The extent of David's Kingdom

 David ruled a kingdom which was quite extensive and included a number of tributaries. it is good to understand the extent of this kingdom and to let it help inform our understanding of why certain nations acted as they did and how Israel's dominance faded so quickly with Solomon.

There are issues with chronology and the placement of the kingdom of David in the Iron age, rather than its actual context which is the Bronze Age. That is not the purpose of this page, but to establish the extent of the kingdom which David handed over to Solomon.

Abraham's promised land

Gen 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, 20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, 21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

The Kingdom of David.

2Sam 8:1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, 10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: 11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; 12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

What we see here is that in all the area of the land between the rivers, David put all the peoples to tribute such that all could be blessed by the kingdom which God established. David executed judgment and justice to ALL his people, I believe that includes the tributaries. The key here is the kings of Zobah and Damascus Syria. That gets the extent of David's kingdon to the River Euphrates. Saul had smitten the Amalakites, they would have been down to the Delta region of Egypt. This realtionship and the relationship of David to Egypt will be looked into at a later date as it is very complex.

Therefore he had a kingdom which stretched as was told to Abraham from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates River. All the peoples were tributaries including the related Edom, Moab and Ammon, The Syrians, The Amalakites and even the Philistines/Phoenicians. As well as the Canaanites who were left in the land since the time of Joshua and the Judges.

1Chr 22:17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.

As Solomon ultimately fails in his responsibility to continue the kingdom of David, we see subsequently a divided kingdom which loses thru rebellion all the tributaries and eventually the entire kingdom. Each of these mentioned tributaries has a story in actual rebellion, fighting with Israel/Judah and being mentioned in prophecy as to their final outcome. But there was peace during the reign of Solomon, and the extent of that peace is noted here:

Now Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River (Euphrates) to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. (1 Ki. 4:21 cf. 2 Chron. 9:26) For he had dominion over everything west of the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings west of the River; and he had peace on all sides round about him. So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. (1 Ki. 4:24,25) You know that David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune. (1 Ki. 5: 3,4)

If the kingdom had continued as it was intended and each of those nations continued with Israel under the leadership of God there would have been blessings all around, but we will never know what that looks like because of the failures which followed so shortly after David.

The "lot" of the saints in light

 Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

This phrase "meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:" Is particularly interesting for all that it conveys.

First the concept of being made meet, or able. This clearly makes known that we were not able previous to being made so. Men were lost without a God who would make us able. He made a way were there was no way.

Then to be partakers of an inheritance. The word here is not strictly inheritance, but a part, a portion which has been acquired. The word is used of the Roman soldiers casting lots over Jesus' garment and at the choosing of Matthias; and to declare that Simon the sorcerer had no lot, or part, in this ministry.

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

The word is here again translated inheritance but refers to having received a part in this sanctification/holiness.

To be a part of the saints in light! To be made a holy one (saint) in light. In both these highlighted passages we see the clear distinction of being brought from darkness into light.

This is what it means to be born again, to be brought out of the darkness of sin and brought into the light of His life. Our "lot" is to receive His holiness in light, along with all the saints.

Nebuchadnezzer conquered Egypt

The fact of the destruction of Egypt by Babylon was well known after the detailed and strictly recorded prophecies of Ezekiel.

Ezek 29:1 In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:

Ezek 29:17 And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 18 Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus:

Ezek 30:1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day! 3 For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen. 4 And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down.

Ezek 30:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon. 11 He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain.

Ezek 30:20 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 21 Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword.

Ezek 31:1 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude;

Ezek 32:1 And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.

...11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee. 12 By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the terrible of the nations, all of them: and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed.

Ezek 32:17 It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 18 Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.

There are many particulars about this compilation of prophesy which speak of the utter destruction of the land of Egypt by the Babylonians. The land would be found utterly desolate and greatly effected for forty years. It will never more rule over the nations, losing it's preeminent place

29:8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee. 9 And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I am the LORD: because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it. 10 Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia. 11 No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.

13 Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered: 14 And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom. 15 It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.

Nebuchadnezzer is commended for his destruction of Tyre in accordance with the direction of God: (Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it: 19 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army. 20 I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.) He proceeds to detail destruction in all of the major cities of Egypt, Including the city of No (Thebes) the greatest in Egypt.

Jeremiah took up a similar prophecy after Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians.

Jer 43:8 Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, 9 Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; 10 And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. 11 And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword. 12 And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace. 13 He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.

Jeremiah even names the Pharaoh which shall experience this destruction:

Jer 43:30 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.

Pharaoh Hophra was to follow Pharaoh Necho as the focus of Gods wrath, an important fact as Necho lost to Babylon at the battle of Carchemish.

Jer 46:13 The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.

Jer 46:25 The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith;

Behold, I will punish the multitude of No,

and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings;

even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:

26 And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives,

and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon,

and into the hand of his servants:

and afterward it shall be inhabited,

as in the days of old, saith the LORD.

It is important that we understand that these two great prophets could not have been wrong or they would not be revered today as the prophets they are. They prophesied from two different viewpoints but to the same exacting story, Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon would destroy Egypt, ruled the by Pharaoh Hophra and the land would be desolate for 40 years and then the captivity would return to re-inhabit an Egypt which never again would be as powerful as it had been.

Why bring this up? Because according to current history as taught everywhere, this never happened, It cannot be; according to currently accepted Egyptian chronology. Why? because the current Egyptian chronology is wrong. if you want to know more about this subject you can read the first book in the displaced dynasties series, found here: http://www.displaceddynasties.com/

Jesus in the Garden

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matt 26:36-39 (Luke 22:42; Mark 14:36)

Many associate this prayer with Jesus' desire to avoid the cross. But before this point, He said the following:

And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die. Jn 12:23-33

Jesus knew his purpose  this is evident throughout the gospels when He states what he has come to do. (Matt 12:40; 16:21 and MANY others) When you read Mark it seems like every other chapter.

In Matt 26 He proclaims again that the scripture must be fulfilled; and he had rebuked Peter for suggesting otherwise. Lastly He says this:

John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

When He prays to let the cup depart from Him; it is not the hour of the cross, but the cup of suffering; being tempted and assaulted by the powers of darkness trying to keep him from his appointed hour. He is exceedingly sorrowful even unto death, because that was literally true.

Mark 14:32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. 33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

He knew His purpose, He was exceeding sorrowful because something was pressing on Him. He was sweating great drops of blood striving against sin, refusing temptation and submitting to the Father and trusting the Father to keep Him from the evil. The crux of all the history of man was found in the moment, Satan was doing all He could do to prevent Jesus from the cross, and as we shall see, Jesus was heard! He even had to step out and rebuke Peter from taking things into his own hand:

Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? John 18:11

Bringing out the sword was a danger to them all, He had prayed for the Father to spare his life from temptation and from wicked men, Peter was putting this in danger, therefore He took command of the situation.

We see commentary on this in Hebrews:

Heb 5:5-9

So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

He prayed and was heard; instead of fighting the battle in his own strength He submitted to His Father who kept him safe until He could see the scripture fulfilled.

Some disciples asked about sitting at His right hand, He answered:
But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: Mark 10:38-39 (Matt 20:22-23)

They could never fulfill His hour of crucifixion for the sins of the world, but they could and did follow in His steps.

Heb 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Both parts are seen in this scripture; The cross and the suffering which caused him to sweat great drops of blood.

Be Sober and Watch

 Watch, be sober, get your mind right. These are all translated terms from scripture. I have collected here scripture containing these three words:

G3525 nepho (be sober, watch)

G4993 sophroneo (be in right mind, be sober minded) from G4998; to be of sound mind

G1127 gregoreuo (vigilant, watchful) from G1453 to keep awake

Using the color codes you can see where each word is used and how it is translated in the KJV.

1Pet 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

1Thess 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

2Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

1Pet 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith...

Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35; used of demoniac now in his right mind

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

2Cor 5:13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

Titus 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

Matt 26:40, 41; Mark 13:34, 35, 37; 14:34, 37, 38 Luke 12:37, 39 all as watch, in terms of vigilance.

Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

1Cor 16:13; Col 4:2; Rev 3:2,3

Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Two Resurrections

Heb 6:1 "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit."

The resurrection as a fact of the gospel cannot be disputed. Paul emphasized it in all his preaching, both in his first epistle: 1 Thess 1:10 "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come"; and in his last: 2Tim 2:8 "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:"

Much can be said of the resurrection, How Jesus was raised up, how we are raised up with Him, and the fact that if Jesus is not raised up we are yet in our sins. (1 Cor 15:17) The doctrine is expounded on in detail in 1 Cor 15; Rom 4-8 and all throughout Acts; which we will not detail here.

The point of this post is to establish the fact that there are two resurrection, divided by time and containing different people. The first, of the just, a resurrection of life. The second, of the unjust, and that brings men to the second death.

Two Resurrections 

John 5:24 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

There are in fact two resurrections. One for the just, and one for the evil.

Acts 24:15 "And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust."

Luke 14:14 "And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."

The following passage in revelation speaks of the end of the first resurrection, It begins with Jesus and ends with those killed for their witness to the word of God. There is a thousand year separation between the end of the first resurrection and that for "the rest of the dead".

Rev 20:5 "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 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."

The first resurrection brings a people who will be reigning during the thousand years that must pass before the rest of the dead will be raised to judgment.

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations ...11 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. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ...14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

So, clearly, there are two resurrection, one to life and one to death. The call is to believe on Jesus and to be a part of those blessed and happy to be a part of the first resurrection.

Freedom from Sin

Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What does it mean to be free from sin? The testimony of some is that they have sin repeated in their lives, even though they are "Christians", how does this reconcile with the statements that we are made free from sin found in multiple contexts throughout the word of God.

The concept of redemption; to be bought back.

The concept of salvation; to be saved from death and bondage.

The concept of a change of life; to no longer be bound to our life, but to live in Jesus' life

To  be called OUT of darkness, and brought into marvelous light.

It is important to note, even the redeemed can backslide, or commit sin because of temptation. Even Jesus was tempted; yet he never sinned. Do not think that there are not trials and testings and assaults of the powers of darkness, there are.

The grace of God empowers us. It gives strength in time of need, strength to endure temptation. There is no endurance when temptation is succumbed to, only sin and therefore death.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

What do I do if I find myself here? Do I conclude that since I failed to resist that I have no hope of resisting? That somehow there is within me a power which prevents my endurance? 

Lets back up in Romans 6

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Grace includes the power to resist. Repentance is the power to be forgiven and brought back to right standing with God. The salvation of God is complete!

2Cor 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

bottom line:

This is not meant to be exhaustive, just illustrative; I have been saved from sin, not to continue in bondage, but to live in the life of Christ Jesus. A life so complete that power exists for every eventuality, free from Sin and the death which results from it, not because I can sin and still be acceptable, but because I can resist sin, endure temptation and show forth the righteous ways of God, and because I can repent if I fail, and the conviction of the Holy Ghost will lead me to that repentance, and I can be restored because of the power of the blood of Jesus.

If I had wrought salvation for myself, I would have something to boast in, but boasting is excluded, because all of this was provided for me by the offering of Jesus. I in no way have earned it, but I have received it because of the God who loves me.

So rejoice in this, we have been given the power to live free from sin, not free IN sin, but free FROM it. We have been given the gift of the Holy ghost to lead us into all truth, and the empowerment of the grace of God to help us to endure temptation, and at the end of it all is a crown of life.