|
Author
|
Topic: The reign of Christ.
|
TB125
Advanced Member
Member # 2450
|
posted
Did anyone learn anything from this long debate? If so who, and what did you learn?
--------------------
Bob
Posts: 449 | From: Rockford Illinois | Registered: Nov 2003
| IP: Logged | 
|
|
Betty Louise
Advanced Member
Member # 7175
|
posted
Jesus will reign on earth for a thousand years, then satan will be let loose again and defeated and sent to Hell, then Jesus will reign in Heaven for ever.
betty
--------------------
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
|
posted
quote:
The first time Jesus came to this earth he came not to bring peace.
The Second Coming, He will come as King and Lord and He will bring peace on this earth. He will rule with a fist of iron.
quote:
God gave the Earth to Adam. Adam was made the ruler of the Earth and all that it contained (Gen 1:28). When Adam fell, he delivered his God-given authority into Satan's hands (Luke 4:6). All mankind then became Satan's legal possession. When scripture says "we are bought with a price," that was not just some theoretical acquisition. We were purchased from Satan's kingdom by Jesus' precious blood when we accept Jesus as our personal Savior. By a sovereign act, God the Father then transfers us "out of the domain (or kingdom) of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son" (Col 1:13). If you are looking for the kingdom age, there it is, right where the Bible has been saying it was all along. The kingdom of the Lord Jesus has existed ever since Act 2:33-36. At the end of this age, Jesus will indeed return to Earth with His Holy angels and His "holy ones" (in their glorified bodies), all of whom who went to be with Him at the last trumpet (1Co 15:52).
Rev 11:15 "And the seventh angel sounded (the last trumpet) and there arose loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.' "
Not for just for a thousand years, but forever!
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Betty Louise
Advanced Member
Member # 7175
|
posted
http://216.117.216.152/king.html
ISRAEL'S ROYAL INHERITANCE
Isaiah 9-16....God regathers His people under an ensign. He causes the Nile Delta to dry up, thereby opening up a passageway from Egypt to Assyria (along the Western Coast?)
Is. 61:3-11 God will reverse the times of sorrow upon Israel into great joy...
"to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called 'trees of righteousness' the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/m/comtlong.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/comethou.htm
Come, O Come Emmanuel
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/c/ocomocom.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/emmanuel.htm
Ezekiel Chapter 48: 31-35 "And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel"..."and the name of the city from that day shall be,
"The LORD is there Jehovah-Shammah"
Once in Royal David's City
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/n/onceirdc.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/once.htm
"Christ by highest heaven adored. Christ the Everlasting Lord.
Late in time behold Him come. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see.
Hail the Incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel"
(Hark the Herald Angels Sing)
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/h/a/hhangels.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/hark.htm
GLOBAL WORSHIP
This is the TRUE global worship...voluntary. This is not the forced worship that antichrist requires for himself. (Revelation 13)
Micah 4:5 "For all people will walk everyone in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever."
Worship of Jesus will not be enforced....God always respects free will.
However, those nations lacking respect by not coming up to Jerusalem once a year will have drought .
Commentary on Micah 4:5 http://bible.cc/micah/4-5.htm
Jesus merited the deed to planet earth by His shed blood Rev. 5:6-14. Jesus is Shiloh .."He Whose right it is ".Ezekiel 21:27
http://www.joemckeever.com/mt/archives/000856.html
Psalm 22:27, 28 "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD:
and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee.
For the kingdom is the LORD's and He is the Governor among the nations."
As in : "And praises sing to God our KING, and peace to men on earth"
(O Little Town of Bethlehem)
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/l/olittle.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/littletown.htm
Is. 60:1-18 Spiritual enlightenment during the Millennium:
"Arise, shine, for Thy Light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee."...
"surely the Isles shall wait for Me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He hath glorified thee."...
Therefore Thy gates shall be open continuously; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto Thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.
For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish;
yea those nations shall be utterly wasted....
"and they shall call thee 'The City of the LORD', the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.'
...I will make thee (Zion-Jerusalem) an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations."
"Jesus to Thee be glory given. Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
O Come let us adore Him" (O Come all ye Faithful)
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/c/ocomeayf.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/adeste.htm
Isaiah 66:10-14; 23 "And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another (month by month and week by week at holy times) shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the LORD.
And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."
Ezekiel
Chapter 43- Millennial Temple: God's Shekinah glory returns
Haggai 2:7 "the desire of all nations shall come:
and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts."
Malachi 3:1 "and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His temple,
even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in:
behold , He shall come, saith the LORD of hosts."
Blood Sacrifice reinstituted, as a memorial of Jesus' shed blood on Calvary
"And he said unto me, 'Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; these are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon,
and to sprinkle blood thereon". Ezekiel 43:18
Zadok Priesthood established Ezekiel 43:19; Ezek. Chapter 44....Ministers
"and they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane,
and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. Ezek. 44:23
Ezekiel 46 Observance of Sabbaths and new moon.
"Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD
of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning" v.13 Daily memorial of Calvary. A worshipping society.
Hosea 14:4-8 No more idolatry. Spiritual revival, returning to the Lord.
Joel 3:18 Fountain of grace from the house of the LORD
Zechariah 6 THE BRANCH (JESUS) shall build the Millennial Temple "
and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne;
and He shall be a priest upon His throne:
and the counsel of peace shall be between them both"
Civil government will no longer be divorced from our spiritual lifestyle.
The two will work in harmony.
There will no longer be the friction of State outlawing worship.
How hungry we are for that even now. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Zechariah 8:21-23
"And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I will go also."
Ten gentiles will hold unto the prayer shawl of the Jew saying
"We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you".
Zechariah 14:9-21 "And the LORD shall be king over all the earth:
"King of all glory, we bow before Thee" (O Thou Joyful Day)
in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one....
"and there shall no more be utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited."
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
This ties in with "We Three Kings of Orient Are" bearing gifts we traverse afar; Gold I bring to crown Him again. King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign"
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/e/wethree.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/3kings.htm
Whatever talent God has given us, is our gift back to Him....
Little Drummer Boy
And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
"In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horse (no cars, freeways, mass transits??yeah!) HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; .....every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts (kosher?)
Malachi 1:11 "For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto My name"
REIGN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
OUR LAWGIVER AND HIGHEST JUDGE
And many people shall go and say,
'Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain (government) of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob (Jacob=Israel, meaning to be "governed by God");
and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths:
for out of Zion shall go the law , and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
"And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks:
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
(This verse is repeated in Micah 4:1-3)
"O house of Jacob (Israel), come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD".
Isaiah 9:6,7 "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called 'Wonderful', 'Counsellor', 'The mighty God'. 'The everlasting Father', 'The Prince of Peace.'
Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."
Jeremiah 23: 5,6 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD that I will raise unto David, a Righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days, Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, "The LORD our RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jehovah-Tzidkenu)
Chapter 45 Civil rule: "and My princes shall no more oppress My people....remove violence and spoil (the mob and bribery) and execute judgment and justice (fairness, honesty, integrity) take away your exactions from my people (unfair levies, fines, taxes, fees, bonds etc.), saith the Lord GOD. Just balances...no greed, fraud etc.
Sabbaths, feasts, new moons and all solemnities will be celebrated v.17, and Passover 21 and Tabernacles v.25
Four Times:
Rev. 2:27 "And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as a vessel of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father."
Also repeated in Rev. 12:5 and Rev. 19:15 as well as Psalm 2:9
Rev. 15;4 "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name?
For Thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before Thee;
for Thy judgments are made manifest."
TAUGHT IN TRUTH
"They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine."
There will be learning from the Gentiles and kings.
(We're actually going to learn from History)
Metals will be replaced with those of higher value (spiritual meaning: Quality, excellence as our standards we live by, instead of just getting by, or 'surviving')
Peace and Righteousness will reign. (Tranquility from not living in fear of war,
nor fear of each other's aggressiveness.)
"Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting, nor destruction within thy borders" (zero-tolerance of crime)
(parts of Isaiah 60 press forward into the eternity beyond the Millennium, and are allied with Rev. 21:23 and Rev. 22:5.)
Zechariah 8 "Jerusalem shall be called "a city of TRUTH" and the government "holy". No segregated housing...young and old together (most likely in family housing.....hopefully no more institutions; we'll all take care of our own.)
"I will be their God in truth and righteousness. Abundance of harvest v. 12.
"These are the things that ye shall do: Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates.
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor;
and love no false oath: for all these things are things that I hate,
saith the LORD."...."therefore love the TRUTH and peace"
"The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men"
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day -- http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/h/iheardtb.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/iheard.htm
GODLY KNOWLEDGE IN ABUNDANCE
"for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
(100%....Isaiah 11:9 ) See also Isaiah 12 for Global praise of Salvation in that day.
RESTORATION and HEALING
Is. 29:17-24 Lebanon restored with orchards. "And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the Book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
Our God Reigns www.elijah.org/liftuphands/contents.htm (sign language)
music: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/u/ourgodrn.htm
The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off ."
Jeremiah 33:6-9 "Behold, I will bring it (Judah) health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth....God restores His people with full reconciliation..
"And it (Israel) shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it."
Malachi 4:2 "But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings."
LONGEVITY
Is. 65:17-25 all things made new ; and "There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; for the child shall die 100 years old;
(our ratio of lifespan will be increased ten fold...what we consider 100 today, will be like "10" then etc.
A 1,000 year old person will be like our "100 year old".
but the sinner being 100 years old shall be accursed."
There still will be sin (rebellion) during the millennium. [See Rev. 20: 7-9] We always have our free will and free choice. God never takes away our own individual personhood. For those who disobey and prefer self-government, rather than being governed by God, there will be consequences. These consequences will be more swift and direct than when people lived during the 2,000 years of grace, during the Church Age. This is due to the fact of Ecclesiastes 8:11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."
BENEFITS TO THE CITIZENS
Micah 4:4 private property (capitolism); individual housing for all
(no communal housing, apartments etc.) Security. No crime.
Zechariah Chapter 4 ... Civil government led by the Spirit and worship. Menorah;
two olive trees of golden oil. Zerubabel the governor and all civic government must rule "not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit"
Zechariah Chapter 7 Guidelines for millennial justice:"execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother. And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart."
NO SORCERY, ASTROLOGY OR THE OCCULT
Rev. 20:2 Satan bound for 1,000 years
Micah 5:10-15 No more war; No mega-businesess or corporations "I will cut off thy cities" No more horoscopes, zodiacs, psychics, astrology or sorcery "
and I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers.
No more idolatry: "Thy graven images also I will cut off, and thy standing images
(obelisks)
out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
(technology).
Malachi 3:5 "And I will come near to you to judgement; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not Me, saith the LORD of hosts."
NO MORE PROPHESYING OR PROPHETS During the Millennial REIGN of JESUS CHRIST upon the EARTH
Zechariah 13: 1-5
"and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy,
then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him,
Thou shalt not live....
and it shall come to pass in that day that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision."
Daniel 9: "to seal up the vision and the prophecy".
All prophecy, prophets and prophesying ends when Jesus returns to earth for His 1,000 year reign. There will be no need for that office, for Our Lord Himself will be here in Jerusalem, Israel governing over the affairs of men.
1 Corinthians 13:8...Prophecy ends at the end of the Church Age....
"but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
whether there be tongues, they shall cease"
BENIGN ANIMAL KINGDOM
Is. 11:6-9 "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain (government):
Friendly Beasts (words only)
IN CONCLUSION........
SOPHISTICATED DELUSION
What is next on the horizon? First there will come a deceiver who will attempt to
imitate the second coming of our Lord. "Let no man deceive you" Matthew 24.
He will amass global power and demand to be worshipped. Anyone not receiving his 666
mark of the beast will be put to death.
www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/ch1p1.html
But his occultic powers and demon-worshipping kingdom will last for only 42 months....
a pittance of time. The antichrist and the false prophet will be slain at Megiddo, Israel by Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself at His literal return to earth from His heavenly throne.
The antichrist and the false prophet will be in the lake of fire for all eternity.
Flush from the victory at Armageddon, Our Lord will arrive at the Mt. of Olives, splitting it in two. From there he will enter through the Golden Gate to sit upon the throne of David
for 1,000 years. He will rule all the world, and we shall go up once a year at the feast of Tabernacles to worhip our true King of kings, Lord of lords and God of gods. Amen. Alleluia!!
Rev. 11:15 "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ (His anointed-appointed), and He shall reign forever and ever."...........
"We give Thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to thee Thy great power, and hast reigned."
Amen.
Truth and Integrity will be the hallmarks of His reign. Equity, fairness and justice shall be for all the citizenry. Crime will be non-existent, due to professing righteousness and quick punishment. Private property and prosperity will bless the people. It will be a time like no other time on earth.
All of us right now are living in the final generation of this Age. Some of us will be raptured.
Some of us will remain. Some of us will die. Some of us will live to see the physical return of Jesus and enter into His earthly kingdom. Matthew 25.
Some reading this page will be separated from Jesus Christ for all eternity. Hopefully most people reading these pages will abide forever with our Lord throughout all the Ages to come.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
LINKS and
PSALM TWO
"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD (Jehovah-Yahweh), and against His anointed (Messiah Jesus) saying,
'Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord (Adonai) shall have them in derision.
Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure.
"Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion.
I will declare the decree: the LORD (Jehovah-Yahweh) hath said unto Me,
"Thou art My Son (Jesus);
this day have I begotten Thee"
Ask of Me and I shall give Thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD (Jehovah-Yahweh) with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son (King Jesus), lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their TRUST in Him.
Theology of Christmas Carols
www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/carols.html
Millennial Reign
www.comeandsee.org/WITNESSES2/Vchap20.txt
www.icnc.org/scratchpad/a18.htm
All Hail King Jesus www.breadsite.org/lyrics/008.htm
Of Whom Do the Prophets Speak (Norm McGary)
www.webservants.com/prophets/22.html
Bring Back King Jesus ....2 Chronicles 19:12
Praising Jesus Our King www.geocities.com/SoHo/Nook/1772/index.html
Our God is an Awesome God http://urunforgettable.com/ourgodis.htm
I Exault Thee www.mtmoriahumc.com/exault.htm
http://www.breadsite.org/lyrics/236.htm
Rejoice, the Lord is King!! Charles Wesley 1746
www.acronet.net/~robokopp/english/rejoicet.htm
More Songs of Praise:
New Zealand: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~macknife/hymns.htm
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/christmas/christmas.html
CyberHymnal: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/top/jc/jc.htm
especially see the section called "The King".....many songs
Glory, laud and honor: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/g/aglahonr.htm
Tikkun Olam - Gary Fitleberg -- March 1, 2005
Thank G-d for the Torah. Also the concept of Tzedekah and Tikkun Olam.
Tzedekah is from the same root of the Hebrew root as the work Tzaddik which means righteous one or Tzedek meaning justice. The literal translation means charity. The Torah commands each and every Jew to pursue justice by giving charity and being righteous.
Tikkun Olam is the healing and repair of the world. Especially one broken or in disrepair because of natural or political disasters.
http://www.opinioneditorials.com/guestcontributors/gfitleberg_20050301.html
MILLENNIAL FLAG
designed by Bill Lane
We are living in a time when certain Church people want to bring in their own Millennium. That is wrong.
Let us consider those who would deny the soon coming 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ.
The true Biblical-Millennium vs. the False Secular-Millennium:
Reconstructionist heresy: No rapture; Millennial kingdom through human efforts alone:
www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/cor/notes_on.htm
Religious-political alliance...Doctrine of Balaam...Rev. 2:14, 15
Religious-corporation alliance.....Mystery Babylon...Rev. 17
Dominion theology denies the Scriptures proving this article.
www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/cor/dominion.htm
Coaltion on Revival
www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/cor/general.htm
Theonomy....see Smyrna Letter Rev. 2:9...and Philadelphian Letter Rev. 3:9
"who say they are Jews, but are not"
www.religioustolerance.org/reconstr.htm
But Jesus' Kingdom IS literal. It will arrive soon (a few years from now).
God's Word stands sure. Man's vanities fade as the grass.
Please see "Separation of Church and State for more information.
www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/sep.htm
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the KING !
http://www.fhu.edu/sga/chapelsongs.asp
--------------------
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Betty Louise
Advanced Member
Member # 7175
|
posted
The first time Jesus came to this earth he came not to bring peace. The Second Coming, He will come as King and Lord and He will bring peace on this earth. He will rule with a fist of iron.
betty
--------------------
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
|
posted
quote:
Do you think when Jesus rules, He will not able to
keep peace?
Jesus said,
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
When do you think Satan is bound and loosed?
Do you think that he is bound or loosed now?
If he is bound now, will he be more bound in the future?
If he is loosed now, will he be more loosed in the future?
I believe Satan lost his power at the cross, but at the end of the church age he will be let loose for a short season.
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Betty Louise
Advanced Member
Member # 7175
|
posted
Rev 20:3 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.
Rev 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.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 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.
Rev 20:7 ¶ And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Do you think when Jesus rules, He will not able to
keep peace?
betty
--------------------
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
|
posted
The disciples expected that they would go through much tribulation.
Acts 14:20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Nowhere in Revelations does it say there is 1,000 years of peace?
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Betty Louise
Advanced Member
Member # 7175
|
posted
If you study the book of Revelations, you will see that the tribulation has not happen. The tribulation will happen after the rapture and then after the 7 years Jesus will reign on the earth as King for 1,000 years. We are not living in the tribulation nor are we living in the 1,000 years of peace.
betty
--------------------
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
|
posted
quote:
Are you saying the Tribulation has already occurred and we're living in the Millennial Kingdom now?
I believe that we are living in the Millennial Kingdom now, and that we are living in the tribulation. Did you ever have trials that discouraged you in your walk with the Lord? I believe all true believers go through times of tribulation and sometimes there are those who go through great-tribulation.
1 Th 3:4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
Then since premills believe in literal interpretation of scripture, you might ask, has Isa 11:6 been fulfilled?
Isa 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Well, I have read some of your posts where you have spoak about wolves in sheep’s clothing. I don’t think you understood that in a literal sense.
I don’t believe the thousand years in rev 20 is literal either, I believe it is figurative.
quote:
As the end approaches, things are going to deteriorate in a hurry. If we are to walk in truth, we must guard ourselves against interpreting Scripture to fit our preconceived notions, for "The Lord takes no delight in fools" (Ecc 5:4). The Bible is not "oral traditions" or "stories" as liberals theologians would have us believe. It is a historic and sometimes prophetic account of God’s dealings with man throughout the ages, written down by men in their stated historic settings. Most of the Bible is written in plain language. The poetic books, the gospels, and the epistles are primarily literal and should be accepted verbatim.
But God’s plan as recorded in Scripture embraces many writing styles: prose as well as poetry, some literal, some figurative. Some is written in a nonliteral way (in figurative language) to achieve an effect beyond the range of ordinary language. So how can we know when a passage of Scripture should be literally or figuratively understood? The Bible itself tells us. Most figurative passages contain sign posts that tell us they are figurative, figurative signpost words like: "I was in the spirit" or "the kingdom of Heaven is "like," or "like unto," or "as" a wedding feast, a mustard seed, a pearl of great price, a king going to a far country or a sower going forth to sow. Now the kingdom of Heaven is not really a wedding feast, a king in a far country, a mustard seed, a pearl, or a sower; it is only figuratively likened unto one! I said all that to get to this:
Figurative language must be interpreted figuratively. Only a small portion of the Bible is figurative, but interpreting figurative passages figuratively is of major importance to us because every end-time prophecy in the Bible is figurative in nature.
Revelation is a prophetic vision and as such it is primarily figurative, but since part of the 20th Chapter of Revelation appears to be literal, in 1640 a Dutch Reformed theologian, Jean de Labadie, concluded that Jesus would return to rule over the earthly kingdoms of men for 1000 years at the end of the Christian Era. This "millennium," as it is called, would then be followed by a second Armageddon (Rev 20:8), after which would come the great white throne of judgment. Jean de Labadie's premillennial theory fit perfectly with the Lacunza, Darby, Macdonald, Scofield eschatological scheme of things, so the futurists added premillennialism to their body of doctrine. However, the Reformers of de Labadie's day were not so easily fooled. They saw de Labadie’s view as erroneous and excommunicated him from the Dutch Reform Church. Here is why:
The only support in the whole Bible for a pre-millennial view is Revelation 2:20 and it only works there if we interpret Revelation 2:20 literally in a book most serious eschatologists understand to be figurative. Even to arrive at his view, de Labadie had to ignore two universally accepted rules of Bible interpretation:
Reason #1. No scripture should be interpreted apart from its context. As already stated, most of Revelation is figurative and there is no textual reason to interpret chapter 20 differently than its context.
Reason #2. The Greek word for 1000 is "chilias." The Greek word translated thousand in Rev 20 is "chilioi", an indefinite plural. As an indefinite plural, "chilioi" could mean one thousand, but it could also mean many thousands. Point being: it appears the premillennials are basing a definite end-time doctrine on an indefinite plural. Even though the translation of chilioi as "a thousand" is not incorrect, if we insist on it meaning just one thousand, the intended sense of the passage could be lost.
A figurative interpretation of Rev 20 is not as wild as one might think. Most of the Church considered Rev 20 to be figurative until de Labadie came along. Since it is scripturally provable that the saints reign with Christ in His spiritual kingdom, right this instant, and that we have done so throughout the Christian Era (Eph 1:3, 1Pe 2:9, Rev 1:6, Rev 5:10), then this "thousand" year reign of Christ could actually be a pictorial representation of the whole Christian Era.
Ruling with the Lord
Besides the last trumpet itself, there are other verses that call the premillennial view into question. According to premillennialism, when Jesus returns for His thousand-year reign, He will rule from Jerusalem in all power and glory. During that thousand years, we (the believers of all time) will presumably be ruling with Him in our new glorified and sinless bodies. At the end of the thousand years, Satan is somehow supposed to deceive the rulers (now sinless us in our glorified bodies) for a short season. If that were to be the case, we would again be in sin, which would result in our again being separated from the Lord. That is contrary to 1Th 4:17, which clearly states:
1TH 4:17 "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up...to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall ever be with the Lord." Saints will never again be separated from the Lord!
If there’s a Future Millennium, Who's the Strong Man in it?
Jesus said in Matthew 12:29, "How can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless He first binds the strong man?" When Jesus asked that question, He was in the act of casting out demons. The Lord was plundering Satan's house then and He is still doing so today through the Church. Now Jesus permitted Himself to be bound once, at the Cross, but it will never happen again. When Jesus returns to Jerusalem, He will be ruling in all His power and glory. It will be Jesus' kingdom and He will be the "strong man" in it. Released or not, Satan could only plunder Jesus' kingdom if he could again bind Jesus. Laughable. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God the Father where He remains King of kings and Lord of lords, forever just as Ephesians 1:20-21 declares: "...when He (God the Father) raised Him (Jesus) from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come." That age to come would have to include any future time that Jesus is on Earth, and beyond. No future time of lost power for the Lord. When the Lord returns at the end of this age, He will rule absolutely...and eternally, just as Rev 11:15 states!
It's a Matter of Domain
God gave the Earth to Adam. Adam was made the ruler of the Earth and all that it contained (Gen 1:28). When Adam fell, he delivered his God-given authority into Satan's hands (Luke 4:6). All mankind then became Satan's legal possession. When scripture says "we are bought with a price," that was not just some theoretical acquisition. We were purchased from Satan's kingdom by Jesus' precious blood when we accept Jesus as our personal Savior. By a sovereign act, God the Father then transfers us "out of the domain (or kingdom) of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son" (Col 1:13). If you are looking for the kingdom age, there it is, right where the Bible has been saying it was all along. The kingdom of the Lord Jesus has existed ever since Act 2:33-36. At the end of this age, Jesus will indeed return to Earth with His Holy angels and His "holy ones" (in their glorified bodies), all of whom who went to be with Him at the last trumpet (1Co 15:52).
Rev 11:15 "And the seventh angel sounded (the last trumpet) and there arose loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.' "
Not for just for a thousand years, but forever!
Two Restorations
As said earlier, insisting on a literal interpretation of a figurative passage may display our orthodoxy before men, but rob us of what the Lord would have us learn from Scripture. The premill interpretation of Isa 11:6-10 is a glaring example of the "literal hermeneutic" carried to the point of absurdity.
The first five verses in Isaiah 11 are full of figurative expressions that must be understood figuratively: "A shoot [or branch] springs from the stem of Jesse . . . a branch from his root will bear fruit . . . He will judge with the rod of His mouth . . . righteousness will be the belt about His loins and faithfulness the belt about his waist," etc., etc.
All those expressions are obviously figurative, and every conservative Bible scholar I know of understand them to be a pictorial description of the Messiah to be born sometime in the future. This prophecy fulfilled during Jesus' life on Earth. Now, the first time the Jews were driven off their land was when Nebuchadnezzar exiled them to Babylon. The restoration after the Babylonian captivity was the FIRST restoration of the Jews to the Holy Land. Now lets skip Isaiah 6-10 for a minute and go on to verse 11. Here we read that the Lord will restore his people to the Holy Land "a second time."
Isa 11:11 "Then it will happen on that day that the Lord Will again recover the second time with his hand the remnant of His people."
The Jews were dispersed for a second time into the nations thirty-seven years after Jesus was crucified, in 70 A.D., so the second restoration would have to take place after that. And it did. The second restoration took place in the new nation of Israel, established in 1948 A.D.. In that year, after almost 1900 years among the Gentiles, the Jews were restored to the Holy Land . . . for a second time! Now look at the chronology:
Isa 11:1-5 About the coming Messiah 32AD
Isa 11:6-10 About when? ????AD
Isa 11:11 About the 2nd restoration 1948AD
Well, if Isa 11:1-5 is about Jesus' life on Earth, and verse 11 can be positively pinned to 1948, to what time do you suppose the verses in between might refer? Well, because of context, verses 6-10 would have to refer to the time in between Jesus' life on Earth and 1948, wouldn't they? The only contextually sound way to look at Isa 11:6-10 is figuratively, as a picture of the Christian Era.
Now the premills recognize the figurative elements in Isa 11:1-5: the branch, the root, the fruit, the belt, the breath, and so on. They know this passage teaches that one of Jesse's descendants will be the Messiah. No one really expects a literal branch, with leaves and all, to spring out of the forehead of David's father. It is figurative, and the premill theologians know it, but when they read on a couple of verses, and see a lion eating straw, they say: "Ah, that’s gotta be literal, and since it hasn't happened yet, it must be going to take place in the millennium. And there is more support for our premill view." They further pontificate that during the millennium, a "nursing child will really play by the hole of the cobra," and "the leopard will really lie down with the kid," etc., thus doing away with God's natural law. Anything is possible with the Lord, of course, but a literal interpretation of those verses is certainly not their most probable meaning.
Many well-known Bible teachers are famous for accepting figurative interpretations for figurative language they understand, while demanding a literal interpretation for figurative language they don't . . . all the while, heralding their orthodoxy by broadcasting their faith in a "literal hermeneutic." But if the passage in question is figurative, a "literal hermeneutic" will not lead to truth. The literal or figurative nature of a Scripture is not determined by the reader, but by the author, and some Scriptures cannot be recognized as literal or figurative unless the principles of hermeneutics are applied without doctrinal bias. Interestingly enough, many Evangelical groups, including major Evangelical Bible colleges, use the premill view as a litmus test for orthodoxy. One Christian publisher even trumpets proudly that all of its publications are premill, as if a differing view on the millennium were mortal sin. But despite its popularity, the weight of scriptural evidence appears to be against the premill view. It will be interesting to see if the Holy Spirit can quicken the Church to the possibility that it is once again standing dogmatically on false doctrine.
But Is this Truth Important?
Some ask: "Does it really matter what we believe about the millennium? Isn't soul-winning where it's at?" Then making a steeple of their hands they add with eyes cast heavenwards, "Won't we all end up in Heaven together, anyway?" That kind of unctuous platitude just slays me. The idea that any truth is unimportant is of the devil. It ignores the spiritual nature of the Christian's battle and the shrewdness of the enemy. Spiritual warfare is a never-ending battle for truth. As the father of lies, Satan is the author of every false doctrine that gets into the Church. Every false doctrine we believe or teach (no matter how minor it may seem to us) helps the enemy and weakens our witness.
But how can the premill view hurt anyone? In the same way the pre-tribulation rapture myth can hurt. By rocking the Church to sleep with the sweet lullaby of "Judgment deferred," with the siren song that "hard times may be coming, but they're coming for the lost during the Great Tribulation, while we, the Church (because of our great piety and holiness), will be at the marriage supper of the Lamb, and later, ruling with Jesus in His wonderful millennial kingdom." That sounds ever so good and it certainly serves the flesh, but nothing could be further from the truth! We were appointed as Jesus' spiritual priests and kings for this present age to despoil the domain of the enemy. Every time a saint leads a sinner to the Lord, he is breaking into Satan's house, and carrying off his goods (Mat 12:29). Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as affirmed by the blood of the martyrs and the prayers of the saints, the enemy was bound throughout this age, "that he might not deceive the nations."
And he didn't. For centuries, the western world recognized Jesus as the Christ and that knowledge changed the world, but not any longer. Now the world is changing the Church by trying to make God acceptable to man, rather than warning man that he must become acceptable to God through the sacrifice of His Son. The world is in the condition it is today because we, the Church, have not done our job. And just as Scripture warned, Satan has been loosed upon us . . . Rev 20:7-8 "And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore."
Jesus bound the enemy at the cross (John 12:32) and then gave the Church the keys:
Mat 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
But the lukewarm Laodicean church of our own day has again set Satan free. Look at the spiritual conditions that have enveloped America in the last four decades. We Christians are responsible -- we are Jesus' kings and priests -- and if we really understand we are responsible we get busy serving the Lord so we will "not be ashamed at His coming." If we really believe that "judgment begins at the household of God," then we "work out our own salvation in fear and trembling," in godly fear of those trials "which are coming upon the earth":
Rev 12:11-12 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death. For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time."
However, if we believe judgment is for the other guy after we've been raptured out, or believe judgment is still a thousand years away, ah, that's a different story. Then we can dabble in the materialistic world for a while, repenting when we see Antichrist coming or when the Great Tribulation appears to be on the horizon. Meanwhile, to show our pro-life conservatism, we can protest an abortion clinic or two, join a march of some kind or put a few more dollars in the collection plate.
http://www.beholdthebeast.com/the_millennial_reign.htm
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
|
posted
quote:
I suggest that the reason people cast Revelation aside as a lesser book, is due to the influence of futurist interpretation of this book. Since these events are not occurring yet, and are off in the future somewhere, even if only ten years away, then all we can derive from it is the hope that evil will be over one day, and go on our merry way and simply staying saved for the time being. And let's pray we never have to be around in this world when that judgment comes! "Come before the tribulation, Jesus!"
But if everyone felt that these things were fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem, and that the Church is spiritually standing on a sea of glass, shouting Hossana to Jesus, because we accepted Him whereas Jerusalem rejected Him, then this implies a great deal of truths. Revelation 7, in noting this picture, says that the saints serve God day and night in His temple. Are we not the temple of the Holy Ghost now? Do we not serve Him now?
When one realizes that a fulfilled concept of Revelation is true, the implications will impact us so heavily, that we will all feel compelled to loose the power of God out from within our lives so much more than what we presently are, and believe God for greater things than we have dared believe Him for before. I know, because this is what happened to me.
The Tribulation is going to be a time of extreme hardship. The things that the 4 Horsemen represent will actually happen. The Seal Judgments, the Trumpet Judgments, and the Bowl Judgments will be real horrors that God rains down in His wrath. The anti-Christ will be a real man. The battle of Armageddon will be a real battle where anti-Christ brings a massive army of all the nations against Israel.
Christ returns to destroy the army and save Israel. Then all the civilian followers of anti-Christ will be destroyed. The anti-Christ and false prophet will be judged and destroyed.
The Millennial Kingdom will follow. A time of great peace and plenty, a HUGE contrast to the Tribulation. It will be far more wonderful than any time the world has ever seen.
Are you saying the Tribulation has already occurred and we're living in the Millennial Kingdom now? Here are the different beliefs. You believe postmillennialism?
PREMILLENNIALISM:
The earliest interpretation of the millennial reign of Christ is that of premillennialism. This belief holds that after a period of tribulation, Christ will return to physically establish His Kingdom on Earth for a period of one thousand years. During this time, Satan will be bound and unable to deceive people. After the millennium, Satan will be set free for a time, but his rebellion will be quickly vanquished. The premillennialist believes that this Kingdom is yet to come.
There are two subsets to premillennialism. Historic Premillenialism places the rapture of the church and the start of the millennium together as part of the same event. This is also known as a post-tribulation rapture, and contends that believers must endure the seven-year tribulation prior to the glorious reappearance of Jesus Christ. Dispensational Premillennialism is the belief in a pre-tribulation rapture of the church, followed by seven years of tribulation, and finally, the glorious reappearance of Christ and the start of His millennial reign.
The premillennial view adheres to a literal interpretation of the Bible. As previously mentioned, this is the oldest known interpretation of the millennial Kingdom. For the first two centuries, premillennialism was the accepted view of the church. Papias was a companion of Polycarp, who was discipled by John, the author of revelation. Papias believed in the literal earthly premillennial doctrine. Other second and third century scholars who held to this belief included Irenaus, Appolinarius, Victorinus, Tertullian, and Lactantius.
AMILLENNIALISM:
The amillennialist does not accept the literal interpretation of Revelation 20. The thousand years is figurative, and shouldn’t be taken literally. The millennium is a spiritual representation of the church age, in which we are now living. This view holds that Satan was bound at the first coming of Christ. The good in the world comprises the kingdom of Christ, and the evil in the world is part of Satan’s kingdom. The kingdom of Christ is the church itself. This view was first proposed by St. Augustine in the fourth century, and has been the favored position of the Roman Catholic church ever since. It is also a view that is common among reform protestant denominations. The amillennialist holds that Christ will reign through his church until His second coming, which will mark – not the millennial reign – but the beginning of eternity for believers.
POSTMILLENNIALISM:
In this view, Christ’s reign begins somewhere between the first and second coming, but it arrives in degrees. Like amillennialism, postmillennialism denies a literal interpretation of Revelation 20. They believe the thousand-year reign of Christ is figurative, and represents a time when He reigns through the hearts of believers. The kingdom is brought in gradually through evangelism.
Developed in the 16th century, this view holds that conditions will gradually improve over time, evolving into a world that has become “Christianized”, and ready for the second coming of Christ. Postmillennialism has become all but extinct as the result of two world wars, the Great Depression, and the unabated moral decay in the world. Conditions are definitely not improving.
PRETERISM:
Preterism often goes hand in hand with postmillennialism, and holds that the bulk of the prophecies in Revelation were fulfilled with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. The preterist does believe in a final judgment following a metaphorical millennial kingdom, but believes that all other prophecy has been fulfilled. This is the “been there, done that” view of Revelation.
Preterism has some severe flaws. First, most biblical scholars believe that John wrote Revelation around 95 A.D. How can he then prophecy about something that took place in 70 A.D.? When was the mark of the beast implemented (Revelation 13:16-17)? When did the Euphrates River dry up (Revelation 16:12)? Why is there no record of 100-pound hailstones falling from the sky (Revelation 16:21)? Why was Israel dispersed for nearly two thousand years, and reborn as an independent nation in 1948? These questions cannot be answered with any intellectual honesty while adhering to the preterist view.
On the basis of scripture, I contend that the premillennialist view is the only one mentioned that can pass the intellectual muster. The following list explains this contention:
Only the premillennialist view takes a literal interpretation of Revelation 20. While the Bible does speak allegorically at times, it is pretty clear when it is doing so. If a passage can be taken literally, it should be. One thousand years is mentioned specifically in vs 1-7. Other mentions of time in Revelation are specific (ten days - Rev.2:10; forty-two months – Rev. 11:2, 13:5), or otherwise vaguely noted (a little while – Rev. 6:11; a short time – Rev. 12:12).
Postmillennialism and amillennialism consider us to currently be in an allegorical millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ. Isaiah drew a mental picture for us when he described what life would be like during the millennial kingdom. In Isaiah 11:6-9 he says tells us, “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” This is a vision of an Eden-like utopia. How can anyone look at the world in which we live and describe it in these words? How can anyone think that Satan is in chains, and not running amok in this evil world?
The world in which we live is not the world as God created it. God created a world much like Isaiah described above. But man chose sinful rebellion and was cast out of that utopia. The millennial kingdom will provide our Lord and Savior, the Messiah Jesus Christ, with an opportunity to reign over a world that will be as it was meant to be. Satan will be bound and unable to exercise his influence over God’s creation. The blood of the martyrs will have been avenged, and the saints will be joined with our savior, in a preview of Heaven to come. In Revelation 22:20, Jesus said, “I am coming soon.” Let me close with the words John used in response to that promise, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
http://www.contenderministries.org/prophecy/millenialPF.php
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
|
posted
quote:
Originally posted by Carol Swenson:
quote:
I believe we are in a spiritual Millennial right now and once it ends Christ will return. But I remain open to enlightenment by the spirit.
This point of view skips over a lot of scripture, almost the entire Book of Revelation.
Not at all.
Most of Revelation applies to us today.
I know some think prophecy is all I think about. But I hope this note shows that prophecy involves more than unfulfilled disasters, and has great implications concerning WHAT THE CHURCH COULD and SHOULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW.
I think if you read my thoughts, you would agree there is much relevance to fulfilled prophecy today.
And to you who disregard any interest in studying Revelation, I think this may change your mind as well.
If not, hey! To each his own! This is a free country!
Many have heard the past fulfillment interpretation of the book of Revelation, and reacted prematurely saying that such a thought renders Revelation irrelevant to the church of our day and to each of us as Believers. Such a response is extremely incorrect. In fact, past fulfillment causes one to realize just how much more we should be doing for the Lord because of its implications. My entire concept has changed about my life as a Christian right in the here and now as a result of this understanding!
I also wish to address the thought that many people have who indicate they relegate Revelation and its information as not so important in their lives as, say, the need to win souls, for example. I propose that a futuristic interpretation and concept of Revelation has engendered just such a belief in the minds of these people. After all, if the events listed in Revelation have not yet occurred, then why be worried about them now?
To look at the events of Revelation, for the most part, as having already been fulfilled, implies a very vital truth. And it is this implication that has simply overhauled my own life as a Christian.
Let me begin by saying that if we were to relegate any past events of history as recorded in the Bible as irrelevant to our lives as Christians, then we had better throw out most of the New Testament! All four gospels are the history of Christ's ministry in this world. The crucifixion is a historical event! The book of Acts is the history of the early church. Much of the epistles speak about Paul's words concerning the problems with the various churches in that first century. Throw these books out, if history is irrelevant to our day today!
However, we all know such a thought is ridiculous! We need the accounts of Christ's life and crucifixion. We need the accounts of the early church in the book of Acts and the lists of problems and how Paul dealt with them in the early church period. Why? These events have IMPLICATIONS that affect our lives today as believers. I do not even have to explain the need for such implications, as that should be obvious to any believer today. But the correct approach to the book of Revelation is no less a valid point that should urge us to greatly value this book today.
The thought that the destruction of Jerusalem, for rejecting Christ and calling for pagan Caesar to be her king instead, as we propose is a great issue in the Book of Revelation, tells us that the destruction is all past and fulfilled. The implications to this proposition are enormous! We end up with the City of the New Jerusalem with a river of life flowing from it, and a tree of life with leaves for the nations' healing and fruit for meat. And just before John says "Amen", he wrote words inviting all who thirst to come to this very River of Life and drink, right now, of its waters!
We propose the City is the church of Jesus Christ! Do we do so as the result of flights of fancy interpretation? Absolutely not. Jesus, Himself called us a city!
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The writer of Hebrews synonymously called the church the Heavenly Jerusalem.
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heb 12:22-23 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (23) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul wrote about the mother, the church, as Jerusalem which is above.
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jerusalem above is not going to be the mother of us all. She is and she was 2000 years ago in Paul's day! She "is" the mother of us all.
God foretold that His people would be called a city!
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isa 60:1-3 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. (2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The early church viewed this prophecy as speaking about their day.
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And Isaiah continues and reads:
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isa 60:11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.
Isa 60:14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 60:15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
People might say this has not been fulfilled, despite the words of Acts 13:47, but nobody can deny that these words are saying that it is the PEOPLE OF GOD that are to be called a City. Isaiah 62 plainly states this to be so!
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isa 62:12 And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What does this imply? What does this tell us if we are to understand that we are already in the New Jerusalem, in the form of the New Testament church? It means a lot!
It means that we should be ruling and reigning as Kings right now. The dominion that everyone is waiting for to exert over the earth in the future, is a dominion we should be enjoying right now! This shook me to my very core! I was waiting for the millennium to begin and to one day rule as a king and priest. But I realized God already made us these things.
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rev 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (6) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hath made" is past tense! We were made kings and priests. Hello, kings and priests!
So what does it mean, then, to rule over certain cities, if this is a "now" thing?
It means revival! Church, we should be ruling our cities by having such mighty revival that righteousness begins prevailing in our communities. To one is given ten cities. This means on member of the church has enough power and anointing and ministry to lead revivals in ten cities! Do you deny this? Would not not say God could do this? Church, this message has challenged my soul and pushed me towards greater victories and more powerful influence through my own ministry! I was shaken to the core when these thoughts hit me. I thought of much time I have wasted! I was waiting for millennium to rule and reign with Jesus. But I realized I can rule right now in victory over my own life, by enjoying power over sin, as Paul indicated in Romans 6 when he said "sin shall not have dominion over you."
I began to see how anemic the church has become!
If that city is the people of God right now, as all indications from the rest of the Bible, as far as I see them, are telling me, then I need to get off my backside and start ruling and overcoming obstacles and stepping out in faith for God to use me in revival! If my thoughts are correct, then there are thousands of churches that are wasting precious time in thinking they are not yet kings and priests, and cannot rule right now. They are satisfied to think they are a witness in their city, and so long as they have open doors on Sunday, for hungry souls to come if they really want Jesus, then they are doing God's will.
No, they are not!
We need to be conquering our cities. We need to be stomping out the effects of devils and unclean spirits in our towns, by starting to live victoriously in our personal lives! We have saints who can barely hold onto Jesus, let alone conquer temptation in their lives, and refuse to let sin have dominion over them.
Unbelief runs rampant! Please understand I am not trying to be mean and hard. It's just the truth! Paul said sin shall not have dominion over you, since you have been buried into Jesus' death, and have thereby caused the destruction of the old man, so we should not serve sin. Yet believers look at such a thing as impossible because "we still have this old flesh." However, Paul contended that, despite our mortal bodies, God's Spirit can quicken these bodies so that we should not live the rest of our days to the lust of the flesh and to the flesh. Paul did it!
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rom 8:11-12 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What reason did Paul give for not having to be debtors to live after the flesh? It was because Christ's Spirit is in us to quicken our mortal bodies. That means that He can empower us right now while we have mortal bodies, so that we do not have sin reign over us.
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He is contrasting sin ruling in our mortal bodies, with our mortal bodies being quickened to no longer live after the flesh!
Meanwhile, saints do not believe this is possible! This "old flesh" still holds us down so much, and we won't have victory until we are changed. No sir! Paul said that in this present life sin does not have to have dominion over us. We should dominate sin! We are, presently, kings and priests! And we shall rule in this world!
No, I am not speaking about KINGDOM NOW doctrine, that proposes we take over the government offices of Ottawa and Washington.
We've got churches where there are not any more gifts of the Spirit in operation than an occasional message in tongues and an interpretation of tongues, or a healing every few months, and yet we call ourselves "Apostolic"!
This message stirred me up!
The ramifications of the fact that the wrath and destruction in the Book of Revelation is fulfilled, leads one to realize that this City needs to be pumping out the River of Life so that all who are athirst can come and drink of its waters right now, not 2,000 years from now, or even 10 years from now!
Jesus clearly explained that the river of living waters is the Holy Ghost that is a well inside us!
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How can we read these verses, and then interpret Revelation's river of living water as a literal and physical river of H20?
And the tree of life is in the church, also.
Compare:
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am glad that David wrote that the saint of God is like a tree whose leaf does not whither, because Revelation reads that those leaves are for the healing of the nations! This is speaking about saints of God who walk not in the way of sinners, not sit in the seat of the scornful! Read the previous two verses in Psalm 1. And the fruit is brought forth in his season, just as Revelation stated that the fruit was yielded every month. This is figurative talk, juts like Psalm 1:3 was figurative talk, of the saints of God.
And this Psalm chimes in harmony with these words:
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"...that they might be called trees of righteousness"
Jesus is inside us as the Holy Ghost, and pours forth the Rivers of Living water. Or rather, He should be pouring it forth from our lives. The fact is that many believers are defeated and the River is locked up within their souls and not pouring out.
Now, it has been said that such interpretations of Revelation are flights of fancy, without basis and foundation. However, I have quoted Psalm 1:3, which nobody would deny was not speaking figuratively about the saints of God. Psalm 1:1-2 says so! So I am simply making references of the things noted throughout Revelation, that I claim are figurative, to their established use of figures of speech in the rest of the Bible.
Revelation stated that the New Jerusalem had twelve foundations having a name of the twelve apostles in each foundation. Paul already interpreted that for us as follows:
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (22) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOES IT MATTER IF WE STUDY REVELATION OR NOT?
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I formerly noted that many relegate study of Revelation to be a lesser issue of importance than other biblical issues. Such thinking is extremely wrong. Revelation is an entire book of the Bible! Would God have us relegate an entire book of the Bible to be something of lesser concern than the rest of the Bible? Think of it. God took time and inspiration to move upon His servant, John, to write an entire book that people are casting aside today as unimportant. Oh, they might claim it's important, alright, but not as important as other issues.
I disagree. God wants us to clearly understand all of the Bible. And the temptation to cast off any study of Revelation whatsoever goes hand in hand with the thought that it is not as important as other issues.
Let me address this concept of this book by asking whether or not realization of how much more we should be doing as the church today, in the way of seeing more dominion in our personal lives and churches, is important? I think all would respond with a resounding YES! Well, this is the sort of thinking that thundered in my ears and echoed for months after I began looking at Revelation in this light.
I suggest that the reason people cast Revelation aside as a lesser book, is due to the influence of futurist interpretation of this book. Since these events are not occurring yet, and are off in the future somewhere, even if only ten years away, then all we can derive from it is the hope that evil will be over one day, and go on our merry way and simply staying saved for the time being. And let's pray we never have to be around in this world when that judgment comes! "Come before the tribulation, Jesus!"
But if everyone felt that these things were fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem, and that the Church is spiritually standing on a sea of glass, shouting Hossana to Jesus, because we accepted Him whereas Jerusalem rejected Him, then this implies a great deal of truths. Revelation 7, in noting this picture, says that the saints serve God day and night in His temple. Are we not the temple of the Holy Ghost now? Do we not serve Him now?
When one realizes that a fulfilled concept of Revelation is true, the implications will impact us so heavily, that we will all feel compelled to loose the power of God out from within our lives so much more than what we presently are, and believe God for greater things than we have dared believe Him for before. I know, because this is what happened to me.
Has my ministry changed? Yes. I have seen more miracles in my ministry, more anointing upon my preaching, and more faith for greater things. I leave you with this as my personal testimony as to what a difference the correct view of prophecy has done in my own life.
What are the fruits of this interpretation? The fruits are evident in my own ministry. And would not something be truly considered as correct if the results are that it urges one towards greater exploits for the Lord, and a deeper appreciation for what we already have provided for us because of the present experience of the new birth that the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ provided for us? I think so!
http://mikeblume.com/imply.htm
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
|
posted
quote:
I believe we are in a spiritual Millennial right now and once it ends Christ will return. But I remain open to enlightenment by the spirit.
This point of view skips over a lot of scripture, almost the entire Book of Revelation.
The church will be Raptured, then the world will experience the Tribulation described in Revelation, then:
Revelation 19
Marriage of the Lamb to His Bride (the church) in Heaven
After the 7 year Tribulation, the Coming of Christ and His Bride to Earth when He will kill His enemies
Doom of the Beast (anti-Christ) and False Prophet
Judgement of the goats and sheep (Matthew 25:31-46)
Revelation 20
Satan Bound for a Thousand Years
Christ and His Saints reign for a Thousand Years
Satan Freed, Doomed to the Lake of Fire
Judgment of the Unsaved at the Throne of God
Revelation 21
The New Heaven and Earth
The New Jerusalem
We are living in the Age of Grace, (the Church Age), not the Millennial Kingdom.
During the Millennial Kingdom, the KING will reign from His throne in Jerusalem. He will be physically present. Hallelujah! I am sooo happy!!! No more war, crime, corruption, pollution, abortion, pedophiles, prejudice ...
The King And His Kingdom
Revelation 19-20
How will it all end?” has been mankind’s major question for centuries. Historians have studied the past, hoping to find a clue to understanding the future. Philosophers have tried to penetrate the meaning of things, but they have yet to find the key. No wonder perplexed people have turned in desperation to astrology and spiritism!
The prophetic Word of God shines like a “light … in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19), and on that we can depend. Here in Revelation 19-20, John has recorded five key events that will take place before God “wraps up” human history and ushers in His new heavens and earth.
Heaven Will Rejoice (Rev. 19:1-10)
When Babylon fell on the earth, the command was given in heaven, “Rejoice over her!” (Rev. 18:20) and what we read in this section is heaven’s response to that command. The word alleluia is the Greek form of the Hebrew word hallelujah, which means “praise the Lord.” This is heaven’s “Hallelujah Chorus” and it will be sung for three reasons.
God has judged His enemies (vv. 1-4).
Since the “great ***** [harlot]” of Revelation 17 was destroyed by “the beast” and his fellow rulers (Rev. 17:16) in the middle of the Tribulation, the “great ***** ” referred to here must be Babylon the Great. Comparing Revelation 17:2 with 18:3 and 9, the connection is obvious. Both the apostate religious system and the satanic economic-political system led the world astray and polluted mankind. Both were guilty of persecuting God’s people and martyring many of them.
The song emphasizes God’s attributes, which is the proper way to honor Him. We do not rejoice at the sinfulness of Babylon, or even the greatness of Babylon’s fall. We rejoice that God is “true and righteous” (Rev. 15:3; 16:7; 17:6) and that He is glorified by His holy judgments. As we discovered in Revelation 8:1-6, God’s throne and altar are related to His judgments. Revelation 19:3 should be compared with Revelation 14:10-11, and Revelation 19:4 with Revelation 5:6-10.
God is reigning (vv. 5-6).
The literal translation is, “The Lord God omnipotent has begun to reign.” This does not suggest that heaven’s throne has been empty or inactive, because that is not the case. The Book of Revelation is the “book of the throne,” and the omnipotent God has indeed been accomplishing His purposes on earth. This burst of praise is an echo of Psalm 97:1—“The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice!”
God has been reigning on the throne of heaven, but He is now about to conquer the thrones of earth as well as the kingdom of Satan and “the beast.” In His sovereignty, He has permitted evil men and evil angels to do their worst; but now the time has come for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Domitian was emperor of Rome when John was on Patmos, and one of his assumed titles was “Lord and God.” How significant it must have been, then, to John’s readers that he used the word alleluia four times in the first six verses of this chapter—truly, only Jehovah is worthy of worship and praise.
The bride is ready (vv. 7-10).
The bride, of course, is the church (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:22-33); and Jesus Christ, the Lamb, is the Bridegroom (John 3:29). At a wedding, it is customary to focus attention on the bride; but in this case, it is the Bridegroom who receives the honor! “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him.”
“What did the bride wear?” is the usual question asked after a wedding. The Lamb’s bride is dressed “in the righteous acts of the saints” (literal translation). When the bride arrived in heaven at the Judgment Seat of Christ, she was not at all beautiful (in fact, she was covered with spots, wrinkles, and blemishes according to Paul in Eph. 5:27); but now she is radiant in her glory. She has “made herself ready” for the public ceremony.
Jewish weddings in that day were quite unlike weddings in the Western world. First, there was an engagement, usually made by the parents when the prospective bride and groom were quite young. This engagement was binding and could be broken only by a form of divorce. Any unfaithfulness during the engagement was considered adultery.
When the public ceremony was to be enacted, the groom would go to the bride’s house and claim her for himself. He would take her to his home for the wedding supper, and all the guests would join the happy couple. This feast could last as long as a week.
Today, the church is “engaged” to Jesus Christ; and we love Him even though we have not seen Him (1 Peter 1:8). One day, He will return and take His bride to heaven (John 14:1-6; 1 Thes. 4:13-18). At the Judgment Seat of Christ, her works will be judged and all her spots and blemishes removed. This being completed, the church will be ready to return to earth with her Bridegroom at the close of the Tribulation to reign with Him in glory (see Luke 13:29; Matt. 8:11). Some students believe that the entire Kingdom Age will be the “marriage supper.”
Revelation 19:9 contains the fourth of the seven “beatitudes” found in the book (see Rev. 1:3). Certainly the bride is not invited to her own wedding! This invitation goes out to the guests, believers from the Old Testament era and the Tribulation. During the eternal state, no distinctions will be made among the people of God; but in the Kingdom Age, differences will still exist as the church reigns with Christ and as Israel enjoys the promised messianic blessings.
John was so overwhelmed by all of this that he fell down to worship the angel who was guiding him, an act that he later repeats! (Rev. 22:8-9) Of course, worshiping angels is wrong (Col. 2:18) and John knew this. We must take into account the tremendous emotional content of John’s experience. Like John himself, this angel was only a servant of God (Heb. 1:14); and we do not worship servants (see Acts 10:25-26).
Christ Will Return (Rev. 19:11-20:3)
First, John described the Conqueror (Rev. 19:11-16) and then His conquests (Rev. 19:17-20:3). The rider on the white horse (Rev. 6:2) is the false Christ, but this Rider is the true Christ. He is not coming in the air to take His people home (1 Thes. 4:13-18), but to the earth with His people, to conquer His enemies and establish His kingdom.
Note the emphasis on Jesus’ names (Rev. 19:11-13, 16). He is “Faithful and True” (see Rev. 3:14), in contrast to “the beast” who was unfaithful (he broke the covenant with Israel) and false (he ruled by means of deception and idolatry). Suffering saints need to be reminded that God is faithful and will not desert them, because His promises are true.
Perhaps the “secret name” (see Rev. 19:12) is the same as the “new name” (Rev. 3:12). Not knowing what this name is, we cannot comment on it; but it is exciting to know that, even in heaven, we shall learn new things about our Lord Jesus!
“The Word of God” is one of the familiar names of our Lord in Scripture (John 1:1-14). Just as we reveal our minds and hearts to others by our words, so the Father reveals Himself to us through His Son, the incarnate Word (Rev. 14:7-11). A word is made up of letters, and Jesus Christ is “Alpha and Omega” (Rev. 21:6; 22:13). He is the “divine alphabet” of God’s revelation to us.
The Word of God is “living and powerful” (Heb. 4:12); what’s more, it fulfills His purposes on earth (Rev. 17:17; note also Rev. 6:11; 10:7; 15:1). Jehovah Himself says, “I am watching to see that My Word is fulfilled” (Jer. 1:12, niv). Just as the Word was the Father’s Agent in Creation (John 1:1-3), so the Word is His Agent for judgment and consummation.
Christ’s most important name is “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16). This is His victorious name (Rev. 17:14), and it brings to mind references such as Daniel 2:47 and Deuteronomy 10:17. Paul used this same title for our Lord Jesus Christ in 1 Timothy 6:15. The title speaks of Christ’s sovereignty, for all kings and lords must submit to Him. No matter who was on the throne of the Roman Empire, Jesus Christ was his King and Lord!
The greatness of Christ is seen not only in His names, but also in John’s description of the conquering King (Rev. 19:12-16). The eyes “as a flame of fire” symbolize His searching judgment that sees all (Rev. 1:14). The many crowns (diadems) indicate His magnificent rule and sovereignty. The vesture dipped in blood speaks of judgment and probably relates to Isaiah 63:1-6 and Revelation 14:20, the conquest of His enemies. It is not our Lord’s blood that marks His vesture, but that of His foes.
The sharp sword is a symbol of God’s Word (Rev. 19:21; see also Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12; Rev. 1:16). This is in keeping with the fact that Christ will consume the enemy “with the spirit of His mouth” (2 Thes. 2:8; note also Isa. 11:4). We have met with the “rod of iron” before (Rev. 2:27; 12:5), a symbol of His justice as He rules over the earth. The image of the winepress must be associated with the judgment at Armageddon (Rev. 14:14-20; see also Isa. 63:1-6).
Jesus is not alone in His conquest, for the armies of heaven ride with Him. Who are they? Certainly the angels are a part of this army (Matt. 25:31; 2 Thes. 1:7); but so are the saints (1 Thes. 3:13; 2 Thes. 1:10). Jude describes the same scene (Jude 14-15). The word saints means “holy ones” and could refer to believers or angels.
It will be unnecessary for the army to fight, for Christ Himself will defeat the enemy through three great victories.
He will defeat the armies of the kings of the earth (vv. 17-19, 21).
These warriors have assembled to fight “against the Lord and against His anointed” (Ps. 2:1-3), but their weapons prove futile. The battle turns out to be a slaughter—a “supper” for the scavenger birds! The first half of Revelation 19 describes the marriage supper of the Lamb; the last half describes the “supper of the great God” (see Matt. 24:28; Luke 17:37).
The word flesh occurs six times in this paragraph. While John’s immediate reference is to the human body, eaten by the vultures, there is certainly a deeper meaning here: man fails because he is flesh and relies on flesh. The Bible has nothing good to say about fallen human nature. Recall the Lord’s words before the Flood: “My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh” (Gen. 6:3). (See also John 3:6; 6:63; Rom. 7:18; Phil. 3:3.) “All flesh is as grass” (1 Peter 1:24) and must be judged.
This is the account of the well-known “battle of Armageddon,” which was anticipated earlier (Rev. 14:14-20; 16:13-16). All that our Lord has to do is speak the Word, and “the sword of His mouth” will devour His enemies.
He will defeat “the beast” and false prophet (v. 20).
Since Satan’s “henchmen” are the leaders of the revolt, it is only right that they be captured and confined. They are cast into the lake of fire (see Rev. 20:10, 14-15), the final and permanent place of punishment for all who refuse to submit to Jesus Christ. “The beast” and false prophet are the first persons to be cast into hell. Satan will follow 1,000 years later (Rev. 20:10), to be joined by those whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life (Rev. 20:15).
Today, when an unbeliever dies, his spirit goes to a place called hades, which means “the unseen world”—that is, the realm of the dead. When believers die, they go immediately into the presence of the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6-8; Phil. 1:19-23). Hades will one day be emptied of its dead (Rev. 20:13), who will then be cast into hell to join Satan, the beast, and the false prophet.
Satan will be defeated (vv. 1-3).
The “bottomless pit” spoken of in Revelation 20:1 is not the same as hell; it is the “abyss” that we have met before in our studies (Rev. 9:1-2, 11; 11:7; 17:8). Satan is not cast into hell immediately, because God still has one more task for him to perform. Rather, Satan is confined in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. First, Satan was cast out of heaven (Rev. 12:9), and now he is cast out of earth!
Some Bible students feel that the “chaining” of Satan took place when Jesus died on the cross and arose from the dead to ascend to heaven. While it is true that Jesus won His decisive victory over Satan at the cross, the sentence against the devil has not yet been effected. He is a defeated foe, but he is still free to attack God’s people and oppose God’s work (1 Peter 5:8). I think it was Dr. James M. Gray who suggested that, if Satan is bound today, it must be with a terribly long chain! Paul was sure that Satan was loose (Eph. 6:10ff), and John agreed with him (Rev. 2:13; 3:9).
Having taken care of His enemies, the Lord is now free to establish His righteous kingdom on the earth.
Saints Will Reign (Rev. 20:4-6)
The phrase “thousand years” occurs six times in Revelation 20:1-7. This period in history is known as “the Millennium,” from two Latin words, mille (“thousand”) and annum (“year”)—the 1,000-year kingdom of Christ on earth. At last, Christ and His church will reign over the nations of the earth, and Israel will enjoy the blessings promised by the prophets (see Isa. 2:1-5; 4:1-6; 11:1-9; 12:1-6; 30:18-26; 35:1-10).
Is this a literal kingdom on earth, or should these verses be “spiritualized” and applied to the church today? Some interpreters say that the term “a thousand years” is simply a number meaning “ultimate perfection” (10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000). They assert that it is a symbol of Christ’s victory and the church’s wonderful blessings now that Satan has been defeated and bound. This view is known as amillennialism, which means “no millennium”—that is, no literal kingdom.
The problem with this view is that it does not explain why John introduced the period with a resurrection of the dead. He was certainly not writing about a “spiritual” resurrection, because he even told how these people died! And in Revelation 20:5, John wrote of another literal resurrection. If we are now in the 1,000-year kingdom of victory, when did this resurrection take place? It seems reasonable to assume that John wrote about a literal physical resurrection of the dead, and a literal kingdom on earth.
What is the purpose of the millennial kingdom? For one thing, it will be the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel and to Christ (Ps. 2; Luke 1:30-33). Our Lord reaffirmed them to His own Apostles (Luke 22:29-30). This kingdom will be a worldwide display of Christ’s glory, when all nature will be set free from the bondage of sin (Rom. 8:19-22). It will be the answer to the prayers of the saints, “Thy kingdom come!” It will also be God’s final demonstration of the sinfulness of sin and the wickedness of the human heart apart from God’s grace, but more on this later.
The Tribulation martyrs will be raised from the dead and given glorious thrones and rewards. The church will share in this reign, as symbolized by the twenty-four elders (Rev. 5:10; see also 2:26-28; 3:12, 21; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 2 Tim. 2:12). Some Bible students believe that the Old Testament saints will also be a part of this “first resurrection” (Dan. 12:1-4).
The phrase “general resurrection” is not found in the Bible. On the contrary, the Bible teaches two kinds of resurrections: the first is of the saved and leads to blessing; the second is of all the lost and leads to judgment (note especially John 5:28-29; Dan. 12:2).
Revelation 20:6 describes the special blessings of those who share in the first resurrection. They did not earn these blessings; they are part of the believer’s inheritance in Jesus Christ. This is the sixth of the seven “beatitudes” in Revelation; the final one is in Revelation 22:7. These resurrected believers will share Christ’s glorious life, reigning as kings and priests with Him, and never experience the “second death,” the lake of fire (hell, Rev. 20:14).
During the Millennium, the inhabitants of the earth will include not only glorified saints, but also citizens of the nations who bow in submission to Jesus Christ (see Matt. 25:31-40; also 8:11). Because of the earth’s perfect conditions, people will live long lives (Isa. 65:17-25, especially v. 20). They will marry and have children who will outwardly conform to our Lord’s righteous rule. But not all of them will be truly born again as the Millennium progresses; and this explains why Satan will be able to gather a great army of rebels at the close of the Kingdom Age (Rev. 20:8).
For many centuries, man has dreamed of a “golden age,” a “utopia” in which the human race will be free from war, sickness, and even death. Men have tried to achieve this goal on their own and have failed. It is only when Jesus Christ reigns on David’s throne that the kingdom will come and the earth be delivered from the oppression of Satan and sin.
Satan Will Revolt (Rev. 20:7-10)
At the close of the Millennium, Satan will be released from the pit and permitted to lead one last revolt against the Lord. Why? As final proof that the heart of man is desperately wicked and can be changed only by God’s grace. Imagine the tragedy of this revolt: people who have been living in a perfect environment, under the perfect government of God’s Son, will finally admit the truth and rebel against the King! Their obedience will be seen as mere feigned submission, and not true faith in Christ at all.
The naming of “Gog and Magog” (Rev. 20:8) does not equate this battle with the one described in Ezekiel 38-39; for that army invades from the north, while this one comes from the four corners of the earth. These two events are related, however, inasmuch as in both battles, Israel is the focal point. In this case, Jerusalem will be the target (“beloved city,” Pss. 78:68; 87:2). God will deal with this revolt very quickly and efficiently, and Satan will be cast into hell. Note that “the beast” and false prophet will still be suffering in the lake of fire after 1,000 years! (see Matt. 25:41)
In one sense, the millennial kingdom will “sum up” all that God has said about the heart of man during the various periods of history. It will be a reign of law, and yet law will not change man’s sinful heart. Man will still revolt against God. The Millennium will be a period of peace and perfect environment, a time when disobedience will be judged swiftly and with justice; and yet in the end the subjects of the King will follow Satan and rebel against the Lord. A perfect environment cannot produce a perfect heart.
God is now about to “wrap up” human history. One great event remains.
Sinners Are Recompensed (Rev. 20:11-15)
There shall be a second resurrection, and the unsaved will be raised and will stand before God’s judgment. Do not confuse this judgment at the White Throne with the Judgment Seat of Christ, where believers will have their works judged and rewarded. At this judgment, there will be only unbelievers; and there will be no rewards. John described here an awesome scene. Heaven and earth will flee away and no place will be left for sinners to hide! All must face the Judge!
The Judge is Jesus Christ, for the Father has committed all judgment to Him (Matt. 19:28; John 5:22-30; Acts 17:31). These lost sinners rejected Christ in life; now they must be judged by Him and face eternal death.
From where do these “dead” come? Death will give up the bodies, and hades (the realm of the spirits of the dead) will give up the spirits. There will even be a resurrection of bodies from the sea. No sinner will escape.
Jesus Christ will judge these unsaved people on the basis of what is written “in the books.” What books? For one thing, God’s Word will be there. “The Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Every sinner will be held accountable for the truth he or she has heard in this life.
There will also be a book containing the works of the sinners being judged, though this does not suggest that a person can do good works sufficient to enter heaven (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Why, then, will Jesus Christ consider the works, good and bad, of the people before the White Throne? To determine the degree of punishment they will endure in hell. All of these people will be cast into hell. Their personal rejection of Jesus Christ has already determined their destiny. But Jesus Christ is a righteous Judge, and He will assign each sinner the place that he deserves.
There are degrees of punishment in hell (Matt. 11:20-24). Each lost sinner will receive just what is due him, and none will be able to argue with the Lord or question His decision. God knows what sinners are doing, and His books will reveal the truth.
“The Book of Life” will be there, containing the names of God’s redeemed people (Phil. 4:3; Rev. 21:27; note also 13:8; 17:8). No unsaved person will have his or her name in the Lamb’s Book of Life; only true believers are recorded there (Luke 10:20).
When the judgment is finished, all of the lost will be cast into hell, the lake of fire, the second death. Many people reject the biblical doctrine of hell as being “unchristian,” and yet Jesus clearly taught its reality (Matt. 18:8; 23:15, 33; 25:46; Mark 9:46). A sentimental kind of humanistic religion will not face the reality of judgment, but teaches a God who loves everyone into heaven and sends no one to hell.
Hell is a witness to the righteous character of God. He must judge sin. Hell is also a witness to man’s responsibility, the fact that he is not a robot or a helpless victim, but a creature able to make choices. God does not “send people to hell”; they send themselves by rejecting the Saviour (Matt. 25:41; John 3:16-21). Hell is also a witness to the awfulness of sin. If we once saw sin as God sees it, we would understand why a place such as hell exists.
In light of Calvary, no lost sinner can condemn God for casting him into hell. God has provided a way of escape, patiently waiting for sinners to repent. He will not lower His standards or alter His requirements. He has ordained that faith in His Son is the only way of salvation.
The White Throne Judgment will be nothing like our modern court cases. At the White Throne, there will be a Judge but no jury, a prosecution but no defense, a sentence but no appeal. No one will be able to defend himself or accuse God of unrighteousness. What an awesome scene it will be!
Before God can usher in His new heavens and earth, He must finally deal with sin; and this He will do at the Great White Throne.
You can escape this terrible judgment by trusting Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. By so doing, you never will be a part of the second resurrection or experience the terrors of the second death, the lake of fire.
“He that heareth My Word,” said Jesus, “and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment], but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).
Have you trusted Him and passed from death unto life?
(Wiersbe)
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
|
posted
quote:
No, I don't agree with postmillennialism. I believe in a pretribulation Rapture of the Church, a seven year Tribulation, and a literal one thousand year reign of Christ on this Earth, known as the Millennial Kingdom.
Do you believe Christ is with us physically or spiritually during the thousand years?
Also, what in your view happens at the end of the thousand years?
I believe we are in a spiritual Millennial right now and once it ends Christ will return. But I remain open to enlightenment by the spirit.
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
|
|
WildB
Moderator
Member # 2917
|
posted
quote:
Originally posted by Carol Swenson:
Caretaker ![[thumbsup2]](graemlins/thumbsup2.gif)
ditto!
--------------------
That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
|
|
|
|
Caretaker
Advanced Member
Member # 36
|
posted
quote:
Originally posted by Bloodbought:
Hi Carol,
Can you please point me to the scripture that says the Church will be Raptured a thousand years before Christ returns?
I see only one coming of Christ and one resurrection of both the just and the unjust at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The Church of believers will be resurrected on the last day. The last day is the final day; there is no day after the last day.
This is how it will be on the last day.
1 Th 4:15 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.
2 Pet 3:10 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.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things , be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Like these early New Testament believers, we should be looking for the last day, not a day that is a thousand years in advance of the last day.
It would help if you could lay aside the Roman Catholic/Anglican indoctrination which has misinterpreted the passage in regards to the Great White Throne Judgment.
It is NOT the dead just and unjust, but the dead great and small which are part of the second resurrection of the unrighteous dead.
1 Thess 4:
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.
Rev. 19:
7: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8: And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9: And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
14: And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15: And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16: And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
17: And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18: That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
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.
Are the dead in Christ with Him at His return?
Are we which are alive and remain with Christ at His return?
Rev. 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.
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.
Have the dead in Christ been resurrected?
Are we which are alive and remain with the Lord?
Please note that it is the DEAD who are brought before the great White Throne.
Either we who are alive and remain must be killed and then resurrected, and those who have been resurrected, killed and the resurrected or the Believer does not have a part in the second resurrection.
Please note that when satan is loosed and deceives, after the Thousand years, all those who he deceives are destroyed by God, and become part of the unrighteous dead:
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 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.
It is the dead who are brought forth in the second resurrection to stand before the Great White Throne:
Rev. 20:
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.
This is the summary statement, the watermark between the first and second resurrection:
15: And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
For NONE of the unrighteous dead are found in the Lamb's Book of Life.
--------------------
A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
|
posted
quote:
Originally posted by Bloodbought:
quote:
Originally posted by Carol Swenson:
quote:
Can you please point me to the scripture that says the Church will be Raptured a thousand years before Christ returns?
Where in the world did you get that from?
All right then, I’m glad you agree with me.
There is no resurrection before Christ returns.
No, I don't agree with postmillennialism. I believe in a pretribulation Rapture of the Church, a seven year Tribulation, and a literal one thousand year reign of Christ on this Earth, known as the Millennial Kingdom, and finally the eternal state.
Here are the ressurections.
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged |
|
|
WildB
Moderator
Member # 2917
|
posted
quote:
Originally posted by Bloodbought:
quote:
Those who carelessly built upon the foundation with wood, hay, and stubble are going to suffer irreparable loss, but Paul adds an interesting statement: "but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." God is always faithful to His Word. Even though a believer may suffer the devastating loss of eternal reward, according to the Word of God he will still be saved, for God has promised eternal life to all who believe (Rom. 6:23). You see salvation isn't based upon our good works, but rather the finished work of Christ. It is after our conversion that we learn believers "are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). Notice we "should walk in them," which strongly implies not all will see the importance of living for the Lord.
Amen.
"I have always believed that this passage is clear proof that evolution is the Devil's lie. "All flesh is not the same flesh." How true! If we evolved from the lower life forms as the evolutionists claim, then the flesh of fish should be compatible with human flesh; yet one is warm-blooded and the other cold. Nor is it possible to give a transfusion of blood from animals to humans, which you would think could certainly be done since this is farther along on the evolutionary timetable. Of course the point Paul is making is this, terrestrial bodies differ from one another and each has its own glory.
He now contrasts earthly and heavenly bodies. As we look heavenward, the sun has a greater glory than the moon. It sustains life upon the earth. Interestingly, God created the sun on the fourth day of creation to demonstrate that He could sustain life upon the earth apart from the sun. He is sovereign! The very essence of His being is greater in power and glory than the sun.
The light of the moon which graces the night sky has a greater glory than the stars. Its phases during the course of a month are a heavenly demonstration of God's handiwork. Amazingly the moon's gravitational pull upon the earth causes both high and low tides that show not only order, but design.
Although the moon has a greater glory than the stars, the apostle adds, "One star differeth from another star in glory." Man continues to build more and more powerful telescopes to peer into the universe, but with each one he discovers more of these heavenly bodies called stars. He is increasingly frustrated because he's unable to number them. But consider this: God "telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names" (Psa. 147:4). We agree with King David, "such knowledge is...high," it's infinite!
Astronomers tell us that stars vary in size—some are much larger than others. In fact some, like the North Star, are brighter while others form constellations such as the Big Dipper. Paul would have us understand that in both the earthly and heavenly realm there is diversity and differing degrees of glory. Then he adds, "So also is the resurrection of the dead." (See I Cor. 15:42).
Thus, there is a major difference between these natural bodies we possess and the resurrected body. One is sown in corruption and eventually will perish, but the other is raised in incorruption never to perish again. One is sown in dishonor due to the Adamic nature while the other is raised in glory. With creation as a backdrop, there will also be differing degrees of glorification in the resurrection, based on whether or not we faithfully served the Lord. This could well mean that the faithful will have greater adaptation to their eternal surroundings and perhaps greater responsibility.
The Judgment Seat of Christ ends the administration of Grace. As we witness the dawn of eternity, wonder of wonders, God is going to "show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:7). May the love of Christ motivate us to live for Him rather than ourselves. After all, the things around us which we call prized possessions are merely temporal, but the unseen things that we've laid up in heaven will impact us for eternity."
![[rapture]](graemlins/rapture.gif)
--------------------
That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
|
posted
quote:
Those who carelessly built upon the foundation with wood, hay, and stubble are going to suffer irreparable loss, but Paul adds an interesting statement: "but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." God is always faithful to His Word. Even though a believer may suffer the devastating loss of eternal reward, according to the Word of God he will still be saved, for God has promised eternal life to all who believe (Rom. 6:23). You see salvation isn't based upon our good works, but rather the finished work of Christ. It is after our conversion that we learn believers "are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). Notice we "should walk in them," which strongly implies not all will see the importance of living for the Lord.
Amen.
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
|
posted
quote:
Originally posted by Carol Swenson:
quote:
Can you please point me to the scripture that says the Church will be Raptured a thousand years before Christ returns?
Where in the world did you get that from?
All right then, I’m glad you agree with me.
There is no resurrection before Christ returns.
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
|
|
WildB
Moderator
Member # 2917
|
posted
The Judgment Seat of Christ - Part 3
By Paul M. Sadler
"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire" (I Cor. 3:13-15).
As we have seen, one of the symbols of the Word of God is fire. At the Judgment Seat of Christ it will be applied to our works and purge away the dross. Only those things done for Christ of a permanent nature will endure this Divine review. For those who consistently built upon the foundation with gold, silver and precious stones, their works will abide and they will be rewarded accordingly. While we are not told the nature of these rewards, we should always desire the fullness of what God has provided for us. It is a solemn thought that our present conduct will have a bearing upon us throughout eternity.
Those who carelessly built upon the foundation with wood, hay, and stubble are going to suffer irreparable loss, but Paul adds an interesting statement: "but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." God is always faithful to His Word. Even though a believer may suffer the devastating loss of eternal reward, according to the Word of God he will still be saved, for God has promised eternal life to all who believe (Rom. 6:23). You see salvation isn't based upon our good works, but rather the finished work of Christ. It is after our conversion that we learn believers "are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). Notice we "should walk in them," which strongly implies not all will see the importance of living for the Lord.
JUDGE NOT
"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God" (I Cor. 4:5).
Judgment may take the form of discernment or passing final sentence upon someone. For example, we are at liberty to judge or discern the things that differ in God's Word; however, we have no right to judge others. Those who hastily condemn their fellow man are treading upon Divine ground.
As the apostle says, we are to "judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come." We simply are not in a position to judge anyone. Who among us can know the motive behind someone's actions, much less the intent of their heart? Certainly no one can ever say they have all the details needed to make an impartial ruling. Even general observations in life are usually an inaccurate assessment of the actual circumstances. Allow me to illustrate:
Charles Swindoll one time related an experience he had in his own life. He was speaking at a week-long conference in California where, every time he spoke, a certain man would fall asleep after twenty minutes. By the end of the week, Chuck said that he was irritated by it, yet he said nothing about it.
After the last meeting, the wife of the man came up to Chuck and told him that her husband was too embarrassed to come. She went on to share with him that her husband was dying and the medication he took made him sleepy. But she said that he wanted her to tell Chuck how much he loves him, and that his final request was that he be able to attend a conference where Chuck were speaking.
Things are not always as they appear; therefore, we are wise never to judge anything before the time. You may just generate more wood, hay, and stubble than you bargained for when the trump sounds.
Notice in the above passage that it is when the Lord comes, "who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts." We are to understand that this is the Lord's Secret Coming for the Body of Christ, which of course, includes the Judgment Seat of Christ. So Paul is speaking here of the judgment of believers at that day. This raises the question as to whether or not our sins will be taken into consideration at this review, especially in light of the fact the apostle states the Lord will reveal the hidden things of darkness.
Clearly the believer is forgiven in Christ of all sins: past, present, and future. As the apostle says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). We are beyond the reach of God's judgment as far as condemnation is concerned. With this in mind, if there is to be a fair and impartial hearing it will be necessary for our indiscretions to be brought to light. In other words, the Lord is going to set the record straight, without forgetting we are His children.
Take for example the pastor who embezzles the savings of a godly widow under the pretext that she's helping the work of the ministry. He may think he's gotten away with it, but at that day his evil deed will be exposed. Although the widow was deceived, she will be richly rewarded since she gave the gift out of concern for lost souls. Her intentions were as pure as the wind-driven snow! The pastor, on the other hand, will suffer shame and great loss for his actions. Paul warns all those who minister in the things of the Lord in this manner, "some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after" (I Tim. 5:24).
Unsound doctrine is closely associated with ungodly behavior. Usually the premise is that the end justifies the means. Sadly, the motive of some who preach the gospel is not always what it should be. Paul could surely relate to this, for he says regarding his ministry: "The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds" (Phil. 1:16). These types of sinful motives will be brought to light at the Bema Seat, not to mention the harm they caused the Lord's work.
Those who are guilty of spreading lies and slandering others will have much to answer for when they stand before the Lord. Remember these words and remember them well: "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (Heb. 13:17). Those who have had their reputation ruined at the hands of carnal believers have this promise: God will right all wrongs.
The story is told of the American missionary organization that raised money for property, including buildings, in a country in Europe. When the Chairman of the European Board resigned, a local board member was able to usurp authority, rewrite the constitution of the organization, and declare himself owner. The Christian leader, in effect, stole the property from the Christian organization, expelled its leadership, and put the church and newly built apartments in his name.1 It is hard for us to believe that the Lord would simply overlook such an injustice. Rest assured, those who engage in such behavior will have their corrupt ways laid bare and suffer unbelievable loss in the process.
In this connection the question is often asked, will there be tears in heaven? As sure as the sun rises in the morning, you can count on it! These will be tears of regret and remorse over what could have been if we had only remained faithful to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. The emotion at times is going to be overwhelming. But the greatest regret of all will be when we see the sorrow on our Savior's face for how we mistreated one another as members of the Body of Christ. Thankfully these tears will be wiped away at the close of this judgment—there will be no more sorrow or crying. "Then shall every man have praise of God" (I Cor. 4:5). The same will be true of the prophetic saints as they prepare to enter the eternal state (Rev. 21:3-5).
DID YOU KNOW?
Sadly, most believers have little interest or concern regarding the Judgment Seat of Christ. They live as though they will never stand before the Lord and give an account of their life. By the time they take the matter seriously it will be too late. But did you know there are at least three areas that will profoundly affect our walk throughout eternity?
"For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy" (I Thes. 2:19,20).
In Paul's epistles there are three crowns promised to those who faithfully serve the Lord. This particular passage seems to indicate that these are not literal crowns that will be handed out; rather they will be honors bestowed upon those who have earned them. The crown of rejoicing has been called the soul-winners crown. Paul had personally led many at Thessalonica to a saving knowledge of Christ. He rejoiced that they had been delivered from the power of idols, which can neither speak nor reason, to worship the true and living God.
Think of it, if the angels rejoice when one sinner is saved, surely heaven will resound with a shout upon the completion of our redemption. In that day, the Lord is going to publicly acknowledge Paul and all those who had a burden for lost souls. This will be a reward in itself to hear the Savior say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." The rejection and ridicule we experienced at the hands of unscrupulous men will be but a passing memory.
"If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us: If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself" (II Tim. 2:12,13).
Every member of the Body of Christ is said to be seated with Christ in the heavenlies; therefore, we will rule and reign with Christ over the earth. But not all will hold the same position or degree of authority. This will be determined by our willingness to suffer for His name's sake, here and now. We are going to assume the positions of authority left vacant when Satan and His fallen host are cast out of heaven. Each of these positions represent degrees of authority which have been patterned after God's orig-inal heavenly order; they are: principalities, powers, mights, dominions, thrones, etc. (Eph. 1:21; Col. 1:16 cf. Eph. 6:12).
If you had a choice, which earthly position of authority would you wish to hold—a Cabinet post in Washington or a Clerk at a small town County Seat who files court records? You see, "if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him," but if we are ashamed of Christ due to the fear of men, "He also will deny us," that is, a higher position and greater degree of authority. Bear in mind, there will be no room for advancement in eternity since our position will be fixed by what transpires at the Bema Seat. Perhaps we need to follow the motto of the Army, "To be all that you can be," but in this case for the Lord. You will not regret the decision!
If we "believe not" that this is true and that He is able to keep us, He abides faithful, even though we are unfaithful, because He cannot deny Himself. In short, He has promised to save us and will honor His Word. The honor of His name is at stake.
Apparently, the degree we are going to be glorified in the resurrection is also determined by our current conduct and service. As Paul develops the theme of the resurrection in I Corinthians 15, he states:
"All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory" (I Cor. 15:39-41).
I have always believed that this passage is clear proof that evolution is the Devil's lie. "All flesh is not the same flesh." How true! If we evolved from the lower life forms as the evolutionists claim, then the flesh of fish should be compatible with human flesh; yet one is warm-blooded and the other cold. Nor is it possible to give a transfusion of blood from animals to humans, which you would think could certainly be done since this is farther along on the evolutionary timetable. Of course the point Paul is making is this, terrestrial bodies differ from one another and each has its own glory.
He now contrasts earthly and heavenly bodies. As we look heavenward, the sun has a greater glory than the moon. It sustains life upon the earth. Interestingly, God created the sun on the fourth day of creation to demonstrate that He could sustain life upon the earth apart from the sun. He is sovereign! The very essence of His being is greater in power and glory than the sun.
The light of the moon which graces the night sky has a greater glory than the stars. Its phases during the course of a month are a heavenly demonstration of God's handiwork. Amazingly the moon's gravitational pull upon the earth causes both high and low tides that show not only order, but design.
Although the moon has a greater glory than the stars, the apostle adds, "One star differeth from another star in glory." Man continues to build more and more powerful telescopes to peer into the universe, but with each one he discovers more of these heavenly bodies called stars. He is increasingly frustrated because he's unable to number them. But consider this: God "telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names" (Psa. 147:4). We agree with King David, "such knowledge is...high," it's infinite!
Astronomers tell us that stars vary in size—some are much larger than others. In fact some, like the North Star, are brighter while others form constellations such as the Big Dipper. Paul would have us understand that in both the earthly and heavenly realm there is diversity and differing degrees of glory. Then he adds, "So also is the resurrection of the dead." (See I Cor. 15:42).
Thus, there is a major difference between these natural bodies we possess and the resurrected body. One is sown in corruption and eventually will perish, but the other is raised in incorruption never to perish again. One is sown in dishonor due to the Adamic nature while the other is raised in glory. With creation as a backdrop, there will also be differing degrees of glorification in the resurrection, based on whether or not we faithfully served the Lord. This could well mean that the faithful will have greater adaptation to their eternal surroundings and perhaps greater responsibility.
The Judgment Seat of Christ ends the administration of Grace. As we witness the dawn of eternity, wonder of wonders, God is going to "show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:7). May the love of Christ motivate us to live for Him rather than ourselves. After all, the things around us which we call prized possessions are merely temporal, but the unseen things that we've laid up in heaven will impact us for eternity.
Endnote
1. Your Eternal Reward by Erwin W. Lutzer, Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois, pg. 66.
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/articles/1044571278.html
--------------------
That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
|
|
WildB
Moderator
Member # 2917
|
posted
The Judgment Seat of Christ - Part 2
By Paul M. Sadler
"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is" (I Cor. 3:12,13).
The poet, Friedrich Von Logau, said, "Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly small." William Wadsworth Longfellow elaborated and said, "Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly small. Though with patience He stands waiting, with exactness He grinds all."1 The judgments of God are like a fire sweeping across the floor of a pine forest—all consuming. Nothing will escape His eternal presence in the Day of Judgment. Although there have been many injustices in the household of God through the centuries, God has not forgotten. "He stands waiting, with exactness He grinds all."
Paul begins, "Now if any man," that is, any pastor, teacher, or evangelist, "build upon this foundation." While these words are primarily meant for those who hold positions of leadership within the Church, they also apply to every member of the Body of Christ. Consequently, all should take heed to the apostle's admonition.
BUILDING ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN
Gold and Wood
Gold, silver, and precious stones represent our good works and faithful service. On the other hand, the wood, hay, and stubble represent those things that are done in the flesh, which are temporary in nature. Since Paul uses the metaphor of the temple in this context, we are given a hint as to the significance of these particular building materials. Paul assumes, of course, that we already understand what these materials symbolized in the Old Testament. Surely we can never do justice to this subject due to the endless line of thought that each of these images convey. So with God's help, we offer the following for your consideration.
In the Old Testament gold symbolized deity. The furniture in both the tabernacle and the temple was overlaid with pure gold. When the priest entered the Holy Place, directly before him stood the golden altar of incense, where incense was burned, which portrayed the prayers of the saints ascending to God. This was an act of worship. On his right hand was the golden table of showbread, and on his left stood the golden candlestick with six branches (Ex. 25:23,24,31,32; 30:1,3).
Once a year on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies on behalf of the people; but not without blood. When he stepped behind the veil he stood in the very presence of God. As he sprinkled the blood on the Mercy Seat—located on top of the Ark of the Covenant—it should be noted that both were overlaid with gold. So then, gold is closely associated with the presence and worship of God (Ex. 25:10,11,17-19).
Today, our worship of God rests upon the revelation given to us by the Apostle Paul. Herein are the commands of Christ that we are responsible to obey. In so doing we are using gold in our construction. But what does God expect of us in regard to worship? Worship is simply service—it means to serve, pay homage. However you cannot serve God, or acceptably pay homage to Him, unless you have a knowledge of His will.
The primary focus of our worship must be the proclamation of the Word of God, with special emphasis laid upon rightly dividing the Word of truth (II Tim. 2:15 cf. II Tim. 4:2). Of course, singing, prayer, giving, and testimonials should complement the preaching of the Word, but never infringe upon it in any way. In the administration of Grace, it is Paul who shows us how to worship. Hence, we must acknowledge his apostleship and message to build that which is lasting upon the foundation, which is Christ Jesus. This impacts every area of our worship.
For example, unlike Israel, we worship the God of all grace who's doing something new and different among the Gentiles. Unlike Israel, who had limited access to the throne of God, we have full access. Unlike Israel, who sought the forgiveness of her sins through atonement, we are forgiven on the basis of Christ's precious blood.
An outward expression of worshipping God is our giving. Under the law, God required His people to give ten percent of their earnings. This was known as the law of the tithe. Furthermore, the law was clear that their offerings and special donations were to be given in addition to the tithe. Today, we are to give from our heart as God has prospered us, which differs from person to person (I Cor. 16:1,2).
Everything connected to the tabernacle/temple spoke in some way of the person and work of Christ. As we know, the acacia wood used in the construction of the furniture in the temple was all overlaid with fine gold. The combination of wood, which symbolized humanity, and gold was significant because both typified Christ—He was wholly God and wholly human in one person (Ex. 25:10,11 cf. Isa. 53:2).
Wood, then, is closely associated with the flesh. As one of the building materials, it represents those things pleasing to self, and that which is done for appearance sake. Once again, worship is in view since wood and gold correspond to one another. But here we have a refusal on the part of the worshipper to fully acknowledge Paul's gospel, for one reason or another. Many count the cost, and the cost is simply too high to stand in the defense and confirmation of Paul's message. They prefer to merely blend in with the mainstream of Christendom, where the music is plentiful and the experience gratifying. These "feel good ministries" thrive on emotionalism, but offer little in the way of substance from the Word of God.
The motto of the Church today is, "Let me entertain you!" Shame on us! Surely we've lost our way, and sadly, the uniqueness of our message in the process. When a new family asks a pastor, "What does this church have to offer us?" it is obvious the Church has drifted far from its original purpose. The proper request should be, "Pastor, what can my family do to help further the cause of Christ?"
We have a life-changing message that's being smothered by compromise. The world is drunk with entertainment. It's quietly searching for answers to the eternal questions: Where did I come from? What is my purpose in life? Where will I spend my eternal destiny? Think of it, we have the answers to these questions, and more! But the new philosophy of ministry has loftier goals. It says the Church must be more progressive to meet the needs of the community. So while Christian leaders are busy planning the next church extravaganza to outdo the assembly down the street, lost souls are going to a Christless eternity.
Why do we insist upon grieving the heart of God!? We need to rededicate our pulpits and services to the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the Mystery. If we follow Paul's pattern, the Word of God will stir the hearts of the saints to do the work of the ministry. This is true worship in action! Remember and remember well, we must all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Silver and Hay
Silver was another precious metal that was prominent throughout the tabernacle. All the sockets that supported this structure were made of silver. Inasmuch as these sockets were made from the redemption money given by the children of Israel to ransom their souls unto the Lord, it is clear silver speaks of redemption (Ex. 25:1-3; 30:11-16; 36:24; 38:27). It points to the redemptive work of Christ and the need to be saved.
With redemption now a reality, we are to tell a lost and dying world that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their sins unto them. So it is important that we are following the correct commission. Although many sincere believers are operating under the Great Commission, they are sincerely wrong. This commission, with its baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, and signs, miracles and wonders, was given to Israel under the old economy. Today, we are to proclaim the commission of reconciliation (II Cor. 5:18-21).
So then, as we make known the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, we must again turn to Paul's epistles in order to present the correct terms of salvation, which are: Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again (I Cor. 15:1-4). The Bema Seat will declare if we had a burden for lost souls and faithfully shared the gospel of salvation with those around us. It will also be made manifest if we cared enough to follow-up with those we had the privilege of leading to Christ. In short, were we faithful to see that they became rooted and grounded in the truth of the unsearchable riches of Christ?
Hay is a temporal commodity. Since it stands opposite of silver, it represents those who have no interest whatsoever in the salvation of others. Here's a Christian who doesn't have a burden for lost souls. He's too busy for such things, or the fear of men has silenced him. He knows he should be witnessing for Christ and plans to get around to it someday, but the years pass like the flower of the field and his life ends misspent.
All too often the excuse is, "I'm not an evangelist, I leave such things to those who are more qualified!" This may be true, but every believer is responsible to do the work of the evangelist (II Tim. 4:5). You see, we have access to people and places the evangelist can only long for. Stop and think, when was the last time you prayed for the Lord to give you boldness to witness to someone? When was the last time you were concerned about a loved one near to you that is in danger of eternal damnation? When was the last time you shared with someone the truth that God loves them and Christ died for their sins? Remember, the clock's ticking, not only for them, but for you as well!
Precious Stones and Stubble
Precious stones also bear a connection to the Old Testament temple. The High Priest was required to wear a breastplate when he ministered in the things of the Lord, which contained twelve precious stones (Ex. 28:15-29). Each stone represented one of the twelve tribes of Israel. They symbolized the glory of God. The breastplate was a constant reminder that the Lord's people were to be close to the heart of the High Priest as he faithfully ministered on their behalf, and also executed judgment. As a result, God was glorified among them.
When we come to Christ, we are saved by grace through faith alone apart from works. However, after we are saved by the grace of God, we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. According to Paul's gospel, we are the ministers of God today, and we are to glorify Him through good works. These include raising our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, volunteering our time at the Rescue Mission, given to hospitality, small acts of kindness, etc. It has been said, "Nobody is going to care how much you know, until they know how much you care."
Fred Craddock, in an address to ministers, caught the practical implications of consecration. "To give my life for Christ appears glorious," he said. "To pour myself out for others...to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom—I'll do it. I'm ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory. We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the table—`Here's my life, Lord, I'm giving it all.' But the reality for most of us is that He sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $1,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there in little acts of love in service for others. Usually, giving our life to Christ isn't glorious. It's done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it's harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul."
Our motives and the intent of the heart also have a great bearing on our service for Christ. Allow me to illustrate: Pick one thing you really enjoy doing in life—fishing, traveling, skiing, attending craft shows, etc. Once the date is set, you're probably like a sweet ant in a sugar bowl. The anticipation is more fun than a barrel of monkeys, and when the day finally arrives, you savor every moment. Now, do we approach the things of the Lord with the same enthusiasm, or do we serve Him out of necessity? If the members of the Body of Christ put half the effort into the Lord's work that a diehard Green Bay Packer football fan puts into a game at Lambeau Field, we'd make a lasting imprint on the world.
Stubble has little redeeming value. It's like the chaff that the wind sweeps away from the threshing floor. This is the believer who sows to the flesh. The pleasures and possessions of this world have crowded out any interest in serving the Lord. Like Demas, he has turned his back on the Lord's work, having loved this world. The loss this believer is going to suffer is immeasurable.
THAT DAY
"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire" (I Cor. 3:13-15).
"Every man's work shall be made manifest." God is going to bring forth every man's work for a complete and thorough review. The apostle here is speaking of the body of a man's work that he produced over the course of his Christian life. We often say concerning someone who devoted his entire life to a particular cause, "this was his life's work." In other words, it was the sum total of all he accomplished. The same will be true of the believer, for "the day shall declare it." What day? The day of Christ when we must all appear before the Bema Seat.
"And the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." Fire is a symbol of the Word of God. Prior to the Babylonian captivity, Jeremiah became very discouraged with the things of the Lord. So he packed his bags one day and essentially said to himself, "That's it, I've had it with this stiff necked people, I quit!" "I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name. But His Word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay" (Jer. 20:9).
With our marching orders for the Body of Christ found in Paul's epistles, we are going to be judged by the Word of God in light of his revelation. As our works are brought under the scrutiny of God's Word, there are going to be two searching questions at that day: First, did we acknowledge Paul's apostleship and message to the Gentiles? Second, were we obedient to the commands of Christ taught in his writings? Of course, the Lord will judge the members of His Body on the basis of their faithfulness to the light they had in regard to the revelation of the Mystery. The Word of God, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, will distinguish what s-o-r-t of work it is. It is not a matter of the volume of work done, but what type—the issue is quality, not quantity.
Only those things that were done for Christ in relation to His heavenly ministry will be able to endure the intense scrutiny of the Word of God.
Endnote
1. The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart, by Charles R. Swindoll, W Publishing Group, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 323.
--------------------
That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
|
|
WildB
Moderator
Member # 2917
|
posted
The Judgment Seat of Christ - Part 1
By Paul M. Sadler
In the glory days of American sports, when athletes competed for the love of the game or event, Jim Thorpe stands out as perhaps the greatest all-around athlete our country has ever produced. Born near Prague, Oklahoma in 1888, Thorpe began his athletic career at a small school in Carlisle, Pennsylvania where he established himself as an outstanding football player, both at the college and professional level. But he was probably best known for his remarkable achievements at the 1912 Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden.
At the Stockholm games, Jim Thorpe, a Native American Indian, became the first athlete to win both the Pentathlon and the Decathlon. The Pentathlon is a one-day event which includes the long jump, javelin throw, 200-meter race, discus throw, and 1,500-meter race. The two-day Decathlon is a rigorous 10-event competition. On the first day, the participants compete in the 100-meter race, long jump, shot-put, high jump, and 400-meter race. On the second day, they compete in the high hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1,500-meter race. Having participated in some of these track and field events years ago, I can say that this was an amazing accomplishment.
Sadly, Jim Thorpe, was disqualified when it was learned that he had played baseball for a small salary some years earlier. The Amateur Athletic Union ruled that he was, therefore, "a professional athlete and ineligible to compete in the Olympic Games." He was subsequently stripped of his Gold Medals for failing to observe the rules.1
The Apostle Paul says that those who participate in these games "do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." What we do for Christ now, which is likened to a race, will echo throughout eternity. The apostle's great fear was that when he preached to others he would fail to bring himself into subjection to the things of the Lord, and consequently be disqualified at that day. In a nutshell, he didn't want to be a hypocrite.
A SOLEMN OCCASION
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II Cor. 5:10).
The themes of redemption and judgment are woven throughout the Scriptures. So it is important to rightly divide the Word of truth to ascertain which judgment pertains to us. Since Paul uses the personal pronoun "we" in the above passage and foregoing context, we can safely conclude that he is addressing the members of the Body of Christ. The Judgment Seat of Christ is a dispensational phrase solely found in Paul's epistles. It is referred to in his revelation as "the day," "that day," and "the day of Christ." This particular judgment will be a review of the believer's conduct and service which takes place at the Rapture of the Church. According to I Thessalonians this is a planned meeting that was kept secret since the world began (Rom. 16:25 cf. I Thes. 4:17).
"For we must all appear." Every believer in Christ has an appointment with the Lord—pastors and members of their congregation, Bible teachers and students, evangelists and converts, faithful and unfaithful, etc. Little wonder the Scriptures warn both leaders and those who sit under their ministries accordingly:
"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth there-on. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon" (I Cor. 3:10).
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (Heb. 13:17).
While Paul makes frequent references to the Judgment Seat of Christ in both his early and latter epistles, he deals extensively with the subject in the Corinthian letters. This isn't without rhyme or reason; the apostle wanted the Corinthians to understand the gravity of their ungodly conduct. They seemed to be oblivious to the fact that someday they were going to stand before the Lord and give an account of their actions. Some may have even denied this based on the assumption that we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies. Although this is true positionally, the practical outworking of the matter is determined by our present conduct. The Corinthians would one day have to answer for the turmoil they caused in the local assembly, due to their envy, strife, divisions, carnality and immoral lifestyles.
This raises the question as to why God doesn't simply judge believers when they die. Why wait until the Rapture of the Church? Here we must keep in mind that our lives touch the lives of others even in death. For example, Pastor J. C. O'Hair died in 1958, yet his writings and tape messages continue to bring others into a knowledge of the Mystery. Even though he is dead, he yet speaketh! Conversely, the Christian father who carelessly lives a worldly life influences his children to follow in his footsteps. The long-term effects of such a lifestyle will not be overlooked at that day.
But God has another reason to withhold judgment until the Judgment Seat—a solemn one indeed! Paul says, "Every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). The terms "every one" and "himself" clearly indicate that each of us will stand individually before the Lord to give an answer for our behavior. But this doesn't imply that others will not be present at times during the course of this examination. In fact, this will be a necessity to set the record straight. More will be said about this later.
THE JUDGE
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ." As the phrase implies, Christ will be our Judge. According to John 5:27 the Father has placed all judgment into the hands of His dear Son. He is the perfect Judge. Even though the Mystery was still a secret when the events of John chapter five occurred, the principle of Christ's judgeship certainly applies during the administration of Grace.
The apostle says in Colossians 2, "In Him [i.e. Christ] dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." As God, He knows our innermost thoughts and motives and the intent of the heart. On the other hand, He took upon Himself the form of a human servant and dwelt among us. No one will be able to stand before Him at that day and say, "Lord you just don't understand!" Oh, but He does, my dear friend. Christ suffered in all points as we, yet without sin. As the prophet said, "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Isa. 53:3).
The Greek word for Judgment Seat here is Bema. In biblical times it was a raised platform, with ascending steps, where rulers handed down decisions (Acts 18:12-16). It was also the place where the judges presided over the Greek games. From this vantage point they could see the entire field of events. To be summoned to the Bema meant one of two things; either the participant was disqualified for disobeying the rules or rewarded with a garland for winning a particular event.
When we appear with Him in glory, Christ will hold a position of exaltation. As the righteous Judge, He will be clothed in glory, honor and majesty as we stand before Him. Unlike the Great White Throne, condemnation is not the issue at this judgment. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). Since the sin question was answered for the believer at Calvary, this examination has to do with whether or not we have devoted our life to Christ and faithfully served Him. But will our sins be taken into consideration at the Bema? We will have more to say on this later.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
There has been an ongoing debate if the phrase "the things done in his body" is speaking of the believer's body or the Body of Christ. It seems clear that Paul has the individual believer in mind. The original dia tou somatos has the idea of the things done "through our body." In other words, there is a moral accountability insofar as our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are, therefore, accountable for its deeds, whether they are good or of no value. For example, we believe Paul's instructions to the Colossians capture the moral responsibilities of slaves and masters or employees and employers.
"Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons" (Col. 3:22-25).
In the final assessment, the Lord is going to compensate both labor and management for the good they have done and whatever wrongs they may have committed. Every believer in Christ can expect to receive a reward for good conduct and loss for misconduct. Little wonder Paul adds:
"Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences" (II Cor. 5:11).
While the Corinthians lived as if there was no tomorrow, Paul cautions them regarding the "terror of the Lord." Some have concluded that the apostle is now turning his attention to the unsaved, but this interpretation does a great injustice to the context in which the passage is set. The terror or fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. But in what sense should the believer fear the Lord? Consider for a moment standing before the Lord with perfect recall of every idle word, thought and deed. We should fear the possible devastating consequences of a misspent life, not to mention the inspection itself.
With this in mind, Paul sought to persuade men as to the gravity of the occasion. Of what did the apostle seek to convince believers? Since the behavior of the Corinthians left much to be desired, Paul is passionately trying to persuade them to walk worthy of their calling. This beckons the question, are we living up to God's expectations? Paul could confidently say, "But we are made manifest unto God." You see Paul had a clear conscience concerning his actions among them. Thus, he desired that his manner of life before the Lord would be manifested in his hearers' consciences that they, too, would be to the praise of His glory at that day. (See II Tim. 3:10,14).
THE PREMISE OF THE JUDGMENT SEAT
"Ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (I Cor. 3:10,11).
As we turn to I Corinthians Paul addresses our service in relation to the Judgment Seat of Christ. Interestingly, as he develops this theme he uses the metaphor of the "temple" in verse 16. While we lay great emphasis upon rightly dividing the Word of truth, we must also recognize that there are connections between the two programs of God. As members of the Body of Christ we are numbered with the household of God and therefore joined to the living temple, which God foreordained before the foundation of the world. This explains why Paul uses the metaphor of a temple when he speaks of us collectively. Hence, Ephesians Chapter 2:
"In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph. 2:21,22).
God has raised up a new masterbuilder to add an addition to the household of God that was not included in the original plans of the Prophetic Program. It was hidden in the mind of God until the raising up of the Apostle Paul. He is the divinely ordained architect who laid a new section of foundation, which is Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the Mystery (Rom. 16:25; Eph. 3:1-10). The apostle was very, very careful not to build upon another man's foundation, nor should we (Rom. 15:20). Of course, he was referring to building upon Peter's foundation who preached Jesus Christ according to the Kingdom promised by the prophets of old.
Like a father, Paul warns us, "I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon" (I Cor. 3:10). The foundation upon which the Judgment Seat of Christ is based will be Jesus Christ according to His heavenly ministry, as revealed by Paul. So then, as we serve the Lord we must take care to use Pauline materials when building upon our foundation, otherwise we will suffer the consequences at that day.
--------------------
That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
|
posted
quote:
Can you please point me to the scripture that says the Church will be Raptured a thousand years before Christ returns?
Where in the world did you get that from?
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
|
posted
Hi Carol,
Can you please point me to the scripture that says the Church will be Raptured a thousand years before Christ returns?
I see only one coming of Christ and one resurrection of both the just and the unjust at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The Church of believers will be resurrected on the last day. The last day is the final day; there is no day after the last day.
This is how it will be on the last day.
1 Th 4:15 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.
2 Pet 3:10 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.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things , be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Like these early New Testament believers, we should be looking for the last day, not a day that is a thousand years in advance of the last day.
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
|
posted
Bloodbought,
Things are not going to get better. The Gospel will never be accepted worldwide. Instead, the Church will be Raptured, and things are going to keep getting worse and worse for those left on Earth. In fact, things are going to be worse than the world has ever seen or ever will see again, until our Lord returns at the end of the Great Tribulation and destroys His enemies.
The Millennial Kingdom begins after the Great Tribulation.
The Gospel of the Kingdom will be taught all over the world during the Tribulation and the Millennial Age. Even so, when Satan is loosed at the end of the thousand years he will be able to raise a great army to stand against Christ. Satan and his army will be destroyed, and then the end will come and eternity will begin.
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged |
|
|
WildB
Moderator
Member # 2917
|
posted
Yepper.
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
--------------------
That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
|
posted
There is only one message to all nations including Israel and that is the gospel of the kingdom.
“Matthew 24:14 (ESV)
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
The question is, has there been a time when all nations throughout the whole world received this gospel of the kingdom?
I believe this prophecy has yet to be fulfilled, and when it is, the end will come.
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
|
posted
quote:
It is generally thought that Daniel Whitby (1638-1725) developed systematic postmillennialism, as a clearly distinct form of millenarianism. This does not mean that elements of systematic postmillennialism did not exist prior to Whitby, for they clearly did. However, it seems best to understand the maturity of postmillennialism into a distinct system as post-Reformational and in a sense an optimistic form of amillennialism. Thus, postmillennialism's development is dependent upon amillennialism.
Only a handful of partisan polemicists would attempt to argue that postmillennialism has a post-apostolic presence. " All seem to agree that postmillennialism is quite foreign to the apostolic church. There is no trace of anything in the church which could be classified as postmillennialism in the first two or three centuries."
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
|
posted
By Greg L. Bahnsen
In this article I discuss the recent decline in the espousal of postmillennialism, defend it as a basic system of theological thought against certain misguided criticisms, elaborate its key tenet in contrast to amillennialism and premillennialism, and supply a general defense of its acceptability in the light of the history of Reformed theology. What shall be demonstrated is that its recent unpopularity has been unjustified and that the position must be taken quite seriously by all who adhere to Reformation Christianity.
http://www.cmfnow.com/articles/pt031.htm
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
|
posted
Postmillennialism is the belief that Christ will return after the millennium. Thus, the name " post" (after) millennial (1000). All postmillennialists believe that the current age is the kingdom, while some believe that the millennial phase of the kingdom is present and others hold that it is yet future when the world has been Christianized. Postmillennialists also believe the Church is the agent through which this return to Eden will be mediated by Christ the King from heaven. Most postmillennialist have stressed the preaching of the gospel, resulting in a conversion of most of mankind as the means for Christianization. However, the more recent Reconstructionist version adds to evangelism obedience and faithfulness to biblical law as a condition for victory. Some postmillennialist believe that the conversion of the world will be a very slow and gradual process, taking perhaps thousands of years more. On the other hand, others believe that conversion could happen within a short period of time (about 10 years) as the result of a great revival. Systematic postmillennialism was the last of the three major eschatologies to develop. It was first taught within the church in the seventeenth century.
Objections to Postmillennialism
The greatest problem with postmillennialism is the fact that the Bible just does not teach it. Where is a specific passage that teaches the postmillennial concept? Not a passage that they think it their best, from which they attempt to develop a postmillennial theology. I am asking for a passage that teaches the idea of postmillennialism. It is nowhere to be found in the Bible. Lack of specific biblical support is fatal to postmillennialism for any Bible believing Christian. This explains why their normal presentation approach is to first attack premillennialism and then present broad theological concepts that one must adopt as a framework with which on needs to approach biblical texts.
Basic to postmillennialism failure to match up with Scripture is its lack of a consistent hermeneutic. At key points, postmillennialism must abandon the literal hermeneutic of the historical, grammatical, and contextual approach for some degree of spiritualization.
Thomas Ice
Read full article at
http://www.raptureready.com/featured/ice/WhatisPostmillennialism.html
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
|
posted
Post-millennialists feel obligated to carefully obey the laws of interpretation: among which are the following:
1. There is the law of non-contradiction. Inspired Scripture must be interpreted in harmony with itself. It cannot be correctly interpreted when it is forced to plainly contradict itself.
2. No vast, complicated and far-reaching doctrine of Scripture can be built on a single text or passage of Scripture.
3. No doctrine can be built on highly poetic, figurative, or symbolic language, if it is not also supported elsewhere by plain
prose.
4. Manifestly, the Christ - taught and Holy Spirit - inspired writers of the New Testament are the best interpreters of the Old Testament, and of the meaning of its rites, ceremonies and symbols.
5. Jesus' plain statements are the ultimate authority on all questions of truth and doctrinal interpretation, from which there can be no appeal. His words brush aside all human contradictions. Any teachings, or theories, or notions that conflict with what He has said are nothing but the chaff and rubbish of human fancies and speculations. "Heaven and earth shall pass away," said Jesus, but my words shall not pass away."
Post-millennialists as they "search the Scriptures" find just one passage of Scripture that mentions a millennium (which means a thousand years). The phrase occurs six times in six verses in the beginning of the twentieth chapter of Revelation. This is one of the most figurative and symbolical passages in the most figurative and symbolical book in the entire Bible. If the vast system based on this passage Is true, we might expect to see the glorious coming of God breaking through the heavens in overwhelming glory, and the risen bodies of the saints going out to evangelize the earth. Now, what are the facts?
I. There is in the passage no mention of the advent of Christ. Is it possible that John should see the mighty angel, and the key, and the chain, and the Devil, and yet not see the Son of God Himself? Alford says: "Aggelos (angel) in this book, never means Christ." Dr. Steele adds: "Thus far in the Apocalypse there is not the slightest intimation that Christ has made His Second Advent in visible form."
In chapters 19-21 Christ wars against the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies; but the assumption that this is a literal battle fought on the earth by Jesus in Person, riding on a white horse, with a sharp sword going out of His mouth, is absurd and unendurable literalism. John saw these things in vision in the opened heaven, and he says he "saw the armies which were in heaven." The Scriptures are unanimous in making heaven the fixed abode of Christ, until He shall come to judge mankind at the last day. It was not till after the millennium passage that John saw Christ on the great white throne "From whose face the earth and the heavens fled away."
II. There are no raised bodies of saints or martyrs in this passage. He saw the "souls of them that had been beheaded," just as in chapter-9: 6 he saw "the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God." It was in heaven that he saw them. This fact virtually excludes the idea of seeing risen bodies.--Moreover, after the millennium, when the resurrection was reached, John did see the rising bodies: "The sea gave up its dead."
III. Post-millennialists feel that there is a total lack of evidence that these martyrs reigned with Christ on the earth. The vision has thus far been located in heaven. So say the noble commentators, Bengel, Wesley, Moses Stewart, Clarke, Barnes, Agar Beet, of England, Dr. Whedon, Daniel Steele, Henry Cowles, Dr. Hodge, and a host of others. "In heaven, and not on earth!" .
It is clear that John did not mean to teach a literal resurrection of the martyrs; but that there would exist at the time of the thousand years, a state of things "as if," "as if" the martyrs were raised from the dead. Their principles would be revived; their moral spirit would inspire the hearts of living men, as if they themselves had come back to earth. So Archbishop Whately wrote: "It may signify not the literal raising of dead men, but the raising up of an increased Christian zeal and holiness,--the revival in the Christian Church of the Spirit and energy of the noble martyrs of old, even as John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elias."
This is no far-fetched interpretation! It is the very language of the noble martyr Huss, who said of himself, "I am no dreamer:
but I maintain this for certain, that the image of Christ shall never be effaced. It shall be painted in all hearts by much better preachers than myself. The nation that loves Christ shall rejoice at this, and I awaking from among the dead, and arising so to speak from my grave, shall leap with great joy."--In like manner, a brief, addressed by Pope Adrian, to the Diet at Nuremburg contains these words: "The heretics Huss and Jerome, are now alive again in the person of Martin Luther." These quotations justify the contention that the revival of the principles and spirit of the martyrs might, in the highly figurative language of Revelation, naturally be called a resurrection, when no literal resurrection from their graves was meant.
IV. The Post-millennialists feel driven to this interpretation to preserve the harmony of the Scriptures-the law of non-contra-diction! For if we admit that a literal resurrection is taught in this passage, rising a thousand years before the general resurrection, then it appears to contradict Jesus, and a score of other passages,--all in perfect agreement, and seems to make utter confusion of the Bible on this and many other subjects. For instance, 1. In John 5: 28, 29, Jesus said: "The hour cometh in which all that are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done ill, unto the resurrection of judgment." Now that is the decision of the Omnipotent Son of God who knows the future, and tells us nothing untrue! Four times in the very next chapter He describes four good men who believe on Him and have eternal life, and of each of them He says, "I will raise him up at the last day!" Chapter 6: 39, 40, 44, 54.
Jesus said to Martha, "Thy brother shall rise again." Martha saith unto Him, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Where did Martha learn that? Unquestionably she learned it in her own home, from Jesus' own lips, as she sat with her brother and sister at His feet, and looked up into His blessed face. Those six passages, all from the lips of Jesus, prove to a demonstration that all the good shall be raised up at the last day. And I dare to suggest that there is no later day than the last day for anybody to be raised! In the second chapter of Romans, St. Paul teaches the same truth,--"A day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God upon every man that worketh evil, but glory and honor to every man that worketh good, in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Christ Jesus." One day of resurrection and judgment for good and bad alike! Of course Paul and Christ agree! And Post-milennialists think it is passing strange and even incredible, that, if there are several resurrections and judgments, there is not elsewhere in all the New Testament one hint, one intimation, or one allusion of them.
V. Post-millennialists hold that, if Rev. 20: 1-7, describes a literal resurrection, then all must be literal,--a literal angel, a literal serpent, a literal chain, a literal pit, and literal thrones, and, mark it! a literal resurrection of only beheaded martyrs. Other martyrs who were killed by torture, or burned at the stake, or eaten by lions in the ampitheatre can not be included, much less all the righteous dead. No fair biblical interpretation can pick out one of these terms and make it literal, and read into the other terms what you please. There is an utter absence of all general terms, such as abound elsewhere concerning the resurrection of all, or of any of the righteous at the beginning of the millennium.
VI. Post-millennialists hold that the Old Testament nowhere supports the idea of two gospel dispensations. It very minutely describes one dispensation worked by the power of truth and the presence of the Holy Spirit,--the Gospel preached by Jesus and His apostles. The prophets describe it in scores of glowing passages, as blessedly successful; but they are silent as the grave about a second one, entirely different, with risen saints and preachers to convert the world.
VII. Post-millennialists accept what Jesus said about Himself as King, and about His kingdom, as absolutely true. He said to Pilate, "1 am King," not "I am going to be King in two thousand years" (John 18: 37). He further said: "My kingdom is not of this world":--it is a kingdom of truth and spiritual life in human hearts, that cometh not with observation (Luke 17: 20, 21 and John 18: 36). He never led us to believe that His kingdom would be like other kingdoms, with Him on a throne in Jerusalem, with a cabinet of advisers, and generals, and admirals, and secretaries, and governors of provinces, and hundreds of thousands of office-holders,-- a kingdom of this world with imposing splendor and external magnificence.
VIII. Post-millennialists accept what Jesus said about' the expediency of His personal absence from" the world (John 16: 7). He plainly taught that His visible presence anywhere, would not be so helpful to His Church as the invisible but universal presence of the Holy Spirit in all Christian hearts. He never spoke one syllable about the insufficiency of the Holy Spirit and the gospel, and the present means of grace to win the world and establish His kingdom. He never intimated that His preachers and teachers and missionaries should go in the power of the Holy Spirit, with the gospel and the means of grace, and labor in vain, because all these Christian instrumentalities were never intended to succeed! God inaugurated these means and they will succeed!
IX. Post-millennialists believe that the Church which is His Bride will be complete when Jesus comes the next time. He comes for His bride, the Church, to celebrate the marriage, and "she will be ready." 1 Cor. 15: 23, 24; Eph. 5: 25-27; 2 Thess. 1: 10; 1 Thess. 3:13; John 6: 39, 40. Dr. Daniel Steele offered a prize to any one who would point out one text that declared that there would be another conversion after Jesus comes the next time. Nobody has named the text.
X. Post-millennialists believe what the Bible says that when Jesus comes the next time "Then cometh the end." 1 Cor. 15: 24. All the hopes and promises and warnings of the Bible look forward to that event as the last in the great drama of redemption. 1 Peter 1:13; 2 Tim. 4: 8; Phil. 3: 20, 21; 2 Thess.. 1: 7-10; 2 Peter
3: 10. Jesus came the first time to redeem mankind: the next time He will come to judge the race, and pronounce its rewards and penalties.
XI. Post-millennialists believe that when Christ comes in person the next time this world will be destroyed by fire. So said Paul in 2 Thess. 1: 7-10. "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire . . . when He shall come to be glorified in His saints." So said Peter: 2 Peter 3: 10-12. "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night: in 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." So also said John in Rev. 20: 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." "And there was no more sea" (21: 1). This earth will be a wrecked world, as dead and barren as the moon.
Thus the Scriptures teach us that the righteous and the wicked shall be judged together at the end of the world's history, at the coming of Christ. Matt. 12: 36; Matt. 13: 38-43; Matt. 16: 27; Matt. 25: 3 1-46; John 5: 28, 29; John 6: 39, 40, 44, 54; John 12: 4S; Acts 17: 31; Rom. 2: 5-16; 1 Cor. 3: 13; 1 Cor. 4: 5; 2 Cor. 5: 10; 2 Tim. 4: 1; 2 Peter 2: 9; 2 Peter 3: 3, 7; Jude 6, 7; Rev. 20: 12, 13; Matt. 11: 24; Luke 11:32; Rom. 14: 10-12. Now of these twenty-one passages nineteen speak of a definite, specific judgment, or judgment-day. Fourteen tell us that all will be judged, "the world," "all nations," "all," "each one," "every one," "the quick and the dead." Seven of these passages tell us that it will be at Christ's coming. If ever language expressed, or could be capable of expressing the doctrine of a simultaneous and universal resurrection and judgment, at the coming of Christ, it is found in these passages.
We give a brief positive statement of the Post-millennial view. It will help to an understanding of the Scriptures to observe that Jesus spoke of "His coming" in four senses, or with four different purposes.
1. He comes for the purpose of taking His people to Himself at their death. In that sense He said: (John 14: 1, 2) "I go to prepare a place for you . . . I will come again and receive you unto myself: that where I am there ye may be also." See Luke 23: 43; 16: 22-25; Phil. 1: 23. The Revelation of John everywhere locates departed saints with Jesus even then. Hence spiritually, the idea that His coming and receiving His people to Himself refers to the final judgment is untenable. It must therefore refer to His coming at the death of each individual saint" (Cowles). This may be by angelic ministration. John Wesley speaks in his journal of Jesus coming for such and such a saint at their death. It is common to Christian thought.
2. In a second sense of "coming," Jesus comes to His people in the manifestation of His presence by and through the Holy Spirit. Thus we must explain John 14: 16, 18, 23. "I will not leave you comfortless. I wilt come to you." John 14: 28. "I come unto you." Also Rev. 3: 20.
3. In the third class Jesus speaks of Himself as "coming in power," or "in His kingdom" in the sense of bringing desolating judgments on Jerusalem: and He makes this fearful visitation of retributive justice a type and pledge of His final judgments of the whole race. The standard passages are Matt. 16: 27, 28; with Mark 8: 38; and Luke 9: 1; and Luke 9: 26, 27; also Matt. 24: 29-34 with its parallels Mark 13: 24-30 and Luke 21: 31, 32. That these have a remote reference to the final judgment is unquestionable; but primary reference to a long anterior coming of a similar character. It may be difficult whether to locate some passages In class three or four. This coming, however, is wrought by providential agencies.
4. "Of passages in the fourth class the standard one is Matt. 25: 31-46, where He comes to judgment. Probably Matt. 26: 64 may be classed with it. This, and this only, is a coming in person, visibly manifested before the universe. None of these passages can be fairly interpreted to promise and prove a visible coming, yet future but long prior to the general judgment, for the purpose of inaugurating a visible reign on earth. They do not mean such a coming. Hence the doctrine of a visible coming and reign on the earth has no foundation in the recorded words of Christ. So far as His words are concerned, it is a theory without a bottom. Nothing that Jesus has said contains the doctrine, or gives it the least support" (Cowle's Commentary, John, pp. 389-392).
The Common Church Doctrine, as stated by Dr. Charles Hodge, is the following:
First, There is to be a second, personal, visible, and glorious advent of the Son of God.
Second, The events that are to precede (not follow) the advent are: (1) The universal diffusion of the Gospel: or, as our Lord expresses it, the ingathering of the elect: this is the vocation of the Christian Church. (2) The conversion of the Jews, which is to be national. As their casting away was national, although a remnant was saved; so their conversion may be national, although some may remain obdurate. (3) The coming of some peculiarly hostile power called Antichrist.
Third, The events which will attend the Second Advent are:
(1) The resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust.
(2) The general judgment. (At which all will be present.)
(3) The end of the world (it being consumed by fire).
(4) The consummation of Christ's kingdom.--(Vol. III, p. 792).
3. The so-called millennium will be brought about, not by the visible return of Christ to set up a temporal throne and kingdom, but by the Holy Spirit restraining the power of Satan in some unknown way, and by giving unwonted efficacy to all the ministrations of the gospel, and the means of grace. What if the power of the Papacy to corrupt and delude mankind, and to oppose the spread and reception of the gospel were set aside; and along with it should come to an end the power of the Mahometan system to fetter and enslave mankind; what if all the direct influence of Satan in causing or perpetuating slavery, war, intemperance, lust, avarice, greed, oppression of the poor, skepticism, and social injustice were checked and stayed, and the heathen nations were evangelized! Would it not justify the language of Scripture that Satan was bound with a chain? And what if at the same time, a marvellous and unwonted power of the Holy Spirit should send vast waves of ever-recurring revival power around the earth, converting and sanctifying uncounted multitudes of people throughout the entire world! What if the spiritual condition that occurred in Northampton, Mass., during the ministry of Jonathan Edwards in 1745 should spread from town to town, from land to land, from continent to continent! Might it not be said that the millennium had come?
"Presently," says Edwards, "a great and earnest concern about the great things of religion and the eternal world became universal in all parts of the town, and among persons of all degrees and ages:
all the conversation in all companies and upon all occasions, was about these things only, unless what was necessary for carrying on their ordinary business. They seemed to follow their worldly business more as a duty, than from any disposition they had to it. The only thing in their view was to get the kingdom of heaven, and every one appeared pressing into it: the engagedness of their hearts in this great concern could not be hid: It appeared in their countenances. The work of conversion was carried on in a most astonishing manner, and increased more and more: souls did, as it were, come by flocks to Jesus Christ. From day to day, for many months together, might be seen evident instances of sinners brought out of darkness into marvellous light. This work of God, as it was carried on, and the number of true saints multiplied, soon made a glorious alteration in the town: so that in the Spring and Summer following, in the year 1745, the town seemed to be full of the presence of God: it never was so full of love and joy, and yet so full of distress as it was then. There were remarkable tokens of God's presence in almost every house. It was a time of joy in families on account of salvation being brought to them: parents rejoicing over their children as new-born, and husbands over their wives, and wives over their husbands. . . . Our young people when they met were wont to spend their time in talking of the excellency and dying love of Jesus Christ, the gloriousness of the way of salvation. . . . God has in many respects gone out of, and much beyond, His usual and ordinary way. The work in this town and some others about us, has been extraordinary on account of the universality of it, affecting all sorts of people, sober and vicious, high and low, rich and poor, wise and unwise. A loose and careless person could scarcely find another in the whole neighborhood: and if there was any one that seemed to remain senseless or unconcerned, it would be spoken of as a strange thing." Now who shall say that the Holy Spirit is not able to repeat such a state of things in ten thousand towns around the world, and keep on doing it? It would by no means be so "far beyond His usual and ordinary way," as would be the setting up of a visible and temporal government, with Jesus on the throne at Jerusalem!
4. The Scriptures warrant us in saying that that blessed period will have the following characteristics:
(1) It will be characterized by the universal spread of the gospel (Isaiah 11: 9; 25: 7).
(2) By the universal sway of Christianity and Christian principle in the governments of mankind (Psalm 2: 8-11; Zech. 9: 10; Matt. 28: 19).
(3) By universal peace (Isaiah 2: 4; Micab 4: 3; Isaiah 11: 6-9).
(4) By great spiritual power and glory (Isaiah 66: 8; 60: 22).
(5) By the return to Christ of Israel (Rom. 11: 26-29; Zech. 12: 10; 13: 1).
(6) The ascendancy of truth and righteousness in human affairs (Rev. 20: 4-6; Psalm 72: 11, 17; Zech. 14: 9; Isa. 60: 12). "Religion," says Edwards, "shall be uppermost in the world in every respect."
(7) There will be a great increase in the population of the globe. Let wars cease, and intemperance cease, and the sinful habits that now shorten life, be conquered by sanctification, and there must be a vast increase in the human race.
(8) There will be an increase in the diffusion of intelligence (Dan. 11:4).
(9) There will be great temporal prosperity. The resources of nature are by no means exhausted. "Godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come." Matt. 6: 33; 1 Tim. 4: 8. The world will be opulent beyond any dream of man, when its peoples cease wasting in extravagance and vice, and wisdom and virtue develop the resources of the earth.
5. Yet we are not to suppose that all will be converted. There will still be hearts that are strangers to saving grace. There will still be on earth the remains of wickedness and corrupt human nature. Many will be constrained by the religious influences everywhere surrounding them, to fall in with the spirit of the age, catching apparently its holy impulses: but they will never come savingly under its holy power. There will still be a tendency to sin in the human soul, just as there is now. And when Satan is released from his enforced restraint, this portion of mankind will gladly throw off the moral bonds that have held them, but were always irksome, and will lift the standard of revolt against Jesus. Satan will be able once more to rouse their enmity, and lead them in one more desperate effort to destroy the spiritual kingdom of Christ.
But in the hour of their seeming victory, when faith in Christ seems rarest and feeblest, and opposition to Jesus seems most defiant and successful,--suddenly Jesus will come, "with a mighty shout," "with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God." All the dead will rise, and all the moral universe will assemble for judgment. And this world, the scene of man's sin and shame and of his redemption, will go up in flames.
http://truthinheart.com/EarlyOberlinCD/CD/Hills/HillsEschatology.htm
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
|
posted
End-Times Timeline
This generation stands upon the precipice of the wrap-up of human history. We can say this upon a platform of certainty. Our end-time stage is built upon a solid structure of knowledge. It provides strength of understanding from which no other generation of human beings could have spoken.
The prophet Daniel predicted precisely this time on God's prophetic timeline, I am convinced: "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (Dan. 12:4).
Timeline Issues and Events
Signals that we are in the end times are so ubiquitous, and at the same time proliferating at such a profound pace, that it is sometimes difficult even for those of us who watch diligently to fully gather within our eschatological radar scopes all that is occurring. But Jesus, right after giving those signals that would be prevalent leading up to His second coming, concluded, as reported in the book of Mark: "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mk. 13:37).
It is therefore incumbent upon us "all Christians" to discern the signs of the times. We will look at them, trying to put them in the order given us by Jesus and the prophets as they foretold these end-time things. Those who consider such things calculate that about 27 percent of God's Word is given to prophecy. Roughly half, those who figure these things believe, has been fulfilled. Therefore about 14 percent of Bible prophecy is yet to be fulfilled. Careful study of the historical record validates Bible prophets as 100 percent accurate, in considering prophecies already fulfilled. We can, through application of human rationale, therefore, think the rest of prophecy will likely be fulfilled. Christians should trust, without reservation, that their Lord, the "Word" (John 1:1-2), will accomplish fulfillment of the remaining prophecies - those yet future.
Read the full article at
http://www.raptureready.com/rr-end-time.html
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
|
posted
In revelation 20 we read of a thousand years in which Christ reigns. The only other place where the same Greek word for “thousand” is used is in 2 Peter 3:8 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. 10x10x10 = 1000. Ten in scripture is the number of entirety. We read of ten virgins, five were wise and five were foolish. These ten virgins represent the entire human race. So to the Lord, this triple ten compound number of a thousand years is not a literal thousand years, but an entire period of time. What is this entire period of time? It is the entire New Testament era. Christ is reigning ever from His ascension into heaven. He is reigning now in the hearts of those who are His, and they reign with Him. When this set period of time is completed, Satan will be let loose for a short period to make one last ditch attempt to overcome the saints, but just when he thinks he is going to succeed, fire will come down from heaven and destroy all the work of the devil. Then Christ will return to a purged earth where there will be no sin and no temptation. He is not coming to a sin cursed earth the second time.
But some may say “what about the Rapture”? Well, as Christ is coming, all those who have oil in their lamps go out to meet Him, and then they return with Him immediately. All those who are left are burned in the fire at the same time as the saints are in the air to meet Christ. A flood destroyed the earth the first time. The next time it will be destroyed by fire. The fire will try every man’s work what sort it is. Those believers who lay up treasure in heaven will receive a reward. Those who lay up treasure on earth will suffer loss, but they will be saved out of the fire. The only way to escape the fire is to be in Christ; just as in Noah’s day the only way to escape the flood was to be in the ark.
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
|
|
|
Printer-friendly view of this topic
