From the book by Ron Rhodes
MY ANSWER - Keith Hunt
After the Millennial Kingdom
IN THIS CHAPTER
Satan Leads a Final Revolt
Satan Is Cast into the Lake of Fire
The Second Resurrection
The Wicked Dead Are judged
The Lake of Fire
Satan Leads a Final Revolt
The bottomless pit presendy serves as the place of imprisonment of some demonic spirits (Luke 8:31; 2 Peter 2:4). The devil and all demonic spirits will be bound here for 1000 years during Christ's millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:1-3). This quarantine will effectively remove a powerfully destructive and deceptive force in all areas of human life and thought during Christ's kingdom.
Revelation 20:7-8 warns, however, that "when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea." He will move his forces against Jerusalem with fervor.
Of course, deception has always been at the very heart of Satan's activities. "He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). So when he engages in deception, he is in character. Recall that he used a lie to bring spiritual and physical death to humankind (see Genesis 3:4,13; 1 John 3:8,10-15).
Who Will Join Sides with Satan?
Even though the millennium will involve the perfect government of Christ, it will also include mortal and fallen human beings. To be sure, Matthew 25:31-46 is clear that only believers are invited into Christ's rnillennial kingdom.
(NO MATTHEW 25 IS NOT SAYING WHAT THE AUTHOR WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE. THE SEPARATING OF SHEEP FROM GOATS WILL BE A PROCESS THAT WILL CONTINUE FOR THE 1,000 YEARS. I HAVE SHOWN YOU PREVIOUSLY THAT THIS AUTHOR MISSES THE VERSES THAT CLEARLY SHOW MANY PHYSICAL HUMANS WILL ENTER THE MILLENNIUM AGE UNCONVERTED - without God's Spirit, and some nations will have not heard about the glory of God, and people will be sent to teach them - Isaiah 66.
Keith Hunt)
But these people will give birth to babies and raise children, some of whom will not necessarily choose to follow Jesus Christ. As long as they do not externally rebel against the government of Christ, they are permitted to live during the millennial kingdom. But all outward rebellion will be stopped instantly.
(I HAVE SHOWED YOU WHERE IT IS WRITTEN THOSE WANTING TO OUTWARDLY SIN, WILL HEAR A VOICE SAYING, "THIS IS THE WAY, WALK YOU IN IT" - Keith Hunt
When Satan is released at the end of the millennium, he will lead many of these unbelievers astray in a massive rebellion against Christ. As the text says, "their number is like the sand of the sea" (Revelation 20:8). This will represent Satan's last stand.
The Attack Against Jerusalem Nullified
Jerusalem, the headquarters of Christ's government throughout the millennial kingdom (Isaiah 2:1-5), will be the target city of the satanic revolt. Fire instantiy comes down upon the invaders (Revelation 20:9), a common mode of God's judgment (see Genesis 19:24; Exodus 9:23-24; Leviticus 9:24; 10:2; Numbers 11:1; 16:35; 26:10; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10,12,14; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1,3; Psalm 11:6). The rebellion is squashed instantiy; it had no chance of success.
A Clarification on Gog and Magog
Earlier in the book I noted that the Ezekiel invasion against Israel (by Russia, Iran, Sudan, Turkey, and a number of other Muslim nations) will likely take place prior to the tribulation period (Ezekiel 38—39).
(YES WE SAW THE AUTHOR SAID IT WOULD TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE TRIBULATION, BUT IN THAT CHAPTER HE DID NOT TELL YOU ABOUT EZ. 39:29.....ISRAEL [ALL TRIBES] WILL RECEIVE GOD'S SPIRIT, HENCE IN HIS CHRONOLOGY THAT WOULD QUALIFY THEM FOR THE "SECRET" RAPTURE, AND SO NOT BE ON EARTH DURING THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION, AS THE PROTESTANT PROPHETS TEACH IT - Keith Hunt)
Some interpreters, however, believe this invasion must take place after the millennial kingdom because Revelation 20:7-8 mentions Gog and Magog.
In both cases, a large number of soldiers are mentioned. In the Ezekiel invasion, we read that "many peoples are with you" (Ezekiel 38:6,15). Likewise, the invasion force mentioned in Revelation is massive, for "their number is like the sand of the sea" (Revelation 20:8). As well, in both cases, God is the one who defeats the invaders (Ezekiel 39:3-6; Revelation 20:9).
But this view is problematic on several levels. Foundationally, the chronology is all wrong. The invasion described in Ezekiel 38—39 is part of a larger section of Ezekiel's book that deals with the restoration of Israel (chapters 33—39). This is followed by another large section of Ezekiels book that describes the Jewish millennial temple and the restoration of sacrifices (chapters 40-48). In other words, Ezekiels invasion is before the millennial kingdom. By contrast, the invasion described in Revelation 20:7-10 takes place after the millennial kingdom, so these invasions are separated by a thousand years.
(ACTUALLY THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL TEACHES A CAPTIVITY FOR ISRAEL AND JUDAH, A RESTITUTION BY THE MESSIAH [AS ALSO GIVEN IN ISAIAH 11], A COMING TOGETHER OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH AS ONE PEOPLE AGAIN [CHAP. 37 - THE TWO STICKS] AND THEN SOME EARLY YEARS INTO THE NEW AGE, THE INVASION FROM THE NORTH AND EAST POWERS. TALK MORE ABOUT IT SHORTLY - Keith Hunt)
The seven months required to bury dead bodies (following the Ezekiel invasion) doesn't make sense in a scenario at the end of the millennial kingdom. Think about it. In Ezekiels scenario, the Israelites spend seven hard months burying the wicked dead who invaded them. In the Revelation scenario, the wicked dead are resurrected in order to take part in the great white throne judgment and be thrown into the lake of fire. Besides, Revelation 20:9 tells us that "fire came down from heaven and consumed them." There will not be any bodies left to bury because they'll all be incinerated.
(THE WICKED DEAD RAISED, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER ALSO - Keith Hunt)
Further, the next events in the book of Revelation are the great white throne judgment and the beginning of the eternal state (Revelation 21). This naturally brings up the problem of the burning of weapons for seven years. If this invasion takes place at the end of the millennial kingdom, then the burning of weapons would have to go beyond the millennial kingdom and into the eternal state, which doesn't make any sense at all.
We can also observe that in the Ezekiel invasion, a coalition of localized nations (Russia and a number of Muslim nations) invade from the north. The invasion at the end of the millennium is by a broader coalition—"nations that are at the four corners of the earth" (Revelation 20:8).
Still further, the invasion prophesied by Ezekiel occurs relatively soon after Israels rebirth as a nation and the ingathering of Jewish people from around the world (Ezekiel 36—37). The invasion mentioned in Revelation 20:7-10, by contrast, occurs after Jesus has been reigning on earth for a thousand years.
(YES CORRECT ARGUMENTS TO SHOW THE TWO ARE NOT THE SAME - Keith Hunt)
As well, in Ezekiel the invasion will be the catalyst God will use to draw Israel to Himself (see Ezekiel 39:7,22-29) and to put an end to its captivity. The battle in Revelation 20, however, will occur after Israel has been faithful to her God and has enjoyed His blessings for 1000 years.
(AH, HERE THE AUTHOR DOES GIVE YOU EZ. 39:29, BUT MOST WILL NEVER LOOK IT UP, AND THE AUTHOR DOES NOT SEE IT EITHER, THAT VERSE 29 - RECEIVING GOD'S SPIRIT, AS HE AND OTHERS TEACH IT, BEFORE THE TRIBULATION IS THIS INVASION, THEN THE JEWS [AS THEY TEACH IT] WOULD BE CHRISTIAN AND SO QUALIFY FOR THE "SECRET" RAPTURE, AS THEY TEACH IT; HENCE NO JEWS IN THE HOLY LAND ON THE EARTH FOR THE 7 YEARS TRIBULATION AS THEY TEACH IT - Keith Hunt)
But if these are two separate invasions, why did the apostle John use the terms Gog and Magog to describe the postmillennial satanic invasion against Jerusalem? It seems likely that John was simply using the terms Gog and Magog as a shorthand metaphor, much as we do today. For example, the term Wall Street has come to metaphorically refer to the stock market. Likewise, in New Testament times, terms like Corinthian and Nazarene came to metaphorically refer to people with less than desirable qualities. Whether among modern people or people in New Testament times, the meanings of these words are clear to the hearers.
Likewise, when John used the terms Gog and Magog in Revelation 20:7-10, his readers no doubt immediately drew the right connection and understood that this invasion at the end of the millennium would be similar to what Ezekiel described. A confederation of nations will attack Israel but not succeed. In other words, this was to be a Gog-and-Magog-like invasion.
(NOW, LEFT OUT, IS THE EZEKIEL ACCOUNT OF "BURNING" THE WEAPONS OF THE INVADERS. IF EZ. 38, 39 IS BEFORE THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION, HOW DO WE FIGURE "BURNING WEAPONS"? MODERN WAR MACHINE ARE STEEL - PLANES, TANKS, ARTILLERY GUNS, ROCKETS, ASSAULT RIFLES ETC. HARDLY BURNABLE! BUT PUT EZ. 38, 39 INTO THE CONTEXT OF THE FIRST EARLY YEARS OF THE MILLENNIUM, AFTER THE EUROPE BEAST HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE AND THE KINGS OF THE EAST HAVE BLOWN EACH OTHER APART IN VARIOUS WAYS [REV. 9] - THE WAR THAT IF NOT STOPPED WOULD KILL EVER HUMAN ON EARTH [JESUS WORDS IN MATT. 24] - NO FLESH LEFT ALIVE. THEN WITH ALL THE REST OF WHAT TAKES PLACE IN REVELATION, YOU HAVE A CAVE MAN TYPE PEOPLE LEFT IN THE EAST. THEY SEE AND HEAR ABOUT THE PROSPEROUS ISRAELITES IN THE HOLY LAND; THEY PICK UP WOODEN CLUBS, WOODEN SPEAR, BOWS AND ARROWS, AND WHATEVER ELSE HAS MUCH WOOD IN IT AS COULD BE USED TO KILL SOMEONE......AH, THEN YOU CAN SEE WHY THE ISRAELITES HAVE ENOUGH WOOD TO BURN FOR 7 YEARS! NO TREES NEED TO BE CUT DOWN, IT IS WRITTEN.....ISRAEL HAVE ENOUGH WOOD TO BURN [FOR THE WINTER MONTHS I WOULD SAY] FOR 7 YEARS!
TO PUT EZEKIEL 38, 39, IN ANY OTHER CONTEXT THAN AFTER THE MESSIAH HAS COME, MAKES NO SENSE. AND IF ONE PART OF THIS EZEKIEL PROPHECY IS LITERAL THEN SO MUST IT ALL BE - Keith Hunt)
Satan Is Cast into the Lake of Fire
Revelation 20:10 tells us that following the final revolt against Christ, "the devil who had deceived [the saints] was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Notice that all three persons of the satanic trinity—-Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet—will suffer the same dire destiny. More specifically, the antichrist and the false prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire prior to the beginning of the millennial kingdom. They will have been burning there for 1000 years when Satan joins them, and all three will continue to burn for all eternity. They will receive their just due.
(HERE WE GO WITH THE "IMMORTAL SOUL" STUFF.....BURNING IN HELL FOR EVER. AND IF YOU'VE BEEN AROUND CATHOLICS AND/OR PROTESTANTS FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME, WELL HELL IS BURNING AND BEING IN TORMENT FOR ALL ETERNITY. YOU NEED TO STUDY THE STUDIES ON MY WEBSITE CALLED "DEATH, HELL, AND RESURRECTION" AND LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT DEATH. WHETHER YOU DIE NATURALLY, IN AN ACCIDENT, OR IN A FIRE - Keith Hunt)
Notice also that Satan is not the only fallen angel who will be judged and confined to the lake of fire. All demons who have served under him will also be judged. Matthew 25:41 refers to "the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (see also 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). The demonic spirits who have been harassing Christians throughout the ages will one day receive a just judgment!
(PAUL WAS INSPIRED IN 1 COR. 6 TO TELL THE SAINTS, ONE DAY WE SHALL JUDGE ANGELS. MAYBE THE FINAL JUDGMENT ON THE DEVIL AND THE DEMONS [ONCE WERE ANGELIC TYPE BEINGS] IS YET TO BE DECIDED - Keith Hunt)
..........
To be continued
END TIMES CHRONOLOGY
Continued
The Second Resurrection
Scripture is clear that those who will participate in the great white throne judgment—that is, the wicked dead-—-will be resurrected to judgment. Jesus Himself affirmed that "a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned" John 5:28-29 NIV).
(THE BETTER WAY TO TRANSLATE "CONDEMNED" IS "JUDGMENT." AS THOSE RAISED WILL BE JUDGED.....AS IT SAYS IN REVELATION 20. BEING "JUDGED" IS NOT THE SAME AS BEING "CONDEMNED." - Keith Hunt)
To clarify, Jesus is not teaching that there is just one general resurrection that will take place at the end of time. Contrary to this idea, the Scriptures refer to two resurrections (Revelation 20:5-6,11-15). The first resurrection is the resurrection of the saved, and the second resurrection is the resurrection of the wicked (unsaved).
(WELL TRUE THAT THEY IN THE SECOND RESURRECTION ARE NOT "SAVED" OR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION. BUT BEING NOT SAVED DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN YOU ARE CONDEMNED - Keith Hunt)
We can be even more specific. The term first resurrection refers to all the resurrections of the righteous, even though they are widely separated in time. One resurrection of the righteous occurs at the rapture, before the tribulation period (1 Thessalonians 4:16); another at the end of the tribulation period (Revelation 20:4); and still another at the end of the 1000-year millennial kingdom. They all are "first" in the sense of being before the second (final) resurrection of the wicked. Accordingly, the term first resurrection applies to all the resurrections of the saints regardless of when they occur, including the resurrection of Christ Himself.
(HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH THE "SECRET" RAPTURE STUFF; A "RESURRECTION" THEY MUST PUT IN; ALSO A RESURRECTION WHEN CHRIST COMES "VISIBLY"..... I MEAN BELIEVING ALL THESE THINGS OF THE PROTESTANT PROPHETS, YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE A NUMBER OF RESURRECTIONS. WHEREAS ONE COMING OF CHRIST - VISIBLE - GLORIOUS COMING WITH NO FANCY "TWO PHASED COMING" AND YOU HAVE ONLY ONE GENERAL RESURRECTION OF SAINTS, from the time of Adam to the glorious return of the Messiah. And yes you have this White Throne Judgment - notice the word "judge" used twice in this passage - Keith Hunt)
This is a wondrous resurrection, for God's people will now have bodies in which the perishable has become imperishable, and the mortal has become immortal. These bodies will be specially designed to enable us to live directly in the presence of God for all eternity, never getting sick and never dying.
(TRUE....I AGREE - Keith Hunt)
The second resurrection, by contrast, is an awful spectacle. All the unsaved of all time will be resurrected at the end of Christ's millennial kingdom and be judged at the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
The bodies of the unsaved will also be imperishable and immortal. Their bodies will be eternal bodies, and though they will suffer the fires of hell, they will not burn up, but will last for all eternity in an environment of suffering. How horrific are the eternal consequences for choosing against Christ.
(OH WOW! THE PROTESTANTS ARE STILL AT IT, AS THEIR MOTHER THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH TAUGHT THEM - THE IMMORTAL SOULS.....BUT IF THEY DIED WITH IMMORTAL SOULS, AND WERE NEVER SAVED, AND SO IN BURNING HELL-FIRE, WHY BRING THEM BACK AGAIN ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY ARE NOT SAVED, BUT WICKED, AND THEN THROW THEM BACK INTO BURNING HELL-FIRE, WHERE THEY SUFFER FOR ALL ETERNITY. THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH SINNERS [THOSE THAT COME AGAINST JERUSALEM AT THE END OF THE 1,000 YEARS], TO BE TOLD THEY ARE UNSAVED AND SO BE THROWN INTO HELL-FIRE. WHY BRING UP THOSE ALREADY IN HELL-FIRE? YOU'D HAVE THOUGHT SOME PROTESTANT SOMEWHERE IN THE LAST 3 OR 4 HUNDRED YEARS WOULD HAVE QUESTIONED THIS STRANGE THEOLOGY IDEA, BUT AS WE SHALL SEE IT IS STILL VERY MUCH AROUND TODAY - Keith Hunt)
The Wicked. Dead Are Judged
Unlike believers, whose judgment deals only with rewards and loss of rewards, unbelievers face a horrific judgment that leads to their being cast into the lake of fire. As we have seen, this is the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Christ Himself will judge the unsaved dead of all time. This judgment takes place after the millennial kingdom, Christ's 1000-year reign on the earth.
(YES TO BE SURE THIS WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT DOES TAKE PLACE AFTER THE 1,000 YEARS - Keith Hunt)
We know that this judgment takes place after the millennial kingdom, for Revelation 20, after describing the millennium, states: " Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it" (verse 11). In other words, the millennium first takes place, and the judgment follows.
Those who face Christ at this judgment will be judged on the basis of their works (verses 12-13). It is critical to understand that they actually appear at this judgment because they are already unsaved. This judgment will not separate believers from unbelievers, for all who will experience it will have already made the choice during their lifetimes to reject God. Once they are before the divine Judge, they are judged according to their works not only to justify their condemnation but also to determine the degree to which each person should be punished throughout eternity.
(AGAIN WHY BRING UP THE UNSAVED WICKED, WHO ARE ALREADY WITH THEIR IMMORTAL SOUL, SUFFERING IN HELL-FIRE AT THEIR DEATH. IS IT THAT GOD WILL HAVE TO JUDGE AGAIN TO DETERMINE IF THEY WERE NOT GETTING ENOUGH ETERNAL SUFFERING, OR MAYBE HAD BEEN GIVEN TOO MUCH, NOW THEY COULD BE JUDGED TO HAVE LESS SUFFERING. THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND THIS PROTESTANT THOUGHT IS SILLY TO SAY THE LEAST, STRONGER WORDS I COULD USE ABOUT IT ALL, AS PRESENTED TO US HERE - Keith Hunt)
When Christ opens the book of life, no name of anyone present at the great white throne judgment is in it. Their names do not appear in the book of life because they have rejected the source of life—Jesus Christ. Because they rejected the source of life, they are cast into the lake of fire, which constitutes the second death (verse 14) and involves eternal separation from God.
(OH I THOUGHT THEY WERE ALREADY SEPARATED FROM GOD WITH THEIR IMMORTAL SOUL SUFFERING AWAY IN HELL-FIRE, FROM THE TIME THEY DIED AS WICKED UNSAVED. WHY DO THEY HAVE TO APPEAR AGAIN, UNLESS GOD LIKES RITUALS AND LIKES PLAYING GAMES WITH THE UNSAVED; BRING THEM UP AGAIN, JUDGE THAT NO MISTAKE WAS MADE AS TO THEIR LARGE OR SMALL SUFFERING; CHANGE IT IF A MISTAKE WAS MADE; THEN THROW THEM BACK INTO HELL-FIRE FOR ALL ETERNITY. SURELY YOU CAN SEE BY NOW SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG WITH THIS THEOLOGY IDEA - Keith Hunt)
All those who are judged at the great white throne judgment have a horrible destiny ahead that includes weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:41-42), condemnation (Matthew 12:36-37), destruction (Philippians 1:28), eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46), separation from Gods presence (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9), and trouble and distress (Romans 2:9).
Nevertheless, the Scriptures also indicate that there will be degrees of punishment in hell (Matthew 10:15; 16:27; Luke 12:47-48; Revelation 20:12-13; 22:12). These degrees of punishment will be determined at the great white throne judgment when Christ examines each person with His penetrating eyes.
(SO IT SURE SOUNDS TO ME LIKE ALL THE UNSAVED WICKED, SUFFERING IN HELL-FIRE, WITH THEIR IMMORTAL SOULS, WILL BE RAISED AGAIN OUT OF THERE, ONLY TO BE JUDGED AGAIN [MAYBE MORE DEGREE OF SUFFERING OR LESS DEGREE OF SUFFERING] AND THROWN BACK INTO HELL-FIRE - Keith Hunt)
Common observation shows that unsaved people vary as much in their quality of life as saved people do. For example, some saved people are spiritual and charitable, and other saved people are carnal and unloving. Some unbelievers are terribly evil (like Hider), while others— such as unbelieving moralists—are much less evil.
Just as believers have varied responses to Gods law and will have corresponding rewards in heaven, so unbelievers have various responses to God's law and therefore will have corresponding experiences in their punishment in hell. Just as there are degrees of reward in heaven, so there are degrees of punishment in hell. The great white throne judgment will apportion perfectly fair judgments against the wicked dead.
(YEP PRETTY SURE THIS IS STILL THE OLD WORN-OUT IDEA FROM THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.....IMMORTAL SOUL.....EVER BURNING HELL-FIRE FOR THE UNSAVED - Keith Hunt)
The Lake of Fire
The lake of fire will be the eternal abode of Satan, demons, the antichrist, the false prophet, and unbelievers throughout all history (Revelation 19:20; 20:10-15). It will be populated by unsaved human beings following the great white throne judgment. All residents will be tormented day and night forever and ever. It is eternal.
(YES THEY ARE STILL VERY MUCH TEACHING IT......AN EVER BURNING HELL-FIRE, THAT WILL GIVE SUFFERING [LARGE OR SMALL] TO IMMORTAL SOULS OF THE WICKED UNSAVED - Keith Hunt)
The lake of fire is another term for hell. The Scriptures assure us that hell is a real place. But hell was not part of God's original creation, which He called good (Genesis 1). Hell was created later to accommodate the banishment of Satan and his fallen angels who rebelled against God (Matthew 25:4l). Human beings who reject Christ will join Satan and his fallen angels in this infernal place of suffering.
(YA....THE IMMORTAL SOUL TEACHING....EVERY ONE LIVES FOR ETERNITY.....EITHER IN GOD'S PRESENCE OR WITH THE DEVIL IN HELL-FIRE THAT GIVES THEM SUFFERING IN ONE DEGREE OR ANOTHER FOR ETERNITY - Keith Hunt)
Scripture describes the destiny of the wicked as a fiery furnace. Jesus said that in this fiery furnace would be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:42). This weeping will be caused by the environment, the company, the remorse and guilt, and the shame that afflicts all who are in hell.
Scripture uses a number of other terms to describe the horrors of hell, including unquenchable fire (Mark 9:47-48), the fiery lake of burning sulfur (Revelation 19:20), eternal fire (Matthew 18:8), eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46), destruction (Matthew 7:13), everlasting destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9), the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:42), and the second death (Revelation 20:14). The horror of hell is inconceivable to the human mind.
(SO CONTINUES THE OLD "FIRE-AND-BRIMSTONE" PREACHING OF PROTESTANTS - THE "CHOOSE CHRIST NOW OR YOU MAY BE IN HELL-FIRE, SUFFERING FOR ALL ETERNITY." - Keith Hunt)
What precisely is the fire of hell (or lake of fire)? Some believe it is literal. Indeed, that may very well be the case. Others believe fire is a metaphor for the great wrath of God. Scripture commonly uses this image.
• "The Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God" (Deuteronomy 4:24).
"God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29).
"His wrath is poured out like fire" (Nahum 1:6).
"Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a
refiners fire" (Malachi 3:2).
• God said, "My wrath will flare up and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done—burn with no one to
quench it" (Jeremiah 4:4 NIV).
How awful is the fiery wrath of God!
The best English translations of the Old Testament don't include the word hell. Instead, they transliterate the Hebrew word Sheol. Sheol can have different meanings in different contexts. Sometimes the word means "grave." Other times it refers to the place of departed people in contrast to the state of living people. The Old Testament portrays Sheol as a place of horror (Psalm 55:15) and punishment (Job 24:19; Psalm 9:17).
'When we get to the New Testament, we find that a number of words relate to the doctrine of hell. Hades seems to be the New Testament counterpart to Sheol. The rich man endured great suffering in Hades (Luke 16:23).
However, this was an intermediate state and not the rich man's eternal destiny. Hades is a temporary abode and will one day be cast into the lake of fire. In the future, the wicked in Hades will be raised from the dead and judged at the great white throne judgment. They will then be cast into the lake of fire, which will be their permanent place of suffering throughout all eternity.
(AH SO NOW WE HAVE A SOMEWHAT CATHOLIC TEACHING LIKE "PURGATORY" - A STATE WHERE YOU ARE RESERVED FOR HELL-FIRE....PROTESTANTS ARE CALLING IT "HADES"....SO THE WICKED UNSAVED GO THERE UNTIL THE END OF THE 1,000 YEAR AGE. WOW SOME HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.....AH WELL I GUESS THEY COULD THINK HARD ON WHAT EVENTUALLY WAITS THEM.....SUFFERING IN THE FIRES OF HELL - Keith Hunt)
Another word related to the concept of hell is Gehenna (Matthew 10:28). This word has an interesting history. For several generations, ancient Israel committed atrocities in the Valley of Ben Hinnom— including human sacrifices, and even the sacrifice of children (2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6; Jeremiah 32:35). The unfortunate victims were sacrificed to the false Moabite god Molech. Jeremiah appropriately called this valley a valley of slaughter" (Jeremiah 7:31-34).
Eventually the valley came to be used as a public rubbish dump into which all the filth in Jerusalem was poured. Not only garbage but also the bodies of dead animals and the corpses of criminals were thrown on the heap, where they perpetually burned. The valley fires never stopped burning. And there was always a good meal for a hungry worm.
This place was originally called (in the Hebrew) Ge[gen]hinnom (the valley of the son[s] of Hinnom). It was eventually shortened to the name Ge-Hinnom. The Greek translation of this Hebrew phrase is Gehenna. It became an appropriate and graphic term for the reality of hell. Jesus Himself used the word 11 times in reference to the eternal place of suffering of unredeemed humanity.
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SO THERE IT IS AS EVER WITH THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE PROTESTANT PROPHETS......AN IMMORTAL SOUL FOR EVERY ONE, AND AN EVER BURING HELL-FIRE FOR THE UNSAVED, WHO WILL FOR ETERNITY SUFFER EITHER LARGE OR SMALL, FOR THE WICKED WORKS THEY HAVE DONE.
NOW YOU NEED TO GET THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER. YOU NEED TO GO TO MY WEBSITE AND STUDY EVERY STUDY UNDER THE SECTION "DEATH - LIFE - RESURRECTION" AND SEE WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ON DEATH AND THE REWARD OF THOSE WHO WILL NOT ACCEPT CHRIST AS PERSONAL SAVIOR.
THEN YOU NEED TO STUDY MY STUDY ON MY WEBSITE, CALLED: "THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT" AND LEARN WHAT IT IS REALLY ALL ABOUT......LEARN SOME OF THE BEST NEWS YOU WILL EVER HEAR.
OH YES, THE WICKED, UNSAVED, BECAUSE THEY OPENLY REFUSED TO BE SAVED, WILL FACE THE LAKE OF FIRE AND THE SECOND DEATH.
THE TRUTH OF IT ALL, CAN BE KNOWN, AND IT AIN'T WHAT THE CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS TEACH AND PREACH.
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE.
IT IS WRITTEN (BY PETER) THAT GOD DOES NOT WANT ANYONE TO PERISH BUT ALL TO COME TO REPENTANCE (2 PETER 3:9). THE ETERNAL WANTS EVERYONE TO HAVE A CLEAR PLAIN OPPORTUNITY TO REPENT OF SIN AND TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS PERSONAL SAVIOR. MILLIONS IN THE PAST HAVE NEVER HAD A CHANCE OF SALVATION. THE GOSPEL WAS NOT BROUGHT TO THEM, THEY NEVER HEARD IT, THEY KNEW NOTHING OF THE LOVE AND GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD. SOME WERE EVEN BLINDED TO NOT KNOW (READ THROUGH ROMANS 9 - 11). BUT ONE DAY THAT BLINDNESS AND THAT NOT KNOWING WILL END. THEY WILL RISE IN A RESURRECTION, THE BIBLE WILL BE OPENED, AND ANOTHER BOOK, THE BOOK OF LIFE. ALL WHO NEVER HEARD, NEVER UNDERSTOOD, WILL HEAR AND WILL UNDERSTAND.
YES MAKE SURE YOU STUDY MY STUDY CALLED "THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT" ON MY WEBSITE, AND LEARN OF THE PLAN OF SALVATION THAT GOD IS WORKING OUT HERE BELOW.
Keith Hunt
To be continued
FROM THE BOOK "END TIMES CHRONOLOGY"
by Ron Rhodes
The Eternal State
IN THIS CHAPTER
Christ Delivers the Kingdom to the Father
The Old Heavens and EarthAre Destroyed
The New Heaven and New Earth
The New Jerusalem
Perfect in Every Way
Christ Delivers the Kingdom, to the Father
Many people have struggled to understand 1 Corinthians 15:24,28, where Paul says of Jesus Christ, "Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father.. ...When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all."
It is important to grasp the meaning of these verses. Notice that even though Jesus Christ is completely equal to the Father in terms of being God (see, for example, John 1:1; 8:58; 10:30; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9), Christ is nevertheless in subjection to the Father (John 14:28; 1 Corinthians 11:3). Many theologians point out that Jesus not only is God but also took upon Himself a human nature in the incarnation-—-a human nature He still possesses today (see Luke 24:37-39; Acts 2:31; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 4:2; 2 John 7).
(THIS IDEA THAT CHRIST STILL POSSES "HUMAN NATURE" IS A CRAZY AND SILLY IDEA. LUKE 24 HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HUMAN NATURE, IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH CHRIST BEING ABLE TO TRANSFORM HIMSELF INTO FLESH AND BONE - IT IS WRITTEN "IS THERE ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD." ACTS 2 IS SHOWING CHRIST'S BODY WAS NOT LEFT TO DECAY - IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HUMAN NATURE. 1 TIMOTHY 2 IS TELLING US CHRIST MEDIATES BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. HE KNOWS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE FULLY HUMAN, SO HE MAKES A SUPER MEDIATOR; IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH JESUS STILL HAVING HUMAN NATURE. 1 JOHN 4, JESUS MAY HAVE COME IN THE FLESH BUT HE'S NOT IN THE FLESH TODAY AS FOR HUMAN NATURE. 2 JOHN CHRIST DID COME IN THE FLESH, PARTOOK OF HUMAN NATURE WHILE IN THE FLESH. HE DOES NOT HAVE HUMAN NATURE NOW. CHRIST IS FULLY GOD ONCE MORE. HE DOES NOT HAVE TO CONTINUE OVERCOMING HUMAN NATURE.
I'D NEVER HEARD OF THIS IDEA TILL I READ IT FROM THIS AUHTOR.....IT IS A CRAZY IDEA - Keith)
Because Christ still possesses His human nature, He is still in submission to the Father. Even apart from His humanity; however, Jesus has always been and forever will be in subjection to the Father because this is the nature of the relationship of the persons in the Trinity.
(JESUS IS NOT IN SUBJECTION TO THE FATHER BECAUSE HE STILL HAS HUMAN NATURE. NOT AT ALL. THERE IS NO EQUAL IN AUTHORITY, GOD THE FATHER HAS ALWAYS BEEN GREATER IN AUTHORITY THAN CHRIST. THE GODHEAD OF FATHER AND SON [JESUS] HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE FATHER IN GREATER AUTHORITY - 1 COR. 11:2 - AS JESUS N HIMSELF SAID, THE ONE WHO DOES THE SENDING IS GREATER THAN THE ONE SENT - Keith Hunt)
This is one of the theological factors behind such verses as John 3:17: "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." God the Father is the sender; Jesus is the sent one.
What, then, is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:28? In the eternal plan of salvation, the eternal Son's role was to become the Mediator (the go-between) between man and God the Father. In 1 Timothy 2:5, for example, we read, "There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
It is important to recognize, however, that Christ's role as mediator is a temporary one. This role is not eternal. When the task of human redemption is finally complete, Christ the mediator voluntarily surrenders the kingdom to the one who sent Him into the world to accomplish redemption, God the Father.
(JESUS' ROLE OF MEDIATOR WILL ONE DAY END, WHEN THERE ARE NO MORE HUMAN PEOPLE. BUT EVEN TODAY, CHRIST SITS ON THE FATHER'S RIGHT HAND, NOT ON TOP OF HIM, OR INSIDE HIM, BUT AT HIS RIGHT HAND. YES THE ONE SENT IS NOT AS GREAT AS THE ONE WHO SENDS. AT JESUS' GOING BACK TO HEAVEN HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, "I GO TO MY FATHER, AND YOUR FATHER, TO MY GOD AND YOUR GOD" "MY FATHER IS GREATER THAN I." ( JOHN 20: 17; JOHN 14: 28)
At that time, the Son's role as mediator will be completed. As one Bible expositor put it:"When he delivers up the administration of the earthly kingdom to the Father, then the triune God will reign as God and no longer through the incarnate Son," 1 Indeed, "throughout the endless ages of eternity, the triune God Jehovah will permeate the universe with His celestial love and glory. God will then be immediately known by all. What glorious destiny awaits the redeemed of the Lord."2
(THESE PROTESTANTS STILL HAVE TO MESS THINGS UP WITH THEIR "TRIUNE" TRINITY IDEA.
THERE IS NO TRINITY THE WAY THEY TEACH IT, AS THREE INDIVIDUAL GODHEAD BEINGS UP IN HEAVEN, OR AS SOME TEACH IT.....A BLOB OF SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ONE, OR TWO, OR THREE AT ANY TIME....SOMETHING THEY SAY WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND. YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE GODHEAD, GOD THE FATHER WANTS YOU TO KNOW. THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD IS IN MANY STUDIES ON MY WEBSITE. AND THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DESTINY OF THE REDEEMED IS FAR BEYOND WHAT PROTESTANTS TEACH.....THAT TRUTH IS CONTAINED IN MY STUDY CALLED "A CHRISTIAN'S DESTINY" ON MY WEBSITE - Keith Hunt)
The Old Heavens and Earth Are Destroyed
As we think back to the scene in the Garden of Eden in which Adam and Eve sinned against God, we remember that God judged the earth with a curse (Genesis 3:17-18). Indeed, the universe was subjected to futility and is now in bondage to decay (Romans 8:20-22).
So before the eternal kingdom can be made manifest, God must deal with this cursed earth and universe. And Satan has long carried out his evil schemes on earth (see Ephesians 2:2), so the earth must be purged of all stains resulting from his extended presence.
In short, the earth, along with the first and second heavens—that is, the earths atmosphere (Job 35:5) and the stellar universe (Genesis 1:17; Deuteronomy 17:3)-—-must be renewed. The old must make room for the new.
The Scriptures often speak of the passing of the old heavens and earth. Psalm 102:25-26 is an example: "Of old you [O God] laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away." Isaiah 51:6 is another: "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment....but my salvation will be forever." This reminds us of Jesus' words in Matthew 24:35: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."
Perhaps the most extended section of Scripture dealing with the passing of the old heavens and earth is 2 Peter 3:7-13.
"The heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."
The old must pass to make room for the new. That which is stained and decaying must make room for that which will be utterly pure and eternal.
(I AGREE - Keith Hunt)
The New Heaven and New Earth
After the universe is cleansed by fire and God creates a new heaven and a new earth, all vestiges of the curse and Satan's presence will be utterly and forever removed from all creation. Bible expositor Albert Barnes makes this comment:
The earth will be no more cursed, and will produce no more thorns and thistles; man will be no more compelled to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow; woman will be no more doomed to bear the sufferings which she does now; and the abodes of the blessed will be no more cursed by sickness, sorrow, tears, and death.3
All things will be made new, and how blessed it will be!
An Expanded Heaven
Theologians and Bible expositors have been careful to alistinguish between the present heaven where God now dwells and where believers go at the moment of death (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-23) and the future heaven where believers will spend all eternity (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1). For indeed, a renovation is coming.
(BELIEVERS DO NOT GO TO HEAVEN AT DEATH. ANOTHER FALSE TEACHING OR PROTESTANTS COMING FROM THEIR MOTHER WHORE OF BABYLON. FOR THE FULL AND DETAILED STUDIES ON WHAT HAPPENS AT DEATH, SEE THE MANY STUDIES ON THE SUBJECT UNDER "DEATH - LIFE - RESURRECTION" ON MY WEBSITE - Keith Hunt)
In the consummation of all things, God will renovate the heavens and the earth, merging His heaven with a new universe for a perfect dwelling-place that will be our home forever. In other words, heaven, the realm where God dwells, will expand to encompass the entire universe of creation, which will be fashioned into a perfect and glorious domain fit for the glory of heaven.4
Peter speaks of this glorious future reality in 2 Peter 3:13. You and I can look forward to living eternally in a magnificent kingdom where heaven and earth unite in a glory that exceeds the imaginative capabilities of the finite human brain.
Finally the prophecy of Isaiah 65:17 will be fulfilled, where God promises, "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind." Finally the prophecy of Revelation 21:1,5 will be fulfilled: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more...And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.5"
(I AGREE, THIS WILL ALL COME TO BE - Keith Hunt)
A Renewed Universe
The new heaven and earth will be this present universe—only it will be purified of all evil, sin, suffering, and death. The Greek word used to designate the newness of the cosmos is not neos but kainos. Neos means "new in time" or "new in origin." But kctinos means "new in nature" or "new in quality." So the phrase "new heavens and a new earth" refers not to a cosmos that is totally other than the present cosmos. Rather, the new cosmos will stand in continuity with the present cosmos, but it will be utterly renewed and renovated.
Commentator William Hendrickson explains, "It is the same heaven and earth, but gloriously rejuvenated, with no weeds, thorns, or thisdes."5 J. Oswald Sanders makes a similar comment. "The picture is of the universe transformed, perfected, purged of everything that is evil and that exalts itself against God. It is new,5 not in the sense of being a new creation, but of being new in character-—a worthy milieu for the residents of Gods redeemed people."6
This means that a resurrected people will live in a resurrected universe! Theologian John Piper puts it this way. "What happens to our bodies and what happens to the creation go together. And what happens to our bodies is not annihilation but redemption.. .Our bodies will be redeemed, restored, made new, not thrown away. And so it is with the heavens and the earth."7
Matthew 19:28 (NASB) thus speaks of "the regeneration." The NIV calls it "the renewal of all things." Acts 3:21 (nasb) mentions the "restoration of all things." (See also Isaiah 65:18-25; Ezekiel 28:25-26; 34:25-30.) The new heavens and earth, like our newness in Christ, will be regenerated, glorified, free from the curse of sin, and eternal. Our planet—indeed, the whole universe—will be put in the crucible, altered, changed, and made new, to abide forever.
The new earth, being a renewed and eternal earth, will be adapted to the vast moral and physical changes that the eternal state necessitates. Everything is new in the eternal state. Everything will be according to God's own glorious nature. The new heavens and the new earth will be brought into blessed conformity with all that God is—in a state of fixed bliss and absolute perfection.
(TRUE, FOR THAT IS WHAT IS WRITTEN - Keith Hunt)
Heaven and Earth Merged
One day heaven and earth will no longer be separate realms, as they are now, but will be merged. Believers will thus continue to be in heaven even while they are on the new earth. The new earth will be utterly sinless. It will be bathed and suffused in the light and splendor of God, which will not be obscured by evil of any kind or darkened by evildoers of any description.
(ANOTHER SIMPLE WAY TO PUT IT IS "HEAVEN WILL COME TO EARTH" OR "HEAVEN ON EARTH." GOD THE FATHER WILL COME DOWN TO THE EARTH MADE NEW, TO DWELL WITH HIS CHILDREN FOR ETERNITY - Keith Hunt)
The New Jerusalem
The most elaborate description of the heavenly city contained in the Bible is in Revelation 21.
I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband .... having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed-—on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve aposdes of the Lamb....
The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel .... And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass....
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.... And its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.
This description of the New Jerusalem is astounding. We gaze in amazement at such transcendent splendor that the human mind can scarcely take it in. This is a scene of ecstatic joy and fellowship of sinless angels and redeemed glorified human beings. The voice of the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, utters a climactic declaration: "Behold, I am making all things new" (Revelation 21:5).
The words contained in Revelation 21—22 no doubt represent a human attempt to describe the utterly indescribable.
The overall impression of the city as a gigantic brilliant jewel compared to jasper, clear as crystal, indicates its great beauty. John was trying to describe what he saw and to relate it to what might be familiar to his readers. However, it is evident that his revelation transcends anything that can be experienced.8
Millard Erickson agrees and offers these reflections on the glorious splendor of this heavenly city.
Images suggesting immense size or brilliant light depict heaven as a place of unimaginable splendor, greatness, excellence, and beauty... It is likely that while John's vision employs as metaphors those items which we think of as being most valuable and beautiful, the actual splendor of heaven far exceeds anything that we have yet experienced.9
George Marsden, author of Jonathan Edwards: A Life, points out that Edwards...
recounted the similes used in Scripture to describe heaven... His larger point was that, however wonderful it might be to imagine these things, earthly images are not really adequate .... These biblical images, he explained, are "very faint shadows" that represent the joys of heaven humans are intended to enjoy.10
In short, the heavenly city will be far more wondrous than we can possibly imagine.
One thing is certain. The city is designed to reflect and manifest the incredible glory of God. The mention of transparency reveals that the city is strategically designed to transmit the glory of God in the form of light without hindrance. The human imagination is simply incapable of fathoming the immeasurably resplendent glory of God that will be perpetually manifest in the eternal city. This is especially so considering the fact that all manner of precious stones will be built into the eternal city.
(THE JERUSALEM ABOVE COMING TO THE NEW EARTH , WILL I BELIEVE BE PYRAMID SHAPED - THE CENTER BEING 1,500 MILES HIGH, WITH THE TEMPLE OF GOD ON THE TOP. THIS WOULD THEN ALLOW ALL KINDS OF PARKS, VALLEYS, STREET, BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES OF ALL KINDS. THE WALL OF THE CITY - JOHN PUTS IT IN A FORM THAT OUR HUMAN MIND CAN GET A LITTLE GRASPE USING ..... PHYSICAL JEWELS; BUT THE REAL GLORY OUR HUMAN MIND TODAY CANNOT FULLY COMPREHEND - Keith Hunt)
Perfect in Every Way
Because you and I are so accustomed to living in a fallen world that has been viciously marred by sin and corruption, we cannot conceive of what life might be like in a heavenly habitat that is without such sin and fallenness. From birth to death, we are confronted with imperfection on every level. But in the eternal city, we will experience nothing but perfection. I love A.T. Pierson's description.
There shall be no more curse—-perfect restoration. The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it-—pefect administration. His servants shall serve him—--perfect subordination. And they shall see his face—-perfect transformation. And his name shall be on their foreheads—perfect identification. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord giveth them light—perfect illumination. And they shall reign forever and ever—-perfect exultation.11
A Huge City
The heavenly city measures approximately 1500 miles by 1500 miles by 1500 miles. Though some interpret these big numbers symbolically, allegedly carrying the idea that "saved people are never crowded," I think the dimensions are intended to be interpreted literally. The eternal city is so huge that it would measure approximately the distance from Canada to Mexico, and from the Adantic Ocean to the Rockies. That is a surface area of 2.25 million square miles. (By comparison, London is only 621 square miles.) Put another way, the ground level area of the city will be 3623 times that of London. If the city has stories, each being 13 feet high, the city would have 660,000 stories. That is huge!
A city that high might seem to present a formidable challenge to city travelers. We must not forget, however, that our resurrection bodies will likely have amazing capabilities. Some expositors believe our new bodies will have the ability to fly and get places fast. That would be very exciting!
Someone calculated that if this structure is cube-shaped, it would allow for 20 billion residents, each having his or her own private 75-acre cube. If each residence were smaller, the city would have room to accommodate one hundred thousand billion people with plenty of room left over for parks, streets, and other things you would see in any normal city.
The eternal city could either be cube-shaped or pyramid-shaped— and there are good Christian scholars on both sides of the debate. Some prefer to consider it shaped as a pyramid, for this would explain how the river of the water of life could flow down its sides (Revelation 22:1-2). Others prefer to consider it shaped as a cube, for the Holy of Holies in Solomons Temple was cube-shaped (1 Kings 6:20), and a cubical shape of the New Jerusalem might be intended to communicate that this eternal city is like an eternal Holy of Holies.
(THIS CUBED SHAPE I HAVE COME TO SEE WOULD BE LIKE SOME UNBELIEVABLE SKY-SCRAPPER BUILDING AND SOMEWHAT DULL, COMPARED TO A PYRAMID STRUCTURE, THE CENTER OF, BEING 1,500 MILES HIGH. THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR MANY PARKS, VALLEYS, AND BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES, AS WELL AS STREETS AND STREAMS OF WATER; ALL GOING UP TO THE HOLY TEMPLE AT THE TOP AND CENTER OF THE PYRAMID STRUCTURE - WE CANNOT BE DOGMATIC, WE CAN ASK CHRIST WHEN HE RETURNS - Keith Hunt)
High Walls and Open Gates
[The city] had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed .... And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21:12,14).
Perhaps the angels are at each of the 12 gates not only as guardians but also in view of their role as ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14). Perhaps the names of the 12 tribes of Israel are written on the gates to remind us that "salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22). And perhaps the names of the apostles appear on the foundations to remind us that the church was built upon these men of God (Ephesians2:20).
(THE LATTER IS BEST ..... FOR "JEWS" ARE ONLY 3 TRIBES OF ISRAEL, UNDER NEW TESTAMENT AGE [JUDAH, LEVI, AND BENJAMIN] - Keith Hunt)
"What was Johns reaction when he saw his own name inscribed on one of the foundations? What a thrill it must have been. It is like an eternal memorial to John's faithfulness—and the faithfulness of the other apostles—in defending the truth of Jesus Christ in an often hostile world.
Notice that "its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there" (Revelation 21:25). In ancient times, city gates were shut at night to guard against invaders. Gates were part of the city's security. Those who live in the eternal city, however, will never have an external threat. Satan, demons, and unbelievers will be in eternal quarantine in hell. God Himself will dwell within the city. Who would dare attack it?
A River, a Tree, and Healing Leaves
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city" (Revelation 22:1). This pure river of life, though real and material, may also be symbolic of the abundance of spiritual life that will characterize those who are living in the eternal city. The stream seems to symbolize the perpetual outflow of spiritual blessing to all the redeemed of all ages, who are now basking in the full glow of eternal life. What spiritual blessedness there will be in the eternal state.
We next read of the tree of life (Revelation 22:2). The last time we read of the tree of life was in Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Paradise was lost. Now, in the book of Revelation, paradise is restored, and we again witness the tree of life in the glorious eternal state.
The leaves on the tree are said to be for the healing of nations. But what does this mean? Will there actually be a need for healing, as if somehow things are not perfect in the eternal state? Albert Barnes suggests, "We are not to suppose that there will be sickness, and a healing process in heaven, for that idea is expressly excluded in Revelation 21:4."12This verse informs us that "death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore."
The word used for "healing" in this verse is therapeia. We derive the English word therapy from this word. The word carries the idea of "health-giving." We should interpret this to mean that the leaves of the tree promote the enjoyment of life in the New Jerusalem and are not for correcting ills that do not exist.
(I AGREE.....THERE WILL BE NO ILLS, SICKNESS, IN THE ETERNAL STATE. THE LEAVES COULD REPRESENT WHAT GOD GAVE TO THE PHYSICAL WORLD - HEALTH AND HEALING THROUGH PHYSICAL MEANS OF USING NATURE AND FOODS FOR HEALTH - Keith Hunt)
No Sun or Moon Needed
"The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb" (Revelation 21:23). This is in keeping with the prophecy in Isaiah 60:19: "The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory." Dr. Lehman Strausss comments on the Lamb's glory are worthy of meditation.
In that city which Christ has prepared for His own there will be no created light, simply because Christ Himself, who is the uncreated light (John 8:12), will be there.. ....The created lights of God and of men are as darkness when compared with our Blessed Lord. The light He defuses throughout eternity is the unclouded, undimmed glory of His own Holy presence. In consequence of the fullness of that light, there shall be no night.13
(NOTICE IT IS BOTH THE FATHER AND THE SON WHO GIVE THE LIGHT - GREATER LIGHT THERE CANNOT BE - Keith Hunt)
A Holy City
In Revelation 21:1-2 we find heaven described as "the holy city." This is a fitting description. Indeed, in this city there will be no sin or unrighteousness of any kind. Only the pure of heart will dwell there. This does not mean you and I must personally attain moral perfection in order to dwell there. Those of us who believe in Christ have been given the very righteousness of Christ (see Romans 4:11,22-24). Because of what Christ accomplished for us at the cross (taking our sins upon Himself), we have been made holy (Hebrews 10:14). We will have the privilege of living for all eternity in the holy city.
(WELL YES IF YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT BEING SAVED BY GRACE IS ALL ABOUT. AND THE CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS HAVE YET TO LEARN IT - THAT IS WHY WE SHALL HAVE A GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT PERIOD --SO THEY CAN LEARN IT - Keith Hunt)
Contrasting the New Jerusalem with Earth
As we read Johns description of the New Jerusalem, we find a whole series, of contrasts with the earth. These contrasts have been wonderfully summarized by Bruce Shelley.
In contrast to the darkness of most ancient cities, John says heaven is always lighted. In contrast to rampant disease in the ancient world, he says heaven has trees whose leaves heal all sorts of sicknesses. In contrast to the parched deserts of the Near East, he pictures heaven with an endless river of crystal-clear water. In contrast to a meager existence in an arid climate, John says twelve kinds of fruit grow on the trees of heaven. In a word, heaven is a wonderful destiny, free of the shortages and discomforts of this life.14
(IT IS DESTINY ON EARTH, AN ETERNAL EARTH. ALL THE LEAVES, FRUITS, AND ETC. WILL REMIND US OF THE GREATER FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT WORLD, ABOVE THE PHYSICAL, WHERE ALL GOD'S CHILDREN CAME FROM. IT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN, THAT GOD BROUGHT HIS CHILDREN INTO HIS ETERNAL GLORIOUS STATE, THROUGH THE PHYSICAL STATE - Keith Hunt)
Finally, the purposes of God are fulfilled. Gods plan of salvation, conceived in eternity past, is now brought into full fruition. And how glorious it will be. One of the great commentators of times past, Wilbur Smith, describes it this way:
All the glorious purposes of God, ordained from the foundation of the world, have now been attained. The rebellion of angels and mankind is finally subdued, as the King of kings assumes his rightful sovereignty. Absolute and unchangeable holiness characterizes all within the universal kingdom of God. The redeemed, made so by the blood of the Lamb, are in resurrection and eternal glory. Life is everywhere—and death will never intrude again. The earth and the heavens both are renewed. Light, beauty, holiness, joy, the presence of God, the worship of God, service to Christ, likeness to Christ-—all are now abiding realities. The vocabulary of man, made for life here, is incapable of truly and adequately depicting what God has prepared for those that love him.15
The eternal city—-the New Jerusalem—will be staggeringly, incomprehensibly wonderful, far more so than any human mind could possibly fathom or even begin to imagine. Christians are merely pilgrims en route to the final frontier of the New Jerusalem, just passing through this brief dot of time on earth.
We are wisest when we choose to daily follow the apostle Paul's advice in Colossians 3:1-2: "Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on tilings that are above, not on things that are on earth."
To him who loves us
and has freed us from our sins by his blood
and made us a kingdom,
priests to his God and Father,
to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.
Amen.
Revelation 1:5-6
....................
AS I EXPOUND FOR YOU ALL THE PROPHETIC BOOKS OF THE BIBLE ON MY WEBSITE, YOU WILL LEARN OF THE BEAUTIFUL AGE TO COME, HERE WE HAVE SEEN A LITTLE INTO THE BEYOND THAT AGE - THE ETERNAL AGE.
SO ENDS THE BOOK BY RON RHODES AND MY ANSWER TO HIS IDEAS OF END TIME CHRONOLOGY
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