Why would those who died for Christ get to go live and reign with
Christ and other Christians not? Perhaps it was their sacrifice of
their life for His cause. This would include everyone from Peter and
Paul to the Two Witnesses that are killed during the End Times by
Antichrist.
This includes other Christians that are killed during the End Times
by Antichrist, as we read of earlier:
These Christians will be beheaded by Antichrist because they refuse
to bow to him and take his mark.
The God of Second Chances news break ... Most Christians have been taught to believe that all
Christians are going to be Raptured. It is a comfy little feeling ...
But is it Truth?
For those who believe in this theory passed
down through the ages, I have just a few Scripture based
questions thatI would like for you to ponder on, before we
continue with this Please Give Me a Second Chance study ... The Bible is clear that Antichrist reigns terror during the last
3½ years of the End Times.
So, if there are no Christians on earth during the End Times, this
brings forth a very interesting question. In the Bible when it is speaking of Antichrist, it says;
Who are the Saints that need patience and that will be blessed that
die for the Lord because they would not worship Antichrist?
How about this Scripture ...
Who are the individuals that have the testimony of Jesus Christ in
hiding on earth during the 3½ years of Antichrist reign of
terror?
Who are these Elect souls that are enduring this Great Tribulation?
Are the elect not God's chosen? If so, are they not there during the
Great Tribulation and are not those days shortened because of these
Elect?
If all the Christians are Raptured, do the Raptured go to Heaven and
receive celestial bodies only to be returned to the Earth and placed
back in physical bodies during the 1000 year Millennium?
The Bible is clear about the God of Second Chances ... There is a Spiritual event where some
Christians are Raptured: However, there are Christians on earth
during the End Times. They are called the Saints, the Elect and those
that have the Testimony of Jesus Christ.
Let's get back to God gives second chances Scripture from Revelation, Chapter 20, shall we? During this particular Judgment, Satan will be cast into Hell during the Millennium (1000 years of peace).
Revelation 20:1-3
1 And I saw an angel come down from Heaven, having the key
of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which
is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up,
and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more,
till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must
be loosed a little season.
Please Give Me a Second Chance to Change
But, Satan will be set free after the 1000 years of Peace on earth
are expired and will set forth to do his works against God, yet
again. But, God stops him and Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire.
Revelation 20:7-10
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be
loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the
four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together
to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and
compassed the camp of the Saints about, and the beloved city: and
fire came down from God out of Heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake
of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and
shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
God of second chances important note: This is the second time, second Judgment
and/or second death for Satan and is why he was thrown into
the Lake of fire Forever.
Immediately after this, there is another event in the Bible known
as the Great White Throne Judgment where the Lord will judge those
who were not resurrected in the first resurrection ...
Remember that we read earlier from the first resurrection ...
The rest of the dead lived not again until the 1000 years were
finished.
Revelation 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it,
from whose face the Earth and the Heaven fled away; and there was
found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, 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 were judged out of
those things which were written in the books, according to their
works.
13 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.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.
This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire.
There are dead souls in Hell who will be brought up from hell at
the Great White Throne Judgment and this is the second death. Note that it was the dead souls that were judged and that this second
Judgment is called the Second Death. What does it mean ... second death? It means that these souls had their physical bodies die once on earth
and are now going to be judged and if they are not found in the Book
of Life. They will suffer a second death. A Spiritual Death.
John 5:25-29
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and
now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and
they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He
given to the Son to have life in Himself;
27 And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also,
because He is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the
which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto
the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the
resurrection of damnation.
The God of Second Chances - God Gives Second Chances in Love
Please Give Me a Second Chance to Pray
Note also that Hell was delivered up and cast into the Lake of Fire. So, remember that Hell is not the place those souls that were not
allowed into Heaven will live eternally. The Lake of Fire is where they spend eternity if they are not found
in the Book of Life at the second Judgment. Hell is merely a holding cell for those souls, until Judgment
Day.
Kind of like our court system that we have where a person is held in a
city or county jail until their sentencing and after judgment is
passed. Then they go to prison. Hell is like Jail until court date. The Lake of Fire is like Life in Prison with no parole.
Now, how does this Second Death Judgment affect Christians? Remember what we learned earlier in the First Judgment, just over
1000 years earlier:
Revelation 20:4-6
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment
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.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the
thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they
shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a
thousand years.
Those who died for Jesus are not negatively affected (if even judged
at all) in this Second Death Judgment. But, what of the souls that are "Raptured". Those who were taken
alive to Heaven? Are they included in this "Second Death has no power" promise? Is that Scripture referring to only those souls who died for Jesus and were resurrected ... Or is it referring to Raptured souls as well?
Hmmmmmm, how do we discern this matter? First, we must understand the difference between Resurrected and
Raptured. The difference is simple ... Resurrected means the soul died on earth and Raptured means
the soul was taken from earth alive.
The God of Second Chances and God Gives Second Chances Story
Father ... Please Give Me a Second Chance
There is Scripture that reveals that the dead in Christ, will rise to Heaven ...
1 Corinthians 15:51-54
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this
mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then
shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is
swallowed up in victory.
And ... That the raptured souls will meet with those who were
Resurrected in the sky, and will go and be with the Lord, together.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others
which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even
so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that
we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord
in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
As this Scripture of the Rapture/Resurrection event confirms ...
Revelation 7:9-17
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which
no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and
tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with
white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our
God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11 And all the Angels stood round about the throne, and
about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on
their faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and
thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for
ever and ever. Amen.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What
are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to
me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and
have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve
Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne
shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more;
neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall
feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
The God of Second Chances - God Gives Second Chances Vow
Please Give Me a Second Chance to Change Today
It stands to reason that if these Raptured souls are judged, that the
Second Death Judgment ... Will not harm them.
Now, I wanna talk a little more about this second death issue.
Is this some sort of second chance?
Note: Satan was judged in the first Judgment and chose to go
back and do as he had always done.
And what of Antichrist ... Why was he thrown directly into the Lake
of Fire which is eternal when Satan was only placed in hell which is
temporal?
Revelation 19:19-21
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and
their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on
the horse, and against His army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet
that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that
had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his
image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with
brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that
sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth: and all
the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Could it be because Antichrist was brought back from the dead and had
already been in hell, which made that his Second Death ... Or second
chance.
So, what about those souls who made poor choices while on earth and
are sitting in hell awaiting the Great White Throne Judgment? Are
these souls able to repent in hell, before the judgment?
Here is something very interesting, which suggests this could be possible.
Did ya know that while Jesus was "In the Earth" for three days and
three nights ...
Matthew 12:40
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so
shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of
the earth.
The God of Second Chances / God Gives Second Chances and More
Please Give Me a Second Chance is the Path
That Jesus was in Abraham's Bosom (Paradise) and Jesus taught souls
in hell ... Now some folks try and suggest that Jesus was in hell
when He died. We know that Jesus did not go to Hell. That even sounds
horrific to say.
The Bible is clear:
Acts 2:31
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His
soul was not left [placed] in hell, neither His flesh did see
corruption.
So why do some people say Jesus went to hell?
It is because of these Scriptures ...
1 Peter 3:18-19
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just
for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in
the flesh, but quickened [made alive] by the Spirit:
19 By which also He went and preached unto the Spirits
in prison;
1 Peter 4:6
For for this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are
dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but
live according to God in the Spirit.
But, knowing the Truth of Abraham's Bosom, we are able to make sense
of what Peter said.
This matches Jesus' story about Abraham's Bosom and Hell being in a
realm where you could talk to one another from either side. Jesus
went to Abraham's Bosom and preached to lost souls in hell across the
great gulf.
Here's an interesting question. Why did Jesus preach to the souls in
hell ... If it was hopeless? Was He bored? Was there nothing to do in
Abraham's Bosom? No ... There must have been a reason He tried to
reach those souls with Truth.
Does this mean that after a person dies, they're still given
opportunity to repent?
The God of Second Chances - God Gives Second Chances Awaits
Please Give Me a Second Chance Prayer
Well, remember that the souls Jesus spoke with were under the Old
Covenant.
Because these souls never had an opportunity to believe in Jesus and
since ALL others would get a chance to believe in Jesus, it stands to
reason of righteousness that those living under the Old Covenant that
died before Jesus arrived should have the same opportunity to accept
God's Grace.
This act of Jesus suggests that the lost souls do have an opportunity
to repent in Hell. This means that final judgment may not be when a
person's heart stops ticking.
The Bible is clear that the End Times will not come until the Gospel
has been shared with all. That means every soul must have had the
opportunity to accept Jesus.
Matthew 24:14
And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for
a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
However ... After Jesus was here and Christianity spread throughout,
most everyone has had an opportunity to accept Jesus while alive,
those that chose not to and are sentenced to hell may not have
the ability to be saved.
So, if you are interpreting the words from this study to suggest that
you need not accept Jesus as your Lord and serve Him now, because you
can always say, "Ok Lord, I am ready now," when you are in hell ...
That is not what is being said. God forbid.
Number One ... You will have already had the ability to choose to
believe and serve Him the moment you heard of Jesus here on earth, so
it seems one probably would not need to expect to be preached to as
they already chose.
Number Two ... One may want to consider what it would be like being in
Hell for over a thousand years while you await the Second Death
Judgment.
The God of Second Chances - God Gives Second Chances Summary
Please Give Me a Second Chance Conclusion
So, obviously ... This study does not suggest that anyone choose that
path.
Only God can Judge such matters.
Is not our Father all about second chances?
- Two resurrections
- Two Judgment days
- Two deaths
He even made a Second Covenant because mankind could not uphold the
first.
Yes, our Father is all about Mercy, Forgiveness, Grace and Love.
He wants all of His children to make it and that is why the New
Covenant required that He sacrifice His Son to give us that second
chance.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.
So, if you or someone you know had a family member or friend that
died and was not Christian, pray that they will hear those souls
within Abraham's Bosom (Paradise) and will choose to believe, before
the Second Death Judgment Day.
Revelation 2:11
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
If ... It is God's Will.
Remember friends ... Jesus loves us and our Father is the God of
second chances ...
And third and fourth and fifth and .......
He that is born once will die twice,
he that is born twice will die once.
