9 says the wicked "shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power." Not, as it has been often quoted, "banished" from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, the possibility of which I cannot conceive; but punished with everlasting destruction, which destruction comes from the presence of the Lord. This destruction is by fire, as scores of texts clearly prove. Rev. 20:9, says the same thing. "Fire"-the agent of this destruction-"came down from God out of heaven and devoured them;" destroyed them; burned them up, root and branch. David says they shall consume away into smoke as the fat of lambs. Ps. 37:20. And thus from the glorious presence of the Lord their destruction comes down. And in regard to that class embraced in "the rest of the dead," Rev. 20:5, in distinction from the blessed and holy, verse 6, and on whom the second death is said to have power, the Saviour said of them, as evil-doers, they shall come forth from the graves to the resurrection of damnation. Paul said of them, there shall be a resurrection of the unjust; and the angel spoke to Daniel of them who sleep in the dust of the earth who shall awake to shame and everlasting contempt.

To Be Continued…

Not Hurt By the Second Death.

 Rev_2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the SECOND DEATH.

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.

Rev_20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the SECOND DEATH.

Rev_21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the SECOND DEATH.

I didn't make up the second death. The second death isn't some fantasy made up by man. The second death is a reality. We all grow up knowing we will die, this is a fact. As I get older this becomes more and more a reality. The knowledge you've lived long in comparison to a lot of people is something that brings you closer to the realization of your own eventual death. The first death. The first death won't be the last death for a lot of people. The second death means they'll be alive to die once again. The second death is the last death. When the very last of those die their second death, and when Satan and all the evil angels are punished and destroyed into nothingness, the death itself will never be again.

Oh what a glorious day, no more death! We MUST overcome and we will NOT be hurt of the second death! Oh by the grace of God, by the mercy of our LORD may we not be a part of the second death! Please, Lord, please, keep us from evil, all evil! Mercy.

All through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR now and forever!!!!!!! Amen!

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Resurrection of the Just and Unjust

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(EXCERPT)

The unjust will be resurrected, some object to this truth. The article we've been studying is vindicating the truth of the resurrection of the unjust- scripturally, logically. Pray for enlightenment through our Savior, by the Holy Spirit.

A Vindication of the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Unjust

By J.H. Waggoner 

CONTINUING STUDY….

Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

1Co 15:18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 

1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

1Co 15:20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 

1Co 15:21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming

They further endeavor to sustain the claim they make on verse 22 by an argument on the word "perish," in verse 18, thus: If Christ were not raised there would be no resurrection, and all would perish; but it is taught in the Scriptures that they who reject Christ will yet perish; and the meaning of the word perish is illustrated by the fact that all would perish if there were no resurrection; and therefore they that perish will not have a resurrection.

This is an argument presented by them with a great deal of confidence, but I consider it a very feeble one. The word is not changed in signification though they might perish under certain circumstances without a resurrection, and under other circumstances after a resurrection. The wages of sin is death; granted that  the wicked will be raised to be punished for their personal sins, and die a second time, that would not in the least change the meaning of the word death. But the great fault of this argument, and which is, indeed, the great fault underlying that whole system, is that it leaves out of sight the whole subject of personal probation and its consequences.

 It is admitted that if Christ had not come at all there would have been no resurrection, nor would there have been any probation for any of Adam's posterity. They would all have died exactly as they all die now, and exactly for the same reason, but no resurrection would have been admissible as there would have been no probation, and, of course, no personal responsibility; no further reward could have reached them. It is for this cause that Paul makes the future judgment rest on the resurrection of Christ.

Acts 17:31. The promise of a Saviour placed Adam and all his posterity under a new probation, and this and its consequent penalty must be taken into account in determining the reason for the perishing of any thereafter. So the argument on the word perish is worthless because it loses sight of the responsibility attaching to our personal actions. This statement of the error of that argument was publicly met by an esteemed brother of that faith with the following illustration: A boat upset, and the men were in danger of drowning; why? because the boat upset. But another boat put out from the shore to rescue them. Then if they refused to get into that boat, and were drowned, for what would we say they were then drowned? because they refused to get into the boat that came to their rescue. They drowned all the same; but being brought into relation to a new order of circumstances, their death is attributed to the neglect or rejection of these new privileges.

This illustration is as good as anything that could be presented to sustain that view. But as it regards meeting the point, it amounts to just nothing at all. Let us carry it a little further and see. Suppose part of the company had accepted the offered assistance and yet drowned with the others; for what would you say they then drowned? You cannot say they drowned because they refused the proffered aid, for they accepted it. You cannot say they drowned because the first boat upset, for that will destroy all the force of your illustration, which is designed to remove the drowning from its original cause. The illustration does not meet nor remove the difficulty; nor can it be removed. The gospel is the life-boat to save from drowning, or death; but whether or not we accept it we all alike die; and therefore the conclusion is unavoidable that if it accomplishes its object, it saves from a death beyond the present one-the second death. To this the Lord evidently refers in his declaration and appeal. In his declaration that if a man die in his sins he also shall die for his sins; Eze. 18:26; in his appeal to them, thus: "Turn ye, for why will ye die?" Eze. 33:11. If there shall be but one death, seeing that all must die that, the answer to the above question or appeal is easily given, thus-because they cannot help it; they have been subjected to the necessity of dying, and there is no way to escape from that necessity. 

To be continued

Why Do We Deny Truth?

 There will be the UNJUST, there will be the WICKED, there will be those who endure the SECOND DEATH. These are all Biblical truths. Not all is rosy and uplifting. When Christ ministered upon the earth, He called out the wicked! He didn't hide their wickedness from them. 

Mat 23:27  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. 

Jesus spoke truth, so why do we deny truth? I want to belong to the LORD, I long to be with my SAVIOR, I want to see HIM return! I want to rise to meet my LORD in the air and be with HIM for ever more! I don't want to be among the wicked, among the hypocrites, among those who are seemingly Christ's to all outward appearance but inwardly evil, God forbid! I do know the wicked exist! I do know evil exists! 

Jesus called out the wicked for their wickedness and He wanted them to turn from their wicked ways! May this be our desire, to turn from all wickedness and to desire all the wicked to turn from their wicked ways and seek Jesus Christ the LORD, their Savior!

We can't deny wickedness exists. We can't sugarcoat wickedness because to do so is to embrace deception and that is deadly, eternally deadly.

God help us! Keep us from evil, Father! PLEASE! We are such weak, sinful creatures! Please, save us from ourselves! Clean our hearts LORD, PLEASE.

All through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR now and forever!!!!!!!

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Resurrection of the Just and Unjust

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(EXCERPT)

The unjust will be resurrected, some object to this truth. The article we've been studying is vindicating the truth of the resurrection of the unjust- scripturally, logically. Pray for enlightenment through our Savior, by the Holy Spirit.

A Vindication of the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Unjust

By J.H. Waggoner 

CONTINUING STUDY….

Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

'I have seen a change of translation of Dan. 12:2, which is far more plausible than that produced by the opposers of the resurrection of the wicked. It is the substitution of the word multitude for many. "The multitude of them sleeping in the dust of the earth shall awake." I do not assert positively that it is correct, though the word there used is sometimes rendered multitude, in the Old Testament. 

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming

1 Cor. 15:22, is another passage which, in my mind, clearly teaches the resurrection of the unjust: "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." They are made alive in, or by, Christ; not, as some say, "all in Christ" are  made alive, but in Christ shall all be made alive. If this be not so, I cannot imagine what verse 23 can mean: "But every man in his own order." For if the righteous only are made alive there is but one order. And here I am obliged to say I must dissent in some respects from the expositions of this text that are

generally given by those who affirm the resurrection of the wicked. 

It is usually admitted that there are three orders in the text: 1. Christ; 2. His at his coming; 3. The rest of the dead, or the wicked. This is evidently an error, and also gives the whole ground, on that verse to the opposition; for, in allowing that Christ is one order, verse 23 becomes explainable without any reference to the wicked, there being two orders without them. But it will be noticed that the resurrection of Christ is made the basis of the argument for the resurrection of man, and it is in, or by, Christ that "all shall be made alive." When it says, "Every man in his own order," it refers to every man of them who are made alive in Christ, and to no others. And to make Christ one order in this list we must make his resurrection the basis of his resurrection; that is to say, Christ is included in the number who are made alive in Christ! but this is absurd. Some authors, whose research and learning entitle their opinion to consideration, apply the word translated end (telos) to the rest, or last part of the resurrected ones. On this, expositors are not agreed. Whether this be so or not, makes but little difference so far as this argument is concerned. The resurrection of the wicked is found in this passage in these expressions, "All be made alive," and, "Every man in his own order." To make sense of this it must be allowed that there is more than one order. And it is no detriment to this view that the argument in the latter part of the chapter is concerning them that are Christ's exclusively; as it is no uncommon thing to first state a great truth and then take up an argument upon a certain branch of that truth. And that this is a correct view of this text is proved by those scriptures which state in positive terms that there is more than one order of the resurrection, to wit, one of the just, and one of the unjust; one of them that have done good, and one of them that have done evil; one to everlasting life, the other to shame and condemnation.

To be continued…

Forgive.

 We are told this by our Savior-

Mat 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

Mat 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment

Even anger brings on reason for judgment, just as killing. We are guilty on so many levels, and Satan will use all sorts of things to get us to sin in our hearts. Satan doesn't care if we put on an outward show of sinlessness, as long as our hearts hold sin. And as long as our hearts hold sin, we are far from sinlessness even if we tell ourselves we are just because we don't commit the acts we might happen to think on. Our thoughts, our secrets, will be brought into judgment. We are all worthy of death even by our thoughts, we are all sinners, unable to cast that first stone. We must seek forgiveness and we must forgive all the time!

Rom_2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Cherished Fables May Cost Us Eternal Life.

 More than ever we need the Holy Spirit to enlighten us to all truth. We cannot be satisfied with flippant answers to serious subjects. We cannot ignore truth in favor of liking what we read. The truth isn't ours to toy with. So many aren't willing to dig deep into the Word, preferring to be spoon fed the food others have harvested. The trouble is preferring to be fed by others, means we don't really know if it is the food God would have us ingest. I'm not saying it's wrong to read what others have been led to write, but we have to study for ourselves what is true, not just believe it because we are used to being fed. We can't trust any human spiritual food source without praying and studying for ourselves. If we can take the spiritual food to the word of God and pray for enlightenment through the Holy Spirit, and study it out so that it a makes sense as it is given- then we can feast on the truth before us. To eat without prayer, without studying, endangers us in ways that put our eternal lives in peril. If we get so used to simply swallowing the word given to us by others that we don't do for ourselves -we may swallow lies, and a whole bunch of them. 

God please help us to KNOW YOU for ourselves, search for You, pray to You, study under the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the way You would have us do! We know some are teachers which means those teachers have students and students aren't teachers.  The students have to know that their teachers are teachers of truth, and not teachers of deception, and they must do this by prayer and trying the spirits…

1Jn_4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

This is our job! We must not just believe a teacher who speaks the things we like to hear, but try those teachers lessons by the Word of God and know whether those lessons are TRUTH. 

We are responsible, and Jesus will not want to hear that we were duped, not when we have a choice to choose truth over lies by searching for only truth. Our trying to blame another for leading us astray will not work. Many are going to tell Jesus that they were doing all sorts of wonderful things in His name, but Jesus is going to tell them He doesn't know them!  How scary is that?! That should get us digging deep into God's word for ourselves, praying for truth and only truth! If we have cherished fables to give up, may God give us the strength to do so. Those cherish fables are NOT WORTH our eternal life!  God help us ALL!

All in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Now and forever! AMEN!!!!!!!

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Resurrection of the Just and Unjust

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(EXCERPT)

The unjust will be resurrected, some object to this truth. The article we've been studying is vindicating the truth of the resurrection of the unjust- scripturally, logically. Pray for enlightenment through our Savior, by the Holy Spirit.

A Vindication of the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Unjust

By J.H. Waggoner 

CONTINUING STUDY….

Another objection, supposed to be insurmountable, is urged as follows; In announcing his hope, Paul said he believed all things which are written in the law and the prophets; but the prophets never said the wicked should be raised; therefore this was no part of his belief. A specious argument, truly, to avoid the force of a positive declaration! I have two objections to urge against this assertion:

(1) Those who claim as above are not always safe guides in regard to what the prophets teach. Probably not one of them would ever have known that Abraham had the resurrection taught to him, had not Paul affirmed it. Heb. 11:17-19. Perhaps this reference is the first of the idea to some of them. Nor would they have known that Jehovah's words to Moses prove a resurrection of the dead, had not Jesus so explained them. Luke 20:37, 88. Which of them, by reading Isa. 7:10-16, would ever have thought of applying this prophecy to the birth of Christ, had not Matthew so applied it. Matt. 1:23. And so I might quote a score of texts, for the application of which we are entirely dependent on the comments of New-Testament speakers and writers. In the light of these facts, it seems nothing short of arrogance to rise up against the plain statement of the apostle with a counter statement, in a matter wherein, from the very nature of the case, their testimony is not admissible against him. 

But (2) I affirm that the prophets do teach the resurrection of the wicked. Every text which has been, or might be, quoted to prove a future judgment of the wicked, is proof of their resurrection. Such texts are not scarce. But there is one at least which plainly and positively teaches the resurrection of the unjust. I refer to Dan. 12:2. I am not ignorant of the efforts made to destroy the force of this plain declaration. I should be very much surprised that men of learning have given such a criticism as to destroy the meaning of this text, were I not aware of the fact that learning is no safeguard against error. Prof. Bush was the first to start on this side-track, and quite consistently ended the course by entirely denying the literal resurrection of the dead. For here is where consistency requires us to go if we deny the resurrection of the wicked; for if such plain, positive statements as are found in John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15, and others, can be spiritualized away, then every text supposed to teach the resurrection of the dead may be likewise easily set aside.

That two classes are brought to view in Dan. 12:2, will not be denied. It is also admitted that there are two elliptical clauses in the text. Granting that the words rendered "some" should be rendered "these" and "those" (of which, however, I am not satisfied), the text will only be read correctly when the ellipses are properly supplied. They who deny the resurrection of the wicked read it thus: "Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, these the awakened to everlasting life, and those the unawakened to shame and everlasting contempt." The italic words in this reading point out where the ellipses are to be supplied. But the reading is altogether defective. In supplying an ellipsis, no new member should be introduced in the sentence; that only should be supplied, the omission of which

prevents tautology. In the reading quoted above, the ellipsis is supplied in neither case; but a comment or note of explanation inserted instead. This is not admissible. It will be seen that the sentences are precisely alike in construction, thus: "These---to everlasting life; and those---to shame and everlasting contempt." "These" and "those" refer to the individuals comprising the "many" that "awake;" and these individuals are not classified or separated into parties before these sentences are introduced, but are spoken of collectively. Hence, both sentences refer back to "shall awake," as their predicate, [understood.] Each sentence must have at least two elements, the subject, or nominative, and the predicate, or verb. "These the awakened to everlasting life," is not a complete sentence; "those the unawakened to shame," is open to the same objection. "Shall awake" is the only predicate relating to "life" and to "shame," respectively, as shown by the preposition. The omission of this in each case prevents  tautology; and its insertion does not introduce any new member in the sentence. Therefore this is the proper rendering of the text: "Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; these shall awake to everlasting life; and those shall awake to shame and everlasting contempt." And I contend that no other words can be inserted without perverting the text. Submitting this criticism to an accomplished teacher, he remarked that the only difficulty that the case presented was to prove a thing which was so evidently true. And this passage affords the most positive evidence of a resurrection of two classes, having entirely different destinies beyond the resurrection. If Paul believed all that was "written in the prophets," he must have believed in the resurrection of the unjust. And this was his confession of faith. Eld. Storrs, noticing the translation of "these" and "those," by Bush and Whiting, says: "Such being the facts, no argument in favor of the wicked dead being made alive again can be strengthened by using this text; for when translated according to Whiting and Bush, it is against the wicked's living from the dead." Life from the Dead, p. 39.

I have used the translation of Whiting and Bush, and I confidently appeal to the reader if it alters the sense of the passage so as, by any fair grammatical construction, to contradict the rising or awaking of the wicked. Bush, in his comment, says those refers to the unawakened; but a comment and a translation are quite different things. I have allowed the translation, though I do not think it beyond dispute. The same words-ailleh and weailleh-are translated "some" in other texts, and apparently correctly, as in Josh. 8:22, "some," "and some." And in truth they are the same word, the "we" being a prefix generally answering to the conjunction "and;" and it assuredly does answer to that word in the text in question. And so the LXX have rendered it in different places. Take, for instance, Ps. 20:7. "Some [Heb. ailleh-Gr. outoi] trust in chariots, and some [Heb. weailleh-Gr. kai outoi] in horses." And so in Dan. 12:2, both in Hebrew and Greek. Granting that "these" is generally a better rendering of ailleh and outoi than "some," there yet appears no necessity for a change of the word by the presence of the conjunction. 

In any possible view, I cannot see that the inference drawn from this passage by those who deny the resurrection of the unjust has any foundation whatever. I think the remark of Eld. Storrs is very unguarded, to say the least, and calculated to give the impression that a correct translation of the text makes it oppose the rising of the wicked, which is not the case.

To be continued….