Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
2. The Resurrection of the Dead (Revelation 20:12-13)
REVELATION 20:12-13
12 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works.
In a breathtaking vision the seer recognized suddenly innumerable dead persons standing in front of the white throne. Whether they lived again after the resurrection or were dead souls still without a spiritual body, the seer does not report. The dead persons before the judgment seat of Christ had not been “clinical dead", otherwise they would have not been able to stand before the white throne, but would have lain lifeless before it. However, they did also not live really otherwise they would not have been dead persons.
Not all dead persons are dead. There are dead persons who “live in Christ", already today and in eternity (Revelation 14:13; 2 Corinthians 4:11; Hebrews 4:10). Christ said with regard to Abraham, Moses and Elijah, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living”, (Matthew 22:32). So, Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3). On the other side, there are also living persons who are “dead in sins” and have no hope (Ephesians 2:1-3.5; 4:17-19).
“In Christ” live 144.000 sealed of Israel who are led by Jesus in the throne room of His Father, likewise live the multitude of believers out of all nations, which nobody could number, who praised God and His Lamb because of the accomplished salvation (Revelation 7:9-17). To these belong also the called, the chosen and the believers in the army of heaven who followed the King of kings riding on white horses and dressed in white robes (Revelation 17:14; 19:14). Also the souls who appeared in the first resurrection alive, blessed and holy will not stand among the dead persons before the white throne. They had already become immortal in the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-6).
Whoever believes in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and his atoning sacrifice, receives from him already today eternal live (John 3:14-16; Romans 8:10.32; 1 John 4:9 and other verses). We have already now the life of Christ in us as we trust in him (John 3:36; 6:40.47 and other verses). He himself is our live (Philippians 1.21; 4:3) and our resurrection (Ephesians 2:4-6). For he confirmed his followers, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
Both are true: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Likewise as Jesus who, even though he is the eternal live in person (John 5:26; 11:25; 16:6), died in place of us, rested on the Sabbath in his grave and received his resurrection body not before eastern (Luke 24:39-43; John 20:17), so the believers will also die in body even though they spiritually “in Christ” already live in eternity. As Jesus rested until he in his resurrection from the dead put on his spiritual body, so the believers also rest until their resurrection and are sheltered in the care of the Good Shepard. Nobody, not even death, is able to snatch them out of his hand (John 10:28; Revelation 14:13).
Not all dead persons are equal: some are depressed, hopeless or desperate, and that is out of good reasons, other dead persons live happy, clever and comforted in Christ. Paul wrote, “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.” (Philippians 1:23-24). In a similar way he had already written before to the church of Corinth, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. ... For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:8.10).
PRAYER: Our Father in heaven, death cannot snatch us from You, because You are our eternal Father. Your life in us is everlasting. We had the power of Your life by grace not by our own merit and the blood of Jesus Christ alone made us worthy to receive the privilege of Your everlasting life. We worship to You and Your beloved Son because in Him we live and we exist. Amen.
QUESTIONS:
- What kinds of life and death does the book of Revelation tell us about?
- What makes us worthy to receive God's everlasting life?