The First Resurrection

[heymikey80]

What would a first century believer think "The First Resurrection" is?

 

[Codger]

What would a first century believer think "The First Resurrection" is?

I assume this is a rhetorical question. Since Revelation is a symbolic and cryptic book of signs, symbols, and tokens - you primarily have to look into the Old Testament to deciper most of the symbols. In this particular case, you have to look at the NT writings to discover what they thought about the resurrection back in the first Century. It was simple - baptism was the first resurrection. When a person repented and was baptised and when they came up out of the water it was symbolic of being raised or resurrected with Christ. This also fits with the doctrine of Revelation where it says that the second death has no power over them - why? Because they were born again, which is obviously how men escape the wrath of God and enter the Kingdom.

Rev. 20:5-6 (KJV)
...This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ...

 

[4runner]

Since Revelation is a symbolic and cryptic book of signs, symbols, and tokens - you primarily have to look into the Old Testament to deciper most of the symbols. In this particular case, you have to look at the NT writings to discover what they thought about the resurrection back in the first Century. It was simple - baptism was the first resurrection. When a person repented and was baptised and when they came up out of the water it was symbolic of being raised or resurrected with Christ. This also fits with the doctrine of Revelation where it says that the second death has no power over them - why? Because they were born again, which is obviously how men escape the wrath of God and enter the Kingdom.

Rev. 20:5-6 (KJV)
...This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ...

Baptism the first Resurrection??????? NO!!! The first Resurrection is when the saints of all ages from Adam to the tribulational saints will be resurrection into new immortal bodies just like the one Jesus was resurrected into. One verse out of many that shows this transformation is Philippians 3:20-21

Philippinas 3
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

 

[Codger]

Baptism the first Resurrection??????? NO!!! The first Resurrection is when the saints of all ages from Adam to the tribulational saints will be resurrection into new immortal bodies just like the one Jesus was resurrected into. One verse out of many that shows this transformation is Philippians 3:20-21

Romans 6:3-7 (KJV)
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead [resurrected] by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: [6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. [7] For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Baptism is the first resurrection.

 

[Codger]

Well, no response then allow me to finish. How about the second death? It fits like a glove with the two resurrections.

Rev. 2:11 (NASB)
'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.'

Rev. 20:6 (NASB)
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Rev. 20:14 (NASB)
And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

Rev. 21:8 (NASB)
"But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

The idea of a second death obviously indicates that there is such a thing as a first death. So what is the first death? Very simple - the first death was when Adam and Eve fell in the garden.

Romans 5:14 (NASB)
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

1 Cor. 15:22 (NASB)
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.

1 Cor. 15:45 (NASB)
So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

God had said...

Genesis 2:17 (NASB)
... but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die."

So the first resurrection is a spiritual resurrection from the death that was pronounced on Adam and all of his decendants - including us. So when people hear the Gospel message and repent and are baptised they no longer are subject to the second death. They gave up their evil ways and were buried and resurrected spiritually with Christ. The second resurrection is at the end of time when the Christian is resurrected in a new body.

 

[heymikey80]

That's an interesting idea, Codger. It connects the First Resurrection with both Christ and His people in a way I wasn't expecting.

 

[realtruth101]

Romans 6:3-7 (KJV)
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead [resurrected] by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: [6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. [7] For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Baptism is the first resurrection.

well it sounds really good, it even looks good with all the verses you have laid out next to it. but there's a problem....and that is before the first resurection happens the antichrist must show up first. so if I'm baptized today and you say I just experienced my first resurrection, how did I surpass the dead in Christ? because the scripture is quite clear the dead in Christ are those who refused the mark of the beast and did not worship him. they according to Rev. 20:4-6 they are in the first resurrection. I'm afraid your idea does not line up with the continuity of scripture

 

[realtruth101]

Well, no response then allow me to finish. How about the second death? It fits like a glove with the two resurrections.

Rev. 2:11 (NASB)
'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.'

Rev. 20:6 (NASB)
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Rev. 20:14 (NASB)
And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

Rev. 21:8 (NASB)
"But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

The idea of a second death obviously indicates that there is such a thing as a first death. So what is the first death? Very simple - the first death was when Adam and Eve fell in the garden.

Romans 5:14 (NASB)
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

1 Cor. 15:22 (NASB)
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.

1 Cor. 15:45 (NASB)
So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

God had said...

Genesis 2:17 (NASB)
... but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die."

So the first resurrection is a spiritual resurrection from the death that was pronounced on Adam and all of his decendants - including us. So when people hear the Gospel message and repent and are baptised they no longer are subject to the second death. They gave up their evil ways and were buried and resurrected spiritually with Christ. The second resurrection is at the end of time when the Christian is resurrected in a new body.

The problem you don't seem to catch is the first resurrection is not an on going event, it is biblically a one time event that happens in conjuntion with 1 Thess. 4:17 "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together WITH THEM in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" look at all the passages that talk about the dead rising it is a one time event. there's no getting around these biblical facts

 

[heymikey80]

well it sounds really good, it even looks good with all the verses you have laid out next to it. but there's a problem....and that is before the first resurection happens the antichrist must show up first. so if I'm baptized today and you say I just experienced my first resurrection, how did I surpass the dead in Christ? because the scripture is quite clear the dead in Christ are those who refused the mark of the beast and did not worship him. they according to Rev. 20:4-6 they are in the first resurrection. I'm afraid your idea does not line up with the continuity of scripture

Hm. Where? I see Satan showing up first ... the dead in Christ are the people that rise first in Paul's letters, right?

 

[realtruth101]

Hm. Where? I see Satan showing up first ... the dead in Christ are the people that rise first in Paul's letters, right?

Right! satan shows up First, Jesus comes after the antichrist

 

[heymikey80]

Right! satan shows up First, Jesus comes after the antichrist

I'm pretty sure that Satan, the Great Serpent, appeared in the Garden.

 

[Lysimachus]

I assume this is a rhetorical question. Since Revelation is a symbolic and cryptic book of signs, symbols, and tokens - you primarily have to look into the Old Testament to deciper most of the symbols. In this particular case, you have to look at the NT writings to discover what they thought about the resurrection back in the first Century. It was simple - baptism was the first resurrection. When a person repented and was baptised and when they came up out of the water it was symbolic of being raised or resurrected with Christ. This also fits with the doctrine of Revelation where it says that the second death has no power over them - why? Because they were born again, which is obviously how men escape the wrath of God and enter the Kingdom.

Rev. 20:5-6 (KJV)
...This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ...

I'm going to have to disagree with you and stand with realtruth101.

I believe you are teaching a great error, which will lead many to confusion concerning the millennium, and end-time events. They will be caught "unawares" by what I consider to be your false and erroneous interpretation.

While Christ's death, burial, and resurrection is no doubt a type of our spiritual resurrection, and symbolized by baptism, this is not the first reseurrection. It is a "a resurrection", but not the first.

The only "FIRST" resurrection is when in reference to the LITERAL resurrection in 1 Thess 4:15:

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first." (1 Thess 4:15)

Now pay close attention Codger, if you wish to not be a confused man:

"I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:4-5)

Did you just catch that Codger? The ones who were "beheaded", "came to life". "This IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION!"

The context is clear. The "First Resurrection" is being tied to a literal description of dead people, who died. Being "beheaded" is intrinsically tied to a literal "beheading". To describe it any way is to stretch the scriptures into nonsense.

Notice the next verse:

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)

Now notice what Revelation 20:14 tells us the Second Death is:

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." (Revelation 20:14)

The "Second Death" is being tied to a literal casting into the lake of fire.

If the "Second Death" is literal, then consistency demand that the First Resurrection be literal too, especially in light of the fact that it is being tied to those who had been beheaded.

Your real problem, Codger, is that you are confused on end-times chronology. You see, your main problem is, you cannot see that during the millennium, the earth is going to be void and desolate!

One more time:

The Earth during the millennium will be 100% VOID and DESOLATE!

All scriptures alluding to the "reigning on the earth" is referring to AFTER the millennium, not during. Those scriptures in Isaiah referring to the fact that babies will be born, and people dying at 100---those were "types", which would have happened had Israel remained faithful. But now these "types" will be fulfilled "antitypically"--which means, greater, but not in an identical manner to the Old Testament Types. John has REDEFINED the Old Testament Types, and shows how these OT types will be fulfilled "antitypically".

1. At the Second Coming, ALL saints, dead and living, will be resurrected, and then caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and will reign with Christ for 1000 years in HEAVEN (not earth). This is the FIRST resurrection. The Resurrection of the Righteous.

2. All the wicked will be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's Coming. This will leave the earth 100% void and desolate for the 1000 year millennium.

3. All the saints return with Christ to the earth. The New Jerusalem descends upon the Mount of Olives after Christ's feet touch it, and create a great plain.

4. All the wicked that every lived are resurrected to face the Great White Throne Judgment. This is the Second Resurrection. It is the Resurrection of Damnation. This IS the "Second Death".

All those who are lost will be resurrected in the "Second Resurrection", at the END of the 1000 years. If you are raised when you see Christ in the clouds of heaven, and see your guardian angel, then you know you are in the First Resurrection. If you are raised with myriads of people who were dead before, and you see the New Jerusalem, that "Beloved City", then you will be in the "Second Resurrection", and will know that you are lost.

All the saints that ever lived, from Adam to the last righteous man will be safely within the walls of the New Jerusalem, that "Beloved City". ALL the wicked, with Satan and his hosts will be OUTSIDE the city, on this torn up planet.

These "resurrected nations" are the ones Satan goes to "deceive". Gog and Magog. Does he deceive them in the sense of turning them away from Christ? No, they are already lost. He deceives them in the sense that they should attack the city! That they have a chance, and that he is the "good guy", and that those inside the Holy City are the "bad guys". He'll deceive them to thinking they actually have a chance against the Holy City, and deceives them into marshaling forces against the city.

After the Great White Throne Judgment, and after all the wicked have surrounded the city, fire comes down from heaven and devours ALL the wicked.

This lake of fire will envelop the entire planet, except the spot where the New Jerusalem rests.. The ENTIRE earth will be purified and cleansed with fire, and all wicked beings will be eradicated and completely destroyed. Then God will remove the fire, and the earth will be MADE NEW!

After the earth is made new, and restored back to its Edenic glory, the gates of the New Jerusalem will OPEN, and the saints will go out to possess the land!

This is the the ANTITYPICAL fulfillment of all the land promises made to Israel!

God bless,

Lysimachus

 

[Lysimachus]

For some great studies on the Millennium folks, I recommend the following articles:

The 1000 Year Millennium Reign - Millennial Reign of Christ

The Bible 1000 Year Millennium Reign of Christ

The 1000 Year Millennium Reign - FAQ's

Remember, it is only possible to understand what the "First Resurrection" is ONCE you understand the nature of the millennium. If you do not understand the nature of the millennium, you will forever be trying to solve the mystery of the first resurrection.

The links above will put the chronology in clear perspective. Read the links above in order, slowly and carefully.

God bless,

Lysimachus

 

[realtruth101]

I'm going to have to disagree with you and stand with realtruth101.

I believe you are teaching a great error, which will lead many to confusion concerning the millennium, and end-time events. They will be caught "unawares" by what I consider to be your false and erroneous interpretation.

While Christ's death, burial, and resurrection is no doubt a type of our spiritual resurrection, and symbolized by baptism, this is not the first reseurrection. It is a "a resurrection", but not the first.

The only "FIRST" resurrection is when in reference to the LITERAL resurrection in 1 Thess 4:15:

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first." (1 Thess 4:15)

Now pay close attention Codger, if you wish to not be a confused man:

"I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:4-5)

Did you just catch that Codger? The ones who were "beheaded", "came to life". "This IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION!"

The context is clear. The "First Resurrection" is being tied to a literal description of dead people, who died. Being "beheaded" is intrinsically tied to a literal "beheading". To describe it any way is to stretch the scriptures into nonsense.

Notice the next verse:

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)

Now notice what Revelation 20:14 tells us the Second Death is:

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." (Revelation 20:14)

The "Second Death" is being tied to a literal casting into the lake of fire.

If the "Second Death" is literal, then consistency demand that the First Resurrection be literal too, especially in light of the fact that it is being tied to those who had been beheaded.

Your real problem, Codger, is that you are confused on end-times chronology. You see, your main problem is, you cannot see that during the millennium, the earth is going to be void and desolate!

One more time:

The Earth during the millennium will be 100% VOID and DESOLATE!

All scriptures alluding to the "reigning on the earth" is referring to AFTER the millennium, not during. Those scriptures in Isaiah referring to the fact that babies will be born, and people dying at 100---those were "types", which would have happened had Israel remained faithful. But now these "types" will be fulfilled "antitypically"--which means, greater, but not in an identical manner to the Old Testament Types. John has REDEFINED the Old Testament Types, and shows how these OT types will be fulfilled "antitypically".

1. At the Second Coming, ALL saints, dead and living, will be resurrected, and then caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and will reign with Christ for 1000 years in HEAVEN (not earth). This is the FIRST resurrection. The Resurrection of the Righteous.

2. All the wicked will be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's Coming. This will leave the earth 100% void and desolate for the 1000 year millennium.

3. All the saints return with Christ to the earth. The New Jerusalem descends upon the Mount of Olives after Christ's feet touch it, and create a great plain.

4. All the wicked that every lived are resurrected to face the Great White Throne Judgment. This is the Second Resurrection. It is the Resurrection of Damnation. This IS the "Second Death".

All those who are lost will be resurrected in the "Second Resurrection", at the END of the 1000 years. If you are raised when you see Christ in the clouds of heaven, and see your guardian angel, then you know you are in the First Resurrection. If you are raised with myriads of people who were dead before, and you see the New Jerusalem, that "Beloved City", then you will be in the "Second Resurrection", and will know that you are lost.

All the saints that ever lived, from Adam to the last righteous man will be safely within the walls of the New Jerusalem, that "Beloved City". ALL the wicked, with Satan and his hosts will be OUTSIDE the city, on this torn up planet.

These "resurrected nations" are the ones Satan goes to "deceive". Gog and Magog. Does he deceive them in the sense of turning them away from Christ? No, they are already lost. He deceives them in the sense that they should attack the city! That they have a chance, and that he is the "good guy", and that those inside the Holy City are the "bad guys". He'll deceive them to thinking they actually have a chance against the Holy City, and deceives them into marshaling forces against the city.

After the Great White Throne Judgment, and after all the wicked have surrounded the city, fire comes down from heaven and devours ALL the wicked.

This lake of fire will envelop the entire planet, except the spot where the New Jerusalem rests.. The ENTIRE earth will be purified and cleansed with fire, and all wicked beings will be eradicated and completely destroyed. Then God will remove the fire, and the earth will be MADE NEW!

After the earth is made new, and restored back to its Edenic glory, the gates of the New Jerusalem will OPEN, and the saints will go out to possess the land!

This is the the ANTITYPICAL fulfillment of all the land promises made to Israel!

God bless,

Lysimachus

Hey! Lysimachus what is your take on the three beast being allowed to live a while longer after Christ comes and destroys the fourth beast with the brightness of His coming Daniel 7:12.......I guess I'm not sure who do you think will be on the planet after the millennium for satan to decieve if everyone is destroyed and the earth is void of life?

 

[realtruth101]

I'm going to have to disagree with you and stand with realtruth101.

I believe you are teaching a great error, which will lead many to confusion concerning the millennium, and end-time events. They will be caught "unawares" by what I consider to be your false and erroneous interpretation.

While Christ's death, burial, and resurrection is no doubt a type of our spiritual resurrection, and symbolized by baptism, this is not the first reseurrection. It is a "a resurrection", but not the first.

The only "FIRST" resurrection is when in reference to the LITERAL resurrection in 1 Thess 4:15:

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first." (1 Thess 4:15)

Now pay close attention Codger, if you wish to not be a confused man:

"I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:4-5)

Did you just catch that Codger? The ones who were "beheaded", "came to life". "This IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION!"

The context is clear. The "First Resurrection" is being tied to a literal description of dead people, who died. Being "beheaded" is intrinsically tied to a literal "beheading". To describe it any way is to stretch the scriptures into nonsense.

Notice the next verse:

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)

Now notice what Revelation 20:14 tells us the Second Death is:

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." (Revelation 20:14)

The "Second Death" is being tied to a literal casting into the lake of fire.

If the "Second Death" is literal, then consistency demand that the First Resurrection be literal too, especially in light of the fact that it is being tied to those who had been beheaded.

Your real problem, Codger, is that you are confused on end-times chronology. You see, your main problem is, you cannot see that during the millennium, the earth is going to be void and desolate!

One more time:

The Earth during the millennium will be 100% VOID and DESOLATE!

All scriptures alluding to the "reigning on the earth" is referring to AFTER the millennium, not during. Those scriptures in Isaiah referring to the fact that babies will be born, and people dying at 100---those were "types", which would have happened had Israel remained faithful. But now these "types" will be fulfilled "antitypically"--which means, greater, but not in an identical manner to the Old Testament Types. John has REDEFINED the Old Testament Types, and shows how these OT types will be fulfilled "antitypically".

1. At the Second Coming, ALL saints, dead and living, will be resurrected, and then caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and will reign with Christ for 1000 years in HEAVEN (not earth). This is the FIRST resurrection. The Resurrection of the Righteous.

2. All the wicked will be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's Coming. This will leave the earth 100% void and desolate for the 1000 year millennium.

3. All the saints return with Christ to the earth. The New Jerusalem descends upon the Mount of Olives after Christ's feet touch it, and create a great plain.

4. All the wicked that every lived are resurrected to face the Great White Throne Judgment. This is the Second Resurrection. It is the Resurrection of Damnation. This IS the "Second Death".

All those who are lost will be resurrected in the "Second Resurrection", at the END of the 1000 years. If you are raised when you see Christ in the clouds of heaven, and see your guardian angel, then you know you are in the First Resurrection. If you are raised with myriads of people who were dead before, and you see the New Jerusalem, that "Beloved City", then you will be in the "Second Resurrection", and will know that you are lost.

All the saints that ever lived, from Adam to the last righteous man will be safely within the walls of the New Jerusalem, that "Beloved City". ALL the wicked, with Satan and his hosts will be OUTSIDE the city, on this torn up planet.

These "resurrected nations" are the ones Satan goes to "deceive". Gog and Magog. Does he deceive them in the sense of turning them away from Christ? No, they are already lost. He deceives them in the sense that they should attack the city! That they have a chance, and that he is the "good guy", and that those inside the Holy City are the "bad guys". He'll deceive them to thinking they actually have a chance against the Holy City, and deceives them into marshaling forces against the city.

After the Great White Throne Judgment, and after all the wicked have surrounded the city, fire comes down from heaven and devours ALL the wicked.

This lake of fire will envelop the entire planet, except the spot where the New Jerusalem rests.. The ENTIRE earth will be purified and cleansed with fire, and all wicked beings will be eradicated and completely destroyed. Then God will remove the fire, and the earth will be MADE NEW!

After the earth is made new, and restored back to its Edenic glory, the gates of the New Jerusalem will OPEN, and the saints will go out to possess the land!

This is the the ANTITYPICAL fulfillment of all the land promises made to Israel!

God bless,

Lysimachus

Never mind my previous post I see who you got living in the mil, and I have to say, It won't pan out scripturally, a man has only one life to live and then judgement, you have people who were dead being raised to life to live again......I'm sorry I'm going to have to disagree with that part

 

[Lysimachus]

I am a big fan of the historicism, I think I've seen some of your post on the "late "prophecy talk" website, and am in agreement with you, on almost every part especially the literal interpretation of Rev. 20:4 as being those in the first and only first resurrection of the just. what is your interpretation of the three beast that were allowed to live Daniel 7:12, after Christ coming we see He destroys the beast and false prophet, and all who took the mark and worshipped the beast and his image, yet we see that many nations still in existance, I'm wondering if there are nations and people as decribed in Daniel 11:42 who will escape the hand of the antichrist, and will be allowed to live a bit longer, and those wicked as described being destroyed at Jesus coming are those who allied themselves with the beast and false prophet, who took the mark and worshiped the beast and his image? and the rest are allowed to live out there lives and die natural deaths waiting for their judgement at the end of days, the end of the satans last and final attempt to decieve the world? I'm open to any enlightenment to this via scripture, whats your thoughts?

Hey! Lysimachus what is your take on the three beast being allowed to live a while longer after Christ comes and destroys the fourth beast with the brightness of His coming Daniel 7:12.......I guess I'm not sure who do you think will be on the planet after the millennium for satan to decieve if everyone is destroyed and the earth is void of life?

Thank you realtruth101 for reminding me to come back to this! I got distracted, and I'm sorry

Concerning Daniel 7:12:

"As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time."

Haskell puts it well, where he says that each one, before being destroyed, was merged into the succeeding one. The same truth was represented in chapter four when the tree representing Babylon was cut down, but the roots remained in the ground. The roots represented the foundation principles upon which Babylon was built, and they have remained in the earth ever since. When Medo-Persia fell, she left her principles of government, education, and religion still alive, transmitting them to her posterity, the nations of earth. Greece did likewise, and with each succeeding empire, those foundation principles which were so clearly portrayed in Babylon, which were placed there by the prince of the power of the air, instead of appearing in a weakened state, sprung into life with renewed vigor. So it was that when the fourth kingdom appeared, those principles of government which were the counterfeit of heaven's underlying principles were so strong that no natural beast could symbolize even pagan Rome.

He goes on to say that Rome in religion renewed all the religious errors of Babylon, and in education she followed in the footsteps of her great mother. But as the prophet watched, things still more wonderful appeared. The fourth beast, Rome, which succeeded Greece in 161 b. c., had ten horns, which, said the angel, "are ten kings that shall arise." This fourth beast is identical with the legs of iron in the image shown to Nebuchadnezzar, and the ten horns correspond to the mixture of iron and clay in the feet of that image. Each of the preceding kingdoms had fallen into the hands of some strong general who took the rule, but with Rome the case was different. The details of this history are given in the eighth chapter of Revelation under the symbol of the seven trumpets. Barbarian hordes from the north of Europe and Asia swept over the Roman empire between the years 351 and 483 a. d., crushing the government into ten parts.


A.T. Jones insightfully states:

ALTHOUGH the "iron monarchy of Rome," in the greatness of its strength, broke in pieces all kingdoms, yet the time was to come when it should itself be broken. At the same time that Daniel spoke of the fourth kingdom breaking in pieces and bruising all, he also said: "And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter's clay and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly broken." 1 {1898 ATJ, GEP 591.1}
2. We must now inquire, Of what should this division consist? Into how many parts should Rome be divided? As it is the feet and toes, and particularly the toes, of the image that are spoken of in connection with the division, it would seem that that division is suggested by the number of toes of the image; and as this was the image of a man, there were certainly ten toes. Therefore this would suggest that Rome should be divided into ten parts. {1898 ATJ, GEP 591.2}
3. However, if any one should distrust this suggestion, the point is plainly stated in another part of the book. In the seventh chapter of Daniel, this same series of kingdoms is gone over again under the symbols of "four great beasts," the fourth one of which was declared by the angel to be the fourth kingdom, which shows it to be identical with the iron -- the fourth kingdom of the great image. This fourth beast had also ten horns, which exactly correspond to the ten toes of the image. Further, the angel said plainly of these ten horns that they "are ten kings" that should arise. 2 Therefore we know of a certainty that ten kingdoms were to arise upon the ruins of the Roman power. {1898 ATJ, GEP 591.3}
4. Now we may ask, Where should these ten kingdoms arise? In other words, Are there any clearly defined limits within which the ten kingdoms should be expected to establish themselves? -- There are. {1898 ATJ, GEP 592.1}
5. From the accession of Nebuchadnezzar to the end of the world, these four kingdoms are the only ones that should ever bear universal sway. And each of these in its turn occupied territory peculiar to itself, from which it spread its power over the others. Although the four kingdoms were successive, and although each one in succession spread its power over all the territory of those that had preceded it, yet each one retained its own peculiar distinction from all the others. And this distinction is kept up throughout the book of Daniel, and is even recognized in the book of Revelation, which was written in the time of the supremacy of the fourth kingdom, in a prophecy that was not to be fulfilled till after the establishment of the ten kingdoms. {1898 ATJ, GEP 592.2}
6. The fact of the matter is, these were not only the four universal empires, but they also represent the four divisions of the civilized world at that time, each one of which occupied territory peculiar to itself, and was never confounded with any of the others. Thus, Babylonia was first, and when it was overturned, it was by the united power of Media and Persia, which occupied entirely distinct territory from that of Babylonia proper. Then when the Medo-Persian power was destroyed, it was by the power of Grecia, which arose from a territory entirely distinct from that of Babylon or of Medo-Persia. So likewise, when the Grecian ascendency was destroyed, it was by a power that arose still farther to the west, entirely beyond the territory of Grecia, -- in a territory entirely its own, and distinct from all the others. {1898 ATJ, GEP 592.3}
7. This is all expressed in a single verse in the seventh chapter of Daniel. After the description of the four great beasts which represent these four kingdoms, he says of the fourth beast, that he beheld till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame; then he says of the others: "As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time." (Margin: Chaldee, "A prolonging in life was a given them.") 3 {1898 ATJ, GEP 592.4}
8. This passage, with the point which we here make, is aptly and well illustrated by a passage from Rawlinson. Speaking of the Babylonian monarchy, he says: "Even when this monarchy met its death at the hands of Cyrus the Great, the nationality of the Chaldeans was not swept away. We find them recognized under the Persians, and even under the Parthians, as a distinct people." 4 {1898 ATJ, GEP 593.1}
9. Thus it was with each and with all, -- the dominion was taken away, but the nationality remained; the ruling power was transferred, but the national life continued. It follows, therefore, that, as it was Rome that was to be divided, the division must pertain to the territory that was peculiar to the fourth kingdom, and which had not belonged to any of the three that preceded it. Where was that? We can easily learn. {1898 ATJ, GEP 593.2}
(1) Media and Persia occupied the territory east of the Tigris and the Persian Gulf. {1898 ATJ, GEP 593.3}
(2) Babylonia, the territory from the Tigris to the Arabian Desert. {1898 ATJ, GEP 593.4}
(3) Grecia, from the Hellespont to the Adriatic Sea and northward to about the forty-fifth parallel of latitude. {1898 ATJ, GEP 593.5}
(4) The territory of Rome proper occupied all west of the Danube and the Rhine to the Atlantic and the Frith of Forth; and all of the northern coast of Africa, nearly as far east as to the twentieth degree of longitude. {1898 ATJ, GEP 593.6}
10. Within the boundaries thus marked lay the territory of Rome proper. It was this territory that was peculiar to the fourth kingdom. And it is within the limits drawn under (4) that we are to look for the ten divisions of the fourth kingdom -- the establishment of the ten kingdoms.
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W. W. Prescott said the following:

The fourth beast, little horn and all, was "destroyed," but the rest of the beasts "had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged." When the Babylonian monarchy "met its death at the hands of Cyrus the Great, the nationality of the Chaldees was not swept away." The same was true in the experience of Medo-Persia and Greece. "The ruling power was transferred, but the national life continued." All three have been combined with the fourth kingdom and will meet their death with it. This is also shown in the description given of the beset (identical with the little horn) in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation; "and the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard [Greece], and his feet were as the feet of a bear [Medo-Persia], and his month as the mouth of a lion [Babylon]." Rev. xiii. 2. Thus the whole world will perish in the fall of modern Babylon, except those who heed the call to come out of her.

-----------------------------------------

(Continued...)

 

[Lysimachus]

Uriah Smith states succinctly:

"VERSE 11. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time." {1897 UrS, DAR 136.2}
There are persons who believe in a thousand years' triumph of the gospel and reign of righteousness over all the world before the Lord comes; and there are others who believe in probation after the Lord comes, and a mixed millennium, the immortal righteous still proclaiming the gospel to mortal sinners, and turning them into the way of salvation. But both of these systems of error are completely demolished by the verses before us. {1897 UrS, DAR 136.3}
1. The fourth terrible beast continues without change of character, and the little horn continues to utter its blasphemies, and hold its millions of votaries in the bonds of a blind superstition, till the beast is given to the burning flame; and this is not its conversion, but its destruction. (See 2Thess.2:8) {1897 UrS, DAR 136.4}
2. The life of the fourth beast is not prolonged after its dominion is gone, as were the lives of the preceding beasts. Their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season. The territory and subjects of the Babylonian kingdom still existed, though made subject to the Persians. So of the Persian kingdom in respect to Grecia, and of Grecia in respect to Rome. But what succeeds the fourth kingdom? No government or state in which mortals have any part. Its career ends in the lake of fire, and it has no existence beyond. The lion was merged into the bear; the bear into the leopard; the leopard into the fourth beast; and the fourth beast into what? Not into another beast; but it is cast into the lake of fire, under which destruction it rests till men shall suffer the second death. Then let no one talk of probation or a mixed millennium after the Lord comes.

The adverb then, in the sentence, "I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake," etc., seems to refer to some particular time. The work of the investigative judgment is introduced in the previous verses; and this verse would seem to imply that while this work is going forward, and just before this power is destroyed and given to the burning flame, the little horn utters its great words against the Most High. Have we not heard them, and that, too, within a few years? Look at the decrees of the Vatican Council of 1870. What can be more blasphemous than to attribute infallibility to a mortal man? Yet in that year the world beheld the spectacle of an Ecumenical Council assembled for the purpose of deliberately decreeing that the occupant of the papal throne, the man of sin, possesses thisprerogative of God, and can not err. Can anything be more presumptuous and blasphemous? Is not this the voice of the great words which the horn spake? and is not his power ripe for the burning flame, and near its end? {1897 UrS, DAR 137.1}
"VERSE 13. I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." {1897 UrS, DAR 137.2}
The scene here described is not the second advent of Christ to this earth, unless the Ancient of days is on this earth; for it is a coming to the Ancient of days. There, in the presence of the Ancient of days, a kingdom, dominion, and glory are given him. The Son of man receives his kingdom before his return to this earth. (See Luke 19:10-12 and onward.) This is a scene, therefore, which transpires in the heavenly temple, and is closely connected with that brought to view in verses 9 and 10. He receives the kingdom at the close of his priestly work in the sanctuary. The people, nations, and languages, that shall serve him, are the nations of the saved (Rev.
138
21:24), not the wicked nations of the earth; for these are dashed in pieces at the second advent. Some out of all the nations, tribes, and kindreds of the earth will find themselves at last in the kingdom of God, to serve him there with joy and gladness forever and ever. {1897 UrS, DAR 137.3}
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Keep in mind realtruth101, that Daniel 7:12 is not necessarily written in perfectly chronological order. That's important.

The lives of Babylon, Persia, and Greece have been carried over into Papal Rome.

Daniel 7:12 is simply "backing up", not describing the "next" scene after Daniel verse 11. It is an assumption to say that the beasts are prolonged during the millennium AFTER the fourth beast is slain and given to the burning flame.

The entire subject here in Daniel 7 is pointing to the Investigative Judgment which began in heaven.

This was the year 1844. The end of the 2300 years of Daniel 8:14, which commenced in 457 B.C. (the 70 weeks were "cut off" of the 2300 days).

In 1844 is when the Ancient of Days did sit (in the Most Holy Place), and the Son of Man came before Him into the Holy of Holies.

The Beast receives the "Deadly Wound" in 1798. The "time, times, and dividing of time" = 1260 years. These 1260 years of Papal Supremacy was roughly between 538 A.D. to 1798 A.D. Currently, we are living during the time of the "wounded beast", and the wound has not been fully healed yet.

The wound will be fully healed when Church and State Unite again.

Concerning the nations Satan deceives...

Satan does not deceive any nations during the millennium. The nations he deceives are the "resurrected nations" (Gog and Magog) after they have "come to life" at the END of the millennium. There is no text in Revelation 20 where it says that Satan deceives any nations during the millennium. The only nations that he can deceive are right at the end of the millennium, when all the wicked nations (that died prior and during the second coming) are resurrected.

 

[Lysimachus]

Remember, all the wicked that ever lived are "resurrected" at the end of the millennium. Once they are resurrected, Satan goes out to deceive them. These are the "nations" he goes out to deceive in the four quarters of the earth.

Every wicked person that is lost will receive the "second death". Why is it called the "second death"? Because they died once before at the beginning of the millennium, at the second coming.

If Satan goes out to deceive nations that continued to live during the millennium, the lake of fire would be their "first death", not their "second death".

 

[Lysimachus]

Proof texts concerning a desolated earth during the millennium...with no inhabitants except Satan and his demons:

Regarding the Second Coming, Jeremiah prophesied and said:

“I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was NO MAN, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and ALL the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger. For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end [The wicked have not been judged yet…the “full end” does not come till after the Great White Throne Judgment and the Lake of Fire at the end of the 1000 years]. For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.” (Jeremiah 4:23-28 )

We see here a very clear description here. The context of the passage, though typically attributed to local Israel and Jerusalem, through divine inspiration foreshadowed the end of the world on an apocalyptic scale which never took place in Jeremiah's day. The immediate context calls for 1. ALL the cities of the earth be broken down (not just Jerusalem), 2. The heavens will be "black" with no sunlight, 3. No man, 4. The earth be without form and void.

It may be possible that the "supper of the birds" is symbolic, because in Zephaniah, God will destroy all living creatures at His Second Coming as well:

“‘I will utterly consume everything From the face of the land,’ Says the LORD; ‘I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land,’ Says the LORD.” (Zephaniah 1:2-3 NKJV).

So that would pose a bit of a problem in interpreting the supper of the birds literally. Regardless, the scene being depicted is dead bodies.

When Jesus comes the Second time in the "Day of the Lord", sinners will be destroyed out of it:

“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.” (Isaiah 13:9-13)

There are many many more Old Testament passages that describe the same thing in different wording, so for now, these should suffice.

At this point, we should determine if this is in harmony with the New Testament writings?

Regarding the day when the "Son of man is revealed" (Luke 17:30), notice what Jesus said:

"(34) I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. (35) Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (36) Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (37)And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together."

Interestingly, the "Left Behind" novels have used these texts to support their theory that some will be taken to heaven, and others will be left behind during a 7 year tribulation. The implication, however, in these Left Behind Novels, is that those left behind will be left alive. But this ignores verse 37 where the disciples asked Jesus "where Lord?" The antecedent to "where" in verse 37 is "left" in verse 36. Therefore, it is more than likely that the ones left are the ones not saved. Verse 37 concludes that those who are "left", are "left dead!" Wherever the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together. That's where! While the righteous are taken to heaven, the wicked are left DEAD! Not alive, but DEAD.

Try repeating that to those who believe in a Pre-Trib Rapture, and it will land on deaf ears. lol.

Once again, regarding the Second Coming we have Jeremiah prophesying:

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground. Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture. And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD. He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.” (Jeremiah 25:32-28 )

The implication is clear. Dead bodies will cover the breadth of the earth. They will not be gathered (there is nobody to gather them), they will not be lamented over (there is nobody to lament them, they're all dead), and they will not be buried (there is nobody to bury them). This harmonizes well with Revelation 19:17, 18 and 21 regarding the supper of the birds. What a despicable, horrendous scene!

Not a very appetizing place for people to be living! If the earth is being inhabited by wicked people after the Second Coming, then one must raise the question, why were they not destroyed by the brightness of His coming? If there are any righteous are on the earth during the 1000 years, then we raise another question.... why would God allow them to dwell in such a despicable atmosphere when we know the earth according to Revelation 21 and 22 will not be new until the end of the 1000 years? And why were these righteous saints not caught up to heaven to enjoy the marriage supper of the lamb? How can the earth be habitable with every island and mountain moved out of its place, and all the animals are dead?

The desolated earth theory, in my observation, is the most solid explanation to ALL the dilemmas revolving the rapture. It solves almost every controversy regarding the rapture and millennium problems.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:5, Paul describes the Second Coming. Verse 15 calls it "the COMING [parousia] of the Lord", and verse 16 says the "Lord shall DESCEND FROM HEAVEN". Describing this single event, all the saints are raptured into heaven, but chapter 5 and verse 2 and 3 describes that when the Lord comes, "sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape". So we see here that the wicked receive "sudden destruction", while the saints are "caught up" into the clouds.

Before the wicked are destroyed, God will first allow them to live long enough so that they might see Christ in the clouds:

"(14) And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. (15) And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; (16) And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (17) For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Revelation 6:14-17)

We see in the following that the punishment of remaining living wicked takes place at the Second Coming at the same time the righteous are "relieved":

“God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 NIV)

We see pretty clearly, therefore, that the righteous are given "relief" and the wicked receive "trouble" AT the Second Coming, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels!

1 Thess 2:19 says "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? [Are] not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?"

Hence, we see that the rapture, which is the blessed hope, commences at the same event of the presence and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul is writing to the Church.

Speaking to the Church again, Paul writes:

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones."

Wow, Paul, who is writing to the Church, is appealing to them that they (the Church) might be blameless when Jesus comes with all his holy ones!!!

So are there any more passages that describe the condition of the earth after the Second Coming?

Yes there is. Here we go:

“Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof [Some people have argued that “scattering the inhabitants” proves there are people on the earth. No, they are scattered all over the earth, but destroyed. Cross-reference with Psalms 92:9 which says “thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.”--plus Psalm 68:2 says "Let the wicked perish at the presence of God"]. . . . The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word." (Isaiah 24:1,3)

What is the fate of Lucifer and his demonic hosts, along with the earth?

Let us read:

“Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth [Satan inhabiting the earth]. And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit [the grave]; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high [These are Satan's hosts...they were "high ones" cast out of heaven], and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited [punished - NKJV] [Cross-reference with Revelation 20:5 – “the rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years are finished”]. Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously [This is the end of the 1000 years, after the New Jerusalem has come down out of heaven]” (Isaiah 24:17-23)

We see here a small overview of the "gathering of the wicked" into the pit, and their final punishment will not come until after many days. It is during the millennium that the earth will be left in a chaotic state.

Is there more concerning Lucifer's fate? There sure is:

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? [another reference to the resurrection of the wicked at the end of the 1000 years] All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house [Job 17:13 – “If I wait, the grave is mine house”]. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned. Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.” (Isaiah 14:12-21)

We see small inferences here and there from Isaiah concerning the fate of Lucifer. He will be the "raiment (remaining) of those that are slain". This is why in Revelation 20 we see that Satan will not be able to deceive the nations, because all the kings of the earth are DEAD, and Satan cannot deceive them! He will not deceive them until they are all resurrected at the Second Resurrection, and this is why all the wicked receive the "SECOND DEATH"! Because they all died ONCE BEFORE!

 

[Lysimachus]

"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep [Greek Septuagint: abussos]. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:2)

The Greek word is abussos, meaning anything “vast” and “empty.” This Greek word translates to the Hebrew word tehom. In Job 14:31 and Genesis 1:2, this word represents the vast ocean. In Psalm 71:20 this word represents the depths of the earth. Revelation 20:1 – 3 shows that Satan will be chained to this vast, empty, and desolate world for 1,000 years. Jeremiah in chapter 4:23-29 picks up the SAME language of Genesis 1:2 and describes what will happen to the earth as a result of the Second Coming when all the cities are broken down.

If you weigh ALL the pieces of the biblical puzzle, an amazing picture begins to emerge! It is impossible to read the Bible in perfect chronological order, therefore, we must develop our chronological puzzle piece by piece, and deduction upon deduction.

It should be remembered that when it comes to chronology (order of events), I try to leave out the book of Revelation as much as possible, as the book of Revelation is the worst book to be used in trying to decipher chronological events. For example, if you read Revelation 20 in chronological order, you could conclude that Satan will be loosed twice (verses 3 and 7), that there will be dead wicked resurrected 3 times (verses 5, 8, 13), and that there are 3 or 4 lakes of fires (verses 9, 10, 14, and 15--and Revelation 21:8 repeats the lake of fire). If you read Revelation 20 in this style, suddenly, Revelation will make absolutely no sense. Therefore, Revelation must be read in conjunction with the literal events described in all the other books of the Bible without the symbolism, and also harmonize the Old Testament typologies. Then you must deduce the events accordingly, and arrange them in the only logical format that the Bible will allow.

For those of you interested in learning more about the poetic style of Revelation, I invite you to evaluate The Chiastic Structure of Revelation (This is a link, click). It is quite enlightening, and will aid you when reading the book of Revelation. The only way to make any sense of the book of Revelation is to:

1. Recognize the symbolic language being employed.

2. Recognize the poetic chiasm of the book...where the order of events are reversed, and they converge to a climax in the center. Not only are the chapters in a chiasm to each other, but much of the written content of each chapter within is written in a chiasm as well.

3. Recognize that sometimes the symbolic language being employed encompasses a "multitude of events", and is not written to convey chronology, rather "concepts" for spiritual attainment and character development in our personal lives.

4. Recognize Old Testament typology, and realize that many of the things written in the Old Testament concerning local Israel was a type of a much greater climax at the end of the world. Books such as Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Amos, Zechariah, etc. etc. are all books for which John derived his messages from, and reveals their Antitypical fulfillments. Antitypes are always similar, but much greater than the type. The word "antitupos" in Greek (which the New Testament employs quite extensively) literally means "in place of the type".

5. Recognize that Old Testament descriptions of the Second Coming when Christ will come to punish the inhabitants of the earth are written all very literally.​

Going back to Revelation 19:11-16, we see this to be another description of Second Coming, although much symbolic language is being employed. For example, we know that Christ is not literally going to ride a White Horse, as a White Horse is a symbol of purity and the Gospel Herald. For example, Revelation 6:2-8 describes the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse...first beginning with a White Horse and its rider with a Bow, and then it goes on to describe a Red Horse, a Black Horse, and a Pale Horse...all with riders. These first 4 seals (4 horsemen) have been identified by nearly all Christian expositors (up to about 1850 or so), as periods of Church history, commencing with the early apostolic Church founded by the 12 apostles and in its pure state--and Christ was its rider shooting the arrows of salvation and conviction to the hearts of men (Psalms 64:7; Habakkuk 3:8,9) , and then the Red Horse represents the time the Church was persecuted (in the times of Emperor Nero and Diocletian), the Black Horse the time during the Dark Ages when the scriptures were forbidden and the truth was cast to the ground, the Pale Horse reflects the reformation era when the Papacy dominated at least 1/4th of the earth, etc. etc.

Now going back to Revelation 19:11-16, I want you to notice something interesting. First, the term "rule with a rod of iron" does not mean that Christ will keep them alive during the thousand years. The ruling has been going on, but now this "rod of iron" comes into full fruition at the Second Coming, which is at the beginning of the 1000 years. If you read past verse 16, we get a more complete picture:

"(17) And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; (18 ) That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of ALL men, both free and bond, both small and great. [Note, at this point, John now backs up and fills in more details:] (19) And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. (20) And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. [Note: At this point again, John backs up and repeats verse 17 above] (21) And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." (Revelation 19:17-21)

The end result? All the wicked are dead as a result of Christ coming. While the birds are having a feast, often termed "The Supper of the Birds", with all the flesh of the kings and captains of the earth, the saints are in heaven at the Marriage supper of the lamb. Keep in mind, John is constantly backing up and repeating and adding more details. He's not writing in chronological order.

"(7) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (8 ) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (9) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." (Revelation 19:7-9)

Now I want you to ask yourself a question. Where is this "marriage supper of the lamb?" All we have to do is back up to verse 1 and 2.

"And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: (2) For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great harlot, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand." (Revelation 19:1,2)

Can you see a little clearer now how Revelation is written? Revelation 19:1 starts at the END...after the harlot has been judged. We see, therefore, that while the Saints are in Heaven enjoying the Marriage Supper of the lamb, the Vultures are on the earth having a feast on the earth, devouring the flesh of all the dead bodies that cover the earth. Now whether these birds are symbolic, or real, I know not. But it does not really matter. Even if these birds are real, once they run out of flesh, they will die.

Let us keep in mind that Revelation 20 simply backs up and repeats parts of 19. But the end or result of the Second Coming on the earth is dead bodies strewn everywhere.