May 5: Any Questions?

…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11

This “every knee” and “every tongue” verse has presented a lifelong puzzlement to many students of the Bible. Scripture teaches us that God calls, draws, woos, and invites people into a love relationship with Him, but He never forces Himself upon us. We are each divinely endowed with a personal will. The verse above has caused some to buy into the false doctrine of universalism (everyone will ultimately be saved) but to do so requires ignoring a vast array of other scriptures that clearly point to the fate of the unrepentant.

A firm grasp on the significance, purpose, and reality of the millennium chases away the puzzling aspect of our verse above. The first thousand years of the saved with the Lord Jesus will be the fulfillment of His promise to take His followers to the heavenly city: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2-3)

The first resurrection (Revelation 20:6) inaugurates this thousand-year period (Revelation 20:4) which refers to a time of judgement (see also 1 Corinthians 6:2-3). During that “day” which is a thousand years long (2 Peter 3:8) the cases of the lost will be reviewed. Every question that the saved will have regarding those who are lost will be answered, according to the record books. By the end of it, none of the saved will have a single question left to ask. This is how Jesus could say: “In that day you will ask Me nothing” (John 16:23).

The second resurrection—that of the lost—occurs at the end of the millennium. This marks the point of Satan’s release from his prison (Revelation 20:7). He and the angels that fell with him have been roaming a desolate earth (with no one to tempt or harass) all this time. Two prophets were shown the earth’s desolation during this period.

I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form and void; And the heavens, they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled, And all the hills moved back and forth. I beheld, and indeed there was no man, And all the birds of the heavens had fled. I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a wilderness, And all its cities were broken down At the presence of the LORD and by His fierce anger. Jeremiah 4:23-26 (see also Isaiah 24)

At the final sentencing of the unrepentant, everyone, including the lost, will agree that God is just and fair. Each unrepentant person will see the record of his or her own life (Revelation 20:12), how God repeatedly revealed Himself—along with their obstinate rejections, each rejection hardening the heart by another degree. Sin-hardened hearts will be fully exposed to demonstrate that their lack of love for God would make living with Him not only miserable, but a terror-filled experience. Each will confess that God did everything possible to secure their salvation.

“…to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.” Isaiah 45:23