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