Twelfth, it is distinctly taught that there are to be two resurrections, one of the righteous at the coming of Christ, and the other of the wicked at the end of the millennium, Rev. xx. 4-6.¹ This explains the remark in connection with our Lord's reference to the resurrection of the just, “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God,” (Luke xiv. 14, 15).² It explains the fact that some are accounted worthy to obtain that resurrection, (Luke xx. 35).³ I It explains the questioning of the disciples “what the rising from [ among] the dead should mean,”? (Mark ix. 10).⁴ It explains the anxiety of the Apostle to attain unto the resurrection, literally, “the out-resurrection, the one from among the dead,” (Phil. iii. 11).⁵ It explains the allusion to the resurrection of the righteous alone in 1 Cor. xv. 23.⁶ and 1 Thess. iv. 16.⁷ Believers shall be raised in the likeness of Christ's glorious body, and are already saved when they come forth from the grave; unbelievers differ entirely in appearance and condition, and shall not be accounted worthy to obtain that first resurrection. So there will be two distinct judgments, one inflicted upon the living nations at the appearing of the Lord, (Joel iii.; Matt. xxv. 31-46), and the other the judgment of the dead when the thousand years are expired, and Satan shall have been loosed out of his prison for a little season, (Rev. xx. 11-15).⁸ Then will follow the burning of the earth and the works that are therein, the new heavens and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness, and an eternity of joy and glory for all who receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord. “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

II Peter ii. 10-14.—But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Where fore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless.

Rev. xxi. 1-8.—And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, pre pared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Be hold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Onega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore. mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

1) Rev. xx. 4-6.—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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thou sand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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 thou sand years.

2) Luke xiv, 14, 15.—And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

3) Luke xx. 35.—But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage.

4) Mark ix. 10.—And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

5) Phil. iii. 11.—If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

6) I Cor. xv. 23.—But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

7) I Thess. iv. 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.

8) Rev. xx. 11-15.—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. 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. 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 a lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.