Conclusion of Millennium study
Verse 14-15- After the judgment of unbelievers is completed and they are not found in the book of life, they will be cast into the lake of fire to be burned, consumed and utterly annihilated. It says death and hades (literal grave) will be cast into this fiery lake burning with sulfur. Remember after the first resurrection, the only people remaining in the literal grave (death and hades) are unbelievers.
So, basically the time line goes like this: The Second Advent of Jehoshua (Day of Jehovah) at the last day takes place after the great tribulation. The dead in Jehoshua rise first and then those who are alive are caught up to be with the Messiah forever. See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11.
After this, Jehovah's final wrath in this age (7 bowl, judgements) will be poured out on all mankind remaining on earth. This will be those who have the mark of the beast and didn't keep the commandments of Jehovah (10 commanments) and have the faith and testimony of Jehoshua Messiah (his virgin birth, earthly ministry, death on stake, burial, bodily resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father and the spirit of prophecy which is the testimony of Jehoshua). See Revelation 12:17, Revelation 14:12 and Revelation 19:10.
2nd Peter 3:10-12 (RSB)
3:10 But the day of Yahweh 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.
3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and piety,
3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of Yahweh, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
As a result of the return of Jehoshua and the final wrath of Jehovah in this age on unbelievers, the earth will be desolate (Isaiah 24:19-22).
The false prophet and antichrist were cast into the lake of fire on earth as a result of the earth being melted with fervent heat at the coming of Jehoshua. The lake of fire (Gehenna) being a type of the valley of the son of Hinnom which was a burning garbage refuse outside Jerusalem. Satan will be bound to the earth for a thousand years. The binding is symbolic of him not having anyone to deceive as the earth will be uninhabited during the millennium.
The Saints will be in Heaven reigning as Kings and Preists with Jehoshua Messiah. See Revelation 20:4,6 and Daniel 7:27. We will judge the cases of the lost and fallen angels. See Revelation 20:4, John 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, Peter 2:4; Jude 6.
After the thousand years conclude, the Holy City Heavenly Jerusalem descends with Jehoshua and the Saints. See Revelation 20:9 and Zechariah 14:9.
The resurrection of the wicked (second resurrection) then takes place. See Revelation 20:5,13).
Satan loosed to deceive the nations (resurrected unbelievers) once final time. Attack on the Holy City.
Judgment and destruction of Satan and the wicked. This will include them being cast into the lake of fire here on earth. This fire will accomplish two things, final annihilation of Satan and the wicked (all unbelievers) and a cleansing of the earth in order to facilitate it's restoration. See Revelation 20:11-15.
Earth renewed. See Revelation 21:1,2 and 2nd Peter 3:10-14. The meek (believers in Jehoshua) shall inherit the earth, Matthew 5:5.
The Three Angels' of Revelation 14:6-12
Fear Jehovah, and give glory to him!
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
The Millennium Part 2
Isaiah 11:1-16 (RSB)
11:1
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
11:2
And the spirit of Yahweh shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh;
11:3
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of Yahweh: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
11:4
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
11:5
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
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.
11:7
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
11:8
And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
11:9
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.
11:10
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
11:11
And it shall come to pass in that day, that Yahweh shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
11:12
And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
11:13
The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
11:14
But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
11:15
And Yahweh shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
11:16
And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
Verses 6-9 from Isaiah 11 describe the quality of life on the New Earth. It's talking about the New Earth not the millennium. See how verses 6-9 of this passage directly correspond to verse 25 of Isaiah 65. Remember Isaiah 65 directly stated in verse 17 that it was talking about life in the New Earth and New Heavens not the millennium. In verse 9 the refrence to the Holy Mountain is also found in verse 25 of Isaiah 65. It is talking about the Heavenly Mount Zion not the earthly one which is not Holy. This passage also hurts the millennium on earth teaching as this is one of the passages they use to support their doctrine. Verses 6-9 also confirm that there will be children in the New Earth, which then makes sense that there will also be marriage once Jehovah restores it. It wouldn't makes sense to have children in the New Earth without marriage. We will finally have that long sought after perfect family life in the New Heavens and New Earth. A true paradise of Eden the way Jehovah meant it to be from creation.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV)
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
This passage above eliminates the idea that any unbeliever will have part of the millennium Kingdom.
Matthew 13:41 (KJV)
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
Anything that offends our Master will have no place in his Kingdom. Another supporting scripture that eliminates the possibility of unbelievers entering into the millennium Kingdom of Jehoshua. We see from several scriptures that no flesh will survive the final wrath of Jehovah which include His Son Jehoshua destroying all unbelievers (by the sword that proceeds out of his mouth) who are living on earth during the final day of judgment. We also see, that the aftermath of this final wrath of Jehovah paints a bleak picture of state of the earth. For Jehoshua to make his Kingdom abode here on this earth there would need to be a cleaning of it first. However, we are told in scripture that this doesn't happen until after the millennium (Revelation 21:1). Also, verses 2 and 3 of Revelation 21 describe the Holy City not dwelling on earth until it gets restored after the millennium. Earthly millennialism teaches that Jehoshua will reign in earthly Jerusalem during this time. What does the Bible say though about where the Saints will go after the Second Advent? The below passage, in, John clarifies where we will go after the Lord's arrival.
John 14:1-3 (KJV)
14 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Once Jehoshua receives us unto himself at the last day resurrection, we then go to the place prepared for us where He (Jehoshua) is. Where is he and where has he prepared our place? We know that he is in Heaven not this earth. If Jehoshua is going to reign in earthly Jerusalem, then how will he be with us in Heaven as the above scripture states? The below passage in Hebrews also clarifies where the city is, that Jehovah is preparing for the faithful.
Hebrews 11:8-16 KJV
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
The Saints of ancient days did not desire an earthly country but they desired a Heavenly one. Abraham wasn't waiting for an earthly city but a Heavenly one whose maker and builder is Jehovah. Abraham and the Old Testament Saints mentioned in this passage had a Heavenly hope not an earthly one. They considered themselves strangers and pilgrims on this earth. So too is our hope as believers which is a Heavenly Jerusalem not the earthly corrupted Jerusalem.
So far, we have established that unbelievers will not transfer over to the millennium as they will not survive the final wrath of Jehovah. We also are seeing that our hope as believers is not earthly but rather Heavenly. What then would be the purpose of Jehoshua reigning on earth with us for a thousand years? Jehoshua clearly said that everything that offends will be gathered out of his Kingdom. No one with a mortal body prone to sin will be allowed in Jehoshua's millennial Kingdom. If that is the case then again I ask, what is the purpose of Him setting up His Kingdom here on this corrupted earth? Absolutely none! There is actually no scripture that supports the millennial Kingdom being here on this earth. Let's look at a scripture in Isaiah that earthly millennialist use to support their teaching on this subject.
Isaiah 65:17-25 (KJV)
17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
20 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 an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.
24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith theLord.
Isaiah 35:1-10 (RSB)
35:1
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
35:2
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of Yahweh, and the excellency of our Elohim.
35:3
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
35:4
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your Elohim will come withvengeance, even Elohim with a recompence; he will come and save you.
35:5
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
35:6
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
35:7
And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
35:8
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
35:9
No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
35:10
And the ransomed of Yahweh shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Verse 5-10 are describing the life on the New Earth, where we will bring our glorified resurrected bodies down from Heaven after the millennium concludes. Physical sickness and handicaps will not be present in the New Earth (verses 5-6). The unrighteous will not be allowed in the New Earth (verse 8). We who were ransomed via the death of Jehoshua on the stake and at the last day resurrection will approach Zion with joyful praise (Isaiah 66:22-23). This Zion is the Heavenly one not the corrupted earthly one (Isaiah 11:9, 65:25). Those who teach an earthly millennium state there will be unbelievers dwelling with the redeemed. Being that they use this scripture to prove their doctrine, we see that their teaching falls apart as this passage in Isaiah is clearly describing life on the New Heavens and New Earth which happen after the millennium. So far we have not found one scripture that speaks of an earthly millennium.
Verse 9 seems to confirm that we will have no need to fear the beasts of the New Earth, which was noted in verse 25 of Isaiah 65 and verses 6-9 of Isaiah 11. Holiness will be required to dwell in the New Earth (verse 8) so no unbelievers will be allowed. The earthly millennium says the opposite and use this passage as proof that the millennium is on the earth. However we have gone over three passages in Isaiah that clearly describe that this paradise is speaking of the New Earth not a millennium. Isaiah 65 states it expressly in verse 17. Remember, Jehoshua said all things that offend will be gathered out of his Kingdom (Matthew 13:41) so there is no way he can establish His Kingdom on this earth until it gets restored as the New Earth. As scripture clearly states, the New Earth doesn't get made until the millennium concludes. So then where is the millennium of not the earth? We shall show you in a bit so hold on.
2 Peter 3:13 (KJV)
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Peter says here, that our hope is not this earth in it's current state but that we look forward to the New Heavens and New Earth. The earthly millennium teaching points our hope to back to this corrupted earth rather than the New Earth which is made after the conclusion of the millennium. Why would Peter point our hope to the New Heavens and New Earth if there was going to be a thousand year reign of the Jehoshua with the Saints on this corrupted earth? Because an earthly millennium is not biblical.
Isaiah 66:22-24 (RSB)
66:22
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith Yahweh, so shall your seed and your name remain.
66:23
And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Yahweh.
66:24
And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases 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.
On the New Earth, we will keep the Sabbath. There is no way around this scripture. This confirms the Sabbath as an eternal creation memorial for all flesh not just something for the Jew's to follow during the times of the Old covenant. In fact, the implementation of Jehovah's sacred Seventh day Sabbath was at creation before there was even an Israelite nation and before there was such a thing as the Jews. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:18-19?
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Heaven and Earth have not passed away yet, so going by Jehoshua's words we are still to keep the Law of Jehovah (the 10 commandments). Not only that but even once the New Heavens and New Earth are made we will still keep the Sabbath according to Isaiah 66:22-23. I'll take Jehoshua's words over man's!
Genesis 26:5 (KJV)
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Abraham kept the law and commandments of Jehovah which included the Seventh day Sabbath. This was before there was an Israelite nation. This refutes the false teaching that the Sabbath day command was only for the Israelites. It was instituted before Israel was a nation and there any Jew's and it will continue to be kept by all believers in the New Earth.
So we have gone through scriptures describing how life will be on the New Earth. These same scriptures are used by the dispensationalist and other earthly millennialist to prove their doctrine. However, we see clearly from Isaiah 65:17, that these passages are clearly talking about life in the New restored Earth not an earthly millennium. So then, we now have to account for where the Millennium will actually take place if not on this earth. We will explore that now by going to Revelation and starting from the Second Advent of Jehoshua all the way to the New Heavens and New Earth being remade.
The earthly millennium theory also teaches that there will be a third temple that will be built in Jerusalem and that Jehoshua will rule from it in the millennium. What does scripture teach about this?
Acts 7:48-49 (KJV)
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
These scriptures above eliminate any possibility of Jehoshua reigning on this earth in a rebuilt temple in earthly Jerusalem. This passage is clear that our Saviour and His Father Jehovah do not dwell in temples built by man's hands. If there is a third temple built in Jerusalem, who will it be built by? Man's hands of course, which means Jehoshua will not be dwelling in it. Jehovah even ask sarcastically "what house will ye build me"?
Also, what does scripture say about what/who is Jehovah's temple ?
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 (RSB)
16 And what agreement hath the temple of Elohim with idols? for ye are the temple of the living Elohim; as Elohim hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith Yahweh, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith Yahweh Almighty.
Verse 16 clearly says that we as believers are the Temple of Jehovah. There will never be an earthly temple that Jehovah and Jehoshua will call their own but we as the Saints are their Temple. That's why the second temple was destroyed in AD 70, because the Jews as a whole denied the Messiah and there was no further need for a physical temple once Jehoshua died on the stake for our sins. He was the once and for all sacrifice thereby negating any need for an earthly temple. We individually as Saints comprising the assembly (ekklesia) are now Jehovah's Temple. Those who teach an earthly millennium want to go backwards by bringing back a physical temple with animal sacrifices as they are even trying to breed a spotless red heifer. What does scripture say though about a need for further meat, drink or burnt offerings?
Hebrews 7:22-28 (RSB)
22 By so much was Yashua made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto Elohim by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
The earthly millennialist contradict what scripture says about the need for further burnt, meat and drink offerings/sacrifices. Verse 27 makes crystal clear that there is no further need for these type of offerings. Jehoshua took care of this once and for all, when he offered up himself as the last physical sacrifice for all time. Schofield dispensationalist and other earthly millennialist fail to grasp what and who is the temple of Jehovah in this age of grace. They also fail to grasp that Jehoshua was the last physical offering needed for all time. There is absolutely no need for a physical temple or meat, drink and burnt offerings to be made. The only Temples that matter now are "us" as believers and Jehovah's Heavenly Temple where Jehoshua sits at his right hand. Once the Holy City (New Jerusalem) comes down from Heaven to the New Earth, there will be no more Temple as Jehovah and Jehoshua themselves will be the Temple. (Rev 21:22)
Hebrews 10 (KJV)
10 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Revelation 20
20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
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.
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 Yahshua, and for the word of Yahweh, 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 Messiah a thousand years.
20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
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 Elohim and of Messiah, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
20:8 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.
20:9 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 Yahweh out of heaven, and devoured them.
20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
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.
20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before Elohim; 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.
20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and the grave delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
20:14 And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
These are the events after the Second Advent of Jehoshua which includes the resurrection of the Saints (dead & alive) and the destruction of unbelievers who are living on earth at the time. Also the Antimessiah and False Prophet were cast into the lake of fire on earth & destroyed. An angel comes down from Heaven after these events concerning the return of Jehoshua & binds Satan for 1,000 yrs casting him into the bottomless pit (abyss) which is this earth as we saw in Jude 6, Rev 9:1, Rev 11:1, Rev 12:9-12 and Rev 17:8. The pit as we can read in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 31:16) is described as being in the earth. Chains are symbolic of Satan & his Angels not being able to escape from the pit and ascend back to Heaven where they were cast out. Satan & his angels are confined to the abyss (earth). Genesis 1:2 describes the earth as an abyss before the creation.
Isaiah 24:19-22
24:19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
24:20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.
24:21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Yahweh shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
24:22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.
The above passage in Isaiah describes what will take place after the Second Advent of Jehoshua. The host of Heaven will be gathered in the pit (earth) and shut up (chained). Verse 22, notice that there is an, interval of time between the binding and imprisoning of Satan and his angels and the day of punishment (lake of fire). This would go instep with a thousand year period between the Second Advent of Jehoshua and the resurrection of the unjust and their final judgment after they are deceived by Satan one more time.
The earth will be in utter desolation during the thousand years that Satan is bound. Look at the below verses in Jeremiah 4:23-27 (RSB)
4:23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
4:24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
4:25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
4:26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of Yahweh, and by his fierce anger.
4:27 For thus hath Yahweh said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
The context of the above passage in Jeremiah is describing the judgment on Judah however it is also a type of the judgment that will befall this earth after the Second Advent of Jehoshua. Verse 23 confirms that this passage had a twofold meaning as it references the earth being without form and void which didn't happen after the judgment of Judah. Verse 23 describes the earth being in a state similar to that before creation (Genesis 1:2). The state of the earth in these two instances are as an abyss, a dark bottomless pit. Verse 23 also says the earth and heavens will have no light. Verse 25 describes the earth as having no man on it or even the birds of the air present. Verse 26 describes the earth as an wilderness with no cities standing due to the fierce anger of Jehovah capped off by the 7 bowl judgments. The end result is the whole land will be desolate. This will be the state of the earth during the millennium.
Isaiah 34:1-17 (RSB)
34:1 Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.
34:2 For the indignation of Yahweh is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
34:3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
34:5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
34:6 The sword of Yahweh is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for Yahweh hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.
34:7 And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.
34:8 For it is the day of Yahweh's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
34:9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.
34:10 It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
34:11 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.
34:12 They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.
34:13 And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
34:14 The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.
34:15 There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.
34:16 Seek ye out of the book of Yahweh, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
34:17 And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.
The above passage in Isaiah describes judgment on the nations at that time, such as Edom but it also is a type of the judgment that will befall the nations at the great day of Jehoshua's return. Verses 11-15 describe the desolation of the earth following Jehovah's final wrath on the world. With the desolation of the earth after the Second Advent of Jehoshua it is clear that there will be no earthly millennium.
Back to Revelation 20:1-15
So we see that the first 3 verses of Revelation 20 deal with the binding of Satan on the earth (abyss-bottomless pit) for a thousand years.
Now we will see what takes place during the thousand years concerning the Saints and our Saviour Jehoshua Messiah. Verse 4 talks about thrones and judgment. Then it makes mention of the Saints who were beheaded for their witness to Jehoshua and the Word of Jehovah. These Saints refused to worship the beast or his image and refused to take the mark. These Saints will reign with Jehoshua for a thousand years. They sat on the thrones and judgment was committed to them. It won't only be them though as it will be all the Saints from the Old Testament to the end of the age (last day resurrection).
These Saints are an example and a type, representing Saints of all time who overcame and endured to the end. So again, Saints of all generations will sit on the thrones and have judgment committed to them. Here are some scriptures to prove that we as believers in Messiah will judge the nations.
1 Corinthians 6:1-3 (RSB)
6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Verse 2 makes it clear that we as the Saints will judge the world and angels. It will be all the Saints not just the end time martyrs. The end time martyrs were mentioned because they do sit on the thrones and judge due to their faithfulness but also as a type of all believers who have overcome and endure to the end. This will be a quality (overcoming and enduring) that all Saints will need to posses in order to go to Heaven at the last day resurrection. Many Saints in history died natural deaths but nonetheless they overcame and endured to the end by holding to their faith in the face of temptations and persecutions.
2 Peter 2:4 (RSB)
"For if Elohim spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to Tartaros, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment."
We as Saints will judge angels. This will take place during the millennium along with our judgment of the world.
Jude 6 (RSB)
"And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."
Another scripture to confirm that angels are reserved for judgment which will be done by the Saints.
If this judgment of the world and angels takes place after the Second Advent of Jehoshua then where does it take place. Read the below passage in John for the answer:
John 14:1-3 (RSB)
14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in Yahweh, believe also in me.
14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
So Jehoshua will receive us to Himself at His Second Advent. He then takes us to Heaven with Him where he has prepared a mansion for us. We go to Heaven after His second coming not remain here on earth for a thousand years. Our reigning with Jehoshua for a thousand years takes place in Heaven. This passage in John confirms it. Revelation 20 also clearly teaches that the thousand year reign starts right after the great and terrible day of the Lord which includes the resurrection of the Saints (dead and alive) and the final wrath of Jehovah (seven bowl judgments). If the Saints go right to Heaven after the Master's Second Advent and the thousand year reign of believers with Jehoshua starts right after as well, then it is clear that the millennium takes place in Heaven not on earth.
Verse 5 of Revelation 20 states that the rest of the dead (unbelievers) did not live until the thousand years are over. The first resurrection is for the Saints (dead and alive) and this happens at the Lord's return. Shortly after that the millennium commences and the Saints will review the books and judge the world. Verse 6 says that those who have part in the first resurrection are blessed. The second death will have no power over the resurrected Saints. This second death will be the judgment of unbelievers being cast into the lake of fire. Verse 6 also says we will be priests of Jehovah and Jehoshua and reign with the Son for a thousand years. During the thousand years the unbelievers will be asleep in their grave awaiting their resurrection.
Verse 7 states that after the thousand years Satan will be released from his prison. Note that this is a figurative releasing from prison as Satan until then was confined to the abyss (earth). The releasing from prison is in reference to his ability to deceive the nations once final time. This will be possible due to the resurrection of the unjust from the grave. They will be resurrected to the earth and Satan will gather them to surround the camp of the Saints and the beloved city (verse 9 of Revelation 20). This is very important to note in verse 9. Many will use this verse to say that the millennium must be on earth as the camp of the Saints is on earth at this time of Satan's forces gathering around it. However we know that the book of Revelation is not in chronological order. Go to verse 2 of Revelation 21 and it talks about the Holy City (New Jerusalem) coming down from Heaven as a bride adorned for her Husband. Many will say this takes place after the destruction of unbelievers in the Lake of Fire and use this to show that the camp of the Saints refrenced in verse 9 of Revelation 20 was the earthly millennial abode of the Saints. However upon further review, we also see that this camp of the Saints refrenced in verse 9 is also called the beloved city. We know from scripture that the beloved city is the New Jerusalem, the City that our Father's and Mother's in the faith looked and yearned for (Hebrews 11). Remember there hope was a Heavenly country not an, earthly one. After the death, burial and bodily ressurection of Christ, we know that there are no longer any Holy earthly cities but we now look forward to the Heavenly Jerusalem, the Heavenly Mount Zion.
With this scriptural knowledge of the Holy City being Heavenly not earthly then it only makes scriptural sense that the camp and city refrenced in verse 9 of Revelation 20. is the same city talked about in verse 2 of Revelation 21. So prior to the surrounding of the Saints camp (Heavenly New Jerusalem) the devil was bound on a desolate earth and then was loosed once the second resurrection of the unjust happened. In the same time frame, the beloved city New Jerusalem comes down from Heaven and then isnl surrounded by Satan and the deceived nations for one final attempt at overthrowing Jehovah's and Jehoshua's Kingdom. The millennium prior to this final rebellion was in Heaven where the Saints will judge the world including Satan's angels.
Verse 10 describes the beast (papacy) and the false prophet (America-likely a political leader from U.S./U.N) being cast into the lake of fire after this last attempt at rebellion. They will be tormented day and night for ever. This tormenting is final annihilation & we are to understand the description of being "for ever" as symbolic of the consequences being permananet as a result of this burning in the Lake of Fire. There will be nothing left of the false prophet & the beast once they are consumed by the lake of fire & nothing can qunech this fire until it totally destroys them. Isaiah 34:
34:9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.
34:10 It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
Isaiah 34:9-10 describes the judgment of Edom. Obviously, the description of it being burned forever is metaphorical and not meant to be a litetal unending period of time. This same metaphorical language is used to describe the torment of the devil, false prophet and antichrist in the lake of fire. This is also where unbelievers will be tormented until they are consumed and destroyed by the fire.
Verse 11 details the White Throne judgment which will take place right before the unrighteous are cast into the lake of fire. This will be when every knee will bow to our Saviour Jehoshua Messiah and confess that he is the Lord. The current heaven and earth will flee from the presence of Jehovah and Jehoshua. Isaiah 51:6 describes this event in regards to the cataclysmic consequences of Jehovah and Jehoshua appearing on the White Throne to unbelievers.
Isaiah 51:6 (RSB)
51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
Verse 12-13- the dead, great and small, now stand before Jehovah with the books opened up. No unbelievers will be able to escape this. The book of life will also be opened up. The dead will be judged according to their works. The sea and the literal grave (hades, hell) will give up their dead (second resurrection) and they will be judged. All unbelievers whether they were world leaders or just minimum wage workers will stand before the judgment seat of Jehovah and Jehoshua.
The Millennium Part 1
This is a study (Part 1) I wanted to do for a long time. It's a subject that has been, talked about a lot lately being that many feel we are close to the second coming of Jehoshua. The second Advent of Jehoshua is supposed to usher in the start of His one thousand year reign with the Saints (The Church). There are a few different theories of the millennium teaching. Here there arenas follows:
1) Postmillennialism - This view states that the second coming of Jehoshua will not take place until after the Church helps establish a period of peace and prosperity for one thousand years. This will be done through social, educational and other cultural reforms. The Church will unite with State to bring about this age of aqaurius before Jehoshua comes back. This teaching contradicts clear scripture that describes the earth im immense peril before Messiah returns. Postmillennialism was popular during the 19th century among Protestants but essentially died out with World War 1. This view of the millennium is no longer widely held although there are some sects of Christendom that still teach this namely the National Apostolic Reformation movement.
2) Amillennialism - This is the view of the millennium that is has been the traditional teaching during much of the Church age since Augustine (354-430). Iy is the official view of the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and some reformed Protestant groups. Amillennialists believe that the one thousand year reign of Jehoshua with His saints is symbolic of the time period between His death at the stake and His second coming (The Church age). The binding of Satan is something that took place on the stake when Satan was defeated by Messiah. Amillennialists see the first resurrection as a symbol of those who accept new birth in Jehoshua.
3) Premillennialism - The premillennial view holds that the Second Coming occurs before the millennium. The Christians of the first three centuries were premillennialists; under the influence of Augustine, premillennialism was gradually replaced by amillennialism. The three teachings of premillennialism that exist today are the dispensational, the historic, and the Seventh-day Adventist understanding. The dispensational view holds that there will be a secret rapture of the Church prior to the great tribulation and revealing of the Antimessiah. The historic view holds that there is no secret rapture of the Church and that the Second coming of Jehoshua is when all believers will be resurrected to be with the Lord. Both of the aforementioned views teach that the millennium will be here on the earth. The Seventh-day Adventist view teaches that the Second coming of Jehoshua is when all believers will be resurrected to be with the Lord. Where the Seventh-day Adventist understanding is different from the previous two views is that they teach the millennium will take place in Heaven rather than earth.
Here is the main passage regarding the Millennium. We will work from this passage of scripture to compare to other passages that are believed to describe the millennium.
Revelation 20 (KJV)
20 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
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.
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.
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.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
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.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The events leading up to the millennium are the 2nd coming of Jehoshua, the resurrection of the Saints, the final outpouring of Jehovah's wrath (7 bowl judgments), the battle at Armageddon and all the wicked being slain by the Lamb (Revelation 20:11-21).
1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 (KJV)
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:
Here above we have the first event related to Jehoshua's Second Advent, the resurrection of the Saints, those in the grave and those alive here on earth. By the time the final wrath of Jehovah is poured out (7 bowl judgments and the the destruction of unbelievers who are living on earth) the Saints will have been resurrected to be with the Master forever.
Revelation 19:11-21 (KJV)
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word 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.
The above passage describes the events that precede the millennium. One important thing to note here is that verse 21 states that the remnant were slain by the Lamb. Who are this remnant? It appears from verse 18 that it is all men, both, great and small. This remnant apears to be all unbelievers on earth at the time of Jehoshua's coming. The main principals are the Antimessiah and the False prophet (verse 21) so the remnant are all others (unbelievers) left on earth during the Second Advent. Right before this the dead and living Saints are resurrected to be with the Master forever (Revelation 20:6)
The birds of the air will eat the flesh of all men who are destroyed in this final outpouring of Jehovah's wrath executed by His Son Jehoshua. All unbelievers will be killed at the Second Advent of Jehoshua and their flesh will be devoured by the birds. Regular citizens and the beast armies will be utterly destroyed by Jehoshua's sword. The Antimessiah (sea beast) and false prophet (earth beast) will be captured and thrown into the Lake of Fire here on earth and will be destroyed once and for all. It says the rest of the men/women will be killed by the sword of Jehoshua which proceeds from His mouth. This sequence of events will lead into the millennium.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 (KJV)
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
This passage correlates with Revelation 19:17-21. Note that in both passages it appears that all left on the earth after the resurrection of the Saints will be destroyed by the brightness of our Master's coming. This is important information as it may help us better understand where the Millennium will take place. The popular view is that the millennium will be here on earth where Jehoshua will reign with the Saints in physical Jerusalem In a physical temple. The question to be asked is "if all the wicked have been destroyed by Jehoshua at his coming, then who does he rule over here in the millennium on earth? The popular millennium teaching is that there will be survivors of the final wrath of Jehovah that will enter the thousand year reign with their mortal bodies. This teaching states that these unbelievers who survived the final outpouring of Jehovah's wrath, will have a chance to obtain salvation in the millennium.
If we take the above passages in 2nd Thessalonians and Revelation 19 into account, there are no survivors of Jehovah's final wrath. This would beg the question: "What then is the point of the Millennium?"
If there are no unbelievers that transfer from this system of things to the millennium then that would defeat the whole purpose of it. If believers are the only ones to enter the millennium, why even bother with the thousand year reign and just go straight to the New Heaven and New Earth? The whole concept of the millennium would seem to indicate that there is a specific purpose to it.
Here are some more scriptures that describe the destruction of unbelievers at the Second Advent of Jehoshua.
Isaiah 11:4 (KJV)
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
Jeremiah 25:31-33 (KJV)
31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord.
32 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
33 And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
The above passages describe the destruction of the wicked at the last day is vast and complete and leaves no room for survivors. This scenario portrayed in scripture then creates a problem for the millennium on earth teaching. What would be the point of the Saints reigning with Jehoshua here on earth if there is no one to rule? Why not go straight to the New Heaven and New restored Earth? There are scriptures to indicate that the earth will be desolate after the second coming of Jehoshua and during the millennium. Let's look at them:
Jeremiah 4:23-27 (KJV)
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger.
27 For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
Jeremiah 25:31-33 (KJV)
31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord.
32 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
33 And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
The Jeremiah prophecies have a primary application with regards to Judah. But all such day of judgment prophecies are types of the trial and ultimate day of the Lord (His Second Advent).
The above two passages clearly detail the state of the earth after the Second coming of Jehoshua. The earth is desolate and no flesh survives Jehovah's final wrath. Dead bodies of the wicked are strewn about the earth from one end to the other. Do you think Jehoshua and the Saints are going to come down and set up camp on this corrupted earth especially being that there will need to be a massive cleanup job? Remember Jehoshua said nothing that offends will enter his Kingdom so the teaching that unbelievers will transfer over to the millennium is false. Also, the teaching that tribulation Saints who weren't part of a secret rapture (which is false) will be the ones to transfer over to the earthly millennium is false as they will still have their corrupted bodies which sin.
The below passage in Isaiah is often used by the "pre trib-pre mill-dispensational" camp to support their teaching of an earthly millennium. I am pre mill but not pre trib or dispensational. I believe in a millennium but not an earthly one. The first two verses of the below passage in Isaiah destroy the earthly millennium theory in one fell swoop. This passage is talking about the New Heavens and New Earth. The New Earth is this current earth restored to it's edenic beauty. No sinners will be allowed as it will be for Jehovah's people only. Verse 18 talks about rejoicing for ever in the creation of the New Heavens and New Earth so this can't be possibly talking about a thousand year reign on this corrupted earth. Verse 20, where it states "But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed" Is symbolic of there being no sinners allowed in this new system. Verse 17, clearly defines this time of renewal as taking place in the New Earth not this earth, which confirms the symbolism of the statement made in verse 20 regarding the sinner. We all know that by the time the New Heavens and New Earth are remade by Jehovah, that all sinners will have been completely destroyed in the Lake of Fire which was on this current corrupted earth. After the annihilation of sinners in the Lake of Fire, which takes place on this earth not a spooky spiritual underworld, the earth will be restored by Jehovah to the paradise it was originally meant to be. With that understanding and the confirmation in verse 17 and 18 that this entire passage in Isaiah is talking about how things will be in the New Heavens and New Earth, it leaves earthly millennialist with no supporting scriptures for their theory.
Verse 23 even indicates that once we are in the New Earth after the millennium, we will have family life. It says we will have offspring. Remember, that Jehovah before the fall created male and female to be one flesh. I truly believe now that marriage in the New Heaven and New Earth is a real possibility. I know that Jehoshua said that there will be no marriage in the resurrection but maybe that is just when we are in the millennium in Heaven. Remember Jehovah's intent for this earth originally was for it to be eternal and for male and female to ne joined as one. This was before the fall. Once the earth is restored why wouldn't there be family life now that sin is no longer here and the ideal family life will, finally be a reality. Obviously we will work in the New Earth, verse 23 also, indicates that. If we are going to have offspring in the New Earth then obviously there will be marriage.
Matthew 5:5 (RSB)
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."
Psalm 37:11 (KJV)
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
The above scriptures confirm that Christians will inherit this very earth once Jehovah restores it to paradise, after the destruction of the wicked in the Lake of Fire which concludes the millennium.
1) Postmillennialism - This view states that the second coming of Jehoshua will not take place until after the Church helps establish a period of peace and prosperity for one thousand years. This will be done through social, educational and other cultural reforms. The Church will unite with State to bring about this age of aqaurius before Jehoshua comes back. This teaching contradicts clear scripture that describes the earth im immense peril before Messiah returns. Postmillennialism was popular during the 19th century among Protestants but essentially died out with World War 1. This view of the millennium is no longer widely held although there are some sects of Christendom that still teach this namely the National Apostolic Reformation movement.
2) Amillennialism - This is the view of the millennium that is has been the traditional teaching during much of the Church age since Augustine (354-430). Iy is the official view of the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and some reformed Protestant groups. Amillennialists believe that the one thousand year reign of Jehoshua with His saints is symbolic of the time period between His death at the stake and His second coming (The Church age). The binding of Satan is something that took place on the stake when Satan was defeated by Messiah. Amillennialists see the first resurrection as a symbol of those who accept new birth in Jehoshua.
3) Premillennialism - The premillennial view holds that the Second Coming occurs before the millennium. The Christians of the first three centuries were premillennialists; under the influence of Augustine, premillennialism was gradually replaced by amillennialism. The three teachings of premillennialism that exist today are the dispensational, the historic, and the Seventh-day Adventist understanding. The dispensational view holds that there will be a secret rapture of the Church prior to the great tribulation and revealing of the Antimessiah. The historic view holds that there is no secret rapture of the Church and that the Second coming of Jehoshua is when all believers will be resurrected to be with the Lord. Both of the aforementioned views teach that the millennium will be here on the earth. The Seventh-day Adventist view teaches that the Second coming of Jehoshua is when all believers will be resurrected to be with the Lord. Where the Seventh-day Adventist understanding is different from the previous two views is that they teach the millennium will take place in Heaven rather than earth.
Here is the main passage regarding the Millennium. We will work from this passage of scripture to compare to other passages that are believed to describe the millennium.
Revelation 20 (KJV)
20 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
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.
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.
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.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
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.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The events leading up to the millennium are the 2nd coming of Jehoshua, the resurrection of the Saints, the final outpouring of Jehovah's wrath (7 bowl judgments), the battle at Armageddon and all the wicked being slain by the Lamb (Revelation 20:11-21).
1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 (KJV)
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:
Here above we have the first event related to Jehoshua's Second Advent, the resurrection of the Saints, those in the grave and those alive here on earth. By the time the final wrath of Jehovah is poured out (7 bowl judgments and the the destruction of unbelievers who are living on earth) the Saints will have been resurrected to be with the Master forever.
Revelation 19:11-21 (KJV)
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word 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.
The above passage describes the events that precede the millennium. One important thing to note here is that verse 21 states that the remnant were slain by the Lamb. Who are this remnant? It appears from verse 18 that it is all men, both, great and small. This remnant apears to be all unbelievers on earth at the time of Jehoshua's coming. The main principals are the Antimessiah and the False prophet (verse 21) so the remnant are all others (unbelievers) left on earth during the Second Advent. Right before this the dead and living Saints are resurrected to be with the Master forever (Revelation 20:6)
The birds of the air will eat the flesh of all men who are destroyed in this final outpouring of Jehovah's wrath executed by His Son Jehoshua. All unbelievers will be killed at the Second Advent of Jehoshua and their flesh will be devoured by the birds. Regular citizens and the beast armies will be utterly destroyed by Jehoshua's sword. The Antimessiah (sea beast) and false prophet (earth beast) will be captured and thrown into the Lake of Fire here on earth and will be destroyed once and for all. It says the rest of the men/women will be killed by the sword of Jehoshua which proceeds from His mouth. This sequence of events will lead into the millennium.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 (KJV)
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
This passage correlates with Revelation 19:17-21. Note that in both passages it appears that all left on the earth after the resurrection of the Saints will be destroyed by the brightness of our Master's coming. This is important information as it may help us better understand where the Millennium will take place. The popular view is that the millennium will be here on earth where Jehoshua will reign with the Saints in physical Jerusalem In a physical temple. The question to be asked is "if all the wicked have been destroyed by Jehoshua at his coming, then who does he rule over here in the millennium on earth? The popular millennium teaching is that there will be survivors of the final wrath of Jehovah that will enter the thousand year reign with their mortal bodies. This teaching states that these unbelievers who survived the final outpouring of Jehovah's wrath, will have a chance to obtain salvation in the millennium.
If we take the above passages in 2nd Thessalonians and Revelation 19 into account, there are no survivors of Jehovah's final wrath. This would beg the question: "What then is the point of the Millennium?"
If there are no unbelievers that transfer from this system of things to the millennium then that would defeat the whole purpose of it. If believers are the only ones to enter the millennium, why even bother with the thousand year reign and just go straight to the New Heaven and New Earth? The whole concept of the millennium would seem to indicate that there is a specific purpose to it.
Here are some more scriptures that describe the destruction of unbelievers at the Second Advent of Jehoshua.
Isaiah 11:4 (KJV)
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
Jeremiah 25:31-33 (KJV)
31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord.
32 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
33 And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
The above passages describe the destruction of the wicked at the last day is vast and complete and leaves no room for survivors. This scenario portrayed in scripture then creates a problem for the millennium on earth teaching. What would be the point of the Saints reigning with Jehoshua here on earth if there is no one to rule? Why not go straight to the New Heaven and New restored Earth? There are scriptures to indicate that the earth will be desolate after the second coming of Jehoshua and during the millennium. Let's look at them:
Jeremiah 4:23-27 (KJV)
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger.
27 For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
Jeremiah 25:31-33 (KJV)
31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord.
32 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
33 And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
The Jeremiah prophecies have a primary application with regards to Judah. But all such day of judgment prophecies are types of the trial and ultimate day of the Lord (His Second Advent).
The above two passages clearly detail the state of the earth after the Second coming of Jehoshua. The earth is desolate and no flesh survives Jehovah's final wrath. Dead bodies of the wicked are strewn about the earth from one end to the other. Do you think Jehoshua and the Saints are going to come down and set up camp on this corrupted earth especially being that there will need to be a massive cleanup job? Remember Jehoshua said nothing that offends will enter his Kingdom so the teaching that unbelievers will transfer over to the millennium is false. Also, the teaching that tribulation Saints who weren't part of a secret rapture (which is false) will be the ones to transfer over to the earthly millennium is false as they will still have their corrupted bodies which sin.
The below passage in Isaiah is often used by the "pre trib-pre mill-dispensational" camp to support their teaching of an earthly millennium. I am pre mill but not pre trib or dispensational. I believe in a millennium but not an earthly one. The first two verses of the below passage in Isaiah destroy the earthly millennium theory in one fell swoop. This passage is talking about the New Heavens and New Earth. The New Earth is this current earth restored to it's edenic beauty. No sinners will be allowed as it will be for Jehovah's people only. Verse 18 talks about rejoicing for ever in the creation of the New Heavens and New Earth so this can't be possibly talking about a thousand year reign on this corrupted earth. Verse 20, where it states "But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed" Is symbolic of there being no sinners allowed in this new system. Verse 17, clearly defines this time of renewal as taking place in the New Earth not this earth, which confirms the symbolism of the statement made in verse 20 regarding the sinner. We all know that by the time the New Heavens and New Earth are remade by Jehovah, that all sinners will have been completely destroyed in the Lake of Fire which was on this current corrupted earth. After the annihilation of sinners in the Lake of Fire, which takes place on this earth not a spooky spiritual underworld, the earth will be restored by Jehovah to the paradise it was originally meant to be. With that understanding and the confirmation in verse 17 and 18 that this entire passage in Isaiah is talking about how things will be in the New Heavens and New Earth, it leaves earthly millennialist with no supporting scriptures for their theory.
Verse 23 even indicates that once we are in the New Earth after the millennium, we will have family life. It says we will have offspring. Remember, that Jehovah before the fall created male and female to be one flesh. I truly believe now that marriage in the New Heaven and New Earth is a real possibility. I know that Jehoshua said that there will be no marriage in the resurrection but maybe that is just when we are in the millennium in Heaven. Remember Jehovah's intent for this earth originally was for it to be eternal and for male and female to ne joined as one. This was before the fall. Once the earth is restored why wouldn't there be family life now that sin is no longer here and the ideal family life will, finally be a reality. Obviously we will work in the New Earth, verse 23 also, indicates that. If we are going to have offspring in the New Earth then obviously there will be marriage.
Matthew 5:5 (RSB)
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."
Psalm 37:11 (KJV)
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
The above scriptures confirm that Christians will inherit this very earth once Jehovah restores it to paradise, after the destruction of the wicked in the Lake of Fire which concludes the millennium.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
The Law of Jehovah or the Law of the Papacy? You make the choice!
Neither Jehovah the Father nor His Son Jesus Christ, ever annulled the 10 moral laws of the Decalogue!
Daniel 9:4 (RSB)
"And I prayed unto Yahweh my Elohim, and made my confession, and said, O Yahweh, the great and dreadful El, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;"
Does the Bible support the change to Sunday?
"Is not every Christian obliged to sanctify Sunday and to abstain on that day from unnecessary servile work? Is not the observance of this law among most prominent of our sacred duties? But you may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify. " - James Cardinal Gibbons, The Faith of Our Fathers (1917 edition), p. 72-73 (16th edition, p 111, 88th edition, p. 89).
"For example, nowhere in the Bible do we findd that Christ or the Apostles ordered that the Sabbath be changed from Saturday to Sunday. We have the commandment of God given to Moses to keep the holy rhe the Sabbath day, that is the 7th day of the week, Saturday. Today most Christians keep Sunday because it has been revealed to us by the [Roman Catholic] church outside the Bible. " - Catholic Virginian, October 3, 1947, p. 9 article "To Tell You the Truth."
Who made Sunday Holy?
"Perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change the Church ever did, happened in the first century. The holy day, the Sabbath, was changed from Saturday to Sunday. 'The day of the Lord' was chosen, not from any direction noted in the Scriptures, but from the (Catholic) Church's sense of it's own power. ..People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become 7th Day Adventists, amd keep Saturday holy." - St. Catherine Church Sentinel, Algonac, Michigan, May 21, 1995.
"Question - Which is the Sabbath day?
"Answer - Saturday is the Sabbath day.
Question - Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
"Answer - We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the council of Laodicea (A.D. 364), transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday. " - Peter Geiermann, C.S.S.R., The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p. 50, 3rd edition, 1957.
Whose Day of Worship is Sunday?
"It is well to remind the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and all other Christians, that the Bible does not support them anywhere in their observance of Sunday. Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe a commandment of the Catholic Church. - Preist Brady, in an address reported in The News, Elizabeth, New Jersey, March 18, 1903.
"They [the Protestants] deem it their duty to keep the Sunday holy. Why? Because the Catholic Church tells them to do so. They have no other reason... The observance of Sunday thus comes to be an ecclesiastical law entirely distinct from the divine law of Sabbath observance... The author of the Sunday law... is the Catholic Church." - Ecclesiastical Review, February 1914.
Who Do We Reverence by Keeping Sunday Holy?
"It was the Catholic church which... has transferred this rest to Sunday in remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord. Therefore the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the (Catholic) church. " - Monsignor Louis Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, p. 213.
Daniel 9:4 (RSB)
"And I prayed unto Yahweh my Elohim, and made my confession, and said, O Yahweh, the great and dreadful El, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;"
Does the Bible support the change to Sunday?
"Is not every Christian obliged to sanctify Sunday and to abstain on that day from unnecessary servile work? Is not the observance of this law among most prominent of our sacred duties? But you may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify. " - James Cardinal Gibbons, The Faith of Our Fathers (1917 edition), p. 72-73 (16th edition, p 111, 88th edition, p. 89).
"For example, nowhere in the Bible do we findd that Christ or the Apostles ordered that the Sabbath be changed from Saturday to Sunday. We have the commandment of God given to Moses to keep the holy rhe the Sabbath day, that is the 7th day of the week, Saturday. Today most Christians keep Sunday because it has been revealed to us by the [Roman Catholic] church outside the Bible. " - Catholic Virginian, October 3, 1947, p. 9 article "To Tell You the Truth."
Who made Sunday Holy?
"Perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change the Church ever did, happened in the first century. The holy day, the Sabbath, was changed from Saturday to Sunday. 'The day of the Lord' was chosen, not from any direction noted in the Scriptures, but from the (Catholic) Church's sense of it's own power. ..People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become 7th Day Adventists, amd keep Saturday holy." - St. Catherine Church Sentinel, Algonac, Michigan, May 21, 1995.
"Question - Which is the Sabbath day?
"Answer - Saturday is the Sabbath day.
Question - Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
"Answer - We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the council of Laodicea (A.D. 364), transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday. " - Peter Geiermann, C.S.S.R., The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p. 50, 3rd edition, 1957.
Whose Day of Worship is Sunday?
"It is well to remind the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and all other Christians, that the Bible does not support them anywhere in their observance of Sunday. Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe a commandment of the Catholic Church. - Preist Brady, in an address reported in The News, Elizabeth, New Jersey, March 18, 1903.
"They [the Protestants] deem it their duty to keep the Sunday holy. Why? Because the Catholic Church tells them to do so. They have no other reason... The observance of Sunday thus comes to be an ecclesiastical law entirely distinct from the divine law of Sabbath observance... The author of the Sunday law... is the Catholic Church." - Ecclesiastical Review, February 1914.
Who Do We Reverence by Keeping Sunday Holy?
"It was the Catholic church which... has transferred this rest to Sunday in remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord. Therefore the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the (Catholic) church. " - Monsignor Louis Segur, Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, p. 213.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)