The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

I'm the adult Sunday school teacher at my church - and was preparing a lesson on Revelations chp. 20, but found something that intrigued me and I wish to discuss it.

I'm pretty secure in the Bible's teaching that faith in Christ and not one's works is the only way to Heaven, and that is why I was intrigued by the idea that some in the great white throne judgment will find themselves written in the book of life after their works are examined.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
Rev 20:13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and everyone was judged according to what they had done.
Rev 20:14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
Rev 20:15 All whose names were not found written in the book of life were thrown into the lake of fire.


It is my understanding that all Christians will be resurrected at the first resurrection:

Rev 20:4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.

Which may also be the resurrection Jesus was referring to here:
– Luk 14:13 But when you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind,
Luk 14:14 and you shall be blessed, for they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.

The next thing that happens is the millennial reign - after that is the second resurrection for those who will stand before the great white throne.

Now, if all the Christians were resurrected in the first resurrection - why would there even be a book of life at this resurrection? From the text, it certainly appears that there are those who will find their names in this book after being judged by their works.

The scenarios which make sense to me would be:
1) They are people who did good works during the millennial reign - when Christ is reigning on Earth and therefore faith is no longer a factor because He is now seen by all.

2) The first resurrection didn't actually include all Christians - It is a reward for exceptional Christians.


Any other thoughts?

-Joe


all quotes from NIV

Hi Joe!

Nice to see you on the forum.

My understanding is given here:

viewtopic.php?f=142&t=15814&start=30

It deals with some aspects of your question. Some other believers will chip in with their own views, in due time.

Hey, the new 3d User Interfaces must be giving you a real workout, right?

_________________
Sam

All Scripture references from the NASB unless otherwise indicated.

This is for Sunday School

_________________
John

My soul looks back in wonder at how I got over

We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

What do we do with folks who may believe on the Lord Jesus either (1) before His second coming and survive beyond the wrath of the Tribulation and the persecutions of the wicked or (2) who during the 1000 years may be born and come to faith? Is it also possible that there may be issues with chronology where things are not as straightforward as they seem? At no point are "works" the only basis for reward/punishment. They are indicative of one's faith, but not the singular basis of judgment concerning everlasting life or the second death.

_________________
Everyone is equal at the foot of the cross...just some are more equal than others.
Forum Code of Conduct
Bible.org Doctrinal Statement
rickwadholmjr.wordpress.com
iheartbarth.wordpress.com
bluechippastor.org
Twitter: @RickWadholmJr

Great question Joe, I personally hold to the classical (I think?) view of the Great White Throne Judgment as follows:

- One Judgment event
- All believers (regardless of what period of time they died in) and non-believers are brought to this event
- Believers are written in the book of life and receive a reward based on their deeds for Christ (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). These rewards (crowns) have nothing to do with their position in eternity, as all believers are solely saved by Faith alone.
- Non-believers are not written in the book of life and are judged (given their "death" sentence par say) and thrown into the lake of fire
- Death and Hades are also thrown in the lake of fire, in fulfillment of 1 Corinthians 15:54-55

1 Corinthians 15:55 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Context (NET)

Praise be to God! Christ took away the sting of Death, we only pass through it's shadow.

However another possible interpretation is Three separate Judgment events, in which the Great White Throne is only one of them (solely the judgment of unbelievers). I'm not familiar with this approach so maybe someone else can fill in

_________________
Studying MDiv. (Biblical Studies) at Tyndale Seminary
My Pastor's testimony "Street Kid to Preacher" - http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p ... 1A10FF286C