The Last Fight - the gathering of the worldly armies.
The passing away of heaven and earth.
The "end of the world" is the last period of the First Creation. The
period before it is the "Millennium", the period after it is the Second, the "New
Creation".
The "end of the world" starts with the Last Fight of Satan and his earthly allies against
the heavenly forces. In this fight Satan is destroyed in Israel with his entire army. Immediately
afterward, the Universal Resurrection takes place as the last event on the ground of this earth. Due
to the passing away of the first heaven and the first earth the subsequent Last Judgment already
takes place before the great white throne and is the last event of this period of time.
The subsequent period of the "New Creation" sees a new heaven and a new earth with the
Holy City of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.
Just as Ezk 39 describes the Battle of Armageddon with the Antichrist (before the
Millennium) we have in Ezk 38,1-23 a description of the Last Fight at the end of the world. Although
some exegetes want to see both prophecies as the description of one and the same event, differences
and the belonging to a certain event can be discovered very easily.
The fact that in both cases Gog from Magog, the prince of Rosh (or chief prince of) Meshech and
Tubal is mentioned here, may not surprise us since it is in both cases the same Fiend, who sets out
to battle against Israel, namely Satan. The one time (Ezk 39) we recognize him in the Battle of
Armageddon - here Satan gathers the kings for battle together with the Antichrist and the false
prophet and then marches with them "in spirit" so to speak as their commander, as we can
gather from Rev 16,13-14.
(See also Chapter 07: “The Battle of Armageddon.”)
Three unclean spirits coming out of the mouth of the dragon, of the beast and of the false prophet.
Rev 16,13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and
out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like
frogs; 16,14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the
whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. Rev
16,13-14;
The other time, here, at the end of the world, we learn from Rev 20,7 that after his
release from the abyss he will seduce the peoples of the world and will gather them for the Last
Fight against God.
When the thousand years were completed Satan must be released for a short time.
Rev 20,1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of
the abyss and a great chain in his hand.
20,2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him
for a thousand years; 20,3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over
him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were
completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Rev 20, 1- 3;
He will come out to deceive the nations and to gather them together for the war.
Rev 20,7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be
released from his prison, 20,8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four
corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is
like the sand of the seashore. Rev 20, 7- 8;
The LORD will turn him about and put hooks into his jaws, and He bring him out, and all his army.
Ezk 38,1 And the word of the LORD came to me saying, 38,2 "Son of
man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal,
and prophesy against him 38,3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against you,
O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal.
38,4 "I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all
your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and
shield, all of them wielding swords; Ezk 38, 1- 4;
In comparison to that the text from Ezk 39,1-3, which refers to the Battle of
Armageddon:
I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north.
Ezk 39,1"And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, ‘Thus
says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal;
39,2 and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north
and bring you against the mountains of Israel. 39,3 "I will strike your bow from your left hand
and dash down your arrows from your right hand. Ezk 39, 1- 3;
So, it is Gog, the prince of Rosh (it should be mentioned here that "Rosh"
can also mean "chief prince"), Meshech and Tubal, whom the Lord will turn around in both
cases.
As far as this is concerned, the statements in both chapters are the same.
Ezk 38,8 brings us then the first decisive difference. There it says, "After
many days you will be summoned, in the latter years…". This is a clear hint that this here is
not an event sometime in the course of history, but actually at the end of times, after the
Millennium, at the end of the world.
The further text in Ezk 38,8: "..you will come into the land that is restored from the sword,
whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations" refers to the people of Israel, who
after their gathering and return to the land of Israel (also mentioned in Ezk 38,12), will live
peacefully in the Millennium - waging war is not learned any more - and will dwell securely there.
In the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword.
Ezk38,5 Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and
helmet; 38,6 Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all
its troops—many peoples with you. 38,7 "Be prepared, and prepare yourself, you and all your
companies that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. 38,8 "After many days you
will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword,
whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a
continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all
of them.
38,9 "You will go up, you will come like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land,
you and all your troops, and many peoples with you." Ezk 38, 5- 9;
Here, in connection with Ezk 38,4.15 the complaint is often brought forward that
this fight probably will not be fought out with "army, horses and horsemen, all of them
splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords".
According to these interpreters this was a symbolic metaphor, and this fight, would, of course, be
fought with tanks, aircrafts, and nuclear weapons.
These exegetes fail to see two things in this connection. First of all, in the time before the
Millennium, on the Day of the Lord, at the reorganization of the earth by global earthquakes not
only all war materials were destroyed, all oil fields and natural gas fields will have exploded as
well and therefore even tanks or airplanes, etc., which may be perhaps still undamaged could simply
not be employed either for the simple lack of fuel. And secondly: In the Millennium the Lord has put
an end to wars. All over the world "swords were hammered into plowshares" (Isa 2,4; Mi
4,3;) and waging war was not taught any more.
And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Isa 2,2 Now it will come about that In the last days The mountain of
the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above
the hills; And all the nations will stream to it. 2,3 And many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may
teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from
Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
2,4 And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they
will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift
up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.
2,5 Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the LORD. Isa 2, 2- 5;
Therefore, Satan has no other choice than to take recourse to horsemen and horses,
shields and swords, for his going to war against Israel. And the fact that also in Israel people
have not "learnt" any more "how to wage war" for a long time is, of course, an
enticing aspect and almost destined for a treacherous assault upon this land.
Also Ezk 38,11 mentions a detail from the life of Israel in the Millennium: Because of the many
people the cities will be inhabited without any walls and therefore the cities will lie there
unprotected.
And Satan wants to take advantage of just these circumstances in order to assault the people of God.
You will turn your hand against the people who are gathered from the nations.
Ezk 38,10 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, "It will come about on that
day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan, 38,11 and you will
say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest,
that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, 38,12 to capture
spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited,
and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who
live at the center of the world.’ 38,13 "Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish
with all its villages will say to you, ‘Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your
company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture
great spoil?’"‘ Ezk 38,10-13;
They came up on the broad plain of the earth and fire came down from heaven and devoured them.
Rev 20,9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and
surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and
devoured them. Rev 20, 9;
The peculiar description of the geographical location of Israel in the Millennium
here above, in Ezk 38,12: "at the center of the world" and in Rev 20,9: "on the plain
of the earth" has its origin in the change of the earth's surface on the Day of the Lord before
the Millennium. There "all valleys will be raised, and all mountains and hills will be
lowered" (Lk 3,5) and "all the land will be changed into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south
of Jerusalem" (Zech 14,10).
If one takes into account these geological changes, the designation of Israel as the geographical
"navel of the world" (translation by Buber) - for Israel is at any rate the spiritual
center of the world in the Millennium - , but also the formulation: "… they came up on the
broad plain of the earth …" becomes understandable.
(See also Chapter 08: “The reorganization of
heaven and earth.”)
Just as the Millennium (the Kingdom of Peace) - at least in the land of Israel - is
an earthly prefulfillment of the later New Creation (the kingdom of God) in the days of eternity,
the geographical location of Jerusalem in the Millennium is an earthly prefulfillment of the
heavenly Jerusalem, which will also come down from heaven on a mountain - this mountain, however,
will be much higher.
(See also Table 12: “The earthly and the heavenly
Jerusalem.”)
Here below, in Ezk 38,14, we learn now that Israel has been living securely for
centuries and - as we have read above - does not learn any more how to fight and therefore is not
prepared for any attack.
And precisely this is the "hook in the mouth", with which the Lord baits Satan who has
been released from the abyss and with which he "turns him around" and lets him set out
against the people of God in Israel.
When My people Israel are living securely I will bring Gog with his mighty army against My land.
Ezk 38,14"Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog,
‘Thus says the Lord GOD, "On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will
you not know it?
38,15 "You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples
with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army; 38,16 and you will come
up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last
days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am
sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog." Ezk 38,14-16;
In Ezk 38,16 we have now the definite statement: "in the last days", so it
is at the end of the world when Satan comes here over Israel with his huge army. Also the text from
Rev 20,8, which deals with this fight at the end of the world, confirms this statement:
He will gather together the nations for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore.
Rev 20,7 When the thousand years are completed, will be released from
his prison, 20,8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the
earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of
the seashore. Rev 20, 7- 8;
For the land of Israel and its inhabitants – who will then, in the Millennium,
consist not only of Israelites any more, but as people of God of all nations - there is no
possibility of self-defense here. They do not have any weapons, they have not learnt how to wage
war. Their cities lie there unprotected and do neither have walls nor ditches.
The army of Satan on the other hand has been gathered from all over the world. Perhaps their number
amounts to millions, who set out here to Israel - like a cloud that covers the land. But precisely
this is the will of the Lord. Also here it shall be once again proved that the God of Israel, the
Almighty, is the only God on the earth, and that neither Satan nor millions of people can resist
this God.
It is the beginning of the end, and the passing away of the First Creation takes its course.
When Gog comes against the land of Israel, My fury will mount up in My anger.
Ezk 38,17 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, "Are you the one of whom I
spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for
many years that I would bring you against them? 38,18 "It will come about on that day, when Gog
comes against the land of Israel," declares the Lord GOD, "that My fury will mount up
in My anger. Ezk 38,17-18;
All the men who are on the face of the earth will shake and the mountains also will be thrown down.
Ezk 38,19 "In My zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that on
that day there will surely be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 38,20 "The fish
of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that
creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; the
mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the
ground. Ezk 38,19-20;
We have here, in Ezk 38,19, a "great earthquake", which induces some
interpreters to see a connection with the seventh judgment of the bowls in Rev 16,17-18 and thus to
place the entire chapter Ezk 38 – together with chapter 39 - before the Millennium, at the Battle
of Armageddon.
Apart from the characteristics dealt with above, in Ezk 38,8, that the situation of Israel at the
end of the Millennium is described here, such as
- After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years (after a
thousand years)
- you will come into the land that is restored from the sword (no wars any
more in the Millennium),
- whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains
of Israel (the people of Israel);
- but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living
securely, all of them (Israel is living securely in the Millennium).
- all of these statements cannot apply at all to the time before the Millennium,
before the Battle of Armageddon - there are also two sound reasons for the earthquake in Ezk 38,19
why they have to be assigned to the Last Fight at the end of the world and not to the battle before
the Millennium:
1. While in Rev 16,18, at the seventh judgment of the bowls, a worldwide
earthquake is described: "and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since
man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it.", here, in Ezk 38,19, a local
earthquake in Israel is described: "on that day there will surely be a great earthquake in the
land of Israel".
2. And when it says in Ezk 38,20: "The fish of the sea …will shake at My
presence", also this is not possible at the seventh judgment of the bowls, before the
Millennium, as already when the second bowl was poured out in Rev 16,3 "every living thing in
the sea" was killed and therefore no fish are left any more that could "shake".
In addition to this earthquake Satan and his huge army will be overwhelmed with all
plagues that have ever fallen upon men. A great confusion will seize the satanic army. They will not
know any more against whom they are fighting and will kill each other. Those who are left will die
in a hailstorm and in the fire.
I will rain on him and on the many peoples who are with him, fire and brimstone.
Ezk 38,21 "I will call for a sword against him on all My
mountains," declares the Lord GOD. "Every man’s sword will be against his brother.
38,22 "With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain
on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with
hailstones, fire and brimstone.
38,23 "I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many
nations; and they will know that I am the LORD."‘ Ezk 38,21-23;
John summarizes this in Rev 20,9 briefly in the sentence: "And fire came down
from heaven and devoured them".
And fire came down from heaven and devoured them.
Rev 20,9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and
surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and
devoured them. Rev 20, 9;
So, now it is over. It was Satan's last attempt to get into power. And he lost now
once and for all. What and how many things has he tried to do in the course of thousands of years!
Below, in Ezk 28,14-15, we read that he was a "cherub who covers" in Eden, in the garden
of God. He had the seal of perfection, he was full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. And God, the
Lord, says there himself, "You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You
were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire".
On the one hand it seems to be incomprehensible that a creature that was created in this perfection,
rises in order to fight against his creator. On the other hand we know only too well from our human
experience that it is again and again precisely men with great charisma who develop into seducers,
cheats, despots, and tyrants, in their greed for even more power and influence.
But this has come to an end now. Everything proud and haughty has been abased and even Satan himself
has been defeated now.
And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone.
Rev 20,10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake
of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be
tormented day and night forever and ever. Rev 20,10;
(See also Excursus 06: “From the face of God into
the lake of fire.”)
Now Satan is thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone for good. This "eternal
fire", as it is also called, has not only been prepared for the Devil and his angels, as we
will read below, in Mt 25,4, but also for all godless and accursed.
Depart from Me into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.
Mt 25,41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart
from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
Mt 25,41;
You have become terrified and you will cease to be forever.
Ezk 28,11Again the word of the LORD came to me saying, 28,12 "Son
of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,
" You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
28,13 "You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The
ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise
and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the
day that you were created They were prepared. 28,14 "You were the anointed cherub who
covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the
stones of fire.
28,15 "You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness
was found in you. 28,16 "By the abundance of your trade You were internally filled with
violence, and you sinned; therefore I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God. And I have
destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 28,17 "Your heart
was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast
you to the ground; I put you before kings, That they may see you.
28,18 "By the multitude of your iniquities, In the unrighteousness of your trade You profaned
your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought fire from the midst of you; it has consumed you, And I
have turned you to ashes on the earth In the eyes of all who see you. 28,19 "All who know you
among the peoples are appalled at you; You have become terrified and you will cease to be forever."‘"
Ezk 28,11-19;
Already in the Gospels it is handed down to us in Lk 20,27-36 that also at the time
of Jesus there already were religious groups - here the Sadducees - who did not believe in a
Resurrection.
And they thought they were extremely smart when they wanted to embarrass the Lord with the following
problem they brought forward:
In the resurrection therefore, which one’s wife will she be?
Lk 20,27Now there came to Him some of the Sadducees (who say that there
is no resurrection), 20,28 and they questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that
if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should marry the wife and
raise up children to his brother.
20,29 "Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; 20,30 and
the second 20,31 and the third married her; and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children.
20,32 "Finally the woman died also. 20,33 "In the resurrection therefore, which one’s
wife will she be? For all seven had married her."
20,34 Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 20,35 but
those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither
marry nor are given in marriage; 20,36 for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like
angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
20,37 "But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the burning
bush, where he calls the Lord THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB. 20,38
"Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him." 20,39 Some of
the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, You have spoken well."
20,40 For they did not have courage to question Him any longer about anything. Lk 20,27-40;
We will come back to the answer the Lord gave them immediately. But before doing so,
we would like to ask ourselves briefly why these men who were after all scribes and therefore were
supposed to know the Scriptures, could make such fools of themselves that they had to admit coram
publico at the end, "Teacher, you have spoken well."?
If we look at it closely, we realize that, in reality, they did not want to know anything about
Resurrection from the Lord. On the contrary, they thought that they already knew everything about
Resurrection and wanted to prove him that he was wrong and that they were right. They wanted to show
that there is no Resurrection, and that there even cannot be one because otherwise these problems
they pointed out would arise.
And even today we find this attitude of mind in many "religious", but also in faithful
people. In reality, they do not want to gain any knowledge from the Scriptures, much less new
knowledge, but they want to retain their old opinion they are accustomed to and are willing to put
up with violations of the Scriptures and its spirit for the sake of being able to retain their view.
Also the hint of the Lord at 2Mo 3,6 in his answer above in Lk 20,37-38 is interesting.
I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
2Mo 3,5 Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals
from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." 3,6 He said also,
"I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."
Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 2Mo 3, 5- 6;
Here, God himself is speaking to Moses, and he says, "I am the God of your
father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob". And the Lord Jesus makes
it clear to the scribes that they do not know the Scriptures properly, that they did not read
accurately enough what is said in it, otherwise they would know that there is a Resurrection.
This hint is amazing inasmuch as it is based only on the single word "am". God says,
"I am …" and if we take a closer look at this statement we really come to the conclusion
that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob must be alive for God. He does not consider them as being dead,
otherwise he would have to say "I was (…) also the God of your fathers."
And as God speaks of the dead as if they were living, and as they actually are not any more - or
rather not yet - in the midst of the living, the logical conclusion is suggesting itself that there
must be (or must have been) a Resurrection of all these dead persons, in which they become
"living souls" again.
But we Christians of today do not have any right to condemn the scribes of the time of Jesus, who
did not recognize so many things that he said himself and that the prophets had prophesied
concerning him if we ourselves are not ready to read the Scriptures with a similar sharp eye and to
check the meaning of each single word before interpreting it.
And if the Lord tells his Disciples in the Sermon on the Mount,
Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law.
Mt 5,17"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 5,18 "For truly I say to you, until
heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all
is accomplished. Mt 5,17-18;
this means on the one hand that the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning
Israel and the world are to come true yet, and that heaven and earth will finally pass away and will
have to give way to a New Creation.
(See also Chapter 14: “The New Creation.”)
But let us now come back to the Universal Resurrection. Paul describes us in his
First Epistle to the Corinthians the "order" in Resurrection and, of course, also gets to
talking about the Universal Resurrection.
For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.
1Cor 15,20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first
fruits of those who are asleep. 15,21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the
resurrection of the dead. 15,22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made
alive. 15,23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s
at His coming, 15,24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father,
when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 1Cor 15,20-24;
(See also Chapter 12: “The Resurrection.”)
As the entire subject of Resurrection is dealt with in a separate chapter because of
its scope, let us here take a closer look at only one circumstance, which will subsequently be
discussed in more detail in this chapter.
The Resurrection of the dead comes through a man, our Lord Jesus Christ. And this Resurrection of
the dead is a Resurrection of all men, who are lying in the tombs. Not a single one is excepted.
"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive". Therefore all people
will - or even must - come to life again through Resurrection. So, Resurrection is a
"revival" of the dead, a kind of "rebirth".
We want to keep that in mind and analyze it in the following in more detail.
This assumption is also confirmed to us by a word of the Lord, in Mt 19,28.
In the regeneration you shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mt 19,28 And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who
have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne,
you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Mt 19,28;
The Lord is talking here of the fact that the Disciples will judge the twelve tribes
of Israel. So, he is speaking of the Last Judgment because Israel can only be judged after the
Millennium, at the end of the world. But the Last Judgment cannot take place unless the dead have
resurrected before. Therefore his hint "in the regeneration" refers to the Universal
Resurrection at the end of days.
So, Resurrection is - as already mentioned above - a regeneration. In fact for all dead. For as in
Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive and will be regenerated.
This process of the spiritual regeneration at the time of Resurrection can also be compared to the
biological birth of man. In both cases men come to "life". In the one case with a fleshy
body, in the other case with a spiritual body.
Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jn 3,3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to
you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 3,4 Nicodemus said to
Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s
womb and be born, can he?" 3,5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is
born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
3,6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
3,7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ Jn 3, 3- 7;
Also the Lord compares the spiritual birth to the physical birth - and as he puts
it, the birth of water. And also he tells us that we must be born again (strictly speaking it
literally says, "from above"). After our biological birth - the birth of water - we also
have to be born again spiritually in order to be able to enter the kingdom of God, to gain eternal
life.
And finally the Lord lets us also know here below, in Lk 20,34-36, that - just as the "children
of this world" see the light of this world at their biological birth - also we, as "sons
of the resurrection", will see the light of "that world" at the regeneration.
They are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
Lk 20,34 Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are
given in marriage, 29,35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the
resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 20,36 for they cannot even
die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
Lk 20,34-36;
So, they are children of the resurrection. However, we must not forget here that
there are also other "sons" of the resurrection. As we have already seen above, all people
will come to life again in the Universal Resurrection, at the end of the world. This is also
confirmed to us by the Lord:
The resurrection of life and the resurrection of judgment.
Jn 5,26 "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He
gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 5,27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment,
because He is the Son of Man.
5,28 "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs
will hear His voice, 5,29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of
life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. Jn 5,26-29;
So, those who did the good deeds will come forth to a resurrection of life, but
those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. That means, if they all
came out of their tombs when they heard the voice of the Lord, all of them must necessarily
also have resurrected.
So, Resurrection - and with it regeneration - is not (yet) a reward for the faithful, but it is
quite a "normal" continuation of human existence. Just as the biological life comes to its
end with the biological death, the then immaterial spirit of man also has to come to life again in a
spiritual body - which is similar to the one of the Lord Jesus after his Resurrection – at the
time of Resurrection.
But then - and only then - the roads of the "spirits" part. Those who did the good deeds,
will enter into eternal life. Those who committed the evil deeds, will inherit eternal perdition in
the judgment.
So, let us bear in mind once again: The term "regeneration" is only another expression for
Resurrection. As all people will resurrect, as the above text tells us, also all men will be
regenerated. This also finds its expression in the following statement of the Lord:
In the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne.
Mt 19,28 And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who
have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne,
you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Mt 19,28;
And He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Mt 25,31"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the
angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 25,32 "All the nations
will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd
separates the sheep from the goats; 25,33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats
on the left. Mt 25,31-33;
At that time the Lord will judge all people, faithful as well as godless. But he has
allowed the Disciples to sit with him also on twelve thrones and to judge their own people, the
people of Israel.
And also the Disciples will not only have to judge faithful if they will judge the twelve tribes of
Israel. So, if the Lord is speaking here of "regeneration", he does not mean a special
event for Christians, but the general happenings of this Universal Resurrection itself.
Unless one is born of water and the Spirit.
Jn 3,5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one
is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 3,6 "That which
is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 3,7 "Do not
be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ Jn 3, 5- 7;
And when the Lord says here above, in Jn 3,5-7, "Unless one is born
…", this is not a hint either at a special group of people, but plainly and simply the hint
at the general necessity of such an occurrence. Of course, also for the sake of being able to enter
into the kingdom of God. But not exclusively. This statement can be compared to the one which says:
Unless one is born (biologically), he cannot come to the faith in God. For this statement does not
mean either that every (biologically) born man will come to faith.
"You must be born again" is therefore not - as it is sometimes misunderstood - a kind of
commandment in order to inherit eternal life, but it is a precondition which is immanent in the
system in order to be able to regain "consciousness" at all after the biological death.
Just as the biological, that is to say the "fleshy" birth, is a precondition for a child
of this world to see the "light of day" and subsequently to gain consciousness.
Also in Jn 3,6 we have a hint at the fact that a spiritual regeneration during the lifetime of man -
as it is postulated by some brothers and sisters - is not possible at all: "That which is born
of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit". Our earthly, biological
body is perishable. Only the body which is born "of Spirit" in the regeneration, will be
imperishable.
This is also told to us by Paul:
Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
1Cor 15,50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 1Cor 15,50;
(See also Excursus 07: “The resurrection body.”)
And the faithful as well as the godless will gain this imperishability, this eternal
existence, through Resurrection. The faithful will spend this eternity in the kingdom of God, the
godless, however, being endowed with their immortality, will weep and gnash their teeth forever in
the lake of fire. This last consequence seems to be very hard and some groups therefore try to
reinterpret this eternal damnation into a restricted one as far as time is concerned by maintaining
the godless would someday or other cease to exist.
But if one bears in mind that it was not an unreasonable request and much less any unattainable
demands of any kind, but that it would have only required a decision of these people during their
lifetimes for God and the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved, one recognizes on
the one hand their reproachable disinterest and on the other hand one starts to understand the
"gnashing of teeth" better.
Therefore we have to take this consequence seriously and orient ourselves by those things which are
in store for us after our death. Therefore we should not rely on those values, which make us
"rich" here on earth, in our earthly, fleshy existence. No matter if this is a wealth of
money and goods, power and influence or knowledge and ability. For we have to leave all of this
behind us at our biological death.
All efforts and endeavors referring to this material world do not exist in the other world, after
the transformation of Resurrection. Then they are gone, do not exist any longer, do not have any
value any more. The only thing that is still rated then, is man's attitude of mind, that means: his
motives for all his actions.
It can be approximately compared to the "distillation process" in the production of
alcohol. In the kettle there is still the mash, which contains skin, fruit pulp, and fruit juice.
After the distillation process only alcohol drops out of the outlet tube. It is not possible for the
material components, such as skin and fruit pulp, to take an active part in this
"transformation". They are left behind. The only thing that can remain in existence, is
the "spirit". In the case of the distillation the alcoholic spirit - in the other case the
human spirit.
Therefore we have to strive to acquire and accumulate that kind of wealth which will retain its
value also then, after our Resurrection, and which makes us "rich" men in the eyes of God.
But the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Gal 6,7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,
this he will also reap. 6,8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap
corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Gal 6,
7- 8;
He who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life.
Jn 5,24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and
believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out
of death into life. Jn 5,24;
In Rev 20,13-14 we realize that really all people come to life again in this
Resurrection. Not only death and Hades will give up the dead who are in them, but also the sea will
give up the dead who are in them.
And the sea and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them.
Rev 20,13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death
and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according
to their deeds. 20,14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second
death, the lake of fire. Rev 20,13-14;
It is rather unlikely that by here actually those dead are meant who met their death
in the sea as some people think, as all dead - no matter if they were buried in the soil, in the sea
or cremated in the fire – obviously must be in Hades. Therefore it can be rather assumed that the
sea, as Rev 13,1; 11,7; 17,8 and also the fact that there is no "sea" any more in the New
Creation suggest, is the prison of the angels who fell away from God (Jud 1,6;) and thus an
"abyss" in the sea. The Mariana trench in the Pacific Ocean has for instance at the height
of the Philippines a deepest depth of more than 11 kilometers (Vitiaz depth)!
Also the Last Judgment is dealt with in a separate chapter and therefore only the
most important points shall be mentioned here.
I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, and the dead were judged.
Rev 20,11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it,
from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 20,12 And I saw the
dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another
book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were
written in the books, according to their deeds. Rev 20,11-12;
So, according to Rev 20,11, it is the "great white throne", before which
the dead will be judged. The one sitting on this throne, is the Lord Jesus, as we can doubtlessly
find out in the subsequent passages from the Scriptures.
And it says here that "books" will be opened. These books are also interpreted by some
people (e.g. Jehovah's Witnesses) as "new commandments of God". They think that men will
get new "instructions" in these books. This interpretation is astonishing because
immediately afterward, two sentences later in the same verse and also in the next verse, Rev 20,13,
an explanation is given at once what is written in these "books". They are the "books
of the deeds", and the dead are judged according to the deeds which are written in these books.
The dead were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
Rev 20,13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and
Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to
their deeds. Rev 20,13;
Even if in between the hint is given that the Book of Life was opened as well, we do
know from other passages from the Scriptures that the Book of Life or Book of the Lamb, as it is
also called, contains only names. In this book the names of all those are "registered" who
have the "foundation" which is Jesus Christ. So, the names of all those are recorded in it
who believed in Jesus during their lifetimes.
This passage from the Scriptures is of particular interest also for the reason that it shows the
systematics of this judgment a little bit. Although it would be apparently easier to call out the
names straightaway from the Book of Life and thus to nominate the saved and to send the others into
eternal fire, first the books of the deeds are opened for the sake of justice and on account of the
entries to be found there first an evaluation of the resurrected is made.
Paul tells us in 1Cor 3,11 what significance these deeds have.
The day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire.
1Cor 3,11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is
laid, which is Jesus Christ. 3,12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 3,13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will
show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each
man’s work.
3,14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 3,15 If
any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as
through fire. 1Cor 3,11-15;
The deeds are tested "as through fire" so to speak. Everything that does
not stand this test, will burn down. It has to be borne in mind here that at that time, namely Rev
20,12-14, no separation of the wicked from the righteous has taken place yet. The deeds of all
resurrected - irrespective of the fact whether they were faithful or not - are first subjected to a
test and assigned to them. As we learn above, from 1Cor 3,14, this can entail strange situations.
Paul writes here to the church in Corinth, that is to say to faithful. And three verses before he
also points out that he is speaking to those who have the "foundation", which has been
laid - namely "laid" by him, Paul. And this foundation is Jesus Christ. So, he addresses
the faithful or, in order to quote Rev 20,12, those who are registered in the Book of Life. So,
these are people who are saved in any case and who will enter into eternal life. And now Paul writes
that among these faithful there may be such persons whose deeds will all burn down. So, they do not
have any "fireproof" deeds. They are standing there empty-handed.
But then their names are looked up in the Book of Life. And here their names are written. And
although all their deeds burned down, so, although they did not even accomplish a single deed in
their lives which had its origin in their faith, they nevertheless succeeded in one thing: they
believed in the Son of God, in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Redeemer. So they will - as Paul
puts it - "suffer loss", but nevertheless "be saved, yet so as through fire".
And this situation has, of course, also its counterpart with the unfaithful. For their deeds are
first tested as well. And if one pursues the approach of Paul further, there may be on the other
hand also here people who have to present "golden heaps" of deeds. During their lifetimes
they were unselfish and helped other people with all their strength and served them. However, not
for the sake of Jesus, but because they had a social attitude, because they pitied these people
because of their poverty and helplessness. They might have even sacrificed their entire property and
spent their whole lives helping the poor and the needy. But they did not think of Jesus when they
were doing that. They were lacking the faith in him.
Who has left house and family for the Lord’s sake will receive eternal life in the age to come.
Mk 10,29 Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has
left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for
the gospel’s sake, 10,30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present
age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and
in the age to come, eternal life. Mk 10,29-30;
Who has left house and family for the sake of the kingdom of God will receive eternal life in the age to come.
Lk 18,28 Peter said, "Behold, we have left our own homes and
followed You." 18,29 And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has
left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
18,30 who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life."
Lk 18,28-30;
And after their deeds have been established and rated, the Book of Life will be
opened also in the case of the unfaithful. But their names will be looked up in it in vain. And they
will enter into eternal perdition, "there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth".
If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Rev 20,13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and
Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to
their deeds. 20,14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death,
the lake of fire. 20,15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was
thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 20,13-15;
He who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
Jn 3,34 "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He
gives the Spirit without measure. 3,35 "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into
His hand. 3,36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will
not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." Jn 3,34-36;
God has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through His Son.
Acts 17,30 "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance,
God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 17,31 because He has fixed
a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed,
having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." Acts 17,30-31;
For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son.
Jn 5,19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly,
truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father
doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.
5,20 "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the
Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 5,21 "For just as
the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.
5,22 "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,
5,23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son
does not honor the Father who sent Him. Jn 5,19-23;
He will sit on His glorious throne and will judge all the nations which will be gathered before Him.
Mt 25,31"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the
angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 25,32 "All the nations will be
gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep
from the goats; 25,33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Mt
25,31-33;
(See also Excursus 04: “Is there a judgment upon
nations?.”)
On that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man.
Ezk 1,22 Now over the heads of the living beings there was something
like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads. 1,23 Under the
expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward the other; each one also had two wings
covering its body on the one side and on the other.
1,24 I also heard the sound of their wings like the sound of abundant waters as they went, like the
voice of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army camp; whenever they stood still,
they dropped their wings. 1,25 And there came a voice from above the expanse that was over their
heads; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings. 1,26¶ Now above the expanse that was
over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on
that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man.
1,27 Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like glowing metal that
looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw
something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him.
1,28 As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the
surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And
when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking. Ezk 1,22-28;
The saints will judge the world.
1Cor 6,2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?
If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 6,3 Do
you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 1Cor 6, 2- 3;
The Apostles will sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mt 19,28 And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who
have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne,
you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 19,29 "And
everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My
name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. Mt 19,28-29;
He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne.
Rev 3,21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with
Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Rev 3,21;
The Lord came with His holy ones to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly.
Jud 1,14 It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh
generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His
holy ones, 1,15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their
ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly
sinners have spoken against Him." Jud 1,14-15;
Everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
Mt 10,32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I
will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 10,33 "But whoever denies Me
before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Mt 10,32-33;
These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Mt 25,41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart
from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
25,42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to
drink; 25,43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick,
and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’
25,44 "Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty,
or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 25,45 "Then He
will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of
these, you did not do it to Me.’ 25,46 "These will go away into eternal punishment,
but the righteous into eternal life." Mt 25,41-46;
We have here the "day of harvest". Whereas the wheat (the righteous)
below, in Rev 14,14-16, is reaped by the Son of Man himself by means of a sickle, it is the angel
with power over fire who orders another angel to gather the clusters (the wicked) from the vine of
the earth, and to throw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. And just as before the
Millennium first the elect were gathered and the remaining godless were then left to the
catastrophes of the Day of the Lord, also here, after the harvest (the Resurrection of all men), the
angels will first separate the weed (the wicked) from the wheat (from the righteous) and throw all
unrighteous into the eternal fire. The righteous will then enter into the eternal kingdom of the
Father, into the heavenly Jerusalem.
The harvest is the end of the world and the reapers are angels.
Mt 13,36 Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His
disciples came to Him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."
13,37 And He said, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,
13,38 and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and
the tares are the sons of the evil one; 13,39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the
harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels. 13,40 "So just as the tares
are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the world.
13,41 "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of
His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 13,42 and will
throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13,43 "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He
who has ears, let him hear. Mt 13,36-43;
At the end of the world the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous.
Mt 13,47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into
the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; 13,48 and when it was filled, they drew it up on the
beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away.
13,49 "So it will be at the end of the world; the angels will come forth and take out the
wicked from among the righteous, 13,50 and will throw them into the furnace of fire;
in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13,51 "Have you understood all these
things?" They said to Him, "Yes." 13,52 And Jesus said to them, "Therefore every
scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings
out of his treasure things new and old." Mt 13,47-52;
The hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev 14,14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the
cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.
14,15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the
cloud, "Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the
earth is ripe." 14,16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the
earth was reaped.
14,17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle.
14,18 Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he
called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Put in your sharp sickle and
gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe." 14,19 So the
angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw
them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 14,20 And the wine press was trodden outside
the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of
two hundred miles. Rev 14,14-20;
(See also Table 13: “The judgment upon the
resurrected nations.”)
As we can gather from 20,11-15, the Last Judgment will not take place on the ground
of this present earth any more, not in this First Creation any more. The dead will resurrect, and
Hades as well as the sea will give up the dead within them, and heaven and earth will pass away.
Then the resurrected ones will already be standing before the great white throne of God and the Lamb
in order to be judged. While the wicked will be thrown into the lake of fire, the righteous will
enter into the New Creation of God in eternity, with a new heaven and a new earth.
Resurrection and Last Judgment before the great white throne.
Rev 20,11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it,
from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.20,12 And I
saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and
another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which
were written in the books, according to their deeds. 20,13 And the sea gave up the dead which
were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every
one of them according to their deeds. 20,14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.
This is the second death, the lake of fire. 20,15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in
the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 20,11-15;
Then comes the end, when the Son hands over the kingdom to the God and Father.
1Cor 15,20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first
fruits of those who are asleep. 15,21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the
resurrection of the dead. 15,22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
15,23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His
coming, 15,24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He
has abolished all rule and all authority and power.
15,25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 15,26 The last enemy
that will be abolished is death. 15,27 For He has put all things in subjection under His feet.
But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted
who put all things in subjection to Him. 15,28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son
Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in
all. 1Cor 15,20-28;
The first heaven and the first earth passed away.
Rev 21,1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first
heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 21,2 And I saw the holy
city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her
husband.
21,3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among
men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
21,4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there
will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
Rev 21, 1- 4;
(See also Table 09: “God's plan of salvation and
its effects on Creation.”)