Quote:
Originally Posted by Apprehended
Sam,
Are you aware that S. G. Norris believed that he was saved too. In fact, he believed all those reformers were saved.
Are you aware that he believed that his Presbyterian aunt that raised him was also saved?
Are you aware that many outwardly hard three steppers secretly believe what S. G. Norris believed?
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I've heard Bro. Norris teach on the Righteous, Holy, and Wicked. I don't think Bro. Norris (and others such as G.T. Haywood and F.E. Curts who taught similarly) would say those folks were "saved." As three-steppers they would teach that only those who completed all three steps were actually "saved" or "born again." They would teach that folks who had not completed the three steps would be in the second resurrection and some would receive eternal life at that time but that would be 1000 plus years after the first resurrection (rapture of the Church, those who were saved under the Old Testament, and those who gave their lives for Jesus during the tribulation).
Maybe I'm making a distinction which is unmerited here. People like Martin Luther, John Wesley, and others who lived up to all they knew were not considered "saved" or "born again" or "part of the church" to Bro. Norris. They were considered "righteous" based on their works as in
Matthew 25:31-46. People considered "holy" would be those who had been baptized in Jesus' name and baptized in the Spirit during this New Testament dispensation and those who had the Holy Spirit active in their lives (prophets) in the Old Testament. "Holy" people would be in the first resurrection and "righteous" people would be part of the second resurrection. A Scripture for that would be
Rev. 20:4-6.
This is how Bishop Haywood explains it in his book on the Resurrection. (I can send a pdf file of that booklet as an attachment to anyone who will pm me and give me their email address)
FIRST AND SECOND RESURRECTION
That there is a first and second resurrection of the dead the
scriptures plainly declare. But who shall be partakers thereof,
especially the first resurrection, is a thing that has not been
clearly explained.
We have generally understood the first resurrection to be those
who are saved, and the second resurrection to be composed of the
wicked, or unsaved. Then again there is a teaching that there is but
one literal resurrection of the dead and at that time Jesus will sit
on the throne of His glory and separate the "righteous from the
wicked" as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats." This though
is derived from Matt. 25:31, 32.
Revelation 20:4-6, says "Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in
the first resurrection," and "the rest of the dead live not again
until
the thousand years were finished." And these words are true and
faithful.
Rev. 19:9;22:6. According to the foregoing passages there is
a thousand years between the first and second resurrections.
This being true, who then are the "righteous that are separated from
the wicked as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats?"
Difference Between the Righteous and Holy.
If we will notice
Rev. 20:6 we will see that they who take part
in the first resurrection are "blessed and holy." We only have to look
closely into the Word of God to find that there is difference between
the righteous and the holy. He that is righteous, let him be righteous
still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still -
Rev. 22:11.
In Hebrew the word "holy" is "kodesh" which means a sacred place, or
thing, consecrated (thing); dedicated (thing) holiness, a saint, a
sanctuary; while the word righteous is "tsaddeek," which means just,
lawful, righteous (man) or to make right in a moral sense, to clear
one's self, to justify self. From this we can see that righteousness
is moral actions, while holiness is a consecrated state.
Holy people are those whose lives are consecrated to God by the
Holy Spirit's indwelling. The prophets were called "holy" because of
the Holy Ghost that is upon them and in them. -
2 Pet. 1:21;
Eph. 3:5.
Holiness can only be claimed by those who are filled with the Holy
spirit. Prophets,: priests, kings and special chosen people before
Christ were called "holy" but the others who walked in obedience to
the law were called righteous men. - Matt. 13:17. It was Moses who
said about 1490 years before Christ, "Would God that all of the Lord's
people were prophets, and that the Lord could put His (holy) Spirit
upon them."
Num. 11:29. In
Joel 2:28, we find God promising to fulfill
Moses' desires. If they were all to; be prophets (
Rev. 19:10) and
filled with the Holy Spirit (
Acts 2:16, 17,) that it could be seen
that in the new dispensation (of grace) God's people were not only be
righteous, but holy also. - (
Isa. 62:12;
Luke 1:74, 75.)
From the above mentioned scriptures it can be clearly seen that
there is a difference between the holy and the righteous. Holiness is
found in the Holy Spirit-filled life. - (See
1 Thess. 4:7,8). There
are many who are called holy who are only righteous, because they have
not been partakers of the Holy Ghost. There is a true holiness. (Eph.
4:24) It is the Holy Spirit-filled people who shall take part in the
first resurrection. The "blessed" are those who "die in the Lord"
during the tribulation period and are "called to the marriage supper
of the lamb." -
Rev. 14:13; 19:9; 20:6
Seven Sections of the First Resurrection.
There are few people who have noticed that the first resurrection
is divided into sections, or orders. The following are the seven
orders in, which the Scriptures indicate that it takes place:
1. The first resurrection began with the resurrection of Christ.
2. The saints which arose after his resurrection (Matt. 27:52,
53) was another "order" or section of the first resurrection (1 Cor.
15:23.)
3. During the gospel age the mystical resurrection is "being
buried with him by baptism into his death."
Rom. 6:4, 5)
4. The resurrection of the dead and the changing of those that
are "alive and remain is to take place when the Lord appears - Cor.
15:51, 52;
1 Thess. 4:13-17. The last "orders" of the first
resurrection take place during the great tribulation period.
5. There seems to be palm bearers in one section. -
Rev. 7:9-17.
6. The Man-child appears in one "order" consisting of the 144,000
who are seen on Mt. Zion after the Man-child is caught up to the
throne of God. -
Rev. 12:5; 14:1, 2.
7. The final order consists of all those "who were beheaded for
he 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 forehead, or in their hands."
Rev. 20:4.
From this there appears to be seven sections to the first
resurrection, "but every man in his own order. Christ the first
fruits; afterwards, they that are Christ's at his coming." This is
the first resurrection.
The Second Resurrection.
According to the inspired word of God the resurrection of the
"blessed and Holy" is completed a thousand years before the second
resurrection. It is from this point that we are obliged to note the
difference between partakers of the two resurrections.
After the thousand years expire "the rest of the dead" (those who
did not come forth in the first resurrection) both righteous and
wicked, live again and are made to stand before God. It is then that
Jesus separates them as a shepherd divideth the sheep from the goat
according to Matt. 25:31-46.
In this resurrection is included all the righteous men of all
ages who walked in all the light that they were given. It is my candid
opinion that all heathen, Israelites, Christian professors who have
never heard the true gospel of Christ and those who die during
the millennium, walking in the light of their times will be given
eternal life at the last resurrection.
Many righteous people have died without the Holy Ghost and
the question has been asked: "Where will they come in?" They shall be
given eternal life in the last day. They shall inherit the New
Earth where life eternal reigns because "there shall be no more death.
If we desire to take part in the first resurrection we must be
filled with the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. It
is the church of the First-born that takes part in the first
resurrection. To enter into that Church, which is his body, we must be
baptized into it by both water and the Spirit. (See
John 3:5; Rom.
6:3-5;
1 Cor. 12:12, 13;
Gal. 3:26-28.
The time for the first resurrection is at hand. Are you
preparing to meet the Bridegroom? You must get oil within your vessels
and have your lamps trimmed and burning. Soon shall we hear the
midnight cry - "BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH."
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