And Second Resurrection Judgment

An Expose of Events That Lead To The New Earth

            Jesus presents to us the true course of man’s prophetic destiny: “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet [not a whisper as the secret rapture insists], and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds [the compass headings of north, south, east, and west], from one end of heaven to the other.” “Our GOD shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.” “His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD,” “and every eye shall see Him.”  Matt.24:37-39,30,31; Ps.50:3, 97:4,5; Rev.1:7.

            Every lesson for our future has its source in the Bible’s record of history just as every principle Jesus taught and miracle He displayed echoed the examples from the Old Testament.  This principle, having been thoroughly established let us see the historical parallels for the last events ushering our world to "the last day" (Jn.6:44).  Among its finest examples is found in the persecution of the Hebrew slaves in Egypt.  The events leading to the Hebrew exodus from Egyptian bondage matches perfectly the coming events leading to the 2nd Advent of Jesus and the great exodus of the saints from this world to the promised land of heaven.  Even the wilderness that the Hebrews had to travel across to reach “the land of Canaan” is equivalent to the vast wilderness of space the saints will travel across to reach their new eternal homes in the heavenly Canaan: “new Jerusalem.”  And as the land of Canaan provided established homes, wells and vineyards for the Hebrew people, so the saints will arrive in heaven where everything stands in readiness for their arrival to meet their every need—and joy will flow from every heart. 

            This parallel also includes the plagues seen in both events.  As the ten plagues of Egypt intensified due to pharaoh refusing to let Israel go, so "the seven plagues" will likewise intensify as today's religious leaders (under the papal banner) refuse to relent on the death decree that they are prophesied to legislate against the saints (Rev.13:15).  And as Pharaoh, and all who followed him perished when he tried to destroy Israel, so will the pope and all who follow him perish when the death sentence is decreed against “the saints.”  Whether in a city, a nation, or the whole world, GOD’S retribution stands ready against those who threaten “the apple of his eye” (Deut.32:10).  Little consideration is given to the Saviour’s warning words to those who “neglect so great a salvation” by their refusing to allow GOD’S faithful children the basic means to live: “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” Heb.2:3; Matt.25:45.

            Right on the brink of human extinction at the close of “the seven plagues” the greatest rescue of human history will be seen: the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ!  His 2^nd Advent brings to a close the battle of “Armageddon” (Rev.16:16).  “The Saviour,” with His retinue of holy angels will stand stationary in the sky while the Earth continues its rotation of a thousand miles per hour beneath His feet; and for twenty-four hours the landscape beneath Him will be melting as wax before the fire (Mic.1:4; Zech.14:12).  But the guardian angels of His faithful children will be ahead of the blazing tempest beneath the Saviour’s feet (Matt.18:10), gathering the sacred harvest from the living and the faithful dead: those that Jesus calls forth from the grave (Matt.24:31): those who followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and/or believed His Word (Rom.2:13-15).  This is “The day of the Lord” (I Thess.5:2)!


            Despite the many fictitious descriptions of Armageddon, the coming of Jesus Christ is simply the conclusion of the final battle between the eternally disobedient church (I Tim.1:5-11) and the eternally faithful Church bearing both Christ’s obedience to His Ten Commandment Law and His virtuous character (Jn.12:48; Rev.17:14).

            Today, Catholic, Protestant, and certain Muslim theologians refuse the above passages concerning the manner of Christ’s return and their associated prophecies of the Earth’s desolation.  They all insist that Jesus will come to Jerusalem and establish a millennium of peace for the people of Earth, and that we are called to wait for the fulfillment of what they declare as truth and obedience to GOD.  Do they have the “sure word of prophecy” (II Pet.1:19)?  What is our means to verify or disqualify their claim?  “To the law [the Ten Commandments]: and to the testimony [the Holy Bible]: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa.8:20.  GOD promises to bless the understanding of those who follow His Law and Testimony as it is written: “A good understanding have all they that do his commandments.” Ps.111:10. 

            Jesus gave several prophecies exposing the fallacy of this false manner of Christ’s return and the millennium of man’s peaceful habitation on the Earth.  His words are clear and without remonstrance: “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt.24:23-27.
            At the core of the churches apostasy is the fact that today's prophecy gurus never include sin as the cause for the battle of “Armageddon.”  Why?  “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not” “and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction.” II Cor.4:3,4; II Thess.1:8,9.  Nevertheless, it is the church’s determination to consolidate sin as the rule of government that causes Earth’s final battle of Armageddon.  It has nothing to do with Russia or China invading the Middle East and attacking the nation-state of Israel.  But Satan will carry out his agenda through “the false prophet” as far as he is allowed (Rev.20:10).  He will fulfill the fabrications of his own devising through “the beast” (papal Rome) and “the false prophet” (Protestant America).  And the vast majority of professing Christians will be deceived by these “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ,” “whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” II Cor.11:13; Phil.3:19.

            In conclusion: “Armageddon” is simply the culmination of the age-old death-match between the two branches of the human family represented by Cain and Abel (Gen.4:8).

As Cain demanded salvation according to his method (Gen.4:3-5) whose indulgence to sin led him to murder his little brother Abel, so today’s Christianity demands salvation according to their method, whose bold, unapologetic sins against the Holy Law of GOD is leading them to follow in the footsteps of Cain, to murder those who stand faithful to GOD’S perfectly-simple requirements (Jn.8:43-47).  In the end of time, the “offering” of apostate Christianity will be seen as the offering of Cain, where “the LORD…had not respect.” (Gen.4:5; Rev.16:10,11).           

            “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rev.1:1) confirms the millennium of Earth’s desolation: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit [the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew, lifeless abyss (Gen.1:2; Jer.4:23)] and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 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.  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 [papal Rome], neither his image [the pagan idol of Sunday], neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands [by standing faithful to Christ and not sharing in the sins of the church and its persecution of the saints]; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection.”  Rev.20:1-5. 

            The culprits responsible for causing the battle of Armageddon ushering the 2nd Advent of Jesus and the Earth’s desolation are clearly identified: “A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground. Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture. And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD. He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.” Jer.25:31-38.

            The time of Armageddon begins at the 6th plague (Rev.16:12-16) and concludes at the 7th plague ushering the 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ. The resurrected righteous and the living “remnant,” [the “little flock” (Lu.12:32) who endured the final threat from sinful men (Jer.30:6,7) without tasting death (I Thess.4:15)] will be carried up by their guardian angels to “meet the LORD in the air” (v.16) They will then depart from the Earth, leaving it in a state of darkness and desolation. The prophets of GOD were vivid in their description of what is to come after the saints depart for heaven. Wrote the prophet Jeremiah: “I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void [as lifeless as in the beginning (Gen.1:2)]; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly [like waves of the sea]. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger. For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end. For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.” Jer.4:23-28.

            As the Earth enters the millennium of night (Isa.21:12) the “glorified” saints are to soar with Christ through space to their heavenly home for a thousand years as He promised: “My kingdom is not of this world.” “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you [in heaven]. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again [at the 2nd Advent], and receive you unto myself [“in the clouds”]; that where I am [“standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55)], there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” Jn.18:36;14:2-4.

             As the saints become acquainted with their new homes in the “new Jerusalem:” homes and communities that will last “for ever and ever,” the judgment of Satan, his angels and unrepentant men is to take place. “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge this world...Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” I Cor.6:2,3.

            “A thousand years” is prophesied to review the history of sin where every question will be answered concerning GOD’S response to the defiance of Satan, demons and men who chose sin as their rule of life over and above GOD’S forgiveness and promises. But to “every one whom his spirit made willing” to repent, “to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (Ex.35:21; Jn.1:12,13). GOD’S desire to love and to serve the wellbeing of all created life will be explored by the great multitude of the redeemed. His decisions will be vindicated in every case showing that GOD always worked redemptively in the lives of angels and men, proving beyond a shadow of doubt the truth of John’s words, “God is love.”

            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. Now 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 own desire for peace: 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 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 calls 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, etc. all who stand in "the second resurrection" must see just what it is that they battled against. The number of “the wicked” has been estimated between 40 and 120 billion people. 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 He would do: “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 anyone and anything 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 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.