Fri, Dec 27th - 5:26PM

CORRECTLY EXPLAINING THE WORD OF TRUTH ( 2 Tim. 2: 15; NLT)

   THE THOUSAND YEARS  (Rev. 20: 1 - 7)

   INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE

             We do not use our own understanding to interpret Scripture. We use Scripture to interpret Scripture. Dr. Luke tells us that Jesus must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything. He writes: 

          "He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets" (Acts 3: 21).

         The apostle Peter informs us that God will restore everything on the day of judgment by creating a new heaven and a new earth ( 2 Pet. 3: 13). 

  “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” ( 2 Pet. 3: 13).

      The conclusion is that Jesus will remain in heaven until the day of judgment; proving that the second coming and the coming down from heaven for the rapture are the same event ( Matt. 25: 31 - 46; 1 Thess. 4: 16 - 17; Heb. 9: 28).

           Since eternity will commence on the day of judgment at the coming of Jesus ( Matt. 25: 31 - 32, 46). therefore the thousand years recorded in Revelation 20 : 1 - 7 cannot follow the second coming as some teach. The thousand years must precede the second coming since time and eternity cannot coexist.

          The events of the end times are presented in the following diagram. The calculation shows that our LORD ministered for three and a half years. 

             Are the thousand years literal? 

           The thousand years are not literal. They are symbolic and cover an extended period of time. 

           Are both thousand years of the same duration (Rev. 20:2; Rev 20:4)?

           Both thousand years are of the same duration, since our calculation of the length of our LORD's ministry was shown to be three and a half years long and the tribulation period will be three and a half years long (Dan 7: 25; Rev. 13:5-8).

           When did the thousand years begin?

           In the case of Satan, the thousand years began at the commencement of our Lord’s ministry ( Rev. 20: 2; Matt. 12: 29), and they will end when he is set free for a short time ( Rev. 12: 12; Rev. 20: 3).

 Regarding our LORD, the thousand years began at his ascension ( Rev. 20: 4; Acts 1: 9 - 11), and they will end when he comes again (Matt. 25: 31; 1 Cor. 15: 22 - 23; 1 Thess. 4: 16 - 17; 2 Thess. 1: 6 - 10; Heb. 9: 27 - 28; 1 Pet. 4: 4 - 5; 2 Pet. 3: 7 - 10). 14)

 THE MILLENNIAL REIGN

 Since our Lord is reigning now ( 1 Cor. 15: 25 - 26), and since he will commence his eternal reign after he judges all nations ( Matt. 25: 31 - 32, 46; Rev. 11: 15 - 18), therefore his present reign must be his millennial. The millennial reign is now in progress. It is in heaven. Our Lord is reigning with his saints, those in heaven ( Rev. 6: 9 - 11) and those on earth (John 14: 20; Col. 3: 1 - 3).

 THE FIRST RESURRECTION

     Many authors, pastors, Bible College professors and ministries teach that the first resurrection (Revelation 20: 5) is a physical (bodily) resurrection. Absolutely not! 

    The prophet Daniel, our Lord Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul and the apostle John all taught that there will be one bodily resurrection of all the dead and it will take place at the last day, at the last trumpet which is the seventh trumpet ( Dan. 12: 2; John 5: 28 - 29; John 6: 39;  Acts 24: 15; 1 Cor. 15: 51 - 52; Rev. 11: 18).

 The prophet Daniel foretold:  All the dead will awake. The righteous will go into eternal life and the unrighteous into eternal punishment (Dan. 12: 2).

  The apostle John recalls the words of Jesus: Do not be surprised at this, some time in the future all the dead will hear my voice and come out of their graves. The righteous will go into eternal life and the unrighteous into eternal punishment (John 5: 28 - 29).

 The apostle Paul in his defense before Felix stated: I believe in God as these men. There will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous (Acts 24: 15).

  The Apostle John records the words of Jesus: It is God's will that all those he gave to me, I will raise them up at the last day (John 6: 39). 

 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Cor. 15: 51 - 52).

Fri, Dec 27th - 5:16PM

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