Resurrection by Haney

[Sam]

This is lesson 23, pages 51- 54 from the book “Prophetical Research, The Study of Eschatology” by Clyde J. Haney. It is copyrighted 2006 and is available from the UPC Publishing House. Actually the author is Nathaniel Haney who is the son of Kenneth Haney and the grandson of Clyde Haney. Nathaniel took the notes his grandfather used when he taught at Christian Life College and had them published in a book with his grandfather’s name as the author.

I tried to copy from the book into a pdf file but was unable to so I’ve typed it up. I hope I haven’t made any typos and if I have, I hope I have not altered the message of the book.

Revelation 20
Lesson 23

Verse 1 - The angel descends from heaven having the key to the bottomless pit. Notice that the affairs of eternity are under heaven’s control and not in any priest’s or pope’s hands.


Verse 2 - The angel has a chain in his hand which is for the dragon, that old serpent, the devil. This takes us back to the first scene in Eden where the serpent started his work of sin and destruction. It has continued ever since, but for the first time since that day he is to be bound. Satan is the origination of all sin and, if he were bound today, all sin and wickedness would lie more or less dormant. The angel mentioned here is no doubt Michael the fighting angel. The 1,000 years Satan is bound is called Millennium, taken from the Latin word “Mille” (1,000) and “Annum” (year). It is stated six times in this chapter that our Lord will reign 1,000 years. This is the Lord’s Day or the 7th Day.

Verse 3 - Satan is cast into the bottomless pit that he might not deceive the nations, for today nations that are fighting for dominion, etc., are being deceived by Satan. He will not be loosed again until the 1,000 years are up. The King of kings must reign supreme. Notice Jesus in Luke 1:32-33. According to the angel Gabriel, Jesus is to reign on David’s throne. Jesus has not as yet sat on David’s throne, neither reigned over Israel, but He will in this day. Millennium Scriptures: Isaiah 65:25; 11:6; 55:13; and 35:1. The foregoing Scriptures show the conditions that exist while Satan lies dormant. This is the condition evolutionists and modernists hope to build. It is what some teach will be wrought by a religious revival, but the Bible plainly states that only the Prince of Peace can bring it to pass. This is not the ne heaven and earth but the same world we live in, except with sin and its effects more or less dormant - not a perfect state.

Verse 4 - John now sees “thrones and they sat upon them and judgment was given to them.” Who are these who sit on thrones? Revelation 4:4; 5:9,10; Matthew 19:28. There are various companies being resurrected, but notice, it doesn’t say they occupy thrones though they have a part in His reign. Note the church in heaven is pictured as having their bodies. Revelation 6:9, 10 - these were under the altar, and the martyrs are raised at the beginning of the Millennium. Is there any mention here at the end of the first resurrection of saints who might have escaped the Antichrist by God’s protection or any who might represent the church? No. They are definitely ot the church but are all martyrs of the Tribulation period. If this were the first and only phase of the first resurrection, there would be no hope for the church if this age has not suffered martyrdom.

Verse 5 - The rest of the dead we shall discuss later. Many teach that, because this is spoken of as the first resurrection, that there could be no other phase of it; however, if this company were al, no one but martyrs would be raised for the Millennium. The truth is that this is the last phase of the first resurrection and marks the dividing line of the dead in Christ and the resurrection of those who failed to enter into the plan of Christ’s kingdom. The following Scriptures prove the fact o the first phase of the resurrection and Rapture: 1 Corinthians 15:23, 24, Ephesians 4:8, Revelation 11:11, and Matthew 27:52. Do we find here a Rapture or catching away? Read 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Instead we find the saints returning with Him from heaven, therefore, the saints had to be resurrected before this.

Verse 6 - Thus we find that a blessing is marked on them that are resurrected before the Millennium or have part in the first resurrection, which began at Christ, the first fruits and ended at His return to set up the kingdom. The first resurrection spoken of in verse 5 includes all the dead who are resurrected from Christ’s resurrection as the first fruits till the beginning of the Millennium, which is definitely not confined to the last group who arise at the end of Armageddon (only martyred saints of tribulation). There is a different resurrection, and this is merely the last phase of the first resurrection and marks the dividing line between the first and last resurrections. There is a blessing pronounced on all who have part in the first resurrection: (1) They will never die, although some shall die during the Millennium; (2) The second death, which is eternal separation from God has no power over them.

Though some have pictured the Millennium to be a perfect state free from death and sin, the Scriptures testify that it will be a reign of peace; sin will lie dormant. This world will never reach perfection until sin is wiped off the globe and a new heaven and earth given. Isaiah 65:20 proves that sinners will be living in that age. Also children will be born (Isaiah 11:8), no doubt free of childbirth pangs for the curse seems to be lifted. In the Millennium we shall judge and rule with Christ (I Corinthians 6:2, 3). God desired to rule Israel through judges long ago, but they rejected His plan and asked for a king, but in this day God will rule the world and judge through His saints.

Verse 7 - When the 1,000 years are expired, Satan will be loosed from the bottomless pit, the same place the Antichrist came out of. The reason he is not cast into the lake of fire is because he is to be privileged to return to deceive the nations or try them. There is no returning from the lake of fire for it is a second death or eternal separation from God. Some ask, why is he to return? Answer: Every man’s works must be tried. Many in Millennium will never have been really tempted by Satan for sin will be dormant, but God’s new heaven and earth will be populated with those who have chosen and served Him because of love and not by force. All men will have to go to worship, but they must have a chance to prove their faithfulness to God.

Verse 8 - The fact that Satan goes to deceive the nations is proof that there are many who are not eternally secure, and who still have a heart not free of sin, or else they could not be tempted. Again God and Magog - Ezekiel 38:1-39. This is full proof that a good environment will not improve man. Nothing but the blood and a new birth will suffice. The numbers are as the sands of the sea. The long life of the human race and the continuous populating will cover the earth.

Verse 9 - Again Jerusalem will become the main aim of Satan and his hordes. There is no attempt on God’s people to make war, for the battle will be fought by God. Fire comes down out of heaven and destroys them.

Verse 10 - Notice that the beast and the false prophet are still in the lake of fire and not annihilated nor changed. If God intended to have them burned up or purged, He could have accomplished it in 1,000 years. Note that these three now occupy the lake of fire. Their followers, or even those who were destroyed by fire from heaven, enter not with them because God in His fairness gives every man a trial.

Verse 11 - The one John sees sitting on the throne is the Judge who is now our Savior - Romans 2:16, Revelation 19:11.

Verses 12 -14 - “The dead, small and great” --while there are no born-again folks raised here, yet we doubt that all who are raised are cast into hell. Here is the answer to the question asked by many, “What will God do about those who did not have the gospel, but who walked in all the light they had?” This question has been the cause of many trying to save the lost. Psalm 62:12, Jeremiah 17:10-- “He searcheth the heart and judgeth thereby.” James 4:17, “Lo him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, it is sin.” John 3:19; 9:41; 15:22-24, “The man who knows of Christ and rejects Him has no cloak,” John 1:9, Matthew 11:22-24; 25:32. He enlightens every man; that man can only walk in the light he has. God always judges the every man by his works and heart, Revelation 22:12. The men in our land who do not obey the laws are called gangsters. God knows that a man who refuses to walk in the dim light would refuse to walk in the brightest light that could come. He is just and fair. If a 9 month old baby sits in church and laughs and coos, we may overlook that as an innocent baby’s act, but if a 9-year old child, tries it, we cannot overlook it for he is going over the top of light and what he knows is wrong. Thus, we find God’s great love and wisdom takes into consideration every condition of the individual but makes no allowance for those who reject and rebel against light and conviction regardless of how great or how little. Romans 2:14-16 - note that He enlighteneth every man by his conscience; though that may only be a faint ray to what others have, it is a deciding factor. Though many teach that the White Throne i only for the wicked dead, yet a careful study of the Word will prove differently.

Verse 15 - This is very indicative of the fact that some who come up for judgment here will not be cast into the lake of fire. If there was none in the book, why such a statement or why open the book at all? In Daniel 12:2 we find that the prophet foretold of a resurrection - some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt. Bear in mind that the Old Testament prophets did not see the Rapture, which was revealed hundreds of years later by Paul. Thus this resurrection was at the end (compare John 5:28-29). He is coming when all in the graves will hear His voice and come forth. This could not be the Rapture, for ALL do not hear the Rapture call - compare Acts 24:15. The Jews allowed for a resurrection of the just and unjust in the Last Day (compare John 11:24) It is evident that these resurrection Scriptures refer not to the Rapture, but the final resurrection; also that the two orders, just and unjust come up when all in the graves are summoned. Thus the White Throne Judgment will be a great event, covering a longer period of time than generally realized. But while the just will be judged, the church, the Holy order, will not be judged there. The Bible teaches three orders - the just, the righteous, and the holy. The bride is the Holy Order. Then cometh the end, 1 Corinthians 15:24.