Lesson 23

The first resurrection takes place with the second coming of Jesus. The second resurrection, taking place at the close of the millennium, is for those who never had an opportunity to believe in Jesus during their first lives. Many from that second resurrection are deceived by Satan for the last time. God destroys them after the final war with fire. Dying for a second and final time in that fire, they become ashes under the feet of the saints. No time is given for how long after humanity’s last great battle is over, before the great white throne judgement takes place. 

The only people still left in their graves are those who were called by God to Jesus during their first life; they accepted Jesus only to later unrepentantly reject him. In the white throne judgement, we are told all the dead that are still left in their graves will be gathered together to see if their names are written in the book of life. These failed Christians are resurrected into the third and final resurrection of the damned, at the great white throne judgement. 

 Revelation 20:11-15 21st Century King James Version
11 And I saw a great white throne and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

No longer needed, death and the grave are done away with as everyone who has ever lived have all taken their turn passing through them. All of mankind has either now become immortal children of God or they are dead, remembered with everlasting contempt. They will never  be resurrected again. Do you know of another way where everyone who has ever lived can have an opportunity to believe in Jesus, while those who willfully choose to reject him die?

Daniel 12:2 21st Century King James Version
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.