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Revelation Series #37
Called vs Blinded
Fred R. Coulter—October 9, 2001
Track 1 or Download
[Transcriber's note: The offertory message for the Holy Day at the beginning of the audio is left out for the purposes of this series.]
This day is one of the most neglected of all as far as the religions of the world are concerned, even in Judaism. This is the day that is so important. And this day is called The Last Great Day for a very important and profound reason.
Just as the Feast of Tabernacles had a beginning and ending, the Last Great Day has a beginning and ending. It's true, even in numbers and also the musical scale, eight is a new beginning. Just like when you sing the scale—do, re, me, fa, so, la, te—seven is complete, but it is not completion, so you have a new beginning with the new #1—do—7+1, and that's what we have with the Last Great Day. We will see the importance of this day and the tremendous blessing that God gives on this day and how and why it's going to be the biggest harvest.
People do not understand the Bible, even though they use the Bible. Like one man said who looked all the religions and all the religions say, 'You must be saved today or you're going to hell and burn forever.' They don't know their Bibles; they don't even know about the first resurrection, let alone the second resurrection. A lot of people get angry and mad at the religionists and say, 'I don't like your religion. I don't like the way you save people, and furthermore, I hold God responsible for all the accidents, all the deaths, all the innocent people that are killed.'
- Why did God kill all the people with the Flood in the days of Noah?
- Why does God allow war and all the people to die and the innocent civilians to die?
- Why does God allow massacres and holocausts and the killing of people?
- Why does God allow accidents?
- Why do ships sink, airplanes crash, and cars crash?
- Why are people kidnapped?
- Why are people murdered?
- Why is there disease?
—and all of these things that come along? Earthquakes, famines, pestilence—all of these things! 'I hold God responsible for because He's killing millions and billions of people. What is God going to do about it?'
Well, the truth is this day is the answer to that! And the reason that a lot of people take that attitude is because they have heard the Scripture that 'God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' They say, 'Look, before Christ, are all these people lost?' So then they say, 'No, they had their chance and they're all going to heaven.' The Catholics say, 'Now wait a minute, there are some people that shouldn't go to heaven, so we've got it figured out that we have a purgatory and that's kind of not quite as hot as hell burning, but just enough to kind of purge your sins. And if those who are still living say enough masses, then we can get you out of purgatory. The Hindus say it's the reincarnation and the transmigration of souls.
Everyone has an explanation, but none of it is true! If God loves the world—which He does; why is He not saving the world today?—which He's not; and what is He going to do about it?
Let's come to 2-Peter 3:9; this is quite a Scripture that people will turn to even to use against God. "The Lord is not delaying the promise of His coming, as some in their own minds reckon delay; rather, He is long-suffering toward us, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." If that is true, which it is—how is God going to do that? Especially since it is God who grants repentance. What about those to whom He didn't grant repentance? Is God then a respecter of persons? Is God just choosing a few people here and a few people there and all the rest are doomed to hell like the Protestants say?
If that's the case and God is saving just a few people today, and He isn't going to save all the rest of them, then God has either got to be a liar or a respecter of person—therefore, the Bible cannot be true, because if God lies and God respects persons then how can He be God? Romans 2:11: "Because there is no respect of persons with God."
Let's look at another Scripture, 1-Timothy, the second chapter and let's see another one that is sort of contradictory to some other Scripture that we'll read here in just a minute. 1-Timothy 2:3 "For this is good and acceptable before God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved… [That's God's desire! That is God's will! All men to come and be saved] …and to come to the knowledge of the Truth." Why isn't that happening today? The answer is, from the sin of Adam and Eve this world has been shut off from the way of God. That's part of the penalty of it.
Let's see what it says, and let's see how these Scriptures—just on the surface of it—contradict the ones that we just read. God is the One responsible for doing this. So the man is who is angry at God, even though he's angry at God without knowledge, is correct one thing: God is responsible! God will take care of it!
Matthew 15:12: "Then His disciples came to Him and said, 'Do You realize that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?' But He answered and said, 'Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up. Leave them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the pit.'" (vs 12-14). How can that square up with wanting 'all men to come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth and to be saved'? Doesn't seem to—does it?
Let's come to John 12, and let's see that God is the One Who is responsible for it. How can God want everyone saved, and yet, blind people? John 12:37: "Although He had done so many miracles in their presence, they did not believe in Him, so that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled who said, 'Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?' For this very reason they could not believe because again Isaiah said, 'He [God] has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts so that they would not see with their eyes and understand with their hearts, and be converted, and I would heal them'" (vs 37-40). If God wants everybody converted
- Why did He say this?
- Why did He do this?
- Does this conflict with the Truth of God that He wants them all saved?
Since Satan has been turned loose on this world, let's come to 2-Corinthians, the fourth chapter, and let's see something that Satan is doing. Not only does God let them blind themselves, but He also has Satan there to blind them. 2-Corinthians 4:3: "But if our Gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing… ['lost' (KJV). What do you mean 'lost'? If God wants them all saved, how come they're lost? Are they all permanently lost?] …in whom the god of this world [Satan the devil] has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (vs 3-4).
- Doesn't God want it to come to them?
- Why has He done this?
- How is He going to solve this problem?
Let's look at another Scripture, Galatians 3:22, and let's see what else God has done—and this He even did to Israel; mind you, the people that God called and chose and made a covenant with at Sinai. Galatians 3:22: "But the Scriptures have shut up all things under sin." ['All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.'] …so that by the faith of Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe." What's going to happen to those that 'believe not'? What about them? Since God didn't call them. God didn't open their minds. God didn't give them a heart to believe, but blinded them. What's going to happen to them?
Let's see another Scripture here concerning blindness and being cutoff from God. Very important that we understand that God has done this, Romans 11:25: "For I do not wish you to be ignorant of this mystery, brethren, in order that you may not be wise in your own conceits: that a partial hardening of the heart has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in; and so all Israel shall be saved…" (vs 25-26). This is the dilemma that the religions of the world cannot answer, simply because they do not know the Truth as revealed in the Last Great Day. And there's another very profound and important Scriptural principle: You understand as you obey! The Scripture says, 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and a good understanding have they who DO His commandments.' So those who do not fear God and want to set up their own religion and who do not keep His commandments, they don't have understanding. So therefore, they have to come up with all these lying substitutes.
Let's go to one more Scripture, Ephesians 4:17—these are the problems that we see in the world—aren't they? Yes, they are! "So then, I declare and testify this in the Lord that you are no longer to walk even as the rest of the Gentiles are walking, in the vanity of their minds… [God has just given people over to vanity. In Rom. 8 it says that God gave them 'over to being subject to vanity' but not willingly, but 'by reason of Him who subjected them in hope.' How is there going to be hope for them? We'll see!] …having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their hearts. They have cast off all feelings, and have given themselves up to licentiousness, to work every uncleanness with insatiable desire" (vs 17-19). That's the state of the world!
Now let's look at one more Scripture, 1-John 5. We also know, as we put it together, that God has allowed Satan the devil to deceive the whole world. 1-John 5:19: "We know that we are of God… [Is that not a respecter of persons? Kind of separated out? Yes, it is! But, no, it isn't! You have to understand the whole Bible!] …and thatthe whole world lies in the power of the wicked one."
How is God going to solve this problem? This is quite a thing! We've already seen that unless God does it, He's a respecter of persons. And the New Testament shows that God is not a respecter of persons. Let's go to Luke 13, and let's see what Christ says concerning repentance and respecter of persons. Remember, Jesus told the Jews, 'Do not say that we are Abraham's seed,' because if God just chose the descendants of Abraham by physical linage alone, and nobody else, then God would be a respecter of persons. So He said, 'Don't think that.' Also, if God just reaches out and calls the people that He's calling today, and that's all He's going to do, then God, indeed, is a respecter of persons. So the Jews thought that since they were Abraham's seed, that they had special blessings. But Jesus made it clear that no, things happen. So for those who were self-righteously thinking that the sinners among them were condemned because of their sins, Jesus gave this information to them:
Luke 13:1: "Now at the same time, there were present some who were telling Him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices…. [Boy, I tell you, that's something!] …And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were sinners above all Galileans… [They came to make sacrifices—correct? Yes! They came trying to obey God—didn't they? Yes! But they were killed and their blood was mingled with the sacrifices and thrown on the altar.] …because they suffered such things? No, I tell you; but if you do not repent, you shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, do you suppose that these were debtors above all men who dwelt in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but if you do not repent, you shall all likewise perish.'" (vs 1-5).
So, God is showing here that horrible things happen to people, and God has allowed it to happen. And the reason He's allowed it to happen is because He has a way out. Remember, Jesus told the disciples on the Passover night: 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.' And 'none come to the Father except through Me.' How is God going to apply it to all of these people? How is that going to be done?
Let's first of all understand something very important here: There is a book of Life! Our names are written in the book of Life now—that we know. Let's come to Revelation 13 and let's see about out names being written in the book of Life. And we know that that book is before God, and there is a distinction. Here at the end-time when the beast power comes on the scene, there is again another distinct separation.
Revelation 13:7: "And he [the beast] was given power to make war against the saints… [there is going to be persecution against the saints] …and to overcome them; and he was given authority over every tribe and language and nation. And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (vs 7-8). There it is a book of Life.
Even Moses, when he was bargaining with God—when God said, 'Leave Me alone and let Me exterminate all the Israelites because of the sin that they sinned—said, 'You're a gracious God. If You won't spare them, then blot my name out of the book of Life.' And He said, 'That's My business, Moses. I'll put in there whom I want to put in there. But I will spare them.' So there is the book of Life.
Let's come back to Malachi 3 and let's see that God is doing something with that book of Life. He is making notes. He is taking down things for a future reference. He is taking down things, and we know we're going to be in the first resurrection if we're faithful—right? He's writing certain things here.
Malachi 3:16: "Then those fearing the LORD spoke together, each man to his neighbor. And the LORD listened and heard. And a book of Remembrance was written before Him for those who feared the LORD… [that's the book of Life, the book of Remembrance. We know that the book of Life for us spiritually that we are there.] …and for those who thought upon His name. 'And they shall be Mine,' says the LORD of hosts, 'in the day that I will make up My own special jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.' Then you shall return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God, and the one who does not serve Him" (vs 16-18). So God is making note and He's making a crown.
The Apostle Paul said that he had 'run the race, finished the course,' and there was 'laid up for him a crown of righteousness.' That's what it's talking about here in Mal. 3, which he was going to receive and also those who loved God. That's quite a thing! We understand that!
Let's look at a couple of other Scriptures which are important. John, the fifth chapter, Jesus makes some very profound statements, and it has to do with the state of the dead. John 5:24: "Truly, truly I say to you, the one who hears My Word, and believes Him Who sent Me, has everlasting life and does not come into judgment; for he has passed from death into life." But look at the multitudes that didn't believe on Him. Even in Jesus' day and coming clear on down to our time, in spite of the thousands of denominations that we have in the world that profess Christianity.
Here's a very important verse, profound, in fact, v 25: "Truly, truly I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live. For even as the Father has life in Himself, so also has He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and has also given Him authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of man. Do not wonder at this, for the hour is coming in which all… [Everybody! It means those in the first resurrection and we will see that there is a second resurrection.] …who are in the graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth: those who have practiced good unto a resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil unto a resurrection of judgment" (vs 25-29).
How's that going to happen? Let's again come to 1-Corinthians 15:20, and we will see that all the dead are going to be made alive in Christ. That means all saints and all sinners. "But now Christ has been raised from the dead; He has become the first-fruit of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by man also camethe resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order… [so there is an order to those who will be resurrected. We know we'll be in the first resurrection and all of those who are faithful.] …Christ the firstfruit; then, those who are Christ's at His coming. Afterwards the end comes, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to Him Who is God and Father… [Here is a projection which we will read about later in Rev. 21-22] …when He shall have put an end to all rule and all authority and power. For it is ordained that He reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy tobe destroyed is death" (vs 20-26).
Now, let's see how this is going to be done. Let's come to Revelation 20. This is part of preaching the Word of God in season, and out of season. Again, we have to go back to the beginning of the Millennium, come to the end of the Millennium, and it's all contained here in just a few verses, and then there are many other Scriptures that we have to put together to give us the understanding of it.
Revelation 29:4: "And I saw thrones; and they that sat upon them, and judgment was given to them; and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and those who did not worship the beast, or his image, and did not receive the mark in their foreheads or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and Holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection… [Always remember this: When it says this is the 'first resurrection' that means there has to be another resurrection—doesn't it? Otherwise, it would say, the resurrection.] …over these the second death has no power…." (vs 4-6). What does this also tell us? That the rest of the dead who are raised in what is the second resurrection, the second death can have power over them. This tells us two things, which we'll prove from some other Scriptures in just a bit: They are raised back to a physical life, because if they die the second death, that means they have to be physical human beings, subject to death.
Who qualifies for this second resurrection? Let's understand something here very important. Let's come back to Romans, the second chapter. Not only is there the book of Life for the first resurrection, but there are also has to be a record for every human being—doesn't there? If they're all going to be raised and hear the voice of Christ, doesn't there have to be an accounting for everyone? Most surely there is! Jesus said that 'even a sparrow does not fall that the Father doesn't know it.' And even the 'hairs of your head are numbered.'
Let's come to Romans 2:14—this tells us something very important. This shows us those people who will be in the second resurrection and come to a second physical life. "For when the Gentiles, which do not have the law, practice by nature the things contained in the law, these who do not have the law are a law unto themselves; who show the work of the law written in their own hearts, their consciences bearing witness, and their reasonings also, as they accuse or defend one another)" (vs 14-15). There are Gentiles out there. These are people in the world. Let's just say, people in the world that God has not called. They're out there, they're living their lives. Even though they're blinded, even though they are cut off from God, they are sincere people. Many of them in this society are which you would call 'good people.' God hasn't called them! God has not given them repentance! They're living their lives out there trying to do the best they can, and they understand some of the laws of God, but they don't understand others of the laws of God, but they have not sinned the unpardonable sin.
These are the ones who will be in the second resurrection. We need to understand that, and see that there is a fore-type of this. Let's come to John, the eleventh chapter; let's review just a little bit about Lazarus. Lazarus was raised from the dead—wasn't he? Yes! He died and was raised back to a second physical life. When he died, was he a decent, honest person, though sinner? Yes! 'All have sinned and come short of the glory of God!' But he died not having an opportunity for salvation—isn't that right? And that's why they were all so worried. The sister said, 'If You had been here, Lord, he wouldn't have died.' And Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and the life, and he that believes on Me, though he were dead, yet, he shall live.'
Now, Lazarus believed on Him, but he hadn't received the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit was not yet given. So, if he died without receiving the Holy Spirit, he couldn't be in the first resurrection, and also he would have lost an opportunity for salvation to be in the first resurrection. So, that's why he's resurrected. Jesus resurrected him back to life.
Let's look at this, John 11:39—they came up to the grave and everyone was crying, weeping and wailing, and even Jesus wept. "Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' Martha, the sister of him who had died, said to Him, 'Lord, he already stinks… [A lot of people being in the grave they don't even exist anymore as a person, let alone have a corpse that stinks.] …for it has been four days.' "Jesus said to her, 'Did I not say to you that if you will believe, you shall see the glory of God?' Then they removed the stone from the tomb where the dead man had been laid. And Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, 'Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You hear Me always; but because of the people who stand around I say this, so that they may believe that You did send Me.' And after He had spoken these things, He cried with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth.'" (vs 39-43).
- Was that the voice of the Son of man? Yes!
- Did Lazarus hear it? Yes!
- Did he come back to life and walk out of the tomb? Yes!
This is a type of a person who is going to receive salvation, but in order to receive it had to live two physical lives, because he died once. There are a lot of people who believed in Jesus, but didn't have an opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit because they died. Here is another type of the second resurrection. They were resurrected back to a physical life, and the second resurrection is going to be a second physical life for a first opportunity for salvation, which is what happened to these people as well as to Lazarus.
Matthew 27:51: "And suddenly the veil of the temple was ripped in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook, and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had died arose. And after His resurrection… [This didn't take place until the Wave Sheaf Offering Day.] (they were raised and): …they came out of the tombs and entered into the Holy city, and appeared to many" (vs 51-53). You talk about a startling event. That was a startling event! So they came back. That's a type of the second resurrection.
Now, let's come to Ezekiel 37 and let's see something very important where it tells us about Israel. Most people believe, erroneously, that God gave the children of Israel salvation through law. That was a dispensation of law. But then they're also stuck with another contradiction, because the New Testament says that 'by law no flesh will be saved.' How could they have received salvation back then by one means, and now we receive it by another means. They had salvation supposedly without Christ, through law. Even the Jews today don't believe in the resurrection. They believe that all good people go to heaven. And if you have more good works and you do bad works, you're going to be in heaven. That's not much different than the Catholics—is it? It's just a little different than the Protestants. The Protestants say you have to believe now or you're going to burn in hell forever! Actually, the Protestants are more unmerciful than the Jews and the Catholics and the other religions that have the reincarnation and transmigration of souls.
Now let's remember a couple of things: Jesus said that 'all that are in the grave shall hear His voice and come forth. Some unto a resurrection of life and some unto a resurrection of condemnation or judgment.' We've seen the resurrection of life:
- The first resurrection unto eternal life, of which the second death has no power
- The second resurrection, which is a resurrection to physical life, because they did not have an opportunity for salvation.
God did not call them. So God, being not a respecter of persons, now has the second resurrection as pictured by the Last Great Day when they will be resurrected. As we saw in (#36 this series), in Isa. 65, the same thing applies to them that they will live for about 100 years for an opportunity for salvation. Ezekiel 37 makes this very clear:
Ezekiel 37:1: "The hand of the LORD was on me, and brought me by the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of a valley, and it was full of bones. And He made me walk among them all around. And behold, very many were in the open valley. And lo, they were very dry…. [symbolic of being dead for a long time] …And He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord GOD, You know.' Again He said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, "O dry bones, hear the Word of the LORD"'" (vs 1-4). So, God can take something which is dead and make it alive. Remember, Jesus said they would 'hear His voice.' Now here even the bones hear the Word of the Lord. The bone itself once was a human being, but it's not a person just being a bone.
"Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you… [A second physical life! You can't have bones unless they lived once and died. Now He's bringing them back to life and He's putting sinew and flesh on them, a second physical life.] …and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live. And you shall know that I am the LORD'" (vs 5-6). What does it mean 'to know the Lord'? It means you're converted! We know Christ because of the Spirit that He's given us and the commandments that we keep. So, here were these who now are going to know the Lord, which means before they died the first time they didn't know the Lord. Let's understand something: That's very profound!
"So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a noise. And behold, a shaking! And the bones came together, a bone to its bone. And as I watched, behold the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them above. But there was no breath in them…. [Here are all these corpses out there.] …And He said to me, 'Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain that they may live.'"' So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. And He said to me, 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel…." (vs 7-11).
Under the covenant that God had with them before, they did not have eternal life made available to them. God shut them up to the faith. God blinded them so they wouldn't understand. God hardened their heart so that they couldn't come unto salvation because they weren't willing to follow God in their first life, though they had not committed the unpardonable sin. That's quite merciful! You talk about grace and mercy, the Last Great Day is the greatest day of grace! Think of all the children of Israel that have died. This says the whole houseof Israel! When they're raised back to life they have consciousness again and they'll remember their past lives.
Verse 11: "Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried and our hope is lost; we ourselves are completely cut off.'" In other words what they were doing of their sin—the wages of sin is death—and they sinned and they died. But they sinned in blindness, and they sinned in deception, and they sinned not having the Truth of God or the Spirit of God; so therefore, they did not commit the unpardonable sin. In order to commit the unpardonable sin you must first believe on Christ, you must next receive the Holy Spirit of God, and then you have to live and walk in the way of Truth! Then if you reject that, then you have committed the unpardonable sin. These people had not done that. Yes, they sinned. Yes, they knew of the Law of God in the letter, but God didn't open their mind, God did not call them, they died!
Now, here comes a tremendous and miraculous thing that happens, v 12: "Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves… [Just like Jesus said of Lazarus, 'roll the stone back, I'll open your graves'] …and cause you to come up out of your graves… [If you're in the grave you are dead! This is the second resurrection. At the end of the thousand years, 'the rest of the dead live again.'] …and will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD when I have opened your graves, O My people, and have brought you up out of your graves"'" (vs 12-13). It says 'graves' four times. Where do they come from? Out of their graves! Sometimes it's so simple you have to ask the question.
Verse 14: "'And I shall put My Spirit in you, and you shall live… [If they have the Spirit put in them, what is that? When they say that 'we're cut off for our parts' that's repentance. So God is going to grant them repentance. Amazing thing—isn't it? The 'whole house of Israel'] …and I will place you in your own land. And you shall know that I the LORD have spoken it and have done it,' says the LORD."
Now, let's come back to Romans 11 This is how all Israel shall be saved. They are given a second physical life at the end of the thousand years. They are going to be given 100 years to live:
- to grow in grace and knowledge
- to understand the Word of God
- to develop the character of God
You've heard it said many, many times before: conversion is a process; conversion takes time! There's going to be one blessing that they're going to have: They already lived in the world where Satan was the 'god of this world' and they lived under his influence and he caused them to sin. So Satan is removed and put into the Lake of Fire. When these people are raised, they're not going to come back into a world where Satan the devil is still there. They already lived one life under Satan the devil. I think all of us can say for sure, living one life under the influence of Satan the devil and his world is quite sufficient! So, God is going to merciful and have him removed.
Romans 11:26: "And so all Israel shall be saved, according as it is written: 'Out of Sion shall come the Deliverer… [What a deliverance that is going to be! Pouring right out of the grave!] …and He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant, which I will make with them when I have taken away their sins'" (vs 26-27). God forgives them!
Then he goes on concerning the Gospel and so forth; come down to v 32: "For God has given them all over to unbelief… [now in this day] …in order that He might show mercy to all…. [At the second resurrection. The Apostle Paul understood this somewhat, but it was not clearly defined until we come to what the Apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation.] (This is why the Apostle Paul writes): …O the depth of the riches of both the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unfathomable are His judgments… [Isn't that a fantastic thing? That He's going to do this, to give life to all these people. Not only the house of Israel, but also the Gentiles. They will all be raised up at the same time.] …and unsearchable are His ways! For who did know the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who first gave to Him, and it shall be recompensed to him again? For from Him, and through Him, and unto Him are all things; to Him be the glory into the ages of eternity. Amen" (vs 32-36).
Now we're going to see that not only does this happen to Israel, but it's going to happen to all the Gentiles. Let's come to Matthew 12. This is quite a chapter, and this shows not only what the unpardonable sin is. As Jesus said, 'Some shall come forth unto life'—that is either spiritual life or physical life. Some shall come forth 'unto condemnation.' That means they're going to be raised to a second physical life, but they are going to be condemned to the Lake of Fire because they committed the unpardonable sin. The unpardonable sin is knowledgeable!willful! determined! forethought of the rejection of the Holy Spirit of God and the work that God is doing, and the work that the Holy Spirit does is the work of God the Father! It is not some light sin that takes place. Many people have wondered when they have sinned grievously and they're upset and they're really worried and wondering 'have I committed the unpardonable sin'?
I tell you one thing you need to understand about the unpardonable sin, when those who commit the unpardonable sin have committed it, they are incorrigible! It's impossible to renew them to repentance! They have slain the Son of God anew! If you're upset because you've sinned—though grievously—it is not the unpardonable sin! If you sin and sin grievously and have no compunction, and are really very happy that you are doing it—and we can see some of this in some of the attitudes who were in the Church of God who have now gone back into the world. It's just like God has removed the Spirit from them and there is nothing left there and they don't even care about the commandments of God anymore. They don't care about God's way anymore. They have rejected the Sabbath, rejected the Holy Days, rejected the Spirit of God and if they haven't committed the unpardonable sin, they are on the verge of it. If they die in that condition they will have committed the unpardonable sin.
Notice Jesus' warning here, Matthew 12:31: "Because of this, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men except the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; that shall not be forgiven to men." Because they reject God the Father!
We will see when you reject God the Father; then you have committed the unpardonable sin! John 12:42: "But even so, many among the rulers believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him… [they were spiritual and political cowards] …so that they wouldnot be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God. Then Jesus called out and said, 'The one who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in Him Who sent Me. And the one who sees Me sees Him Who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world so that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness. But if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world…. [And, of course, the second resurrection—the Great White Throne Judgment—the 100-year period is also the greatest portion of saving the world.] …The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has one who judges him; the word which I have spoken, that shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken from Myself; but the Father, Who sent Me, gave Me commandment Himself, what I should say and what I should speak'" (vs 42-49). Now, if they reject that there is no more sacrifice for sin. That is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
Let's come back to Matthew 12:32; there's an awful lot here in the book of Matthew, which tells us even more about the second resurrection. "And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age… [today! There are some today that can commit the unpardonable sin, yes, indeed!] …nor in the coming age." Then He talks about the world to come. In the 'coming age' when the Kingdom of God is on earth. So, when they are resurrected in the second resurrection, there are two parts to the second resurrection:
- Unto physical life to receive salvation
- To be raised to a second physical life to be cast into the Lake of Fire for the second death
—because God has judged and decreed that all who have sinned—the incorrigible, unforgivable unpardonable sin—are going to die the second death.
Verse 41—this is talking about the second resurrection: "The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with… [together with] …this generation… [And, of course, they're hundreds of years removed; actually over a thousand at this point. They shall rise, resurrected, with in judgment with this generation.] …and shall condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment… [the second resurrection] …with this generation… [She didn't receive salvation when she went to see Solomon. But she believe God in the things that God did for Solomon. She believed Solomon and she tried to live her life according to the words of God in the letter.] …and shall condemn it… [She did not have the opportunity to see Jesus Christ; these people in that generation did. She did not have the opportunity to hear the words of Christ; those people did. She did not have an opportunity for salvation; these people did. That's why He's saying that she will rise and condemn this generation.] …because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here" (vs 41-42).
So these verses show that they're all going to be resurrected. Not only the house of Israel, but also the Gentiles. The same thing is going to happen to them that happened unto the house of Israel. They're going to be raised to a second physical life.
Now, let's come back to Revelation 20 and let's put it all together. This is why, as we began and we know and understand, that knowledge comes 'precept upon precept; line upon line; here a little, there a little' all have to be put together for the whole understanding.
Revelation 20:10—this begins the Last Great Day; begins with the judgment of Satan and the demons: "And the Devil, who deceived them, was cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet had been cast; and they, Satan and the demons, shall be tormented day and night into the ages of eternity." Human beings that suffer the second death will be ashes under the feet of the saints. They're not going to be tormented forever and ever. That has to refer to Satan and the demons.
The next thing to take place is the Great White Throne Judgment—first the judgment against Satan: "Then I saw a great white throne and the one Who was sitting on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and no place was found for them…. [This is a great, huge multitude.] …And I saw the dead… [the 'rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years were finished'—correct? Yes!] …small and great, standing before God; and the books were opened… [This has to be the books of the Bible, which will be more than what we have now, because I think by the end of a thousand-year rule of Jesus Christ and the saints in the Kingdom of God, we're going to have more than just what we have here.] …and another book was opened which is thebook of Life…. [Now they're going to have an opportunity for salvation.] …And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works" (vs 11-12).
Some people think that this means that however they lived their lives, if it was pretty good on balance, therefore, they automatically receive eternal life. No! They died the first life, 'the wages of sin is death.' If they were judged according to what did in their first physical life, they'd have to be executed again. Now, they have a clean slate. Now things are going to be written in the book of Life, just like we read in Mal. 3 of what's happening to us today. Then those things will be there, and they will be judged by how they are living their lives during that 100-year period.
Today we know that 'judgment is on the house of God'—don't we? It's on each one of us! It's on you! It's on me! All the brethren, all the Church of God, and we're going to be saved with great difficulty. Since they did not have that opportunity, they are raised back to life, they have a chance to repent, to receive the Spirit of God (Ezek. 37), and to live their lives and be judged according to how they live their lives during that 100-year period.
Verse 13: "And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and the grave gave up the dead that were in them; and they were judged individually, according to their works."
What happens if the unpardonable sin is committed? What's going to happen to them? Let's come to Hebrews 10:26: "For if we willfully go on sinning… [that is with callous, hardened, premeditated sinning with no temptation; but deliberate, calculated evil] …after receiving the knowledge of the Truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of inevitable judgment and of fierce fire, which will devour the adversaries of God…. [They're going to be burned up!] …Consider this: anyone who rejects the law of Moses dies without mercy under the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded the blood of the covenant, with which he was sanctified, as an unholy thing, and has scorned the Spirit of grace? For we know Him Who has said, '"Vengeance belongs to Me. I will recompense!" says the Lord.' And again, 'The Lord will judge His people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (vs 26-31).
Hebrews 12:29: "For our God is indeed a consuming fire."
They are going to be cast into the Lake of Fire. As Jesus said in Matt. 25, 'was prepared for Satan and his angels. That's why when we read in v 10 that they would be tormented—Satan and his angels—'day and night forever and ever.' Those human beings who have committed the unpardonable sin, they are raised to a second physical life all the sinners together from the beginning of time—Adam and Eve clear on down to the very last human being that is born—all those who have committed the unpardonable sin will be cast in the Lake of Fire which burns with brimstone. That's called the second death. The judgment of God is that all the wicked shall die the second death together. It's going to be an awesome thing that takes place.
Revelation 20:14: "And death and the grave were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire" (vs 14-15). Now, this Lake of Fire is going to be all consuming.
Peter did not know everything that John was going to be inspired later to write in the book of Revelation. It looked like he just went from the Day of the Lord right into the destroying of the earth. 2-Peter 3:10: "However, the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night in which the heaven itself shall disappear with a mighty roar… [That's going to happen when they are cast into the Lake of Fire] …and the elements shall pass away, burning with intense heat… [there's no escape] …and the earth and the works in it shall be burned up…. [It's going to be the end of the physical earth the way that we know it.] …Since all these things are going to be destroyed, what kind of persons ought you to be in Holy conduct and Godliness, looking forward to and striving for the coming of the day of God, during which the heavens, being on fire, shall be destroyed, and the elements, burning with intense heat, shall melt?" (vs 10-12). What's going to happen is the whole earth is going to be consumed by the Lake of Fire. Just like a volcanic lava is going to flow out of the whole earth and just cover the whole earth, burn everything up, get rid of all the remnants of sin, get rid of the remnants of all the things that are physical. Now, we have a new heaven and a new earth.
Let's come back to Revelation 21:1: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away… [all burned up, consumed] …and there was no more sea." As spirit beings we will not need the water of the oceans to moderate the temperature. Here's a completely new level of existence. All of those who receive eternal life through the second resurrection will enter into the Kingdom of God. All the saints of God in the first resurrection will then be in New Jerusalem. And all of those who have been saved will live on this new earth with a whole new level of existence.
"And I, John, saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice from heaven say, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men… [that is men made perfect] …and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people; and God Himself shall be with them and be their God'" (vs 2-3). That's the whole plan of God to live and dwell with His people. That's what God wanted beginning clear back with Adam and Eve. Now, the plan is finished. Now we are ready to step out into eternity.
Verse 4: "'And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall not be any more death… [all spirit beings] …or sorrow, or crying; neither shall there be any more pain, because the former things have passed away.' And He Who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'…. [And what a beautiful and spectacular new heaven and earth this is going to be.] …Then He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.' And He said to me, 'It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts, I will give freely of the fountain of the water of life…. [Eternal life!] …The one who overcomes shall inherit all things… [Co-heirs with Christ! Co-heirs of the universe! Now, as spirit beings, we will be able to go into the universe, we will be able to go into the heavens, because now we have an existence to do that. We will live forever so it doesn't matter how long it takes to get wherever we need to go.] …and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. But the cowardly… [those that fear men more than God] …and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.'" (vs 4-8).
Then the angel took John and said, 'I want you to watch the Holy City—New Jerusalem—come down from God, adorned as a bride.' That's where the bride is going to live, and that's where all of those in the first resurrection are going to live, in New Jerusalem. It's going to be a fantastic city. It's going to be 1500 miles cubed. Yet, it will be so perfect that the earth will be in balance.
Verse 22—after describing the city with streets of pure gold and all the precious stones and the names of the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles. "And I saw no temple in it… [God is not going to dwell in a temple] …for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city has no need of the sun, or of the moon, that they should shine in it; because the glory of God enlightens it, and the light of it is the Lamb. And the nations that are saved… [through all time, the first resurrection and the second resurrection] …shall walk in its light; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor into it" (vs 22-25).
Not only will we live there, but as kings and priests we will also live out on the other parts of the earth. Who knows how far into the universe it's going to go. We don't know. Bring glory and honor to it. This shows that God has some sort of fantastic work for us to do, for all eternity. We're not going to just sit around and strum and play harps. We're going to have something really fantastic to do.
Verse 25: "And its gates shall never be shut by day… [showing complete access to God] …for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. And nothing that defiles shall ever enter into it… [They've already been cast into the Lake of Fire] …nor shall anyone who practices an abomination or devises a lie; but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life" (vs 25-27).
So, all of those who receive eternal salvation have their names written there. They will have access to God the Father and Jesus Christ and New Jerusalem. I tell you, it's going to be something the way that that city is going to be!
Revelation 22:1: "Then he showed me a pure river of the water of life… [This is God's Holy Spirit.] …clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb. And in the middle of the street, and on this side and that side of the river, was the tree of life, producing twelve manner of fruits, each month yielding its fruit… [This shows a continuous learning of eternal life, because we are going to learn and grow in knowledge and understanding forever!] …and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him, and they shall see His face; and His name is in their foreheads" (vs 1-4).
Brethren, I want you to just think how great God's plan is that we are going to see the face of God. Just think for a minute what it's going to be when you come up and embrace and hug God the Father and say, 'Father, I love You.' And He embraces you and say, 'I love you. I'm so thrilled that your are My son/daughter for all eternity.' Then God begins to reveal His great and His fantastic plan that He is going to carry out forever and ever. And you have a part in that, because God is working a great and a fantastic thing.
Brethren, I just want to tell you, if you get discouraged during this coming year, you come back here to Eph. 3 and you take these Scriptures and open them up and pray about it, read them on your knees, out loud, and let God's Spirit flow to you, to understand and to really feel the love of God and know the Truth and power of God and understand His purpose.
Ephesians 3:11: "according to His eternal purpose, which He has wrought in Christ Jesus our Lord, in Whom we have boldness and direct access with confidence through His very own faith" (vs 11-12). Do not be afraid to come to God. Always come to Him in boldness and confidence, because Christ is there to help.
Even though he was in prison and suffering tribulation, Paul said, v 14: "For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named… [And your name is written in the book of Life now. You are a part of the Family of God now. You are a son or daughter of God now to be born into the Kingdom of God at the resurrection and return of Christ.] …that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power by His Spirit in the inner man" (vs 14-16). Let God strengthen you as never before; to fill you with His love, His joy, His zeal, determination and ability to overcome; and to worship and love and serve God and the brethren.
The most important thing, v 17: "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; and that being rooted and grounded in love… [Brethren, that's what we need to be: rooted and grounded in love because it is the greatest, it will never fail! So this year make sure that you are rooted and grounded in the love of God so that] …you may be fully able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height… [To know God's plan; to understand His purpose] …and to know the love of Christ, which surpasses human knowledge… [That there is nothing on this earth to be compared to the love of God and the love of Christ that God the Father and Jesus have for you. That you know that! That you understand that! That you live with that! That you make it part of your life as you have never done before!
"…so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that is working in us, to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations, even into the ages of eternity. Amen" (vs 19-21).
So, brethren, there's the completion of God's plan as fulfilled in the Last Great Day!
Scriptures from The Holy Bible in Its Original Order by Fred R. Coulter
Scriptural References:
- 2 Peter 3:9
- Romans 2:11
- 1 Timothy 2:3
- Matthew 15:12-14
- John 12:37-40
- 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
- Galatians 3:22
- Romans 11:25-26
- Ephesians 4:17-19
- 1 John 5:19
- Luke 13:1-5
- Revelation 13:7-8
- Malachi 3:16-18
- John 5:24-29
- 1 Corinthians 15:20-26
- Revelation 20:4-6
- Romans 2:14-15
- John 11:39-43
- Matthew 27:51-53
- Ezekiel 37:1-14
- Romans 11:26-27, 32-36
- Matthew 12:31
- John 12:42-49
- Matthew 12:32, 41-42
- Revelation 20:10-13
- Hebrews 10:26-31
- Hebrews 12:29
- Revelation 20:14-15
- 2 Peter 3:10-12
- Revelation 21:1-8, 22-27
- Revelation 22:1-4
- Ephesians 3:11-12, 14-21
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Romans 8
- Isaiah 65
- Matthew 25
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 8-27-10
