Revelation
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For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. ( 1 Cor. 15:20-22).
Revelation 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 14:1-5
1And 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. 2And 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: 3And 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. 4These 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. 5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
As I mentioned in earlier postings; the firstfruits originated with Christ Himself being lifted up; those who rose from the dead (a sort of gleaning) in Matthew 27:53. Then there is the Rapture where the church appears in Revelation 5 (although firstfruits isn't in that text) and finally the 144,000 mentioned as firstfruits in Rev. 14. It would seem that in this case those of Jewish descent would be the focus here. There is a new song shared here along with the church in Revelation 5. It would seem the 144,000 come after the midpoint of the Tribulation.
This mark will be freely taken, it will not be disguised and whoever takes it will know what they are doing, like you said who will you worship?
In Revelation 13:11-18 the second beast/the false prophet is the one who makes an image of the first beast, and forces people to receive this mark, and if not, they are killed. The mark of the beast is said to be diverse things, a literal mark, a computer chip, symbols, and more, something like this was done in the past.
It may be like the Decian persecution in 250 AD under Emperor Decius. The decree ordered sacrifices had to 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/image, or idol for the well-being of the Emperor. A great number of Christians were put to death for refusing to perform the sacrifices.
Many others apostatized (falling away) and performed the ceremonies, and others went into hiding. This picture language appears to identify those who had given either mental assent or extended the right hand of fellowship to this evil conglomerate power. These compromisers thus were able to prosper economically. By way of contrast, those who did not receive the mark were unable to go into the marketplaces and hence suffered hardship, illustrated in the form of economic deprivation.
Something like this could be the mark of the beast although I believe it will be an actual mark. Like the ones in the past who gave in and took the certificate so they would not be killed, one will give up eternal life for a few years in this corrupt world. If we are living when this starts, we must stand strong in our faith regardless of what we face, God will give us the strength.
God bless,
RLW
Why do you assume the beast in Revelation is satan or the anti-christ?
Daniel 7:23 ...the FORTH beast shall be the FORTH KINGDOM on earth ....
John the Baptist came preaching the KINGDOM of GOD; the FORTH kingdom on earth, the FORTH BEAST, the last kingdom on earth.
The Kingdom of God has been on earth now for about 2000 years; CHRIST IN THE FLESH, IN YOU, his BODY, causing man TO WILL and TO DO his good pleasure.
Ezekiel 36:27 I WILL put MY SPIRIT IN YOU and CAUSE YOU to walk in my statutes and TO KEEP my judgements and DO THEM
Revelation 6:7 And when HE (the lamb of God) had opened the forth seal, I heard the voice of the FORTH BEAST (the lamb of God, the kingdom of God) SAY, come and see
Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, and his name that sat on him WAS DEATH, and the grave followed after him, and POWER WAS GIVEN TO THEM (the image of the BEAST, the kingdom of GOD) over the forth part of the earth, to KILL with the SWORD (the word of God), and with HUNGER (no bread of life), and with DEATH, and with the BEAST of the EARTH (those that carry the mark of the BEAST: the kingdom of God.
Revelation 12:16 And the earth HELPED the WOMAN, and the earth OPENED her MOUTH (DEATH and the grave), and swallowed up the FLOOD (people, tongues and nations) which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Psalms 7:13 He hath also prepared for him the INSTRUMENTS of DEATH; he ORDAINED his ARROWS against the persecutors.
Jeremiah 51:29 THOU (those that carry the MARK) are my battle axe and WEAPONS of WAR (arrows, the word of GOD); for with THEE (the saints, the BODY of Christ, the IMAGE of the BEAST) WILL I break in pieces the NATIONS, and with THEE will I destroy kingdoms.
Revelation 2:27 ...to him that overcometh, WILL I give POWER over the NATIONS .....
God Bless You!
666 refers in sequence body spirit and soul which is short of 777. The beast whose authority came from the dragon had no use for the word of God. So his body, spirit and soul were equally marked as condemned. The dragon in Re.13 has seven heads because he is the son of God gone rogue. But his 10 horns indicate he is under the wrath which explains the Decalogue. So whoever rejects the word of God is marked 666 and belongs to Satan. God shall not judge but has left all judgment to the Son. So till the Great White Throne the number 666 stays.
In Re.16 we have a hint from the Spirit that Satan, anti-christ and the beast are in agreement: "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet./For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, "(vv.13-14)
But what you said about the DNA is not correct. One's DNA is not altered by a vaccine anymore that by the meat or other foods we eat. The nourishment of food is broken down and goes into every cell of our body. So we should not fear our DNA being changed against God's will for how each person's DNA is unique to them. God is able to preserve our bodily integrity down to the DNA, even to the amino acid molecules that make up the DNA and to the atoms that make up the elements that constitute our bodies.
I praise God for we are fearfully and wonderfully made!
It cannot have anything to do with the covid shot. Even the childhood vaccines have aborted DNA debris in them and this too adds someone's DNA into your body and your stem cells readily take the DNA into them.
Look at Daniel 12:1,2; Matthew 18:9; Matthew 25:31-46; Mark 9:42-48; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Jude 1:7; Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 20:10,14,15. These do not speak of an annihilation, but of torment. And what were "their works"? Works of sinful lives, of self-glorification, of being God-haters & Christ-rejecters. If we remove the eternal suffering of Hell, we've lost a great part of our Gospel message, i.e. we not only won't have a Gospel to preach, we won't even need to preach the Gospel. Jude 1:23, "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."
If the preacher hasn't got the awful image before him of souls for whom Christ died, going into an eternity of torment, then that preacher is preaching a watered down Gospel, one that tickles the mind but doesn't wrench the heart - a Gospel that only requires a glib acceptance of a lowly Jesus but not weeping in sorrow for sin's wretchedness before an Holy God. Christ didn't give up His Life only to bring sinners into Heaven, but to save them from His Father's Judgement sending them to an eternity of suffering. This is why the cost of Salvation had to be so great - it took the Son of God to come between an Holy God & a hell-deserved, hell-bound sinner. We all have to die one day - but through Christ, not all have to be consigned to Hell.
May I ask, How can one it be tormented if there is no awareness?
Revelation 14:9-11.
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,
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:
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.
And can they have no rest day and night if they are without awareness?
To torment means to torture: - pain toil torment toss vex.
How can there be weeping and gnashing of teeth as mentioned in many verses?
I have to agree with Gigi.
God bless
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:
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.
When we die do we automatically get to go to heaven or do we have to wait until the resurrection?
MountHoreb Reply: I personally can't recall at the moment Jesus giving any details
regarding The Apostles quick resurrection.
But We do have evidence of Jesus Resurrection Luke 24:46. when he died he was on the earth as an
invisible spirit Acts 1:3. Jesus as an invisible spirit ( john 4:24) has the ability to materialize into a human
Luke 24:3,5; Acts 1:9-11 . All angels Can transform themselves Luke 24:4; Luke 24:36
We also have an example of Apostle Stephen who was stoned by the infuriated High Priest.
he knew it meant his death for speaking the truth. notice what he said at Acts 7:54-60;
We have proof that Stephen appealed (prayed) to Jesus in Heaven Acts 7:59.
To no disappointment: Jehovah ( Psalm 83:18) Only selected or Chosen a few
to go to heaven according to Revelation 14:1,3. notice the scripture said "from Earth" (redeemed or taken from)
Not all are picked as presidents only one is. and there are those selected under him. Revelation 20:4,6
HOPE THE SCRIPTURES ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION: Psalm 37
It would appear from Revelation 14:14 that the 144,000 standing on the heavenly Mt. Zion are indeed translated. There is no mention as with the multitude of being martyred.
Technically; there is no proof that the 144,000 aren't scattered throughout the earth rather than just in Israel. There would certainly seem to be a connection between them and the 2 prophets as they will be able to control the plagues of weather on the earth which would of course affect whatever region or area the 144,000 are ministering in.
One thing I neglected in the last posting is the fact that there is no mention of the 144,000 evangelizing to the multitude. If they do that sort of ministry; it is clear that their preservation from the plagues of God will make them stand out; as well as their exemplary character during the time of unrestrained sin. (see Revelation 7). The type of plagues and timing must be close with them and the 2 Prophets; some overlap may be present between the first and second half of the Tribulation where their ministry occurs. Sequentially; it appears they start before the Trumpet judgments and exit at the time of the sixth trumpet around when the prophets die and are resurrected (see Revelation 11:13-14).
The warnings in Matthew 24 about persecution; martyrdom; wars; etc. have a preliminary fulfillment at least for the Apostles ending around AD 70. It would seem the same pattern fits in with today and those final witnesses in Israel. Deuteronomy 4:30-31 seems to show how God will respond in the last days during the Tribulation; again only for those Israelites who truly repent. Many will no doubt follow Antichrist to their own demise.
According to Genesis 4:15; a mark set upon Cain was to cause vengeance to anyone who would attempt to take his life. Compare this to the Mark of the Beast in Revelation 13 and we find some interesting parallels.
First; Satan was a "murderer from the beginning." ( John 8:44). It is no surprise that the first child of Adam was to be attacked after Adam and Eve fell. Having failed the test of God he let temptation rule over him and slayed Abel his brother. Satan is also said to steal and destroy ( John 10:10) along with his lying. We see the progeny of Adam and Eve being destroyed; along with stealing from the parents being able to give an inheritance and Abel receiving it.
Later on in Genesis 4:24 Lamech tries to gain vengeance by his declaration of seventy times seventy for himself for his own violent actions. Kind of like the opposite of forgiveness for the same in Matthew 18:21-22.
The apparent resurrection of Antichrist from a deadly wound as well as being able to kill the two prophets that tormented men will inspire him to declare indestructibility as well as being able to effectively fight against God. He will likely convince men that he can live forever by merging with AI; and likely the DNA of the Nephilim or something to that affect will be part of that plan; as it was in Genesis 6 when all the descendants of men were destroyed for that reason (see Genesis 6:8-9 on Noah being perfect in his generations). Hence at that time we saw no repentance except for Noah; his wife; his 3 sons and their wives.
Whatever the case men will be unredeemable once they take the mark ( Revelation 14:9 and other passages). That will be the fulfillment of 2 Thessalonians 2:11 where people willingly reject the truth and believe The Lie.
The verse on those who dwell on the earth ( Revelation 11:10; also see Revelation 6:10 and other passages) indicates the sea of lost humanity. Revelation 13:8 concludes this for all unsaved.
Matthew 13:24-30 (with the parable's interpretation given in vv 36-43). The Sower is the Lord Who planted His Seed (which brought forth His children) in His field (the Church, His Body). But the enemy (Satan) also has his way & planted his seed (of unregenerate & evil hearts) amongst the good seed. If this was the world spoken of & not the Church, then identification between the good & evil would be easy. Of course, as they grew together, they appeared the same, until the tares showed their true color. Using Jesus' instruction in Matthew 18:15-17, those tares that could be easily seen amongst them can be exposed for who they are, but often they can't be seen until Christ's examination, judgement, & removal. The believers will be gathered by the reapers at the harvest unto Him & the imposters burned with fire. Given that this parable was spoken amongst the Jews, there could be application to those who were righteous under the Law ("children of the kingdom") & the unrighteous amongst them.
Revelation 14:14-20, the Reaper is the Lord (v16) and the angel who had the sickle did the gathering. What was reaped & what was gathered? "..the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are ripe". These are not the tares in Matthew, but are shown as being slashed off the vine, & that at their crushing, their juice (as blood) came out in volumes as a result of Christ's Judgement; maybe at that great final battle when the enemies of Christ are slaughtered ( Revelation 19:17-21).
The parable of the wheat & the tares is for "the end of this world" ( Matthew 13:40), not post-trib, nor pre-trib. So I don't read this parable as you do & in comparing it with Revelation 14.
As for God's Wrath, I agree that it is poured out because of the wickedness of unbelievers & for unbelievers only. But the matter that we discussed earlier was, 'is the Great Tribulation synonymous with God's Wrath, or merely a greater outpouring of horrors that comes on the whole world?' I shared that the Great Tribulation appears to be God's Wrath (as shown in Revelation chapters 6 to 11 & beyond) & we read this in Revelation 6:17 & Revelation 15:1, which fall upon men over a long period of time. And if it be God's Wrath from the time that His Restrainer is removed & the anti-Christ is revealed, then the Church (the true children of God) are snatched away before this time of torment.
Anyway Tammy, I see that our differences largely depend on the definition of these biblical terms & the verses that support them - hence the nature of the pre or post trib position are both valid depending on how we define these terms with their Scriptures. GBU.
But you've directed my reading to Revelation chapter 14, in which you see "that the saints will be here for the event of the mark of the beast, and after that event, Jesus returns for the harvest". From Revelation 14:6, we read of an angel arriving in the heavens with "the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth". And then further down in verses 12 & 13, we read of "the patience of the saintsthat keep the commandments of God". I assume that these are the verses that convinces you that all believers (saints) will still be here, i.e. the Church pre- & during the Great Tribulation. Yet, if we take the angelic presentation of the Gospel (obviously not needed for the Church, but for the unbelievers at that time of anti-Christ's reign), then maybe the saints of verse 12 are those who were converted through the delivered Gospel, the Lord giving these others opportunity to repent & believe, who may already have taken the beast's mark, and to be saved. Just a thought.
And finally, verses 14 to 20 show the harvesting of the Earth. But who are harvested? In my reading, the harvest is directed to the haters & rejecters of God & are forthwith cast into "the great winepress of the wrath of God" (verse 20). Now, even if the order of events may seem unclear, at least those whom the Lord is referring to, is clear. And yes, both Revelation 15:1 and Revelation 6:17 declare that these sufferings do come from God (from His Wrath) & not resulting from natural occurrences that we see at present; that this time IS God's Wrath being poured out & not something felt at the end. So will the present Church be saved from this Wrath?
Part 2.
Continuing with just a few of the Day of the Lord verses.
Zephaniah 1:15
Isaiah 13:9
Lamentations 2:1
Isaiah 13:13
Isaiah 51:22
Jeremiah 25:15
Revelation 16:19
Revelation 14:10
Revelation 16:1
Isaiah 63:1-6.
This is what Paul is telling them is not at hand. This is what we all agree on besides a few that the Church will not see.
However some see the Rapture in Revelation 20:4-6 sadly mistaking it for the Resurrection.
That would place the Church on the Earth during the wrath of the Lord that comes upon all the Earth.
When we take 2 Thessalonians 2:3
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, AND THAT MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED, the son of perdition;
Paul gives them the sequence of events in chronological order of what happens "AFTER" that what he reminded them of previously in
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
That's why he opens up saying "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by "OUR" gathering together unto him," 2 Thessalonians 2:1.
Paul included them and himself in this gathering! So did they see the son of perdition? No.
We take 2 Thessalonians 2:3 with the following scriptures to pitch our viewpoint. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-15.
The son of perdition can't come while the light bearers is in the world. The Church! Who sits in the midst of the Church? Christ/His Holyspirit.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-8.
God bless.
GiGi,
Matthew 24:14 says, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." There are churches out there that say that Jesus would have come by now had the church been doing its job, because once the whole world is reached for Christ, then He is going to come. I've heard people actually say this.
But during the tribulation, there will not be a need for the church to be out spreading the gospel message. If I remember correctly, I believe in one of your posts you had mentioned to someone that if the church is gone during the tribulation, how are people going to be reached with the gospel message? Those were not your exact words but something of that sort.
Well, in the book of Revelation, it tells us how the world is going to be reached. It tells us that there will be 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel, that are sealed by God so that they cannot be killed. No one can harm them. They are Jewish believers, and I believe that they will be evangelists during the tribulation period, 144,000 of them.
Secondly, there will be an angel flying in mid-heaven, according to Revelation Chapter 14:6-7. It says that there will be an angel flying in mid-heaven for 3 years. And Revelation 14:6 tells us that he reaches every single person on the earth with the gospel, everybody!
And then in Revelation 11:3-13, there are two witnesses that are witnessing in the streets of Jerusalem, and the whole world sees them. Our technology today makes that possible. So, everyone will be reached before His second coming. God Himself will fulfill that promise.
Lord willing, I will finish this up with one more post, I promise!
I agree Jimbob, our early Church teaching would normally have great influence on what we believe today (I first went to a Fellowship that preached almost weekly on Christ's coming/rapture, & the Pastor often said of himself, 'I won't see death because the Lord's coming is so near'). And we believed him & waited patiently for the Lord Jesus. He left this Earth over thirty years ago & still no rapture, so clearly his hope was certain but his assessment of the world's events & God's Timing were incorrect. So there's error to be noted. I believe that when I was saved much later in October 1979 (in my mid-20s), & then had a yearning to apply myself wholly to the reading & study of God's Word (even leaving paid employment to do this for six months), I had to also 'attempt' to cancel out what I was taught, but learn Truths from the Bible itself & then re-introduce those earlier teachings if I could now see them clearly in the Word. So, what I've written earlier to you in support of my belief is largely from the Scriptures I've considered & not from earlier exposure to this doctrine (in fact, some of these Scriptures weren't even addressed, if I remember correctly).
So, to your three questions:
a. I don't see Revelation 14:14-16 ("harvesting") as that of the Church's rapture. 'Jesus thrust in His sickle & the earth was reaped'. Then two angels appear (one with a sickle, the other having "power over fire"). Clearly, these angels were engaged with gathering the "clusters of the vine of the earth" to be cast into the "winepress of the wrath of God" (this might allude to the battle at Megiddo). So what happened when Jesus cast in His sickle? When the earth was "reaped", what took place? The possible answer is in Revelation 14:13, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth..." (from henceforth). This is not the Church, but those who are martyred under & following (henceforth) from the beast's reign. I don't see a rapture in this passage.
Even the Revelation 14:14-16 passage you quoted, referring to the harvest being the Church; if this is the Rapture, why then did the Church have to experience the previous judgements of God (in Revelation 6:1-17: Seal Judgements; Revelation 8:1-9:21: Trumpet Judgements). These can't be the ordinary, everyday turmoils that Earth's inhabitants face, but specific Judgements from God and then the sickle is struck for the harvesting (& of course, some are cast into the winepress of God's Wrath).
So brother, I don't want to continually rehash the earlier passages we've written about, as clearly we read these prophetical messages differently. My understanding is that the Great Tribulation of seven years (the last week seen in Daniel's prophecy), which includes God's Wrath in its various phases & intensities, will come after the Church is removed; even as promised to the Philadelphian Church in Revelation 3:10.
The anti-Christ (at least at the beginning of his reign of terror to his opponents), & the beginning of God's Judgements ( Revelation 6,8,9), assure our hearts that the Rapture of the Church can happen suddenly, without any signs to prepare for that day. The call is for our expectant joyous living & readiness now, as even the early Church was to urged to expect ( Philippians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Titus 2:13; James 5:8; Revelation 1:3) - not for our awakening when things begin to get very difficult in the course of the final seven years. The call was always for believers' readiness - we couldn't be in such a state if we know that much more needs to happen before the Lord's Coming/Rapture of the Church - death might overtake most of us before then.
Revelation 6:6 ...and see thou hurt not the oil and wine.
The OLD is a SHADOW of the NEW.
Numbers 18:12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and the wheat, the FIRSTFRUITS of them which they shall offer to the LORD, them have I given thee.
Numbers 18:13 And WHOSOEVER is FIRST RIPE in the land, which they shall bring in to the LORD, SHALL BE THINE; everyone that is clean in THINE HOUSE shall eat of it.
Romans 8:23 Not only they, but WE OURSELVES, which have the FIRSTFRUITS of the Spirit ....
Revelation 14:4 ...being the FIRSTFRUITS unto God and the Lamb.
1 Corinthians 15:23 .....Christ the FIRSTFRUITS ......
Notice Christ the firstfruits is PLURAL.
Galatians 4:19 .....till Christ be FORMED IN YOU ....
Revelation 6:6 ....and see thou not hurt the oil and the wine (the firstfruits).
God Bless YOU!
Christ constantly caught flack from his peers, he said we should expect the same thing.
You have ALREADY BEEN RESURRECTED.
John 11:25 ....I am the resurrection, and the LIFE .....
Revelation 20:6 Blesses and HOLY is he that hath part in the first resurrection ......
1 Timothy 6:16 Christ ONLY hath IMMORTALITY, dwelling the light (the presence of God, Abraham's bosom) ....
1 Corinthians 15:53 ...this mortal SHALL put on IMMORTALITY ---Christ only hath immortality ---
1 Corinthians 15:38 But God giveth it (the new creation, the born again) a BODY (you are the BODY OF CHRIST) as it hath pleased him (the Father), and to every SEED his (the Father's) OWN BODY (Christ is the body of the Father).
Ephesians 4:4 ONE BODY (man, Christ being the FIRST among many BROTHERS, joint heirs), ONE SPIRIT
Ephesians 4:5 ONE GOD and Father of ALL, above ALL, and through ALL, and in you ALL.
John 16:8 And when he (the spirit of Christ) comes (it began at Pentecost, the feast of the FIRSTFRUITS) he will reprove the world of SIN .....
John 16:9 Of SIN because they BELIEVE NOT ON ME -----I am THE LIFE, man is my BODY, man does what the will of God causes him to do ---
Romans 9:21 Hath not the POTTER (the spirit of Christ) POWER OVER THE CLAY (the potter's body) of the SAME LUMP to make one vessel (the potter's body) to HONOUR and another to DISHONOUR.
Luke 16:6 The law and prophets were until John: SINCE THAT TIME, the kingdom of God is preached, and every man PRESSES INTO IT.
Revelation 14:19 And the angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great WINEPRESS of the wrath of God.
We are the grapes of the vine, and we have to be PRESSED to become the NEW WINE ---this is a parable ---
God Bless You as HE leads you to all truth.
Part 10.
In the very next chapter He sends them forth. Where does He send the laborers and what does He have them preach? He sends them to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, saying, "Go not to the Gentiles," and He instructs them to tell the nation of Israel that the King is here. That was their message. To what does the harvest refer? It refers to judgment and to the end of the age. That is the picture. An age begins by God sowing seed; it ends by the harvest of both good and bad.
Besides the parable of the sower, we have another parable in Matthew 13 in which our Lord speaks along this very same line of harvest and judgment. He says concerning the wheat and tares:
Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn. ( Matthew 13:30)
This is the end of the age, you see. Then notice verse 39:
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age.
At the end of the age comes harvest time. That is one reason I think it is valid to say that we are harvesting today - we are gleaning in the corners because we are at the end of an age. But let us understand one thing: We must sow before we can have a harvest. That is the reason I am insisting that our scriptural terms be accurate. Harvesting refers to judgment and the end of an age.
Notice another verse of Scripture dealing with harvest. It is a picture of the battle of Armageddon, one of the most frightful pictures in the Bible:
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap; for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. ( Revelation 14:15)
See Part 11.
Once again; we see Asaph as he does quite often give a prophetic statement as to the fate of the earth in the end with several cross references of interest.
Verse 2 seems to be a veiled reference to the Rapture; or possibly those who are Jews that believe and survive to the end of the Tribulation in the reference to "when I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly. (see 2 Cor. 5:10; Exodus 20:35-38 in the context of Exodus 20:34 as a future event of gathering from the nations).
Verse 3 reminds us of heaven and earth passing away in Revelation 21:1-4 and Matthew 24:35).
Verses 4 through 7 remind us of the "little horn" ( Dan. 7:8) who is Antichrist himself. God allows Satan and his throne in the Tribulation to suit his purposes; ultimately to separate wheat from chaff; and to draw everyone together at Armageddon ( Rev. 19; Psalm 2).
Revelation 14:10 is much like verse 8 referring to the "wine of the wrath of God". That theme is also seen in Jeremiah 25:15-17; and similar themes in Isaiah and without a doubt in other scriptures.
Again the end of this Psalm shows that only praising God is worthwhile (v. 9) and right wins out in the end. That is basically a big theme in all of scripture; the meek shall inherit the earth ( Matt. 5:5).
I'm sorry, but you are mistaken. The resurrection tenants and time-line is specifically laid out in a particular order:
#1) The saints are resurrected first. They heal the earth alongside millions of mortals, great tribulation survivors, and at the end of the 1,000 years, God defeats the 3 evil spirits that make us behave cross towards one another. The saints are judged at the seventh trumpet, they are the first fruits of the 1st resurrection. You are implying at the 1st resurrection, Jesus is picking out souls for everlasting life, but it's the resurrected saints he's gathering prior to Revelation 14:1. 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Paul is referring to the saints only, not anyone else.
#2) The Great White throne Judgment, resurrection happens AFTER the 1,000 years, Revelation 20. This is the resurrection of the rest of humanity, the sinners, unbelievers, believers of false doctrine. This is my place, where I belong, you will find me amongst the sea of humble sinners, praying for redemption. Ezekiel 37:1-14, the valley of dry bones ALLEGORY of the 2nd resurrection where God had pity on the whole house of Israel and reestablished him at the last, Isaiah 14:1.
'Jesus has to prepare a place for us' is synonymous with Jesus creating a new heaven and new earth. The 1st resurrection saints will enter a totally destroyed world, Isaiah 24. The 2nd resurrection group will inherit paradise.
Hebrews 9:27 God set the parameters for entering the kingdom of heaven, part of it is to require a mortal death. Jesus Christ was the first example of being 'born again'. Jesus is the only man to live, die, having God resurrect him into everlasting life!
Please consider what I'm saying in accordance to the narrative of what Biblically occurs. I have 1 more intriguing post for you about the saints.
The woman represents the 144,000 sealed saints in yet another allegory, to include the two witnesses (from another allegory), waiting to give birth to a man child; the child is Christ. This occurs between the sixth and seventh trumpets, when anti-christ kills saints, Revelation 11:7. The SAINTS PLIGHT are important, not the tricky esoterics that lead astray from the actual event being described. Tie down the allegories to the real life enactment.
At the seventh trumpet, Christ returns with His army of resurrected 144,000 saints, and no one else. There's no mention of the two witnesses because it's them standing on Mount Olive, Revelation 14:1.
"Impregnating" is another comparison, or analogy that mirrors the actual meaning. Two witnesses is another way of saying 144,000 from two houses (two men) of Israel.
While you didn't directly address the questions, your chosen response indicates you might believe the New Testament isn't literal and are just parables to you, is that correct? You quoted the old testament suggesting that you might think that's literal, however. Do you mind sharing how you came to this belief?
For the benefit of anyone else reading this there are plenty of verses in the Bible about the literal hell:
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.
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.
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.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 - Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Matthew 13:50 - And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
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:
Matthew 25:46 - And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
etc
Do you believe Jesus literally is Lord and literally died on the cross for you?