the Special Resurrection

Here are the references concerning the Special Resurrection listed in the order they were revealed. After reading these we need not assert anything concerning this doctrine. Rather, let us quote what we believe to be true without adding to or subtracting from Inspiration.

                "…truth can afford to be fair."—CW:35.2

If we can read it

we can believe it!

If it is not there

it is not fair.

     All who preach the word in verity and truth can afford to be fair in its presentation. We are not to be deceitful in any way, not handling the word of God deceitfully. We are to let the cross of Christ stand in prominence in all our teaching. We are not to hide the gospel, or cover the cross of Christ with ornamental roses, and thus make the preaching of it of no effect. Let no one shun the cross of self-denial.—1SAT 274.1

     All who have the truth can afford to be fair in discussion, for truth will bear away the victory. This is the only way the word of God can be investigated with any success. If self is brought in there will not be an investigation of truth in the spirit of Christ all phariseeism is to be put aside. All assumptions and pre-conceived opinions are to be thoroughly tested by the standard of truth.—1888:46.2

SOP

Deliverance of the Saints

     It was at midnight that God chose to deliver His people. As the wicked were mocking around them, suddenly the sun appeared, shining in his strength, and the moon stood still. The wicked looked upon the scene with amazement, while the saints beheld with solemn joy the tokens of their deliverance. Signs and wonders followed in quick succession. Everything seemed turned out of its natural course. The streams ceased to flow. Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. But there was one clear place of settled glory, whence came the voice of God like many waters, shaking the heavens and the earth. There was a mighty earthquake. The graves were opened, and those who had died in faith under the third angel's message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make with those who had kept His law.—EW:285.1

Chap. 38 "The Final Warning"

     As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position, and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbath-keepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them.—GC88 608.1

Chap. 40 "God's people delivered" 

    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. “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.—GC88:637.1

SRod

Special Resurrection

   One may here suppose that the risen and the living make the number, but we do not believe the Spirit of Prophecy would call both companies (the living and the resurrected) living saints.  The 144,000 are living saints; the others, resurrected Sabbath keepers.  To make it positive, another reference is given, found in Great Controversy, page 637: "Great hailstones, every one 'about the weight of a talent,' are doing their work of destruction.  The proudest cities of the earth are laid low.…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."  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."  This makes it positive that the resurrected Sabbath keepers come forth in the special resurrection of Daniel 12.  This is the time when the great hailstones are doing their destructive work (7th plague).  "And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air;…And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great." Rev. 16:17, 21.  The resurrected Sabbath keepers did not live during the time of the plagues, for they were resurrected at the time of the seventh plague, so that they hear the announcement of the day and the hour of Jesus' coming.—1SR:23.1  [1930]

…How could they (144,000) go through the fourth plague if the special resurrection of the Sabbath keepers (those who died under the third angel's message) did not take place until about the end of the seventh plague?  If "they have seen the earth wasted with famine and pestilence and they themselves have suffered hunger and thirst", they must have lived through all the plagues.—1SR:24.1

"…the Sabbath keepers (those who died under the third angel's message)"

   Speaking of the announcement made of the coming of Christ (the day and the hour), which is BEFORE the general resurrection, and AT the time of the special resurrection, we read: "Soon we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming.  The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake.  When God spoke the time, He poured upon us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God, as Moses' did when he came down from Mount Sinai.  The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united.  On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus' new name.  At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall helpless to the ground." {1SR:45.2} 

   We are not to understand that all who were present at this time and heard the announcement made of the "day and the hour" were the 144,000 only.  The language used makes it clear that there were more, for the pronouns "we", "us", "they", and "our" are used.  In pointing to the 144,000, the definite article "the" is used.  She does 

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not put herself as one of the 144,000, but, instead, the pronoun "us" is used; therefore, there must be another company living besides the 144,000.—1SR:45.2, 3

TYPE OF SPECIAL RESURRECTION

   If Moses represents the general resurrection, who, then, would represent the mixed, or special resurrection of Dan. 12:2? We have the one of Matt. 27:52, 53.  "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."  The saints who had part in this resurrection were gathered from all ages.  Some who, perhaps, had lived at the very time Christ was preaching, and were acquainted with Him and 

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His work, were witnesses to His resurrection.  Read Early Writings, page 184; Desire of Ages, page 786. {1SR:47.3} 

   There is still another reason why Matt. 27:52, is a type of this mixed resurrection.  Those who were resurrected with Christ witnessed of the deity of Christ to the very ones who crucified Him.  Speaking of this mixed resurrection, Daniel says: "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."  Then there will be some righteous included who lived and witnessed the crucifixion; also those who crucified Him, and pierced Him, for, (Rev. 1:7) "Behold, He cometh with clouds: And every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him."  Therefore, the resurrection which witnessed of the power of God to these murderers of His Son, typified the just who are raised in the mixed (special) resurrection. {1SR:48.1} 

THE TYPE OF THE SECOND RESURRECTION

  The wicked who come up in the mixed resurrection of Dan. 12:2, and who must die the second death at the coming of Christ, typify the ones who come up at the end of the millennium, called the resurrection of the wicked.  Read Great Controversy, pages 661, 662; Early Writings, pages 52, 53. {1SR:48.2} 

TYPE OF THE SECOND DEATH

   It has been a perplexing question whether the wicked ones who arise in the special resurrection of Dan. 12:2, continue to live, or die with the living wicked at the second coming of Christ, and be resurrected at the end of the 1,000 years.  As God leaves nothing undone, He has foretold everything in prophecy, and types as well.  If we have a type for every other event, we must have a type of this.  The wicked ones who are resurrected, must die with the rest of the wicked at the coming of Christ in the clouds to typify the second death at the end of the millennium. {1SR:48.3} 

   Now the question is, Will they arise again in the second resurrection with the wicked? In answer to this question, Early Writings, 

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page 292 says: "At the first resurrection all come forth in immortal bloom; but at the second the marks of the curse are visible on all.  The kings and noblemen of the earth the mean and low, the learned and unlearned, come forth together.  All behold the Son of man; and those very men who despised and mocked Him, who put the crown of thorns upon His sacred brow, and smote Him with the reed, behold Him in all His kingly majesty.  Those who spit upon Him in the hour of His trial now turn from His Piercing gaze and from the glory of His countenance.  Those who drove the nails through His hands and feet now look upon the marks of His crucifixion.  Those who thrust the spear into His side behold the marks of their cruelty on His body."  By this we understand that these very men are there again in the second resurrection.  Therefore they were resurrected the second time at the end of the 1,000 years, to die in the second death, which they themselves typified, (by dying the second death with the living wicked at the second coming of Christ in the clouds).  Thus we have a prophecy and a type for every event that has, or will take place in this wicked world of ours. —1SR:47.3-48.4

   We teach tithing for the support of the gospel.  We claim we are the people who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus, the latter being the gift of the Spirit of Prophecy; also the doctrines of health reform, dress reform, etc.  The chief and only purpose of these doctrines being to prepare a peculiar people to God's own glory and honor; a people to meet the Lord without tasting death, or, to rise in the special resurrection of Daniel 12.  "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal Priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." 1 Pet. 2:9.—1SR:186.1  [1930]

   "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." (Daniel 12:2.)  It will be noticed that the resurrection foretold in this Scripture is mixed—some are of the righteous, while others are of the wicked.  Therefore, this is a special resurrection, and independent of the one referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17, for it plainly says: "The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." {2SR:146.1} 

   John also makes it clear that the righteous only are called forth at the coming of the Lord, for he says: "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power." (Rev. 20:6.)  Consequently, the mixed resurrection must precede the one at the coming of Christ in the clouds.  Those who awake to "everlasting contempt" must be those who pierced Christ, thus fulfilling the following Scripture: "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced him." (Rev. 1:7.) {2SR:146.2} 

   "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." (Daniel 12:3.)  They who are "wise" are the ones who shall "understand," and they shall turn many to righteousness; thus they shall shine as stars "forever and ever."  These are not those who were resurrected in the special resurrection, for it would be after the close of probation, and about the end of the seventh plague, just shortly before the coming of the Lord.  Thus the resurrected ones would have no chance to turn any to righteousness.  Therefore, those who shall shine as stars are the 144,000, and all who shall have a part in the closing work of the gospel.  Think of the glorious promise!  Is there anything like it in all the world?  What can you compare with celestial bliss in the presence of God?  Life everlasting, without pain or tears!  See Revelation 7:17, and Isaiah 11:6, 7; 65:25.—2SR:146.1-3  [1932]

   Why were the first paid last, and the last first?  Answer.—The pay God's servants receive is eternal life, and is characterized by the penny.  Therefore, those who are granted the assurance of a never ending life first, are those who were hired last, and according to the parable, it was the company called at the eleventh hour.  They are those who are marked or sealed by the man with the writer's inkhorn of Ezekiel 9, or as John calls him, the angel with the seal of God; and he sealed, or marked, 144,000. (See Rev. 7.)  This glorious company is the first who are granted the assurance of never tasting death.  (See "The Shepherd's Rod," Vol. 1, pp. 22-24.)  Thus they are paid first but those who were called early in the morning (Israel after the flesh) are to be resurrected (the righteous) when Christ comes in the clouds, at which time they shall be given immortality.  "So that the last shall be first, and the first, last."  For this reason, those who were sealed and saved by the Third Angel's Message since 1844, are resurrected in the special resurrection before Christ comes. (See Dan. 12:2; "Early Writings," p. 285.)—2SR:235.2  [1932]

Judgment Set Before Time

of Trouble

   "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." (Dan. 12:1.) The trouble here described must commence BEFORE the special resurrection, for "many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake" in that time of trouble, says Daniel. (Dan. 12:2.) {3Tr34:17.1} 

   Moreover, this trouble shall be in a time when "they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." (Verse 3.) Since it is understood that none will be turned "to righteousness" after probation has closed, it is evident that the trouble described here will commence before the work of the gospel is finished. At that time God's church will have been purified, because it is said of them: they then "shall shine as the brightness of the firmament."—3Tr34:17.1, 2 (1st Edition)  [1934]

   She [[ Sister Charboneau ]] is now waiting for the Lifegiver inside Mt. Carmel's entrance No. 2, just a little to the left as one enters in, and though lonely by herself in her brand new cemetery, surrounding her resting place with drooping branches of the evergreen cedar trees overlooking beautiful Lake Waco seem to satisfy even the piercing rays of the proud sun which has carefully gazed almost 6000 times over every beauty spot on the face of the earth, evidencing the fact that she is well contented to rest there until the special resurrection of Daniel Twelve, at which time, she and all who then "arise to everlasting life" we shall meet with joy and singing for the majesty of the Lord! O, what a glorious gathering that will be!—1SC18:1.2  [1935]

   Thus the temple, the first and the largest object, must represent the first and largest body of righteous  dead, those from Adam's 

5 Tract 109

time to the beginning of the judgment in 1844.  While the altar, a special and smaller object, must represent a special and smaller body of righteous dead the righteous who die from 1844 on, and who are to come up in the special resurrection of Daniel 12:2 (Early Writings, p. 285). {5Tr:109.3} 

   Those who "worship therein" being the living saints who are to be "measured," they can ONLY be the 144,000,—those whom the denomination was, since 1844, to gather in for translation.—5Tr:109.3-110.1  [1942]

Dan. 12:2—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. {2TG7:11.1} 

   Here we are told that in the time of trouble these arise, some to live forever and some to die again. {2TG7:11.2} 

   Do you now realize that not only the time of trouble is at the door, but even this special resurrection?  Do you actually see that in the time of trouble, while the living saints are being delivered these dead who rise "to everlasting life," are also delivered from their graves?  Do you realize that this time of trouble is in "the great and dreadful day of the Lord," the day which the promised prophet Elijah announces?  Do you actually know that he is to turn the hearts of the fathers and of the children toward each other?  lest the Lord smite "the earth with a curse." Mal. 4:5, 6.  Do you see that the prophet appears in a day he can restore all things, everything that was lost through sin, even the Kingdom?  Do you know that the resurrection of Daniel 12 is not the same as the resurrection of 1 Thessalonians and of Revelation 20:5? {2TG7:11.3}

   Let us now come back to--

Dan. 12:1-3—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.  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. {2TG7:13.2} 

Vol. 2 Timely Greetings No. 7             13

   In these three verses several things clearly stand out: (1) Only those whose names are written in the books are delivered; there are therefore no "foolish" ones among them; (2) Those who are resurrected, however, are mixed, both foolish and wise come up; (3) The statement, "and they that be wise [implying that some be foolish] shall shine as the brightness of the firmament" indicates that these "wise" ones are from among the raised; (4) That if the wise are from among the resurrected and turn many to righteousness, then they must be resurrected in probationary time, in time of salvation. {2TG7:14.1} 

   "Your work, my work, will not cease with this life.  For a little while we may rest in the grave, but, when the call comes, we shall, in the kingdom of God, take up our work once more."—Testimonies, Vol. 7, pg. 17. {2TG7:14.2} 

Dan. 12:4, 10—But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. {2TG7:14.3} 

   Now what is meant by being wise? -- Let us turn to-- {2TG7:14.4} 

Matt. 25:1-4—Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. {2TG7:14.5} 

Vol. 2 Timely Greetings No. 7             14

   Here we see that the wise are those who take extra oil, extra Truth that lightens the rest of their way.  Finally, it plainly appears that this mixed resurrection is a test; that is, they are ALL given the opportunity to be wise, to turn many to righteousness, but only a part of them do so.  Some of them again fall into sin, and therefore they awake to shame and everlasting contempt (everlasting disobedience), but the wise awake to everlasting life, never again to die.  This plainly shows that those who give themselves to wickedness up to the time they die, would not turn to righteousness even though they be given a second chance.  The extra oil (Truth for this time) is what decides each one's destiny.  The wise shall embrace the "additional Truth," while the foolish will not.  Sin is indeed a mystery!—2TG7:11.1-3; 13.2-15.1  [1947]

Dan. 12:2, 3—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.  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. {2TG33:11.2} 

   The wicked that arise with the righteous in this mixed resurrection are also to be separated from the righteous.  The wicked are to be put to shame and everlasting contempt, but the righteous are to be given eternal life. {2TG33:11.3} 

Dan. 12:10—Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. {2TG33:11.4} 

   The living righteous shall be purified, but the wicked shall become even more wicked.—2TG33:11.2-5  [1948]

Dan. 12:2—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. {2TG42:29.3} 

   Here is projected a resurrection of a mixed multitude, wicked and righteous—foolish and wise.  This resurrection, then, is not the pre-millennial "first resurrection," nor the post-millennial resurrection of the wicked (Rev. 20:5, 6), but a special one.  If the wise who turn many to righteousness are of the resurrected in this special resurrection, and if they shine as the stars forever and ever, then this special resurrection takes place in probationary time.—2TG42:29.4  [1948]

   “His text was on: 'The Pearl of great Price.’ Several weeks ago he preached on the 

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need of a change of heart, a new heart, so I have written several letters. I am mailing the letters to several Seventh-day Adventist members, relative to his sermon on the need of a new and change of heart and referred them to Ezekiel 36:22 to 28—when, where, and how we get that change of heart. I am also quoting Sister White from ‘Testimonies,' Vol. 7, page 17, on her unfinished work in the kingdom and referring them to Daniel 12:1-3, the special resurrection.—10SC1:12.2  [1954]

What was one of the greatest lessons we can learn from these passages? That

The resurrected Sabbath keepers did not live during the time of the plagues, for they were resurrected at the time of the seventh plague, so that they hear the announcement of the day and the hour of Jesus' coming.—1SR:23.1  [1930]

   "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." (Daniel 12:3.)  They who are "wise" are the ones who shall "understand," and they shall turn many to righteousness; thus they shall shine as stars "forever and ever."  These are not those who were resurrected in the special resurrection, for it would be after the close of probation, and about the end of the seventh plague, just shortly before the coming of the Lord.  Thus the resurrected ones would have no chance to turn any to righteousness.…—2SR:146.3  [1932]

Is incompatible with

   Do you now realize that not only the time of trouble is at the door, but even this special resurrection?  Do you actually see that in the time of trouble, while the living saints are being delivered these dead who rise "to everlasting life," are also delivered from their graves?…—2TG7:11.3

…(2) Those who are resurrected, however, are mixed, both foolish and wise come up; (3) The statement, "and they that be wise [implying that some be foolish] shall shine as the brightness of the firmament" indicates that these "wise" ones are from among the raised; (4) That if the wise are from among the resurrected and turn many to righteousness, then they must be resurrected in probationary time, in time of salvation.—2TG7:14.1  [1947]

Dan. 12:2—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. {2TG42:29.3} 

   Here is projected a resurrection of a mixed multitude, wicked and righteous—foolish and wise.  This resurrection, then, is not the pre-millennial "first resurrection," nor the post-millennial resurrection of the wicked (Rev. 20:5, 6), but a special one.  If the wise who turn many to righteousness are of the resurrected in this special resurrection, and if they shine as the stars forever and ever, then this special resurrection takes place in probationary time.—2TG42:29.4  [1948]

Bro. Houteff absolutely gives us a lesson in humility and was an example of 

   "There is NO EXCUSE for anyone in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without an error.  The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair.  No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation."—"Counsels to Writers and Editors," p. 35.—1JL:9.1  [1953]

Both propositions cannot be upheld at the same time in the same way for the same reason. They are antithetical to each other. Obviously, the timing of the special resurrection doctrine of Dan. 12:2 was shifted by Inspiration from AFTER the close of probationary time, in the 7th plague to before probation closes and now properly placed in "the time of the time of trouble" (2TG7:3.1). Are we currently holding on to cherished ideas about any doctrine that requires a shift? Just as the prophet of the Lord traded in error for truth and error with time did not turn into truth. Likewise, we too can afford to have our beliefs closely scrutinized and corrected for the glory of God if necessary. Because

   "The truth and the glory of God are inseparable;  it is impossible for us, with the Bible within our reach, to honor God by erroneous opinions.   Many claim that it 

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matters not what one believes, if his life is only right.  But the life is moulded by the faith.  If light and truth is within our reach, and we neglect to improve the privilege of hearing and seeing it we virtually reject it; we are choosing darkness rather than light."—The Great Controversy, pp. 595-597.—4Tr:69.1

"…he who believes a lie is an abomination unto God."—2SR:19.2

   Please restudy the whole message—the two volumes of "The Shepherd's Rod," the tracts, and the Code, and try to find out wherein you yourselves are not walking in its blazing light. Then correct the errors at once if you expect to obtain the promises of God. Do not neglect your only duty which should "engross the whole mind, the whole attention" and fit you for His eternal kingdom.—2SC1:3.5  [1936]

   "Here is your danger, in failing to press forward 'toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.'  Has the Lord given you light?  Then you are responsible for that light; not merely while its rays are shining upon you, but for all which it has revealed to you in the past.  You are to surrender your will to God daily; you are to walk in the light, and to expect more; for the light from the dear Saviour is to shine forth in clearer, more distinct rays amid the moral darkness, increasing in brightness more and more unto the perfect day."—Testimonies for the Church," Vol. 5, p 486.—4SC4-9:2.4

[Ephasis Supplied]