There are numerous Scripture citations that affirm this, but time and space prohibit my commenting on them all. Reemeber that Revelation is written in apochryphal literature and is symbolic. It is not to be interpreted as an historical narrative, which many mistakenly do.
Every mention of "1000 years" in Scripture is symbolic, pointing to something else. In Matthew 4:17 it says, "From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The Greek word translated "at hand" is the perfect active form of "engizo" which in that form means "has come." The Kingdom of heaven is three-fold. The Kingdom of Power is Christ's reign over all of Creation, which He always had. It is here. The Kingdom of Grace is the Church on earth, which is here presently. The Kingdom of Glory is the Church and angels in heaven, which is the Kingdom yet to come. It is this kingdom that we pray for in the Lord's Prayer. The so-called "1000 year reign of Christ on earth" refers to the Kingdom of Grace, the forgiveness of sins that is ours through holy baptism, and the assurance of life in the Kingdom of Glory by the blood of Christ. Through His suffering and death we are at peace with God.
The "1000 years" is symbolic of the Church age mentioned above. It is here and now.
Satan is bound. His power goes only as far as God allows. Read the parable of the strong man in Matt 12, Mark 2, & Luke 11. Jesus compares Satan to "a strong man". The "strong man" Jesus refers to is Satan. Satan, the "strong man," is bound.
I would ask you for Scripture references that state this. They do not exist.
The first resurrection is baptism. Jesus says in John 3, "One must be born again" meaning "a second time from above." He clarifies this by saying that "one must be born of water and the Spirit." In baptism, as Paul explains in Romans 6, are old nature is drown and dies along with Christ, and at the same time a new creation arises along with Christ. Our baptism, as Paul states, unites us with Christ's death and resurrection. The "first resurrection" is our rebirth, our death and resurrection, of Baptism. The "second resurrection" is on the Last Day.
Revelation is an apochryphal book and MUST be interpreted that way. It is how God gave us His word. You need to learn how to read it.
May I suggest quite possibly the best commentary on the book of Revelation in existance. The Concordia Commentary on Revelation by Dr. Louis Brighton, available from Concordia Publishing House. If you really want to learn the truth of Revelation, you need this resource.
God bless
Quote:
"There is no "seven years of Tribulation." The Great Tribulation is also presently being realized."
Scriptures please. Also your statement makes no sense. If there is no seven years of tribulation, then there can be no Great Tribulation that is presently being realized. The Great Tribulation is the last three and a half years of the seven year tribulation period, that you have claimed doesn't exist. How does that work?
"I would ask you for Scripture references that state this. They do not exist."
Nice dodge. You still haven't answered the question. Predispensationalism, and I'm not endorsing that school of thought, teaches as far as I can remember, that the seven year tribulation period has two halves. The first half is known as the tribulation, and the second half is known as the great tribulation. The halfway point is when anti-Christ is assassinated.
Now how can you say the second half of the tribulation known as the great tribulation is upon us now, without recognizing a seven year tribulation period in the first place? And the only verse that I can find that might suggest a seven year tribulation period is Daniel 9:27. Notice I said
might.
"He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven'. In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing (of the temple) he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
Now the great tribulation is mentioned in Revelation 7:14. "I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "these are they who have come out of the
great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Now how do you know that we are definitely in the great tribulation period?
"Revelation is an apochryphal book and MUST be interpreted that way. It is how God gave us His word. You need to learn how to read it."
And do we interpret Daniel and Ezekiel and Isiaiah the same way? Those are books of prophecy as well.
"May I suggest quite possibly the best commentary on the book of Revelation in existance."
You may. ;-)
"The Concordia Commentary on Revelation by Dr. Louis Brighton, available from Concordia Publishing House. If you really want to learn the truth of Revelation, you need this resource."
I'll add it to my Christmas list.