12 – The Special Resurrection

Sabbath, December 22, 2012

Memory verse

“… Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Revelation 14:13.

The special resurrection

1. What resurrection does Daniel mention?

Daniel 12:1, 2 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

“Graves are opened, and ‘many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth … awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.’ Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God’s covenant of peace with those who have kept His law.” –The Great Controversy, p. 637.

2. When will those who pierced Jesus be resurrected? When will the rest of the wicked be resurrected?.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.

Revelation 20:13, 14 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

“ ‘They also which pierced Him’ (Revelation 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ’s dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient.” –The Great Controversy, p. 637.

“Christ will come in His own glory, in the glory of His Father, and the glory of the holy angels. Ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of angels, the beautiful and triumphant sons of God, possessing surpassing loveliness and glory, will escort Him on His way. Then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory, and before Him shall be gathered all nations. Then every eye shall see Him, and they also that pierced Him.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 739.

“At the close of the thousand years the second resurrection will take place. Then the wicked will be raised from the dead and appear before God for the execution of ‘the judgment written.’ Thus the revelator, after describing the resurrection of the righteous, says: ‘The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.’ Revelation 20:5.” –The Great Controversy, p. 661.

Those who die in the Lord from henceforth

3. Considering the fact that the sealing work of the third angel has already begun, are there people who died after receiving the seal of the living God?

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

“There are living upon our earth men who have passed the age of fourscore and ten. The natural results of old age are seen in their feebleness. But they believe God, and God loves them. The seal of God is upon them, and they will be among the number of whom the Lord has said, ‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.’ ” –(Letter 207, 1899) Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 982.

“I hardly know what to say to you. The news of your wife’s death was to me overwhelming. I could hardly believe it and can hardly believe it now. God gave me a view last Sabbath night which I will write….

“I saw that she was sealed and would come up at the voice of God and stand upon the earth, and would be with the 144,000.” –(Letter 10, 1850) Selected Messages, book 2, p. 263.

4. How do we know that those who rise in the special resurrection do not just stand with the 144,000 but also are included among them?

Revelation 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Let us consider two references:

The number sealed are 144,000; and in the letter quoted from 1850 referring to Sister Hastings it is stated that “she was sealed,” so she must be one of the 144,000–one of those who “would come up at the voice of God” (Letter 10, 1850; Selected Messages, book 2, p. 263) in the special resurrection, while the first resurrection will take place at the voice of Christ. See John 5:25; The Great Controversy, p. 644.

In 1899, there were men more than 90 years old, and it was testified that “the seal of God is upon them.” –Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 982. Since only the 144,000 have the seal of the living God, they must also be part of them.

Privilege of those who are asleep

5. What is the time “from henceforth,” and what are the blessings promised to those who die during that time?

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

“ ‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.’ Revelation 14:13. Wonderful words these, and especially when considered in the light of their setting at the close of the prophecy concerning a threefold message to be sounded preparatory to the end of the world and the second advent of Christ.” –Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 476.

“Thus the evidence seems clear and conclusive that the 144,000 are gathered from the last generation before Christ comes; that they are brought out by the third angel’s message; that even those of them who die in the message are blessed, being restored to the number by resurrection before Christ appears; and that all crowned at last with the peculiar privilege of composing the cabinet of the King of kings and Lord of lords to follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth (Revelation 14:4), joyful in His constant presence, and sustained by His unfailing grace. Revelation 7:15,17.” –Uriah Smith, A Study of the 144,000, p. 8.

6. When will the special resurrection occur? What events will follow it?

Revelation 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

Daniel 12:1, 2 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

a) Special resurrection

“Dark, heavy clouds come up and clash against each other. In the midst of the angry heavens is one clear space of indescribable glory, whence comes the voice of God like the sound of many waters, saying: ‘It is done.’ Revelation 16:17….

“Graves are opened, and ‘many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth … awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.’ Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God’s covenant of peace with those who have kept His law.” –The Great Controversy, pp. 636, 637.

b) Appearance of the two tables of God’s law

“Then there appears against the sky a hand holding two tables of stone folded together….

“Too late they see that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God.” –The Great Controversy, pp. 639, 640.

c) Announcement of the day and hour of Jesus’ coming

“The voice of God is heard from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming….” –The Great Controversy, p. 640.

d) Jesus’ coming

“Amid the reeling of the earth, the flash of lightning, and the roar of thunder, the voice of the Son of God calls forth the sleeping saints.” –The Great Controversy, p. 644.

7. What hope did Sister Ellen G. White have when she fell asleep in Jesus?

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

“Abundant light has been given to our people in these last days. Whether or not my life is spared, my writings will constantly speak, and their work will go forward as long as time shall last…. I may live until the coming of the Lord; but if I should not, I trust it may be said of me, ‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them’ (Revelation 14:13)….” –Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 55, 56.

“I begged of my attending angel to let me remain in that place. I could not bear the thought of coming back to this dark world again. Then the angel said, ‘You must go back, and if you are faithful, you, with the 144,000, shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing the handiwork of God.’ ” –Early Writings, p. 39.

For review and meditation

• If the sealing work began with the third angel’s message, with what group will those who died believing in God’s holy day be included?
• Is the seal of the living God cancelled by death?
• Who will arise from the dead in the special resurrection?

Available for study are two pamphlets: A Study of the 144,000, by Uriah Smith, published in 1897, and Questions on the Sealing Message, by John N. Loughborough, published in 1916.