New Heaven & New Earth: Two Classes? Two Hopes? Two Resurrections?

“And they sing a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, for you were slaughtered and with your blood you bought people for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as king over the earth.” – Revelation 5:9-10
“Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Yeshua and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with [the] Anointed One for a thousand years. [The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete (Possibly Spurious)]. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of [the] Anointed, and will reign with Him for a thousand years... And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Sheol gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Sheol were thrown into the lake of fire”. – Revelation 20:4-6, 12-14
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away”. – Revelation 21:1-4
“For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and take delight in My people. The sounds of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her. No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days, or an old man fail to live out his years. For the one that dies at a hundred years will be considered a child, and the sinner who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses for others to inhabit, nor plant for others to eat. For as is the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, and My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain or bear children doomed to disaster; for they will be a people blessed by YHWH, they and their descendants with them. Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the food of the serpent will be dust. They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain”. – Isaiah 65:17-25

A new Heaven and a new Earth, ruled over by Yeshua the Anointed one and his God-chosen elect, an eternal paradise of peace and everlasting life. These are the things believing Christians all over the world look forward to.

When it comes to the hope for humanity, you’ll often find a predominant focus is placed on the hope of going to Heaven after we die, but you won’t hear nearly as often about the hope of the “new Earth”. Of course this is for good reason, as the New Testament predominantly focuses upon the Heavenly hope for Christians, those who have the chance of receiving a “new body”, meeting Yeshua in the air, and ruling alongside him to judge the world… but, little thought is given to who exactly will be on the “Earthly” side of things by most.

Based on the above scriptures, there have been many theories on just what exactly the new Heaven and new Earth is, and who will go where.

Some believe that all faithful Christians will go to Heaven, whilst non-Christians will remain on the new Earth forever to be ruled over by Christians, whilst others believe all people must become Christians to gain salvation or they will die, and thus conclude that there must be some Christians who will live on the new Earth and some that go to rule in Heaven.

Others believe that people on the new Earth will still eventually die of very old age, to then enter Heaven and become part of the ruling class over the New Earth in an eternal cycle of life, death and eternal salvation. And there are then others who believe the new Heaven and new Earth are the same thing, and will be merged into a singular universe or existence, but give little thought to the ruling class and the non-ruling class.

I’m not going to go into the nature of just what the “new Earth” will be, or what I think the fate of the current Earth we live on will be in this article, but instead I just want to focus on the components of the two Resurrection hopes, the two destinations, and who I feel they may apply to.

Defining the First and Second Resurrections

The Bible tells us that there are two main resurrections, and two “kinds” of resurrection.

“I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous“. – Acts 24:15
“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be judged/condemned(?)“. – John 5:28-29

Through these scriptures, some have interpreted the first and second resurrections to correlate directly, in that the “righteous” are all baptised Christians, and the “unrighteous” being the non-believers who will be raised during or after the 1000 years of the Anointed’s rule and will be judged by the former.

“For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous ones. On hearing these things, one of the fellow guests said to him: Happy is the one who dines in the Kingdom of God.” – Luke 14:14-15

However, whilst this could be said to be a strong position, I feel based on a deeper in-depth look into scripture, that there might be more to it than that.

I theorise, as opposed to popular belief, that Christians, whilst all being heirs and children of God and co-hers with Yeshua (Galatians 3:26, 1 John 5:1), may not all be taken up to be the “highest rulers” with Yeshua in Heaven, but I subscribe to the possibility of the notion that many Christians possibly may not be ruling in positions as highest kings at Yeshua’s side.

To endeavour to explain my theories based solidly in scripture, we will be looking into three major groups mentioned in the Bible; The 144,000, the Great Crowd, and the 12 Tribes of Revelation.

The 144,000

The First thing we’re going to look at is what is mentioned in Revelation, the 144,000 who are said to part of those of the “first resurrection”.

We are told that the 144,000 who are said to rule with Yeshua to judge both “the world” and the “12 Tribes of Israel”.

Yeshua reveals this destiny fully for the first time to his apostles during his ministry, and then again at the passover meal when he instituted not only the New Covenant of his body and blood, but also an appointing for certain faithful ones, which includes his 12 disciples and other Christians.

“Yeshua said to them: “Truly I say to you, in the re-creation, when the Son of man sits down on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.” – Matthew 19:28
“…. I appoint to you, just as my Father appointed me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the 12 tribes of Israel.” – Luke 22:28-30
“Furthermore, people will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the Kingdom of God”. – Luke 13:29
“And they sang a new song: ‘Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slain, and by your blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth’.” – Revelation 5:9-10
“For they were appointed to be judges. Yes, they came to life and ruled as kings with the Anointed One for 1,000 years… This is the first resurrection. Those who have a part in the first resurrection are blessed and holy, because the second death won’t have any power over them… For they’ll be Priests of God and of the Anointed One and they’ll rule for 1,000 years“. – Revelation 20:4-6

These ones are called the “Firstfruits”, as well as “the Bride of the Anointed”, and are chosen by God from the Christian Congregation to be either taken to Heaven or “up into the air” during “the last trumpet”.

Those of the “elect” who have died on Earth will be the first to be awoken during Yeshua’s presence, and any elect who are alive during that time will be taken up with them:

“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other”. – Matthew 24:30-31
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in [the] Anointed will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up at the same time with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. “. – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
“And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel”. – Revelation 7:4
“Then I looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. – Revelation 14:1,4c

This number of “144,000” is understood by some to be symbolic, but other Christians feel it is literal. The literal outlook is held usually by those who would support the notion of “a limited number” of Christians becoming rulers with Yeshua in Heaven, and others hold to the idea that they are the number of Jewish Christians taken from the physical 12 Tribes at some future “time of the end”.

This brings me naturally into the next section, defining the 12 Tribes.

The 12 Tribes

The identity of the 12 tribes of whom the 144,000 elect are taken out of and then in turn judge, is debated by various Christians and denominations.

Some believe it to be the literal 12 tribes of “physical Israel” on Earth. This reasoning is based purely on an insistence of a literal reading, rather than a spiritual or symbolic one.

Others believe it merely refers all “non-Christian” people living on Earth who will be judged by all Christians taken out of the world, as could be interpreted by scriptures such as:

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you”. – John 15:19
“Yeshua said to them: “Truly I say to you, in the re-creation, when the Son of man sits down on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.” – Matthew 19:28
“Or do you not know that the Holy Ones will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?” – 1 Corinthians 6:2

Others believe it refers to non-elect Christians, who though declared righteous as “spiritual Jews”, will be “subjects” of the Kingdom, as opposed to rulers, whilst others believe there are those declared to be “unrighteous Christians”, believers who did not fully obey the Lord Yeshua. This can be founded on the basis of scriptures such as:

“A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God”. – Romans 2:28-29
“If you belong to [the] Anointed [One], then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”. – Galatians 3:29
“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in [the] Anointed Yeshua.” – Ephesians 3:6

Whichever stance is correct, it can be reasoned that these ones will be will be judged by the elected Bride of the 144,000.

Fleshly Israel? Or Spiritual Israel?

On the question over whether the 12 Tribes are “literal” Israel, or “spiritual Israel”, I would personally hold to the stance that the 12 Tribes are symbolic, and not physical.

I feel the “12 tribes” is the collective label of all true Christians, who are “Jews on the inside” (Romans 2:28-29, Galatians 3:29). Let me further explain my conviction of why I think this is so and why I feel the other options are out…

If the 12 tribes are to refer to the world of non-Christians, then of course this could support the stance that all Christians could be of the elect to judge the world during the 1000 years and Second Resurrection. However we must scripturally prove that the 12 Tribes does in fact identify the whole world.

It is interesting to note, that no scripture in the entirety of the holy books, refers or labels the “entire world” as being Israel, but rather those who are not of Israel are only ever called “the world” (who in turn are also known as “Gentiles”).

In the Old Testament, some of these ones even joined the nation and “became Jews”, such as when many left Egypt to join Israel during the Exodus, and in many other similar accounts where we see others assimilate into the Hebrew nation.

“And a mixed multitude also went up with them, along with great droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.” – Exodus 21:38
“Do not despise an Edomite, for the Edomites are related to you. Do not despise an Egyptian, because you resided as foreigners in their country. The third generation of children born to them may enter the assembly of YHWH”. – Deuteronomy 23:7-8

Thus, there is no line of evidence which can back up the notion that “the 12 Tribes” and “the world of non-believers” are the same entity simply because of the fact that they are both being judged.

At best, without further evidence from the scriptures that the entire world is referred to as “Israel”, the whole idea I think is a glaring association fallacy.

There is far more scriptural evidence that the world would be classed as “symbolic Gentiles”, rather than the symbolic 12 tribes of Israel.

I do not believe it refers to fleshly Israelites either, for if this were to be the case, then it would mean that the ones to rule at Yeshua’s side as kings would be ‘exclusively’ Jewish Christians, as these 144,000 elect are “taken from” these 12 tribes. However, this is not what is taught in scripture, for both Jews and Gentiles are given this opportunity to be part of the firstfruits of the Bride, as it made clear in Paul’s letters to Gentile communities on the matter (Ephesians 3:6, 1 Corinthians 6:2, Romans 8:16-17, 23).

This only then leaves one option in my view, that the 12 tribes must refer to spiritual Jews, that is, all Christian believers in Yeshua.

Thus, if the 12 tribes are to be all Christians, of whom the selected 144,000 will judge, we can attest on this line of logic, that not all Christians are going to be elect for rulership and judging, for if all Christians are to be of the 144,000 elect, then the remainder of 12 tribes, that is, if identified as Christianity, cannot be judged, for there would only be judges with nobody left to judge.

Of course, at the same time, we cannot ignore the fact that both Ephesians 3:6 and 1 Peter 2:5-10 also calls all spiritual Jews, that is, Christians, “joint heirs” and “a royal priesthood”.

This obviously would seem to contradict the idea of the 12 Tribes of spiritual Jews being judged by Yeshua’s royal heirs and brothers, if spiritual Jews themselves ‘are’ such a nation of royal heirs (Revelation 5:10).

Of course, some, for this reason conclude that the only logical outcome is that the 12 Tribes must be “unrighteous” Christians who failed to gain their inheritance…. But does scripture teach this?

Are “12 Tribe Christians” “Unrighteous”?

If the 12 tribes are Christians who have not been chosen for rulership, does this mean that the Christians who are not chosen to be elect are being somehow looked down upon? Does it mean they were unfaithful to the Anointed One in some form in their lifetime? I know some brothers who do hold this view, and it’s not an unsensible one.

However, though it appears not all Christians may be elect to rule and will instead be subject to being judged by the 144,000, this might not necessarily indicate some form of punishment or disapproval, for we are taught in Romans 10:9; “all who declare Yeshua is Lord and believe in his heart that God raised him from the dead will be saved“.

Afterall, we are told the 12 tribes are to be “judged”, not “condemned”. There is a difference. Therefore, there is still possibility for non-elect Christians to be declared righteous on that day.

But is there any evidence which may indicate that not all faithful Christians, even if judged as righteous for salvation, will not all be chosen to be of the elect? Indeed, there is, even from Yeshua himself:

“Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Yeshua with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. ‘What is it you want?’ he asked. She said, ‘Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You don’t know what you are asking’, Yeshua said to them. ‘Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?’ ‘We can’, they answered. Yeshua said to them, ‘You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant‘. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” – Matthew 20:20-23
“Greet also the congregation that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who is a firstfruit to [the] Anointed in the province of Asia”. – Romans 16:5

What is interesting to note here is firstly, Yeshua says that there will be those who will “drink his cup”, which might to convert and be a faithful Christian, to then follow in his footsteps, just as James and John did… But according to Yeshua’s words here, this does not guarantee one being chosen to be at his side in the Heavenly Kingdom. This doesn’t appear to be a warning or judgement made by Yeshua, but merely a statement.

In saying that James and John “will indeed” drink his cup, I feel implies some sort of “approval”, “success” or “loyalty” in their faith, yet this in itself is not giving them a place as one of the highest of the Heavenly elect, for as Yeshua says “these places belong to those for whom the Father has prepared”.

This is implying to me, that regardless of our faith, God is “choosing specific people” to either be of the 144,000, or, of the “highest positions” of that 144,000, as opposed to it being a given to anyone and everyone for merely being a faithful Christian.

Furthermore, we are told the places of rulership and election close to Yeshua’s side, is “prepared by the Father” and ‘not’ the Son. This means election for rulership is not based upon some form of judgement or merely quality of faith, for we are told in scripture, that;

“The Father judges nobody, but all judging is given to the Son” – John 5:22

Therefore, if the Son is responsible for determining who is “righteous and unrighteous”, but the Father decides “who rules” with Yeshua at his side, then the two subjects are not connected at all, and this would mean that just because a Christian is not chosen to be a ruler with the Anointed at his right and left, doesn’t necessarily mean he has been deemed unrighteous by our Lord Yeshua, otherwise, the Son would be determining ‘everything’.

“Firstfruit” or “First Convert”?

If we look to Romans 16:5, there is something of interest.

I have noticed that there is an interesting choice of translation here. Many translations write “the first convert of Asia” amongst his congregation. However, looking into the original Greek, the term is “aparché”, which uniquely means “firstfruit”, which of course we know is a reference to the elect, to the 144,000, and it is in fact the exact same word used here which is used in those other verses.

It is noted in fact in the translation concordances, that this rendition “the first convert” is actually the ‘only’ one time it is translated this way in the entire English Bible:

So what does this possibly imply?

Well, if the translation “first convert” is incorrect, and it doesn’t mean “the first Christian of Asia”, it may in fact be an acknowledgement via inspiration of holy spirit that Epenetus was “one of the elect” of his congregation, and that he was being singled out by name for this reason especially by Paul.

Of course, this may not be the case, and “first convert” could be the meaning…. But I find it interesting nonetheless that it’s a one time rendition of this Greek word, and that there are in fact other words in Greek that have been used to refer to “the first” of something without using the phrase “firstfruit”, one such phrase being “prótos”, which often refers to “the first appearance” of something and is what I feel would have been a much more appropriate phrase to refer to “a first convert” in the general sense over that of a “special firstfruit”:

“Aparche:
Definition: the beginning of a sacrifice, the first fruit
Usage: the first-fruits, the earliest crop of the year, hence also met., for example, of the earliest converts in a district; there is evidence in favor of rendering in some passages merely by: sacrifice, gift”. – Strong’s Concordance

“4413 prṓtos (an adjective, derived from 4253 /pró, “before, forward”) – first (foremost). 4413 /prṓtos (“first, foremost”) is the superlative form of 4253 /pró (“before”) meaning “what comes first” (is “number one”)”. – HELPS Word-studies

It is also notable that even other commentaries express confusion about this phrase, and that to some, if translated to be “first convert”, causes a potential contradiction, as we have more than one person called the “firstfruit” of a specific area:

“Epenetus-the first fruits of Achaia — In 1 Corinthians 16:15, the house or family of Stephanas is said to be the first fruits of Achaia: how then can it be said here, that Epenetus was the first fruits, or first person who had received the Gospel in that district? Ans. – Epenetus might have been one of the family of Stephanas; for it is not said that Stephanas was the first fruits, but his house or family; and there can be no impropriety in supposing that one of that house or family was called Epenetus; and that this person, being the only one of the family now at Rome, might be mentioned as the first fruits of Achaia; that is, one of that family which first received the Gospel in that country. This would rationally account for the apparent difficulty…”. – Clarke’s Commentary

Whilst there is a way to explain this apparent contradiction if it refers to the first converts in a plural sense, if we are to understand that “firstfruits” is not meant to be a reference to the “first of converts”, but rather, of a spiritual status, then there would be no contradiction to explain at all, for all of the First Resurrection are called “Firstfruits” by Paul.

And If such reasoning is correct, then we may have a direct reference to a congregation of fully baptised Christians in Asia with only one or a few of them being labelled as “Firstfruits”, which may be additional direct proof that not all Christians are of the 144,000 kings and priests.

Alternatively, this might just be a label in general for Christians, and thus, Paul may have simply been saying “this person” or “this family” are those of the “Firstfruits in Asia”, as to mean “Christians in Asia”, though not a reference to being the “first of”.

Does the Parable of Sheep & Goats Debunk the idea of “12 Tribe Christian Destinity”?

So far, we seem to have covered some solid grounding for this position, but we’re not out of the woods yet.

An argument a person may bring up is Yeshua’s parable of “the sheep and the goats”. A seemingly binary separation of those who go to Heaven to “inherit” and those who are judged worthy of eternal destruction in Gehenna at the Anointed’s arrival.

Another contention is that we are told that “those who hear the Anointed’s word and believe will not be judged”, which seemingly contradicts the idea of the 12 Tribes being Christians for they ‘are’ judged.

“I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed“. – 1 Corinthians 15:50–52
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world… Then the righteous will ask: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? Yes, when did we see you sick or in prison and come to your [aid]?’ And the king will say: ‘I tell you the truth: when you did it for the least of my brothers, you also did it for me… Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels…’“. – Matthew 25:31, 37-40, 41
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment/condemnation(?), but has passed from death to life”. – John 5:24

The first thing we have to address is, “what is inheritance”?

Well, based on the above scriptures, it seems that the term to “inherit”, if referring to the highest ranks of rulership, would imply it strictly refers to becoming one of the 144,000. We also see the ones who inherit the kingdom cannot be “flesh and blood”, if such a phrase is to be taken literally. But do all Christians “inherit” the Kingdom as chosen ones? Is there a difference between “inheriting” the Kingdom and “entering” the Kingdom? Or is there even perhaps a difference between “ruling as a king” and merely “being a priest” within the said reward of inheritience? A distiniction of ranks?

Based solely on Yeshua’s words in Matthew 25, we see that it looks as if that there are people of the nations who will be judged for how well they have treated Yeshua’s brothers. If they have treated them well, then they too will be judged as righteous and are invited to inherit the Kingdom to enter Heaven during Yeshua’s arrival, then for those who have purposely opposed Yeshua and his brothers and have acted wickedly, there is only Gehenna that remains….

This reasoning would then imply, that nobody will be left on alive Earth after Yeshua returns and calls up his chosen ones, for he would have swept the rest of the Earth clean, and that anyone and everyone else who is to be judged by Yeshua and his elect ones. Whether they be part of “12 tribe Christians” or “the world” of non-believers, they would be those raised exclusively at the Second Resurrection during or after the 1000 year rule.

But if this is the case, this takes us back around to the earlier question; Are 12 tribe Christians considered “unrighteous” in comparison to the Christians who are raised in the First Resurrection for Heavenly rule? To be equal to the world of non-believers who did not know Yeshua before they died?

As I mentioned earlier, some Christians do believe this, and they feel the reason the 12 Tribes are not elect as part of the First Resurrection, is because they have been declared “unrighteous”, due to not being faithful or loyal enough to the Anointed One, in other words “false Christians”, and those ones who are in this state of unrighteousness at the time of Yeshua’s arrival, some believe will be eternally condemned.

This reasoning is based upon an interpretation of Acts 24:15, which reasons that the “resurrection of righteous and unrighteous” correlates directly to the First and Second Resurrections. In this view, the “righteous” are the 144,000 rulers, and the unrighteous are everyone else who are considered unbelievers or equal to unbelievers.

After this, it is thought in this framework, that Yeshua then resurrects everyone else who has ever lived previously, for judgement (the “Second Resurrection”).

However, as I have explained earlier, I have scriptrual reasons to why I personally contest this view. But I shall futher endeavour to explain why more deeply.

Is Salvation & Election is Based on Mere Timing?

I pose the question;

If it’s ok for unrighteous or disloyal Christians to be raised in the Second Resurrection for a chance of fair judgement and redemption, why is it not ok for those same unrighteous Christians (and everyone else who was an unbeliever for that matter) at the time of Yeshua’s initial arrival to be spared from being declared goats fit for Gehenna, just before the 1000 year rule and judgement?

What if a person died literally five minutes before Yeshua’s arrival, but was guilty of the same sins or unrighteousness as the one sent to Gehenna as a goat? Do some people get to be resurrected and given a second chance during the 1000 reign just because they “got lucky” in their timing?

Are we also to believe that God has “specially prepared positions of Rulership” at Yeshua’s side, by means of selecting everyone who is a loyal Christian or has been friendly to Christians, who just happen to be alive at the time of Yeshua’s Second Arrival?

Perhaps we would reason it is because on the day of Yeshua’s return, there will an “ultimate test” of loyalty. That, when he visibly returns in the clouds for all to see (Acts 1:11), the only Christians who would be “unrighteous” at that time, would be those who choose to reject him, and would have no excuse for such a thing, whilst those who endure at that time, God would grant kingship in Heaven with Yeshua, and may in fact be the reason why those raised in the Second Resurrection, who were not alive to experience the Second Coming of the Anointed, have to be “tested” one last time when the Devil is released from the Abyss (Revelation 20:3).

But I think we are missing some key information here…

The Places of Rulership Are Not Based on Righteousness

I firstly would argue that a false or unrighteous Christian is no Christian at all, for he is drinking at the table of demons (1 Corinthians 10:21), and if one is not a true Christian, he is not in Yeshua, and if one is not in Yeshua he is not a spiritual Jew, and if one is not a spiritual Jew, then he is not of the spiritual 12 Tribes.

Thus, if the 12 Tribes are made up of non-loyal or false Christians only, then there are in turn no 12 tribes at all, and Yeshua’s promises cannot be fulfilled. Only someone who “belongs to the Anointed One” can be considered a spiritual Jew.

“Yeshua said to them: “Truly I say to you, in the re-creation, when the Son of man sits down on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.” – Matthew 19:28 “A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God”. – Romans 2:28-29
“If you belong to [the] Anointed [One], then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”. – Galatians 3:29

If we again harken back to Yeshua’s words to James and John who wanted to be at his side in the Kingdom, Yeshua did say they “would” drink his cup as faithful Christians, but that this wouldn’t guarantee an inheritance in the Kingdom as rulers (Matthew 20:23).

Are these men to be considered disloyal Christians, as “unrighteous”?

Romans 10:9 tells us “all” who are faithful to the Anointed, that is those are who “drinking his cup” (like James and John), regardless of being elect to inherit the Kingdom or not, will be saved.

Likewise, as aforementioned, we are told that it is the ‘Father’ alone who choses who are to be elect as rulers on “Yeshua’s right and left”, whilst the ‘Son’ alone is judging who is “righteous and unrighteous”. If Yeshua declaring a Christian righteous also means he is automatically to be considered a ruler with Yeshua, then we cannot say Yeshua was telling the truth when he said “Only the Father selects these positions”.

But how do we reconcile this with Yeshua’s statement of the sheep and goats at Matthew 25? There doesn’t appear to be described a “center position”, but only right and left….

Is The Sheep & Goat Parable Speaking of a Specific Context?

It would seem apparent, that the judgement of the sheep and goats applies to the nations of the world of non-Christians, and that for their support of Yeshua’s brothers, they too somehow take part in the inheritence of the Sons.

We in fact see other scriptures that indicate that there will be benefits of the Kingdom to others, including to non-elect Christians during this time:

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies”. – Romans 8:20-23
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom… Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them. Lord,” said Peter, “are you addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?” And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions“. – Luke 12:32, 35-37, 41-44

We see in Romans, that there is certainly said to be benefits of the Kingdom through the elected Firstfruits of the Anointed one to all of creation, which is groaning along with those who are the 144,000, and both will experience “freedom from bondage” and “glorious freedom”.

In this respect, there is also a question of timing of this judgement.

The seperation of Sheep and Goats, may either happen at the arrival of the Lord, when the final bowls of wrath of poured out on the nations in tandem with the “grape harvest”, or it might be something that happens during or after the 1000 year reign of the Elect who are ruling over such people, whom then declare such people to be righteous and to ‘then’ be able to join them in the inheritance.

Of course, this doesn’t inform us of why there are some Christians sitting on the right and left of Yeshua, and others are not, whilst all being said to be co-heirs with Yeshua.

But, what is especially interesting in the passages from Luke, is that Yeshua is speaking to a large group of listeners, all of them Christian disciples, yet when Peter asks “who are you speaking to, us or everyone?”, in regard to Yeshua telling them they would be given the Kingdom, Yeshua says it is to those who are “faithful and wise servants” who feed the other servants of the Anointed One.

In this it could be reasoned that he indirectly says at this time that his disciples are those to inherit the Kingdom, which is again echoed during the passover, where he selected those 12 only out of the entire congregation of his followers at the time, to tell them they would sit on thrones with him, and again when he asks his disciples to “feed my sheep” (Matthew 19:28).

Of course, we know this offer to be elect is not only to the 12 Disciples, but extended to other Christians later on, as we have already seen throughout the scriptures. This extention of responsiblilty to other Christians is also expounded upon in Mark’s Gospel:

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return— whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning… And what I say to you, I say to everyone; Keep watch!”. – Mark 13:35,37

Nevertheless, it is interesting to pay attention to Yeshua’s parable, in how it revolved around the subject of being “given the Kingdom”, and that it was seemingly specified to those who would “feed others”.

The “possessions” of Yeshua, of whom the elect are appointed over upon his return, might be both Christians of the Body of the Anointed One, that is, the Congregation of believers, as well as the entire Earth which Yeshua now has under him (Hebrews 2:8, Colossians 1:18). Of course, this appointment over the “possessions” happens when Yeshua returns, and does not refer to any class of Christians today who have the right to ruler over their fellow brothers and sisters (Matthew 23:10, Matthew 24:46).

What is strange however, is that we are told “the master”, who is Yeshua in this scenario, would give these people all his belongings… yet, if the Son is giving these people his belongings, then what does it mean by “the Father” selects those who rule with Yeshua, and not the Son himself, who is merely being a judge of righteousness and unrighteousness?

Is to be on Yeshua’s right and left in the Kingdom by decree of the Father, an “even higher” reward than being given Yeshua’s belongings? What could possibly be more higher than ruling the entire Universe and the people in it? We’re even told that to be a follower of Yeshua means to be God’s son, and therefore a “co-heir” with Yeshua (1 John 5:1, Romans 8:17). The more we examine these things in minute detail, the more complicated it seems to get…

Furthermore, not only are we are told the 144,000 are Yeshua’s bride, but that there are to be “guests” of the wedding and these ones are “blessed”. These guests are also described in parables, which even includes the 10 virgins, who are told to “keep on the watch” and await to “meet the Husband and Bride”, these virgins representing Christians “awaiting for the Bridegroom and Bride”.

“Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God’”. – Revelation 19:9
“So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” – Matthew 22:10-13
“For the Kingdom of the heavens is like ten virgins that took their lamps and went out to meet the groom and his bride“. – Matthew 25:1 (Hebrew & Aramaic Peshitta scrolls)

Because we are told there are specific guests who are waiting to meet both the husband and the birde, it would seem to refer to other Christians who are not the 144,000 whom are selected to be kings in the “marriage of the lamb”.

We can be certain the guests of the wedding are not those who are also waiting marry the husband, for a man was not expected to marry another man, especially in ancient times, and especially amongst Jews and Christians.

This is why the marriage to the Anointed One, though consisting of literal men and women, symbolically is called a “bride”, yet the parables of the wedding details also approved guests which consist of not only women awaiting to meet the bride (meaning it was not a concubine arrangement where the groom was selecting and marrying offered brides), but men were also guests of the wedding, giving us context that these guests were not to be a part of the marriage to the bride, yet they still had to be approved of entry.

This is also further supported, in that both the Aramaic and Hebrew manuscripts of the Gospels, the 10 virgins and the guests of the wedding are said to meet, not only the groom, but “his bride”.

Thus, we might reason, it just as it is with Christians today. Regardless of being elect or not, they have to prove loyal to Yeshua, and that “12 Tribe Christians” may be the ones consisting of these “approved guests”, who are also be given an inheritence of Yeshua’s belongings in some form.

Yeshua said that “anyone doing his father’s will” was to be considered “family” to him (Matthew 12:48-50). Whilst this can also refer to the arrangement of Yeshua’s followers being the highest co-heirs of the Kingdom, as Yeshua described his 12 disciples with this phrase, it could easily also apply to “all Christians”, for all do the will of God.

Thus, if the reasoning so far is correct that not all Christians are elect or have the highest rule, based on this 12 Tribe framework, then elect Christians and non-elect Christians could be compared to the priestly arrangement of the Old Covenant, in that not all are kings or priests, but can still partake in the meal of the Anointed, that is the eating and drinking of his symbolic flesh and blood (the Lord’s supper), and will be dining as guests of the wedding of the Bride that is, his kings, judges and priests who are “at the table” on thrones in the Kingdom of Heaven (Luke 22:30), just as a bride and groom sit on a table of their own in a modern day wedding looking upon their guests.

“Then a voice came out of the throne that said; ‘Praise our God, all of you who are His slaves… Yes – you, the great and the small who fear Him!’ Then I heard what sounded like the voices of a huge crowd, along with the noise of a lot of water and heavy thunder. They were shouting; ‘Praise Yah! For YHWH our God the Almighty has started ruling as king! Let’s rejoice, shout in joy, and glorify Him, since it’s time for the Lamb’s wedding!‘ Yes, his bride has now prepared herself, and she’s been found worthy to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen… For the fine linen represents the righteousness of the Holy Ones.’ Then he said to me; ‘Write this down; Those who are invited to the Lamb’s wedding banquet are blest!” – Revelation 19:5-9
The Kingdom of the heavens (or, of God) is like a man… A king, that arranged a wedding banquet for his son…. Therefore, the slaves went out to the roads and they gathered everyone they could find (both the wicked and the good), and the banquet hall was soon filled with people reclining at the tables. ‘But then, when the king came in to inspect the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t properly dressed for a wedding celebration. ‘So he asked him: How did you get in here [dressed like that]?‘Well, the man was speechless.‘Then the king said to his servants; Tie him hand and foot and throw him into the darkness outside, where he can cry and grind his teeth. ‘For, many are called, but few are chosen. – Matthew 22:2, 9-14

But, what about John 5:24 and the apparent contradiction that loyal Christians will not be judged as opposed to the 12 Tribes?

Well, on the basis that there can be no other identity for the spiritual 12 Tribes other than Christians, and that we know not all loyal Christians are elect according to Yeshua’s words about drinking his cup, and that some Christians are being called “guests” of the wedding according to the parables, of whom will be judged, then it may be possible that this verse is not illuding to “being under judgement”, but rather will not be “judged”, which in this context may be used here as an alternative phrase for “condemnation”, in the same way that we can see in the earlier parable, that the Goats who were judged to everlasting Gehenna is obviously not referring to people who will be raised during the Second Resurrection for “judgement”.

A line of evidence for this may be found in Paul’s words:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of [the] Anointed, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad”. – 2 Corinthians 5:10

We can see here that there must be more than one definition of “judged” and “judgement”, for Paul’s words here could also be seen to be contradicting John 5:24. Clearly, the term “judgement” gains clarity upon contextual application. In this case, non-elect Christians may be “judged” by the elect, but will not be “condemned in judgement”.

Another line of evidence may also be found in the definitions of the specific word used here by John in Greek. John 5:24 uses the word “Krisis”, which according to the lexicons is said to not only mean “to judge” or “make a verdict”, but akin to the word “krima”, is more often used to mean “condemn”.

This phrase is also used in John 5:28-29 where it says “the bad will be judged” or “condemned” (krisis), whereas the word “krino” (which is not the word used in John 5) is the term more often used to refer to “a verdict” or a “choice between options”, and this is the word used in scriptures such as Matthew 19:28 which speak of the “judgement” of the 12 tribes.

This same phrase is also used in regard to the resurrected who are before the white throne in Revelation 20:11–15, who are judged for either life or death based upon their “deeds”, which likely harkens back to the resurrection spoken of in John 5:28.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged/condemned (krisis) but has crossed over from death to life”. – John 5:24
“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be judged/condemned (krisis)“. – John 5:28-29
“Yeshua said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging (krino) the twelve tribes of Israel“. – Matthew 19:28
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged (krino) according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged (krino) according to what they had done“. – Revelation 20:11–13

With this understanding, this may be informing us that the Second Resurrection includes not only unrighteous people, but righteous people, and as such tells us that the resurrection of the “righteous and unrighteous” may not be correlated to the “First Resurrection and the Second Resurrection”, and in turn this gives us a strong basis for the position that the “12 Tribes” may be Christians who are declared righteous before the white throne of King Yeshua and the 144,000 based upon their faith and deeds, as opposed to all Christians being of the elect class, or highest of the elect.

Cognate: 2920 krísis (a feminine noun derived from 2919 /krínō, “to separate, distinguish, judge”) – judgment, emphasizing its qualitative aspect that can apply either to a positive verdict (for righteousness) – or more commonly, a “negative” verdict which condemns the nature of sin that brings it on. See 2919 (krinō).

2919 krínō – properly, to separate (distinguish), i.e. judge; come to a choice (decision, judgment) by making a judgment – either positive (a verdict in favor of) or negative (which rejects or condemns).

J. Thayer comments that “the proper meaning of 2919 (krínō) is to pick out (choose) by separating“ (as also used in Homer, Herodotus, Aeschyl., Xenophon, Plato). 2919 /krínō (“distinguish, judge”) typically refers to making a determination of right or wrong (innocence or guilt), especially on an official (legal) standard. We only judge (2919 /krínō) accurately by intelligent comparison and contrast based on God’s word, i.e. to approve (prefer) what is correct and reject what is inferior (wrong). [2919 (krínō) is used of “bringing to trial” (the trying of fact) in a court of law.

Cognate: 2917 kríma (a neuter noun derived from 2919 /krínō, “to distinguish, judge”) – judgment, emphasizing its result (note the -ma suffix). This is everlasting damnation (torment) for the unredeemed (the usual implication of 2319 /theostygḗs) – or the eternal benefits that come from the Lord’s judgment in favor of the redeemed (cf. Rev 20:4). See 2919 (krinō). 2917 /kríma (“the results of a judgment“) dramatically Links cause-to-effect. Indeed, every decision (action) we make carries inevitable eternal results (cf. Ecc 12;14). – HELPS Word-studies

Another fascinating thing to take note of, is that the Hebrew Revelation is rendered slightly differently to other more well known manuscripts, in that it says those on the thrones will be “judging believers”:

“Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and it was given to them to judge those who believe and bear witness about Yeshua, and those who did not take the sign of the animal on their foreheads, and did not pray to him or to his image. And these lived, and ruled with Yeshua for a thousand years, (but the other dead ones did not rise until the thousand years were finished), and this is the first resurrection”. – Revelation 20:4-7 (Hebrew Cochin Version)

Of course, this may be a mistranslation on part of the scholars who rendered this passage into English, and there may be in fact an intention of a comma between “judge” and “those who believe”, meaning it should look like this;

“and it was given to them to judge, those who believe and bear witness about Yeshua…”

In which it would then follow the same meaning as all other manuscripts and translations.

Nevertheless, we have both scriptural support and language support to suppose that the meaning of Matthew 25 does not contradict the idea of the 12 Tribes to be identified as Christians who will perhaps come under the judgement of the 144,000 Christians, to then be declared righteous by them.

But still, do we have any proof that people will be still alive after our Anointed Lord separates these “sheep and goats” on Earth before the Second Resurrection? Yes.

Peter tells us “judgement begins with the House of God” (1 Peter 4:17). This might tell us the seperation of Sheep and Goats may not apply to the entire world, but rather, believers and opposers, true Christians and false Christians, the “wheat and weeds” (Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43). Secondly, the battle of Armageddon which follows the Tribulation is only said to remove the “kings of the Earth”, the “false prophet”, and the “Harlot” (Revelation 16:16-19).

But is there evidence that there will be “other Christians” on the Earth after the elect are taken up to into the air or Heaven? And that the remaining Christians who might be catergorised as the 12 Tribes may indeed not only consist of the second group of resurrected ones?

Possibly… In the book of Revelation:

“Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads… Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, with the eternal gospel to announce to the inhabitants of the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people.He spoke with a loud voice: ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.’ And another, a second angel, followed, saying, ‘It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen. She made all the nations drink the wine of her sexual immorality, which brings wrath’. And another, a third angel, followed them and spoke with a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,he will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, which is poured full strength into the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb… This calls for endurance from the holy, who keep God’s commands and their faith in Yeshua… Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and one like the Son of Man was seated on the cloud, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one who was seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, since the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. Then another angel who also had a sharp sickle came out of the temple in heaven. Yet another angel, who had authority over fire, came from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vineyard of the earth, because its grapes have ripened.” So the angel swung his sickle at the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.” – Revelation 14:1,6-10, 12, 14-19
“Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army. But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh“. – Revelation 19:19-21

If the above passage in Revelation 14 is in chronological order, then we can see people are still alive on the Earth and are being judged, ‘after’ the elect have been taken from the Earth, for they appear to be at Yeshua’s side during this time of the judgement of Babylon and the nations, and not only that, we are told that there are “holy ones with faith in Yeshua” who have to “endure” the troubles on the Earth whilst the 144,000 appear to be in Heaven (Mount Zion) with Yeshua.

Thus, this may be telling us the context of the parable of the Sheep and Goats, that it may refer to the separation and judgement of specific groups and institutions, and that not “all” Christians will be taken to Heaven at this time.

If this is to be the case, then we could attest that the “sheep and goat” parable of Matthew 25 was perhaps in regard to a specific context, perhaps the Heavenly gathering of the elect rulers, and the judgement of “Babylon” and the “Wild Beast” which may represent the seats of power of the world’s nations and false religious leaders along with any who choose to worship them and wage war in the face of Yeshua’s coming (Matthew 24:30-31, Revelation 13:8, Revelation 19:19-21).

If so, it would be an appropriate correlation, for the Earth’s wicked governments and corrupt religious leaders to be eternally destroyed and replaced with God’s Kingdom ruled by the Anointed one and the elect 144,000.

But alternatively, Revelation 14 may be referring to the “gathering of the elect” of the 144,000 and all other Christians at the same time.

The 144,000 being with Yeshua in the opening verse of chapter 14, may be a visual or symbolic “introduction”, to give context to the following events being described, the “reaping” of the Earth possibly being the same event as the separation of the elected Sheep and the condemned Goats, Wheat and Weeds.

Secondly, Paul tells us at 1 Thessalonians 4:17, that all with faith in Yeshua will be “taken into the air together at the last trumpet”, both the resurrected and the living, and there doesn’t seem to be any distinction given between elect and non-elect at this time.

We should also take note that later in chapter 19, we are told a “great crowd” is celebrating in Heaven at the fall of Babylon, following this the Bride it preparing herself for marriage. And so one might connect this to the “Great Crowd” of saved nations in Revelation 7, and assert that this proves all the Christians, elect and non-elect are taken up together to then witness the fall of Babylon from Heaven before then witnessesing the marriage of the Lamb:

“Well after all that, I heard what sounded like the voices of a huge crowd proclaiming from the skies: ‘Praise Yah! [Yes, praise] the salvation, the glory, and the power of our God, for His judgments are righteous and true! Now He’s finally passed judgment on the great whore that made the whole earth filthy with her immoral sex, and He’s avenged the blood of His slaves [that died] at her hands!… Let’s rejoice, shout in joy, and glorify Him, since it’s time for the Lamb’s wedding! Yes, his bride has now prepared herself, and she’s been found worthy to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen… For the fine linen represents the righteousness of the Holy Ones.’’”. – Revelation 19:1-2, 7-8

Yet, after this, we see in chapter 20, what appears to be the first resurrection of the priests and kings of God taking place, and we are told they were killed for not submitting to the Beast, which echoes the prior events of chapter 14:

“Next I saw thrones, and those who sat down on them were the ones who had been executed with axes for testifying about Yeshua , for telling about God, and those who hadn’t worshiped the wild animal or its image, nor had they received its branding on their foreheads or on their hands. For they were appointed to be judges. Yes, they came to life and ruled as kings with the Anointed One for 1,000 years… This is the first resurrection“. – Revelation 20:4-5

Therefore, if these events are in chronological order, then we are told the 144,000 are on Mount Zion with Yeshua, whilst other holy ones with faith in Yeshua are still on earth during the Tribulation, having to endure the attack of the Beast… Following this, there is a harvesting (Chapter 14), Babylon falls and a great crowd in Heaven celebrates (Chapter 19), and finally, the first resurrection of rulers and priests happens after the Tribulation is all over, and those of this resurrection are rewarded for not giving into the Beast (Chapter 20).

To simplify, a chronological interpretation is saying:

144,000 Elect Saints are taken to Heaven at some point in time before the Tribulation
The Tribulation begins
The Earth is judged and harvested of Righteous and Wicked ones, those who do not worship the Beast Government and Harlot Religions, and those who do.
The Beast Governments and Harlot Religions are destroyed
The First Resurrection happens and those ones become kings and priests with Yeshua
The Second Resurrection happens, those ones being judged by those of the First and 144,000

However, it makes no sense that anyone would be with Yeshua in the air or Heavenly Mount Zion ‘before’ the Tribulation, as the Lord himself was quite adament that the calling up into the air by angels doesn’t not happen until his visible arrival after the times of trial and trouble (Matthew 24:29-31), and also happens at the same time of the First Resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Thus, this could all seem to point to the idea that the 144,000 on Mount Zion in chapter 14 with Yeshua is in fact perhaps a symbolic vision of where they are “about to be” ‘after’ they have been harvested from the Earth after proving their worth in the Tribulation and refusing to serve Babylon and the Beast, and that the “great crowd in Heaven” that is celebrating the fall of Babylon in chapter 19 aren’t raised Christians at all, but perhaps are the angels.

It would appear plain that it is a “symbolic image” of the saved appearing in Heaven before the outbreak of the Tribulation, the realilty being that both the elect and non-elect will have to endure the final tribulation together before meeting the Lord in the air, along with those raised from the dead.

However, if the Hebrew version of Revelation is more accurate and it’s really saying that the Bride on the thrones are said to be “judging the Christians of the Tribulation”, as opposed to the Bride being the ones rewarded with thrones for passing through the Tribulation themselves, then this would put an entirely different spin on things – this translation however, I would lean more toward being a flawed one, since Lord Yeshua made it quite clear, that the collection of the holy ones does not happen until after the Tribulation.

Otherwise, we would be demanded to believe that some Christians go to Heaven to be with the Lord, before both the final rapture and first resurrection, and this demands us to believe in some sort of “pre-rapture ascention”, “after life”, “immortal soul doctrine” or “pre-resurrection awakening”, of which we are warned against in scripture as to be heresies, concerning the state of the dead in the Lord, and of his visible return.

If all Christians are a “Royal Priesthood”, how can the 12 Tribe Christians not be included in the Rulership of the 144,000?

Of course, there is still the confusion of the “royal priesthood” to address.

How can Yeshua say not all Christians are guaranteed to rule at his side if not chosen by the Father (Matthew 20:20-23) if the scriptures such as Romans 8, Ephesians, 1 Peter, 1 John 5, and Revelation 3 state all Christians are “spiritual Jews”, “children of God”, “Yeshua’s brothers” and “royal priests with an inheritence” who conqueror the world”, with Revelation 20 also telling us that all of the first resurrection (which appears to include ‘all’ loyal Christians at 1 Thessalonians 4:17), are those made to be kings?

“You have made them to be kings and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth” – Revelation 5:10
“Then I looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. – Revelation 14:1,4c
“For they were appointed to be judges. Yes, they came to life and ruled as kings with the Anointed One for 1,000 years… This is the first resurrection. Those who have a part in the first resurrection are blessed and holy, because the second death won’t have any power over them… For they’ll be Priests of God and of the Anointed One and they’ll rule for 1,000 years“. – Revelation 20:4-6
“The fact is; you’ve all become sons of God through your faith in the Anointed Yeshua. Indeed, all who are baptized into the Anointed One have put on the Anointed One. So there are no more Jews or Greeks, slaves or freemen, males or females, because you’re all in the Anointed Yeshua. And if you belong to the Anointed One; as the promise told us, you are Abraham’s seed and his heirs!”. – Galatians 3:26-29
“Now, everyone who believes that Yeshua is the Anointed One have been fathered by God… everyone fathered by God has conquered the world. And the victor who conquers the world is our faith. So, who’s conquered the world other than those who have faith that Yeshua is the Son of The God?”. – 1 John 5:1, 4-5
“I’ll allow the ones who conquer to sit down with me on my throne, just as my Father has allowed me to sit on His throne, because I have conquered.’ – Revelation 3:21
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and co-heirs with [the] Anointed [One]—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with him.… Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies“. – Romans 8:16-17, 23

How does this fall in line with the 12 Tribes? An interesting scripture which may answer this surface contradiction can be found in Exodus 19:5-6:

“‘…Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites“.

What is important to note here, is that Yah calls ‘all’ of Israel his priests, he calls them a “kingdom of priests”. Yet, at the same time, we know not every single Israelite was a secular priest serving in the temple, just as not all were kings, or judges, the great majority were just civilians.

This may be why it is said Yeshua gives his belongings to Christians he deems as righteous when he returns, whilst at the same time not considering them to be his Bride. In this, there may be certain “ranks” or “levels of authority”, amongst the kings, judges and priests, which also could be seen to line up with Yeshua’s parable in regard to the coins, in that they all recieved different amounts:

“And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more. His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master”. – Matthew 25:20-23

Bearing this in mind, words such as Peter’s on all Christians being a royal priesthood just may be a reference to this Old Testament verse, that Christians all inherit the “promise land” and serve God as “priests” in worship, but not all may be “literal” or “secular” priests and kings in God’s Kingdom. In this, it is possible to address the would-be contradiction that all Christians are a “nation of priests” and co-heirs, even though not all may have the same ranks amongst the kings and priests at Yeshua’s side.

“Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of God’s household…” – Ephesians 2:19

Faithful Ones Alive on Earth after Armageddon?

Another point I find worth noting that there are even further hints of people still being alive on Earth after the gathering of the elect, the ones described in Isaiah 65 who live upon the New Earth…

We are told these are people who are to have their “physical sicknesses cured”. Thus, if there are to be ones righteous on Earth who are to be cured of their ills, this may be referring to those survive the Great Tribulation and return of Yeshua, having endured to remain righteous and faithful (Revelation 14:12).

As neither the resurrected or those taken to Heaven would surely not be raised with ailments, this strongly implies the notion of an Earthly future for some of the faithful… this begins to leads us into our next section.

There are still scriptures which could be used to argue that all of these judged ones may also go to Heaven to receive their judgement, which also may or may not infer the idea of either a temporary Earthly life in the New Kingdom or even the literal merging of the Earth and Heaven:

“Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!” – 1 Corinthians 6:3
“When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven“ – Mark 12:2

Does “like angels” refer to literal angelic bodies? If so, is this referring to all the resurrected or only the elect? Are the angels that are judged the resurrected, or does it refer to the demons, the “angels of Satan”, who will be cast into Gehenna?

To begin to explore these questions, firstly we will be moving onto the next group we must try to identify, and that is the “Great Crowd”, as this topic will naturally move us into the examination of who may go where.

The Great Crowd

There are many views on just what the Great Crowd is.

Some believe it to be a distinct group from the 144,000, with it being described seemingly in contrast to the former, as a crowd that “no man can number”.

Some believe these are either people who have been spared by God during the Second Coming of Yeshua, or are non-elect Christians who may or may not also go to Heaven. Whilst others believe it to be a further in-depth description of the 144,000.

“After this I looked and saw a crowd too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before/in sight of(?) the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:“ Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?” “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat.’ For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” – Revelation 7:9-17

Some attest that they possibly may be those remaining on Earth putting their faith in Yeshua, who survive the Great Tribulation of whom are not part of the Firstfruits to be “taken up into the air” upon Yeshua’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). However, close examination of the passage appears to indicate that this Great Crowd may be taken into Heaven after the Great Tribulation along with the Holy Ones of the 144,000, just before the outbreak of the battle of Armageddon (Yeshua’s judgement upon the kings of the Earth).

This description is very much akin to the manner that the Firstfruits are taken up, for they are said to be “before the throne” within God’s temple amongst the angels and elders (Revelation 7:14-15).

Some would oppose this idea, by pointing out that the word for “before the throne” in both Greek (enópios) and Aramaic (qudam), means “in sight of”, and thus it may not mean this Crowd is literally before the throne in Heaven, but under God’s watchful gaze. However, we should also take note that an angel asks “where did they come from?” as if to imply a change of location or arrival from somewhere else.

As aforementioned, we also see additional verses also mentioning “a great crowd” in Heaven amongst these same parties:

“After this I heard a sound like the roar of a great crowd in heaven, shouting: “Hallelujah!“…. And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God who sits on the throne, saying: “Amen, Hallelujah!”. And I heard a sound like the roar of a great crowd, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” – Revelation 19:1, 4, 6-8.

As we can see, there is a direct contrast in that both are before the throne praising God amongst the angels and 24 Elders, and both appear to be wearing white robes. However, the chronological order as we have noted earlier, seems to point to the great crowd of Revelation 19, most likely being angels, for the first resurrection has yet to happen at this point (Revelation 20), therefore the Bride “preparing” herself could be symbolic of the dead in Yeshua waiting to be resurrected, echoing Revelation 6:9-11:

“And underneath the Altar, I could see the lives of those who had been slaughtered because of the Word of God and because of the things to which they’d testified. They were crying out in loud voices and asking; ‘How much longer, O Sovereign Lord who is holy and true, will You keep holding back Your judgments and from bringing vengeance for our blood upon those who live on the earth?’Well at that, they were each given white robes and they were told to rest just a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow slaves and brothers was to be filled (that were going to be killed as they’d been)“.

Of course, whether or not the Great Crowd of chapter 19 are the same as the Great Crowd of the nations in chapter 7, it is debatable over whether 144,000 and the Great Crowd of the many nations are one in the same, or seperate groups.

It would seem apparent, however, that the 144,000 is symbolic of a special ordained class apart from the 12 tribes. But physically and literally they may be an unknowable number, which may or may not be represented by the Great Crowd dressed in white, as described by this “innumerableness”.

However, it would seem clear to me, that not all Christians are selected to be this Bride of the 144,000, as I feel that contradict the idea of the judgement upon the 12 Tribes, of which can only be ‘definitively’ identified with Christians through scripture, and not “the world of non-believers”, nor physical Israel, as Paul himself tells Gentiles that he wished to present them to God “as a Bride” (2 Corinthians 11:2).

If this Great Crowd of nations dressed in white being before the throne is not to be identified with the Bride of the Anointed One, then it may be possible that they may be identified with the 12 Tribe Christians, and guests of the wedding.

Some feel that Revelation 7:1 is proof of this separation of the 144,000 and the Great Crowd by mentioning the latter being “in God’s temple”, and this “temple” possibly referring to the elect 144,000, for Christians are also at times described as God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16,17, 1 Peter 2:5).

However, we should also not forget that Yeshua and God are also labelled as being “the temple” in Revelation 21:22, therefore, if keeping consistent to the terminology used within the Revelation passages, then “God’s temple” in this context need not refer to any group of Christians, but more likely refers to “God and/or the Lamb”, which in my opinion makes far more sense and maintains a better overall textual harmony.

What it does leave open for question and interpretation however is; “if the Great Crowd are the non-elect, does that mean they too are in Heaven, or are they on Earth?”.

This moves us on to the next section where we will discuss “where will the world and the 12 Tribes be and what kind of resurrection will they have?”, for we still have the scriptures of 1 Corinthians 6:3 and Mark 12:25 to address.

Where will the non-elect be and with what kind of body?

The scriptures in Revelation detail greatly the position of the 144,000 and their position in Heaven alongside Yeshua. However, questions of translation have been raised, especially so of Revelation 5:10 in regard to whether our Heavenly rulers will “remain in Heaven” to rule over Earth, or if they will physically come down out of Heaven to rule “upon” the Earth for the 1000 years reign.

“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon/over(?) the earth”. – Revelation 5:10

The word used for “over” or “upon” is from the Greek word “Epi”, which can mean over, but also has been used predominantly to mean “physically upon”.

If Epi is to mean “upon”, then God’s Kingdom, New Jerusalem, which “comes down from Heaven”, may imply those who are chosen with Yeshua and taken to Heaven, may literally come back down to rule on Earth after the Tribulation, thus this strongly supports the notion of a literal “new Earth” of which the non-elect are to be resurrected and live upon, as opposed to the popular idea that all good people will go to Heaven.

If however it is to mean “over” and not “upon” the Earth, there is still support for “God’s New Jerusalem” being amongst mankind on a physical Earth, as opposed to this Earth being literally taken into Heaven, or Heaven literally coming down to merge into our universe, for “New Jerusalem” is not a location, but refers to the chosen bride of the Anointed One.

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away”. – Revelation 21:2-4
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband”. – Revelation 21:2
“Therefore, ‘they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence'”. – Revelation 7:15
“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple“. – Revelation 21:22

Being “Born Above”

An argument often made against the notion of a fleshly or Earthly resurrection and Kingdom is that they say Yeshua stated that in order to enter the Kingdom of God, one must first be “born from above” or as some say “born again”, and that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom”.

Of course, on the surface this looks to be a very strong argument, and it appears to be true that indeed, we must ‘all’ be born-again to see God’s Kingdom and have eternal life.

But we have to further examine the context and scriptural evidence on whether this always means to be literally transformed and become spirit.

Firstly, what exactly does being “born above” mean?

“Yeshua replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born above.” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?” Yeshua answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born above.’ The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit”… Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life… And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God””. – John 3:3-8, 14-15, 20-21
“For you have been born above, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God”. – 1 Peter 1:23

We can see here that to be “born again” is to believe in Yeshua and do as he commands to receive and maintain the seal of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).

Later in 1 Peter, we see Christians are being referred to as “born above”, even though they have not received new bodies nor have they entered Heaven. Therefore, being born above does not have to mean to be raised with Yeshua as part of his Firstfruits, nor does it only classify as a form of “resurrection” or being “born into a new body”.

To be thus “born above”, appears to mean several things. And is more akin to a new inner state, not just a physical one.

“Flesh & Blood Cannot Inherit the Kingdom”

But what about blood and flesh not inheriting God’s Kingdom?

Well, as covered earlier, to “inherit” God’s Kingdom does appear to apply to all Christians, whether they are of the Bride or not, but does this mean “inheritance” equates to “salvation”? Is there a difference between “entering the Kingdom” and “inheriting it?”

As with the consideration of the parable of the wedding and its guests entering it to witness the marriage of the Bride, we might say that “entering the Kingdom” is to potentially correlate to that.

Now, do I have scriptures to establish word for word that “entering” is not “inheriting”? Not directly, this is something I can only “suggest” or “infer “based upon the study of scriptures thus far, leading me to this “logical conclusion”. But we do have scriptures which say “righteous people will live forever on the Earth” along with “inheriting it”.

“For YHWH loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish. The righteous will inherit the Earth and dwell in it forever.” – Psalm 37:28-29
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth“. – Matthew 5:5

Now in Matthew 5:5, this may be a reference to righteous Christians living on Earth forever, as opposed to being in Heaven…. However, it may also refer to the Kingdom inheritance, in that the elect will “rule and own” the Earth, just as Yeshua is said to “inherit the Earth and all its nations” in Psalm 2:8. This may be the case in Matthew, for the rest of the passage appears to be speaking in consistency about inheritance of the Kingdom.

But this passage does reveal to us, that there is an “Earth” to inherit and rule over, which means the Earth will have subjects of the Kingdom! But who are these subjects? Unbelievers? Non-Christians?

Psalm 37 is something to highlight.

It says that the “righteous” (not the “unrighteous” as some would hold the opinion) would not only inherit the Earth, but “dwell in it forever”. Now what makes this interesting is that it’s saying the righteous will forever dwell on Earth, whereas the 144,000 righteous ones are said to be in Heaven with Yeshua . We have two possible meanings to this:

It refers to non-elect ones being declared “righteous”, which really can only be said to be a label given to those who are loyal to Yeshua , and they will live forever on Earth, indicating this may be talking about “12 Tribe Christians” and those who join them in the 1000 years.
It refers to the Heavenly elect living on Earth forever, even after the 1000 rule has ended, and they will always be immortal rulers upon it.

Now the issue with option 2, is that the scriptures don’t actually say “where” the 144,000 will go after they rule for 1000 years”. If they are to be on Earth forever as materialised beings, then being given immortality and a new Heavenly body would appear to be a bit moot. But is possible perhaps that the elect will be given the ability to materialise and dematerialise at their leisure, to come down to Earth to spend time, and go back to Heaven, maybe even all Christians will be given this ability!

But if option 1 is correct, then the resurrected “righteous ones” in Acts may be ‘plural’ of those of the First Resurrection ‘and’ loyal 12 Tribe Christians of the Second Resurrection.

Alternatively, the resurrection mentioned in Acts, may be speaking ‘only’ in context of the “Second Resurrection”, where loyal Christians are resurrected and declared “righteous”.

Meanwhile, the unrighteous of the Second Resurrection would be the non-believers who have “yet to put their faith in Yeshua” and become Christians (in essence, possibly becoming a part of the “spiritual 12 Tribes of Earth”) to be declared righteous for salvation, of which is the only hope for mankind:

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism“ – Ephesians 4:4-5
“For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in [the] Anointed all will be made alive. But each in turn: [the] Anointed [One], the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him“. – 1 Corinthians 15:21-23
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Yeshua [the] Anointed! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Yeshua [the] Anointed our Lord.”. – Romans 5:12, 17-18, 21
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned“. – Mark 16:16

We see how baptism in Yeshua, which means to become a Christian, is the “one hope” the “one faith” we have to have salvation and eternal life.

Therefore, as we are told that righteous people will inherit and “dwell” on the Earth forever, either this means that not all Christians then will be in Heaven, or, that all Christians, including the elect, will live in the land together. Whichever the case, Christian baptism is required for eternal life, so it can only be Christians who will be the righteous living forever on the new Earth, not the unrighteous who are merely “ruled over” by Christians.

No, such people who arrogantly remain unbaptised by the end of 1000 years rule of Yeshua will be condemned, for salvation from the disease of sin is impossible without the blood of Yeshua.

But this does not mean that this is a get out of jail card for living in sin ‘now’. Those who believe now but refuse to be baptised, or wish to purposely hold off from their faith or belief to seek an unrighteous life by saying; “ah, I’ll be baptised when that time comes, but right now, I like living immorally” may not even get that chance for thinking they can play God for a fool. We see Paul himself was quite adamant on preaching the Gospel to save lives (Romans 10:13-14).

Furthermore, being righteous ‘now’ will assure a “better resurrection” and reward, and ensures we will not have to go through the “second test”, when Satan is released a second time upon the Earth (Revelation 20:7-10).

Thus, I would hold the conviction, that the idea that the non-Heavenly life is for non-Christians or unrighteous Christians only is very flawed thinking, rather I would advocate that the scriptures teach the very opposite.

We see in scripture, that God cannot and will not tolerate wickedness and unrighteousness on the Earth forever (Genesis 6:5-6, Matthew 24:37).

The Resurrected are “as Angels”?

Of course, some would claim the conversation between Yeshua and the Sadducees over people being resurrected of whom had multiple spouses disproves altogether the idea of Earthly life or an Earthly resurrection:

“Teacher, Moses said: ‘If any man dies without having children, his brother must marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother… So in the resurrection, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her as a wife.” In reply Yeshua said to them: “You are mistaken, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God, for in the resurrection neither do men marry nor are women given in marriage, but they are as angels in heaven.” – Matthew 22:24, 28-30
“Yeshua said to them: “The children of this system of things marry and are given in marriage, but those who have been counted worthy of gaining that system of things and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. In fact, neither can they die anymore, for they are like the angels, and they are God’s children by being children of the resurrection. – Luke 20:34-36

This does raise a vital question; if the Second Resurrection is Earthly, how do we reconcile this with the statement of Yeshua’s response to the Sadducees on marriage and the apparent angelic immortality of the resurrected?

Do these raised ones get raised “angel-like” on Earth to then be “taken up” to Heaven to be part of a “Heavenly 12 tribes” under the rule of Yeshua, after the 1000 years and final test on Earth whilst the others see everlasting destruction (Revelation 20:7-10)? But then who remains on Earth which those in Heaven will rule over? A possible third mortal group who are neither the 144,000 nor the 12 tribes?

According to Yeshua, he seems to on the surface say that ‘all’ who are resurrected literally go to Heaven and are angels, and thus do not marry…

Alternatively, he may mean those raised to life on Earth will not get married, and will be “likened to angels” in Heaven, living forever but are not actually angels. Or, it could merely mean that those who die are merely “free” of their former marriages and are not “forced” to marry again after their Earthly resurrection, which is echoed later in the scriptures in regard to freedom from a former marriage mate and freedom from Jewish traditional custom of arranged marriage to a relative:

“A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 7:39

If however we look to Luke, more details are given, in which it says these raised ones “cannot die anymore”, being God’s children, and seemingly refers to a more ‘literal’ application of them being angels in heaven and attaining immortality (1 Corinthians 15:54).

Thus, we have to look into how we can reconcile this with the understanding of the Earthly component of God’s Kingdom and the Second Resurrection if Yeshua is speaking of these ones being raised into this “marriageless state of immortality”.

The way Yeshua answers appears to be killing two birds with one stone, simply; “people resurrected in Heaven won’t be married because they are immortal angels and angels don’t get married”, and does not give any secondary answer for those raised into an Earthly resurrection here. Thus, further scriptural evaluation is needed.

One might argue, that both the 144,000, and the 12 Tribes Christians are destined for heaven, in that perhaps the ruling class is raised first, followed by the raising of the 12 tribes under that rule in Heaven and are not co-rulers, and that there is a “third group” of people who inherit or “be upon” the New Earth who not of the resurrected.

It is important to note however that the scriptures seem to indicate that there indeed seems to be an “Earthly” non-angelic resurrection separate to the First Resurrection, and that such ones will be “awaiting judgement” during the 1000 years based upon their actions:

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned“. – John 5:28-29
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books“. – Revelation 20:12

Thus, in turn we would have to ask; how can a resurrected angelic immortal person “not being able to die anymore” be punished or “condemned to destruction”?

Well, one might argue, that though one “cannot die anymore” he could still be punished, such ones would interpret the meaning of “Gehenna” or “The Second Death” to mean a place of eternal imprisonment, punishment or literal fiery torment. Such a theory could possibly harmonise with 1 Corinthians 6:3, that “angels” would be judged. However, this understanding would also hang on the balance of the understanding of just what “The Second Death” or “Gehenna” is, if it was truly a literal hellfire where people do not die but forever suffer, or just symbolic.

If the Second Death is a literal location of eternal fire and punishment, then we could conclude those raised to judgement in the Second Resurrection could very well fit into the framework of being raised as spirit bodies.

It could be said that during the 1000 year reign of Yeshua, those raised into Heaven will be judged based upon how they live their “new heavenly lives”, before being granted eternal life by Yeshua and his judges, or being sent to literal fiery Gehenna for everlasting judgement and suffering.

I, of course, do not subscribe to the doctrine of literal hellfire, and so I do not share this outlook. Nevertheless, no matter what one subscribes to in terms of literal versus symbolic hell, this entire framework leaves out one vital piece, that is, the Kingdom of the New Earth as mentioned in the many opening scriptures of this article (Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 5:10).

Again, “who” will be left to live on the Earth in righteousness?

If Yeshua’s salvation only offers Heavenly life then there is no “additional group” to inherit the literal Earth who are separate from all those saved from the blood of the Anointed one (of which, is ALL of sinful mankind as stated at 1 Corinthians 15:22-23, Mark 16:16).

We cannot argue that there is no hope for eternal life on Earth at all, for if there is no eternal hope of life on Earth then the mention of the New Earth and its inhabitants to be overruled by Heaven would be moot.

Earth Has a Purpose

Some, as I mentioned earlier, would argue there will merely be world peace, but the natural life and cycle of death will remain as God’s Kingdom Rules from Heaven, and all of those on Earth will eventually go to Heaven, an eternal cycle of birth, death and Heavenly destiny. This is in fact a belief many Christian preterists and amillenialists subscribe to today, and is why many churches teach that the Kingdom is already in place and that all people go to Heaven when they die.

With this interpretation, such Christians believe that “death will be swallowed up forever” (Revelation 20:12) refers to the idea that nobody will “remain in the state of death”, but that all will be going to Heaven as to refer to Paul’s words at 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 that they would “never see death” but would be instantly transformed.

But if that is such the case, then we have to ask; what is the purpose of Earth being restored to a perfect Eden-like state ruled by the Kingdom where evil will be no more (Psalm 37:29, Isaiah 65:17)? If Earth is no longer a “testing ground” to enter Heaven, why have Earthly life at all? Why not be born into Heaven by default and cut out the middle man?

We are told in the scriptures that YHWH did not make the Earth for nothing, but for it to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18).

Redemption From Adam’s Sin & Reversal of Death

The prospect of eternal life on Earth would appear to echo the gift which Adam lost in Eden when he ate the fruit that was forbidden, of which if he did not, he would not have died and returned to dust (Genesis 3:3, Genesis 3:19), but rather he and all his children would have been still living to this very day.

Adam was not told that through his sin he would “lose out on Heaven” after turning to dust, but turning to dust ‘was’ the punishment.

“Death” by Biblical definition is merely the physical act of dying and one’s life force leaving the body. Thus, there was clearly no plan of Earthlings to live a limited life cycle to then pass to Heaven, such a cycle is the inheritance of Adam (Romans 5:12), of which Yeshua’s sacrifice reversed and released us from (Ephesians 1:7, 1 Corinthians 15:22).

As such I feel it would seem reasonable to conclude that “becoming dust” (the punishment of Adam) also becomes reversed on all humans who would live upon the New Earth, giving us the ‘complete’ meaning of “death being brought to nothing”, applying to both those in Heaven and those on the New Earth. If those on Earth die and go to Heaven in the new Kingdom, then we could argue that the promise that “Death and the Grave were thrown into Gehenna” would be a lie (Revelation 20:14).

As such, following up on this logic, if the Second Death is merely “eternal death” or non-existence, to be “burned up” into embers, as eternal dust, then this may lead us firmly upon the logic that the Second Resurrection may indeed be Earthly, and not Heavenly, for those raised as angels cannot die, and thus such angels cannot be judged for Gehenna.

Yeshua Demonstrated Fleshly Resurrections

Another observation I think is worthy to note is that Yeshua was also very keen to show people on multiple accounts that raising people out of their graves to fleshly life was very much possible:

“When he had said this, Yeshua called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”. The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Yeshua said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” – John 11:43-44

If these promises of John 5:28-29 are literal, we have to ask, why would the dead be coming out of the memorial tombs if they are either destined for Heaven or Gehenna? For everyone to be raised on Earth from their literal graves to then be taken up or be condemned seems to be unneeded.

Yeshua himself, though he returned to Heaven, was also raised as a new being, but still with a body of flesh, which was capable of eating and drinking (Luke 24:39).

If however, if it is not a literal resurrection from the grave upon Earth that is promised, and this “coming out of the tomb” is merely symbolic of a Heavenly resurrection, then we have to ask; why would Yeshua want to make a show of raising people from the dead on Earth?

Were these not meant to be an echo of the things to come, as was the show of multiplying loaves of bread to be a preview of the provision of food for all (Matthew 15:36, Isaiah 65:21-22), by controlling the sea to prove that the Earth’s ecosystem and weather patterns will be fixed (Isaiah 35:1), that the healing of sickness was a preview of future healing of sicknesses for humans on Earth? (Isaiah 33:24).

Are all these not the things aptly described in Isaiah in regard to the New Earth? Or were these things merely temporary favours without deeper meaning? That doesn’t seem to be Yeshua’s overall style to me. It seems it was made clear that he came to Earth to perform these things so that we would have hope for very specific things mentioned in prior prophecies, as proof that it was very much a reality.

In fact, the very Jewish and early Christian definition of the word “resurrection”, referred to the awakening of the body and a literal “coming out of the tomb”, and not to an event where “one’s soul” travels up to Heaven upon death. As mentioned in my article on Sheol, such beliefs were introduced to Christianity far later in history.

The Promises of Isaiah

Isaiah describes people living ‘very’ long lives, that a 100 year old would be considered a mere “boy” if he died, and that those who die at such “young” ages are the ones who are accursed as sinners.

This may be a description of those who will die during the 1000 reign of the Anointed one, when they will be judged for destruction (Isaiah 65:20, Revelation 20:7-12).

A non-Earthly outlook does not match the description of Isaiah 65’s prophecy.

A non-Earthly outlook doesn’t match the description of the “New Earth”, where “the sick” will be healed, for neither perfect people, nor spirit beings are sick, as sickness is the result of sin and imperfection upon men’s flesh.

Likewise, the houses, fields, vineyards, children and families cannot be in Heaven, for that would contradict Yeshua’s words on the angelic ones not marrying, and of Paul’s words that “no flesh” or “physical object” can be in Heaven.

This, I would say logically, lends to the idea that those on the New Earth to live forever are not only the consisting of the second group of resurrected ones, but also along with faithful ones still living after the Tribulation and Armageddon, who have been baptised into the blood of Yeshua and attained salvation, and are ‘awaiting’ to be cured of their ‘existing ailments’.

Some argue, of course, that Isaiah’s prophecy was a one time event only, and was already fulfilled in full in physical Israel.

Whilst these things were certainly fulfilled in part, historically, people did not achieve longevity or eternal life in physical Israel after the time of Isaiah, nor did their physical kingdom last forever.

I find that the parallel to the book of Revelation is far too strong to ignore, for even Isaiah 65 calls these promises the “New Heaven and New Earth”.

Isaiah’s New Earth prophecies were not the only things that were proven to have future fulfilments, for even Yeshua himself said Isaiah prophesised in regard to himself arriving as the Messiah (Matthew 12:15-21), showing it wasn’t just a collection of passages referring to the physical Kingdom of old Israel….

It can be argued, of course, that Isaiah’s New Earth prophecies had “symbolic” dual meanings, as opposed to physical.

Perhaps “children” are Christian disciples, “houses” are churches, “vineyards” the fruitage of the spirit, the peaceful “animals” being the pacification of “animal-like people”. But, again, if we ‘do’ take Isaiah more literally, it would seem to perfectly match the idea of a “New Earth” which is ruled by righteousness.

I personally cannot at all in good faith subscribe to the notion that these chapters are not referring to the events of Revelation, and a future righteous “New Earth”, the themes and wording both appear to be too strongly correlated to brush aside.

What Did Yeshua Actually Mean?

Circling back to Yeshua and the Sadducees, if the Second Resurrection ‘is’ Earthly and not Heavenly, this would mean that either;

1. He did not tell them the full details of both of the resurrection hopes and only was speaking of the First Resurrection.
2. Those raised to life on the Earth to live forever will not marry, and will be immortal as the angels are in heaven, but living upon Earth.
3. Yeshua spoke symbolically.

If 2 is correct, such a contrast would be quite stark when they would be living amongst people who do marry and have children in the New Earth, and it would again mean that only those who survive the Tribulation and have never died will be the only ones who live normal human lives upon the Earth as we know it.

An immortal human who is not of the elect, forever single, living on Earth rather than being taken to would seem to come across as an oddity in that regard. Yet what we know of the Kingdom and Yeshua’s statements of the resurrection seems to lead us to this point with no way out, unless as option 1 suggests, that Yeshua did indeed withhold a full explanation as some believe, and that he only spoke of the 144,000 at this time.

Or is it option 3? Was Yeshua speaking symbolically?

We could say that the statement of “non-marriage” may not refer to people not being in “relationships” anymore or not having children, but the form in which human relationships are established may simply be “different” from our current arrangements.

Marriage as we know it may be a “contractual establishment of this world” for imperfect humans, an arrangement of which man and woman may be freed from in the New World, being “as angels” in their human perfection and living forever like immortals, and will truly be equals again, the curse of man dominating woman being overturned (Genesis 3:16).

It is possible that the current marriage arrangement for Christians being free to remarry who they want after death, rather than being forced into arranged marriages, is an early spiritual fulfilment of this potential promise.

But such an outlook can only be described as speculation, for the scriptures give no further details on such matters.

If I am to speak candidly and honestly, with what we know thus far of the scriptures in whole, it would seem this passage could be seen at best as ambiguous.

Conclusions

With everything we’ve covered looked at as one picture, it is my personal opinion that it would appear that it makes the most sense that the First Resurrection is Heavenly, and the Second Resurrection would indeed be Earthly. And that it appears feasible that only certain Christians, though all are co-heirs of the Kingdom with Yeshua, will be chosen to be the elect for the highest Bridal ordinance, whilst others will be considered part of the “spiritual 12 Tribes”, which may or may not be identified as the same group which is the “Great Crowd”.

Either there is:

One Heavenly resurrection and one Earthly. With Some Christians on Earth declared righteous, and others ruling in Heaven, and the “judged angels” in this case simply refers to the punishment of Satan and his demons (Revelation 20:10).
One Heavenly Resurrection and one Earthly, with all Christians in Heaven, and only unfaithful or unrighteous Christians being raised in the Second Resurrection along with unbelievers who must prove themselves in the final judgement to live on Earth forever.
Both resurrections are Heavenly, and that the Earth will only consist of non-elect Christian survivors of the Tribulation and their descendants, living forever.
Both resurrections are Heavenly, and that the Earth will only consist of non-Christian survivors of the Tribulation and their descendants, living forever, who afterward put faith in Yeshua.
Both resurrections are Heavenly and all are taken to Heaven for a time for judgement, but then all people will be put back down upon the “New Earth”.

Of course, I may be completely wrong on these various matters, and so I don’t want anyone or myself to cling to my thoughts dogmatically, for it is not a matter of salvation if my interpretation or anyone’s interpretation is correct or incorrect on this subject, but rather it is having faith and obeying the commands of the Anointed one and his Father in which we gain salvation.

As such, the only way we will be getting any certainty in answers to our questions is by making sure we do what is right and actually arrive at our destinations in that New Kingdom to find out!

Therefore, I do not feel we should be telling people they have one of the specific destinies, or telling people where they will or will not be in the New Kingdom, such things are up to God (Matthew 20:23).

We must only to keep on striving to do our utmost in God’s service and to preach the Good News of the salvation of Yeshua the Anointed for forgiveness of our sins through his death, and hope of the “Kingdom of the New Heaven and the New Earth”, and where we will be is where we will be.

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

10 thoughts on “New Heaven & New Earth: Two Classes? Two Hopes? Two Resurrections?”

Corey Mihailiuk says:

12th Jun 2022 at 10:51 pm

Hi Matt
It was a pleasure to meet you on last night’s online bible study. I’ll take a look at your site when time presents itself. I’d like to pick up the thread of our conversation when we have a chance, possibly at the next study.
Cheers! Corey

LikeLiked by 2 people

1. Proselytiser of Yah says:
  
  12th Jun 2022 at 10:52 pm
  
  Hey, good to hear from you.
  
  Sure, maybe we can do that. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
2. seekeroftruthuk says:
  
  27th Apr 2024 at 8:15 am
  
  Hi Corey – missing you all, please give my love to the group.
  
  LikeLike
  
  1. Corey says:
    
    27th Apr 2024 at 6:16 pm
    
    Hi seekeroftruthuk!
    
    To whom am I addressing this too?
    
    Cheers! Corey
    
    LikeLike
    
sarah bekker says:

15th Sep 2022 at 2:57 pm

Yes! the most important thing is for us to repent of our sins, get baptised and keep all our Lords commandments if possible asking for Jehovah’s help in doing so in prayer to him, so that He might find us suitable for his new earth and heaven. It is my personal hope to live forever on the earth as I just love all his creations and pray that I make it. Knowing that there will be a new earth governed in righteousness, with peace, gives me hope. The resurrection gives me hope of seeing perhaps my relatives again, if it is Jehovah’s will. So good a hope, thanks to our Father Jehovah and his Son our Lord Jesus Christ.

LikeLiked by 2 people

1. Proselytiser of Yah says:
  
  15th Sep 2022 at 9:14 pm
  
  I’m sure no matter where we’ll all be and what we’ll be doing, we’ll see lost loved ones and they us again. That was one of the hopes in scripture that faithful ones were told! As Paul said “we do not mourn like the world does”. And Jesus always resurrected family members when he was on Earth. I think there is a message in that.
  
  Otherwise, if a person was brought back to life somewhere, but never seen again by their loved ones, it would still feel like that person was dead to the others. But we are told there will be no sadness in the New World.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
seekeroftruthuk says:

27th Apr 2024 at 8:20 am

OMG – Matthew, that’s 51 pages and over 19,000 words!!!!!

LikeLike

1. Proselyte of Yah says:
  
  27th Apr 2024 at 8:25 am
  
  Yes, this is rather a big article lol. In future I’d like to go over it again and put it in sections with extra clarifications and thoughts.
  
  LikeLike
  
  1. seekeroftruthuk says:
    
    27th Apr 2024 at 2:06 pm
    Hi Matthew, my Raphael helped me with this one . . .
    
    “Yeshua said to them: “Truly I say to you, in the re-creation, when the Son of man sits down on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.” – Matthew 19:28
    
    “…. I appoint to you, just as my Father appointed me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the 12 tribes of Israel.” – Luke 22:28-30
    
    There are only two “types” of resurrection: 1) heavenly; 2) earthly.
    
    Those resurrected to heaven are the ones who rule with Christ as Kings and Priest for 1,000 years (after the 1,000 years “God only knows”).
    
    I find the above two scriptures in Mathew and Luke of particular interest; it seems to suggest that the 12 Apostles, in addition to being resurrect to heaven to be Kings and Priest have an additional role, that each Apostle would rule over one of the 12 tribes of Israel (whatever those 12 tribes of 12,000 each represent).
    
    All the rest who are resurrected are brought back to the earth. This includes what Paul calls the “righteous” and the “unrighteous”. Each group will have their own destiny to fulfil.
    
    Having solved that mystery, the question I am left with, what do I do now on Sunday?
    
    LikeLike
2. seekeroftruthuk says:
  
  27th Apr 2024 at 1:59 pm
  
  By comparison. the Sermon on the Mount is only 6 pages 2,635 words.
  
  LikeLike

New Heaven & New Earth: Two Classes? Two Hopes? Two Resurrections?

Defining the First and Second Resurrections

The 144,000

The 12 Tribes

The Great Crowd

Where will the non-elect be and with what kind of body?

Conclusions

Published by Proselyte of Yah

10 thoughts on “New Heaven & New Earth: Two Classes? Two Hopes? Two Resurrections?”

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Defining the First and Second Resurrections

The 144,000

The 12 Tribes

The Great Crowd

Where will the non-elect be and with what kind of body?

Conclusions

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Published by Proselyte of Yah

10 thoughts on “New Heaven & New Earth: Two Classes? Two Hopes? Two Resurrections?”

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