THE REST OF HUMANITY
NOT FORGOTTEN
Who Has Blinded This World
Those of the First Resurrections will "...obtain a better resurrection..." (Hebrews 11:35). Yet there's another resurrection that's still good for most; though some will not deserve it. Here is the rest-of-the-story...for the rest of humanity. A special Sabbath of the Old Testament (Leviticus 23:39, the eighth day), recorded in the New Testament as the Last Great Day (John 7:37), was a celebration foreshadowing this truly great human harvest.
"Many of those who sleep in the dust of the Earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (NRSV, Daniel 12:2). This judgment is for salvation of the vast numbers who never heard of or comprehended "Our Great Calling," and-didn't-know-what's-happening. Also, those who fully took up God's calling but then reject(ed) Him (see pages 90-95), and those profoundly evil will be judged (the "Second Death," page 139).
All these, whose time when it comes is contingent upon God of course, will involve billions from Adam and Eve on. We see a specific time sequence given in the Book of Revelation, but Christ even foretold of this before, when speaking of those called prior to this Great Judgment. Unless we understand God's-grand-plan, a verse in John 10 wouldn't have meaning. Below, *"other sheep" ("not of this fold") refers to the *"Rest of Humanity," and those accepted will join the sheep called before; and there will be "one flock."
"I am the good shepherd, and I know My sheep...I lay down My life for the sheep...
And *other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and
*they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd."
(NKJ, John 10:14-16)
"The *rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended."
(NIV, Revelation 20:5)
After the millennium, whether this judgment time for "the rest of the dead" is foretelling of a specific duration of time or a day, it is an opportunity given for these great masses of people. We see above in Revelation 20:5 this is not an experience that happens randomly when people die. Not at all, this judgment will be one great event globally; and regardless what their status was they'll be brought back to life. (Note: For those saved, there must be a change to Spirit, 1 Corinthians 15:50. Click on the Scroll above and go back to the excerpt choices, see "Hope For the Elderly & All of Us" link.)
"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it..."
"And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened."
(NKJ, Revelation 20:11&12)
Continued in the eBook...