A few questions. If the "Kingdom" starts once Christ comes back, what is the "Kingdom" that Christ 'delivers to his Father', "at his coming" (1 Cor 15:23-24)?
And...if, at this 'coming', we are given our new, imperishable bodies (1 Cor 15:54)...which is the resurrection of the dead also (and as you pointed out, other verses make is clear that both just and unjust are resurrected on the same day {John 5:28}), and 'death is defeated' at this event...how is it that death still endures for 1000 years and will only then be 'thrown in the lake of fire' (Rev20:14)?
More...if, at his coming in glory, (Matt 25:31), when he sits on his throne, he judges the nations and sends them thus into eternal glory or condemnation (Matt 25:46), how is it that there will be anyone left to go into a Millennial period? They've just been sent into eternity, have they not? Indeed, if we believe John 5:28, that the just and unjust are resurrected on the same day, and we also believe 1 Cor 15, 1 Thess 4, then we know that the just are resurrected at the same time as those left alive in Christ. And we also know, thanks to Matt 25 that those alive at Christ's return (both saved and unsaved) are judged into eternity...then I ask you....who on EARTH (literally) is left to go into this "millennial" period? Hmmm?
I Corinthians 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
When we look up in the Strong's numbered concordance and Greek dictionary, we see that this is the only place in the whole Bible that this Greek word "alive" is used in this form. It is # 2227 in Strong Greek dictionary. "zoopoieo, dzo-op-oy-eh'-o; to vitalize, to make alive, to give life." This does not mean to be given eternal life, but it does mean that Christ revives all. Remember in Luke 16 in the parable where the rich man was lying in torment and asked that God would send Lazarus, the poor man, to warn his brothers of the judgment. Was he soul sleeping? Of course not, he could see Abraham and he could see Lazarus being taken to the bosom of Abraham, and he knew exactly what was going on. Why? Because he was there across the gulf that separated him from Abraham and God.
All souls are made alive for some are going to eternal rewards, while others are going to paradise also to be held for the day that they will be sentenced, tested, to perish. If soul sleep was true then that rich man that wanted the favor from Lazarus would not have been going through such torment while in the place of holding after his death. He could see the throne across the gulf and he knew that he missed it all, and there was nothing that he could do about it. He could see those that overcame, and the rich man knew that he had failed.
Christ makes all alive, though not eternally for the sinners that have not repented, but alive until the the time of judgment. This documents that there is no such thing as soul sleep.
I Corinthians 15:23 "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming."
This may be a bit confusing, but this is referring to God's elect and the coming of Jesus Christ, and it will be discussed later in this chapter.
I Corinthians 15:24 "Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power."
At the very end of the Millennium age, the Son will deliver His Kingdom up to the Father. At the time of the Judgment God will put an end to all the rule and all power and authority that Satan will have on this world, or anywhere. That is when God will send Satan and all his realm and all evil and those that chose to follow him into the lake of fire.
I Corinthians 15:25 "For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet."
Jesus Christ must reign until all of His enemies, which includes Satan, the fallen angels and all the souls of them that chose to follow him will be destroyed. This comes after the time of judgment and the Millennium thousand year reign of Christ kingdom on earth. This is why the full Godhead will not be on the earth until after the Great white throne judgment and hell has turned Satan and his realm to ashes. There are two death as we read of in Revelation 20.
Revelation 20:11 "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."
This is John writing and speaking as Jesus is showing him what is going to happen in the future. John is viewing the time at the great white throne judgment, and the events after the age of the flesh is over, and after Jesus has returned and His thousand year Millennium is over and finished.
Revelation 20:12 "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."
There are several things to notice here; first that the dead that are judged at this time are those whose souls that have not received Jesus Christ and under the shed blood of Christ. They are spiritually dead.
There are two sets of books kept, one is the "book of life" where only your name is written, and that is because all sins have been forgiven and are blotted out, and the only thing remaining is your name.
The second set of books kept by God are for the spiritually dead, and all their works are recorded and will documented and they will be used here on judgment day. The dead will be judged out of the books by their works and their refusal to accept the shed blood of Christ as the sacrifice for their sins.
Revelation 20:13 "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."
The sea that gives up the dead, is from the earth age of the Millennium, and those places where God holds the fallen angels and those not allowed into the Millennium age, will be delivered up to stand accountable at this time. This verse is directed only to the souls that are spiritually dead. Every souls will stand accountable for all of their works.
Revelation 20:14 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."
There is only one thing that will allow a soul to survive this judgment and that is the blood of Christ, and your name recorded in the "book of life". All other spiritually dead souls will be ushered into the lake of fire, right along with Satan, and all his demonic realm, and that includes that sweet old lady that was to good for the blood of Christ. It includes the minister that had devised another way to salvation, and it includes you if you follow them in their ways.
Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
It is pretty cut and dry, with no loop-holes. You are either part of the eternal kingdom or you are not, there is no way out or through except for the saving blood of Jesus Christ. Your name is either written in the book of life, or it is not. Satan is going to be destroyed at this time, and all those that chose to follow him.
I Corinthians 15:26 "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."
This last enemy that shall be destroyed is "death", which is one of Satan's names, and that will be the second death. It is the death of all evil, and it is a spiritual death. Friend, not even Satan is destroyed until after the great white throne judgment. The first death is the death of your flesh body, while the second death is the death of your very soul itself. It will be blotted out as though it had never existed, not even in the minds of your mother and loved ones. This is the most tragic thing that can happen to a child of God.
1corin15
