Warning: session_start(): open(/var/lib/lsphp/session/lsphp80/sess_u3di3lk0lna8ld9g5jqvrn7232, O_RDWR) failed: No space left on device (28) in /home/kjv.site/public_html/Book-Discussion/bookdiscuss.php on line 2
Warning: session_start(): Failed to read session data: files (path: /var/lib/lsphp/session/lsphp80) in /home/kjv.site/public_html/Book-Discussion/bookdiscuss.php on line 2 Revelation Chapter 20 Discussion
I will try my best to answer who it is Satan will seduce once he is released for a short time after the 1,000 year reign. First let me say this. It won't be believers.
So, Satan will be bound for a thousand years. He will be cast into the bottomless pit, the ABUSSO, and shut up, a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more.
And after these things, it is necessary for him to be loosed for a short season.
So after the thousand years, we leave with Christ. And the people on the earth who are left over from the tribulation, who still are not saved, but they've been given this one thousand year opportunity to live under the rule of Christ with Satan bound, but when Satan is let loose, we will see that they will go back to serving Satan again.
I think it's a tragedy, but we have to understand that when a person is a rejecter of Christ, you could send him to heaven for a thousand years and say "Look how nice it is here," and when he comes back he's going to reject it. Nothing's going to impress him to be saved.
It's like the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man didn't want out. He only wanted to be comforted.
The reason he didn't want out was not because of the comparison between hell and heaven. It's because there's only one other place to be other than hell, and that's in the presence of Jesus Christ.
And for some people that's hell. They would prefer to be in hell, only comforted. They don't want to be with Christ. They are rejecters. And once a person's heart is a rejecter of Christ, you can't do anything about it.
Even living under perfect conditions, they still go back to serving Satan again.
But they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years. But over whom do these priests of God rule for those thousand years. Aren't the people who didn't accept Jesus and who were lost in another last? And when Satan is released again a thousand years, what people is he going to seduce.
In Revelation 3:5, John gives an exhortation to the church. He says, "He that overcomes, and that's a Present Participle.
To the one who (is) overcoming, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will (not) blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
We are given references to the Old Testament that tell us there's more than one book. ( Exodus 32:32-33, Daniel 12:1-2, 7-10, Psalm 69:28)
There's the book of life which has listed in it everybody that has received human life. And then there's the book of the Lamb, those who belong to Christ.
In the book of life, if a person rejects Christ, their name is removed from the book of life as if they've never been born. They're gone!
But no one is ever blotted out of the Lamb's book of life.
If you go back into the Old Testament and you study from those references, it will show you that there's more than one book. And the Jews knew that.
It's not that God has books up there. But it's just a human example or an illustration that God knows everything, all the people that have been born, and all the people that belong to Christ.
He say (I will not) blot out his name out of the book of life. And I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Jesus said that He would do that.
So, our names are entered into the Lamb"s book of life the moment we receive Christ. He will never blot out a believers name from that book. That's how permanent our salvation is. He will never blot our names out of His book!
I absolutely agree with you. All the events described in the Book of Revelation are symbolic. Symbolic of what? We don't really know, we can make guesses. But even logical guesses may be wrong, BECAUSE we don't know the real events that are going to be. God's people through the ages have made very many guesses that all failed. Revelation is written in a way that people who are going to live at that time will relate the events taking place with what is written and can understand. Nobody can understand beforehand. I don't think God will reveal specifically to anybody (no matter how intense one prays and asks God for) the truth beforehand. He hasn't done that for centuaries to anybody, why would He do it now? Revelation is a book which is primalily written for people who will go through the great tribulation and antichrist. It is written so that they know what would be really happening and know what to expect and what they should and should not do. Also for non beleievers to believe and save their lives.
Just an example. If the mark of the beast is the bar code in a chip embedded in people, as many believe, who could have known that 50 years ago when that technology didn't exist. No matter how hard people may have tried to guess 50 years ago they could have never found out. Today we know because we relate something we see in our everyday lives ( the cashless society) with what is written and can make a good guess which seems to be right. So as the end times are getting closer and closer the more we will understand, but still I think many things will only be known during the last 7 years. So lets read the Book as God asks us to do, but this must be as far as we one must go. No vast time should be spent on trying to interprete it. It is a waste of time which could be spent to read the other parts of the Bible. There will be time when everything is going to be revealed. But I hope at that time none of us is here in this world to live during those events. GBU.
I was a pastor and evangelist for many years before an ailment prompted my retiring. During those years I have read and heard just about all the thoughts and theories on the book of revelation. And that my dear friends is all they are. Theories. No one has, or will be, able to precisely explain this book. It is one of the great mysteries of the Bible. I have read it over and over in my eighty-seven years on this earth. I started with my conversion at the age of twenty two. Some parts (few) would seem to be clear, but not enough to preach or teach with complete understanding. In fact, no one can rightly state they completely understand without doubt much of the scripture. We think, and read, with a finite mind. Whereas, the author who revealed these writings did so from his infinite mind. Who on earth is able to declare with absolute truth the mind of god? I have the belief of God revealing at the proper time, the true meanings of this amazing book. At that time the teachers and preachers eyes will be opened, and they will be able to enlighten all who are interested. Reading it will be as easy to under stand as John 3:16. But, of course, as I penned, it is just my belief and theory. Any believer who reads revelation should begin with prayer. Asking god to reveal what is important to their spiritual growth, and thanking him for his blessings for reading it. "Blessed is he who reads the prophecy's of this book" We are living in very perilous times. We should not be overly concerned with any parts of the Bible. Confusing our selves with un-anserable questions. Instead, we should busy ourselves with the importance of living the life god requires of us. I was, and still would be, a preacher of the New Testament, which I know is the most pertinent of all the Bible to read and study. Believers should be pondering how they can help others to come to the realization of their need to believe, and accept, his love and forgiveness. God be with you all.
Dear Heavenly Father, we lift up Carleton as he undergoes surgery to repair damage to his eye today. Guide the hands of the surgeons and bring about a successful result, restoring Carleton's eye to better function and allowing this eye to see clearly again. Give Carleton a quick and effective recovery from surgery. Keep him safe through this procedure and we ask for the best outcome for his sight. LORD GOD, we know that You can restore sight to the blind, so by faith, we trust that Your will for Carleton is perfect as You answer this prayer we offer in Jesus' name. Amen.
Good evening GIGI, I am sorry to hear about fires your way. Hopefully soon rains without lightening will make a nice autumn for many! I should have said so earlier, my eye surgery is tomorrow and I do covet everyone's prayers.
Let us know when your surgery is so we can pray for you then. It is still warm here in the Puget Sound area. Last two days have been really hazy due to wildfires to the north and south. I am staying indoors so the smoke filled air does not inflame my lungs to kick up my asthma a notch or two. But forecast is for it to clear out tomorrow or so with a onshore marine push advancing upon us. This will clear the air well. I love these days in late summer. I can tell that Autumn is just around the corner, but there are still some summer days ahead. Usually, September sunny days are so comfortable and enjoyable.
Hello GIGI! Thank you for your kindness. I am well. I was inspired to check the site this morning discussion wise. I use the site daily for finding scriptures. Thank you Admin! I hope you are well your way too. I still have another eye surgery to go and then finally some glasses to see up close again soon afterwards. My son passed through your area and missed at least half of our extreme heat here a week ago. Fall will soon be here. :)
I am adding this, so I am not to be misunderstood.
With the phrase "day of the Lord" the Bible refers to 3 different dates:
1. the rupture, which to me it seems to take place before the antichrist makes his appearance in the world, when things are still going well, so people deal with their everyday works as usual. This is something that can not be possible at the end of the 7 year tribulation period where so many catastrophies will take place and people will be scared to death.
2. the second coming of Jesus on earth to fight the antichrist with his army at Armagedon.
3. In those verses in 2 Peter 3:8-10 it is implied that the day of the Lord is at the end of the millenium.
So 3 different dates are called the same name, "the day of the Lord"
Those verses in Peter are very confusing to understand, if the millenium is a literal period of time. How come the Lord comes as a thief in the night when we know when the end of the millenium is, and the saints are already ruling the world?
Personally, I don't believe that the millemium is a figurative event like the Ortodoxes believe. So the only solution is that "day of the Lord" are called all 3 different dates. Same name, different dates.
The foundation of amillennial belief is free will to choose to accept our human condition after leaving the first commandment, yet carrying the promise of redemption to the Cross by repentance and faith. The be-hind the scenes belief is in understanding the non-resistance Jesus had to the Cross and that he called his followers to do the same. Non-resistance and the predetermined will are incompatible with a return of Christ to the earth. The redeemed carry the promise fulfilled in peace in their hearts and lives until the last day.
The theory that the millenium started since the begining of the church era and stretches till nowadays (and goes further on) is not new. It is a doctrine in Eastern Orthodox Chistianity. They believe that the 1000 year period is not a litteral period of time but it is figurative. and all events described are also figurative
Why do they think that? They rely on the verses in 2 Peter 3:8-10. "(8) But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.(10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
In verse 10 it says that the day of the Lord will come when everything (ie earth and sky) will be burned away. But that time occurs at the end of the millenium.( Revelation 21:1).It is when everything old goes away and new earth and heavens are created. So they consequently reject the theory of a pretribulation rapture.
What could be the answer to that? A possible answer (that my church believe is right) is that what is called "the day of Lord" is not literally a day or a specific time but a period of time. A period during which all the events leading to the complete ending of this world will take place, stretching from the pretribulation rapture to the White Throne. It seems that there is no other solution since we have to combine 3 different events in one "day". (a)The rapture, which for me is clear enough that will take place when things in the world are still going well. (b)The second coming of Jesus on earth. We know that time, it is at the end of the 7th week. (c)The distruction of the old universe.
There are those in the Post Mil camp who insist the events of the end of this chapter are the same as that of Armageddon; or the Second Coming of Christ (i.e. there is no literal millennium period). This is excused by explaining that the church has been in the "Millennium" since the church age began at the Resurrection; and somehow it has extended almost 2000 years. The fact that the Beast and False Prophet are thrown into the lake of fire first and Satan is cast where they ARE at the end of the period should be clear enough. We also could look at the rule of Christ as the "day of rest" which would be the last thousand of a seven thousand year time frame allotted for man much like the pattern of 7 days of creation with the last day of rest. We see differences too in the type of invasion at the end of the Millennium (no weapons are mentioned and instead of being centered in a small valley it is a widespread mass from the whole earth.) There is some argument about the Gog and Magog war being in both time frames (Trib and at the end of the 1000 years) or one or another. That can be covered elsewhere. With Christ reigning He won't allow the years of famine; war and pestilence once again to occur (remember He said it would be a worse time than ever before OR again). The next chapter shows a new heavens and new earth where heavenly Jerusalem comes DOWN to earth.
We have the literal fulfillment of prophecies about Israel as to it's territory; and national repentance such as Zechariah 12:12 which simply hasn't happened yet. There are covenantal promises; which as far as I can tell don't have to be a mutually exclusive thing from dispensational time periods. The church is a new covenant which Christ fulfilled the law and made the perfect sacrifice once and for all. Or; more simply put with Christ ruling the THEOCRACY of Israel will return; and it will finally achieve the glory destined for it.
Please look into Psalm 48 on the fear of the earth's rulers seeing the literal heavenly city; as well as Psalm 68 to see that indeed mortal man capable of sin still will exist on earth. Even the 10 kings are said to live for a while after the Tribulation in Daniel 7:12.
The only idea that works in this chapter is mortal men existing along with the church (kings and priests); and those who survived the Tribulation (those beheaded for not taking the mark). We shall rule and reign with Christ in a unique way; but certainly there will be many who survived the Tribulation who will rejoice as well and perhaps in eternity will rule and reign in similar fashion.
The concept of not being anything but a final Resurrection is pretty well eliminated in this chapter as well. The first resurrection it bears repeating consists of all saints; but in 1 Cor. 15:23 clearly there is an order and a procession of the firstfruits from Christ until the 144,000 in the Tribulation and then of course the Resurrection of those saints who were beheaded in the Tribulation. The concept of descendants born in that time; some of which rebel as seen in Rev. 21 and some of which will no doubt live out the whole time and hence WILL be translated need to be considered. It is possible some who die could be written in the Book of Life and not be cast into hell who rebel at this time; but since Christ will be clearly known they will be held to a higher standard so we can't say that for sure.
The second death involves the resurrecction of the damned cast into the lake of fire. Isaiah 66 talks of those dwelling on the earth looking in disgust to those in an opening of hell (this could be those killed in Armageddon who took the mark of the beast who would be the goats possibly thrown in beforehand; or this could refer to something viewed in the new eternal earth. I would think the former as these things likely would be hidden from us in eternity.
This chapter; like all scriptures should be taken as a literal prophetic event unless certain things are clearly symbolic. In this case everything is given a literal time frame and sequence; with supporting details not only in this chapter and the rest of Revelation; but other books including the Old Testament in scripture.
We can argue what we may about a Post Millennium mindset and agree to disagree if we have a basic belief in Christ's PHYSICAL return to earth in the future (something which FULL preterists seem to think has already occurred but in some mystical fashion). That would be the only case where we should disfellowship; and I and another brother in the Lord were forced to do that a few years ago. Something else which I consider very dangerous is the mindset that Satan is already bound in the bottomless pit. This is notwithstanding all the promises of the church that the powers of darkness will have no affect on us. There is certainly no limitation on killing the saints of God which Satan will do and continue to do until his punishment is enacted (at the end of the Tribulation and the end of the battle after he is released after the 1000 years). The general statement that a time worse than any that has ever happened or will ever exist again ( Matt. 24:21) with all the percentages of deaths listed in Revelation certainly has not occurred yet. We need to examine other scriptures such as Isaiah 14:17; Isaiah 41:5-13 on the coastlands burning; Isaiah 13:12 on man being rarer than the "gold of Ophir"; Isaiah 30:28 about the nations being put into the seive of destruction; Zechariah 12:9 on all nations gathered and half of Jerusalem taken and numerous other prophetic passages to see that indeed Armageddon must occur. Other verses talk of clear descriptions of mortal man still capable of sinning on the earth in the Millennium such as Zechariah 14:17-18; and Isaiah 65:20-25 being two of the clearest examples.
What an excellent example of complete Trust in Our Lord and His Saving of those who Love Him. If we are here during The Tribulation, we are in His Care and will not be harmed.
A few interesting observations on how God preserved people through Tribulations .
Noah was taken through the flood , not spared the flood . yes He was righteous and obeyed God and built the ark .
Daniel was taken through the Lions den , not spared the loins den , Yes he was righteous and trusted God . survived it unharmed .
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego , they where righteous and chose to Honor God and would not bow to the Nebuchadnezzar image , they where thrown into the fiery furnace , where not spared the furnace but where preserved through it .
I can say I have had a few experiences like these because I trusted the Lord Jesus at the time . Not quite as dramatic as these examples , but just as deadly they could have been. So yes God works this way today and in the future .
you mentioned the parable of the ten virgins , Id like to mention after much reflection on this parable ;All believed that The Lord was coming and went out to meet him . But wisdom is not knowledge , but rather How you live or do not live , in other words your WORKS . So the wise lived well and had the fruit that remained . Apostle Paul mentioned about laying up in store a foundation to endue the coming day . My real point is as the Bible says often , BE A DOER , NOT A HEARER ONLY .
I will try my best to answer who it is Satan will seduce once he is released for a short time after the 1,000 year reign. First let me say this. It won't be believers.
So, Satan will be bound for a thousand years. He will be cast into the bottomless pit, the ABUSSO, and shut up, a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more.
And after these things, it is necessary for him to be loosed for a short season.
So after the thousand years, we leave with Christ. And the people on the earth who are left over from the tribulation, who still are not saved, but they've been given this one thousand year opportunity to live under the rule of Christ with Satan bound, but when Satan is let loose, we will see that they will go back to serving Satan again.
I think it's a tragedy, but we have to understand that when a person is a rejecter of Christ, you could send him to heaven for a thousand years and say "Look how nice it is here," and when he comes back he's going to reject it. Nothing's going to impress him to be saved.
It's like the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man didn't want out. He only wanted to be comforted.
The reason he didn't want out was not because of the comparison between hell and heaven. It's because there's only one other place to be other than hell, and that's in the presence of Jesus Christ.
And for some people that's hell. They would prefer to be in hell, only comforted. They don't want to be with Christ. They are rejecters. And once a person's heart is a rejecter of Christ, you can't do anything about it.
Even living under perfect conditions, they still go back to serving Satan again.
I hope this helps?
Difficult questions, please can you explain.
In Revelation 3:5, John gives an exhortation to the church. He says, "He that overcomes, and that's a Present Participle.
To the one who (is) overcoming, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will (not) blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
We are given references to the Old Testament that tell us there's more than one book. ( Exodus 32:32-33, Daniel 12:1-2, 7-10, Psalm 69:28)
There's the book of life which has listed in it everybody that has received human life. And then there's the book of the Lamb, those who belong to Christ.
In the book of life, if a person rejects Christ, their name is removed from the book of life as if they've never been born. They're gone!
But no one is ever blotted out of the Lamb's book of life.
If you go back into the Old Testament and you study from those references, it will show you that there's more than one book. And the Jews knew that.
It's not that God has books up there. But it's just a human example or an illustration that God knows everything, all the people that have been born, and all the people that belong to Christ.
He say (I will not) blot out his name out of the book of life. And I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Jesus said that He would do that.
So, our names are entered into the Lamb"s book of life the moment we receive Christ. He will never blot out a believers name from that book. That's how permanent our salvation is. He will never blot our names out of His book!
Can you rephrase your question please.
We would love to help.
God bless.
I absolutely agree with you. All the events described in the Book of Revelation are symbolic. Symbolic of what? We don't really know, we can make guesses. But even logical guesses may be wrong, BECAUSE we don't know the real events that are going to be. God's people through the ages have made very many guesses that all failed. Revelation is written in a way that people who are going to live at that time will relate the events taking place with what is written and can understand. Nobody can understand beforehand. I don't think God will reveal specifically to anybody (no matter how intense one prays and asks God for) the truth beforehand. He hasn't done that for centuaries to anybody, why would He do it now? Revelation is a book which is primalily written for people who will go through the great tribulation and antichrist. It is written so that they know what would be really happening and know what to expect and what they should and should not do. Also for non beleievers to believe and save their lives.
Just an example. If the mark of the beast is the bar code in a chip embedded in people, as many believe, who could have known that 50 years ago when that technology didn't exist. No matter how hard people may have tried to guess 50 years ago they could have never found out. Today we know because we relate something we see in our everyday lives ( the cashless society) with what is written and can make a good guess which seems to be right. So as the end times are getting closer and closer the more we will understand, but still I think many things will only be known during the last 7 years. So lets read the Book as God asks us to do, but this must be as far as we one must go. No vast time should be spent on trying to interprete it. It is a waste of time which could be spent to read the other parts of the Bible. There will be time when everything is going to be revealed. But I hope at that time none of us is here in this world to live during those events. GBU.
:)
Dear Heavenly Father, we lift up Carleton as he undergoes surgery to repair damage to his eye today. Guide the hands of the surgeons and bring about a successful result, restoring Carleton's eye to better function and allowing this eye to see clearly again. Give Carleton a quick and effective recovery from surgery. Keep him safe through this procedure and we ask for the best outcome for his sight. LORD GOD, we know that You can restore sight to the blind, so by faith, we trust that Your will for Carleton is perfect as You answer this prayer we offer in Jesus' name. Amen.
I will pray for you.
Thank you!
:)
Let us know when your surgery is so we can pray for you then. It is still warm here in the Puget Sound area. Last two days have been really hazy due to wildfires to the north and south. I am staying indoors so the smoke filled air does not inflame my lungs to kick up my asthma a notch or two. But forecast is for it to clear out tomorrow or so with a onshore marine push advancing upon us. This will clear the air well. I love these days in late summer. I can tell that Autumn is just around the corner, but there are still some summer days ahead. Usually, September sunny days are so comfortable and enjoyable.
Carleton
As Always glad to hear from you. How are you doing?
Are you seeing better now? I have been thinking of you.
With the phrase "day of the Lord" the Bible refers to 3 different dates:
1. the rupture, which to me it seems to take place before the antichrist makes his appearance in the world, when things are still going well, so people deal with their everyday works as usual. This is something that can not be possible at the end of the 7 year tribulation period where so many catastrophies will take place and people will be scared to death.
2. the second coming of Jesus on earth to fight the antichrist with his army at Armagedon.
3. In those verses in 2 Peter 3:8-10 it is implied that the day of the Lord is at the end of the millenium.
So 3 different dates are called the same name, "the day of the Lord"
Those verses in Peter are very confusing to understand, if the millenium is a literal period of time. How come the Lord comes as a thief in the night when we know when the end of the millenium is, and the saints are already ruling the world?
Personally, I don't believe that the millemium is a figurative event like the Ortodoxes believe. So the only solution is that "day of the Lord" are called all 3 different dates. Same name, different dates.
*resistant or resistance
God bless our conversation in Christ Jesus!
:)
The theory that the millenium started since the begining of the church era and stretches till nowadays (and goes further on) is not new. It is a doctrine in Eastern Orthodox Chistianity. They believe that the 1000 year period is not a litteral period of time but it is figurative. and all events described are also figurative
Why do they think that? They rely on the verses in 2 Peter 3:8-10. "(8) But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.(10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
In verse 10 it says that the day of the Lord will come when everything (ie earth and sky) will be burned away. But that time occurs at the end of the millenium.( Revelation 21:1).It is when everything old goes away and new earth and heavens are created. So they consequently reject the theory of a pretribulation rapture.
What could be the answer to that? A possible answer (that my church believe is right) is that what is called "the day of Lord" is not literally a day or a specific time but a period of time. A period during which all the events leading to the complete ending of this world will take place, stretching from the pretribulation rapture to the White Throne. It seems that there is no other solution since we have to combine 3 different events in one "day". (a)The rapture, which for me is clear enough that will take place when things in the world are still going well. (b)The second coming of Jesus on earth. We know that time, it is at the end of the 7th week. (c)The distruction of the old universe.
There are those in the Post Mil camp who insist the events of the end of this chapter are the same as that of Armageddon; or the Second Coming of Christ (i.e. there is no literal millennium period). This is excused by explaining that the church has been in the "Millennium" since the church age began at the Resurrection; and somehow it has extended almost 2000 years. The fact that the Beast and False Prophet are thrown into the lake of fire first and Satan is cast where they ARE at the end of the period should be clear enough. We also could look at the rule of Christ as the "day of rest" which would be the last thousand of a seven thousand year time frame allotted for man much like the pattern of 7 days of creation with the last day of rest. We see differences too in the type of invasion at the end of the Millennium (no weapons are mentioned and instead of being centered in a small valley it is a widespread mass from the whole earth.) There is some argument about the Gog and Magog war being in both time frames (Trib and at the end of the 1000 years) or one or another. That can be covered elsewhere. With Christ reigning He won't allow the years of famine; war and pestilence once again to occur (remember He said it would be a worse time than ever before OR again). The next chapter shows a new heavens and new earth where heavenly Jerusalem comes DOWN to earth.
We have the literal fulfillment of prophecies about Israel as to it's territory; and national repentance such as Zechariah 12:12 which simply hasn't happened yet. There are covenantal promises; which as far as I can tell don't have to be a mutually exclusive thing from dispensational time periods. The church is a new covenant which Christ fulfilled the law and made the perfect sacrifice once and for all. Or; more simply put with Christ ruling the THEOCRACY of Israel will return; and it will finally achieve the glory destined for it.
Please look into Psalm 48 on the fear of the earth's rulers seeing the literal heavenly city; as well as Psalm 68 to see that indeed mortal man capable of sin still will exist on earth. Even the 10 kings are said to live for a while after the Tribulation in Daniel 7:12.
The only idea that works in this chapter is mortal men existing along with the church (kings and priests); and those who survived the Tribulation (those beheaded for not taking the mark). We shall rule and reign with Christ in a unique way; but certainly there will be many who survived the Tribulation who will rejoice as well and perhaps in eternity will rule and reign in similar fashion.
The concept of not being anything but a final Resurrection is pretty well eliminated in this chapter as well. The first resurrection it bears repeating consists of all saints; but in 1 Cor. 15:23 clearly there is an order and a procession of the firstfruits from Christ until the 144,000 in the Tribulation and then of course the Resurrection of those saints who were beheaded in the Tribulation. The concept of descendants born in that time; some of which rebel as seen in Rev. 21 and some of which will no doubt live out the whole time and hence WILL be translated need to be considered. It is possible some who die could be written in the Book of Life and not be cast into hell who rebel at this time; but since Christ will be clearly known they will be held to a higher standard so we can't say that for sure.
The second death involves the resurrecction of the damned cast into the lake of fire. Isaiah 66 talks of those dwelling on the earth looking in disgust to those in an opening of hell (this could be those killed in Armageddon who took the mark of the beast who would be the goats possibly thrown in beforehand; or this could refer to something viewed in the new eternal earth. I would think the former as these things likely would be hidden from us in eternity.
This chapter; like all scriptures should be taken as a literal prophetic event unless certain things are clearly symbolic. In this case everything is given a literal time frame and sequence; with supporting details not only in this chapter and the rest of Revelation; but other books including the Old Testament in scripture.
We can argue what we may about a Post Millennium mindset and agree to disagree if we have a basic belief in Christ's PHYSICAL return to earth in the future (something which FULL preterists seem to think has already occurred but in some mystical fashion). That would be the only case where we should disfellowship; and I and another brother in the Lord were forced to do that a few years ago. Something else which I consider very dangerous is the mindset that Satan is already bound in the bottomless pit. This is notwithstanding all the promises of the church that the powers of darkness will have no affect on us. There is certainly no limitation on killing the saints of God which Satan will do and continue to do until his punishment is enacted (at the end of the Tribulation and the end of the battle after he is released after the 1000 years). The general statement that a time worse than any that has ever happened or will ever exist again ( Matt. 24:21) with all the percentages of deaths listed in Revelation certainly has not occurred yet. We need to examine other scriptures such as Isaiah 14:17; Isaiah 41:5-13 on the coastlands burning; Isaiah 13:12 on man being rarer than the "gold of Ophir"; Isaiah 30:28 about the nations being put into the seive of destruction; Zechariah 12:9 on all nations gathered and half of Jerusalem taken and numerous other prophetic passages to see that indeed Armageddon must occur. Other verses talk of clear descriptions of mortal man still capable of sinning on the earth in the Millennium such as Zechariah 14:17-18; and Isaiah 65:20-25 being two of the clearest examples.
Noah was taken through the flood , not spared the flood . yes He was righteous and obeyed God and built the ark .
Daniel was taken through the Lions den , not spared the loins den , Yes he was righteous and trusted God . survived it unharmed .
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego , they where righteous and chose to Honor God and would not bow to the Nebuchadnezzar image , they where thrown into the fiery furnace , where not spared the furnace but where preserved through it .
I can say I have had a few experiences like these because I trusted the Lord Jesus at the time . Not quite as dramatic as these examples , but just as deadly they could have been. So yes God works this way today and in the future .
Trust Him the only sure way ...
Thanks may we all go on by Gods Grace