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Millennium, when the Heavenly Jerusalem shall descend to the earth and be the glorious
administrative centre of the earth for we read that:
"The nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the
earth do bring their glory and honour into it . . . . . they which are written in the Lamb's
book of life" (Rev. 21: 24-27).
The period immediately following the Millennium is marked by five outstanding
features :
(1)
The rise of Gog and Magog like the sand of the sea, and their destruction.
(2)
The casting of the Devil into the lake of fire.
(3)
The Great White Throne.
(4)
The New Heavens and the New Earth.
(5)
The descent of the New Jerusalem.
The Former of Two
The resurrection of the overcomers, is said to be the "first". "When two ordinal
numbers are used in such a connection as this, they are used relatively . . . . . hence in
English we always say, in such cases, former and latter" (Dr. E.W. Bullinger). The
resurrection of the overcomers is the former of two, the resurrection at the Great White
Throne being the second or concluding member of the pair. But whoever has heard this
Scriptural association even hinted at? We have been too ready to look at the Great White
Throne as the judgment of the wicked dead or of the untold millions who never heard of
Christ, and by so doing we have separated what God has joined together. However,
merely saying this, proves nothing; "to the law" and the "testimony". Here is the sequel
to the statement of Rev. 20: 4:
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection (i.e. the former of two):
on such the SECOND DEATH (i.e. connected with the second resurrection of the two)
hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a
thousand years" (Rev. 20: 6).
Whoever heard of any one comparing and contrasting the being "Priests" of God, with
the character and fate of those who stand before the Great White Throne? What
congruity is there in saying:
"Either they will be overcomers, and reigning Priests" or they will be "the countless
millions of wicked dead, multitudes of whom never heard the name of Christ"?
Yet John, writing Rev. 20: 6 does not appear to have any qualms. If the Great White
Throne judgment deals with the mass of mankind, what need was there to assure these
overcomers that the second death had no power over them? The second death as
generally interpreted can have no power over any saved sinner, let alone over an
OVERCOMER. What this passage actually does is to put in opposition :
The second death, and reigning with Christ.