Letter to the Congregations: 22nd June 2024

Our Dear Brethren,

"Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" (1 Corinthians 15:15-19).

Just as important as the existence, life, and death of Jesus Christ is His resurrection. Jesus, also known as the Word, has always existed just like God the Father. From the foundation of the world (see Revelation 13:8) it was planned that Jesus would humble Himself and live as a man and die for our sins. At the time of His resurrection He returned to His former glory, again becoming an eternal being "equal with God" the Father (see Philippians 2:6-9). His resurrection leads the way for others to be resurrected. It demonstrates the fact that it is possible for the dead to be brought back to life, "some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt" (see Daniel 12:2). Resurrection is not only possible but a necessary part of the plan of salvation for all of mankind. And there are multiple periods of resurrection that are described in Scripture.

Those who have the Holy Spirit (this includes those alive now and all those through history who died in the faith and thus also had God's Holy Spirit dwelling within them) will be resurrected to eternal spirit life when Jesus Christ returns to the earth (see 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 and Hebrews 11:40). This is referred to in the Bible as the "first resurrection" (see Revelation 20:5-6). The first resurrection is called a "better resurrection" in Hebrews chapter 11 because it is a resurrection to eternal life which differentiates it from subsequent resurrections.

Although not given a name, the resurrection that will take place at the end of the thousand-year reign of Jesus and the saints is often called the second resurrection because it comes after the first. The group of people resurrected at this time is described as "the rest of the dead" who were obviously not part of the first resurrection (see Revelation 20:5-6). This will be a resurrection to physical life since the second death is still a possibility. The majority of all people who have ever lived, those who never knew God, will be resurrected at this time. Since they didn't know God or His plans for them, this will be their first opportunity for salvation. The Bible seems to indicate that this will be a period of judgment (see John 5:29) when the books of the Bible will be opened: "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books" (Revelation 20:12). Those who stand before Jesus Christ and choose life will have their names written in the Book of Life and will be given eternal spirit life like the saints before them.

The first two resurrections leave room for another group of people who don't fit into either category. They are neither saints who now believe and have God's Holy Spirit, nor those who don't yet know the truth. What is often called the third resurrection is a resurrection to physical life that will take place sometime near the conclusion of the plan of God for mankind. Those who will be part of this resurrection had knowledge of the truth of God but willfully chose to reject His offer of eternal life. Those brought up in this resurrection will still need to stand before Jesus Christ and bow their knees before Him, but because of their unrepentant attitude their names will not be "written in the Book of Life" and they will be "cast into the lake of fire" (see Revelation 20:15). This is the second death which is meant only for those who refuse the salvation offered through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The second death, although a sad fate for anyone who chooses it over life, is more merciful than the false notion of an ever-burning torment of fire that many people think God has prepared for the unrepentant few. Although it seems that some will choose death, in His mercy and love, our God doesn't desire that "any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (see 2 Peter 3:9) which is why His plan has always been to offer salvation to everyone in due time.

If you would like to learn more about The Resurrections and Eternal Judgment you can search this article on the topic: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-study-aids/fundamental-beliefs-of-the-united-church-of-god/the-resurrections-and-eternal-judgment

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe