Whenever something like the mass shooting in Texas occurs, my heart grieves. I find my emotions going back to the tragedy of my youth when my best friend Darren was shot and killed in a senseless act of violence. That event caused me so much personal trauma for many years, so many unanswered questions, so much regret, anger, even hopelessness. Yet I believe that event is also what God used in my personal life to complete His individual calling for me. The memory of that event, combined with a more complete understanding of what God has planned for all of those who have died, even tragically, motivates me now. Events such as this should motivate us all.
As we grieve, we should also be motivated to pray for God’s comfort towards all of those that are directly affected by this horrific event. We should be motivated to more fervently pray “thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. We should be motivated to ensure our personal life is one worthy of the calling we have individually received. It is at times like this that many heartfelt questions are asked, and that is not wrong; however, we must be sure we don’t become distracted by the debate over physical solutions. There really are no physical solutions to the problems of humanity. The questions that matter really are: What is the fate of those who die with no real knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Son of God? What hope is there for the billions who have lived and died without knowledge of God's purpose?
The scriptures show that these are not cut off without hope; God remembers them. In Revelation 20:5 John writes that "the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished." Here John makes a clear distinction between the first resurrection, which occurs at Christ's second coming (Revelation 20:4-6), and the second resurrection, which takes place at the end of Christ's millennial reign. Remember that the first resurrection is a resurrection to eternal life. By contrast, God raises those in the second resurrection to a physical, flesh-and-blood existence. That resurrection of multiple billions of people back to physical life is detailed in Ezekiel 37:1-14.
The apostle John discusses this same second resurrection to physical life that Ezekiel wrote about: "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who 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, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works" (Revelation 20:11-13).
The dead who stand before their Creator are all those who died never knowing the true God. Like Ezekiel's vision of dry bones coming back to life, these people emerge from their graves for the express purpose of knowing God. The books (biblia in Greek, from which we get the word Bible) are the books of the bible, the only source of the knowledge of eternal life. Finally, all will have an opportunity to fully understand those Holy words which reveal God's plan of salvation.
This physical resurrection is not a second chance for salvation. In Ezekiel 37:14 we are told “I will put My Spirit in you”. It is only then that they like any other human can truly understand God, His Word and His way. It is only then that they will have an opportunity for salvation. For these people it is a first opportunity to really know the Creator. The resurrected are "judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books" (Revelation 20:12). This judgment will involve an evaluation period during which they will enjoy the opportunity to hear, understand and grow in God's way of life, having their names inscribed in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:15). During this time billions of people will gain access to eternal life.
How truly deep and far reaching are the merciful judgments of God. Jesus Christ spoke of the wonderful truth depicted by this time when He compared three cities that failed to respond to His miraculous works with three cities of the ancient world:
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon [ancient pagan cities], they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you" (Matthew 11:21-24).
The inhabitants of ancient Tyre, Sidon and Sodom—cities that had incurred the anger of God for their depravity—will receive mercy in the day of judgment. Unlike Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum of Christ's day, these cities of old had little opportunity to know God. Yet He will ultimately resurrect these people just after the first 1,000 years of Christ's reign over the world, including them in the time of judgment when even those who lived in bygone ages will be reconciled to God.
In similar examples, Jesus refers to the long-dead people of the pagan city of Nineveh, to the queen of the South (of Sheba) of Solomon's time and again to ancient Sodom along with Gomorrah, these serving as the epitome of wickedness (Matthew 10:14-15; Matthew 12:41-42). God doesn't tolerate perversion and sinfulness, but it is evident that He has not finished working in the lives of the people of these ancient generations. This requires that they be resurrected—brought to life again—and at last instructed in God's ways.
Jesus was describing a time during which people from all past ages—the long-dead people of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh and the biblical "queen of the South" from Solomon's time will rise with those from His generation and live at the same time. Together they will all come to understand the truth about who Christ was and the purpose of life. It will be a time of universal knowledge of God. From the least to the greatest, all will know Him (Hebrews 8:11). Those whom Jesus specifically mentioned, and countless more like them, will at last experience their opportunity for salvation.
At times like this, when tragedy strikes, many questions get asked, yet the only answer is what God has planned. This final period of judgment will complete God's plan of salvation for the world. It will be a time of love, deep mercy, and the unsearchable judgment of God. A time when all can truly live in peace, without fear and have the opportunity to drink of the life-giving waters of the Holy Spirit that will indeed quench the deepest thirsts of men and women. This time of righteous judgment will bring back to life those long forgotten by humanity, but never forgotten by God.
What an incredible God we serve! God will see His plan through and bring many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10). His promise to pour out His Spirit on all flesh will find its fullest manifestation.
As law enforcement, the media and politicians focus on this tragedy, it will be a time when many ask heartfelt questions. There will also be much debate over what can be done in the future to prevent this type of event from occurring again. Yet we must keep in our minds that there is no human solution to the problems of our society, the solution is found in what God has planned. His everlasting Kingdom!
Those who were killed in this senseless tragedy along with all who have lived and died; He will bring them back to life and give them their opportunity for eternal life as spirit beings in God's Kingdom. God’s plan is truly marvelous, that is what our minds need to be focused on especially during times like this. Let this tragedy motivate you to focus on ensuring your spiritual house is in order. God bless and be with all of you, and may He comfort those who are mourning.