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A lot of you might scoff and think this is foolishness, especially those of you that are not in the Lord or allow man to teach you instead of the Holy Spirit, but God said in Daniel 12:4 and Proverbs 10:14 that knowledge would increase more towards the end of days and what God has been revealing to me through the Holy Spirit has been a warning to not be afraid of what must come, but to prepare ourselves to learn how to endure what we are going to have to go through before the return of Christ. Hosea 4:6 says my people perish for lack of knowledge.

Most pastors teach a pretrib rapture, but this is false teaching and not according to what God has already taught us. Matthew 24 shows us exactly what must come first and God said to those who endure until the end of days will be his elect. Daniel 7:23-27; Revelation 13:1-10; Revelation 17; Luke 21:36 are just a few scriptures of God showing us we will go through much tribulation. The Bible mentions nothing about a so called seven year tribulation period, but states we have always had tribulation from the beginning of time when Adam and Eve sinned against God.

Below I have explained with scripture that the True Church of Christ (body of Christ) alive at His coming or a sleep in the grave will be caught up to Christ on the last day when Christ returns. Let's start with John 3:13 and work our way through.

John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

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, which represents the bride of Christ, will face seeing much tribulation as it will be hard to bare seeing Gods wrath poured out on the unjust as those who are anointed by God's Holy Spirit are sent out to preach to them before we enter into the kingdom of God (New Jerusalem). There are many false teachings that teach we are taken out of here before some seven year Great Tribulation, but there is no scripture that speaks of a seven year Great Tribulation, but only 3 1/2 years. Some also teach that after Rev Chapter 4 the Church is no longer here on earth. If this were the case then why did Jesus say that those who endure until the end will be saved. The end of what, the end of days or as scripture calls it that great and terrible day of the Lord when final judgment will be passed as the Sheep are separated from the goats and the goats are cast into the lake of fire with Satan, the beast and false prophets.

By studying all the scriptures below in Revelations I come to the conclusion we will see much tribulation, but not to fear what must come, but stand strong in the faith of Christ Jesus as the Holy Spirit strengthens us to stand and endure until the coming of the Lord as God has a place prepared for us in the wilderness as His wrath passes over the earth, Rev 12:6. We need to be His witnesses as a faithful servant until He returns. God's wrath is not for the elect of God as they are kept from it falling on them and when we see the abomination that causes desolation, Daniel Chapter 7; Matthew 24:15-22; Rev Chapter 13, we are to flee from taking its mark as we stand in a greater faith in Christ that we need not fear that which has to come first before Christ returns, Matthew 10:28, but that we need to be prepared as His Bride when He does return on the last day and destroys the beast and false prophet at His coming, Rev 19.

Act 14:22 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 as we are also His disciples.

Mat 24:13,29-31 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Matthew 24:29-31; Rev 3:5; 19:8 Jesus is telling us to watch for the signs of His coming and to overcome so that our names are not blotted out of the Lamb's book of life.

Rev 5:13; 6:17; 7:1-5 On earth and under the earth are those who are still here until the end of days as God's wrath begins with the opening of the seventh seal.

Rev 6:9-11 Note where John says fellow servants and brethren that should be killed as they were, which means those of the elect of God who refuse to take the mark of the beast and will die a martyr's death for their faith in Christ.

Rev 7:13-17 Which came out of great tribulation is the fullness of the Gentiles who also died a martyr's death for the sake of Christ.

Rev 8:13 Three woes are that of warning the people on earth that the last three trumpets are about to sound.

Rev 13:11-18 Here John is showing us about mystery Babylon ruling the world as a one world government. 666 represents the number of the beast and the mark is the action of the hands and thoughts of the mind as many will be deceived and accept this mark.

Rev 14:14-20 The harvest of Gods Children who are still alive at this time as they are being protected against the vial judgments that will fall on those who have rejected Christ.

Rev 16:11,15 And they repented not. The elect of God are told to watch for the return of Christ as He comes like a theif and we are to keep our garments clean and not found in shame

Rev 18:23, 24 We have now come out of great tribulation through the persecution of the revived Roman Empire and Christ is about to return for His Bride

Rev 19:7,8 We being the Bride of Christ have now made ourselves ready for His coming as those who are still alive at this time and asleep in the grave have endured until the last day when Christ returns and destroys the beast and false prophet and sends His angels out to gather the Bride up to meet Jesus in the air.

Rev 20:4-6 These verses show that we went through much annihilation and endured until the end being the last day when Christ returns.
Rev 20:12-15 The Great White Throne judgment and Jesus judgment for the works we did or did not do for him here on earth
 
Most pastors teach a pretrib rapture, but this is false teaching and not according to what God has already taught us. Matthew 24 shows us exactly what must come first and God said to those who endure until the end of days will be his elect. Daniel 7:23-27; Revelation 13:1-10; Revelation 17; Luke 21:36 are just a few scriptures of God showing us we will go through much tribulation. The Bible mentions nothing about a so called seven year tribulation period, but states we have always had tribulation from the beginning of time when Adam and Eve sinned against God.
Funny, the PreTrib teachers use the same passages.
Perhaps in being so dogmatic in your anti-dispy assertions, you should present what you believe without criticizing the other side. Eschatology is an area that’s open for honest discussion.
 
Funny, the PreTrib teachers use the same passages.
Perhaps in being so dogmatic in your anti-dispy assertions, you should present what you believe without criticizing the other side. Eschatology is an area that’s open for honest discussion.
Please show me where I have criticized anyone. Only give scriptural facts my friend. Go and study them for yourself as I have when I learned that pretrib, which I believed in for years, is not found anywhere in scripture.
 
Please show me where I have criticized anyone. Only give scriptural facts my friend. Go and study them for yourself as I have when I learned that pretrib, which I believed in for years, is not found anywhere in scripture.
When I said 'without criticizing the other side' I meant you failed to criticize viewpoints...viewpoints such as Preterism, or Amillennialism. You only criticized the Premillennial-Pretrib view. I wasn't referring to individuals.
 
When I said 'without criticizing the other side' I meant you failed to criticize viewpoints...viewpoints such as Preterism, or Amillennialism. You only criticized the Premillennial-Pretrib view. I wasn't referring to individuals.
I don't care what man's doctrines teach as there is a long bandwagon money making teaching on pretrib that started in the early 1800's. I only believe that of what Christ has already taught us about His second coming.

Take note of where I said I use to believe in a pretrib Rapture, but can not find it in scripture. For twenty years now I have yet to get an answer from anyone where it is taught in the scriptures, but only get cherry picking scriptures making them fit their theories.
 
I don't care what man's doctrines teach as there is a long bandwagon money making teaching on pretrib that started in the early 1800's. I only believe that of what Christ has already taught us about His second coming.

Take note of where I said I use to believe in a pretrib Rapture, but can not find it in scripture. For twenty years now I have yet to get an answer from anyone where it is taught in the scriptures, but only get cherry picking scriptures making them fit their theories.
Interesting, I was taught Amil for many years, and found it shallow, highly symbolic and ignoring so many specific prophecies that it seemed to make the study of Eschatology pointless. As a matter of fact I ended up ignoring eschatology the first 30 years of my walk.
I wouldn't judge a teaching by how old or young it is, but if it is biblical.
I find pre-Trib in Scripture if I take God's words literal, which leads me to take prophecy literal, which causes me to see that God is not yet finished with His people Israel whom He had covenanted that many would turn back to Him after Jacob's Trouble (which is not intended for His Bride the Church.)
I don't care what man's doctrines teach as there is a long bandwagon money making teaching on pretrib that started in the early 1800's. I only believe that of what Christ has already taught us about His second coming.
Which begs the question, 'what do you believe' in regards to the future of Israel?
 
A lot of you might scoff and think this is foolishness, especially those of you that are not in the Lord or allow man to teach you instead of the Holy Spirit, but God said in Daniel 12:4 and Proverbs 10:14 that knowledge would increase more towards the end of days and what God has been revealing to me through the Holy Spirit has been a warning to not be afraid of what must come, but to prepare ourselves to learn how to endure what we are going to have to go through before the return of Christ. Hosea 4:6 says my people perish for lack of knowledge.

Most pastors teach a pretrib rapture, but this is false teaching and not according to what God has already taught us. Matthew 24 shows us exactly what must come first and God said to those who endure until the end of days will be his elect. Daniel 7:23-27; Revelation 13:1-10; Revelation 17; Luke 21:36 are just a few scriptures of God showing us we will go through much tribulation. The Bible mentions nothing about a so called seven year tribulation period, but states we have always had tribulation from the beginning of time when Adam and Eve sinned against God.

Below I have explained with scripture that the True Church of Christ (body of Christ) alive at His coming or a sleep in the grave will be caught up to Christ on the last day when Christ returns. Let's start with John 3:13 and work our way through.

John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

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, which represents the bride of Christ, will face seeing much tribulation as it will be hard to bare seeing Gods wrath poured out on the unjust as those who are anointed by God's Holy Spirit are sent out to preach to them before we enter into the kingdom of God (New Jerusalem). There are many false teachings that teach we are taken out of here before some seven year Great Tribulation, but there is no scripture that speaks of a seven year Great Tribulation, but only 3 1/2 years. Some also teach that after Rev Chapter 4 the Church is no longer here on earth. If this were the case then why did Jesus say that those who endure until the end will be saved. The end of what, the end of days or as scripture calls it that great and terrible day of the Lord when final judgment will be passed as the Sheep are separated from the goats and the goats are cast into the lake of fire with Satan, the beast and false prophets.

By studying all the scriptures below in Revelations I come to the conclusion we will see much tribulation, but not to fear what must come, but stand strong in the faith of Christ Jesus as the Holy Spirit strengthens us to stand and endure until the coming of the Lord as God has a place prepared for us in the wilderness as His wrath passes over the earth, Rev 12:6. We need to be His witnesses as a faithful servant until He returns. God's wrath is not for the elect of God as they are kept from it falling on them and when we see the abomination that causes desolation, Daniel Chapter 7; Matthew 24:15-22; Rev Chapter 13, we are to flee from taking its mark as we stand in a greater faith in Christ that we need not fear that which has to come first before Christ returns, Matthew 10:28, but that we need to be prepared as His Bride when He does return on the last day and destroys the beast and false prophet at His coming, Rev 19.

Act 14:22 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 as we are also His disciples.

Mat 24:13,29-31 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Matthew 24:29-31; Rev 3:5; 19:8 Jesus is telling us to watch for the signs of His coming and to overcome so that our names are not blotted out of the Lamb's book of life.

Rev 5:13; 6:17; 7:1-5 On earth and under the earth are those who are still here until the end of days as God's wrath begins with the opening of the seventh seal.

Rev 6:9-11 Note where John says fellow servants and brethren that should be killed as they were, which means those of the elect of God who refuse to take the mark of the beast and will die a martyr's death for their faith in Christ.

Rev 7:13-17 Which came out of great tribulation is the fullness of the Gentiles who also died a martyr's death for the sake of Christ.

Rev 8:13 Three woes are that of warning the people on earth that the last three trumpets are about to sound.

Rev 13:11-18 Here John is showing us about mystery Babylon ruling the world as a one world government. 666 represents the number of the beast and the mark is the action of the hands and thoughts of the mind as many will be deceived and accept this mark.

Rev 14:14-20 The harvest of Gods Children who are still alive at this time as they are being protected against the vial judgments that will fall on those who have rejected Christ.

Rev 16:11,15 And they repented not. The elect of God are told to watch for the return of Christ as He comes like a theif and we are to keep our garments clean and not found in shame

Rev 18:23, 24 We have now come out of great tribulation through the persecution of the revived Roman Empire and Christ is about to return for His Bride

Rev 19:7,8 We being the Bride of Christ have now made ourselves ready for His coming as those who are still alive at this time and asleep in the grave have endured until the last day when Christ returns and destroys the beast and false prophet and sends His angels out to gather the Bride up to meet Jesus in the air.

Rev 20:4-6 These verses show that we went through much annihilation and endured until the end being the last day when Christ returns.
Rev 20:12-15 The Great White Throne judgment and Jesus judgment for the works we did or did not do for him here on earth
What do you mean when you say "a sleep in the grave".
Such a statement represents soul sleep, such as that of the jehovah's witnesses.
Can you be more specific.

What if our bodies are blown up in war?
What about cremation and our ashes spread over the mountains or the sea?
Does God somehow put us all back together again?
Just how does he wake us up from all this?

I'm quite serious about this.
Your statement about soul sleep is very confusing.
Does God just forget about us for thousands of years and then brings us back to life?

And what is the sea of glass in the Apocalypse and what is it's purpose?
 
What do you mean when you say "a sleep in the grave".
Such a statement represents soul sleep, such as that of the jehovah's witnesses.
Can you be more specific.

What if our bodies are blown up in war?
What about cremation and our ashes spread over the mountains or the sea?
Does God somehow put us all back together again?
Just how does he wake us up from all this?

I'm quite serious about this.
Your statement about soul sleep is very confusing.
Does God just forget about us for thousands of years and then brings us back to life?

And what is the sea of glass in the Apocalypse and what is it's purpose?
1Thess 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.
1Thess 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Thess 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.

Not talking about the false teaching of soul sleep so let's not go there. What these verses reference to is all who have died having faith in God will He raise up to Him on the last day. Flesh and blood can not inherit the Kingdom of God so it doesn't matter if one was blown up in war or cremated.

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
The sea of glass symbolizes the vastness of Gods holiness and purity that is a place in our heart of peace and restful assurance. It is a place of safety as we endure our time here on earth trusting God in all things until the coming of the Lord as we have been warned to flee from the abomination that causes desolation which is the Luciferians New World Order, Matthew 24:13-22. Those who are still alive and in Christ are kept in the safety of Gods protection, Psalms 91, from the last seven plagues harming them as they are sealed by the Holy Spirit, 2 Corinthians 1:22, unto the day of redemption when at that time Jesus will return in the air for His Bride that has made herself ready.

The sea of glass mingled with fire is like that of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that were of Gods purity as they abide in great faith and trust in the Lord as they were unharmed in Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace as they refused to bow down and worship the golden image Nebuchadnezzar had made, Daniel chapter 3. The same will be during the last seven vial judgments that those who have not died a martyrs death and have kept their faith and trust in Jesus will come out of the fiery indignation of God unharmed and will be with the Lord forever.​
 
I find pre-Trib in Scripture if I take God's words literal
Could you please share those scriptures that teach a pretrib? I've been waiting for twenty years and yet no one can give them to me.
Which begs the question, 'what do you believe' in regards to the future of Israel?
I'm glad you mentioned Jacobs trouble as this is what the future will be for Israel.

Jeremiah 30 vs. 1, 2 starts out with the Lord speaking to Jeremiah about Judah an Israel. Vs 3 the Lord promises that one day in the future as the day will come that He will bring Judah and Israel back to the land He had promised to their forefathers. Vs. 5 describes a time of great fear and trembling. Vs. 6 describes this time in a way that pictures men going through the pains of childbirth, meaning great agony. Vs. 7 For that day is great so that no other day will ever be like it. This is a reference to Matthew 24:21; Rev 7:1-8. But, there is hope for Judah and Israel for though this is called the time of Jacob's trouble the Lord promises He will save Jacob (referring to Judah and Israel, not literally Jacob) out of this time of great trouble, Rev 19:11-21. Vs. 8 It shall come to pass in that day (in that day means a future day) says the Lord that He will break his yoke from off their necks and will burst thy bonds and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him. His yoke is that of Satan who for now controls the evil principalities of this world that even today, until Christ returns, persecutes God's people. Vs. 9 But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their King, meaning Jesus whom God will raise up (resurrection) unto them. Vs 10, 11 the Lord says, I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security and no one will make him afraid. I am with you and will save you declares the Lord.
 
1Thess 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.
1Thess 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Thess 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.

Not talking about the false teaching of soul sleep so let's not go there. What these verses reference to is all who have died having faith in God will He raise up to Him on the last day. Flesh and blood can not inherit the Kingdom of God so it doesn't matter if one was blown up in war or cremated.

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
The sea of glass symbolizes the vastness of Gods holiness and purity that is a place in our heart of peace and restful assurance. It is a place of safety as we endure our time here on earth trusting God in all things until the coming of the Lord as we have been warned to flee from the abomination that causes desolation which is the Luciferians New World Order, Matthew 24:13-22. Those who are still alive and in Christ are kept in the safety of Gods protection, Psalms 91, from the last seven plagues harming them as they are sealed by the Holy Spirit, 2 Corinthians 1:22, unto the day of redemption when at that time Jesus will return in the air for His Bride that has made herself ready.

The sea of glass mingled with fire is like that of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that were of Gods purity as they abide in great faith and trust in the Lord as they were unharmed in Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace as they refused to bow down and worship the golden image Nebuchadnezzar had made, Daniel chapter 3. The same will be during the last seven vial judgments that those who have not died a martyrs death and have kept their faith and trust in Jesus will come out of the fiery indignation of God unharmed and will be with the Lord forever.​
So where are we for those thousands of years until God gives us a new body?
 
Could you please share those scriptures that teach a pretrib? I've been waiting for twenty years and yet no one can give them to me.
My educated guess is more by way of deduction.
Just as many of the Jews didn't see two phases of their Messiah (Sacrificial Lamb and Conquering King), many today don't see Jesus coming for His Saints and Jesus coming with His saints. Also the Church age is not spelled out in the OT, but Jesus said "I will build my Church" in Mt 16 (implying a separate entity from what was in the OT, and as stated Jacob's Trouble is designed for repentance of the (still unbelieving) Jews, not the Church. We don't see the Church in Revelation.
Where do you think the Church will be during Revelation?
 
So you're not referring to the book of Revelation but rather to revelations in general throughout the Bible.
If you notice in the OP I used many scriptures throughout the NT including that list in Revelation to show that we who are Christ own will be here, if we are still alive, during the time of the son of perdition taking his seat in Jerusalem causing all to take his mark and if not will be killed for not renouncing Christ.

Let me ask you and everyone reading this a question. If Christ returned before the son of perdition, as pretrib teachers use Rev 4:1-2 as one of their scriptures to support this then what would be the purpose of anything from that point on in the rest of Revelation. What would be the purpose of the seven trumpets of God's great wrath being poured out into the world. What would be the purpose of the son of perdition causing all to take its marl or die a martyr's death? What would be the purpose of a literal 1000 years if we are already with the Lord?

These were the questions I asked myself that caused me to dig deeper about this whole pretrib theory that was first taught in the early 1800's. I could find nothing in Rev 4:1-2 that stated anything about a pretrib Rapture, but only John that was caught up in the Spirit on the isle of Patmos, not caught up to heaven, as the angel of the Lord started revealing all these visions to him.
 
A deceptive statement.

They have been given you. You have developed a method of interpretation that denies them. A method by which you can deny any interpretation of the Bible other than your own.

But of course, as you have said, your own is the best and needs no others input. No commentaries needed for you.

Quantrill
Why would that be a deceptive statement? Where have you given me those scriptures as I see nothing here. I only deny those things that are not written in the word of God as many read into that which is not there like that of Rev 4:1-2. Where does it say in that verse there is a pretrib Rapture of the Church?

Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

My method of interpreting scripture is giving the full context throughout the whole Bible and not just some cherry picking scriptures pretribber try to use. I use to believe in all those pretrib teachings many years ago until I started studying all the scriptures they try to use as proof. Man has been so indoctrinated in other man's doctrines that they are blinded to the truth of what has already been written. I never ask anyone to believe me, but to take the scriptures I give and go study them for themselves.

Why would I need man's commentaries when I have the word of God, history and the Holy Spirit teach me. I'm not saying all commentaries are bad as there are good ones out there, but we need to test commentaries against what has already been written and if they do not line up with scripture then I will reject them.

If you have nothing to contribute to this thread then why are you even here other than to cause division.
 
I lean against pre-trib myself, but one thing I have come to believe after seeing man's relationship with God over the years is, we probably all have got Revelation wrong. Everybody is so cocksure they are right, but I tend to think no one is. My own position on Revelation is sort of a combination between idealist, post-trib and preterist. Whi.ch may sound odd (since that would be like claiming I am post-trib and pre-trib at the same time), but...it is what it is
 
I lean against pre-trib myself, but one thing I have come to believe after seeing man's relationship with God over the years is, we probably all have got Revelation wrong. Everybody is so cocksure they are right, but I tend to think no one is. My own position on Revelation is sort of a combination between idealist, post-trib and preterist. Whi.ch may sound odd (since that would be like claiming I am post-trib and pre-trib at the same time), but...it is what it is
It would be great if we were out of here before God's seven trumpets begin to blow and the son of perdition taking his seat in Jerusalem causing all to take this mark of this beast, but I just do not see it in the scriptures, but only in the weak attempts to make scripture fit mans theologies. I can't do that as I will be held accountable before the Lord for everything I teach.
 
So where are we for those thousands of years until God gives us a new body?
I do not believe in a literal 1000 year millennium. Why would God keep us here for another literal 1000 years after we are caught up to Christ on the last day? It doesn't even make sense. A 1000 years in Rev 20 is not literal years, but only symbolic of a certain period of time as nowhere else in scripture other than Rev 20 does it mention a literal 1000 year reign of Christ here on earth, but symbolic as in Deuteronomy 7:9; 1Chronicles 16:15; Psalms 50:10; 90:4; 105:8 Ecc 6:6; 7:28; Daniel 5:1; 2Peter 3:8.
 
I do not believe in a literal 1000 year millennium. Why would God keep us here for another literal 1000 years after we are caught up to Christ on the last day? It doesn't even make sense. A 1000 years in Rev 20 is not literal years, but only symbolic of a certain period of time as nowhere else in scripture other than Rev 20 does it mention a literal 1000 year reign of Christ here on earth, but symbolic as in Deuteronomy 7:9; 1Chronicles 16:15; Psalms 50:10; 90:4; 105:8 Ecc 6:6; 7:28; Daniel 5:1; 2Peter 3:8.

I tried to interpret the 1000 years as symbolic of Heaven, but Revelation 20:7 pretty specifically says, "After the thousand years are ended." You can't have something happen after Heaven. So while the number 1000 may be figurative--and frankly I think it is--the Millennium cannot be symbolic of the afterlife.

A key may be in a fad going on in the political climate John was living in when he wrote it. Even though John himself was imprisoned by Rome, there was this concept of the Pax Romana, or Pax Millennium. Octavius and Mark Antony had gone to war over the Roman throne not long before Christ. Pax Romana was the rallying cry espoused by Octavius' forces: or "Roman peace". They wanted to spread the "Good News" to all of Rome, that there will be 1000 years of peace from here on out, with Octavius as our emperor. Hence the term "Good News" as well (which we borrowed from to mean something else today). That Pax Romana ended up lasting more like 200 years, and John probably didn't even perceive it as started yet, but that's the idea. John was borrowing from a Roman fad of his time, and adapted it to apply to Christianity--the same way we did "the Good News". John, of course, never intended us to be the reader of Revelation--he wrote it to the seven churches of his day, who would have known what he meant. We just take what he wrote to them and apply it to our own lives.
 
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