Mankind Given Physical Life That Ends in Death
God has fixed an hour/time of death for each of us. Meaning it is given for all a physical death. Hebrews 9:27 “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement.” Psalm 80:48 “What man can live and not see death.” The Lord God, The Giver of Life has sovereign prerogative to claim human life. Acts 17:25 “He gives to all life, breath and all things.” Job 14:1 and 2 “A man’s time is a few days. He comes forth as a flower and fades away.” Psalm 103:15-17 “As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. The wind passed over it, and it is gone. Remembered no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.” The SPirit of Man, all that makes him who he is; his personality and character, at death are claimed by God and held to be given back at a physical or spiritual resurrection.
Paul and His Quandary
Philippians 1:22 Paul explains if he lives on in the flesh his labors will bear fruit. He also states, to live in Christ and die is gain. V23 “For I am hard pressed between the two.” Paul understood in death there is no passage of time. In the blink of an eye is the first and better resurrection. No one has passed to heaven or into a punishing hellfire — for there is in due time, a resurrection to physical life and opportunity. Paul has in mind for himself and proven Christians the first and preferable resurrection.
John 11:40-45 “Jesus restores life into Lazarus.”
This was not a resurrection. It was a resuscitation. Jesus restored Lazarus to physical life. Eventually Lazarus went the way of all flesh. He now awaits a spiritual resurrection to eternal life. Hebrews 9:27-28 “As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment to those who eagerly wait for Him. He will appear a second time, apart from sin for salvation.”
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Mark’s account is the briefest, containing only eight verses. The focus is on the women’s discovery of the empty tomb. Mark 16:1-4 A young man wearing a white robe, an angel announces, “He has risen.” Resurrected, now a spirit being who soon was to be seated on the Lord God’s right hand. Paul’s account as for in I Corinthians Chapter 15 is a very detailed explanation. It is understood that Messiah’s resurrection was from physical death (three days and three nights in the tomb) to spiritual everlasting life. Thus he has powers and abilities that can only be fully grasped in the reality of our resurrection. I Corinthians, Chapter 15 is a most important and comprehensive pronouncement. My words cannot do justice. Please read every word carefully yourself.
The First and Better Resurrection — Who Qualifies and Why
The Book of Revelation, beginning in the First Chapter and going through Chapter Three, lists Seven Christian Church Eras. In the time of John and the Apostles, these congregations were located on a mail route in the region, known today as Turkey. Focus will be on the messages given to John by Messiah, for Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. All Seven Church Eras typified the Seven Eras as found in the next 2,000 years of history. These last three eras can be located in the recent 150 years or so. Several traditions identify them. Three, being kept and still keep a 7th day, Saturday Sabbath. They keep the Old Testament Holy Days and the Torah (Mosaic laws). Revelation three, Jesus has words of encouragement for all Seven Eras. All worded a little differently — but with the same intent and purpose. Revelation 3:21 “To him who overcomes I will grant to site with me on my throne as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
The Resurrection to Spirit and to Physical Life
2000 years have passed and the first and better resurrection, in our time, will soon be a reality. Jesus returns to earth to take control and rulership. His saints accompany Him as he returns. Many will have been given an opportunity. The few responded and stayed the course. Revelations 20:4-6 “Those who had not worshipped the beast or his image lived and reigned with Christ for 1000 years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the 1000 years are completed. “
The Great White Throne Judgment: Revelation 20:11-15
The dead, small and great, stand before God. Books are opened. These books are a record, a history of their works and deeds. The other book, “The Book of Life,” is the Holy Scriptures, The Bible. Each is now judged according to knowledge and their words for 100 years. Those not found written in the Book of Life, that is righteous works, are cast into the lake of fire — eternal death. Fair judgement takes time. God and Messiah are merciful and generous. All are given time to prove themselves, one way or the other. They are not vengeful.
Let us develop this important subject. Ezekiel 37:1-14. Please read. This prophecy concerns the House of Israel, the descendants of Jacob — his twelve sons, scattered about the western world. North America; Central, Western and Northern Europe. The Gentiles also have an opportunity. Matthew 12:38-42 and Matthew 11:20-24. Again please read for yourself to gain a deeper understanding. Briefly the Pharisees ask for a sign. Christ tells the story of Jonah. The men of Nineveh repented at Jonah’s preaching. One greater is among them and they did not understand. Matthew 11:20-24 describes a physical resurrection for the Gentiles. All peoples of all nations of the world will have an opportunity for Eternal Life. For the children of Israel and all Gentiles (non-Israelites) God will provide a measure of His Spirit to guide and encourage.
Isaiah 65:20-25 indicates that there will be an allotted time span of 100 years during which all those who are brought back to physical life can qualify for eternal life. All must please the Lord God by their commitment to all the truth and instruction of scriptural righteousness. At the end of the hundred years of judgement, their change to immortal Spirit Beings will be the favor and reward of God and Messiah.
The Unpardonable Sin
Mark 12:31 and 32 — To speak blasphemy against the Holy Spirit simply means to hold in contempt the power of God to accomplish His purpose for humanity, as a group and individually. There will be some who had the opportunity to choose truth and righteousness, that is conforming to God’s standards of life outlined and detailed in Scripture. Instead they choose to reject the Lord and His Son. Messiah’s blood covers our sins — all of them. His life so that we can have life everlasting. Our ongoing work is continual, self-examination and true heartfelt repentance.
Some will have become incorrigible. They have determined, made an unchangeable decision. They are bitter, hateful, resentful and full of malice. God does not force repentance, He grants it to those who have a humble mind and heart and seek His favor. Those who reject God’s offer of Eternal Life — such a person who chooses to live in misery and pain. Who has become a threat to an orderly God-centered society, God will destroy him/her in the Lake of Fire, eternal death.
Revelations 12:8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving abominable, murders, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Hebrews 6:4-6 “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit (5) and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come (6) if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”
II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is loing-suffering toward us,” not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
I Timothy 2:4-6 “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (5) For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (6) who gave Himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time.”
Satan’s Last Rebellious Act and His Final Fate
To establish context and flow for Revelation 20:10, please read verses 1-3 and 7-9. Verse 10 needs special attention, as written it is somewhat confusing and misleading.
A review and some background information. At the end of the 1000 year reign of Messiah and His Saints, Satan is released. He organizes his final rebellion to upset God’s purpose and plans. The 1000 years expire. Then begins the 100 year general resurrection, the Great White Throne Judgement.
Revelation 20:10 “The devil who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Satan cast into the lake of fire where the beast and false prophet “are” a translated insert. These two men organized the nations into fighting great wars among themselves and war upon Messiah and His Saints on their return to earth. The beginning of Millennial rule of Jesus Christ. Their efforts fail. The Lord God installed Messiah as Savior, King and High Priest for all time and for all humanity, past, present and future.
Examining the Word Tormented
The word tormented as used in Verse 10 conveys the idea of ongoing forever suffering. Liberties have been taken with this word to make a case for suffering, ever-burning hellfire. The correct word here in Verse 10 should be torment. This word has several related meaning. Such as afflict, distress, judgement, trouble and punishment. Judgement and punishment more clearly define their fate. These three rebels who refuse to repent are tossed into a lake of burning fire and brimstone. First the beast and false prophet upon Christ’s takeover of the earth. After this Satan’s last act of rebellion to usurp the Lord God and Jesus Christ.
The judgement and punishment is eternal death. No hope for life — the fire destroys life. They will exist only as a memory, a lesson for all time. God and His Son are merciful. They hate sin and suffering. There is no ongoing burning hellfire or torment and destruction. Their death is as if they never had an existence. There is no tormenting, eternal-burning, suffering hellfire for the incorrigible. Revelation 21:8 the final words are “Fire and brimstone which is the second death.”