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Notice the verse that says, "Why do you spend money on what is not bread and labor for what does not satisfy?" Last week, we discussed how, as Susan read in the opening, we should "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." When we do this, everything else we desire—food, clothing, and other necessities—will be provided for us as a result of putting the Lord first.

Here, the Old Testament expresses the same message: "Why do you spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?" Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good; let your soul delight in abundance.

The Word of God also tells us, "O taste and see that the Lord is good." Incline your ear and come to Me; your soul will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Again, the Old Testament foretold the events that would unfold—Jesus would come, die on the cross, be buried, and rise in bodily resurrection.

All we need to do is study. "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. I want to emphasize that again.
The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. God foretold what would happen in the Old Testament, and the New Testament brings that revelation to light. Remember, God the Father plans it, God the Son declares it or manifests it, and God the Holy Spirit reveals it.

"Turn your ear and come to me; listen and your soul will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him as a witness to the people, a leader and a commander for the people. Behold, you will call a nation that you do not know, and nations that did not know you will run to you because of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you."

Here, God is saying that this small nation of Israel will draw the attention of the entire world. We can see this happening today as the world's eyes are focused on Israel and the Israelites, who still face persecution and efforts to eradicate them. However, they remain God’s chosen people. God says that if you bless them, you will be blessed; this is why the United States is considered a blessed nation—we stand with Israel, God’s chosen people. Conversely, if you curse them, you will be cursed.

"Behold, you will call a nation that you do not know, and nations that did not know you will run to you because of the Lord your God and the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you."

"Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."

We saw in the last administration that many pardons were granted to individuals, often deemed undeserving. People expressed disbelief that these pardons were given. Similarly, God demonstrated His grace: when we were ungodly and sinful, He sent His Son to die for us, pardoning our sins when we were guilty. He took our place as our substitute. So, let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts.
And let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. What is the condition for this pardon? It is to return to the Lord and to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and neither are your ways my ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Just as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth, causing it to bring forth and bud, so it can give seed to the sower and bread to the eater."

So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth. It shall not return to me void; it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I send it. Every time we speak the Word of God, it will go forth and accomplish what He intends it to do. It will not return void or worthless.

Therefore, we must be slow to speak and think carefully about what we say. There is death and life in the power of the tongue, and whoever is deceived by it is not wise. So, we need to choose to send out blessings rather than curses.
Sometimes people do things that irritate me, and I want to say, "I want to knock their heads off." However, it would be better for me to pray for them, that their eyes may be opened and that they could receive Jesus as their personal Savior. Amen? Besides, it's really difficult to witness to someone after you've just knocked them down onto the floor.

So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth. It shall not return to Me void; it shall accomplish what I please and prosper in the thing for which I send it. For you shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace. The mountains and hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush, the fir tree shall come up; instead of the briar, the myrtle tree shall come up. And it shall be to the Lord for a name and an everlasting sign that you shall not be cut off. When we come to the Lord, He promises that we will never hunger or thirst; we will be fulfilled and experience joy. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Amen? Now let's turn back to St. John, chapter 6.
Starting with the 35th verse, Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst. However, I said to you that you have both seen me and do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out."
Once you receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and are born into the family of God, you are part of that family. No matter how hard you try, you cannot get rid of your relatives; they will always be your relatives. Sometimes you might wish they belonged to someone else, but since they were born into your family, they will always be there.
God says that once you are born into His family, He will not reject you. "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." Jesus came down from heaven, not to do His own will, but to fulfill the will of the Father who sent Him.
The Father's will is that of all those He has given to Jesus, He will lose none, but will raise them up on the last day. Notice that He says that everyone who comes to Him, everyone the Holy Spirit draws to Jesus, He will not lose.
The Father's will that was sent to Him is that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life, and He will raise them up on the last day. We must remember that Jesus was speaking about the fulfillment of Daniel's 70 weeks prophecy. Seventy weeks were determined upon His people, the nation of Israel. We learned that a couple of weeks ago when He stated that at the end of the 490 years, the Messiah would set up the millennium and rule and reign for a thousand years.
They knew that this was the 483rd year of the prophecy, so they kept asking Him, "Are you going to establish your kingdom now? Are you going to set up your kingdom now?" After all, if they recognized that it was the 483rd year and that in the 490th year—seven years later—He would set up His throne and rule for a thousand years, it made sense for them to ask. In verse 40, He said, "And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
We need to examine some of the confusion regarding the last days. One key thing He mentioned is that we must believe in Him. The word "believe" means to rely on, to trust in, and to adhere to. You might say you believe in someone, but if you don't actually rely on or follow that person, then it isn’t true belief. As it says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will direct your paths." To believe in God means to rely on Him and to follow His guidance.
So, He is saying that if you trust in God, rely on Him, and do what He commands, that is true belief. You can either believe and receive or doubt and go without. What would you rather choose?
Now, let's turn to Revelation chapter 20, beginning in the first verse:
"I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of that dragon, that old serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years." We have referred to this verse many times in the context of the Garden of Eden when it is said that the old serpent, the devil, tempted Adam and Eve. That is just one of the names for Lucifer or Satan—the old serpent. It is noted that the serpent was cunning, more so than any beast in the field. This is just one of the names we associate with Lucifer. So again, in the second verse, it states: "He laid hold of that dragon, that old serpent, who is the devil and Satan."
And he bound him for a thousand years, cast him into the bottomless pit, shut him up, and set a seal upon him so that he could no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were fulfilled. After that, he must be loosed for a little season. I saw thrones, and those who sat on them received judgment. I also saw the souls of those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image, nor had they received the mark on their foreheads or in their hands. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
The first resurrection, as mentioned in the Bible, occurs after Daniel's 70 weeks. After the 490 years, there will be a judgment and a resurrection. It is described as the first resurrection. However, some might wonder how this can be termed the first resurrection if there were resurrections before it. What is meant here is that this is the first recorded resurrection. The Old Testament had foretold a resurrection after Daniel's 70 weeks, making this the first recorded instance.
It's important to clarify that while this is called the first resurrection, it is specifically the first recorded resurrection. Let's revisit the verses: "I saw the thrones of those who sat upon them; judgment was given to them." I saw the souls of those who were beheaded for their witness of Jesus, referring to those who suffered during the latter part of the tribulation period, the last seven years of Daniel's 70 weeks. The Antichrist will set himself up as God, and those who refuse to take the mark of the beast will be beheaded for their testimony of Christ.
The verse continues: "And I saw the souls of those who were beheaded for their witness of Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast." This refers to the Antichrist, who has elevated himself as God. They did not worship his image or accept his mark on their foreheads or hands. These individuals lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
So, who lived with Christ? It was those who were beheaded, those who chose not to worship the Antichrist. The next verse states, "But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were complete." This means that the first resurrection includes those who were beheaded along with all those who had passed away before this, as prophesied under Daniel's 70 weeks. They are resurrected during this first recorded resurrection. The rest of the dead will not be resurrected until after the thousand-year reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is clear to all.
So he says, the rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. The first resurrection is those who were beheaded. Blessed and holy is He that hath part in The first resurrection, on such the second death, shall have no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Notice, we're going to live and reign with Him a thousand years. So there's a resurrection that's going to take place before the end of the thousand years. Blessed and holy is He that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second death hath no power, But they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
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And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison and shall go out to deceive the nations that are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, and gather them together to battle; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth and compassed the camp of the saints about in the beloved city, and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophets are; and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. So we find even after a thousand-year reign, during the thousand years, Lucifer is bound.
But for a short season, God allows him to be loosened. And he's able to draw people to rebel against God. And of course, we see they're devoured and they end up being destroyed. And I saw a great white throne and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, that small works and great works stand before God. And the books were opened, And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead which were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. Again, notice. Every person that has not received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior thinks that their good works, if they outweigh their bad works, is going to get them into heaven.
God says it doesn't matter if your works are small or whether they're great. He says you have to be 100% perfect. And if you're not 100% perfect, you're not going to be able to enter into heaven. The only way you can be perfect is by receiving the only one that was, and that's Jesus. And He says they're going to be judged according to their what? Works. Notice it didn't say sins. I want to say that again. He did not say that they were going to be judged according to their sins. Why? They cannot be judged according to their sins. Because Jesus took all their sins upon Him at the cross. He died for their sins. For God so loved the world, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.He states that the rest of the dead will not live again until the thousand years are finished. This is referred to as the first resurrection. The first resurrection includes those who were beheaded. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death will have no power over them; they shall be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. It is important to note that we will live and reign with Him for that duration. Therefore, there will be a resurrection that occurs before the end of the thousand years. Blessings are promised to those who partake in the first resurrection, as the second death will not affect them. They will serve as priests of God and of Christ, reigning alongside Him for a thousand years.

When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison. He will go out to deceive the nations across the earth, gathering them together to battle—specifically, Gog and Magog—with a number comparable to the sand of the sea. They will surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire will come down from God out of heaven to consume them. The devil, who deceived them, will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophets are; he will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Even after the thousand-year reign, during which Lucifer is bound, God allows him to be released for a brief period. During this time, he is able to persuade people to rebel against God. Ultimately, they are consumed and face destruction.
I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it. From His presence, the earth and the heavens fled away, and there was no place found for them. I saw the dead, both small and great, standing before God. The books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in those books. It is noteworthy that every person who has not received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior believes that if their good works outweigh their bad ones, they will enter heaven. God says it does not matter if your works are small or great; you must be 100% perfect. If you are not perfect, you cannot enter heaven. The only way to achieve perfection is by accepting the only one who was perfect: Jesus.
They will be judged according to their works, not their sins. It’s important to emphasize this: they will not be judged based on their sins because Jesus took upon Himself all their sins at the cross. He died for their sins. For God so loved the world that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
God took the sins of the entire world upon Himself so that no one would have to stand before Him and give an account for their sins. Jesus became the substitute; He became the propitiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. Now God says that the only thing you have to do to get into heaven is to call upon the name of the Lord. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." God has already forgiven the whole world of their sins, but they will be judged according to their works. Many believe their works will earn them a place in heaven, but that is not the case. It doesn’t matter if your works are small or great—unless you have received the Son, you will not enter heaven.

Notice that I saw the dead, whether they had small works or great works, standing before God. The books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. If you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, your name is recorded in the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to what was written in the books based on their works. He died for their sins. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead that were in them. They were judged, each person according to their works, and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. If you think you will reach heaven through your good works, you will end up in the lake of fire. There is only one way: Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me."

Now, let's go to St. John, chapter 11, starting with the 21st verse. Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." We are talking about Lazarus, who died after Jesus waited four days before going to him. Martha continued, "But I know that even now, whatsoever You will ask of God, God will give it to You." Jesus said to her, "Your brother shall rise again." Martha responded, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

We had just learned that it had been foretold that after the 70 weeks of Daniel, there would be a resurrection, which is recorded as the first resurrection. Martha said, "We know all about that. He’s going to rise again." After all, the New Testament had not been written yet, so they had to rely on the Old Covenant. Remember, the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Martha said, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus replied, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in me, even though he dies, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world."

Now, looking at the paper I provided, I noted that this is the resurrection to death. This was not a resurrection to eternal life. Lazarus was dead for four days, and when Jesus called, "Lazarus, come forth," Lazarus came out. According to tradition, Lazarus lived for about another 30 years before he died again. Therefore, he will participate in the resurrection of life, differentiating between the resurrection that leads to death and the resurrection that leads to life.

Let’s go to John chapter 20, starting with the 15th verse. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

Notice that I have written on the paper that this is the first resurrection. Jesus was raised from the dead, and Mary saw Him. He remained on earth for another 40 days, appearing to many people. Jesus is the first resurrection. The resurrection mentioned in Revelation is the first recorded resurrection that was foretold in the Old Testament, where Mary and Martha expressed their knowledge of His eventual resurrection.
Why? Because it was foretold that He would rise in the first resurrection. Let’s turn to 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 4, starting with the 13th verse. I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, so that you do not sorrow as others do who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then we also believe that God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord: we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words. Here, as Susan mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15, we see a mystery revealed: not all will sleep, but we will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. He is explaining what will happen to Christians who are alive when Jesus returns. Because we know that flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of heaven, a transformation must take place.
The corruptible must be made incorruptible, and the mortal must be made immortal. This is the rapture of the church, or the catching up of the church. There is also the resurrection of the dead; the graves will be opened. He explains that this is part of the second resurrection—the church being caught up into heaven, while the bodies of those who have passed will be renewed and transformed into glorified bodies. It is said that we will rule and reign with Him, as we read in Revelation. It indicates that the priests and those who have gone before us are the chosen ones; we are the kings and priests who will reign with Him.

Now, let’s look at Revelation, Chapter 14, starting with the first verse. I looked, and behold, a Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with Him were a hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. During the 70th week of Daniel, the first thing that occurs after the seven-year peace treaty with the nation of Israel is that God seals 144,000 of the Jews to go forth and preach the eternal gospel. Here we see that they have the Father’s name written on their foreheads. I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters and like the voice of great thunder. I also heard the voice of harpers playing their harps.
They sang, as it were, a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn that song except for the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins; they follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. Notice again that he states these are the first fruits that are born unto God. According to Scripture, the church is the first fruits. Jesus is the first one resurrected, followed by the church. This also marks the first record of the Jews being born again, sealed by God, and having God’s name upon their foreheads. This event was foretold to take place. He mentions that these individuals were not defiled with women, for they are all virgins.
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These are the ones who followed the Lamb wherever He goes. They were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God. Referring to the land, they were the first ones redeemed during the initial part of the 70 or 490 years, specifically the last seven weeks of the book of Daniel. In their mouths was found no deceit, for they are without blame before the throne of God. We see here that these are the ones who were beheaded. They will be resurrected in the middle of the week and caught up into heaven. Thus, we have Jesus ascending into heaven, the church being caught up, and now the 144,000 also being caught up into heaven.

Now, let’s go to Revelation chapter 11 and start with the third verse:

“I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These two witnesses appear after the 144,000 are caught up into heaven at the end of the first three and a half years. According to Scripture, only two people have never died: Enoch and Elijah. Enoch was taken up, and Elijah was caught up in a fiery chariot.

“I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth, for the last three and a half years. These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing before the Lord, the God of the earth.” It had been foretold that two olive trees, two witnesses, and two candlesticks would come forth. If anyone tries to harm them, fire will proceed from their mouths and consume their enemies. If anyone attempts to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These witnesses have the power to shut up heaven so that it does not rain during their prophecy. They also have the power to turn water into blood and to strike the earth with every plague as often as they wish.

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is symbolically called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified, referring to Jerusalem. People from various nations, tribes, and tongues will see their dead bodies for three and a half days and will not allow them to be buried. Those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate, exchanging gifts with one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

After three and a half days, the Spirit of life from God will enter them, and they will stand on their feet. Great fear will fall upon those who see them, and they will hear a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” They will ascend into heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watch.

This represents the fourth resurrection. Let's turn to Revelation chapter 20, starting with the fourth verse:

“I saw thrones, and they who sat upon them were given judgment. I saw the souls of those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God—those who had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or in their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.”

Blessed and holy are those who take part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. All believers who receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior are the priests and kings of Christ.

When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth, gathering them for battle, their number like the sand of the sea. They will surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire will come down from God out of heaven and devour them. The devil, who deceived them, will be cast into the lake of fire, where the beast and the false prophet are, and will be tormented day and night forever.
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The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hell delivered up the dead who were in them. Each person was judged according to their works, and Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is referred to as the second death. Anyone not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life was also cast into the lake of fire.

It is important to note that the sixth and final resurrection is the resurrection to death. These individuals were resurrected, judged, and then sent to Hell, followed by the lake of fire. Many people misunderstand this when they assert that the church cannot be raptured before the end of the tribulation because that is seen as the first resurrection, or the first catching up. However, the resurrection mentioned here is the first recorded instance, as outlined in Daniel's 70 weeks. These 70 weeks are determined for the Jewish people.

Understanding this, we, as the church, must help others recognize that God sent His Son into the world to die for our sins.