The Two Resurrection
Scripture Reading: Jh. 14:1-3
As a boy we use to play a game at the sea, last up wins. We all would dive under the water and the boy who holds his breath longest and stay under water would be the winner, but there is coming a time when the first to come up will be the winner and the last to come up will be the loser. I hope that we will all be winners. The title of my sermon today is The First up Wins.
Prayer
In recent times we have been bombarded with news of disaster after disaster; Katrina in Louisiana; Tsunami in Indonesia; Earthquake in Peru; Typhoon in Bangladash and the list goes on. But there is an event coming which will be more devastating than a typhoon, more earth shaking than your worst earth quake and more terrifying than Freddy Krueger; If …you are not …prepared!!
The bible tells us the day cometh, when the quiet of the evening will be shattered by the noise of a trumpet, the earth will rock to and fro, like a drunkard, mountains will crumble and the heavens will roll back. Terror will seize the heart of men as they run to and fro seeking safety.
Amidst all the confusion and devastation the voice of the Archangel shall ricochets around the world breaking all sound barriers, the graves shall be opened and the dead in Christ will rise, not with corruptible flesh, but with incorruptible flesh. Then to the amazement of the onlookers, those who are alive will be changed in a flash and we will all rise in the air to meet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
It is then that we shall be able to say " .... Death is swallowed up in victory. 0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave where is thy victory. 1st. Corinthians 15: 54,55.
What a moment that will be, when man becomes superman. No longer will gravity be able to hold us prisoners to the earth for we shall be free. I wait in anticipation to be among the first astronauts to travel through space without a space suit. To view those planets and galaxies which were so long out of reach, to walk on the moon with my bare feet and examine the rings of Saturn. I wait in anticipation.
Jesus wants us to look forward to the future with hope!
With expectation!!
With anticipation!! We must be like the woman who was diagnosed with a terminal illness:
A woman was diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. As she was getting her things in order, she contacted her pastor and asked him to come to her house to discuss some of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at her funeral service, what Scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. She requested to be buried with her favorite Bible.
As the pastor prepared to leave, the woman suddenly remembered something else. "There’s one more thing," she said excitedly.
"What’s that?" said the pastor.
"This is important," the woman said. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say.
The woman explained. "In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, ’Keep your fork.’ It was my favorite part of the meal because I knew something better was coming—like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie.
"So, when people see me in that casket with a fork in my hand and they ask, ’What’s with the fork?’ I want you to tell them: ’Keep your fork. The best is yet to come!’ "
Citation: submitted by Brett Kays
It would be a serious tragedy to miss out on the most momentous occasion in the history of the world. Rev. 19:9 tells that God is preparing a great supper for us. Keep your fork in your hand!!
My brother John as he lived his last days on the Isle of Patmos was given a glimpse into heaven. He sees Jesus as he is about to come for us and he records it in Revelation 19:11-13
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written that no man knew, but He Himself.
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon White horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
In verse 16 says
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KINGS OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
We could not want a better preview, a better promotion of an upcoming event, if it catches you unprepared, blame yourself. God have done everything possible for us, so that we may be among the number who is prepared for his appearance.
It is not something to be taken likely.
We cannot afford to relax at this hour
we cannot afford to neglect our duties,
we cannot afford to be like the foolish virgins,
we cannot afford to be unprepared,
we cannot afford to have has our tale "I almost made it".
Christ’s main title is LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS because He is coming for those in whose lives He is the LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS.
He is coming for those whose minds are saturated by the Word and who have allowed His Holy Spirit to dominate their lives.
He is coming for those who obey his instructions and go out in to the world letting the people know, that there is a God.
He is coming for a people who has been the Light to the world and the Salt of the earth.
He is coming for a people that have abided in Him. I want to be one of those people, what about you.
I want to be in that massive crowd John sees in Rev. 7:9,10 he says
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, (including Barbados) and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;And cried with a loud voice, saying, SALVATION TO OUR GOD WHICH SITTETH UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB.
Oh yes we shall be there with the help of God, clothed with white linen which represents Christ’s righteousness and with palm branches which represent our victory through Christ. Victory over self, victory by obedience to His every word. This is going to be an exciting time. Those palm branches are going to swaying as we sing praises to our God. No more crying, no more pain, no more sorrow for the former things have passed away. Yes. John says:
¶And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. Revelation 19:5 - 19:9 (KJV)
With the Lords help we all will be in that first resurrection, but remember, God can only help us if we are obedient to His word, and to be obedient to his word we have to study His Word. And when we have studied His word, we would want to share his word.
As we would realise, not everyone will be excited by the coming of the Lord. Rev. 6: 15-17
And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich, men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond man , and every free man, hid themselves in the den and in the rocks of the mountains;
And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us, form the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the lamb:
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Some of these people knew about Jesus but were too proud to accept him, too busy in seeking wealth, pleasure and fame, they were preoccupied with the temporal things of this world. There will also be those who professed to be followers of Christ but did Him a disservice by not obeying Him, they refused to forgive, they slandered each others name, they gossiped and coveted. They lied and cheated while carrying the banner of Jesus Christ.
The Lord leaves no excuses for anyone. From the poor to the rich. There is no discrimination because of cultural background or financial status. The only way to be excluded from annihilation is to accept the Lord Jesus and be obedient to His word. One thousand years we will spend in heaven with the LORD. In the mean time the earth will be desolate.
Jeremiah paints a vivid picture of the state of the earth during the millennium period, the name given to the thousand years which we shall spend with the heavenly host. Jeremiah 4: 23-26.
I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heaven were fled.
I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.
Yes the earth will be a desolate place, not a man around. Satan and his imps will be confined to his favorite playground without, anyone to tempt because all those who are not with Christ will be dead
After the thousand years are over we will pack our bags and head for earth once again. We will be coming within the walls of the Space Shape the New Jerusalem. John says in Rev. 21:2
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from
God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
What a time! The Lord God will accompany us back to the earth and the Lamb also. We have to pause and ponder on these things, can we afford to miss out on such an event. To be in the presence of God. To be showered in his glory everyday, to share his habitation. It is truely beyond our imagination! We have to be there!(Paul’s Statement.. Eye have not nor heard nor have it entered into the minds of men what God has prepared for those that love him)
Meanwhile on earth the dead are bought to life! This is the second resurrection. For it was said in Rev. 20:5 that the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
Isaiah 24: 19-23 tells us that after the destruction of the wicked at Christ’s second coming, that they will be visited again after many days, ( a thousand years) .
John says in Rev.20: 7 that satan will be loosed from his prison after the thousand years are expired. He is once again able to exercise his influence on the mind of men, all those who have come up in the second resurrection. His introspection did nothing for his disposition, his attitude remains unchanged, he remains fixed in his course. Rev. 20:8 states exactly what our foe Satan will do
And he shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog , to gather them together to battle; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
This number is made up of an assortment of men from the beginning of time until now. I believe that this number surpasses the present population of the earth, estimated to be over 5.3 billion. Men of every description will be there. It is to these men that Satan now turns, and influences them to attack the beloved city; Rev: 20:9
And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
But just before they destruction, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD Romans 14:11
If you do not confess him now you will confess him then. You can choose where you will make this confession but I assure that you will!!
It is truly a sad end, to a long saga, to live so long, to have had so much, to throw it all away because of covetousness. We do not have to share the same fate as satan.
After the destruction of the wicked, God will provide us with a new heaven and a new earth. The new Jerusalem will take its resting place upon the solid land. There will be peace, in the earth. In Rev. 22:1-5 John states
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the lamb.
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
And there shall be no more curse: but 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 shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
What a wonderful ending. May the Lord help us, that we may all be there to enjoy the pleasures of a new heaven and a new earth and the presence of none other but God the Father and Jesus Christ the Lamb of God. May our journey be cheerful as we press along the way looking for that city not built with hands but whose builder and maker is God. May we in our pilgrim’s progress keep our eyes fix on the celestial city and so walk that we may cause others to join us.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Rev. 22:14
And so it will be that we will live happily ever after.
