The God of Second Chances

Please Give Me a Second Chance

Christianity Oasis Ministry provides this, Please give me a second chance quest. God is called the God of Second Chances because God Gives Second Chances creating trust, understanding and peace.

Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Christian Walk Bible study program. This is our thought provoking and extremely intriguing Please Give Me a Second Chance Bible study taking an in depth look into why God is called the God of Second Chances by many who have experienced His mercy and Grace. It is simply because the God of second chances gives second chances to those who have sinned and even those who continue to fall along their Christian walk. So, go ahead and ask Him ... God, please give me a second chance.

The God of Second Chances and God Gives Second Chances

Please Give Me a Second Chance

One certain truth in life is that absolutely everybody needs a second chance at some point in their life and you better believe that God gives second chances. Sometimes, we are forgiven by the one we offended and sometimes ... not. In like manner sometimes we forgive and sometimes ... not. But, the question we are addressing today is ... Does God give second chances? Let's find out together, shall we?

The God of Second Chances - God Gives Second Chances Facts
Please Give Me a Second Chance Plea

It seems that many Christians and even Christian preachers and teachers completely overlook or omit what is shared in Revelation, Chapter 20 from their understanding process, which is kinda strange since what is shared within Revelation Chapter 20, is that which will occur in every soul's future. Whether you are dead or alive and in one way or another.

Most Christians believe that when Antichrist is defeated by the Lord at the time of Armageddon and that Antichrist (who came forth from the bottomless pit) will be placed in the Lake of Fire that the time period known as the End Times are over and that all Christians that were Raptured and/or Resurrected from the dead, go immediately to Heaven or Hell to spend eternity, and that is the end of the story.

According to Revelation, Chapter 20 ... After the End Times are completed and just before the start of the Millennium, which is the promised 1000 years of Peace on earth ... There is a Judgment of souls.

This Judgment will determine the temporary destination of many souls, during that 1000 year period of time.

Revelation 20:4-6

⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
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.

Note: As we sojourn thru the Bible for the Truth ... Keep in mind this first resurrection and second death that was mentioned. So, it is saying that only if you died for Jesus and/or did not worship Antichrist, are you allowed to "live again" ... At least at that time. But, what of those that died of natural causes or something else over the past thousands of years, but were true Christians?

The God of Second Chances Scripture just told us ... "The rest of the dead lived not again until the 1000 years were finished." Well, then where are these souls? They are still in Abraham's Bosom, which is also known as Paradise. It is kind of like a waiting room, where you hang out with fellow Christians, family and friends, while awaiting Heaven. If you choose to check out the Abraham's Bosom study. You will find that it is a Son-derful waiting room.

The God of Second Chances - God Gives Second Chances Truth
Please Give Me a Second Chance Blessing

Why would those who died for Christ get to go live and reign with Christ and other Christians not? Perhaps it was their sacrifice of their life for His cause. This would include everyone from Peter and Paul to the Two Witnesses that are killed during the End Times by Antichrist.

Revelation 11:7-11

⁷ And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
⁸ And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
⁹ And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
¹⁰ And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
¹¹ And after three days and an half the Spirit of Life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

This includes other Christians that are killed during the End Times by Antichrist, as we read of earlier:

Revelation 20:4

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

These Christians will be beheaded by Antichrist because they refuse to bow to him and take his mark.

Revelation 14:9-13

⁹ And the third Angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
¹⁰ The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
¹¹ And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
¹² Here is the patience of the Saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus.
¹³ And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

The God of Second Chances news break ... Most Christians have been taught to believe that all Christians are going to be Raptured. It is a comfy little feeling ... But is it Truth?

For those who believe in this theory passed down through the ages, I have just a few Scripture based questions thatI would like for you to ponder on, before we continue with this Please Give Me a Second Chance study ... The Bible is clear that Antichrist reigns terror during the last 3½ years of the End Times.

Revelation 13:5

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

So, if there are no Christians on earth during the End Times, this brings forth a very interesting question. In the Bible when it is speaking of Antichrist, it says;

Revelation 13:7

And it was given unto him [Antichrist] to make war with the Saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Who are these Saints that are at war with Antichrist during the last 3½ years of the End Times. These same Saints are spoken of yet again:

Revelation 14:9-13

Who are the Saints that need patience and that will be blessed that die for the Lord because they would not worship Antichrist?

How about this Scripture ...

Revelation 12:17

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Who are the individuals that have the testimony of Jesus Christ in hiding on earth during the 3½ years of Antichrist reign of terror?

The God of Second Chances Prophecy

Jesus tells us in the Olivet Discourse that great tribulation like never before nor ever shall be will come upon those on earth. It also says that those days of great tribulation shall be shortened, or there shall no flesh be saved. But for the elect's sake those days of great tribulation shall be shortened ...

Matthew 24:21-22

²¹ For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
²² And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Who are the Elect?

Who are these Elect souls that are enduring this Great Tribulation? Are the elect not God's chosen? If so, are they not there during the Great Tribulation and are not those days shortened because of these Elect?

Who are the meek that inherit the Earth?

Matthew 5:5

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

If all the Christians are Raptured, do the Raptured go to Heaven and receive celestial bodies only to be returned to the Earth and placed back in physical bodies during the 1000 year Millennium?

The Bible is clear about the God of Second Chances ... There is a Spiritual event where some Christians are Raptured: However, there are Christians on earth during the End Times. They are called the Saints, the Elect and those that have the Testimony of Jesus Christ.

If all Christians choose to be and are Raptured, who will reach and teach the non-believers during the End Times as for them to become Christians?

Let's get back to God gives second chances Scripture from Revelation, Chapter 20, shall we? During this particular Judgment, Satan will be cast into Hell during the Millennium (1000 years of peace).

Revelation 20:1-3

¹ And I saw an angel come down from Heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
² And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
³ And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Please Give Me a Second Chance to Change

But, Satan will be set free after the 1000 years of Peace on earth are expired and will set forth to do his works against God, yet again. But, God stops him and Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire.

Revelation 20:7-10

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 which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
⁹ And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the Saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of Heaven, and devoured them.
¹⁰ And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

God of second chances important note: This is the second time, second Judgment and/or second death for Satan and is why he was thrown into the Lake of fire Forever.

Immediately after this, there is another event in the Bible known as the Great White Throne Judgment where the Lord will judge those who were not resurrected in the first resurrection ...

Remember that we read earlier from the first resurrection ... "The rest of the dead lived not again until the 1000 years were finished."

Revelation 20:11-15

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.
¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man 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.

There are dead souls in Hell who will be brought up from hell at the Great White Throne Judgment and this is the second death. Note that it was the dead souls that were judged and that this second Judgment is called the Second Death. What does it mean ... second death? It means that these souls had their physical bodies die once on earth and are now going to be judged and if they are not found in the Book of Life. They will suffer a second death. A Spiritual Death.

John 5:25-29

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.

The God of Second Chances - God Gives Second Chances in Love
Please Give Me a Second Chance to Pray

Note also that Hell was delivered up and cast into the Lake of Fire. So, remember that Hell is not the place those souls that were not allowed into Heaven will live eternally. The Lake of Fire is where they spend eternity if they are not found in the Book of Life at the second Judgment. Hell is merely a holding cell for those souls, until Judgment Day.

Kind of like our court system that we have where a person is held in a city or county jail until their sentencing and after judgment is passed. Then they go to prison. Hell is like Jail until court date. The Lake of Fire is like Life in Prison with no parole.

Now, how does this Second Death Judgment affect Christians? Remember what we learned earlier in the First Judgment, just over 1000 years earlier:

Revelation 20:4-6

⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
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.

Those who died for Jesus are not negatively affected (if even judged at all) in this Second Death Judgment. But, what of the souls that are "Raptured". Those who were taken alive to Heaven? Are they included in this "Second Death has no power" promise? Is that Scripture referring to only those souls who died for Jesus and were resurrected ... Or is it referring to Raptured souls as well?

Hmmmmmm, how do we discern this matter? First, we must understand the difference between Resurrected and Raptured. The difference is simple ... Resurrected means the soul died on earth and Raptured means the soul was taken from earth alive.

The God of Second Chances and God Gives Second Chances Story
Father ... Please Give Me a Second Chance

There is Scripture that reveals that the dead in Christ, will rise to Heaven ...

1 Corinthians 15:51-54

⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

And ... That the raptured souls will meet with those who were Resurrected in the sky, and will go and be with the Lord, together.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

¹³ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
¹⁶ For 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:
¹⁷ 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.
¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

As this Scripture of the Rapture/Resurrection event confirms ...

Revelation 7:9-17

⁹ After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
¹⁰ And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
¹¹ And all the Angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
¹² Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
¹³ And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
¹⁴ And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
¹⁵ Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
¹⁶ They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
¹⁷ For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

The God of Second Chances - God Gives Second Chances Vow
Please Give Me a Second Chance to Change Today

It stands to reason that if these Raptured souls are judged, that the Second Death Judgment ... Will not harm them.

Now, I wanna talk a little more about this second death issue.

Is this some sort of second chance?

Note: Satan was judged in the first Judgment and chose to go back and do as he had always done.

And what of Antichrist ... Why was he thrown directly into the Lake of Fire which is eternal when Satan was only placed in hell which is temporal?

Revelation 19:19-21

¹⁹ And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army.
²⁰ And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
²¹ And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Could it be because Antichrist was brought back from the dead and had already been in hell, which made that his Second Death ... Or second chance.

So, what about those souls who made poor choices while on earth and are sitting in hell awaiting the Great White Throne Judgment? Are these souls able to repent in hell, before the judgment?

Here is something very interesting, which suggests this could be possible.

Did ya know that while Jesus was "In the Earth" for three days and three nights ...

Matthew 12:40

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The God of Second Chances / God Gives Second Chances and More
Please Give Me a Second Chance is the Path

That Jesus was in Abraham's Bosom (Paradise) and Jesus taught souls in hell ... Now some folks try and suggest that Jesus was in hell when He died. We know that Jesus did not go to Hell. That even sounds horrific to say.

The Bible is clear:

Acts 2:31

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left [placed] in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption.

So why do some people say Jesus went to hell?

It is because of these Scriptures ...

1 Peter 3:18-19

¹⁸ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened [made alive] by the Spirit:
¹⁹ By which also He went and preached unto the Spirits in prison;

1 Peter 4:6

For for this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit.

But, knowing the Truth of Abraham's Bosom, we are able to make sense of what Peter said.

This matches Jesus' story about Abraham's Bosom and Hell being in a realm where you could talk to one another from either side. Jesus went to Abraham's Bosom and preached to lost souls in hell across the great gulf.

Here's an interesting question. Why did Jesus preach to the souls in hell ... If it was hopeless? Was He bored? Was there nothing to do in Abraham's Bosom? No ... There must have been a reason He tried to reach those souls with Truth.

Does this mean that after a person dies, they're still given opportunity to repent?

The God of Second Chances - God Gives Second Chances Awaits
Please Give Me a Second Chance Prayer

Well, remember that the souls Jesus spoke with were under the Old Covenant.

Because these souls never had an opportunity to believe in Jesus and since ALL others would get a chance to believe in Jesus, it stands to reason of righteousness that those living under the Old Covenant that died before Jesus arrived should have the same opportunity to accept God's Grace.

This act of Jesus suggests that the lost souls do have an opportunity to repent in Hell. This means that final judgment may not be when a person's heart stops ticking.

The Bible is clear that the End Times will not come until the Gospel has been shared with all. That means every soul must have had the opportunity to accept Jesus.

Matthew 24:14

And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

However ... After Jesus was here and Christianity spread throughout, most everyone has had an opportunity to accept Jesus while alive, those that chose not to and are sentenced to hell may not have the ability to be saved.

So, if you are interpreting the words from this study to suggest that you need not accept Jesus as your Lord and serve Him now, because you can always say, "Ok Lord, I am ready now," when you are in hell ...

That is not what is being said. God forbid.

Number One ... You will have already had the ability to choose to believe and serve Him the moment you heard of Jesus here on earth, so it seems one probably would not need to expect to be preached to as they already chose.

Number Two ... One may want to consider what it would be like being in Hell for over a thousand years while you await the Second Death Judgment.

The God of Second Chances - God Gives Second Chances Summary
Please Give Me a Second Chance Conclusion

So, obviously ... This study does not suggest that anyone choose that path.

Only God can Judge such matters.

Is not our Father all about second chances?

Two resurrections
Two Judgment days
Two deaths

He even made a Second Covenant because mankind could not uphold the first.

Yes, our Father is all about Mercy, Forgiveness, Grace and Love.

He wants all of His children to make it and that is why the New Covenant required that He sacrifice His Son to give us that second chance.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

So, if you or someone you know had a family member or friend that died and was not Christian, pray that they will hear those souls within Abraham's Bosom (Paradise) and will choose to believe, before the Second Death Judgment Day.

Revelation 2:11

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

If ... It is God's Will.

Remember friends ... Jesus loves us and our Father is the God of second chances ... And third and fourth and fifth and .......

He that is born once will die twice,
he that is born twice will die once.