Ready with where he should pick up the thought, Adam continues. “Well as you just read the false prophet and the Beast are thrown into the lake of fire at the return of Jesus. Now we are told, Satan is chained up in there as well. For a thousand years the world will be free of his evil influence to sin. The world will be rebuilt and healed of its wounds with the help of the people that are left alive on the world after the battle of Armageddon. They will repopulate the earth and take care of it under the guidance of the newly resurrected children of God. These people and their offspring will be the first humans to live on the earth without the influence of Satan pulling them towards sin. It will be a thousand years of peace and prosperity.”
Isaac nods. “I've heard people talk about this millennial time, but it never fit in with going to heaven. They couldn't figure out how the time line worked, so they supposed it was poetic scripture and not meant to be taken literally.”
“Well they were right,” Stated Adam confidently. “It doesn't fit in with going to heaven, because we don't go to heaven. God brings his Kingdom to us. Humanity isn't supposed to escape the mess they’ve made here on the earth, we have to stay and fix our problems, our physical, spiritual and social problems.”
Isaac starts typing. “Let me find those scriptures,” he says with vigour. “Here is one about Satan being chained up.
Revelation 20:1-3
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
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.
It says that he will be let go after the thousand years is over, why is that?”
“We'll get to it,” Adam says.
“OK,” Isaac replies. “But I have never heard this story before.”
“Is it coming out of the Bible?” Adam questions.
“Ya, whatever,” Retorts Isaac. “Here are some more scriptures supporting your story. Oh sorry, I mean the story from, the Bible, about the plan of God.”
Adam shoots a look at Isaac but refrains from responding. Isaac is grinning as he looks up more scripture.
“Here are some more.
Ezekiel 47:8-9
Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.
9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.
And more here in
Romans 8:20-23
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Nature gets rebuilt when the believers get their new bodies.”
“Exactly!” Adam says enthusiastically. “We receive our new bodies and the world gets rebuilt when Jesus returns.”
“I have heard these verses put in a different context, but we can keep going. I want to see how this plays out,” Isaac states curiously. “So you believe that the newly born physical-spirit children of God are the leaders in this millennial time of restoration.”
“That’s Right,” Adam nods. “Look it up. We are to become Kings and Priests. Kings and Priests over who?”
Isaac frowns and types some more. “Revelation 20:6,” he hollers over the truck noise.
“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.”
After more searching Isaac finds another section of scripture. “Here as well, I think it will be on topic.
Isaiah 30:18-22
And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.
20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:
21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.
I suppose this will be the first time that mankind has lived without the influence of Satan, because he was in the Garden of Eden at the beginning. It should be such a joyous time for humanity, everyone happily following in the loving ways of God.”
“No, I don't think so. Why should people be any better than the angels were?” Adam contends. “They lived with God in piece, but one third of them rejected his ways of love and it ended in open warfare.”
“You can be such a wet blanket!” Isaac huffed. “I just read that people will live in the ways of God. Not only that, but they will be personally guided in the way they should go. You’re such a confusing person; why not agree that they will all be living in a happy paradise?”
Adam shakes his head as he answers. “I’d love for it to be a utopian paradise, if that was true. But people are people, with or without Satan. Our minds are continually bent towards sin. Read about what happens to those who don't follow God's ways. Some people have to be disciplined before they follow God.”
“I’ll look that up, along with the mind of man,” said Isaac. “Ya, here it is. Genesis 6:5.
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
As well as here,
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
I suppose we are wicked. I will start to look for verses on those who don't follow God.” Isaac types his next search into the lap top. “Here’s some,
Zechariah 14:16-17
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.”
“Yes, not everyone will willingly follow God. Notice that they aren't referred to as his children, but as his people, to become a child of God we have to be led by the Spirit, accept Jesus and have our sins forgiven,” Adam tells Isaac.
“Yes I did notice that subtle difference. Jesus told us to call out to God, not only as father, but daddy, making it a much more intimate relationship. Here is a verse for your point,” Isaac said before reading aloud.
Romans 8:14-15
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not recei
ved the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
Adam continues laying out the plan as he understands it. “So here we have a world rebuilt and healed from the devastating legacy of mankind. Remember that if God had not stepped in, no flesh would have survived.”
“Oh. I can find those easy.” Isaac exclaimed excitedly.
“Mark 13:20
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
And then again in,
Matthew 24:22.
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
I like those verses because the Christians are why the world gets saved. If it wasn't for us, God would let everyone die.”
“Yes that is true,” Adam agrees. “But don't forget that the word flesh is not only restricted to human beings. Animals are also referred to as flesh.”
“I didn't think of that,” Isaac admitted. “Christians are even more important in that context. The entire world is only saved because of us.”
“Ya maybe, but I wouldn't go around bragging about it,” Adam admonished. “Like I was saying, this group of people will not have Satan around to bother them. I believe the people who are born into this thousand year period will not be as spiritually strong as those of us who have to fight against Satan daily. My own speculation is that some of them will not believe that there is even such a being as Satan. Nothing in their world would have revealed him to them. Their life experience will be of generations of peace and prosperity. He potentially will be remembered only through ancient tales and stories.
I have no scriptural proof, but I believe that since these people will be taught and called by God to learn of his ways during their lives in the Millennium, free from the pull of sin, that this will be their time to choose to follow him and gain eternal life. This being the first time they have been alive, I think those who die not accepting Jesus during the millennium, will be included in the resurrection of the condemned as it ends with the second death. All those who willingly reject the deliverance of Jesus will be thrown into the lake of fire.
This resurrection of the condemned would provide closure for the family of God and a time of sober reflection for those brought back to physical life to face their punishment. They will have no excuses as there was no external force of sin that lead them to reject God. The decision to go their own way would have come from inside of them, reflecting who they truly are.”
“What do you mean, I think, I believe, I have no scriptural proof?” Isaac asked indignantly. “You said that this was the provable plan of God? Not the imaginings of some old senile trucker. Why should anyone trust and believe in your speculations?”
“The only part I am speculating on is the process those alive during the millennium go through to become children of God,” Adam strongly stated defensively. “Following the two prime directives, of everyone gets to choose Jesus and God wants all that will accept him as children, both of which we previously discussed and agreed on, then this is the most likely scenario to me. I could be wrong and I’m open to any ideas that you may have on how these millennial people come into the family of God, or meet their demise. Do you have any thoughts we should consider?”
“No no. This is your story time. I have no idea about what you might be imagining. I'm just shocked that you so openly admit the lack of scriptural proof for your speculations,” Isaac's tone was mockingly snide.
“I am only speculating on one small aspect of the overall plan that God has laid out in his word. You read the verses talking about the millennium and the people who live during that time period. Were you not reading from the Bible?” Adam’s voice was forceful and loud.
“Of course I was,” Isaac wasn't expecting Adam's verbal retaliation. “But maybe your reference verses are all supposed to be understood as poetry and metaphor,” Isaac said waving his hand in a dramatic gesture.
“Ya, the language used is a bit optimistic, but most of the verses describing the blessings of God, given to people rescued in the end times, are. It’s certainly not as poetic as when trees have conversations with people who have died. Do you feel I have taken some verses out of context?” Adam questioned with concern. “If so, how and which ones?”
“Oh I couldn’t critique them on the fly. To find all of your errors would take a lot of time and study. I am just doing my best to make sure your references are close to being accurate,” Isaac explained, using his best scholarly tones.
“Well that's good. Just remember that those references are coming from the infallible word of God. It comes down to what you trust the most, Man's ideas, or the Bible?” Adam states bluntly.
“Oh for sure, I believe the Bible. I just don't know how accurately you put the scriptures together. But I am ready to look up more of them if you want to continue. That is if your rendition has any more scriptures to verify,” Isaac returns to his demeaning tone.
“You will be finding several more before we get to the end,” Adam says confidently. “At the closing of the millennium, the world will be left completely healed from its life ending wounds. This is when the bulk of humanity will have their time to come to God and accept Jesus as their saviour. Everyone since the Garden of Eden who never had the opportunity to hear or learn of Jesus and the forgiveness that comes only from him, can now have free access to that gift. Whether they died in infancy, or had their eyes blinded to God for whatever reason, they will now have a life time of one hundred years to decide if they want to follow God or not.”
“Ha. You'll have to help me find those scriptures. What should I use for a search phrase, Aesop's fables?” Isaac jeered. “That's not from the Bible!”
“Have I been very wrong so far?” Adam asked. “We have already looked up verses showing that God has blinded the eyes of people. We have to be called by God to come to Jesus.
For this resurrection, look up something like, the rest did not live until after the thousands years were over.”
“OK. I'll give it a try.” Isaac tries skeptically a couple of times, then perks up with, “How about this?
Revelation 20:4-6
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.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
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.
If the rest of the dead come back to life after the thousand years is finished, why is this resurrection called the first resurrection?”
“It's not. Those in the first resurrection are the ones who are holy and blessed, the ones raised when Jesus returns. And that is not the first resurrection if you believe Jesus led the way as the first fruit. Jesus was the first to be resurrected to spirit-physical life, as opposed to normal physical life, like many other resurrections the Bible tells us about. So you can see the term, first resurrection, depends on your starting point of reference,” Adam went on to explain further.
“Those raised at the end of the millennium would actually be in the second mass resurrection of mankind. Counting from after the resurrection of Jesus, those who are raised at his return are in the first resurrection, they are holy and blessed. They rule with Jesus during the millennium.
Then all of humanity that didn't have their opportunity to accept Jesus, are raised after the millennium is over, but before Satan is freed from his restraints. They have a lifeti
me of one hundred years free of Satan’s influence, to decide if they want to follow Jesus or not. This would be the second major resurrection of mankind.”
“Wow, this sure is nothing like what I have ever heard before. How do I find that in the Bible? Is it under, sinner’s second chance, or, free pass to heaven?” Isaac shakes his head with a frown. “You sure are in left field. Heck, I don't even think you’re in the ball park. Let me read Revelations twenty, verses four through six again.
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.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
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.”
Adam jumps in, “Exactly, the sentence ‘This is the first resurrection.’ goes with verse six. The King James scholars added the punctuation as they saw best at the time, like they did with the thief on the cross. The punctuation is misleading there as well. Jesus told the thief he would be with him in paradise, but not on the same day. Jesus was in the grave for the next three days, proving he was our messiah.”
“That’s not how I’ve ever read it,” Isaac says in a huff. “The thief was with Jesus in paradise that very day. Here let me read it.
Luke 23:39-43
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
There is nothing wrong with the punctuation. Your just trying to twist the plain speaking word of God to suit yourself!” Isaac proclaims. “The word of God is truth. You just don’t like how it doesn’t fit in with all of your conspiracy theories.”
“Oh. Didn’t we already prove that Jesus was dead in the grave for three full days?” Adam quickly responded. “He told the women not to touch him on Sunday morning because he had not yet ascended to his father. He was in the grave for three days after talking to the thief on the cross, not in paradise that same day. You seem to have conflicting beliefs about some basic truths.” Adam looks intently at Isaac, taking his eyes off the road for a brief moment. “Have you ever read those verses in the original Greek? Adam asked calmly. “You should give it a try before you come to any rash decisions.”
“I’m not sure. I may have at school at some point, why would it matter? The words used would still be the same. I can understand what the words mean.” Isaac replies sarcastically with unveiled anger.
“Humour me and give it a try.” Adam directs. “Just do verse 43.”
“OK, I don’t know what good it will do but here goes.” Isaac changes the translation on the lap top to a Greek translation. “I don’t know if this is the original or not but here is a translation from the fifteen hundreds, the Stephanus New Testament.” Isaac stumbles with the words of verse 43:
“και ειπεν αυτω ο ιησους αμην λεγω σοι σημερον μετ εμου εση εν τω παραδεισω.
I can’t read this, it means nothing. It’s all Greek to me,” Isaac chuckles at his own joke.
“The words aren’t the important part this time,” Adam confirms. “It’s the punctuation, or lack of it that matters.”
“So, there is no punctuation in the Greek. What does that matter?” Isaac was sounding less confident.
“You’ll see,” Adam assures. “Read verse forty three again from the King James, but move the comma from after ‘thee’, and put it after ‘today’. Now doe’s that change the meaning?”
Isaac obliges,
“‘And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee today, shalt thou be with me in paradise’.
Ya it does change the tone somewhat.” Isaac begrudgingly agrees. “I’d have to give it more thorough study before I could form a definite opinion on the subject.”
“Needs further study, that seems to have become a reoccurring theme for you.” Adam states confidently.
Referring back to the resurrection story Adam goes on, “Before you get too carried away with how inaccurately I am relaying the salvation plan of God, do a search for, child will die a hundred years old. See what you can come up with,” Adam directs.
“OK. Here goes nothing,” Isaac says, typing quickly. “I found one verse out of the entire Bible that refers to this, it's in Isaiah. I'll read some verses around it for context.
Isaiah 65:17-25
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.
24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.
Well this is describing heaven. We will be greatly blessed when we are there with Jesus, living with God as his children,” Isaac states boldly.
“I think you have it wrong, if I understand what people say about heaven,” Adam disagrees. “There are no sinners in heaven is there? Yet there are sinners in this description of the future. Notice that the infant will die a hundred years old, but the sinner that is a hundred years old will be cursed.
These verses are describing how infants and all people that have died throughout the history of mankind will finally get to live an entire lifetime. After they are resurrected into physical bodies, these people, including babies will get to live a full and meaningful lifetime, to become the people they choose to grow into. They can learn about Jesus and make their own decision about following him. God will give everyone a fair opportunity to freely choose salvation. Their fate will be left for them to decide.”
“Well that may be fine for innocent babies, but you said that everyone who didn’t accept Jesus would be in this resurrection. That means that sinners get another chance at the salvation of Jesus. That would make all the sinners of the world, better off than the Christians who give up the pleasures of this life for Jesus. They will end up getting both the pleasures of this world and the next. Why should I bother being a Christian now if I am no better off than they are in the long run?” Isaac's face is red with anger as he bitterly responds to Adam's interpretations.
“I know this old truck is noisy, b
ut you seem to have missed an important point about those who are resurrected in this second resurrection. Only the dead who have, not, had the opportunity to accept Jesus while they were alive, those who were blinded to the calling of God, now they will be resurrected to a physical body. They can live out a life, free of Satan and his pull towards sin. They will be resurrected back to who they were when they died. The sinful habits and attitudes they died with will still be inside of them. They will have a hundred years to overcome their sins and turn their attitudes into Godly ones.”
“Ya, I know what you said! So why should I bother now if I can be saved later on?” Isaac is indignant.
“You talk as if they might be better off than Christians who have to struggle now with their sins. You short change the power of the Holy Spirit in your life to help you overcome sin and grow in the fruit of the Spirit. You don't seem to value the calling of God to come to Jesus now. No one will give up anything in this life that we won't receive a hundred fold in the Kingdom. We have been given a great opportunity to become rulers and priests in the Kingdom. Those from this resurrection will in no way be better off than the Christians who overcome the adversity of their own nature and the world,” Adam sincerely explains.
“But the Bible clearly teaches that the sinner will die. They will not be part of the Kingdom of God,” Isaac protests. “If what you say is true then those sinners will go unpunished, they will be forgiven and get to live with God anyway. Now that's not fair.”
“You sound just like Jonah,” Adam points out. “He didn't want to preach to the Ninavites because he knew that if they repented, God would forgive them. Jonah wanted them to die for their sins. But God so loved the world that he sent his only son to die, so that whoever believes in him will have everlasting life. None of us get what we deserve. We all get a chance to escape our sins and find life through Jesus. This is the only chance these people will have ever had, to learn of Jesus. This is not a second chance for them. This is their first and last chance to accept salvation.”
Isaac sits in shock staring out the windshield. His eyes opened for the first time to his prejudices. “Do you really think I'm like Jonah?” he asks Adam shyly.
“Well it seems like you have a similar attitude,” Adam said. “Why not look it up and see. I have been wrong before.”
“OK, I will read it and see. Here it is, Jonah 4,” Isaac reads the chapter.
“1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
2 And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
3 Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
4 Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry?
5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.
6 And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
10 Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?”
Chapter 14
Second Life