David,
   You have brought up some subjects that I feel need some airing. We are
talking about ultimate destinations. The Bible does not leave us in doubt <
however, because for many generations ³preachers² have been telling people
that we either go to heaven or hell when we die, this subject has become so
distorted that it is completely out of shape. So I want to touch lightly on
the concepts that Dave Camp talked about, of there being two resurrections <
and I also want to touch lightly on some concepts regarding earth¹s great
Millennium.
   I feel that Dave is correct in his analogy that there are two
resurrections. Let¹s look at it from a legal standpoint. Adam was created in
perfection. Had he remained in perfection he could have lived forever on a
perfect earth. The Garden of Eden was a little sample of what would have
expanded and filled the earth. But Adam sinned, and thereby lost his
righteousness before God. Paul told us that ³The wages of sin is death.² So,
Adam died instead of living forever. And because of his sin, the earth was
cursed also, that it could not bring forth perfect food that would sustain
man¹s life. So we have a curse upon man and upon his earth. Enter Jesus!
Jesus was the ³last Adam² -- he was made in perfection, just like the first
one. He did no sin, and therefore was worthy of everlasting life. However,
he chose to take upon himself the death penalty that Adam had incurred, and
thereby release Adam from his death sentence. Paul said ³As in Adam all die,
so also in Christ shall all be made alive.² It¹s as simple as that < yet it
is the most profound reality in the universe. This means that everyone who
died ³in Adam² will have a resurrection ³in Christ.² And, because when Jesus
died, his blood was spilled out on the earth, it provides for the ultimate
perfecting of the earth, which will be man¹s everlasting home.
   Now this entitlement of a resurrection can take one of two forms. Peter
spoke of an inheritance ³incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not
away, reserved in heaven for you.² Obviously a resurrection to a heavenly
condition. This ³new and living way² was for the call and development of the
Bride, who will eventually be resurrected to a heavenly condition. The
promises are many, and very clear.
   But that is only a very small proportion of humanity compared to the vast
population of earth for 6,000 years. And all the rest of mankind have had
life purchased for them by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, as well. All that
was lost in Adam will be restored by Jesus Christ < that¹s why He¹s called
the ³last Adam.² This means that perfect human life in a perfect earth is
the ultimate goal for mankind.
   And this is what the Millennium is for < it is for the resurrection and
perfecting of the human family, back to the condition of ³sonship² that Adam
enjoyed before he sinned. It is for the reconciling of man to God.
   Thus, David, your suggestion that crossing the Jordan and the taking
possession of Canaan represents the Millennium, is very probably what God
intended by the events. At the beginning of the Millennium we  see the
necessity for the change in government. Man¹s governments must be overthrown
by the Kingdom of Christ. A process happening right now. Then comes the
opportunity for mankind to learn righteousness, just as Isaiah spoke: ³When
the judgments of the Lord are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world
will learn righteousness.² (Isaiah 26:9) And, even though man¹s governments
will have been conquered by the One who holds the right of rulership, yet
the effects of man¹s governments will still need to be eradicated from the
human heart < its elements of greed, selfishness, inhumanity to man, murder,
etc., will have to be erased and replaced with love for God and fellowman,
kindness, joy, peace, and goodness. It is the dispossessing of the
Canaanites in the land. This is the purpose of the Millennium. And by the
time man gets to the end of the Millennium, the last vestiges of man¹s evil
rule and evil heart will have been eradicated from the world. And God gave
us a beautiful illustration of this in the conquering of Canaan when Joshua
brought the israelites across Jordan.
   The first place to be conquered was Jericho. The events there pictured
the whole process. But for brevity sake, let¹s just look at the last (the
seventh) day they marched around the city. They marched around seven times
that day (picturing the Millennium) and at the end of the seventh time
around, they blew the trumpets and shouted, and the walls of Jericho fell
down flat.  I think it pictures the fact that at the end of the Millennium,
the last vestiges of man¹s evil governments will have been eradicated from
the hearts of man. Those ³walls² will have fallen down flat. So let¹s look
at a marvelous bit of Gematria and chronology that confirms this.
   Joshua 6:5 ³...and the priests shall blow with the trumpets, and it shall
be when they blow long on the ram¹s horn, shall shout all the people with a
great shout, and shall fall the wall of the city down flat.²
   Amazingly this text has a Gematria value of 7033. This point in time,
when the Millennium ends, will be 7033 years from the creation of Adam and
the time when Adam was given the right of rulership. It appears not to be a
blind coincidence, but rather confirmation of the time and the meaning.
   Lots more could be said, giving much more evidence, but I don¹t want to
make this long and wearisome.

Bonnie