Immortality or Resurrection (Updated) by William West (reading strategies book .TXT) 📖

The saved forever with the Lord [1 Thessalonians 4:14-17].
• The kingdom will be delivered up to God [1 Corinthians 15:24-26].
• Christ will bring the lawless one to an end by the appearance of His coming [2
Thessalonians 2:1-9].
• "Wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God" [2
Thessalonians 1:7-10].
[1] ON THE DAY OF THE LORD
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief" [2 Peter 3:10]. No one knows when the
"day of the Lord" will come, but when it comes, EVERYONE on earth, living or dead,
will know it. Coming "as a thief" shows the unexpectedness of His coming; no one
knows what day or year. No one will be resurrected before the day of the Lord comes, all
will be resurrected when it comes.
[2] ON THE DAY OF THE LORD
THE RESURRECTION AND JUDGMENT
OF THE RIGHTEOUS IN THE LAST DAY
"There shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust" [Acts 24:15]. Both the
righteous and the wicked will be raised and judged at the same time on the same day, not
a thousand years apart. AS FAR AS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND NO ONE WHO
BELIEVES CHRIST CAME IN A. D. 70 BELIEVES THERE WILL EVER BE A
RESURRECTION OF THE “UNJUST.”
"Marvel not at this; for the hour comes in which all that are in the tombs shall hear
his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life;
and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of judgment" [John 5:28-29]. All will
be raised in the same "hour." Not the saved raised and then the lost resurrected a
thousand years later, and not many resurrection at the moment of death or each person.
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The resurrection does NOT take place at death; there is a day appointed when all the dead
will rise [John 5:28-29].
"And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he has given me I should
lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that
everyone that beholds the Son, and believes on him, should have eternal life; and I will
raise him up at the last day" [John 6:40-41]. Not a thousand years before the last day.
[3] ON THE DAY OF THE LORD
THE RESURRECTION AND JUDGMENT
OF THE WICKED IN THE LAST DAY
"He that rejects me, and receives not my sayings, has one that judges him: the word
that I speak, the same shall judge him in the last day" [John 12:48].
[4] ON THE DAY OF THE LORD
THE FINAL JUDGMENT
Millennialists must divide the judgment into two parts. If it is shown that the judgment
of both those in Christ and those who are not in Christ is one judgment of both at the
same time and on the same day, not separated by a thousand years, it makes their view
not be possible. In the passages above the judgment, it is not a broken judgment with the
two parts a thousand years apart.
"He has appointed a day in which he will judge the world" [Acts 17:31].
"If so be that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that
afflict you, and to you that are afflicted rest with us, AT THE REVELATION OF THE
LORD JESUS FROM HEAVEN with the angels of his power in flaming fire,
RENDERING VENGEANCE TO THEM THAT KNOW NOT GOD, AND TO THEM
THAT OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS WHO SHALL SUFFER
PUNISHMENT, EVEN ETERNAL DESTRUCTION from the face of the Lord and from
the glory of his might, WHEN HE SHALL COME TO BE GLORIFIED IN HIS SAINTS,
and marveled at in all them that believe (because our testimony unto you was believed)
IN THAT DAY" [2 Thessalonians 1:5-10]. This passage tells:
• WHAT is to be done to both
1. Them that know not God, "Shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction."
2. His saints: "Counted worthy of the kingdom of God" Verse 5.
• WHEN it is to be done to both
o "At the revelation of the Lord Jesus from Heaven...WHEN HE SHALL COME
TO BE GLORIFIED IN HIS SAINTS...IN THAT DAY"
There is no way this passage can be broken apart and made to be speaking of two
things that will be a thousand years apart. It is speaking of what will happen to both
believers and nonbelievers "in that day," not a thousand years apart. If all the Bible is to
be taken literally as the Millennialists say it is, could any passage say any clearer then
this one that the resurrection and judgment are simultaneously on the same day?
"Do not marvel at this; for THE HOUR IS COMING, IN WHICH ALL WHO ARE IN
THE TOMBS SHALL HEAR HIS VOICE AND SHALL COME FORTH; they that have
done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the
resurrection of judgment" [John 5:28-29].
"But after your hardness and unrepentant heart treasures up for yourself wrath in the
day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every
man according to his works: to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and
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honor and incorruption, eternal life: but unto them that are factious, and obey not the
truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish,
upon every soul of man that works evil" [Romans 2:5-6]. This will be "in the day when
God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ" [Romans
2:16].
"For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one
may receive the things done in the body, according to what he had done, whether it be
good or bad" [2 Corinthians 5:10]. The Premillennialists time table has the judgment a
thousand years after the day of the Lord. Also Matthew 25:46; Hebrews 10:27; Romans
14:10; 2:5-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; 2 Peter 2:12; 3:7-11; 2:10; Revelation 2:11; 21:8
[5] ON THE DAY OF THE LORD
THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE LOST [2 Peter 2:12; 3:7]
"For yourselves know perfectly THAT THE DAY OF THE LORD so comes as a thief
in the night. When they are saying, peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon
them...But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that THAT DAY should overtake you as a
thief; for you are all sons of light" [1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, See 2 Peter 3:10]. Both are on
the same day.
"At the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in
flaming fire, rendering vengeance to then that know not God and to them that obey not
the gospel of our Lord Jesus; who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from
the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he shall come to be glorified in
the saints" [2 Thessalonians 1:7-10]. There is no thousand year gap between the coming
of Christ and the destruction of the wicked. Both are "in the day of the Lord."
"BUT WHEN THE SON OF MAN SHALL COME IN HIS GLORY, AND ALL THE
ANGELS WITH HIM...HE SHALL SEPARATE THEM ONE FROM ANOTHER, AS THE
SHEPHERD SEPARATES THE SHEEP FROM THE GOATS...AND THESE [the goats]
SHALL GO AWAY INTO ETERNAL PUNISHMENT: BUT THE RIGHTEOUS [the
sheep] INTO ETERNAL LIFE" [Matthew 25:46]. NO THOUSAND YEARS BETWEEN
THE GOATS AND THE SHEEP. BOTH ARE AT THE SAME TIME. BOTH ARE,
"WHEN THE SON OF MAN SHALL COME IN HIS GLORY."
PREMILLENNIALISTS CANNOT EXPLAIN AWAY THIS PASSAGE AND MANY
OTHERS THAT DO NOT FIT WITH THEIR VIEW.
[6] ON THE DAY OF THE LORD
THE SECOND DEATH
The second death is used four times only in Revelation. Another way of saying the
total destruction of the lost [See The Second Death in chapter two]. Those who are buried
and raised with Christ [Romans 6] in the first resurrection, "Over these the second death
has no power" [Revelation 20:6].
FIRST RESURRECTION - SECOND DEATH: "He that over comes shall not be hurt
of the second death" [Revelation 2:11, 20:6]. The first resurrection is when a person is
"born anew...born of the water and the Spirit" [John 3:3-5]. "And you did he make ALIVE
when you were dead...made us ALIVE together with Christ [by grace have you been
saved], and RAISED us up with him" [Ephesians 2:1-6; Galatians 2:18-19; 3:1]. The first
resurrection is when, "We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death:
that like as Christ was RAISED from the dead" [Romans 6:3-4]. “Having been buried
with Him in baptism, in which you were also RAISED up with Him through faith in
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the working of God, who RAISED Him from the dead When you were dead in your
transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, HE MADE YOU ALIVE together
with Him, having forgiven us all our transgression” [Colossians 2:12-13].
"There are only two alternatives, the crown of life--eternal life--or the second death" Homer
Hailey, Page 128, Revelation, Baker Book House.
THE ALL THAT “OVERCOMES SHALL NOT BE HURT OF THE SECOND
DEATH” IS ALL THAT ARE THAT HAS BEEN SAVED AND ALL THAT WILL BE
SAVED AND REMAINS FAITHFUL, NOT JUST SOME OF THE SAVED IN A
LITERAL 1,000 YEARS. The second death will be for all that does not “have part in the
first resurrection” (buried in baptism and raised up with Christ) [Revelation 20:6; 20:15;
21:8].
Death and hades, and any not found written in the book of life are cast into the
lake of fire; which is the second death [Revelation 20:14‐15].
Lake of fire, which is the second death. He that overcomes shall inherit and be
God's son. For all other, "Their part shall be in the lake that burns with fire and
brimstone; which is the second death" [Revelation 21:8].
If, as some teach, the first resurrection is the resurrection of the soul in hades,
then the first resurrection WOULD BE EVERYONE, SAVED AND LOST and it takes
place at death. They believe both the good and bad wake up in hades immediately
after death, therefore, all, both the saved and the lost, take part in the first
resurrection.
All will die. "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this comes judgment"
[Hebrews 9:27]. All that are in the grave, both saved and lost, will hear His voice and
come forth at the resurrection (John 5:28‐29). All will be raised for the judgment
that comes after the appointed death. All who are born again, made alive by being
raised with Christ through Baptism; and live faithful shall not be hurt of the second
death after the judgment. Christ paid the wages of sin for them. All others will pay
their own wages of sin, which is death [Romans 6:23]. "But the fearful, and
unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and
idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burns with fire and
brimstone; WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH" [Revelation 21:8]. From this death there
will never be a resurrection. The results will be eternal. The Dark Age doctrine of an
endless life of torment is not a second death. It is eternal life with torment. IT BEARS
NO RESEMBLANCE TO A DEATH. To feel pain, those in Hell would have to be just as
alive as those in Heaven are. Eternal death is not life.
"As there is a second higher life, so there is also a second and deeper death. And as after that life
there is no more death, SO AFTER THAT DEATH THERE IS NO MORE LIFE" Afford, quoted by
Homer Hailey in "Revelation." The resurrection of all at the coming of