When reading the Bible, you will encounter new ideas and concepts. As you attempt to understand God’s word, always check and test your interpretation. A good example of this is the question of resurrection. Is resurrection just for Believers or for everyone?

1. Consider what Jesus is telling Jews who were persecuting Him for healing on the Sabbath (John 5:16-17). With careful observation, who is resurrected?

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:28-29, NKJV)

2. Consider your initial thoughts as a working hypothesis and test it against what you learn as you continue to study the Bible. At some point, you may encounter this passage when, in the future, Jesus Christ reigns for 1000 years.

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And 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 finished. This is the first resurrection. (Rev 20:4-5, NKJV)

3. What do you observe when you read a little further in Revelation when the Great White Throne is mentioned?

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. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:11-14, NKJV)