Understanding the The 1000 Year Millennium in Prophecy

[Mr GLee]

At the Second Coming, the first resurrection of the saints takes place, then you have the thousand year period. Verses one through three, are referring to the leader of the wicked, Satan himself. During this thousand year period, Satan is bound in the bottomless pit, which is here on earth. Not only is Satan bound during this thousand years, but he is not able to deceive the nations anymore during this same time. The scriptures themselves will tell us why this is so.

Verse four, switches the topic to that of the saved during this same thousand years. It states that the judgment was given unto them. The saints then, are involved in the work of judgment during this thousand year period. Paul makes reference to this event in 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

1 Corinthians 6:2-3
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?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Of course this judgment during the thousand year period cannot be about who will, or will not have eternal life. This question has already been answered, since the saved are in heaven with Christ judging the world. This is why the saints are caught up in the air to meet Christ when He returns, and will ever be with Him. The judgment that the saints are involved in is for the purpose of understanding why or why not, certain people are or are not in heaven with the saved. No doubt God will answer all the questions of the saints during these thousand years.

Verse five points out that the rest of the dead, that is those who were not saved, the wicked, did not live again until the thousand years were finished, then you will have them brought up. But verse six says that those who are saved, and take part in the first resurrection are blessed and holy and the second death will have no power over them. For them, death has been defeated and they shall be priests of God and reign with Him during this thousand year period. During this thousand years, the saints are in heaven with Christ who has taken them there, and go over the books.

Then at verse seven which is after the the thousand years are expired, which is where you have the second resurrection, the one of damnation in which the wicked are brought up, and 'Satan shall be loosed out of his prison'. This goes on through verse fifteen which gives what will happen to the wicked at the end of this thousand year period. This begins with Satan being let loose again to deceive the nations. In order for this to take place, the lost who have been dead during this thousand year period, must be resurrected. Thus having died once already the death appointed to man, the one to the grave, slain at Christ’s second coming , they will die the second death, when they come up on the beloved city with their leader, Satan. That both the saved and the wicked will be resurrected, which is the verses we saw...

John 5:29
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

and Paul in Acts..
Acts 24:15
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

And Daniel,

Daniel 12:2
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

The resurrection of life is at the beginning of the thousand years. The resurrection of damnation is at the end of the thousand years. So now, the wicked surround the 'beloved city', and fire comes down from God, and devours them as we see in verse 9. This is the lake of fire, where the Devil, and the Beast, and the False prophet are and where all those whose names are not written in the book of life will end up, and die the second death, as we see in verses 13-15. The book of life, from which all these people were judged, must be the book that the saints were examining during this thousand year period and be the judgment that they were involved in. So you have the lake of fire where it all ends for the wicked, all evil, and sin ends and will be no more, and the saints will reign with Christ in His city for eternity.

One resurrection . One closing of the gate.

The resurrections gate opened when Christ gave words to His prophet Jesus . "it is finished" The promised demonstration of the lamb slain from the foundation the six days the Father did work is . . . . . over


The old testament born again saints spoken of in 1 Peter 1 as those who like us received the end of our new born again faith from the hearing ,The beginning or understanding of His Spirit that does dwell Christians yoked with Christ labor of love.. Aain receiving the end from the beginning. No Limbo or purgatory needed.

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.


1 Peter 1:9:12 Receiving the end of your faith,(christ in us) even the salvation of your (new) souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

They looked ahead by the faith (power) of Christ working in sons of God, Christians.

We can look back by the same Spirit of faith (Christ's) to the same glory. (it is finished) The gates will be closed on the last day under the Sun .

Today to be absent from these bodies of death is to have entered the gate .Plenty of rooms in His mansion.

 

[Ghada]

As if there weren’t enough puzzles, the line about being with the Lord in the air is its own puzzle.

What's so puzzling about the Lord and His resurrected saints meeting together in the air?

Is any thing too hard for the LORD?

After all, the angels of God were in the air at night, worshiping and praising the born Son in sight of the shepherds.

What's really puzzling is the enemies back on earth, that are actually gathering to make war with the Lamb and His saints in the air.

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

But, we've already seen how the Egyptian host actually drove down to the dry sea bed, with all those waves standing up around them.

But the Egyptians never read the prophecy of their own manner of destruction. Since the beast is the corrupter of the Bible, then no doubt he and many of his followers will have read the Lord's coming in the air, and their own manner of demise.

And then, as if that's not enough, even after the Lord's Millennium, multitudes will still gather round His beloved city to destroy it, with plainly prophesied fire of God devouring them from heaven.

People can act like they've never read the Bible, or that it isn't true, or that it isn't even there on earth, but every word of doctrine and prophecy will surely come to pass exactly as written.

Not in Heaven nor on earth nor the NHNE. With the repeated clause , so shall we ever be…

So shall they ever be with the Lord, first in the air, then on the earth, then at the the final judgment, and finally forever on the new earth.

And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

 

[Mr GLee]

What's so puzzling about the Lord and His resurrected saints meeting together in the air?

Is any thing too hard for the LORD?

After all, the angels of God were in the air at night, worshiping and praising the born Son in sight of the shepherds.

What's really puzzling is the enemies back on earth, that are actually gathering to make war with the Lamb and His saints in the air.

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

But, we've already seen how the Egyptian host actually drove down to the dry sea bed, with all those waves standing up around them.

But the Egyptians never read the prophecy of their own manner of destruction. Since the beast is the corrupter of the Bible, then no doubt he and many of his followers will have read the Lord's coming in the air, and their own manner of demise.

And then, as if that's not enough, even after the Lord's Millennium, multitudes will still gather round His beloved city to destroy it, with plainly prophesied fire of God devouring them from heaven.

People can act like they've never read the Bible, or that it isn't true, or that it isn't even there on earth, but every word of doctrine and prophecy will surely come to pass exactly as written.

So shall they ever be with the Lord, first in the air, then on the earth, then at the the final judgment, and finally forever on the new earth.

And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

I would suggest in the air is not a location but the presence of God like in the clouds, as a witness that our invisible God has worked in the affairs of man

Job 27:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

 

[Ghada]

I would suggest in the air is not a location but the presence of God like in the clouds,

Many people do treat God as some big fluffy cloud in sky, so that they can personally read His words like the shapes of clouds.

The Lord returning to earth with clouds, as lightning flash across the sky and every eye on earth seeing Him. As well as resurrecting all His saints to meet Him in the air with clouds. Is exactly what will happen when He returns to earth with His angels to gather His elect from the four winds of the earth.

The real question is why anyone doesn't want to believe it. The atheists of course won't, but those claiming faith in the God of the Bible? There also them that are vehemently against the Lord and His saints then reigning over all nations for a 1000 years.

The most common way to do away with the truth of Bible prophecy, is to spiritualize away the truth on earth. It's also common to symbolize prophecy into fables not happening on earth.

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

as a witness that our invisible God has worked in the affairs of man

The witness of the invisible God working in the affairs of men is by seeing His work in the affairs of men.

The Bible is a true witness to such works by the invisible God on earth, as well as the works the Lord has done in the flesh. The Bible is also sure prophecy of what the resurrected Lord will do in the air and on earth in immortal flesh and bone.

Job 27:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

That nothing is the air with clouds, which will be filled with the Lord and His resurrected saints for all eyes on earth to see.

Perhaps that's why the sun and moon will be darkened all over the earth. That will be a whole lot of saints since righteous Abel with their own clouds. That's not even counting the angels coming with the Lord from heaven.

It shows the true reprobation of the wicked on earth actually gathering together around Judea, to try and fight the Lamb and His saints in the air.

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

It'll just be a much greater repeat of reprobate Pharaoh and his army charging down into a dry sea bed, with the waves just standing all around with great noise.

 

[Mr GLee]

Many people do treat God as some big fluffy cloud in sky, so that they can personally read His words like the shapes of clouds.

Yes cloud rainbow a sign as a metaphor used in parable to signify the presence of our invisible God Satan names the same claim I will ascend to the clouds as a representation of the presence ,

The Lord giving shade to the Israelites and heat as light at night .

Exodus 13:2 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

The Lord returning to earth with clouds, as lightning flash across the sky and every eye on earth seeing Him. As well as resurrecting all His saints to meet Him in the air with clouds. Is exactly what will happen when He returns to earth with His angels to gather His elect from the four winds of the earth.

Christ is here reigning through his apostle "sent messengers" (not angel a fake word) every eye all the nation did see during the three days and nights promised demonstration .One demonstration of the dying flesh of the Son of man empowered by the Father was all that was promised

The most common way to do away with the truth of Bible prophecy, is to spiritualize away the truth on earth. It's also common to symbolize prophecy into fables not happening on earth

I would think it is more common that mankind literalize the parables as prophecy the signified tongue. Christ said without parables he spoke not .

The witness of the invisible God working in the affairs of men is by seeing His work in the affairs of men.

Seeing with our eyes are those who seek after a sign to wonder before they will believe (exercise faith) is what the Pharisees with Sadducees performed making Jesus the Son of man into circus seal. . . in effect. . . when see then we will believe not millisecond sooner

They are from Missouri the show me first State We understand by the unseen eternal not the temporal historical .They must be mixed if we desire the gospel or sabbath rest

John 4:48Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

John 6:30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

 

[Ghada]

Yes cloud rainbow a sign as a metaphor used in parable

False. Cloud rainbow is a rainbow in the cloud seen on earth. It is a sign of promise from God, not just a parable.

Even as torment of hell and the Lord's millennium upon earth is neither just a parable nor a myth.

Things on earth can be a symbolic sign of higher and and lower things, but never synmbolic only.

If anyone removes the physical fact for symbolism only, then God's truth is made into just another fabulous myth.

The Lord giving shade to the Israelites and heat as light at night .

Not only a parable nor myth. Neither was the Red Sea crossing.

I would think it is more common that mankind literalize the parables as prophecy the signified tongue.

The opposite is true. Much of the world joins you in making the Bible just more legends and myths of man. I've never heard from anyone trying to say there is ever a woman clothed with the sun, standing on the moon, with a crown of stars on her head.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Christ said without parables he spoke not .

To unbelievers, whom you now identify with.

Case closed.

We understand by the unseen eternal not the temporal historical .

We understand the unseen eternal by the present reality.

When the present truth is taken away, then it's just myth.

It's the same lie as faith without works, which is dead.

 

[Hobie]

No, it does not have a location. It is in heaven but it is at hand. It does not come with external signification (buildings, flags, offices). It is imperative. That means Jesus was made Lord and Christ, and all people, from rulers to mechanics must honor the Son, lest he be angry and dash you to pieces. Ps 2, 110. You must stop trying to find "time-slots" for things because you really missing what he meant. This prohibition will be found in the sharp response in Acts 1:

Disciples: when is the kingdom for Israel? (This is a ridiculous question to ask after 40 days--800 hours?--of teaching from Moses and the Prophets! He had to have answered it already!).

J: None of your business, but you will get priest robes of the authority of the kingdom, very soon. The robes are a Levitical term, and the authority is that of representatives of a king. What did he mean? That the message that the resurrection enthroned Christ, as described in Ps 2 and 110, was power enough. There is almost nothing else to say about eschatology, no news watching, no predictions, no "Nostradamus"-style prognostication, it is all hooey. Jesus has been made Lord and Christ, in the resurrection (Eph 1, Heb 1, Rom 1, Acts 17, Phil 2) and all people, even civic authorities are on notice that this place is His!!! How far the civic system falls when it is not taught this! Government departments used to be called 'ministries' for a reason! I'm not talking about a state-church, I simply mean what Rom 13 says: that gov is to serve the people, to do the right thing and stop evil (in the normal sense), and that its people are not above the law once appointed.

Well, you might want to live in a state of non existence, but Christians hope has been in a heavenly kingdom as He promised.

 

[EarlyActs]

Well, you might want to live in a state of non existence, but Christians hope has been in a heavenly kingdom as He promised.

But it depends on what that means. And anyway what we are supposed to do (ie imperative) right now is to declare that this world belongs to the Son by rights.

This world will be utter changed when he returns to the NHNE. IF that is what you mean by a heavenly kingdom fine, but it is the future. The kingdom arrived and the resurrection was the enthronement, Acts 2-4, expressed about 4 ways there.

 

[Hobie]

One resurrection . One closing of the gate.

The resurrections gate opened when Christ gave words to His prophet Jesus . "it is finished" The promised demonstration of the lamb slain from the foundation the six days the Father did work is . . . . . over


The old testament born again saints spoken of in 1 Peter 1 as those who like us received the end of our new born again faith from the hearing ,The beginning or understanding of His Spirit that does dwell Christians yoked with Christ labor of love.. Aain receiving the end from the beginning. No Limbo or purgatory needed.

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.


1 Peter 1:9:12 Receiving the end of your faith,(christ in us) even the salvation of your (new) souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

They looked ahead by the faith (power) of Christ working in sons of God, Christians.

We can look back by the same Spirit of faith (Christ's) to the same glory. (it is finished) The gates will be closed on the last day under the Sun .

Today to be absent from these bodies of death is to have entered the gate .Plenty of rooms in His mansion.

Jesus Christ clearly spoke of two resurrections when He said, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation" John 5:29.

The apostle Paul also spoke of these two resurrections when he said, "there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust" in Acts 24:15. Thus both Jesus Christ and Paul spoke of two resurrections, the first being the resurrection of life for the just, and the second being the resurrection of damnation for the unjust. We also find it in Daniel, "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Daniel 12:1-2. This is a clear Bible teaching.

Revelation 20 also speaks of two resurrections, the 'first resurrection' of the saints, then after the 1000 years, the resurrection of damnation of the wicked. Those in the second resurrection will be deceived by Satan, will be gathered against God's City, will stand before the final great white throne judgment, will be judged by their works, will be cast into the lake of fire, and will suffer the second death .
Revelation 20:4-15
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.

 

[Mr GLee]

Jesus Christ clearly spoke of two resurrections when He said, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation" John 5:29.

The apostle Paul also spoke of these two resurrections when he said, "there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust" in Acts 24:15. Thus both Jesus Christ and Paul spoke of two resurrections, the first being the resurrection of life for the just, and the second being the resurrection of damnation for the unjust. We also find it in Daniel, "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Daniel 12:1-2. This is a clear Bible teaching.

Revelation 20 also speaks of two resurrections, the 'first resurrection' of the saints, then after the 1000 years, the resurrection of damnation of the wicked. Those in the second resurrection will be deceived by Satan, will be gathered against God's City, will stand before the final great white throne judgment, will be judged by their works, will be cast into the lake of fire, and will suffer the second death .
Revelation 20:4-15
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.

Hi thanks

Not a salvation issue more how do we hear God or say we do.one of the reason for 4 gospel

Today, I am more of the Amil position. . . no literal "thousand years " the "golden measure" A unknown, no need to reveal . We walk by the faith of Christ. Gods understanding working with us not by dying mankind the temporal

The parable Revelation 20 uses the word "thousand" as a metaphor to represent a unknown. Like it does three time before. Twice in old once in the new, used 6 times in Revelation 20 . Believers are warned of those of the literal number.(2 Corinthians 10:12) Yoked with Christ He desires we walk after the unseen eternal things of God . Not strength in the flesh as with David when he disobeyed, showing his mistrust in the unseen lord (Many died)

Chapter 20 it is filled with metaphors the signified understanding .Using the temporal things seen to give us the spiritual unseen eternal understanding. Hid from those who do seek after a sign before they will believe.

Without parables Christ in us spoke not .No sign was given to wonder after. Many today look at it as if the last day was a sign to wonder after .

I understand it as one ressurection of the dead (dying mankind) made alive by our living God .Receiving the end of salvation new born again faith from the beginning testifying beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. All of the ceremonial signs as shadows were fulfilled.

A great tribulation for the Jew that was hoping his dying flesh could profit. One like never before or ever again A great Joy for the believer one like never before or ever again . Now brothers and sisters of the lord can gather together as one new nation called Christian the gospel explosion having its effect even today

The ressurection gate was open when Christ said it is finished Many born believers entered the ressurection gate

1 Peter 21:9-11 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

The glorious gate will remain open (to be absent of this body of death is to be present with the Lord Then on the last day under the Sun the Spirt of Christ who dells in each believer will leave this corrupted creation and the new beginning (genesis) will come.

 

[Hobie]

Hi thanks

Not a salvation issue more how do we hear God or say we do.one of the reason for 4 gospel

Today, I am more of the Amil position. . . no literal "thousand years " the "golden measure" A unknown, no need to reveal . We walk by the faith of Christ. Gods understanding working with us not by dying mankind the temporal

The parable Revelation 20 uses the word "thousand" as a metaphor to represent a unknown. Like it does three time before. Twice in old once in the new, used 6 times in Revelation 20 . Believers are warned of those of the literal number.(2 Corinthians 10:12) Yoked with Christ He desires we walk after the unseen eternal things of God . Not strength in the flesh as with David when he disobeyed, showing his mistrust in the unseen lord (Many died)

Chapter 20 it is filled with metaphors the signified understanding .Using the temporal things seen to give us the spiritual unseen eternal understanding. Hid from those who do seek after a sign before they will believe.

Without parables Christ in us spoke not .No sign was given to wonder after. Many today look at it as if the last day was a sign to wonder after .

I understand it as one ressurection of the dead (dying mankind) made alive by our living God .Receiving the end of salvation new born again faith from the beginning testifying beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. All of the ceremonial signs as shadows were fulfilled.

A great tribulation for the Jew that was hoping his dying flesh could profit. One like never before or ever again A great Joy for the believer one like never before or ever again . Now brothers and sisters of the lord can gather together as one new nation called Christian the gospel explosion having its effect even today

The ressurection gate was open when Christ said it is finished Many born believers entered the ressurection gate

1 Peter 21:9-11 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

The glorious gate will remain open (to be absent of this body of death is to be present with the Lord Then on the last day under the Sun the Spirt of Christ who dells in each believer will leave this corrupted creation and the new beginning (genesis) will come.

Well, if you are not in the first resurrection, and find yourself in the second one of damnation after the 1000 years, it is a salvation issue as you are lost in perdition, and going to the second death at the lake of fire.

 

[Hobie]

You can say I am of this view or that view but there is only one truth and that is what is in Gods Word. We see John writes what he was shown in Revelation 20 and he describes it very straightforward:
Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Here we see that the saints of God, those who refused to follow the Beast of Revelation, who will be taken up to heaven and have the privilege of reigning with Jesus Christ for 1,000 years. We see the description on what Isaiah gives on them being taken up to Gods Holy mountain of the Heavenly Kingdom:

Isaiah 35:5-6
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
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.

Then after the 1000 years we clearly are given what John says happens:

Revelation 20:5-7
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,

Who are 'the rest of the dead', clearly this is the wicked, a vast humanity who will have to wait in their graves for 1,000 years until they are brought back to life in a resurrection separate and distinct from that of the saints. The “first resurrection” will take place at the return of Jesus Christ of only the saints:
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

A second resurrection will take place 1,000 years later and Satan is loosed out of his prison on the empty earth as the he now has all the wicked from the second resurrection, and which is better. The verse 6 makes it clear: “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).

The wicked are again deceived by Satan and go to attack the New Jerusalem where they perish.
Revelation 20:8-9
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.

Those resurrected in the first resurrection, at the beginning of the Millennium, will no longer be subject to death and come down in the New Jerusalem from Heaven and now reign with no more sorrows or pain as those things are passed away.

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 

[Eleanor]

What's so puzzling about the Lord and His resurrected saints meeting together in the air?

And our meeting the Lord in the air and our dwelling with him forever does not necessarily locate our dwelling with him in the air.

 

[Ghada]

And our meeting the Lord in the air and our dwelling with him forever does not necessarily locate our dwelling with him in the air.

True. The resurrected saints shall forever be with the Lord, but not forever in the air. That will only be on the new eternal earth. And there's a thousand years in between on earth reiging with Him.

The Lamb and His resurrected saints will remain in the air with clouds, only during the great tribulation and wrath of the Lord raining down upon the earth. Perhaps the saints will help in the Lord's vengeance, by casting down talents of stones?

Also during that time, the enraged reprobates, like Pharoah and his army driving headlong into the dry sea bed, will gather around Armageddon from all nations, and actually try to make war with the Lamb and His saints still in the air.

That's when the Lord and His saints will descend from the air to destroy their armies, and cast the beast and false prophet alive into the LOF.

Perhaps those talented stones are His righteous bombardment before His own D-Day landing...

 

[Ghada]

So we see these in Revelation 20, the two resurrections, one at the beginning of the 1000 years, and the other at the end.

Exactly. There's nothing hard about understand the thousand years. It's a thousand years.

Those who change the prophecy of Scripture to 'as' or 'like' a thousand years, are not preaching any millennium in the first place.

Christ tells us what will happen, there will be two resurrestions, one for the saints and one when the wicked are brought up for damnation.
John 5:29
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

WE see the same by Paul in Acts..
Acts 24:15
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

So both Jesus Christ and Paul spoke of two resurrections, the first being the resurrection of life for the just, and the second being the resurrection of damnation for the unjust. We also find it in Daniel,

Daniel 12:2
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

It's true that the first resurrection is only of the just. However, since the judgment of the rest of dead can be with names written in the book of life or cast into the LOF, then the second resurrection can be of the just and the unjust prophesied by Daniel, Jesus, and Paul.

Afterall, we see in prophecy there will be more coming to the Lord in His Millenium. (Which is a thousand years long, like any millennium amount of time )

Zec 8:23
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

Isa 2:2
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

Jer 31:12
Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

Joe 3:18
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

This one is of the righteous saints who he raises up and takes with him to heaven, and are reigning in heaven with Jesus.

At least first into the air of earth.

It's debated whether the saints reign with the Lord over the earth from thrones in heaven, or on earth.

However, since the Lord will reign seated with His gloy in Zion, and the saints's rewards are cities to rule on earth, then it's likely they reign with the Lord upon the earth. We also don't read of the saints ever specifically reigning with the Lord in heaven, after they are first resurrected at His return to earth.

Although not explicitly stated, it is obvious the unrighteous dead were resurrected after the 1000 years ended

Rev 20:5
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.

It's explicit. Only the blessed saints in Christ Jesus will have part in the first resurrection. That reserves all the wicked of history, including after His millennium expires, to be resurrected with the rest of the dead and judged by their works.

After the resurrection of the righteous dead, they and the living saints are caught up "to meet the Lord in the air". Then Christ will fulfill the promise He made, 'I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also'...

The places in New Jerusalem are being prepared. They won't be occupied until after the Lord's reign on earth, and the judgment of the rest of the dead afteward, when this earth passes away.

Here Jesus refers to the New Jerusalem, which does not come to this earth until the end of the millennium.

The old heaven and earth is passed away. The new heaven and earth are created eternal. Unlike this earth there will be no sea on it.

Heb 1:10
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

The Lord will change heaven and earth as an old garment for a new.

Rev 21:1
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

The old is not cleaned and made 'like' new. That would be the same kind of changing prophecy of Scripture, as into 'like' a thousand years.

At the Second Coming, then, when the righteous "meet the Lord in the air," their destination is heaven, not the earth that they have just left.

Can you quote any prophecy of Scripture with any saints reigning in heaven, after their first resurrection and ascension into the air?

Rev 20 does not say either way, whether they reign on earth or from heaven. However, once again, they will be reiging with the Lord, which normally means where He is reigning.

And they shall ever be with the Lord, where He is.

Jhn 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.

Christ does not establish His kingdom of glory on the earth at this time.

All the prophecies state He comes to inherit and govern all nations upon the earth. Not comes and governs later.

With the first resurrection of the saints, they reign with Him for a thousand years. No thousand year delay.

And so,
Do you believe you like some that you are now a resurrected saint reigning in heaven?

 

[EarlyActs]

You can say I am of this view or that view but there is only one truth and that is what is in Gods Word. We see John writes what he was shown in Revelation 20 and he describes it very straightforward:
Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Here we see that the saints of God, those who refused to follow the Beast of Revelation, who will be taken up to heaven and have the privilege of reigning with Jesus Christ for 1,000 years. We see the description on what Isaiah gives on them being taken up to Gods Holy mountain of the Heavenly Kingdom:

Isaiah 35:5-6
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
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.

Then after the 1000 years we clearly are given what John says happens:

Revelation 20:5-7
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,

Who are 'the rest of the dead', clearly this is the wicked, a vast humanity who will have to wait in their graves for 1,000 years until they are brought back to life in a resurrection separate and distinct from that of the saints. The “first resurrection” will take place at the return of Jesus Christ of only the saints:
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

A second resurrection will take place 1,000 years later and Satan is loosed out of his prison on the empty earth as the he now has all the wicked from the second resurrection, and which is better. The verse 6 makes it clear: “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).

The wicked are again deceived by Satan and go to attack the New Jerusalem where they perish.
Revelation 20:8-9
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.

Those resurrected in the first resurrection, at the beginning of the Millennium, will no longer be subject to death and come down in the New Jerusalem from Heaven and now reign with no more sorrows or pain as those things are passed away.

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

The millennium is confused with the NHNE in your last quote. They are not the same at all, which is why the mill is not mentioned in 2Peter 3.

 

[TMSO]

Daniel 2 is easily understood as one event.

A non-symbolic language NT passage must be found that clearly indicates the existence of the millenium. There are none that I know of.

Is it you or God who states that when Revelation specifically mentions a millennium that it is symbolic?

 

[EarlyActs]

The Rev is steeped in Judaic symbols. You might say it is the very opposite of 2 Peter 3, that way. Add to that the Mill’s own complications such as:

It resembles a NHNE but cannot be it because the NHNE comes after;

It is attacked at the end;

It has the confusing ‘1st death, 2nd resurrection’ issue, which easily moves it forward to Christ’s own res (Jn 10).

The Rev is the only place that names it;

There is nothing Judaic in it; it is about martyrs for Christ reigning with him, which is now; there are no Judaic details about another temple in Jerusalem etc; James was beheaded.

It has the v5 problem in which most translations try to help us with ( ) s.

V6 highly resembles the ‘kingdom of priests’ language of 1 P 2 and of Acts1, which means it is referring to now; the king-priests reign now.

The place where the Mill was located is entirely destroyed before the NHNE comes, which has the new Jerusalem.

The great battle of ch 20 is not about Israel but about the believers. Nor is it a normal battle as we know it; There is no place that can be called ‘the great plain of the earth’ in a normal sense.

Check the Hebrew usage of 1000 and it is often only a symbol for beyond counting, like, he owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Really—just 1000? Or a certain promise was for 1000 generations.

…
There’s more but I think you get the idea. The core idea of the Rev is not a symbol, but it is absolutely loaded with them on the way to making its point.

 

[Josheb]

Is it you or God who states that when Revelation specifically mentions a millennium that it is symbolic?

God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, yes? Does that mean he does not own the cattle on hills #1001, 1002, 2045, and 10,0327? No! God owns the cattle on ALL the hills! The thousand years of Revelation 20 (the only place in the Bible mentioning such a thing) is about Jesus' reign. Does Jesus not reign in year 1001? How about years 1002, 1204, 4,503, or 20,893? Jesus is NOW King of all kings and Lord of all lords and there will never be a year when that is not the case! So..... Revelation 20's 1000-year reign CANNOT be read to imply his reign is fixed and finite, he reigns only for 1000 years.

Note two facts:

• Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords before chapter 20's 1000 years. This is plainly stated in the previous chapter. In chapter 19 Jesus wears a robe that says, "King of Kings and Lord of Lords."
• Nowhere in chapter 19 or chapter 20 do the scriptures actually state Jesus is physically on earth. It never once actually states the 1000-year rule occurs with Jesus physically on the earth. In point of fact, we do not read a explicit statement of his coming to earth until chapter 21.

So, the answer to your question,

Is it you or God who states that when Revelation specifically mentions a millennium that it is symbolic?

It that it is God who says the thousand years of Revelation is figurative (not necessarily symbolic, which implies there is an unstated meaning to the number of years, the reign, etc.).

 

[Ghada]

Is it you or God who states that when Revelation specifically mentions a millennium that it is symbolic?

2Pe 3:8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

When God symbolizes a thousand years, He says it plainly as a thousand years.

Rev 20:6Blessed 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. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

When God means a thousand years, He plainly says a thousand, as well as the thousand years.

When man does not want to believe His prophecy of a thousand, and the thousand years, then they speak of it as a thousand years. It's changing the Scripture by another means. They will quote the Scripture prophecying a thousand, and the thousand years, and then preach it only as a thousand years, not the thousand years prophesied.

2Pe 1:16For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Symbolizing sure words of prophecy into something unsure, is how prophecy of Scripture is made into fables of man. It's also called being super-spiritual with Scripture, so that it's no earthly good.

2Pe 1:19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

As with sure doctrine of Christ, so also is His prophecy to be taken heed to and obeyed.

Mat 25:13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

God does not prophecy symbols to be taken heed to, nor more than He commands symbolic obedience.