The Called, The Culled, and the Excused

The Called, The Culled, and the Excused

Father’s Ultimate Objective

The Fifth chapter about: The Great Judgment Day

Part 1 Preview: What will Father do with all of the “good” people who die, who didnt know Yeshua (Jesus)? The Bible teaches us that there is going to be a Judgment Day. We almost innately believe that the wicked (whoever they are) will be separated from the good (presumably us). But can we know exactly who will be given eternal life, and when, and who will be cast into Gehenna, and why? The Biblical explanation for Judgment Day has been horribly misrepresented. You can be pretty certain where your “unconverted” friends and relatives will and up, and the verdict is much different than you have been told—and much better!

Some people view eternal judgment as wishful thinking, preferring to believe that humanity is the result of random chance happenings in a “primordial soup”—the soup also being the result of a mindlessly “created” universe, filled with random laws of physics that just happen to perform in a magnificent way.

Aside from this minority, most people assume that the judgment will involve a “heaven” or “hell” type of scenario, or some other similar but equally erroneous concept, also of pagan origin. Most people inherently believe that Heavenly fairness will somehow ultimately be achieved in some far away place. They’re totally unaware of the coming Everlasting Kingdom—on earth.

For those who ostensibly believe in the Scriptural account, there are many shocking statements made, if only you look for them without preconceived ideas! This chapter considers many of them. Here, for example, is a question to carefully contemplate: Will “good” people go to heaven on or before Judgment Day, while the “bad” people go elsewhere?

Matthew 19:17 He replied, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but the one, Aloha (God). But if you want to enter into eternal Life, OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS”. —The Testimony of Yeshua, Gabriel Version (GV)

The statement “No one is good but the one Aloha” above is extremely interesting. It implies that goodness is a relative thing. While no one epitomizes “goodness” to the degree that our Heavenly Father does, we can still certainly be accounted as “good enough” to enter the Kingdom of Aloha, so long as we keep the Royal Law—more about that later.

Here are a couple of interesting thoughts that are absolutely contradictory to today’s Christian teachings (that differ greatly from 1st century Nazarene teachings). This one is “buried” just three verses away from the most quoted verse in the Bible. Few are honest enough to teach this:

John 3:13 NO ONE HAS GONE UP TO HEAVEN, EXCEPT THE ONE WHO CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN—THE SON OF MAN WHO IS IN HEAVEN. GV

What is the fate of the wicked?

Here is a similarly blunt comment—one of many—contrasting the fate of the wicked to that of the righteous:

Psalm 37:10 In a little while, and the wicked will no longer exist. Tho you carefully consider their standing, they arent there. —The Word of Elohim, Gabriel Version (WE)

Once more—where is the reward of the saved?

Proverbs 10:25 & 30 When the storm has passed, the wicked are gone; but the righteous have an everlasting foundation. ... 30 The righteous will never be removed, [from the earth] but the wicked wont remain on earth. WE

In The Great Judgment Day, the focus was primarily on the Biblical passages relevant to the timing and prophetic circumstances surrounding the Day of Judgment. In this sequel, the topic is primarily the criteria that every member of humanity will be eternally judged by. There is a wonderful surprise in store for the “believers” within all of the world’s confused religions, as well as for non believers—so long as they have merely loved their neighbors! There are even some surprises in store for Commandment keeping faithful)—because the vast majority of them do not understand the exact purpose and timing of the resurrections!

Just as happened to Daniel, Father singles you out, beginning with your first contact:

Daniel 10:12 Then said he to me, dont be afraid, [insert your name]; because from the first day that you consecrated your mind, and humbled yourself before your Elohim, your words were heard .... WE

Is it true that, “The Bible reveals that only those called into the church) are being judged now”? The verse cited as proof states:

1 Peter 4:17 because the time of Judgment will come ... GV

But the teaching doesnt end there, the verse continues:

... and if it BEGINS with us, WHAT WILL BE THE END STATE OF THOSE WHO DONT OBEY the Good News of Yehovah? 18 If it is difficult for the righteous to enter life, how will the spiritually destitute and the sinner arrive? GV

Paul answered this question, as I’ll soon show. Frankly those who are thoroly wicked are doomed. Peter may have been comparing his day to the time when Father will begin the end time slaughter in Jerusalem.

Father will say:

Ezekiel 9:4-6 [Yehovah] said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in its midst. 5 To the others he said in my hearing, Go through the city after him, and strike: don’t let your eye spare, neither have pity; 6 kill utterly....WEB

Take a close look at this contrastingly optimistic verse! Notice that Father is the Savior of “ALL men, especially” [but by inescapable implication even more so for] “those who believe”.

1 Timothy 4:10 That is why we are working so hard, and are discredited so much; because we trust in the living Aloha, who is the Life Giver of humanity, and particularly of the faithful. GV

Four Classes of People!

Paul began a thoro and powerful lecture on the Torah (Law) and Judgment by carefully explaining four distinct classifications of people, not simply referring to the righteous and the wicked! To understand the amazing truths of Judgment Day, you must understand Romans Chapters 1 and 2! Discovering that everyone, not just the faithful, are being eternally judged by how they treat their “neighbors” is the largest unknown truth in all of the Bible! Knowing about the Messiah, right now, is not the only way to arrive in the Kingdom of Aloha, but being among the faithful, one of the Ecclesia, is the only way to a part of the best resurrection. Paul referred to the “Torah” (“Law”) 77 times in the book of Romans (76 times using “nomos”, and one time using “anomos” meaning “against the Tora”). This is one third of all the references within the The Testimony of Yeshua (“New Testament”). There is a direct connection between “Torah” and “Judgment”. The second most Torah filled chapter in the Testimony of Yeshua is Romans 2, (followed by the most filled chapter Chapter, Romans 7.) Chapters 3-6 are also quite filled chapter chapters, within the same context. These are great supplemental reading.

There are two types of people who are “without Law”, (1) “gentiles”, “who dont have the Torah, [who] by NATURE do the things in the Torah”. They are ignorant of the Torah, yet their noble thoughts will be “excusing them”. (2) “Gentiles” who dont respond to their supernaturally given conscience have “their [own] thoughts accusing” them, based on the last six “natural” Commandments that Yeshua explained to the rich young ruler. Then there are two groups of the called: (3) those who “have sinned ‘in’ [aware of] the Torah”, who were offered eternal life, but declined it—hearers only; and finally there are those who (4) “obey the Torah”, who were “called” and then chose to seek eternal life.

Matthew 22:14 Many are invited [or called], but few have chosen” to participate GV.

Romans 2:15 These others demonstrate the behaviors associated with the Torah, because it is written in their ‘hearts’ —their conscience indicates the truth. The decisions of their conscience are either a legal accusation or a legal defense excusing them ... GV

Conscience is the supernatural ability to come to a knowledge of the difference between good and evil, within our interpersonal relationships. Scientists are only now “discovering” this. (See footnote #1 at the bottom).

Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in mortal mankind, and the breath of El Shadday gives them consciousness. WE

All four groups mentioned in Romans 2 have one thing in common—judgment based on their behavior:

Psalm 62:12 Yehovah, you are merciful, because you compensate everyone in proportion to their work. WE

The Bible mentions these four groups as well: the “unjust, filthy”, the naturally “righteous”, and the “dedicated”. (Revelation 22:11)

I want to quote some more of Romans 2, because it explains the four groups of people, and the standards that each is judged by:

Romans 2:1 So people are inexcusable [“anapologetos”, a legal term found only once in the Bible], when they pronounce judgments against their fellow man; because by judging your fellow man, you pass judgment against yourself; because those of you who judge them will revert to your old ways. GV

The word “condemn”, as used here, is “krino”, another legal term, translated as “judgest” in the KJV. It is unique to the book of Romans, with the exception of James 4:12, where it is in the same context concerning the “one Torah-giver and Judge, who can cause you to live, or can destroy you; but who are you to judge your neighbor?” GV

Romans 2:2-16 We understand that the judgment of Yehovah is objective, regarding those who revert. 3 How do you reconcile this, when you pronounce judgments against those who revert, while you are also going back to the same thing? How will you escape the judgment of Yehovah? 4 Do you disdain the wealth of His integrity, His tolerance and the opportunity that He is giving you? Dont you know that the compassion of Yehovah should bring you to a changed mind? 5 But because of the stubbornness of your unchanging minds, you are accumulating a great deal of punishment for the day of punishment, and the revelation of the righteous judgment of Yehovah. 6 He will compensate everyone commensurate with their behavior. 7 Those who persevere in good behavior, and search out praise, honor and immortality, will be given eternal Life; 8 but those who are self-promoting partisans seeking control, refusing to uphold objectivity, and who are persuaded to violate the truth, will receive wrath and punishment. 9 Tribulation and extreme suffering is reserved for everyone who is evil; starting with the Jews, but followed by ever other ethnicity. 10 Yet praise, honor and peace of mind is granted to everyone who is a good servant; initially for the Jews, later by ever other ethnicity. 11 Yehovah is totally without partiality. 12 Anyone who sins without the Torah will also die without the Torah. When anyone knowingly wanders from the Torah of Yehovah; their judgment will be determined by the Torah. 13 It’s not those who hear the Torah, who Yehovah deems righteous; but those who obey the Torah who will be declared righteous. 14 WHEN OTHER ETHNICITIES WHO DONT HAVE THE TORAH INSTINCTFULLY DO THE THINGS ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE TORAH; THEY, WHILE NOT UPHOLDING THE TORAH, ARE ESSENTIALLY THEIR OWN TORAH! 15 THESE OTHERS DEMONSTRATE THE BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TORAH, BECAUSE IT IS WRITTEN IN THEIR ‘HEARTS’—THEIR CONSCIENCE INDICATES THE TRUTH. THE DECISIONS OF THEIR CONSCIENCE ARE EITHER A LEGAL ACCUSATION OR A LEGAL DEFENSE EXCUSING THEM 16 ON [THE GREAT] JUDGMENT DAY, WHEN YEHOVAH JUDGES THE SECRETS OF HUMANITY, AS MY GOOD NEWS DECLARES, THRU YESHUA THE MESSIAH GV.

This is an absolutely stunning concept! Why doesnt anyone teach this?

The context undoubtedly is showing that “eternal life” (v.7) and “ wrath and punishment” (v.8) are dispensed in one day, “ON [THE GREAT]JUDGMENT DAY, WHEN YEHOVAH JUDGES THE SECRETS [thoughts] OF HUMANITY ...” (v.16).

Father is taking note of both the thoughts and the behavior of those who will be excused. They will not be condemned to eternal death; Father “will render to each one according to his deeds”. However some might only be beaten with a few “stripes”, that is, endure some suffering (Luke 12:47-48). Note that the word “accusation” (kategoreo) referred to here is also a legal term, meaning “to charge with some offense”, and this word is also unique in the Bible, same comment for the word “excusing” (apologeomai) meaning “to make a defense”. The KJV inserts “one another” (v.15), yet the context of Romans 2 remains clearly Father's “judgment” (vs.2,3,5,11,12,13 and 16). Father will judge both the “secrets” and the thoughts shared among “one another” in that day. The first four of the Ten Commandments are the most important, that is why they are listed first. The first four Commandments are spiritually discerned; you dont live by these Commandments without having knowledge of Biblical truth. The last six Commandments can all be understood “instinctfully”, by those who “dont have the Torah” by people using “their hearts” (minds) and “their conscience”. These last six Commandments are often referred to as “The Golden Rule”.

Surprisingly, perhaps even the (now second) most quoted passage in the Bible equates good behavior/works/deeds with coming to the Light:

John 3:16-21 Yehovah loved the world so much, that He gave His unique Son, so that whoever continues believing [1] in Him would not die, but have eternal Life. 17 Yehovah didnt send His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world, because of Him, could receive eternal Life. 18 No one who believes in Him faces an adverse judgment; but those who refuse to be persuaded will be summoned to trial; because they refused to believe in the name of the unique Son of Yehovah. 19 THIS IS THE GROUNDS FOR CONDEMNATION—the Light has come into the world, but humanity has loved darkness more than the Light, because their deeds [works] have been wicked. 20 Anyone who does abominable things, hates the Light, and doesnt come to the Light; fearing that their DEEDS would be exposed. 21 But anyone who acts on the truth, eventually comes to the Light, so that it becomes apparent that their works were PERFORMED in compliance with Yehovah”. GV

Wicked behavior is a universal means of rejecting the Light, and is grounds for condemnation!

Father knows everything about us and our works, apparently from conception:

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I dedicated you to Me. I’ve appointed you to be a prophet to the nations. WE

Father can see into the future, He can read you like a book, yet He does not make your decisions. You choose life or death:

Deuteronomy 30:19 Today, I am summoning heaven and earth to witness that I have set before you life and death, blessings or curses. Now choose life, so that both you and your descendants can live. WE

Father custom makes tests of character for each of His prospective sons! Random chance has nothing to do with calling and testing. Being called to be kings (Revelation 5:10), and choosing to accept simply requires more extensive, “interactive testing”. Contrast that with:

Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who merely calls to Me, “Master, Master”, will enter into the Kingdom of the Heavens ... “I never knew you. Get away from Me you Lawbreakers”. GV

Truly, this is not an exaggeration; their “relationship” with Yeshua had never ever existed! These “Christians” were complete strangers to Father, even tho they called themselves Christians! These wicked bogus “saints” do serve us tho, by testing our character and our spiritual resolve right now!

Who are the called? They are reasoning, “willing and obedient” volunteers!

Isaiah 1:18-20 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says [Yehovah]: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of [Yehovah] has spoken it.” WEB

While Father formerly called a nation, He is now working with scattered individuals who are truly seeking to find the Divine Physician because they know that they are spiritually sick!

Luke 5:31-32 Yeshua replied, “A physician is not needed for the well, but for the very sick. 32 I didnt come to call the righteous, but sinners to change their ways”. GV

Two More Resurrections in One “Hour”

There is good reason to accept the following admonition literally:

John 5:21-29 Just as the Father raises the dead, and gives them Life again; likewise the Son gives Life to whoever He wants. [The Father does the resurrecting but the Son determines which resurrection you are in.] 22 Nor does the Father judge ANYONE, because He has given all judgment to the Son; 23 so that everyone should honor the Son, as He honors the Father. He who doesnt honor the Son, doesnt honor the Father who sent Him. 24 With assurance, I tell you, “He who hears My truths, and believes in the One who sent Me, has eternal Life, and wont come into condemnation, [The faithful will not stand in the White Throne Judgment at Yeshua’s coming. More on this later. They will already be “born again” by then] but has passed from death to Life”. 25 Assuredly, I tell you, “The time is coming, (and as of this writing, NOW IS), when the spiritually dead will hear the voice of Yehovah’s Son [the faithful hear Yeshua’s voice in this life.]; and those who hear, will live. 26 Because, as the Father has Life in Himself, so He has also allowed the Son to have Life in Himself. 27 In addition, He has also given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of man. 28 Dont be amazed at this; because the time is coming when EVERYONE in their graves will hear His voice; 29 and come out; those who have done good, to the Resurrection of Life, and those who have done evil, to the Resurrection of Condemnation. GV

OK, once more to establish the timing:

Daniel 12:1-2 AT THAT TIME, Michael will take a stand, the great prince who stands for your ‘countrymen’; and there will be a time of trouble [the great Tribulation], such as there has never been since the first nation up until that time; AND AT THAT TIME [during the “time of the end”!] your people will be delivered, everyone whose names are found recorded in the Book [of Life]. WE

2 An abundant number of people sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken, some of themto everlasting life, and the others to shame and everlasting contempt.

(Or as Yeshua said—“EVERYONE who sleeps in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt”.)

Some people dont think that the “ALL” or “EVERYONE” of John 5:28 means all. In case the Father calls “too many” people to be kings, would you like to wait until the thousand years are finished to be resurrected? Conversely, which of the wicked should await judgment until later? Notice: “all” who have ever lived are resurrected in one hour! It may be a literal hour, but if we apply the “day for a year principle” to this “hour”, we have 1/24 of a year, and this is precisely fifteen days, in an end time prophetic 360 day year. The Feast of Trumpets is on the first day of the seventh month and the most Dedicated Day of the Feast of Tabernacles is on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Figuratively, this is “one hour”, a perfect fit both in time span and in the prophetic significance of these days! In the very beginning, there is evidence that months were 30 days long and full moons were exactly 15 days after new moons. Israel, symbolized by the moon, will be shining at maximum full light when our jobs begin in the seventh millennium. Here is how this “EVERYONE in their graves” could fit the Biblical Days within one “hour”: At the Feast of Trumpets the Day of Yehovah “smites” the earth!

Joel 2:1 Blow the showphar in Zion, and sound an alarm in My dedicated mountain! All of the inhabitants of the land will tremble, because the Day of Yehovah is coming, it is very close at hand. WE

The Day of Atonement represents the time when Israel finally becomes at one with Father and becomes the bride (or fiancée) of the Messiah. Then on the First day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the “Great Multitude” will be able to become citizens of the next generation of the household or Kingdom of Aloha. They are given “white robes” (Revelation 7:9), symbolizing that they have been purified, and given an opportunity to partake of the “living fountains of water”. Dont make the assumption that the whiteness and purity of the great multitude indicates that these are immortal beings. They are still being refined! Notice the terms used to describe these very human people at the end of this age:

Daniel 11:35 Some of the teachers will fall away, to refine them, and to purify them, and make them white, all the way to the time of the end; but it will still happen during the time appointed [Hebrew: mowed, a special Festival Day]. WE

By the Eighth Day (concerning day 7 & 8), salvation will begin for all of the other nations. The bottom line is that virtually everyone who survives the great tribulatoion will have at least 100 years of millennial bliss to repent within.

The term “hour” used above, in Greek, is not a nebulous word that can mean anything you want it to. Our word “hour” is a direct transliteration of the Greek word “hora”, (It means the exact same thing.) Webster adds something interesting: “Astronomy: a unit of right ascension representing 15 degrees, or the 24th part of a great circle”. That is 15/360ths! Also the Hebrew word for “degrees” (parts of 360) used in 2 Kings 20:11, where “He brought the shadow 10 degrees backward” on the sundial, also has to do with ascension. It literally means “a journey to a higher place” as well as “a step or grade-mark” (Strong’s # 1509). I believe that the mathematical use of “degrees” dates back to before the great flood, when years may have been 360 days long. The use of degrees can be traced as far back as Babylonian tablets. Might Webster’s “great circle” have originally been the circular path of the Earth around the sun? “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers ...” (Isaiah 40:22). I once asked my dad, who was an atomic scientist: “why 360 degrees, why not 100 or 400?” Apparently, the answer precedes written history!

The following passage describes the Great Judgment Day. This assessment is NOT a parable; rather, this is an unambiguous pronouncement!

Matthew 25:31-40 When the Son of man comes... All of the nations will be gathered into His presence; and He will separate them from each other, just like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will have the sheep stand on His right hand, and the goats on His left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand side, “Come, you blessed of My Father; inherit the Kingdom... 37 Then the righteous will ask Him, “Master, when did we see You hungry ... thirsty...a stranger ... ill clad ... sick, or in prison, and come to see You”? [Answer:] ... whenever you did anything for one of my little brothers, you did it for Me.... GV

It is particularly important that you notice that these “righteous” are totally oblivious as to why they are being rewarded! They dont understand why they are being offered eternal life! They had certainly not understood Father’s plan for humanity! Yet this is a very positive judgment. It is an invitation to pre-qualified (i.e. not wicked) people to become “like the angels”. I seriously doubt that anyone will decline the offer when Father says to them: “Enter into the joy of your Master”. This is, however a very brief account. I fully expect that these people, when Father has their totally undivided attention, will be exceedingly willing to pledge their allegiance to Yeshua, their Savior, as their sins are removed. These compassionate “gentiles” will be EXCUSED and will be welcomed into the Kingdom!

Actually, it may be easier to judge someone who is not “being good”, just to obtain an eternal reward, or someone who fears hell fire. A person who, due to his “nature”, treats his fellow man with love, not expecting personal gain, is sure to be looked upon quite favorably by Father!

Continuing:

Matthew 25:41-46 Then He will say to those on His left hand, “Go back to your journey away from Me, you are doomed to the everlasting fire that was prepared for the Devil and his angels. 42 When I was hungry ... thirsty ... stranger ... ill clad ... sick ...prison and you didnt come to visit Me. 44 Then they will answer; “Master, when did we see You ... [like that? Answer]: ... “Assuredly, I tell you, that whenever you didnt do anything for one of these little ones, you didnt do anything for Me. 46 They will go away for an everlasting penalty, but the righteous into everlasting Life. GV

Again, as we saw before, the wicked are condemned in the same “hour” that the righteous are rewarded! Furthermore, the wicked are not wicked because they do not understand that there is an afterlife or because they dont understand the Bible, they are wicked because of the way they treated their fellow man! The wicked were not concerned when their neighbors were hungry, naked or destitute; in fact they often caused the situation. Father considers a person’s behavior toward their neighbors as if they were treating Him that way! Thew will be judged without regard to breaking the first four Commandments! Also notice that this separation is complete at the beginning of the millennium; it is “When the Son of Man comes”.

Notice the type of questions being asked by the “righteous” in the Matthew 25:37-40; these are the kinds of questions asked by ignorant people and they will of course be asked without delay! Many people are familiar with 1 Corinthians 15, the resurrection chapter about “those who are the Messiah’s at His coming.” Matthew 25 is another resurrection chapter that actually covers two resurrections to eternal life.

Please consider this chapter carefully, as it reveals in the simplest terms possible, two extremely little understood truths! The first thirteen verses concern people who are alive when “the bridegroom is coming”, some of whom actually “go out to meet Him” (v.6). Everyone claims to want to be among the five wise virgins. Interestingly, the 3466root word for 3474foolish, as in foolish virgins, is “musterion”, and the first meaning is: “hidden thing, secret, mystery—1a) generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals”. This would indicate to me members of the Babylonian Mystery Religion, described in Revlation chapters 17 and 18.

Matthew 25:11-12 Afterward the other virgins came, and said, “Master, master, open the door for us”. 12 But he replied, “Most certainly, I tell you, I dont know you”. GV

The 50/50 split of the virgins has similarities to the two baskets of figs of Jeremiah 24:1 “[Yehovah] showed me, and behold, two baskets of figs set before the temple of [Yehovah]”. Half of them “will return to Me with their whole heart” (v.7), and half of whom “I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence until they are consumed from the land”. (v.10). However, this concept is covered in The Time After Jacob’s Trouble.

Continuing: In Matthew 25:14-30 we find that this segment concern the faithful. It explains how they will receive various levels of responsibilities in the Everlasting Kingdom, depending on their performance in this life. Of course some who were not faithful are cast into “outer darkness” being judged to be “unprofitable servants”. However, verses 31-46 explain the judgment, not of “servants” or the faithful, (they having already been made immortal) but of the rest of humanity! This is the judgment of the nations. Notice that these righteous do not have a clue as to why they are to “inherit the Kingdom prepared for them”! On the other hand, the wicked do not understand why it is that they are receiving a “punishment” that is final-for eternity. As you read thru the text of this particular judgment, notice that the only reason that these “righteous” “inherit the Kingdom” is because they treated their neighbors with love! The “Master” in fact had to explain the situation to them telling them that, in essence, when they served their fellow man, that He had equated it to their having served Him! There is not a hint in this resurrection about any previous relationship, or even a previous awareness of the Aloha of Israel!

THREE RESURRECTIONS—This is Different!

The “best resurrection” is the one that we should want to be a part of. It is the one that Luke referred to as “the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:14). John said that “those who have done good” will be in “the resurrection of life” (John 5:29). Hebrews refers to this resurrection as a “better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35). The most commonly quoted expression referring to this is the “first resurrection” (Revelation 20:6). These phrases are all unique in the Bible. The term “protos”, translated as “first”, in “first resurrection” can refer to being first in time and it does occur slightly before “the resurrection of judgment” (or “condemnation” or “damnation” also John 5:29). It also means to be in first place, and I believe that it was meant to imply “chief” and “first in rank” and having the most “honor”, being the “chief” and “principal” resurrection, as we can see in the Online Bible Greek Lexicon. At the best resurrection, the faithful are raised “imperishable”. This occurs at the Messiah’s return. “the Messiah the firstfruits, AFTERWARD those who are the Messiah’s AT HIS COMING” (Revelation 20:4-6). This is the great First Harvest. This resurrection is strictly for Commandment observant faithful—no wicked are involved.

The “White Throne” Judgment

There are only two verses in the Bible that mention “the books were opened”. Here they are. The context of the Daniel account is clearly that of the end of this age and Judgment Day.

Daniel 7:9-14 I watched until thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days sat; His clothing was as white as snow, and the hair on His head was like pure wool; His throne was like fiery flames, and its wheels were like a burning fire. 10 A fiery stream flowed before Him; millions ministered to Him, and one-hundred million stood before Him. The Judge sat and the books were opened. 11 I watched at that time because of the voice of the great words that the horn spoke; I watched until the Beast was slain, and its body was destroyed, and it was given to be burned in a fire. 12 As for the rest of the Beasts, their dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 I watched in the night visions, and look, there came with the clouds of the sky one like the Son of Man, and He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. 14 He was given rulership, and glory, and a Kingdom, so that all the peoples, nations, and languages would serve Him. His Kingdom is an EVERLASTING KINGDOM that wont pass away, and His Kingdom is one that that will never be destroyed. WE

It is apparent that the Revelation account is the same event. The Everlasting Kingdom is only set up once. The second Death and Sheol will will remain on the “back burner”—closed off—until the next Judgment Day, following the millennium, when those who lived during the thousand years will also be judged:

Revelation 20:10-15 The Accuser who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the savage beast and the false prophet were cast. They will be tormented day and night for a period of time, an age. 11 I saw a great white throne, and the One who sat on it, from whose countenance the earth and sky fled to safety. The location of that inhabited place was not to be seen. 12 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Another book was opened that is the Book of Life. The dead were judged out of the things that were written in the books, according to their works. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and sheol gave up the dead who were in them. They were each judged according to their works. 14 Death and sheol were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. 15 If, after a thoro search, anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, they were thrown into the lake of fire. GV

During this resurrection, the wicked “Tares” are burned within the same “hour” of Yeshua’s return. This is the separation of the sheep from the goats. Included in this group are the worst of the wicked, who may literally experience the horrors of the seven last “plagues” of Revelation, and see Yeshua return! (Revelation 22:18, Revelation 1:7, Matthew 26:63-64). Also in this resurrection are the “excused” who kept the Royal Law—a vast number of new sons for Father. These are the “other ethnicities who dont consider the Torah”, as previously explained. (Compare Revelation 20:13 thru 21:1, John 5:25-29) This resurrection includes every “excused” person who has ever lived. They are perhaps resurrected on the Day of Atonement, that immediately precedes the establishment of the Kingdom of Aloha. Then:

Revelation 7:17 The Lamb who was among the thrones will feed them, and will lead them to springs of living water; and Yehovah will wipe every tear from their eyes”. GV

Yeshua has already abolished the stranglehold of death for some of us. We simply must await the resurrection:

2 Timothy 1:10 ... and has now been plainly revealed by the epiphany [Gr. epiphaneia: appearance] of our Life Giver, Yeshua the Messiah; who will abolish death, and bring real life and immortality to light, as a result of the Good News ... GV:

In the time of Hosea, while Israel was being conquered, being ransomed from death simply meant that Israel wouldnt be exterminated! The context is no brighter than that:

Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave [Sheol]. I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? “Compassion is hidden from My sight. WE

Father was willing to up the ante on death for the faithful, in the soon coming resurrection. For us the sting of death will be gone forever:

1 Corinthians 15:54-55 So when this perishable is clothed with the imperishable, and this mortal is clothed with immortality; then the written word will be accomplished, “Death is devoured in victory.” 55 O death, where is your sting? O Sheol, where is your victory? GV

At the very beginning of the Everlasting Kingdom, humanity will again be freed from unnatural death and suffering. While the stakes are eternal, not everyone (such as Moab) is included:

Isaiah 25:6-10 In this mountain, Yehovah of Armies will make a feast of fruitful [08081] things for every nation, a feast of choice wines, of fruitful things of high quality, of well refined choice wines. 7 He will destroy in this mountain the surface of the covering that covers all people, and the veil that is spread over every nation. 8 He has swallowed up death forever! Adonay Yehovah will wipe away the tears from every face. He will take the reproach of His people away from off all the earth, for Yehovah has spoken it. 9 It will be said in that day, “Look, this is our God! We have waited for Him, and He will save us! This is Yehovah! We have waited for Him. We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation!” 10 For in this mountain the hand of Yehovah will rest. Moab will be trampled down in his place, just like urine soaked straw is trampled into the manure in a stall! WE

The cessation of tears, and the end of unnatural death at the very beginning of the Everlasting Kingdom, compares very well to Revelation 21, in a very “millennial” setting.

Revelation 21:3-4 I heard a great voice from heaven, that said, “Look, the tabernacle of Yehovah is with humanity [anthropos]. He lives with them; they will be His people; and Yehovah will be with them, Yehovah Himself will be with them”. 4 Every tear will be wiped from their eyes; and there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor wailing; nor will the previous painful state exist anymore; because the previous evil things have departed. GV

Yet the wicked are excluded from this blessing, as John mentions a few verses later:

Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the sinful, the polluted, murderers, male prostitutes, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their destiny is the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, that is the second death”. GV

The Rest of the Dead?

In all probability, your Bible has the statement: “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years was finished”, as part of Revelation 20:5. Those words are not in the earliest Syriac and Aramaic manuscripts, or the earliest Greek manuscripts, such as the Codex Sinaitic and Codex Alexandrine. It’s a nice theory to explain when those who live during the millennium will be judged, but someone just stuck it in there at some point. Of course many people will live and die following the “resurrection of judgment” at Yeshua and the Father’s return. And it could very well be that everyone who lives during “the millennium” will be judged during a second great harvest season. During that time, most people will have about 100 years to repent.

Isaiah 65:20 Never again will there be an infant who lives for only a few days, or an old man who hasnt lived out his days. A son who only lives to be a hundred years old would die young, because a family member who dies at one hundred years of age would be cursed.

Some go on to theorize about this supposed “rest of the dead”, that they are everyone other than the faithful, and that all of these people will be judged after the millennium. These people choose to ignore the plain statements of Daniel 12:1-3 and John 5:25-29. If indeed those who will have died after “the resurrection of life” were to rise after a thousand years, it would seem likely that the next Judgment Day would again be “when everyone in their graves will hear His voice; 29 and come out; those who have done good, to the Resurrection of Life, and those who have done evil, to the Resurrection of Condemnation” (John 5:28-29) GV.

It seems likely that during the entire next millennium, sinners will have no more than one hundred years to repent, or else be accursed, while the childlike may live no less than 100 years. Those people, not yet finally judged, are those who lived into, or were born in the millennium. They may very well wait for the end of the seventh millennium for their ultimate judgment, and most of them are not even born yet! The so-called “rest of the dead” would be future dead! The newfaithful could all begin their eternal lives at once.

Certainly there will be much more wheat separated from the chaff during the millennial harvest (whenever it is), but for now Father isnt even a consideration.

Jeremiah 5:24 They dont say to themselves, “We should fear Yehovah our Elohim, who gives rain, both the early rain and the latter rain on time; who makes sure that we have the appointed weeks of harvest”. WE

This is about to change:

Hosea 6:3 We should acknowledge Yehovah. We must press on to know Him. As surely as the sun rises, His arrival is firmly established. He’ll come to us like the rain, like the former rains that water the earth”. WE

Unlike the great “former” harvest that takes place during the autumn Holy Days, the “latter” harvest under this scenario would take place during Abib, the first month of Father’s year:

Joel 2:23 “Be glad then, you children of Zion, and celebrate in Yehovah your Elohim; because He gives you the former rain, faithfully. He pours down abundant rain for you, the former rain and the latter rain, as before.

More wicked people are burned at the “latter harvest”, because this same judgment will also include those still alive. Here is the prophecy as John saw it:

Revelation 20:7-9 7 When the thousand years are finished, Satan will be released from imprisonment; 8 and will go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog; and to assemble them for battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They rose up over a wide expanse of the earth, and then encircled the dedicated assembly of the faithful, the greatly loved city. And fire came down from Yehovah out of the sky, and consumed them. GV

The reason that there are such a large number of culls is because they are the cumulative result of 1000 years of sifting.

As in the previous resurrections, none will have any seniority (a head start)!

On the other hand, if this latter harvest applies to something else, then perhaps people could “graduate” as soon as they die.

Some people believe that there will be no more death in the age to come, not understanding that that only applies to those who have been “born again”! Consider the “Ezekiel Temple” of Ezekiel 40-48, certainly during the millennium. Particularly notice:

Ezekiel 44:25 They must not defile themselves by going near a dead person. However, for father or mother, for son or daughter, or for a brother or unmarried sister can they defile themselves. WE

After seven days these priests will resume their duties in the sanctuary.

Speaking of being born again; no one, other than Yeshua, has ever been born again—yet:

John 3:5-10 Yeshua replied, “I tell you with certainty, that unless certain ones are born of water and the spirit, they cant enter the Kingdom of Yehovah. 6 Those born of flesh, ARE composed of flesh; and those born of the spirit, ARE composed of spirit. 7 Dont be surprised when I tell you that you must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it wants; and you hear it sing, but you dont know where it came from, or where it is going; so it is with everyone who is born of the spirit. 9 Nicodemus asked Him, “How can these things be”? 10 Yeshua asked, “Are you a teacher of Israel, without understanding these things”? GV

I would also ask: “are you a teacher anywhere, without understanding these things?”

Good Shepherds, Bad Shepherds

In the centuries prior to Pentecost, 31 AD there may have been little opportunity for receiving the dedicated spirit. Except for a handful of Father’s leaders, few are known to have received the dedicated spirit. Receiving the Spirit was apparently a new concept.

Acts 19:2-3 “Have you received the dedicated spirit, since you believed”? They replied, “We have not even heard about a dedicated spirit”. 3 So he asked them, “Then what were you immersed into”? They replied, “Into John’s immersion”. GV

The majority of the people of ancient Israel may have been no wiser than the “gentiles who do not have the Torah.” Perhaps few of them will be in the first resurrection, but many are all still “in the game of life”, unless they disqualified themselves. An excellent example of this is found in Numbers:

Numbers 16:2-3 [Korah] rose up against Moses, with some of the descendants of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, elected by the congregation, men of renown. 3 They gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and told them, “You take too much on yourself, seeing that everyone in the assembly is dedicated, every one of them, and Yehovah is among them. So why are you elevating yourselves up above the assembly of Yehovah?” WE

These men tried to take over Father’s nation. They didnt like the direction things were going and complained saying:

... you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness that you should keep acting like a prince over us.

They were jealous of the leaders of Father’s people. They slandered Moses and Aaron while “seeking the priesthood” (v.10) for themselves.

Moses explained that:

Numbers 16:30-35 But if Yehovah makes a new thing [a new kind of death!], and the ground opens its mouth, and swallows them, with all of their things, and they go down alive into the grave [Sheol]; then you’ll understand that these men have despised Yehovah”. 31 As he finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split apart; 32 and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them, their families, and all of the men who had sided with Korah, and everything they owned. 33 So they, and everyone with them, went down alive into Sheol. The earth closed in on them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34 Everyone in Israel around them ran away when they heard their shouts; because they thought that the earth might swallow them too! 35 Fire came from Yehovah, and devoured all two hundred fifty men who were offering incense.

Father didnt wait to throw these “wicked men” into a fiery pit. There is no reason at all to believe that these men needed to know about the Holy Spirit before they could be condemned in order to have a fair chance. Father used “these men who sinned against their own souls” as an example. They had greatly provoked their Father and they were culled! Had the rest of Israel also been “wicked” then they too would have died. Most of the congregation was not wicked, but many were indifferent—skating on thin ice! But Father isnt finished with the House of Israel.

It was attitudes like this that were responsible for everyone, except Caleb and Joshua who had fled Egypt, to end up dying in the wilderness. Only the young people, born in the wilderness, entered into the promised land.

Hebrews 3:16-18 But who were they that heard, and angered Him? Wasnt it virtually everyone who came out of Egypt with Moses. 17 Who was He disgusted with for forty years, other than with those who had sinned, and whose corpses decayed in the wilderness? 18 And to who did He swear that they wouldnt enter into His place of rest, but of those who couldnt be persuaded? GV

Now for Part 2

Footnote #1

PS. Studies done since I wrote this article confirm that a conscience is hard-wired into our minds. Here are some intriguing quotes from one summory. I suspect that the conscience is tied to the “spirit in man”. Of course they had to spoil it by chalking it up to evolution!

“... But it is also a dramatic example of the way neuroscience has begun to elbow its way into discussions about morality and has opened up a new window on what it means to be good.

“Grafman and others are using brain imaging and psychological experiments to study whether the brain has a built-in moral compass. The results—many of them published just in recent months—are showing, unexpectedly, that many aspects of morality appear to be hard-wired in the brain, most likely the result of evolutionary processes that began in other species.

“What the new research is showing is that morality has biological roots—such as the reward center in the brain that lit up in Grafman’s experiment—that have been around for a very long time.”

A simple argument in favor of Father creating our conscience, in light of these findings, is made on this site. Researchers are spinning this discovery as anti-Creator. They are also making new evolutionary theory to explain why children are also hardwired to believe in a purpose for the universe and are especially convinc