Summary: The Fallacy of the Thrid Resurrection (No. 166z)

The resurrection of the dead is the hope of Christians. True Christians do not believe in the immortal soul doctrine, which was adopted by the Church of Rome centuries after the time of Christ and the apostles. There are two resurrections for humans. The first is for those called and chosen and a second resurrection is at the end of the thousand years for the rest of the dead.

See the paper The Resurrection of the Dead (No.143), where the subject of the pre-Adamic humanoids (Nephilim or Rephaim) is dealt with in detail. Isaiah 26:13-14 shows these beings are denied a resurrection. The introduction of the immortal soul doctrine into the Roman Catholic Church was from the mystery cults originating in Babylon and Greek thought, and from Gnosticism. It served to control people through their expectations of the afterlife.

These teachings of the state of the dead included heaven and hell and the intermediary states of limbo and purgatory, which true Christians do not believe. See the paper The Soul (No. 92). The teaching on purgatory was that one must suffer for sins committed after baptism.

The members of one of the Churches of God in the 20th century were controlled with the doctrine of the third resurrection. They said if one left that church after baptism they had blasphemed the Holy Spirit and were consigned to the third resurrection, which meant the lake of fire and eternal damnation! This extraordinary teaching is truly blasphemy against the nature of God.

Isaiah 26:13-14 is saying that the elect failed to bring deliverance to the earth or bring the people to repentance or destroy its systems. This is prior to the end and the first resurrection.

The prophet Jeremiah also refers to the dead at the end of the world's systems as being God's dead men, and he was also with them in the first resurrection. The people of God then enter into chambers prepared for them and the doors are shut (Isa. 26:19-21). This shutting of doors is referred to in Matthew 25:1ff. in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. This was to show that the wise virgins referred to in Revelation 14:4 enter the doors of the kingdom of God which are shut behind them and none can get in. The hour of trial then comes on the earth in which the Philadelphian church system is protected. The foolish virgins of the Sardis and Laodicean systems do not go in. These two churches aren't in the first resurrection, only a few individuals make it.

Revelation 7:3.shows that the earth and sea are not hurt until the servants of the Lord are sealed. These are sealed for the nation of Israel referred to in Isaiah 26:19. The elect of God are grouped with the Lamb (the returned Messiah) until the nations are overthrown. They become the Temple of God. This prophecy of the Day of the Lord covers the period of one thousand years from the first to the second resurrection. Thus, Isaiah 26:19 covers the Millennium of Revelation 20:4.

Contrary to the soul doctrine, the state of the dead is silence (Ps. 115:7), darkness (Ps.143:3), and they know nothing (Eccl.9:5). They are termed sleeping or fallen asleep (Mat. 9:24; Lk.8:52; Jn.11:11; 1Cor.11:30; 1Thes.4:13; 2Pet.3:4). God will work wonders for the dead and they will rise to praise Him (Ps.88:10). Job knew he would live again and see his Redeemer (Job.19:25,27). There hasn't been anyone resurrected and gone to heaven except Jesus Christ, who had come down from heaven (Jn.3:13).

The saints await the resurrection at the return of Christ. Christ raised the dead that we might know that He is the Messiah (Mat.11:4-5). The raising of Lazarus was an example of that power (Jn.11:11). When Christ was crucified others were raised from the dead at His death. The traditions of Israel say they were later murdered.

From the first resurrection the millennial rule of the saints will commence. The saints will rule the nations in strength as a rod of iron (Rev.2:26-27). In the resurrection there will be no marriage (Mat.22:30). Once resurrected they will be changed into immortal spiritual bodies (1Cor.15:44) as sons of God working with Christ in power (1Thes.5:10). Only the righteous will go into the first resurrection.

It is God's desire that no flesh should perish but that all should reach repentance (2Pet.3:9). The whole of mankind aren't raised in the first resurrection. They will rise after the millennial reign of the Messiah (Rev.20:11-13) to a period of judgement or correction (Jn.5:29) that appears to extend over one hundred years (Isa.65:20). All mankind will be taught to receive the gift of eternal life. They will choose to live the right way or be corrected and given the opportunity to know God and His Laws. It is a period of judgement not damnation. When they die they will be translated to spirit life in the kingdom of God. However, if they absolutely refuse to repent they will die and their bodies burnt in Gehenna fire (Mat.5:22; Mk.9:43; Lk.12:5; Jas.3:6).

There is no place of eternal torment for the dead. Evil, death and the grave are concepts, not people. The concepts are aspects of existence and that is what is thrown into the lake of fire. The Beast is a system of world government and not a person. It is not a false prophet but false prophesy. These concepts are thrown into the lake of fire. Evil under the demonic host also goes. No person goes into eternal torment (that is no living thing, neither Satan nor the fallen host). God is not a sadist. He is a God of mercy and justice. He simply allows things to die. The demonic host will be removed and reduced to human beings in the second resurrection. They will be dealt with to repent or be allowed to die. It is probable that not one person or spirit being of the entire creation of God will perish, because it is not God's will that we perish.

The wicked that are alive at the return of Christ will be killed and consigned to the second resurrection (Mal.4:3). Because of their rejection of Christ, Judah the sons of the kingdom, are thrown into outer darkness (Mat.8:12) of the second resurrection instead of partaking of the divine nature (2Pet.1:4), and the first resurrection. Many are called but few are chosen to undertake this task (Mat.22:13-14).

Many who espouse Christ but mistreat the elect or aren't diligent (Mat.25:30) will be in fact consigned to the second resurrection (Mat.24:51, 25:30). There are many excluded (Lk.13:26-27), and even those in the first resurrection are relocated in order of precedence (Lk.13:30).

From Revelation 20:11-15, the so-called third resurrection was asserted from the sea giving up its dead. This Scripture is referring to the Great White Throne Judgement when the book of life is opened at the general or second resurrection. To try to infer that verse 13 refers to another resurrection is absurd. Those not found in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire (Rev.20:15). They die the second death. There is a process from the first resurrection found written in the book of life of the Lamb.

Not only was the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world but also the plan of God saw who was to be called and written into the book of life (Eph.1:4; Rev.13:8). The book of life contains all those who attain to eternal life. The entire process of human activity is contained in it, but there is a progressive process so that the human race and fallen host attain eternal life at different times. The text says that those not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire. This implies some will perish. It is not God's will that they perish as He provides a means for their salvation (Rom.8:29-30). God foreknew the elect. He determined who would be called, justified and glorified.

God doesn't call people who fail (Rom.8:28). This belief is central to the faith. The third resurrection doctrine assumes God would call some who would fail. This is a misunderstanding of Christ's statement that many are called but few chosen (Mat.22:14). The idea that God would call many and reject the greater part then destroy those rejected is an insidious heresy. The love of God is greater than the understanding of man. The fact is many hear the message but fall by the way shown in the parable of the sower. God gives His spirit to all who ask, but it's removed from those who do not follow His Law and the testimony of His Messiah He sent.

Those who teach the third resurrection doctrine claim that people who come into that organisation are part of the body of Christ only while in that organisation. This is false. Being called is held to be the same as coming into judgement. The called but not chosen are not brought into judgement because God knows that they aren't capable of coming into judgement now. Their time of salvation is for a later period. This doctrine asserts that God called these people and didn't know what they would do. They were given an opportunity but failed so were consigned to the lake of fire in the third resurrection.

But God foreknows His people that He calls and gives them to Christ. He is omniscient and He is omnipotent and perfectly good so this doctrine is false. It stems from a misreading of Scripture and a desire to instil fear and control in the body of the Church. This control is necessary because the major part of those brought into the body of the organisation, as opposed to the Body of Christ, are unconverted and badly educated in the structure of the faith.

God knows when and how each of us will react to the call. He will not give salvation to those who are incapable of acting as elohim in the resurrection. The people are not allowed to come into judgement so that they can be saved in the long term. Those who sin in the Church are put out of the Body of Christ so that their lives might be saved in the Day of the Lord (1Cor.5:5), i.e. the day of judgement. God is merciful and acts to save all flesh.

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