The Mazzaroth Reveals the Book of Revelation

As we saw reading through the book of revelation, John gave us a timeline of events.  The Mazzaroth and its stories have been known as far back as the time of Adam. The Mazzaroth held the revealing of the book of Revelation. The constellations’ stories are not in chronological order so we should keep that in mind. The aspects of the twelve constellations, and their decans explain what John wrote.  We have looked at some of the main constellations already as well as a few decans, but many of the decans round out the picture of Christ’s coming and ruling as the prince of peace. When Jesus comes to reign on earth for one thousand years, the stars will be changed to tell us of a new story.  We have previously noted that the early church looked to the 8,000 year time line.  We are in the 6,000^th year now.  Christ then will reign on earth as King of kings and Lord of lords during the 7,000^th year.  On the 8,000^th year we will have a new heaven and a new earth.

Barnabas 13:4 Consider, my children, what that signifies, he finished them in six days. The meaning of it is this; that in six thousand years the Lord God will bring all things to an end.5 For with him one day is a thousand years; as himself testifieth, saying, Behold this day shall be as a thousand years. Therefore, children, in six days, that is, in six thousand years, shall all things be accomplished.6 And what is that he saith, And he rested the seventh day: he meaneth this; that when his Son shall come, and abolish the season of the Wicked One, and judge the ungodly; and shall change the sun and the moon, and the stars; then he shall gloriously rest in that seventh day.7 He adds lastly; Thou shalt sanctify it with clean hands and a pure heart. Wherefore we are greatly deceived if we imagine that any one can now sanctify that day which God has made holy, without having a heart pure in all things.8 Behold therefore he will then truly sanctify it with blessed rest, when we (having received the righteous promise, when iniquity shall be no more, all things being renewed by the Lord) shall be able to sanctify it, being ourselves first made holy. 9 Lastly, he saith unto them: Your new moons and you: sabbaths I cannot bear them. Consider what he means by it; the sabbaths, says he, which ye now keep are not acceptable unto me, but those which I have made; when resting from all things I shall begin the eighth day, that is, the beginning of the other world.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/lbob/lbob17.htm

Take special note of verse six.  Barnabas says Jesus shall change the sun, moon, and the stars at the start of the 7,000^th year, and then he will rest. The constellations are for our time now, and there is a lot we can learn from them.  When Jesus re-orders the heavens we will have a new story in the sky to look at. Let’s look at the Mazzaroth in order around the ecliptic as to the constellations that give us elements from the book of Revelation.

Bootes is a decan of Virgo; it is the sign that tells us of the coming Messiah, born of a virgin.  Bootes is known in the bible as Arcturus. Bootes is a guardian, ruler and protector of the people, his sheep. The star names give us the understanding that when Jesus comes back the second time, he will be coming as a judge and he will separate the sheep from the goats. He will be the one that was pierced; he will tread the enemy under foot, and subdue the enemy and govern the world.  This is a one world government and Jesus is the head of it. Jesus also comes to bruise the enemy as well as guard His people. This is the meaning of the stars that make up the constellation of Bootes/Arctrurus.

Zech 12:10 …and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.KJV

Job 9:9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.KJV

Job 38:32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? KJV

Ps 96:13 Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.KJV

Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?KJV

Rev 19:11 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.KJV

Another interesting constellation we notice, is the crown that Jesus will be crowned with. The stars in this constellation form a crescent.  Corona Borealis is the name of the crown and is a decan of Libra.  Its star names speak of jewels, shining, a royal crown.  When Jesus came the first time he was crowned with a crown of thorns that pierced his head. The next time he shows up on earth he will be wearing a royal crown fit for a King. This is also the crown that Serpens is trying to steal while Ophiuchus holds the serpent back, from the constellation group of Scorpio.

Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.KJV

Rev 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.KJV

Along with the Constellation of Sagittarius we see the decan Ara, the altar.  It is a pyre that burns downward pointing to tartarus.  The star names tell us of completing or finishing. Ara also speaks of praying or cursing. This is complete and final judgment for those who are cast into the fire. It is clear that there are rules for living whether we like them or not.

Ps 21:9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.KJV

Rev 19:20 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.KJV

Rev 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.KJV

Rev 20:14-15 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.KJV

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.KJV

The dragon is another constellation that shows up in Revelation.  Draco is another decan of Sagittarius, and is known as a dragon or a serpent.  It is one of the constellations in the circle of heavens that tell us another story of ourselves.  The pole star, the northpole, used to be in draco but now resides in Ursa minor, the sheepfold.  It will soon be moving out of the sheepfold into the king Cephus.  Many ancient peoples and cultures have stories of dragons, and Draco is such a large constellation, that people were probably fearful of this dragon in the night sky.  When the seven thunders sounded, John was instructed not to write what they said, but from the sequence of events we can see that this is the time of Michael and his angels casting out the devil from heaven.  Right after this, in Revelation 11, it is announced that the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord Jesus. This is the seventh trumpet.  Before this, Jesus had not been announced as the new leader, although we have known this would eventually happen, this is the time when it is made official.  In order for Jesus to be announced as the new leader, the old one has to be dethroned.  This is the end of the dragon’s access to the heavens.  It will then be time for Jesus to wage war to gain control of the earth, taking it from the dragon and then binding him for one thousand years. Then, Jesus will bring peace on earth. 

Ps 74:12-14 For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.KJV

Ps 91:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.KJV

Isa 27:1 In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.KJV

Isa 51:9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? KJV

Rev 12:7-9 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.KJV

Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? KJV

Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, KJV

Pegasus is a winged horse in our star pictures, a decan in the constellation of Aquarius.  Pegasus’ star names tell the story that this horse returns from afar, one who goes and returns.  This horse carries someone who will bring an overflow of water, not unlike the water being poured out by the water bearer Aquarius. Pegasus is the horse that the Lord rides when he comes to earth from heaven.  At the opening of the first seal, a ruling warrior is sent out to conquer. Since the Lamb is opening the seals it is probably not Jesus, but an angel of the Lord, just like the other riders on the red, black, and green horses.  Whoever it is that comes to conquer on this white horse, the horse itself actually has to come from heaven to earth, and the depiction of wings is what communicates that. Later, Jesus and his army ride horses from heaven to earth.

Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.KJV

Rev 19:11 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.KJV

Rev 19:19 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.KJV

Rev 19:20-21 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.KJV

Jesus comes back to rule as King of kings and Lord of lords for one thousand years. Cepheus is the constellation that tells us our redeemer is coming to rule.  It is a decan of Pisces.  It speaks of a King, who comes quickly and bruises or breaks the enemy. As mentioned, the pole star circles in a precessional cycle and is slowly moving into Cephus from Ursa Minor.  These star pictures tell us of the rule of the dragon, Draco; the time period of the sheepfold, and the King who comes to reign. Jesus will be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords.  This is what Jesus does in the millennial kingdom, he rules.

1 Tim 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.KJV

1 Tim 6:15-16 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.KJV

Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.KJV

Rev 17:14 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.KJV

Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND Lord OF LordS.KJV

Cassiopeia is the enthroned woman; she is the story of us, the redeemed.  While Andromeda is the redeemed in bondage and affliction for a time, Cassiopeia is the freed, the enthroned, and beautiful, as the star names reveal. Cassiopeia is the bride of Cepheus, the bride of the Lamb. Cepheus the redeemer is her husband. The bride comes out of the body of Christ, as we see in Revelation. Some are the bride and some are the friends of the bridegroom.  The friends in attendance wear white robes to the wedding but the bride wears white linen. The bride comes out of all the redeemed, either Jew or Gentile.  Those who believed on him, like Andromeda, suffered with him. With new bodies, we then reign alongside of Jesus, in His millennial kingdom.

Isa 54:5-8 For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.6 For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.KJV

Isa 62:3-5 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.KJV

John 3:29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.KJV

Rev 19:7-97 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.KJV

Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.KJV

In the heavens, Cetus, the sea monster is held back with a band around his neck.  Pisces, the redeemed, is holding the sea monster back today while we are on earth, but there will be a day when he is chained for one thousand years. The star names all tell us Cetus is subdued, bruised, bound and chained, overthrown or thrust down.  Cetus is the rebel, but Jesus over comes him.  The more actively engaged Christians there are on the earth, the less room the sea monster has to move around. And of course the opposite is true, the more unbelieving people and Jesus rejecters there are on earth, the more room to move the devil has.  People wonder why there seems to be an increase in evil on the earth, it directly corresponds to how many people give their minds and actions to the devil.  Their actions of hate and intentional harm to others are the distortion of the devil’s reign on earth.  The more people reject Jesus, the worse the world gets. To turn things on earth around, people have to accept Jesus and live for Him.  Evangelizing and shepherding people to live for Jesus is what can change the terms and conditions on earth, not manmade laws.   

Isa 26:21-27:121 For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.27 In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.KJV

Rev 20:1-3 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.KJV

Within the constellation group of Taurus, the decan of Eridanus tells us of the river of wrath.  It sits under the feet of Orion who represents the redeemer.  Interestingly this river of wrath winds like a serpent towards Cetus.  This is the river of the judge that eventually leads to the lake of fire. Judgment starts with the wrath of the Lamb, where seven seals are opened and seven trumpets are sounded.  The wrath of the Lamb takes place during the first half of the tribulation.  The second half of the tribulation the seven vials are poured out; this is the wrath of God.  After the wrath of God is poured out, at the end of the tribulation, the Lamb comes on a white horse with the armies of heaven, which is known as the day of the Lord.  The devil gathers and inspires the earth inhabitants to make war with the Lamb, and that is when the river of judgment will be at its worst. Finally, the millennial kingdom of Jesus on earth brings a time of peace, then the final judgments.

Ps 97:3-6 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.KJV

Ps 50:3-4 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.KJV

Isa 30:27-33 Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:28 And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel.30 And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.31 For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.32 And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the Lord shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it.33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.KJV

Dan 7:9-11 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.KJV

Rev 19:20 And the beast was seized and overpowered, and with him the false prophet who in his presence had worked wonders and performed miracles by which he led astray those who had accepted or permitted to be placed upon them the stamp (mark) of the beast and those who paid homage and gave divine honors to his statue. Both of them were hurled alive into the fiery lake that burns and blazes with brimstone. AMP

The constellation of Leo, the lion of the tribe of Judah, comes to destroy the enemy.  The three decans all attest to the book of revelation.  Hydra, the serpent; Crater, the cup of wrath; and Corvus, the birds of prey.  Leo is standing over hydra, and the star regulus in Leo’s leg means treading under foot. Hydra is pictured as a female serpent and its star names mean the abhorred, the separated the piercing of the deceiver.  It is the story of Jesus finally putting an end to the enemy on earth.  The cup, Crater, is poured out when Jesus the Lion of Judah puts an end to Babylon. 

Ps 75:8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.KJV

Rev 14:10-11 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.KJV

Rev 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.KJV

An angel then calls the Birds of prey, Corvus, to come and eat the flesh of those killed on the day of the Lord. The star names tell us of the breaking up of the enemy, and the curse inflicted.  Also, the Raven tearing into pieces.

Rev 19:17-21 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.KJV

As we saw from the book of Barnabas, when Jesus comes to abolish the wicked, he will change the stars.  There will be a new story written in the heavens.  Here are a few examples of the day of the Lord when the stars will change or be erased.  

Rev 6:12-17 I watched while he ripped off the sixth seal: a bone-jarring earthquake, sun turned black as ink, moon all bloody, 13 stars falling out of the sky like figs shaken from a tree in a high wind, 14 sky snapped shut like a book, islands and mountains sliding this way and that. 15 And then pandemonium, everyone and his dog running for cover — kings, princes, generals, rich and strong, along with every commoner, slave or free. They hid in mountain caves and rocky dens, 16 calling out to mountains and rocks, "Refuge! Hide us from the One Seated on the Throne and the wrath of the Lamb! 17 The great Day of their wrath has come — who can stand it?" (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

The stars fall out of the sky during the opening of the sixth seal, when everyone on earth can see God on His throne and the wrath of the Lamb.  We are not sure what happens to the stars after this time, but the sun and moon must go back to normal, as we still have just over three and one half years of the tribulation left to go.  So it is possible that the stars change, or are hidden, for a while, but by Revelation 8, when the fourth trumpet sounds, one third of the stars are blacked out.  We can assume then that there are stars in the sky again from the sixth seal to the fourth trumpet.  What they might look like we don’t know because later when the day of the Lord comes, when Jesus comes with the army of the redeemed and dressed in white, the stars will change again. 

Isa 13:9-10 "Watch now. God's Judgment Day comes.Cruel it is, a day of wrath and anger,A day to waste the earth and clean out all the sinners. 10 The stars in the sky, the great parade of constellations,will be nothing but black holes.The sun will come up as a black disk,and the moon a blank nothing. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Isaiah says the stars will be like black holes when Jesus comes.

Matt 24:29-31 "Following those hard times,Sun will fade out,moon cloud over,Stars fall out of the sky,cosmic powers tremble. 30 "Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies — no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. 31 At that same moment, he'll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

The stars will fall out of the sky when Jesus comes with his army of redeemed.

2 Peter 3:10-13 But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment. 11 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? 12 Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day —   13 but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Peter gives us another perspective, encouraging us to live a holy life since we don’t know when he is coming. The best we can do on earth is to live a holy life dedicated to Jesus.  Because after the church is gathered and returns with Jesus, the redeemed will have new bodies and will reign in peace with Jesus for one thousand years.  A new story will be written in the stars for that generation.  It will tell of the events of that age.  And as we have previously looked at, on the 8,000th year we will have a new heaven and a new earth to inhabit.   

Our New Bodies, Sagittarius, Jesus Coming to Conquer

One of the things we are rewarded with for believing in Jesus as our Lord is a new, immortal, and incorruptible body.  The bible tells us all about our new bodies and that those who believe on Jesus before he calls from the clouds and snatches us up (the harpazo), will have new bodies for the millennial kingdom.  But those who are his at his coming (the parousia), will have corruptible bodies. This is a great point of confusion as to the difference between the redeemed, and those who accept Jesus as Lord after the harpazo. The benefit of being sealed with the Holy Spirit now, as compared to going through the tribulation, is that the redeemed will have new immortal bodies.   The religious stories of everyone who dies goes to heaven, and gets angel wings and a harp, are simply untrue. We should look at the Mazzaroth’s depiction of Jesus. 

The Mazzaroth tells us of our coming King of kings.  John wrote of Jesus coming on a horse in Revelation 19.  The Mazzaroth tells the same story and has been telling it since the time of Adam.  The picture we have, drawn by 15-17th century artists and astronomers, is of a centaur, a half man, half horse. The pictures were drawn in reference to Greek mythology.   In actuality, the picture of Sagittarius is a man riding a horse, as there are no such creatures as centaurs. The Greeks added the fictitious being. The story of our coming King on a horse with an arrow is a story that will take place on the day of the Lord when the Lord comes with the heavenly armies to wage war on the wicked.  If we remember, the evil nations will try to wage war against the Lamb but they cannot overtake the Lamb and His army.  From E W Bullinger’s Witness of the Stars:

THE SIGN SAGITTARIUS. The Redeemers Triumph. 

THIS is the concluding chapter of the first great book of this Heavenly Revelation ; and it is occupied wholly with the triumph of the Coming One, who is re presented as going forth " conquering and to conquer." 

The subject is beautifully set forth in the written Word (Ps. xlv. 3-5) : " Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most mighty, Gird Thy self with Thy glory and Thy majesty, And in Thy majesty ride prosperously, Because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness; And Thy right hand shall teach Thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King s enemies; Whereby the people fall under Thee." 

John, in his apocalyptic vision, sees the same mighty Conqueror going forth. " I saw (he says) a white horse, and He that sat on him had a bow, . . . and He went forth conquering and to conquer " (Rev. vi. 2). 

Hebrew, Nehushta, the going or sending forth. 

We see the same in the Arabic names which have come down to us : Al Nairn, the gracious one; Al Shaula, the dart; Al Wanda, who comes forth ; Ruchba cr rami, the riding of the bowman. 

An ancient Akkadian name in the sign is Nun-ki, which means Prince of the Earth. 

Again we have the picture of a Centaur as to his outward form, i.e. a being with two natures. Not now far down in the south, or connected with His sufferings and sacrifice as man ; but high up, as a sign of the Zodiac itself, on the ecliptic, i.e. in the very path in which the sun " rejoiceth in his going forth as a strong man." 

Such will be the coming Seed of the woman in His power and glory : " The sceptre of Thy king-dom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness; Therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." (Ps. xlv. 6, 7.) 

In the ancient Zodiac of Denderah he is called (as in Coptic) Pi-maere, i.e. graciousness, beauty of the appearing or coming forth. The characters under the . hind foot read Knem, which means He conquers. 

This is He who shall come forth like as an arrow from the bow, " full of grace," but " conquering and to conquer." 

In all the pictures he is similarly represented, and the arrow in his bow is aimed directly at the heart of the Scorpion. 

In this Archer we see a faint reflection of Him who shall presently come forth, all gracious, all wise, all powerful ; whose arrows shall be " sharp in the heart of the King s enemies." 

" God shall shoot at them with an arrow ; Suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon them selves ; All that see them shall flee away. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; For they shall wisely consider of His doing. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in Him ; And all the upright in heart shall glory." (Ps. Ixiv. 7-10.) 

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Clearly, we see that Jesus was depicted in a triumphal state, coming on a white horse with a bow and arrow.  2 Ezra tells us at the time of his wrath, it will be like arrows shot around the earth.

2 Esd 16:12-20 The earth quaketh, and the foundations thereof; the sea ariseth up with waves from the deep, and the waves of it are troubled, and the fishes thereof also, before the Lord, and before the glory of his power:13 For strong is his right hand that bendeth the bow, his arrows that he shooteth are sharp, and shall not miss, when they begin to be shot into the ends of the world.14 Behold, the plagues are sent, and shall not return again, until they come upon the earth.15 The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out, till it consume the foundation of the earth.16 Like as an arrow which is shot of a mighty archer returneth not backward: even so the plagues that shall be sent upon earth shall not return again.17 Woe is me! woe is me! who will deliver me in those days?18 The beginning of sorrows and great mournings; the beginning of famine and great death; the beginning of wars, and the powers shall stand in fear; the beginning of evils! what shall I do when these evils shall come?19 Behold, famine and plague, tribulation and anguish, are sent as scourges for amendment.20 But for all these things they shall not turn from their wickedness, nor be always mindful of the scourges.KJV

Here, we see the idea of the wrath of the Lamb, as each seal is opened and each trumpet is sounded, it is like an archer shooting arrows into the entire world. From the book Gospel in the Stars, Joseph Seiss, says:

THE TRIUMPHANT WARRIOR. 

Ps. 45 : 4, 5 : " And in Thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and Thy right hand shall teach Thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies." 

THESE words are from one of the most glowing of the Psalms, in the writing of which David's heart boiled with goodly words. It is marked : " To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah —Maschil. A song of loves." The lily-instrument, the master-performer, and the whole body of singers were called into requisition for its rendering. As a sublime ode it was to be given with the sublimest skill, for it relates to the loveliest of heroes in the loveliest of His aspects, offices, and relations to His people. This hero is none other than the promised Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, in His royal majesty and glory subsequent to His resurrection, and as to be hereafter revealed. When on earth He was despised and rejected of men, but here He is celebrated as " beautiful, beautiful, above the sons of man," endowed with every grace and invested with all authority and power. When on earth He was meek and non-resistant, not breaking so much as a bruised reed , but here He is contemplated and addressed as a mounted warrior, riding as a king, armed with bow and arrows, shooting down His enemies. His character here is that of the Mighty One, girding himself with honor and majesty, and going forth to victory. John, in his visions of the future, beheld "a white horse ; and He that sat on him had a bow ; and He went forth conquering and to conquer." It is the same divine Hero, in the same character, offices, and work, in both instances. He has a crown, a throne, and a cause — the cause of righteousness over against injustice, usurpation, and tyranny; which cause He enforces with invincible majesty. His former sufferings are now turned to aromatic perfumes upon Him. Out of the ivory palaces He is gladdened with the sound of the harp. And in glory and triumph He rides forth unto victory, hailed by the daughters of kings and worshipped by the queen at his right hand arrayed in the gold of Ophir. 

Thus everything in and illustrative of this sign serves to identify it as a pictorial prophecy of our blessed Lord, answering in all respects to the representations given in the Scriptures. Grotesque and unevangelic as it may seem, it is a showing upon the stars of the same things, under the same images, that we find written concerning the glorified Redeemer in whom all our hopes are centred. He is the sublime Lord and King of salvation, with the two natures in one person, once humbled to death on the cross, but now exalted to glory in heaven. He is the wise, the true, the good, the righteous, who standeth for the defence and administration of righteousness against the Devil and all the powers of the Adversary. He is the mighty Warrior who rideth prosperously, with the bow and arrows of truth and judgment, ever aiming and speeding them at the heart of the foe, and never more giving over until He has carried everything through to everlasting victory, when Death and Hades, and all the powers and children of evil, shall have sunk for ever to their deserved perdition. And the Decans in this sign confirm and further illustrate what we thus read from it. 

http://archive.org/stream/gospelinstarsorp00seis/gospelinstarsorp00seis_djvu.txt

There is a reason Jesus comes as a warrior rather than meek and mild.  This time it is to execute justice and judgment on the wicked.  But when he came to earth as a humble healer, he gave gifts to men.  One of our gifts is eternal life.  We can also earn rewards as we have previously seen. 

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.KJV

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.KJV

Jesus made it available, for anyone who makes him Lord, to be made incorruptible and immortal. We can have eternal life.

1 Cor 15:22-26 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming (parousia).24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.KJV

When is His coming?  Remember, the redeemed watch the seals opened by the Lamb, but he does not come to earth until the day of the Lord when he comes with his army, the parousia.  Therefore we have to understand that Paul is saying he arises from the dead first, he is the first fruit of Israel.  Later, halfway through the tribulation, he will gather the 144,000, also known as the first fruits of Israel.  Then those people who are his at his coming, the parousia.  This does not include the redeemed, because the redeemed come with him. So those people spoken of here, who are made alive, are those who rejected him before the tribulation, and then received him as Lord during the tribulation.  Once Jesus has reigned for one thousand years, the seventh day, he will deliver the kingdom to God, the eighth day or the eight thousand year mark. 

Paul goes on to make an interesting point.  He points out what good would it have done him to fight wild animals at Ephesus, especially if he died doing it, if the dead don’t rise. It wasn’t Paul’s choice to fight at Ephesus; it was what the city rulers did to criminals.  It was entertainment.  Paul had to fight or let the wild animals kill him.  Either way, what good was spreading the gospel, with the chance of ending up in situations like this, if there was nothing after we die?  As we looked at last week, to spirit beings, one thousand years is like a day.  

1 Cor 15:30-32 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.KJV

And that is where the world is today, eating and drinking and living for what we can “get” today, because there is nothing after death. Paul then likens our bodies to wheat, which when it is done maturing it drops seed to be renewed.

1 Cor 15:39-42 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:KJV

Paul points out that there are different types of flesh, and different types of bodies.  Each is different. This is Paul’s point, our physical body is corruptible, but our new bodies will be incorruptible and immortal. Let’s look at a few of these words to understand what it is we will be getting.

NT:861 aphthrsia (af-thar-see'-ah); from NT:862; incorruptibility; genitive case unending existence; (figuratively) genuineness:KJV - immortality, incorruption, sincerity.

NT:862 aphthartos (af'-thar-tos); from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of NT:5351; undecaying (in essence or continuance):KJV - not (in-, un-) corruptible, immortal.

NT:110 athanasia (ath-an-as-ee'-ah); from a compound of NT:1 (as a negative particle) and NT:2288; deathlessness:KJV - immortality.

(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Rom 2:6-76 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality [861], eternal life: KJV

The key is being patient to continue in this life, doing good, and then receiving according to what we have done, eternal life.  

1 Cor 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption [861]:KJV

Those who rise from the dead at the harpazo don’t have physical bodies, they corrupted; but they will gain an incorruptible body when they rise.  

1 Cor 15:50-58 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption [861].51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible[861], and we shall be changed.53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption [861] , and this mortal must put on immortality[110].54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption [861], and this mortal shall have put on immortality [110], then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.KJV

Heaven is not a place where corruption can exist.  Therefore all who enter have to put on incorruption.  This is why people don’t immediately enter heaven when they die.  People either go to the grave, or since the time of Jesus’ death, paradise.  This is why there are different places for the dead, because they have to put on incorruption and immortality before they can enter the kingdom of heaven in Heaven.  When do the dead put on incorruption?  When Jesus calls from the clouds.  The kingdom of God has come to earth, but earth is still in a corruptible state.  We change our citizenship to the Kingdom of God, but we still live here.  However, if the Lord calls from the clouds while we are on earth, we will put on immortality. Let’s look at this in the Amplified Bible.

1 Cor 15:50-54 But I tell you this, brethren, flesh and blood cannot [become partakers of eternal salvation and] inherit or share in the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable (that which is decaying) inherit or share in the imperishable (the immortal). 51 Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God). We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed (transformed) 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed). 53 For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us, this nature that is capable of dying] must put on immortality (freedom from death). 54 And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up (utterly vanquished forever) in and unto victory. [Isa 25:8.] AMP

Jesus brought the understanding of immortality to earth, which, by his resurrection he is called the first born from the dead. Paul is the one who was commissioned to teach this to the Gentiles. 

2 Tim 1:9-11 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality[861]to light through the gospel:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.KJV

Paul makes an interesting point here when he says our calling is not according to our works, our calling is according to His purpose.  We don’t get a “calling” because we work for it; we get a “calling” because He has a purpose for us.  

Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible  [862]God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.KJV

People make the incorruptible God into images, idols, and earthly beings.  This humanizes God, but God is not human, he is immortal. Jesus changes us to be like Him.  We are not to change God to be like us.  This is why the order of things and the details that go along with scripture are important because some religions would have us to be incorruptible and immortal as soon as we die; but there is a timing and order that has to take place first. 

Phil 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.KJV

ChangeNT:3345 metaschematizo (met-askh-ay-mat-id'-zo); from NT:3326 and a derivative of NT:4976; to transfigure or disguise; figuratively, to apply (by accommodation): KJV - transfer, transform (self).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Fashioned NT:4832 summorphos (soom-mor-fos'); from NT:4862 and NT:3444; jointly formed, i.e. (figuratively) similar:KJV - conformed to, fashioned like unto.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Working NT:1753  energeia (en-erg'-i-ah); from NT:1756; efficiency ("energy"):KJV - operation, strong, (effectual) working.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Again let’s look at this in the Amplified Bible and in the Message to see it a few different ways.

Phil 3:20-21 But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior, 21 Who will transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself. AMP

Phil 3:20-21 But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

This is what we are waiting for, when the dead and the living in Christ become incorruptible and immortal. It has not happened yet, but when it does we will be allowed access into heaven.  We will be redeemed and will then watch the seals being opened. Until then we are living with sick and decaying bodies.

2 Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. 17 For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], 18 Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. 

Chapter 5:1 FOR WE know that if the tent which is our earthly home is destroyed (dissolved), we have from God a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Here indeed, in this [present abode, body], we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over [we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out] with our heavenly dwelling, 3 So that by putting it on we may not be found naked (without a body). 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan under the burden and sigh deeply (weighed down, depressed, oppressed) — not that we want to put off the body (the clothing of the spirit), but rather that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal (our dying body) may be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection]. 5 Now He Who has fashioned us [preparing and making us fit] for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the [Holy] Spirit as a guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise]. AMP

The Holy Spirit is a down payment to the new body we will one day have.  On this earth everything around us decays, that is what the devil brought when he took kingship from Adam. We got death and decay as a result of Adam’s sin.   

1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are [even here and] now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God's children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is. AMP

We will be like Him; therefore we can gain some clues to what our new bodies will be like by looking at things Jesus did in His resurrected body.  Physical properties did not hinder him as he walked through walls and locked doors.  He could come and go instantly.  He ate and drank food, but still had marks on his body from the cross. This is not just a “New Testament” idea.  

Ps 17:12 As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You]. AMP

New bodies are given to the redeemed, either those dead who are in Christ, or those people alive at his coming in the clouds, the harpazo. The people who live during the tribulation, who confess Jesus as Lord and do not receive the mark of the beast, actually live for one thousand years.  Life spans will be restored in the millennial reign, but they do not have immortal bodies. However long man was supposed to live before the fall, we do not know. But if Adam only lived one day, 930 years, then that could be how long man will live during the millennial reign. The people, who are the tribulation saints, transfer from the tribulation to the millennial kingdom and they are not affected by the second death because they dedicate themselves to Him. But there will be people born during the millennium. 

Isa 65:20-22 There shall no more be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who dies prematurely; for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner who dies when only a hundred years old shall be [thought only a child, cut off because he is] accursed. 21 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 [the fruit]. For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My chosen and elect shall long make use of and enjoy the work of their hands. AMP

Here we see that people will be considered children at 100 years old.  And someone who curses Jesus or rejects his Kingship will live a short life, only 100 yrs.  However long trees live will be the human lifespan. Here is a picture of what our new bodies will be able to do when the Lord comes with his armies on the day of the Lord.

Joel 2:7-9 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.KJV

The church at Smyrna was told that if they (we) overcome, they (we) will not be hurt of the second death which has its finality in Revelation 21:8.  This implies that some people will not confess Jesus as Lord and will not become one of the redeemed before the tribulation.  Some may know of Jesus but not make him Lord, therefore not being redeemed by His blood.  If that is the case, can we think of any religious groups that do not teach that confession of Jesus as Lord is important?   

The rest of the people stay dead through the millennial kingdom. At the time of the one thousand year reign of Christ on earth, people will be born and die. How long people will live is vague, perhaps as long as trees live, which is longer than people live now. After that, at the end of the millennial kingdom, those who were dead will be judged by their works. All the unredeemed dead, and those who rejected Jesus, will be judged. If anyone is written in the book of life, they will live in the new earth. Those who are judged and not found in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire. 

Those redeemed, who are either dead or alive at the time Christ calls from the clouds, will come back to earth and reign with Christ with new incorruptible bodies, for one thousand years. Those who were killed during the tribulation for not taking the mark of the beast will reign with Christ during the millennial kingdom, but with resurrected bodies.  This is the difference between those reigning with Christ during the millennium.  Some have incorruptible bodies and some have resurrected bodies.  During the time Christ reigns on earth, a new heaven will tell of a new story.  The constellations will be rearranged to give us the story of Christ’s triumph and the coming New Heaven and New Earth. 

A New Heaven and a New Earth

We have looked at the book of Revelation up to the last two chapters, the new heaven and new earth.  Jesus comes with his heavenly army on what is known as the day of the Lord to execute justice and judgment on the earth. Prior to that there are seven seals opened, seven trumpets sounded, and seven vials poured out.  Before all of that we see Jesus coming in the clouds and calling himself the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Jesus gave the church directions on being overcomers, so that when he calls from the clouds, the church would be ready.  Yet, we find from historical writing, people were not concerned about the six days of the devil’s lease on earth, nor the seventh day, which is the millennial reign, and known as the day of rest.  Instead, people were looking forward to the eighth day, the time of the New Heaven and New Earth. Impatience is our biggest problem to understanding scripture.  In an “instant” society, we are anxiously awaiting Jesus’ return, our harpazo.  We expect Jesus any minute, and we should, but with caution.  While we are waiting, let’s look at the six, seven, and eight thousand year perspective.

Time always seems like such a paradox in scripture.  We understand time from an earthly point of view, while God sees time from a heavenly point of view.  Add the idea of dimensionality to the mix and we truly have to stretch our brains to pull things all together.  Peter gives us a clue on time but we rarely understand it because his exposure of God’s time has many details.  One twenty-four hour period to a human would be much longer for an insect that lives only for a few days. Our concept of living 75 human years to a fly would seem like forever.  To God, one day is like one thousand years to us. Peter also reminds us to do our very best to live in purity and peace.  Let’s read the Message.

2 Peter 3:8-18 Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. 9 God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change. 10 But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment. 11 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? 12 Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day —   13 but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.

14 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. 15 Interpret our Master's patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, 16 refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don't know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it. 17 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. 18 Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!

(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

God is patient, wanting people saved, rather than suffering the wrath of the Lamb and the wrath of God. And we know that there is a specific number of gentiles that must be saved.  Again the bible refers to our day as a thousand years to God.

Ps 90:4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.KJV

The Epistle of Barnabas tells us that God will wrap up this time frame in six thousand years.  We are in the six thousand year time frame from the time of Adam’s fall.  Therefore the Lord will come to snatch us, harpazo, at anytime.  Barnabas says we observe the eighth day with gladness. The seven thousandth year is a time of rest, the millennial reign. Then there will be the eight thousandth year, which is also known as the eighth day, the New Heaven and Earth. 

The General Epistle of Barnabas Chapter 13:1-10
That the sabbath of the Jews was but a figure of a more glorious sabbath to come, and their temple, of the spiritual temples of God.
1 FURTHERMORE it is written concerning the sabbath, in the Ten Commandments, which God spake in the Mount Sinai to Moses, face to face; Sanctify the sabbath of the Lord with pure hands, and with a clean heart.2 And elsewhere he saith; If thy children shall keep my sabbaths, then will I put my mercy upon them.3 And even in the beginning of the creation he makes mention of the sabbath. And God made in six days the works of his hands; and he finished them on the seventh day, and he rested the seventh day, and sanctified it.4 Consider, my children, what that signifies, he finished them in six days. The meaning of it is this; that in six thousand years the Lord God will bring all things to an end.5 For with him one day is a thousand years; as himself testifieth, saying, Behold this day shall be as a thousand years. Therefore, children, in six days, that is, in six thousand years, shall all things be accomplished.6 And what is that he saith, And he rested the seventh day: he meaneth this; that when his Son shall come, and abolish the season of the Wicked One, and judge the ungodly; and shall change the sun and the moon, and the stars; then he shall gloriously rest in that seventh day.7 He adds lastly; Thou shalt sanctify it with clean hands and a pure heart. Wherefore we are greatly deceived if we imagine that any one can now sanctify that day which God has made holy, without having a heart pure in all things.8 Behold therefore he will then truly sanctify it with blessed rest, when we (having received the righteous promise, when iniquity shall be no more, all things being renewed by the Lord) shall be able to sanctify it, being ourselves first made holy.9 Lastly, he saith unto them: Your new moons and your sabbaths I cannot bear them. Consider what he means by it; the sabbaths, says he, which ye now keep are not acceptable unto me, but those which I have made; when resting from all things I shall begin the eighth day, that is, the beginning of the other world.10 For which cause we observe the eighth day with gladness, in which Jesus rose from the dead; and having manifested himself to his disciples, ascended into heaven.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/lbob/lbob17.htm

Verse six says that His son shall come and abolish the season of the Wicked One.  That is the season we are in now. Then he says something else, that he, Jesus, shall change the sun, moon and the stars.  Right now the sun, moon and stars tell us about the coming redeemer, but after he comes, the celestial word written in the heavens will tell of the next phase of his ministry. Possibly, the heavens will then tell us of Jesus’ time on earth, ruling and reigning, as well as the coming last battle, and then possibly the new heaven and earth.  Hebrews 4 tells us of the seventh day, that it will be a day of rest, and that we should strive to enter into that rest.  Enoch tells us that the eighth day is the beginning of not counting years and days anymore. At that time there will not be any more Sabbaths, but a new world. Really, at the eight thousandth year, we won’t need calendars or watches.

The Book of the Secrets of Enoch XXXIII.

God shows Enoch the age of this world, its existence of seven thousand years, and the eighth thousand is the end, neither years, nor months, nor weeks, nor days.

AND I appointed the eighth day also, that the eighth day should be the first-created after my work, and that the first seven revolve in the form of the seventh thousand, and that at the beginning of the eighth thousand there should be a time of not-counting, endless, with neither years nor months nor weeks nor days nor hours.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/fbe/fbe140.htm

Adam died at the age of 930 years, he died in the same one thousand year day that he ate from the tree.  It is interesting to note that people between the time of Adam through the time of Noah all lived around nine hundred plus years.  After the flood the life span of humans shortens up dramatically.  It is presumed Adam lived about 40 years in the garden before the fall. In total Adam may have been 970 years old, he was supposed to live for six days, six thousand years, which was the time for his lordship on earth. Why didn’t Adam die at 999 years of age? I cannot tell from scripture, therefore I would keep the 6,000 year time frame as an approximate, rather than setting a specific date.   Irenaeus tells us more.

Irenaeus Against Heresies Book 5, 23:2

2. Thus, then, in the day that they ate, in the same did they die, and became death's debtors, since it was one day of the creation. For it is said, There was made in the evening, and there was made in the morning, one day. Now in this same day that they ate, in that also did they die. But according to the cycle and progress of the days, after which one is termed first, another second, and another third, if anybody seeks diligently to learn upon what day out of the seven it was that Adam died, he will find it by examining the dispensation of the Lord. For by summing up in Himself the whole human race from the beginning to the end, He has also summed up its death. From this it is clear that the Lord suffered death, in obedience to His Father, upon that day on which Adam died while he disobeyed God. Now he died on the same day in which he ate. For God said, In that day on which you shall eat of it, you shall die by death. The Lord, therefore, recapitulating in Himself this day, underwent His sufferings upon the day preceding the Sabbath, that is, the sixth day of the creation, on which day man was created; thus granting him a second creation by means of His passion, which is that [creation] out of death. And there are some, again, who relegate the death of Adam to the thousandth year; for since a day of the Lord is as a thousand years, 2 Peter 3:8 he did not overstep the thousand years, but died within them, thus bearing out the sentence of his sin. Whether, therefore, with respect to disobedience, which is death; whether [we consider] that, on account of that, they were delivered over to death, and made debtors to it; whether with respect to [the fact that on] one and the same day on which they ate they also died (for it is one day of the creation); whether [we regard this point], that, with respect to this cycle of days, they died on the day in which they did also eat, that is, the day of the preparation, which is termed the pure supper, that is, the sixth day of the feast, which the Lord also exhibited when He suffered on that day; or whether [we reflect] that he (Adam) did not overstep the thousand years, but died within their limit—it follows that, in regard to all these significations, God is indeed true. For they died who tasted of the tree; and the serpent is proved a liar and a murderer, as the Lord said of him: For he is a murderer from the beginning, and the truth is not in him. John 8:44  
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103528.htm

Irenaeus goes on to say:

Irenaeus Against Heresies Book 5, 28:3

3. For in as many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years shall it be concluded. And for this reason the Scripture says: Thus the heaven and the earth were finished, and all their adornment. And God brought to a conclusion upon the sixth day the works that He had made; and God rested upon the seventh day from all His works. Genesis 2:2 This is an account of the things formerly created, as also it is a prophecy of what is to come. For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years; 2 Peter 3:8 and in six days created things were completed: it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousand year.

http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103528.htm

Barnabas compares the eating of animals with hooves, as the righteous who live in the present world, but are expecting another one. 

10 Moses, therefore, speaking as concerning meats, delivered indeed three great precepts to them in the spiritual signification of those commands. But they according to the desires of the flesh, understood him as if he had only meant it of meats.11 And therefore David took aright the knowledge of his threefold command, saying in like manner.12 Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly; as the fishes before mentioned in the bottom of the deep in darkness.13 Nor stood in the way of sinners, as they who seem to fear the Lord, but yet sin, as the sow.14 And hath not sat in the seat of the scorners; as those birds who sit and watch that they may devour.15 Here you have the law concerning meat perfectly set forth, and according to the true knowledge of it.16 But, says Moses, ye shall eat all that divideth the hoof, and cheweth the cud. Signifying thereby such an one as having taken his food, knows him that nourisheth him; and resting upon him, rejoiceth in him.17 And in this he spake well, having respect to the commandment. What, therefore, is it that he says?—That we should hold fast to them that fear the Lord; with those who meditate on the command of the word which they have received in their heart; with those that declare the righteous judgments of the Lord, and keep his commandments;18 In short, with those who know that to meditate is a work of pleasure, and therefore exercise themselves in the word of the Lord.19 But why might they eat those that clave the hoof?—Because the righteous liveth in this present world; but his expectation is fixed upon the other. See, brethren, how admirably Moses commanded these things.20 But how should we thus know all this, and understand it? We, therefore, understanding aright the commandments, speak as the Lord would have us. Wherefore he has circumcised our ears and our hearts, that we might know these things.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/lbob/lbob17.htm

Barnabas and those who lived during the first century were living with the understanding of a new heaven and new earth to come. They saw the deeper meanings of the laws in their spiritual life.

We see the wrap up of time, six thousand years, a day of rest on the seven thousandth year, and on the eight thousandth year we no longer count time. The answer then to where we are in time would suggest that the Lord could come in the clouds, the harpazo, at any time during the six thousand years, even if his return is still one hundred years in the future.  Remember one of our benchmarks is seeing Babylon become an important city for religion and politics. When the construction starts, the time will be close. In the mean time, Isaiah and Peter tell us about the eight thousandth year.

Isa 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.KJV

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.KJV

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.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.

This new heaven and earth is the eighth day or the year eight thousand from Adam.  This is what Barnabas and Enoch said to look for.  We have become so myopic that we dare to contend about the harpazo, and attempt to erase the church age.  It would be better if we continued to keep time in perspective; events have an order as we have seen.  Here the city is adorned as a bride, it looks like a bride, it is not the Bride. If we remember in Chapter 19 of Revelation, the Bride made herself ready, the New Jerusalem did not make herself ready, someone made the New Jerusalem to look good, like a bride.  Everything is not all said and done until we get to the eight thousandth year. Then there will be no tears, death, sorrow, crying, or pain. At that point we no longer have to count time.

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Before we get too much further, we have to reconcile the one called the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  If someone were to think that Jesus is simply a prophet, not one of the Elohim, they could dismiss some of his words. But we find out from Isaiah that Jesus is the first and the last, the Lord of hosts, the Lord of armies, and the redeemer.  If we are the redeemed, who is the redeemer? Yahweh, he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega.  Jesus testified of himself through the prophet Isaiah, and then in Revelation. There can only be one first and one last.

Isa 41:2 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.KJV

Isa 44:6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.KJV

Isa 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.KJV

Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.KJV

Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.KJV

Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:KJV

Rev 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;KJV

Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.KJV

Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.KJV

Yahweh is the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega.  He is the one who has guided all the patriarchs, instructed the twelve disciples, and wrote to the seven churches.  And Revelation 21:7 tells us that he who overcomes will inherit all things, and He (the Alpha and Omega) will be our God, and we will be his child. But there are some who don’t overcome.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

We see that the lake of fire is going to be used for not only the Beast, the False Prophet, the devil, death and Hades, but also the dead who were unworthy.  Those are the qualifying terms for being thrown in the lake of fire. Before the one thousand year millennial reign, we saw the Bride dressed and ready for war with the Lamb,  but now after the one thousand year reign, Jerusalem is adorned like a bride, ready for a wedding. Again the city is like, not is, a bride.  In the seven thousandth year the Bride is the church.  Now in the eight thousandth year the city is adorned as a bride for the Lamb and the others who enter into her.  When we see how the city is adorned this makes more sense.  A bride puts on her best for the wedding, and that is how the New Jerusalem will be arrayed. 

9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Now we see the Father and the Son become the temple, there is no temple in the city.  This is also a change from the millennial reign as during that time there is a temple and sacrifices and offerings.  Ezekiel chapters 40 -48. Let’s look at Isaiah.

Isa 2:1-4 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem2 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.3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.KJV

There won’t be a secular “world government/united nations” during the millennial kingdom, just Jesus and those that will reign with him.  He will judge among the nations and people.  Remember last week we recognized that there will be rebellious people who won’t want to worship in Jerusalem for Tabernacles, Zechariah 14:16-ff.  This is why there will be a need for temple sacrifices.  People won’t be perfect, Jesus will be judging, therefore there will be a need for sacrifice. And remember, the devil goes out to gather the nations against Jesus again, but they are consumed by fire from heaven. If people were all perfect during the millennial reign, the devil couldn’t deceive them into fighting against the Lamb.  However in the eight thousandth year, there will be no temple.  There won’t be a sun or moon either, as the Father and the Lamb are the light in the city. Now that is a glorious place.  When Jesus says he goes to prepare a place, and in his fathers’ house are many mansions, I think he is spending his time building here, rather than for the millennial years. But that is just a guess.

24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.KJV

The New Heaven and New Earth are going to be quite a nice place. I believe that the millennial reign leaves room for further refining while the eight thousandth year is free from sin.  There seem to be laws and regulations in the millennial reign as well as rebellion and one last war. But after that we will no longer count time. There won’t be any curse. 

Rev 22:1-20 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle light, neither light [fire] of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

On the eighth day, the curse will be broken.  Is it any wonder why we are living in such insane times? We live under a curse.  The times we live in now are burdened by the devil’s lease on the age.  But during the millennial reign, the seventh day, the last of the refining will take place. 

6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Remember the beginning of the book of Revelation, Jesus said:

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.KJV

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

This is different from the time of Daniel when Daniel was told to seal up the words of his book.

Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and [the] knowledge shall be increased.KJV

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy [vile], let him be filthy (soiled) still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous [abiding] still: and he that is holy, let him be holy(consecrated) still.12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

If someone has read to the end of this book, and wishes to continue living in an unjust, vile, soiled lifestyle, then let it be so.  But those who read to the end of this book and live and continue abiding in righteousness, holiness, and a consecrated life, remain doing so until the end.  Jesus says he comes shortly and his wages are with him for everyone’s labor.  In other words, he’s bringing the payroll with him and will pay according to how much people have earned.  

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

The overcomers receive privileges; we should look back at the list Jesus gave us in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation.

Ephesus Rev 2:7 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.KJV

Smyrna Rev 2:11 He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.KJV

Pergamos Rev 2:17 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.KJV

Thyatira Rev 2:26-28 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.28 And I will give him the morning star.KJV

Sardis Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.KJV

Philadelphia Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.KJV

Laodiceans Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.KJV

It seems that some of these rewards are for the millennial reign, others are for the new heaven and new earth.  The tree of life is the eighth day; the second death is at the end of the seventh day, and the start of the eighth day; but the white stone is for judging or voting, that would be the seventh day, or the millennial reign.  To be given power over the nations is during the millennial reign as well. Being clothed in a white robe alludes to the wedding feast, a guest of the bridegroom, which is the beginning of the seventh day.  Being a pillar in the temple is during the seventh day, as we saw there is no temple in the new Jerusalem. However this reward for the overcomer bridges into the eighth day as this overcomer after being a pillar in the temple, gets a new name in the new city. The overcomer who sits with Jesus on his throne could be either seventh or eighth thousand year time. Clearly, what we do here and now, will have an impact for the next two thousand years, until we no longer count time.

If we remember, from the beginning of Revelation, we were bought by the blood of Jesus and he made us to be kings and priests.  The redeemed who were harpazo’d sing a new song to the Lamb who is now opening the seals. The song says that Jesus makes them kings and priests and they shall reign on the earth. 

Rev 1:5-7 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.KJV

Rev 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.KJV

Keep in mind that if we suffer with Him, we will reign with Him, this then makes sense.  There is a millennial reign that we will also be part of reigning with Christ as kings/priests.  This is why Jesus came, to redeem a group of people to reign with him in his kingdom, buying us back from the devil’s kingdom. Then we will reside in the New Heaven and New Earth. Outside the new Jerusalem there will be some bad people.

15 For without (outside) are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Outside the city there will be impure thinkers, magicians, prostitutes, murders, worshippers of false gods, and those who speak intentional falsehoods. We have to ask the question, where is the lake of fire? At the very least it is outside the city. This alludes to people on the outside of the city, in the new heaven and earth that are not worshippers and lovers of God.    

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Here we see Jesus again testifying of himself, as the root and offspring of David.  Jesus is the bright and morning star.  The devil wanted to be like the bright and morning star, or the daystar, but no matter how many times the devil tries to war against Jesus, he cannot be what he is not created to be.  Jesus gives overcomers the morning star, he gives them himself.  Then the Holy Spirit and the Bride say, to whoever will listen, come.  The Bride of Christ along with the Holy Spirit are both witnessing and encouraging people to come into the kingdom.  This is how we also know the Bride is made up of people, not a city.  A city does not witness to the unsaved, but beings do.  Let’s look at the Amplified.

Rev 22:17 The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost. [Isa 55:1.] AMP

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

No one wants to get removed from the book of life, so it is our obligation to say what this book says, not pretend it doesn’t exist, or allegorize it. The devil would love to confuse people and pretend that the world would go on this way forever.  But God has an eight thousand year plan, laid out quite plainly in the bible. It is our obligation to teach the dynamics of the six thousand year time of the wicked one, the seven thousandth year of rest, and the eight thousandth year of a new world.

20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. KJV

Jesus says he comes quickly, two thousand years ago.  That does not seem quick to us but two days is rather quick.  In “heaven time” this is quick and once we are harpazo’d and have our new bodies, time will probably go quickly for us as well.

End Notes

JERUSALEM, NEW

The holy city described by John in Rev 21-22; God's perfect and eternal order of the future. This New Jerusalem is not built by human hands; it is a heavenly city-one built and provided by God Himself (Rev 21:2).

The New Jerusalem and the new Garden of Eden (symbols of righteousness, peace, and prosperity) are the dwelling place of God, Christ, and the church. John saw no temple in New Jerusalem, "for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (Rev 21:22).

In the Book of Revelation John draws a graphic contrast between the harlot city called "Babylon the Great" (Rev 14:8; 16:19; 17:1-18:24), the earthly and temporal city of man, and the "New Jerusalem" (Rev 21:2-22:5), the heavenly and eternal city of God. John identifies "the great city, the holy Jerusalem" (Rev 21:10) as the church, which he calls "the bride, the Lamb's wife" (Rev 21:9).

(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

HEAVENS, NEW

A term which, when used with new earth, refers to the perfected state of the created universe and the final dwelling place of the righteous. The phrase is found in Isa 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13, and in a slightly modified form in Rev 21:1.

Rooted deep in Jewish thought was the dream of a new heaven and a new earth, a re-creation of the universe that would occur following the Day of the Lord (Isa 13:10-13; Joel 2:1-2,30-31). The concept of a re-created universe is closely related to the biblical account of the Creation and the Fall (Gen 1:1) and the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3). Because of their sin, "the creation was subjected to futility.... [and] the bondage of corruption" (Rom 8:19,21). The need for a new heaven and a new earth arises from man's sin and God's judgment, not from some deficiency or evil in the universe (Gen 3:17).

The apostle Paul referred to the Old Testament doctrine of the Day of the Lord and applied it to the events that will occur at the Second Coming of Christ (2 Peter 3:10,13). When Christ returns, this present evil age will give way to the age to come. The universe will be purified and cleansed by the power of God. This will be reminiscent of the purging of the earth in the days of Noah, but on a universal scale.

(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)