When I read about enduring and overcoming, it resonates with me as a call to obedience. Obedience is essential to our walk with God and shows our love for Him. As Giannis said, God's grace is a gift, and our salvation comes from Jesus' sacrifice; we can't do anything to earn it.
Obedience is the foundation of enduring and overcoming the challenges we face in this corrupt world. I agree it is by the blood of the Lamb, Philippians 4:13. Obedience is not a work but an expression of our love for God and the promises He has given us; obedience is on us, Romans 6:16, as Jesus is our guide who was obedient unto death, we are also to be obedient, many in the past has been obedient unto death and many in the future will also. To me, that is the ultimate enduring and overcoming.
I understand some of the verses I listed might fit a time when you and others believe the Church will be taken to heaven and won't be here, but those Scriptures are there for a reason, like Revelation 13:9-10 and Revelation 14:12-13. Those who have genuine faith will endure and overcome the persecution that is coming, even death.
The King James Bible contains four Gospel books-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But while those four books record Christ's earthly ministry, we must not confuse the written accounts with the distinct gospel messages revealed through Scripture. A "gospel" simply means good news, and God has revealed different good news at different times for different audiences.
Christ and the twelve apostles preached the Gospel of the Kingdom ( Matt. 4:23; Matt. 9:35), the good news that Israel's promised kingdom was at hand. This gospel called Israel to repentance, baptism, and obedience, rooted in their covenants and prophetic hope. Peter continued this in early Acts ( Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19-21), offering Israel the kingdom if they would repent nationally.
But with Israel's rejection, the risen Lord revealed through Paul a new gospel for a new dispensation: the Gospel of the Grace of God ( Acts 20:24; Rom. 2:16). This was not tied to Israel's covenants but to the finished cross-work of Christ. Paul's message was that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day ( 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Salvation was now apart from the Law and works, freely offered to Jew and Gentile alike, forming the Body of Christ.
Looking forward, Revelation 14:6-7 speaks of the Everlasting Gospel during the Tribulation, a message calling all nations to fear God and worship Him before His wrath is poured out.
So dispensationally, while the KJV Bible has four Gospel accounts as books, there are multiple gospels as messages: the Kingdom gospel for Israel, the Grace gospel for the Body of Christ, and the Everlasting gospel in prophecy. To mix these is to confuse God's distinct programs for Israel and the Church. Anyone who misses this simple division is overlooking the plain teaching of rightly dividing the Word of truth ( 2 Tim. 2:15).
Permit me to follow the example of Elihu and act in accordance with his statement in Job 32:21-22.
In a previous comment, you emphasized the importance of properly considering a matter before speaking, so as not to appear as "fools." I wonder if perhaps the claim that Christ will reign with the saints on earth was rebutted too quickly, without sufficient consideration.
The 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 14:2-3 are described as the firstfruits of those saved in Israel after the rapture, as verse 14 clarifies. However, this does not imply that Christ will not return to earth with them. They will return together with all who have inherited salvation, as seen in Revelation 21:1-3.
It is also important to note that the New Jerusalem, symbolically represented as the Bride, represents the spiritual Church or body of Christ. This is supported in Hebrews 12:22, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:5, and 1 Corinthians 3:9. Only those who have received the Spirit of Christ are considered part of the Church of Christ ( 1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 8:9).
This Church will return to earth and reign with Christ for a thousand years, as indicated in Revelation 20:4, Revelation 12:5, and Revelation 19:15.
As Elihu said in Job 34:22: "If you have understanding, hear this; listen to the voice of my words."
Please note that my words are not intended as insults or to cause offense, for that would not reflect the love that the Lord Jesus expects from us. Rather, my intention is to encourage careful consideration of matters from a biblical perspective, rather than relying solely on worldly opinion. As the Lord Jesus said, many teach the traditions of men as doctrine, and as Paul says, we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.
Revelation is difficult to discuss briefly, and I may have stumbled.
I tried to explain that Revelation isn't arranged in order like other books in the Bible, and I didn't do a good job. Jesus doesn't return until the seventh trumpet, the last trump, 1 Corinthians 15:52, Revelation 10:7.
I'm sorry, but I don't know much about Premillennialism, Amillennialism, or Postmillennialism. I haven't studied them, and I don't care for titles.
My understanding is that Jesus returns in Revelation 19:11-16, and the saints are resurrected, Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 20:4-6.
This is when the great tribulation ends, and God's wrath is poured out, Revelation 15:7, Revelation 16:1-17.
Next comes the battle of Armageddon, Revelation 19:17-21 which those in the first resurrection will participate, Revelation 17:14. Their Judgement is shown in Revelation 20:4. The beast and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire, and those who worshiped the beast and had the mark are either cast in then or during the white throne judgment, but their verdict was already given, Revelation 14:9-10.
Then the kingdom will be established, and there will be people left in the nations whom Satan, after he is released, will deceive.
The land of Israel will be restored, Ezekiel 11:17, Jeremiah 23:5-6, and members of the tribes of Israel that will be gathered from all the nations will inhabit that land during the 1000 years, Jeremiah 29:14. Other nations will, as seen in Zechariah 14:16-20, witness Jesus ruling with a rod of iron; there are other Scriptures about this time.
1 "Can you tell me how you interpret the events after the tribulation period, on into the Millennium, when Satan is chained and when he is loosed?"
I will do my best to show my understanding of your questions. My study is simple, and I rely on the Bible for interpretation. I use Word Search, a concordance, and my Bible provides other verses that cross-reference a word or phrase throughout Scripture.
The book of Revelation is not in chronological order. We see in Revelation 1:7, that when He comes in the clouds, every eye will see Him. Revelation 6:12-17 shows a vision given to John after the Sixth Seal, revealing the signs of Jesus' coming. Cross-references include Joel 2:10-11, 30-31, Matthew 24, and others.
In Revelation 11:15-19, the seventh trumpet, or the last trumpet, signals the coming of Jesus, ending the tribulation and beginning God's wrath. Revelation 14 combines visions that are not in order; we see Jesus standing on Mount Zion with the 144000, which would occur after Revelation 19:11-16. We know this because, when He returns, His feet will land on the Mount of Olives, as described in Zechariah 14:4.
Revelation 14:6-7 describes the angel preaching the everlasting gospel, which must occur near the end of the tribulation. The announcement of Babylon's fall is seen in chapters 17 and 18. Revelation 14:9-11 states the fate of those who worship the beast, take its mark, and follow the beast and the false prophet. This is carried out in Revelation 19:20-21.
Revelation 14:12-13 declares, "Blessed are those who die in the Lord from henceforth," even as the tribulation continues. My understanding of Revelation 14:14-16, which covers the harvest and the first resurrection, is supported by passages like Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:4-6, and Matthew 24:29-31. Revelation 14:17-20 describes the battle of Armageddon, with related references in Revelation 19:17-21, Ezekiel 39:17-21, and Luke 17:37.
f) Revelation 1:4 to 3:22 is devoted to the Church(es) while on Earth. From chapter 4 onwards, the Church is not seen or mentioned, except for Revelation 14:12,13 and Revelation 15:2-4, where the mention of believers who have come to faith in the Great Tribulation, who from that time on (under the anti-Christ) taste death under his hand (probably as martyrs).
There are other references that help us to know the state of the Church on Earth & the unsaved, under direction of God. But the above are a few portions that helped me to understand that the Great Tribulation which is God's Wrath on display & the start of the closing of this age, is certainly not for true believers, His children. For His Wrath is against sinners who have rejected Him, His Son, who prefer to wallow in their sin. It cannot include His Church who have already been judged, forgiven & received into His family, or else we have a case of double jeopardy for the believer.
I realize that you have asked for a specific verse(s) that show two returns of Christ. We simply cannot, even with the example of the Trinity we can only learn of His Coming by what we glean throughout the Word. In any case, I don't believe holding to an variant opinion on this affects salvation in any way, but by discussing it we can learn about how and where others derive their understanding from. If diehards were to take the matter further, they would then need to analyse each other's scriptural support to see whether they do have merit in their arguments for or against. Will leave this with you, with blessings.
d) Luke 17:26-30. This passage is a clear warning to unbelievers not to be like those in Noah's day or those of Sodom and Gomorrah before it was destroyed. It also tells us that the righteous (Noah & Lot & those with them) were spared the wrathful judgments of God by being removed from location. In like manner, believers will also be kept from the Wrath of God during the tribulation, being taken away (removed from the place of God's destruction). If this wasn't God's Wrath on display, I could well believe that we too must brace ourselves for its coming.
Just a note on God's Wrath: as I understand it, His Wrath was justifiably to be poured out upon all sinners, but His Love constrained Him by providing His Son to bear our sin & His Father's Wrath on our behalf ( Romans 5:5-9). Those who have received it and born again of His Spirit no longer have to see that side of God. So when God pours out His Wrath again, it will be without constraint, for His Love shown in His Son has been spurned by all, but His Own must be removed from that outpouring, or else what sense does it make for believers to bear His Wrath when the Sacrifice was paid for them and they have been received as sons? Would God discipline His children for being unsaved sinners fit for destruction? These questions I ask myself. And as the Scripture says, "being now justified by his blood, we SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH through him".
e) Revelation 11:1-7. The Church, which should have been very prominent along with these two heavenly witnesses on the Earth during the Great Tribulation, is absent. Even an angel preaching from skies is sent ( Revelation 14:6,7). Once this period starts, the Church's commission to preach the Gospel ceases, for the simple reason: there is no Church on Earth. True, there will still be Church buildings on Earth & gatherings within their walls, but those who have been redeemed by Christ's Blood will be absent. To Page 4.
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"
Revelation 14:11
"And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."
Revelation 20:10
"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Jude 1:7
"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."
Revelation 14:13 - And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead. Whoa! This word blessed is MAKARIOS. It is the same word used in the beatitudes in Matthew Chapter 5. And it means to experience the fullness of something.
Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord from now on, that experience of dying for the Lord and experiencing the fullness of God being with them: Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. That is, into heaven.
Revelation 14:14 - And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man. We find this in Daniel Chapter 7. It is Christ.
Revelation 14:20 - And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
Out in the valley of Megiddo, which is north of Jerusalem, it's not in the city. There is a valley, and these measurements tell us that it's about 200 miles long.
Millions of people are going to gather in this valley to fight against Christ when He comes at His second coming. And it says the blood is going to be flowing up to the horse's bridles.
Some think that maybe it is just blood splattering. But these are just idioms to show you that when you fight against God, if there's a million soldiers, you're going to have a million dead soldiers.
Revelation 14:11 - And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
These are very powerful verses that tell us that when a person is in hell, there will be no rest for them day and night. They will be tormented forever.
There's another movement that says "We don't believe that God sends people to hell or that he makes people suffer throughout eternity. Jesus said in Matthew 24:41 that hell was created for Satan and his angels, not people." Well then, why are people going there?
It's because their allegiance is to the beast. Satan is their god. And by the way, there's only one hell. The lake of fire that we will see later on is called hell. That's the only place that it's called hell in the scriptures.
Revelation 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Did you catch it?
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God. Now there are groups that say that the commandments are the Old Testament, the law, that they are known as the commandments, without realizing that this angel has just gone through, and is proclaiming in command form what to do, and what not to do.
For those people who obey the commandments of God given by this angel, and who have the faith "of" Jesus. In the Greek text, that's what it says, and that's what it means. It is the same thing that Jesus told one of the churches in Revelation Chapter 2. He says you have kept my faith. It is the faith that Jesus gave them.
So, here's the patience of the saints, the endurance of the saints, surrender to Christ, live by the faith that He gives!
So here came the guilt. "We aren't doing our job." Some even went as far as to say that Jesus would have come back by now, but we haven't been doing our jobs. We've got to get out and reach the world for Christ. So out of guilt and human effort, not by the power of the Holy Spirit, people are put under this very stressful teaching.
The Lord's already got it taken care of. If it was left up to us, the Lord would never come, because once you've reached the last person in the world, somebody else is born. Nobody's ever completely reached. So, in my own way of thinking, I'm saying that I'm not going to fall for that one!
But you see, God already has it covered. During the Tribulation Period, before He comes back at His second coming, He's going to have the men testifying there in Jerusalem, and He's going to have angels flying in mid-heaven preaching the gospel to people and telling them don't take the mark of the beast, but worship God. All of the world is going to be reached. It is God's timetable!
Hopefully you have figured it out that we can't do God's work for Him, and that you don't get caught up in that!
Revelation 14:7 - Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God,
You see, people were in between making a decision. I can't eat; I can't participate in the world's economic system unless I get that mark. But you know those two witnesses, those two guys on TV, they are telling me don't take it. And here's this angel flying in mid-heaven telling people do not take the mark of the beast.
Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Now I want to make a comment to you before we get to the second angel. This is very important!
We have various movements that take place within the body of Christ periodically. We've got the great commission going now. Several years ago, a movement started when people said that Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 that He can't come until all the nations are reached with the gospel. They said He wouldn't come until all the nations are reached.
Revelation 14:4 - These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. There have been debates over this over the years. But you will see from 2 Kings 19:21, Isaiah 37:22, Jeremiah 14:17, 18:13, 31:4, 5, 21, Amos 5:2 and many other places in the Old Testament that Israel is called the virgin of God.
And these are all spiritual terms, especially 2 Kings 19:21. There are many of them. That's why in the New Testament, when Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:2, he says I have engaged you to God, and God is a jealous God.
In James 4:4, James says that to be friends with this world is to commit adultery against God. This is spiritual. We are the bride of Christ. We're the bride in waiting. Spiritually we belong to Him. The 144,000 did not involve themselves in the religious system of the world. They remained pure. They are virgins. They are the Israel that was described in the Old Testament.
These are they which follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. The firstfruits was always the first crop, part of the crop that would come up in the harvest. When the 144,000 were sealed, they were the first of God's fruit, saved, in the time of tribulation.
Revelation 14:1 - And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
John looks up and he sees a lamb standing on Mount Sion. And with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. That's the 144,000 Jews who were sealed back in Chapter 7, that at Christ's second coming, He will gather them to Himself there in Jerusalem at Mount Sion.
Revelation 14:2 - And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
These are not harps. These instruments are called lyres (KITHARAIS), which are guitar type instruments rather than a harp that we would think of.
Revelation 14:3 - And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning ofbarleyharvest.
2 Kings 4:42
And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves ofbarley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.
2. Wheat , Second Coming
John 12:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn ofwheatfall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
1 Samuel 6:13
And they of Bethshemesh were reaping theirwheatharvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.
Matthew 13:30
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather thewheatinto my barn
3. Grapes , Wrath of God
Revelation 14:18
And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for hergrapesare fully ripe.
Isaiah 5:2
And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forthgrapes, and it brought forth wildgrapes.
Mark 15:23
And they gave him to drinkwinemingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
Matthew 26:29
But I say unto you, I will notdrinkhenceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when Idrinkit new with you in my Father's kingdom.
No, the Bible does not teach that the soul sleeps after death.Instead, the Bible describes death as a sleep-like state for the body, while the soul is immediately present with God.
The Bible uses the word "sleep" metaphorically to describe death, which is temporary.For example, in Acts 7:60, Luke describes Stephen's death as "falling asleep".
The Christians soul and spirit will be with Christ in Heaven and it will be awake and alive when they die.
2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to beabsentfromthebody, and to be present withtheLord.
Apostle John saw in a revelation the 144,000 saints singing. The souls are not sleeping but awake and alive.
Revelation 14:3
And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
We know that God rested on the 7th day, but did not go to sleep.
Genesis 2:2
AndontheseventhdayGod ended his work which he had made; and herestedontheseventhdayfrom all his work which he had made.
The fiscal body of this world sleeps both ways, life and death , but not soul sleeping in the spirit.
May we all sleep good tonight in the Lord Jesus Christ without having any bad dreams.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 the gospel of grace that never sleeps
Sorry. Scripture clearly disagrees with your statement the the 10 Commandments only apply to the Jews. This is discussed in Galatians 3. There was confusion as to what law Jesus did away with. The law of the Covenant that was given to Abraham was The Ten Commandments. Just as is also recorded when Moses re-wrote them on the tablets. The laws for sin were added later and it is these that Jesus came to do away with. We see The Ten Commandments were the words of the Covenant.
See here;
Exodus 34:28
"And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments."
Exodus 34 specifically says the words of the Covenant that was made with Abraham are God's Ten Commandments.
Then in Galatians we are show the difference between God's Law and those added due to sin, by men, the laws for sin were added 430 year later and were not part of the Covenant Law which is The Ten Commandments.
It's why Jesus says;
Matthew 5:18
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
See also;
Galatians Chapter 3
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
God's Ten Commandments remain in effect for all men.
Jesus tells all men to keep the Commandments of God. There is no Conversion if men reject them.
Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Just some thoughts on Revelation 12 it covers the past and the future up to the beginning of the 3.5 years of tribulation.
Part 3
Satan then goes after the remnant of her seed those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The remnant of her seed is the faithful people here when the tribulation starts. Like the ones before us who have been persecuted and killed, the fathers and prophets, and after Jesus the thousands upon thousands who have been tortured and killed in the name of Jesus, why would the last be spared when the first was not?
This starts the 3.5 years of tribulation as we see in Revelation 13, in the original text it is Satan standing on the sand of the sea to give his power, his seat, and great authority to the beast. We see in Rev. 11:7 and Rev. 17:8 that this is the bottomless pit. There are not seven years as some say we see when Satan is cast down and the beast rises, he is given only 42 months, and that is 3.5 years Revelation 13:5. It all starts when Satan is cast down the short time he has is 3.5 years.
The end of the 3.5 years will be when the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled, Luke 21:24Romans 11:25Revelation 11:2. Then the second coming of Jesus, Matthew 24:29-311 Thessalonians 4:16-17Revelation 1:7Revelation 3:11Revelation 19:11-16Revelation 22:12.
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
This is what is coming, everyone will be tempted to take the mark of the beast, Jesus will give us if we are here the strength to say no even if we face death. Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Revelation 15:2
Mark 9:43-48 - And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (Read More...)
Matthew 13:50 - And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Revelation 20:14 - And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 - Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Revelation 20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Psalms 145:20 - The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
Matthew 5:22 - But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Hebrews 10:26-31 - For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (Read More...)
Revelation 14:11 - And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Luke 16:19-31 - There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (Read More...)
Luke 12:5 - But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him
Hello Tdianne. The 144,000 you read about, is found in Revelation 7:2-8 (the sealing of God's servants & their origin) and Revelation 14:1-5 (these who were "the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb" (v4)).
When we come to this Book of the Revelation, there will always be many opinions about the people, events, & timing of their appearance, since much of Revelation is still future. But if we go by what we have been given in these passages, we note that this great number of people are from the twelve tribes of Israel, they are God's servants, undefiled, and they stand with Jesus on Mt. Zion (alluding to Jesus' Second Coming to rule upon the Earth).
These were redeemed as first fruits among men, and yet in Revelation 7:9, John the Revelator sees 'a great multitude without number from all nations also standing before God's Throne & before the Lamb, worshipping God'. So it seems clear that the 144,000 are distinct as those from the tribes of Israel, and there are also those of the Gentile nations, all whom will stand with Jesus in Jerusalem in that coming day. Whether any part of these passages indicate that there is also worship by these in Heaven (& then on Earth), or the specific timing of when these Jews are sealed by God or do His bidding on Earth, are all open to conjecture as what John sees, he brings to us. What John hasn't been told (or shown), would leave both him & us in ignorance to all the specifics. And so we read what we've been given & we should allow the Holy Spirit to guide & comfort our hearts in both the known & unknown.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
Death is an enemy; and verse 26 of this chapter indicates that it will eventually be eliminated. Jesus was the "first of the firstfruits" so to speak; which extends through the Rapture/Resurrection event of the righteous; through the Revelation 14:4 event of the translation of the 144,000. After this we will have the Second Coming when those that survive until that time physically will survive to repopulate the earth in the Millennial period; followed by the time the Heavenly Jerusalem comes down and God the Father dwells with men (v. 24).
It is hard to comprehend let alone understand all the mysteries of His death; burial and resurrection. It is as a grand play on stage; except that the pathos is real; and His atonement was sufficient for us all to deliver our sins as far as the east is from the west. ( Psalm 103:12). He ever lives to intercede for His people ( Hebrews 7:25). He first rose from the dead and we shall likewise. He who believes in Him will never die ( John 11:25-26) even though he dies physically in reality it is only the body that sleeps as we see about Lazarus earlier in that chapter. We have hope unlike the world for those "fallen asleep" ( 1 Thess. 4:14-18).
All of creation also is awaiting the change and groans until now ( Romans 8:23). For those who believe the last scene of this real life drama is glorious and never ending; while there is no peace for the wicked ( Isaiah 48:22; etal). Let that sink in as the world in its ignorance turns this glorious day into a mockery.
There are several speculations on what the mark may be, a literal mark, a computer chip, symbols, and more but the mark of the beast will be based on worship. It is the false prophet, the second beast who causes people to worship the first beast and his image. The number 666 goes back to Babylon, the 36 gods numbered 1 through 36, 6 columns and 6 rows the numbers were arranged in such a way that the sum of any given row, column, or diagonal was 111, and therefore the sum of all six rows or all six columns was 666, like 18+20+22+21+17+13 =111, 1+2+3 to 36=666.
We are told to have faith and patience Luke 21:19Hebrews 6:12 and hear in Revelation 13:10 and Revelation 14:11 that if we are strong in our faith and patience we will have the steadfastness and endurance (the meaning of patience) to not give into the temptation of the three who is to come, Satan, the beast out of the bottomless pit and the beast who will be the false prophet, even if we face death, the hour of temptation, Rev. 3:10.
Something like this was done in the past in the Decian persecution in 250 AD. The decree ordered sacrifices be performed in the presence of a Roman magistrate, it was a signed and witnessed certificate, issued to that effect. People had to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods and the well-being of the emperor.
Christians were put to death for refusing to perform the sacrifices, many others apostatized and performed the ceremonies, and others went into hiding. Those who compromised were able to prosper economically. By way of contrast, those who did not have the certificate were unable to buy or sell and suffered economic hardship. Buying and selling was done in marketplaces ruled by Rome. This may be similar to what is coming but a mark instead of a certificate.
Thank you for your reply of yesterday.I highlighted six points of your post to comment them,as follow:
1st point:
What will happen from now on in the middle east and around the world as a whole, it is written and prophesied by the Word of GOD.Remember: 1The.5:2-3:->2 For yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them,as travail upon a woman with child ( Revelation 12:1-5 will LITERALLY be fulfilled);and they(Israel-the Jews) shall not escape.(EXCEPT the sealed 144k-12K of each tribe- Revelation 7:1-8 and 14:1-5). And also the LITERAL fulfillment of 2The.2:1-13, mainly verses 11-12:-->11 And for this cause GOD shall send them STRONG DELUSION,that they should believe a lie:(These are lost).12 That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth,but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2nd point:
Yes,Israel will loose support, remember that GOD is in control of History,nothing random happens.In the first moment Israel have received all backing of their allies,but they will loose a lot of support,as you said.And when this becomes apparent ARE NOT the enemies of Israel that will try to take them over, as you think, no, it is not,when Israel loose the support,then will manifest their false messiah as was prophesied by my Lord JESUS( John 5:43-47),and then begins the LITERAL fullfilment of 2Thessalonians 2:8-12 combined with Revelation 13:11-18, and 13:2 combined with Luke 21:24 and Revelation 11:2,and Daniel 2:40-45 and 12:8-12. GET READY
3rd point:
GOD will not intervene to save the physical nation of Israel, quite the opposite, GOD will work according His Word described in the 2nd point above, among many other prophecies against the rebel Israel.
Only the 144K sealed of Israel will be saved.The others are lost, for ever. Revelation 14:18-20 combined with Isaiah 5:1-7.Take a look.
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
About 15 years ago and several times before that I had a vision of the pure terror involved with the mark of the Beast. I have since told people that I would ask the Lord would give them such insight but not for those who aren't spiritually strong. The Lord has held back the day of Judgment, but it is promised to be worse than any time in the past and future. Mark 13:19 as well as other New Testament passages and Daniel 12 show proof of this. Without Christ we are dragged in; to the sieve of destruction ( Isaiah 30:28). Suddenly the wicked are broken and that without remedy ( Prov. 6:15).
To realize how fearful judgment is apart from Christ I cannot put into words. When we see Mystery Babylon we can't help but be reminded of the American Pie song with its lyrics
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
These remind us of Ecclesiastes 12:4 as well as Lamentations 5:14 along with other stanzas in this song about the Lord taking off and no more joyful music as stated in Revelation 18:22. We are hypnotized by music and media today and its demonic mantras and dulled in our senses with the vulgar obsenities that increasingly assail the rightous. The agenda is out in the open at this point; Satan's hour is about to arrive. Christ comes soon so rejoice
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth(JESUS sowed) and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth(JESUS was the sower of the Gospel of GOD's Kingdom), and ANOTHER reapeth.
Matthew 13:27 and 30:
27 ... Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
30 Let both grow together until the harvest(said JESUS around 2000 years ago): and in the time of harvest (the time arrived) I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together FIRST the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life ETERNAL: that both he that soweth(JESUS sowed) and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 combined with Revelation 14:14-20
You don't realize that the "moral law" still stands. The "ceremonial law" was a schoolmaster showing the redeemer to come. Which one of those "commandments" am I allowed to trample on?.. Adultery? it's ok, I'm not "under the law" right?.. Honoring my parents?.. nah, why should I? Not under the law right?.. you may want to study further as to what a ceremonial "sabbath" is, and what the eternal "moral" law is. 1 cor 7:19.. explain what are these "commandments"? Revelation 14:12.. what are these "commandments"?
Matthew 25:46 - And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
This seems pretty clear to me and hard to misunderstand it unless someone tries to twist it.
If someone doesn't believe punishment is eternal then maybe someone should likewise question whether heaven is eternal, because this verse states them both as being everlasting / eternal.
The Bible says the soul will die, the 2nd death, perish, etc. But how do you know that's not the eternal part, or how can you prove that God allows someone to actually suffer without a soul, etc. Basically people are just speculating, and its not going to get very far.
But perhaps we can all agree that hell is bad and heaven is good? Hell is punishment and something to be avoided, and we need Jesus to avoid it. John 3:16 says this.
Revelation 20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
You can safely say some will be tormented day and night for ever and ever, because that's literally what this verse says.
Mark 9:43-48 - unquenching fire- you can safely say that hell isn't immediately going away, either. It's likely in full operation.
Revelation 14:11 - And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Daniel 12:1-2 ever lasting life vs ever lasting contempt
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 everlasting destruction. This might debunk the human reasoning idea that death or being destroyed must only happen in a short timeframe. This says it can happen 'ever lasting' which seems long term or eternal. So, this verse now explains all the other verses where it makes sense.
Revelation 14:11 smoke of their torment for ever and ever. That doesn't sound immediate or short term to me, but forever.
Where in the bible does it say that the soul will cease to exist? If anyone ceases to exist when they die, can you please answer these questions. I will be the student here, so you have my attention. If you choose to answer these things, I do thank you ahead of time.
In Matthew 25:46, Is this not describing two classes of people, those who received Christ and belong to Him, and those who have rejected Him? If those who reject Him die and cease to exist, how can they go away into eternal punishment if they do not exist?
Revelation 14:11 says that the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night. How can this be for someone that does not exist?
Hebrews 9:27 tells us that it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. How can anyone who dies and ceases to exist be judged since this judgment comes (after) death?
Revelation 21:8 identifies a class of individuals who will end up in the lake of fire, and it also mentions that this is the second death. If they went through the first death and ceased to exist, how can they experience a second death if they do not exist?
2 Thessalonians 1:9 says that they will suffer the punishment of (eternal destruction), away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might. How is ceasing to exist considered suffering?
Jema, since Romans 6:23 has been quoted which says that the wages of sin is death, how do you get cease to exist out of this word death when the Greek word used (Thanatos) means separation, not cessation of life? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to say that at death, there is a separation from our physical body since this is what the word death means?
Revelation 14:10 talks about being tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. Who is this for and how long will this torment last?
I have more questions to follow. Thank you for your time.
Revelation of JESUS Christ,which GOD gave unto Him,to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass;
Three angels proclaim the righteous Judgment of GOD
Revelation 14:6-13 (Compare with Gen.18 -Three angels visited Abraham before destruction of Sodoma)
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven,having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,and to every nation,and kindred,and tongue,and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice,Fear GOD and give glory to Him;for the hour of His Judgment is come:and worship Him that made heaven, and earth,and the sea,and the fountains of waters.
8 And there followed another angel,saying,Babylon is fallen,is fallen, that great city,because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
9 And the third angel followed them,saying with a loud voice,If any man worship the Beast and His image,and receive his mark in his forehead,or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the WRATH of GOD,which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation;and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels,and in the presence of the Lamb:
Genesis 18:1-33&19:12-17&27-29
- First,the Lord appeared unto Abraham in the plains of Mamre:and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;And he lift up his eyes and looked,and,lo, three MEN stood by him:and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door,and bowed himself toward the ground,
- Soon after,Abraham offered the three MEN a delicious lunch,in fact a banquet,and stood by them under the tree,and they did eat.
- And they asked unto Abraham:Where is Sarah thy wife?I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life;and,lo,Sarah thy wife shall have a son
- The Lord also said:Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? they rose up from thence and looked toward Sodom:Abraham asked: Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
When I read about enduring and overcoming, it resonates with me as a call to obedience. Obedience is essential to our walk with God and shows our love for Him. As Giannis said, God's grace is a gift, and our salvation comes from Jesus' sacrifice; we can't do anything to earn it.
Obedience is the foundation of enduring and overcoming the challenges we face in this corrupt world. I agree it is by the blood of the Lamb, Philippians 4:13. Obedience is not a work but an expression of our love for God and the promises He has given us; obedience is on us, Romans 6:16, as Jesus is our guide who was obedient unto death, we are also to be obedient, many in the past has been obedient unto death and many in the future will also. To me, that is the ultimate enduring and overcoming.
I understand some of the verses I listed might fit a time when you and others believe the Church will be taken to heaven and won't be here, but those Scriptures are there for a reason, like Revelation 13:9-10 and Revelation 14:12-13. Those who have genuine faith will endure and overcome the persecution that is coming, even death.
God bless,
RLW
Revelation 14:12
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
Blessings
The King James Bible contains four Gospel books-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But while those four books record Christ's earthly ministry, we must not confuse the written accounts with the distinct gospel messages revealed through Scripture. A "gospel" simply means good news, and God has revealed different good news at different times for different audiences.
Christ and the twelve apostles preached the Gospel of the Kingdom ( Matt. 4:23; Matt. 9:35), the good news that Israel's promised kingdom was at hand. This gospel called Israel to repentance, baptism, and obedience, rooted in their covenants and prophetic hope. Peter continued this in early Acts ( Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19-21), offering Israel the kingdom if they would repent nationally.
But with Israel's rejection, the risen Lord revealed through Paul a new gospel for a new dispensation: the Gospel of the Grace of God ( Acts 20:24; Rom. 2:16). This was not tied to Israel's covenants but to the finished cross-work of Christ. Paul's message was that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day ( 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Salvation was now apart from the Law and works, freely offered to Jew and Gentile alike, forming the Body of Christ.
Looking forward, Revelation 14:6-7 speaks of the Everlasting Gospel during the Tribulation, a message calling all nations to fear God and worship Him before His wrath is poured out.
So dispensationally, while the KJV Bible has four Gospel accounts as books, there are multiple gospels as messages: the Kingdom gospel for Israel, the Grace gospel for the Body of Christ, and the Everlasting gospel in prophecy. To mix these is to confuse God's distinct programs for Israel and the Church. Anyone who misses this simple division is overlooking the plain teaching of rightly dividing the Word of truth ( 2 Tim. 2:15).
G&P
In a previous comment, you emphasized the importance of properly considering a matter before speaking, so as not to appear as "fools." I wonder if perhaps the claim that Christ will reign with the saints on earth was rebutted too quickly, without sufficient consideration.
The 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 14:2-3 are described as the firstfruits of those saved in Israel after the rapture, as verse 14 clarifies. However, this does not imply that Christ will not return to earth with them. They will return together with all who have inherited salvation, as seen in Revelation 21:1-3.
It is also important to note that the New Jerusalem, symbolically represented as the Bride, represents the spiritual Church or body of Christ. This is supported in Hebrews 12:22, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:5, and 1 Corinthians 3:9. Only those who have received the Spirit of Christ are considered part of the Church of Christ ( 1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 8:9).
This Church will return to earth and reign with Christ for a thousand years, as indicated in Revelation 20:4, Revelation 12:5, and Revelation 19:15.
As Elihu said in Job 34:22: "If you have understanding, hear this; listen to the voice of my words."
Please note that my words are not intended as insults or to cause offense, for that would not reflect the love that the Lord Jesus expects from us. Rather, my intention is to encourage careful consideration of matters from a biblical perspective, rather than relying solely on worldly opinion. As the Lord Jesus said, many teach the traditions of men as doctrine, and as Paul says, we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.
Revelation is difficult to discuss briefly, and I may have stumbled.
I tried to explain that Revelation isn't arranged in order like other books in the Bible, and I didn't do a good job. Jesus doesn't return until the seventh trumpet, the last trump, 1 Corinthians 15:52, Revelation 10:7.
I'm sorry, but I don't know much about Premillennialism, Amillennialism, or Postmillennialism. I haven't studied them, and I don't care for titles.
My understanding is that Jesus returns in Revelation 19:11-16, and the saints are resurrected, Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 20:4-6.
This is when the great tribulation ends, and God's wrath is poured out, Revelation 15:7, Revelation 16:1-17.
Next comes the battle of Armageddon, Revelation 19:17-21 which those in the first resurrection will participate, Revelation 17:14. Their Judgement is shown in Revelation 20:4. The beast and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire, and those who worshiped the beast and had the mark are either cast in then or during the white throne judgment, but their verdict was already given, Revelation 14:9-10.
Then the kingdom will be established, and there will be people left in the nations whom Satan, after he is released, will deceive.
The land of Israel will be restored, Ezekiel 11:17, Jeremiah 23:5-6, and members of the tribes of Israel that will be gathered from all the nations will inhabit that land during the 1000 years, Jeremiah 29:14. Other nations will, as seen in Zechariah 14:16-20, witness Jesus ruling with a rod of iron; there are other Scriptures about this time.
I hope this makes things clearer.
God bless,
RLW
1 "Can you tell me how you interpret the events after the tribulation period, on into the Millennium, when Satan is chained and when he is loosed?"
I will do my best to show my understanding of your questions. My study is simple, and I rely on the Bible for interpretation. I use Word Search, a concordance, and my Bible provides other verses that cross-reference a word or phrase throughout Scripture.
The book of Revelation is not in chronological order. We see in Revelation 1:7, that when He comes in the clouds, every eye will see Him. Revelation 6:12-17 shows a vision given to John after the Sixth Seal, revealing the signs of Jesus' coming. Cross-references include Joel 2:10-11, 30-31, Matthew 24, and others.
In Revelation 11:15-19, the seventh trumpet, or the last trumpet, signals the coming of Jesus, ending the tribulation and beginning God's wrath. Revelation 14 combines visions that are not in order; we see Jesus standing on Mount Zion with the 144000, which would occur after Revelation 19:11-16. We know this because, when He returns, His feet will land on the Mount of Olives, as described in Zechariah 14:4.
Revelation 14:6-7 describes the angel preaching the everlasting gospel, which must occur near the end of the tribulation. The announcement of Babylon's fall is seen in chapters 17 and 18. Revelation 14:9-11 states the fate of those who worship the beast, take its mark, and follow the beast and the false prophet. This is carried out in Revelation 19:20-21.
Revelation 14:12-13 declares, "Blessed are those who die in the Lord from henceforth," even as the tribulation continues. My understanding of Revelation 14:14-16, which covers the harvest and the first resurrection, is supported by passages like Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:4-6, and Matthew 24:29-31. Revelation 14:17-20 describes the battle of Armageddon, with related references in Revelation 19:17-21, Ezekiel 39:17-21, and Luke 17:37.
See Part 2
f) Revelation 1:4 to 3:22 is devoted to the Church(es) while on Earth. From chapter 4 onwards, the Church is not seen or mentioned, except for Revelation 14:12,13 and Revelation 15:2-4, where the mention of believers who have come to faith in the Great Tribulation, who from that time on (under the anti-Christ) taste death under his hand (probably as martyrs).
There are other references that help us to know the state of the Church on Earth & the unsaved, under direction of God. But the above are a few portions that helped me to understand that the Great Tribulation which is God's Wrath on display & the start of the closing of this age, is certainly not for true believers, His children. For His Wrath is against sinners who have rejected Him, His Son, who prefer to wallow in their sin. It cannot include His Church who have already been judged, forgiven & received into His family, or else we have a case of double jeopardy for the believer.
I realize that you have asked for a specific verse(s) that show two returns of Christ. We simply cannot, even with the example of the Trinity we can only learn of His Coming by what we glean throughout the Word. In any case, I don't believe holding to an variant opinion on this affects salvation in any way, but by discussing it we can learn about how and where others derive their understanding from. If diehards were to take the matter further, they would then need to analyse each other's scriptural support to see whether they do have merit in their arguments for or against. Will leave this with you, with blessings.
d) Luke 17:26-30. This passage is a clear warning to unbelievers not to be like those in Noah's day or those of Sodom and Gomorrah before it was destroyed. It also tells us that the righteous (Noah & Lot & those with them) were spared the wrathful judgments of God by being removed from location. In like manner, believers will also be kept from the Wrath of God during the tribulation, being taken away (removed from the place of God's destruction). If this wasn't God's Wrath on display, I could well believe that we too must brace ourselves for its coming.
Just a note on God's Wrath: as I understand it, His Wrath was justifiably to be poured out upon all sinners, but His Love constrained Him by providing His Son to bear our sin & His Father's Wrath on our behalf ( Romans 5:5-9). Those who have received it and born again of His Spirit no longer have to see that side of God. So when God pours out His Wrath again, it will be without constraint, for His Love shown in His Son has been spurned by all, but His Own must be removed from that outpouring, or else what sense does it make for believers to bear His Wrath when the Sacrifice was paid for them and they have been received as sons? Would God discipline His children for being unsaved sinners fit for destruction? These questions I ask myself. And as the Scripture says, "being now justified by his blood, we SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH through him".
e) Revelation 11:1-7. The Church, which should have been very prominent along with these two heavenly witnesses on the Earth during the Great Tribulation, is absent. Even an angel preaching from skies is sent ( Revelation 14:6,7). Once this period starts, the Church's commission to preach the Gospel ceases, for the simple reason: there is no Church on Earth. True, there will still be Church buildings on Earth & gatherings within their walls, but those who have been redeemed by Christ's Blood will be absent. To Page 4.
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"
Revelation 14:11
"And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."
Revelation 20:10
"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Jude 1:7
"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."
Blessings
Revelation 14:13 - And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead. Whoa! This word blessed is MAKARIOS. It is the same word used in the beatitudes in Matthew Chapter 5. And it means to experience the fullness of something.
Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord from now on, that experience of dying for the Lord and experiencing the fullness of God being with them: Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. That is, into heaven.
Revelation 14:14 - And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man. We find this in Daniel Chapter 7. It is Christ.
Revelation 14:20 - And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
Out in the valley of Megiddo, which is north of Jerusalem, it's not in the city. There is a valley, and these measurements tell us that it's about 200 miles long.
Millions of people are going to gather in this valley to fight against Christ when He comes at His second coming. And it says the blood is going to be flowing up to the horse's bridles.
Some think that maybe it is just blood splattering. But these are just idioms to show you that when you fight against God, if there's a million soldiers, you're going to have a million dead soldiers.
If they're horsemen, they're going to be dead!
Revelation 14:11 - And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
These are very powerful verses that tell us that when a person is in hell, there will be no rest for them day and night. They will be tormented forever.
There's another movement that says "We don't believe that God sends people to hell or that he makes people suffer throughout eternity. Jesus said in Matthew 24:41 that hell was created for Satan and his angels, not people." Well then, why are people going there?
It's because their allegiance is to the beast. Satan is their god. And by the way, there's only one hell. The lake of fire that we will see later on is called hell. That's the only place that it's called hell in the scriptures.
Revelation 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Did you catch it?
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God. Now there are groups that say that the commandments are the Old Testament, the law, that they are known as the commandments, without realizing that this angel has just gone through, and is proclaiming in command form what to do, and what not to do.
For those people who obey the commandments of God given by this angel, and who have the faith "of" Jesus. In the Greek text, that's what it says, and that's what it means. It is the same thing that Jesus told one of the churches in Revelation Chapter 2. He says you have kept my faith. It is the faith that Jesus gave them.
So, here's the patience of the saints, the endurance of the saints, surrender to Christ, live by the faith that He gives!
Revelation 14:7 Continued
So here came the guilt. "We aren't doing our job." Some even went as far as to say that Jesus would have come back by now, but we haven't been doing our jobs. We've got to get out and reach the world for Christ. So out of guilt and human effort, not by the power of the Holy Spirit, people are put under this very stressful teaching.
The Lord's already got it taken care of. If it was left up to us, the Lord would never come, because once you've reached the last person in the world, somebody else is born. Nobody's ever completely reached. So, in my own way of thinking, I'm saying that I'm not going to fall for that one!
But you see, God already has it covered. During the Tribulation Period, before He comes back at His second coming, He's going to have the men testifying there in Jerusalem, and He's going to have angels flying in mid-heaven preaching the gospel to people and telling them don't take the mark of the beast, but worship God. All of the world is going to be reached. It is God's timetable!
Hopefully you have figured it out that we can't do God's work for Him, and that you don't get caught up in that!
Revelation 14:7 - Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God,
You see, people were in between making a decision. I can't eat; I can't participate in the world's economic system unless I get that mark. But you know those two witnesses, those two guys on TV, they are telling me don't take it. And here's this angel flying in mid-heaven telling people do not take the mark of the beast.
Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Now I want to make a comment to you before we get to the second angel. This is very important!
We have various movements that take place within the body of Christ periodically. We've got the great commission going now. Several years ago, a movement started when people said that Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 that He can't come until all the nations are reached with the gospel. They said He wouldn't come until all the nations are reached.
Revelation 14:4 - These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. There have been debates over this over the years. But you will see from 2 Kings 19:21, Isaiah 37:22, Jeremiah 14:17, 18:13, 31:4, 5, 21, Amos 5:2 and many other places in the Old Testament that Israel is called the virgin of God.
And these are all spiritual terms, especially 2 Kings 19:21. There are many of them. That's why in the New Testament, when Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:2, he says I have engaged you to God, and God is a jealous God.
In James 4:4, James says that to be friends with this world is to commit adultery against God. This is spiritual. We are the bride of Christ. We're the bride in waiting. Spiritually we belong to Him. The 144,000 did not involve themselves in the religious system of the world. They remained pure. They are virgins. They are the Israel that was described in the Old Testament.
These are they which follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. The firstfruits was always the first crop, part of the crop that would come up in the harvest. When the 144,000 were sealed, they were the first of God's fruit, saved, in the time of tribulation.
Revelation 14:1 - And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
John looks up and he sees a lamb standing on Mount Sion. And with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. That's the 144,000 Jews who were sealed back in Chapter 7, that at Christ's second coming, He will gather them to Himself there in Jerusalem at Mount Sion.
Revelation 14:2 - And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
These are not harps. These instruments are called lyres (KITHARAIS), which are guitar type instruments rather than a harp that we would think of.
Revelation 14:3 - And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
They're saved, they're sealed, the 144,000!
1. Barley , Jesus Christ
Ruth 1:22
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning ofbarleyharvest.
2 Kings 4:42
And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves ofbarley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.
2. Wheat , Second Coming
John 12:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn ofwheatfall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
1 Samuel 6:13
And they of Bethshemesh were reaping theirwheatharvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.
Matthew 13:30
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather thewheatinto my barn
3. Grapes , Wrath of God
Revelation 14:18
And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for hergrapesare fully ripe.
Isaiah 5:2
And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forthgrapes, and it brought forth wildgrapes.
Mark 15:23
And they gave him to drinkwinemingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
Matthew 26:29
But I say unto you, I will notdrinkhenceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when Idrinkit new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
No, the Bible does not teach that the soul sleeps after death.Instead, the Bible describes death as a sleep-like state for the body, while the soul is immediately present with God.
The Bible uses the word "sleep" metaphorically to describe death, which is temporary.For example, in Acts 7:60, Luke describes Stephen's death as "falling asleep".
The Christians soul and spirit will be with Christ in Heaven and it will be awake and alive when they die.
2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to beabsentfromthebody, and to be present withtheLord.
Apostle John saw in a revelation the 144,000 saints singing. The souls are not sleeping but awake and alive.
Revelation 14:3
And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
We know that God rested on the 7th day, but did not go to sleep.
Genesis 2:2
AndontheseventhdayGod ended his work which he had made; and herestedontheseventhdayfrom all his work which he had made.
The fiscal body of this world sleeps both ways, life and death , but not soul sleeping in the spirit.
May we all sleep good tonight in the Lord Jesus Christ without having any bad dreams.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 the gospel of grace that never sleeps
See here;
Exodus 34:28
"And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments."
Exodus 34 specifically says the words of the Covenant that was made with Abraham are God's Ten Commandments.
Then in Galatians we are show the difference between God's Law and those added due to sin, by men, the laws for sin were added 430 year later and were not part of the Covenant Law which is The Ten Commandments.
It's why Jesus says;
Matthew 5:18
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
See also;
Galatians Chapter 3
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
God's Ten Commandments remain in effect for all men.
Jesus tells all men to keep the Commandments of God. There is no Conversion if men reject them.
Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Part 3
Satan then goes after the remnant of her seed those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The remnant of her seed is the faithful people here when the tribulation starts. Like the ones before us who have been persecuted and killed, the fathers and prophets, and after Jesus the thousands upon thousands who have been tortured and killed in the name of Jesus, why would the last be spared when the first was not?
This starts the 3.5 years of tribulation as we see in Revelation 13, in the original text it is Satan standing on the sand of the sea to give his power, his seat, and great authority to the beast. We see in Rev. 11:7 and Rev. 17:8 that this is the bottomless pit. There are not seven years as some say we see when Satan is cast down and the beast rises, he is given only 42 months, and that is 3.5 years Revelation 13:5. It all starts when Satan is cast down the short time he has is 3.5 years.
The end of the 3.5 years will be when the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled, Luke 21:24 Romans 11:25 Revelation 11:2. Then the second coming of Jesus, Matthew 24:29-31 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Revelation 1:7 Revelation 3:11 Revelation 19:11-16 Revelation 22:12.
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
This is what is coming, everyone will be tempted to take the mark of the beast, Jesus will give us if we are here the strength to say no even if we face death. Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Revelation 15:2
God bless,
RLW
Matthew 13:50 - And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Revelation 20:14 - And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 - Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Revelation 20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Psalms 145:20 - The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
Matthew 5:22 - But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Hebrews 10:26-31 - For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (Read More...)
Revelation 14:11 - And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Luke 16:19-31 - There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (Read More...)
Luke 12:5 - But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him
COME LORD JESUS
When we come to this Book of the Revelation, there will always be many opinions about the people, events, & timing of their appearance, since much of Revelation is still future. But if we go by what we have been given in these passages, we note that this great number of people are from the twelve tribes of Israel, they are God's servants, undefiled, and they stand with Jesus on Mt. Zion (alluding to Jesus' Second Coming to rule upon the Earth).
These were redeemed as first fruits among men, and yet in Revelation 7:9, John the Revelator sees 'a great multitude without number from all nations also standing before God's Throne & before the Lamb, worshipping God'. So it seems clear that the 144,000 are distinct as those from the tribes of Israel, and there are also those of the Gentile nations, all whom will stand with Jesus in Jerusalem in that coming day. Whether any part of these passages indicate that there is also worship by these in Heaven (& then on Earth), or the specific timing of when these Jews are sealed by God or do His bidding on Earth, are all open to conjecture as what John sees, he brings to us. What John hasn't been told (or shown), would leave both him & us in ignorance to all the specifics. And so we read what we've been given & we should allow the Holy Spirit to guide & comfort our hearts in both the known & unknown.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
Death is an enemy; and verse 26 of this chapter indicates that it will eventually be eliminated. Jesus was the "first of the firstfruits" so to speak; which extends through the Rapture/Resurrection event of the righteous; through the Revelation 14:4 event of the translation of the 144,000. After this we will have the Second Coming when those that survive until that time physically will survive to repopulate the earth in the Millennial period; followed by the time the Heavenly Jerusalem comes down and God the Father dwells with men (v. 24).
It is hard to comprehend let alone understand all the mysteries of His death; burial and resurrection. It is as a grand play on stage; except that the pathos is real; and His atonement was sufficient for us all to deliver our sins as far as the east is from the west. ( Psalm 103:12). He ever lives to intercede for His people ( Hebrews 7:25). He first rose from the dead and we shall likewise. He who believes in Him will never die ( John 11:25-26) even though he dies physically in reality it is only the body that sleeps as we see about Lazarus earlier in that chapter. We have hope unlike the world for those "fallen asleep" ( 1 Thess. 4:14-18).
All of creation also is awaiting the change and groans until now ( Romans 8:23). For those who believe the last scene of this real life drama is glorious and never ending; while there is no peace for the wicked ( Isaiah 48:22; etal). Let that sink in as the world in its ignorance turns this glorious day into a mockery.
Maranatha. Lord come soon!
Agape.
There are several speculations on what the mark may be, a literal mark, a computer chip, symbols, and more but the mark of the beast will be based on worship. It is the false prophet, the second beast who causes people to worship the first beast and his image. The number 666 goes back to Babylon, the 36 gods numbered 1 through 36, 6 columns and 6 rows the numbers were arranged in such a way that the sum of any given row, column, or diagonal was 111, and therefore the sum of all six rows or all six columns was 666, like 18+20+22+21+17+13 =111, 1+2+3 to 36=666.
We are told to have faith and patience Luke 21:19 Hebrews 6:12 and hear in Revelation 13:10 and Revelation 14:11 that if we are strong in our faith and patience we will have the steadfastness and endurance (the meaning of patience) to not give into the temptation of the three who is to come, Satan, the beast out of the bottomless pit and the beast who will be the false prophet, even if we face death, the hour of temptation, Rev. 3:10.
Something like this was done in the past in the Decian persecution in 250 AD. The decree ordered sacrifices be performed in the presence of a Roman magistrate, it was a signed and witnessed certificate, issued to that effect. People had to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods and the well-being of the emperor.
Christians were put to death for refusing to perform the sacrifices, many others apostatized and performed the ceremonies, and others went into hiding. Those who compromised were able to prosper economically. By way of contrast, those who did not have the certificate were unable to buy or sell and suffered economic hardship. Buying and selling was done in marketplaces ruled by Rome. This may be similar to what is coming but a mark instead of a certificate.
Hope this helps.
God bless,
RLW
Greetings in Christ JESUS
Thank you for your reply of yesterday.I highlighted six points of your post to comment them,as follow:
1st point:
What will happen from now on in the middle east and around the world as a whole, it is written and prophesied by the Word of GOD.Remember: 1The.5:2-3:->2 For yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them,as travail upon a woman with child ( Revelation 12:1-5 will LITERALLY be fulfilled);and they(Israel-the Jews) shall not escape.(EXCEPT the sealed 144k-12K of each tribe- Revelation 7:1-8 and 14:1-5). And also the LITERAL fulfillment of 2The.2:1-13, mainly verses 11-12:-->11 And for this cause GOD shall send them STRONG DELUSION,that they should believe a lie:(These are lost).12 That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth,but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2nd point:
Yes,Israel will loose support, remember that GOD is in control of History,nothing random happens.In the first moment Israel have received all backing of their allies,but they will loose a lot of support,as you said.And when this becomes apparent ARE NOT the enemies of Israel that will try to take them over, as you think, no, it is not,when Israel loose the support,then will manifest their false messiah as was prophesied by my Lord JESUS( John 5:43-47),and then begins the LITERAL fullfilment of 2Thessalonians 2:8-12 combined with Revelation 13:11-18, and 13:2 combined with Luke 21:24 and Revelation 11:2,and Daniel 2:40-45 and 12:8-12. GET READY
3rd point:
GOD will not intervene to save the physical nation of Israel, quite the opposite, GOD will work according His Word described in the 2nd point above, among many other prophecies against the rebel Israel.
Only the 144K sealed of Israel will be saved.The others are lost, for ever. Revelation 14:18-20 combined with Isaiah 5:1-7.Take a look.
continues in the next post
Revelation 14:9-11
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
About 15 years ago and several times before that I had a vision of the pure terror involved with the mark of the Beast. I have since told people that I would ask the Lord would give them such insight but not for those who aren't spiritually strong. The Lord has held back the day of Judgment, but it is promised to be worse than any time in the past and future. Mark 13:19 as well as other New Testament passages and Daniel 12 show proof of this. Without Christ we are dragged in; to the sieve of destruction ( Isaiah 30:28). Suddenly the wicked are broken and that without remedy ( Prov. 6:15).
To realize how fearful judgment is apart from Christ I cannot put into words. When we see Mystery Babylon we can't help but be reminded of the American Pie song with its lyrics
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
These remind us of Ecclesiastes 12:4 as well as Lamentations 5:14 along with other stanzas in this song about the Lord taking off and no more joyful music as stated in Revelation 18:22. We are hypnotized by music and media today and its demonic mantras and dulled in our senses with the vulgar obsenities that increasingly assail the rightous. The agenda is out in the open at this point; Satan's hour is about to arrive. Christ comes soon so rejoice
John 4:35-37 - JESUS said:
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth(JESUS sowed) and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth(JESUS was the sower of the Gospel of GOD's Kingdom), and ANOTHER reapeth.
Matthew 13:27 and 30:
27 ... Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
30 Let both grow together until the harvest(said JESUS around 2000 years ago): and in the time of harvest (the time arrived) I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together FIRST the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life ETERNAL: that both he that soweth(JESUS sowed) and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 combined with Revelation 14:14-20
GOD bless
This seems pretty clear to me and hard to misunderstand it unless someone tries to twist it.
If someone doesn't believe punishment is eternal then maybe someone should likewise question whether heaven is eternal, because this verse states them both as being everlasting / eternal.
The Bible says the soul will die, the 2nd death, perish, etc. But how do you know that's not the eternal part, or how can you prove that God allows someone to actually suffer without a soul, etc. Basically people are just speculating, and its not going to get very far.
But perhaps we can all agree that hell is bad and heaven is good? Hell is punishment and something to be avoided, and we need Jesus to avoid it. John 3:16 says this.
Revelation 20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
You can safely say some will be tormented day and night for ever and ever, because that's literally what this verse says.
Mark 9:43-48 - unquenching fire- you can safely say that hell isn't immediately going away, either. It's likely in full operation.
Revelation 14:11 - And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Daniel 12:1-2 ever lasting life vs ever lasting contempt
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 everlasting destruction. This might debunk the human reasoning idea that death or being destroyed must only happen in a short timeframe. This says it can happen 'ever lasting' which seems long term or eternal. So, this verse now explains all the other verses where it makes sense.
Revelation 14:11 smoke of their torment for ever and ever. That doesn't sound immediate or short term to me, but forever.
God bless you.
(Part 1):
Where in the bible does it say that the soul will cease to exist? If anyone ceases to exist when they die, can you please answer these questions. I will be the student here, so you have my attention. If you choose to answer these things, I do thank you ahead of time.
In Matthew 25:46, Is this not describing two classes of people, those who received Christ and belong to Him, and those who have rejected Him? If those who reject Him die and cease to exist, how can they go away into eternal punishment if they do not exist?
Revelation 14:11 says that the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night. How can this be for someone that does not exist?
Hebrews 9:27 tells us that it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. How can anyone who dies and ceases to exist be judged since this judgment comes (after) death?
Revelation 21:8 identifies a class of individuals who will end up in the lake of fire, and it also mentions that this is the second death. If they went through the first death and ceased to exist, how can they experience a second death if they do not exist?
2 Thessalonians 1:9 says that they will suffer the punishment of (eternal destruction), away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might. How is ceasing to exist considered suffering?
Jema, since Romans 6:23 has been quoted which says that the wages of sin is death, how do you get cease to exist out of this word death when the Greek word used (Thanatos) means separation, not cessation of life? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to say that at death, there is a separation from our physical body since this is what the word death means?
Revelation 14:10 talks about being tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. Who is this for and how long will this torment last?
I have more questions to follow. Thank you for your time.
Revelation of JESUS Christ,which GOD gave unto Him,to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass;
Three angels proclaim the righteous Judgment of GOD
Revelation 14:6-13 (Compare with Gen.18 -Three angels visited Abraham before destruction of Sodoma)
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven,having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,and to every nation,and kindred,and tongue,and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice,Fear GOD and give glory to Him;for the hour of His Judgment is come:and worship Him that made heaven, and earth,and the sea,and the fountains of waters.
8 And there followed another angel,saying,Babylon is fallen,is fallen, that great city,because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
9 And the third angel followed them,saying with a loud voice,If any man worship the Beast and His image,and receive his mark in his forehead,or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the WRATH of GOD,which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation;and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels,and in the presence of the Lamb:
Genesis 18:1-33&19:12-17&27-29
- First,the Lord appeared unto Abraham in the plains of Mamre:and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;And he lift up his eyes and looked,and,lo, three MEN stood by him:and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door,and bowed himself toward the ground,
- Soon after,Abraham offered the three MEN a delicious lunch,in fact a banquet,and stood by them under the tree,and they did eat.
- And they asked unto Abraham:Where is Sarah thy wife?I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life;and,lo,Sarah thy wife shall have a son
- The Lord also said:Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? they rose up from thence and looked toward Sodom:Abraham asked: Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?