THE FUNERAL OF TENS OF BILLIONS OF MEN AND ANGELS

"For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." Rom.14:10

     There will be a time when certain prophecies of the Holy Bible will be fulfilled. We trust the plain words of Scripture simply because the prophecies of ages past that came to pass give us the assurance that the prophecies of the future will likewise come to pass. In this study we want to get a handle on the events surrounding "the second resurrection" judgment of men who refused to repent of sin and receive the eternal inheritance promised by GOD through the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

     After the Millennial Judgment, Christ with His Saints return to Earth. “The holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,” returns to a dark, foreboding world: a world that was left in desolation for a thousand years following "the seven plagues" and Christ's 2nd Advent. Now, at the time of Christ's 3rd and final Advent, is the time for the second resurrection and final judgment to end the existence of sin and sinners. Now is the time for fallen, unrepentant angels and men to see how they have been relentlessly warring against their innermost desire for utopian life: the heaven-born attribute that GOD placed in their hearts “from the beginning.”

     The prophecy unfolds: “Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye [of the second resurrection] shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.” “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints [the redeemed among men], To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Zech.14:3-5; Jude 14,15.

     The saints will then witness the last and final demonstration of evil in its unquenchable thirst for domination. Jesus has called forth from the grave every man, woman, and child (of the age of accountability) who remained bonded with their sins and thus are to perish in their sins. Jesus had provided a way of escape for the whole human race! But for whatever reason: ignorance, belligerence, all having no love for the truth—all who stand in "the second resurrection" must see just what it is that they battled against. The total number of the human population has been estimated between 40 and 120 billion people. And the Scriptures are clear that the vast majority of them will have forfeit eternal life. Satan, with his vast host of demons, who were “bound a thousand years” on a desolate world of their own making conspire with the countless men, women and children (of the age of accountability) to assault and conquer the city of GOD. After their preparations for war are complete they proceed to march and surround the “New Jerusalem” whose dimensions according to Scripture translate to be nearly the size of America’s state of Colorado (375 miles wide by 375 miles deep). It is truly “the mountain of the LORD of hosts” (Zech.8:3). Its radiance will sparkle every color of gemstones, stunning the vast host of the human family who stand outside of its gates.

     “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city.” Rev.20:9. The likes of this army the world has never known! The earth shakes with every step of the march of “evil doers” comprising a battle line over 1500 miles long and many miles wide. As they approach the gates of solid pearl (Rev.21:21) Jesus then makes His Presence known to the surrounding host: high and lifted up: “And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it;” and the Judgment begins: “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.20:12.

     Jesus Christ laying down His life has made provision for every man who has ever lived to receive both pardon from sin and the companionship of the Holy Spirit. Not one among men needed to face what GOD had “prepared for the devil and his angels:” “everlasting fire,” bringing their “everlasting destruction” (Matt.25:41; II Thess.1:9). But the many tender urgings of GOD on their hearts went unheeded, the many convictions on their conscience were viewed as weakness; and by their free choice, they chose to die rather than believe “God is love.” Satan ruled their lives and they would have it no other way. And a million years of additional life would’ve changed nothing.

     Multitudes of Jews, Christians, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, New Agers, witches, psychics, astrologers, mediums, spiritualists, Satan worshippers and Atheists alike, deceived into believing that GOD accepts the sinner in an unconverted, unrepentant condition will review the convictions from their conscience many times warning them of their wrongs in life. Tens of billions from both the religious and secular world lived out their lives seeking only their gain, unwilling to face their moral poverty and believe GOD’S eagerness to forgive and redeem them for the everlasting kingdom of His Son, if only they would honor the Law Christ obeyed and died to uphold as it was prophesied of Christ: “he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.” Isa.42:21.

     And many from the multitudes who claimed to believe in God and obeyed the Gospel will stand before the throne, and in sheer belligerence claim the right of entry into the city: popes, cardinals, priests, bishops, evangelists, televangelists, rabbis, imams, monks and gurus: all demanding that their good works allow them to enter through the gates—quickly forgetting that they marched along side of those who were determined to violently conquer the city as Satan gave them the command to do. They all insist that GOD is indebted to them: that their many sins should be excused for their few good deeds. It is these that Jesus prophesied in His Sermon on the Mount: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven...” Matt.7:21.

     Then there are the congregations who followed the example of their ministers: all united in the spirit of indolence and defiance of Christ’s holiness, having no true love for GOD as measured by their indifference to the truths of Scripture and lack of love for their fellow man (I Jn.4:20).

     Then there are the vanity laden individuals: the once beautiful women who only took glory to themselves for the beauty that GOD had given them, just as Satan took glory to himself for the beauty GOD endowed him with (Eze.28:12,17). Standing with them will be the once muscular and handsome men who likewise lived a life of vanity; void of lending their ears to hear Christ’s entreaties gently tugging on their hearts, urging their faith to read the Bible and believe GOD’S promise of salvation, and the Scripture’s promise to restore the vigor and beauty of their youth—to last for all eternity (Mal.4:2).

     Then there are the athletes, businessmen and neighbors whose competitive spirits were ever striving to defeat their fellow man in life’s contests for the supremacy, void of seeing the danger of “variance” that Paul earnestly warned against, listing it among “the works of the flesh,” that disqualify salvation (Gal.5:16-21).

     Then there are the intellectuals, both in and out of the church, “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (II Tim.3:7): doctors, lawyers, politicians, theologians, philosophers, scientists and engineers, all devoting their lives to “cunningly devised fables” and “science falsely so called” (II Pet.1:16; I Tim.6:20): none realizing that great intellect is no measuring stick of godliness, as evidenced by Satan’s vastly superior intellect, focusing his every power to destroy anything and anyone that stands in his way, including GOD Himself (Lu.22:1-4).

     Then there’s the criminal element seen in hundreds of millions of people: petty crooks and two-bit thugs who kept trying to satisfy “the lusts of the flesh” that Solomon said can never be satisfied (Eccl.1:8). The gang members, gangsters, murderers, torturers, adulterers, habitual liars, thieves, robbers, muggers, rapists, child-molesters: those whose thirst for sin was never quenched, living out their days with no remorse; no repentance!

     Then there will be those who murdered their parents, and parents who murdered their children. A mother’s greedy son will be standing there, beholding the breathtaking beauty of the city of GOD and declare, “I murdered my mother for her gold ring, and I could have had this?” Woefully ignorant of the promises and warnings of GOD the vast host of the unrepentant will be standing there: those who disqualified the Presence of GOD from their souls through living a life of indulgence, forfeiting eternal life for some “pleasure in unrighteousness,” ever indifferent to the needs of others; seeking only the selfish moment, never the intimate hope for life’s perfection of character as demonstrated through the life of Jesus Christ. All that we have ever wanted to be, Jesus Christ has ever been!

     All of the things people lie for, cheat for and kill for; never realizing that everything their hearts desired for life: universal peace, eternal youth, beauty, riches, and immortality, GOD has promised through the sacrifice of “his only begotten Son” that He will lavish all the treasures of heaven upon the redeemed from this world: the heavenly riches that will make all the possessions of this world look beggarly by comparison.

     Evidence of this is seen in the Earth’s surface before the flood of Noah’s day. It was beautifully decorated and adorned with heaven’s treasures: of life, gold and gemstone: “And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.” Gen.2:12. But the glory of the materials and craftsmanship of the New Jerusalem will exude a level of beauty beyond all loveliness. Its radiance will captivate every eye beholding it.

     After every individual reviews the history of their lives, remembering the few moments where unselfish love was drawn from them by GOD, they acknowledge their denial of conscience through which the “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit spoke to their sense of judgment, justice, and hope. Gently, GOD tugged their heart-strings with Love’s urge and call as the LORD said, “Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock…” (Rev.3:20). But a million years of life would not have changed that decision welded to their hearts, for there is a simple boundary men cross where revision is never achieved and repentance can never come. Jesus identified this as the unpardonable sin of silencing GOD’S Voice in the heart—forever (Mk.3:28,29; Pr.1:23-30).

     And then, finally, the father of sin takes center stage. Satan's nakedness is exposed before them all! At that time the prophecy of his infamy will be fulfilled: “All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell [the grave], to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners” [held in the shackles of sin]. Isa.14:10-17.

     At this time the prayer of Asaph will be answered: “Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.” Ps.83:16. All will see that their decision to reject GOD’S love was utterly foolish. Even the basic goals that GOD has given to all life: the desire to live, to love, and to be loved will draw from them all, Satan, demons and men, a weight of regret and repentance that will lead everyone, including Satan himself, to voluntarily bow the knee before Jesus Christ, acknowledging His rightful place with the words, “just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints” (Rev.15:3).

     But their characters haven’t changed. And although their hearts are touched with a moment of repentance it is not a lasting repentance. Throughout their lives, true remorse for sin held no place in their hearts. They stood forever blind to the beauty of the Spirit-filled words of the Apostle Paul, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” II Cor.7:10. Apologies often come, but apologies without reformation are merely empty words as it is written: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Prov.28:13. If they could overpower and destroy “our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints” they would!

     The Great Judgment of Satan and sinners draws to its conclusion. Death by fire ensues: “and fire came down from GOD out of heaven and devoured them.” A world-encompassing ocean of lava consumes every trace of sin’s blight on the Earth. Everything is swallowed up by the fire and reduced “to ashes upon the earth.” The Apostle Peter prophesied, “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition [the total and eternal extinction] of ungodly men.” II Pet.3:7.

     After “the lake of fire” sweeps the globe of every trace of sin’s presence the fire goes out! Jesus will then fulfill His promise: “Behold, I make all things new.” Rev.21:5. The saints, keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus with tears for those who He died to save, will then witness the full magnificence of Creation Week as it was first recorded in the Genesis account. For six days the saints will witness Jesus re-create the Earth. And everything appears as He speaks “the Word:” the water, the land, the sky, the colors, the diversity of life, the fragrant aromas—the restful sounds! And after all the “work” is done on “the sixth day” “the Saviour” with His vast multitude of redeemed children enter the first Seventh-day Sabbath of the New Earth.

     Universal tranquility is restored, never to be threatened ever again as GOD promised through His prophet Nahum, “affliction shall not rise up the second time.” Na.1:9. Eternal Paradise begins—as it was, “In the beginning.” Every ideal of the human heart will be fulfilled—every lofty goal achieved, with art, music, engineering and inventions far beyond our present ability to comprehend the riches that await life in eternity! The explorers among men will sail the heavens and discover glories that GOD prearranged for their joy. And all will carry out their eternal dreams without imposing a single threat on any living thing.

     The life of Jesus Christ will forever reign as the Source for all enjoyment, discovery and purpose. At long last, the saints will see that everything they have ever wanted to be, Jesus Christ has ever been! And thus, the famous closing words of childhood fables will find their perfect fulfillment:

“And they lived happily ever after.”

“And all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38:7.