Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for December 29

WILL YOU SHARE IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION?

From: December 29, 2023

“Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6 NLT).

John saw a day when all those who share in the “first resurrection” would serve as priests of God and reign with Christ for a millennium. What is this “first resurrection” and who are those who share in it?

The first resurrection began with Christ, who is the “firstfruits” of those who will be raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20). He is the prototype, the “firstborn” from the dead (Col. 1:18), so that all the resurrected saints will be like Him (1 John 3:2). So, the first resurrection began with Christ and continued with resurrected believers at the time of the rapture at the beginning of the Tribulation (1 Cor 15:23; 1 Th 4:16), concluding with the resurrection of those who believed in spite of persecution during the Tribulation. In summary, the first resurrection includes all those who have by faith trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior and who will receive glorified bodies like Christ at His return.

There are two resurrections in the Bible. The second resurrection is for those who have not believed. They are the “dead” who will be raised to appear before God’s great white throne for judgment at the end of the millennium (Rev. 20:11-15).

Those who are part of the first resurrection do not have to worry about the great white throne judgment of God. For it is not for them. They are those who have been called blessed and holy because of their faith in Christ Jesus. They are those for whom the “second death,” which is the “lake of fire” (Rev. 20:14), holds no power. For their names are written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” (Rev. 21:27). They will not only reign with Christ for a thousand years, but will live with Him for eternity.

PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to set our hearts and minds on things above, lifting them off earthly things. You have a wonderful purpose and plan for us and we often get bogged down in temporary things. Give us a fresh glimpse of Your glory and a fresh call to Your mission. For we are destined for eternity with You and we want to live every moment in view of that reality. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart… Then the Lord my God will come, and all his holy ones with him” (Zechariah 14:4-5 NLT).

From: December 29, 2022

CHRIST RETURNS TO STAND ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

Two streams of Messianic prophecy are found in Zechariah. One, points to Christ’s first coming as humble Savior, and the other, to His second coming as righteous King. This passage belongs to the second stream, as the phrase “on that day” connects it to the time period known as the “Day of the Lord,” when King Jesus and His holy ones return at the conclusion of the Great Tribulation.

At His first coming, Christ stood on the Mount of Olives many times. During Passion Week alone, the Bible recorded three significant times that Jesus spent on the Mount: The Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24), the Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:29-30), and the Garden Prayer and Betrayal (Mark 14:32-52). None of these occasions fulfill Zechariah’s prophecy.

On the day of Christ’s ascension, the disciples were with Him on the Mount when He was lifted up into the clouds. They heard the angel say, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way” (Acts 1:11). Zechariah prophesied of that day of which the angel spoke, a day when Christ will return to stand on the Mount of Olives and the saints of God with Him.

Just as the prophecies concerning Christ’s first advent have been fulfilled, so will the prophecies of His return be fulfilled. Therefore we can look forward in faith and with confident hope of His soon return. Even so, Lord, come quickly.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are amazed by the fulfillment of Your Word through the prophets. Even more, we are amazed by Your Son, Jesus Christ. For He is all wonderful and beautiful to us. He is the source of eternal life and the object of our deepest longing. May we be found faithful until His return. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of the Messiah, and they will reign with Him for 1,000 years” (Revelation 20:6 HCSB).

From: December 29, 2021

WILL YOU SHARE IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION?

John saw a day when all those who share in the “first resurrection” would serve as priests of God and reign with Christ for a thousand years, a millennium. What is this “first resurrection” and who are those who share in it?

The first resurrection began with Christ, who is the “firstfruits” of those who have risen from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20). He is the prototype, the “firstborn” from the dead (Col. 1:18), so that all the resurrected saints will be like Him (1 John 3:2). So, the first resurrection began with Christ and continued with the resurrected Church at the time of the rapture at the beginning of the Tribulation and concluded with the resurrection of those who believed in spite of persecution during the Tribulation. In summary, the first resurrection includes all those who have by faith trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior.

There are two resurrections in the Bible. The second resurrection is for those who have not believed. They are the “dead” who will be raised to appear before God’s great white throne for judgment at the end of the millennium (Rev. 20:11-15).

Those who are part of the first resurrection do not have to worry about the great white throne judgment of God. For it is not for them. They are those who have been called blessed and holy because of their faith in Christ Jesus. They are those for whom the “second death,” which is the “lake of fire” (Rev. 20:14), holds no power. For their names are written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” (Rev. 21:27). They will not only reign with Christ for a thousand years, but will live with Him for eternity.

PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to set our hearts and minds on things above, lifting them off earthly things. You have a wonderful purpose and plan for us and we often get bogged down in temporary things. Give us a fresh glimpse of Your glory and a fresh call to Your mission. For we are destined for eternity with You and we want to live every moment in view of that reality. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die” (Proverbs 31:8 NKJV).

From: December 29, 2020

SPEAKING OUT FOR THE SPEECHLESS

Throughout history there have been those who have been sentenced to death without someone to speak for them. Often it was the poor who couldn’t afford council or the widow or orphan who had no rights. Yet today in our nation, the greatest tragedy has been the unborn who have been sentenced to die without a voice.

Since Roe V. Wade was decided in the Supreme Court in 1973, over 60 million babies have been aborted. That’s 20% of the US population! To get a sense of the size of this, one would have to imagine that 10 states in the Southeastern US fell into the ocean drowning the entire population. How many future poets and physicians were lost? How many future geniuses and dreamers never came to be? How many songs and scientific discoveries have been denied to us?

How many? Over 60 million possibilities.

What kind of a people, what kind of a nation would sacrifice its children on the altar of so-called sexual freedom? Are we any different from the ancient Canaanites who offered their children to Molech? For just as God warned Israel not to “hide their eyes” from those who give their children to Molech, so I believe He warns us (See Lev. 20:1-5).

And let us not hide our eyes from the terrible and lasting effect that abortion has on the mothers and even the fathers that have made such a tragic decision. They need to hear the message of love and forgiveness that is only found in the gospel of Christ. Who will tell them?

Who will speak out for the speechless?

PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us for the murder of our unborn. For when we have remained silent or hidden our eyes, we have become as accomplices. Bring our nation to repentance. Bring revival. And forgive us for being silent wherever the speechless cannot defend themselves. For You are a Defender of the poor and the weak, the fatherless and the widow. Strengthen us to speak out for them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6 NLT).

From: December 29, 2019

WILL YOU SHARE IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION?

John saw a day when all those who share in the “first resurrection” would serve as priests of God and reign with Christ for a thousand years, a millennium. What is this “first resurrection” and who are those who share in it?

The first resurrection began with Christ, who is the “firstfruits” of those who have risen from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20). He is the prototype, the “firstborn” from the dead (Col. 1:18), so that all the resurrected saints will be like Him (1 John 3:2). So, the first resurrection began with Christ and continued with the resurrected Church at the time of the rapture at the beginning of the Tribulation and concluded with the resurrection of those who believed in spite of persecution during the Tribulation. In summary, the first resurrection includes all those who have by faith trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior.

There are two resurrections in the Bible. The second resurrection is for those who have not believed. They are the “dead” who will be raised to appear before God’s great white throne for judgment at the end of the millennium (Rev. 20:11-15).

Those who are part of the first resurrection do not have to worry about the great white throne judgment of God. For it is not for them. They are those who have been called blessed and holy because of their faith in Christ Jesus. They are those for whom the “second death,” which is the “lake of fire” (Rev. 20:14), holds no power. For their names are written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” (Rev. 21:27). They will not only reign with Christ for a thousand years, but will live with Him for eternity.

PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to set our hearts and minds on things above, lifting them off earthly things. You have a wonderful purpose and plan for us and we often get bogged down in the temporary things. Give us a fresh glimpse of Your glory and a fresh call to Your mission. For we are destined for eternity with You and we want to live every moment in view of that reality. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Dec29: “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart… Then the Lord my God will come, and all his holy ones with him.” (Zechariah 14:4-5 NLT).

From: December 29, 2018

WHEN CHRIST RETURNS TO STAND ON THE MOUNT

Two streams of Messianic prophecy are found in Zechariah. One, points to Christ’s first coming as humble Savior, and the other, to His second coming as righteous Judge. This passage belongs to the second stream, as the phrase “on that day” connects it to the time period known as the “Day of the Lord,” when God’s judgment will fall on planet earth during the time of the Great Tribulation.

At His first coming, Christ stood on the Mount of Olives many times. During Passion Week alone, the Bible recorded three significant times that Jesus spent on the Mount: The Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24), the Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:29-30), and the Garden Prayer and Betrayal (Mark 14:32-52).

On the day of Christ’s ascension, the disciples were with Him on the Mount when He was lifted up into the clouds. They heard the angel say, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way” (Acts 1:11). Zechariah prophesied of that day of which the angel spoke, a day when Christ will return to stand on the Mount of Olives and the saints of God with Him.

Surely old Job will be with the saints and the Lord Jesus on that day. As Job confidently prophesied, “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25).

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them” (Revelation 20:11 NKJV).

From: December 29, 2017

This is the Great White Throne judgment of God. This is not a trial, for the verdict is already in. This is a sentencing. And the resurrected dead both great and small will “stand” (12) for the verdict, which is the “second death” (14).

There appear to be two resurrections and two judgment seats in Scripture. The “first resurrection” (5-6) is for those found in Christ. They will appear before the “judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10). The Greek word translated “judgment seat” is “bema.” The Greek “bema” is not a seat of criminal justice, but of ceremonial reward, as is seen in those who judge at the olympic games. For Christ has already paid the price for their justification. What remains is the giving out of crowns and reward according to their works of faith.

The second resurrection is for those who died without Christ. They will stand for the Great White Throne judgment and be sentenced.

The modern mind may reject the idea of God and a final judgment. Yet, the Word of God is clear. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27).

“On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives” (Zechariah 14:4 ESV).

From: December 29, 2016

Two streams of messianic prophecy are found in Zechariah. One, points to Christ’s first coming as humble Savior, and the other, to His second coming as righteous Judge. This passage belongs to the second stream, as the phrase “on that day” connects it to the time period known as the “Day of the Lord,” when God’s judgment will fall on planet earth. Christ’s “feet” have stood on the Mount of Olives many times. During Passion Week alone, the Bible recorded three significant times that Jesus spent on the Mount: The Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24), the Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:29-30), and the Garden Prayer and Betrayal (Mark 14:32-52). On the day of Christ’s ascension, the disciples were with Him on the Mount when He was lifted up into the clouds (Acts 1:6-12). They heard the angel say, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way.” Zechariah prophesied of that day of which the angel spoke, a day when Christ will return to stand on the Mount of Olives and split the mount in two.

“And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped” (Zechariah 14:9 NKJV)

From: December 29, 2015

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament readings today are about the triumph of the true Lord and King. Since the garden, humanity has been in rebellion against God, choosing to follow its own way, rather than the Lord’s. Yet, both Zechariah and John saw a “Day” coming when the Lord would reign “over all the earth” and every human tongue would worship His name alone. We too, are to be heralds of His soon arrival, announcing that everyone should get ready for the coming King.

“I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books” (Revelation 20:12 NLT)

From: December 29, 2014

There is much debate about the meaning of Revelation chapter 20 and its description of the millennial kingdom (1,000 years reign). Yet, most agree on the interpretation concerning the “Book of Life.” If your name is in the Book, you have eternal life. If your name isn’t in the book, you are condemned to experience the second death, which is eternal separation from God in Hell. I remember singing a song in church when I was young that went like this: ““My name is in the book of Life, oh bless the name of Jesus; I rise above all doubt and strife, And read my title clear. I know, I know, My name is there; I know, I know, My name is written there.” Is your name written there?