Bible Discussion Thread

Verses 17 through 21 give a clear indication of the rapture/resurrection of the righteous; and the burden of those left behind who themselves weren't delivered. There is a personalized assurance of resurrection for the prophet (verse 19); and this is similar to the verse in Job which states something similar in the last days. The birth pangs in verse 16 and 17 show how the nation cries out to God in that period of time; which makes the most sense after the rapture of the church and Resurrection of O.T. saints. Interestingly the increase of the nation is indicated twice in verse 15 after an earlier diaspora; which could show that a second phase of that is yet to come (perhaps after defeat of the armies in the Psalm 83 war). Going back to verse 10 and 11 we see a Millennium reference to when God's majesty even in a land of "uprightness" and destruction either at Armageddon or the end of the Millennial period is indicated with fire devouring them (also of course indicative of eternal destruction in hellfire). The chapter begins with the edifice of what no doubt will constitute the heavenly city or Jerusalem during the Millennium; when the hope waited for in verse 8 is finally realized for His people. Those who tread down the lofty city in verse 6 sound similar to the verse about trodding on the ashes of the wicked in Malachi 4:3.