We're dealing with God's remnant.
Matthew 7:13b
"...for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:"
And that's where most people are headed. Because they're going out into eternity with nothing more than that physical body that's now been laid in the grave, it's asleep waiting for the resurrection that Jesus talked about in John chapter 5. And they went out with a rebellious sin-natured soul, their spirit remained in the cocoon, shell or sleep state. Which in time is one day going to be called up to the Great White Throne Judgment, and that judgment is only for the lost and unbelieving. Now back to Revelation and follow these lost people.
If you doubt me that lost people go to Hell consciously just read Luke 16 about Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man. And keep in mind that this is the LORD Himself speaking here. The Scripture gives us just one little window of opportunity for information, and it's the only time we have this account in Scriptures, but again the Lord Himself refers to it. And through that little window we found Abraham conversing with the rich man who was in Hell. The rich man was in torment. The rich man was conscious even though he wasn't there in body, but rather only in the area of the soul, the mind, the will, and emotions. Yet the conscience was so real that what did he ask Abraham to do? Somehow dip his finger in water and cool his tongue, because he was in torment in the flames. Now the Lord Jesus Himself used that. That didn't come from story tellers.
So we know that the lost is in a torment situation, but that's not the end, because they're going to be resurrected out of Hell, because Jesus said they would be. After they're resurrected out of Hell, they're going to be given a body, not fit for glory, but rather a body fit for their next abode which is found in Revelation chapter 20.
Revelation 20:4
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment (or rule and authority) was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
We think this includes the believers of all ages, as well as the Tribulation believers who will have been martyred for their witness of Christ the Word of God. Now verse 5. Now we look at the lost being resurrected.
Revelation 20:5a
"But the rest of the dead..."
Well if you've got all the believers involved up here in verse 4, then naturally who are "the rest of the dead" here in verse 5? The Lost an Unbelieving people all the way from Cain, and Esau, and all the way on up through when there was a time of opportunity. Now continuing on.
Revelation 20:5a
"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished..."
So there's coming a day when they're brought back on the scene to have their day before our Lord to see what degrees of punishment they will receive in the "Lake of Fire".
Before I progress on I need to remind everyone what Isaiah said in: 5:14-16 "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness."
Revelation 20:5b
"This is the first resurrection."
Now this is always confusing, because it's not talking about the rest of dead in the first part of verse 5, but the ones up in verse 4. They were in the first resurrection which was the resurrection unto life. The ones who were the martyrs or witnesses of Christ having been resurrected within their soul and spirit in the re-birth, the quickening of their spirit from above. They were the martyrs of our day who lived as a witness of Christ's resurrection within their souls and spirits. This statement is worth repeating and that is why I did. Because so very few know and understand this fact. This took place long before the resurrection of verse 5.
Revelation 20:6
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: (the true believers) on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priest of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
These are those who have received the illumination of revelation upon which the Church is built. For they don't see the wrath of God on man nor do they experience it. Now come on down to verse 11.
Revelation 20:11-15
"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, (which will be Christ) from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, (the lost who have been down in Hell in torment ever since they died) small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead (those spiritually dead who never entered into redemption let alone salvation) were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (remember a believer will never face the second death, because we experience our death when we were identified within Christ when He died on the cross. Remember Paul says,`we are crucified with Christ!', the secret held within God Himself.) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
So these unbelievers will be resurrected out of Hell and given a body that is fit for the "Lake of Fire". That sounds horrible doesn't it? But that's what the Book says. We're all given the opportunity of accept this Gospel of God for nature itself reveals it Truth.
Our goal through the Holy Spirit is to continue to open the Word where anybody can understand it. Now let's go back to Ephesians chapter 2, and begin with verse 6. However to pick up the flow we will begin with verse 4.
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