I believe that God has spoken.
That the Scriptures are inspired Truth. I believe that the Bible not only contains the Words of God, but it is in fact, and in truth, the very Words of God Itself. I believe that all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

I believe that this full inspiration applies equally to Genesis as to Revelation. That Moses, when he wrote concerning the creation, or the flood that Mathew, when he recorded the life of the Lord Jesus; and that Paul, when he revealed the Mystery which God had kept secret since the foundation of the world, that these all were equally and fully inspired. For there can be but one result of a heart belief in the inspired Scripture, and that would be unconditional, and hearty, obedience. To those who believe that God has spoken, no argument can be advanced that will excuse disobedience.

This brings the conclusion, that all Scripture, being God’s truth, becomes the only rule of faith and practice, and demands wholehearted obedience and commands. Immediately brought to bear are the facts that there are some commands that I have never obeyed, and that there are penalties connected with them. We do not get far in Genesis, when we already come upon a problem. God enjoined upon Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and used such words as these, to show the importance, the uncircumcised shall be cut off from his people. Again in Exodus, the observation of the Feast of Passover is said to be an ordinance forever, that whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. Again in Exodus we read a law to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work.

In Numbers they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day, and they brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Regarding the Sabbath, we have the words, over and above, that soul shall surely be cut off from among his people, and Leviticus threatens the same for eating flesh with the blood, and in Leviticus again threatens the same for not observing the day of atonement. And Numbers threatens the same for anyone who are not sprinkled through the water of separation for touching a dead body, or probably better rendered a dead soul, or even a bone or a grave.

It must be evident that if the conclusion made at the first stands, then we are faced with a series of facts that are of the most serious character. And it will probably come to your mind, that Paul made some very contradictory statements.
Paul said,
“I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing”. Here we find the exact opposite to what we did in Genesis. Moses says the uncircumcised shall be cut off, while Paul says the circumcised are cut off from Any benefit from Christ.
Or in Colossians, it says
“let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath”.
Here again, Paul sweeps aside the law regarding the feasts, fasts, and Sabbaths. And he goes on to say, “Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you”, (or for you), “lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain”, speaking to the Galatians.

If we believe that Moses and Paul were equally inspired, how is it then, that one tells us what God commanded, the other tells us equally, and what positively contradicts, and sets aside what the other has told us? The answer is,
that God has spoken to His people at different times with different messages. And before we can render real obedience to the Scriptures, then we must learn to discern how to distinguish the difference between these dispensations, as they are called. And only afterwards seek to apply this, not being driven on every wind of doctrine.

A most important division being covered are found in the words “law” and “grace”. John puts it succinctly as he said,
“And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”. Latent in the original, surrounding text, is found the paraphrases,

because out of His fullness have all we received, even the grace of New Testament realities, instead of the grace of types and shadows. For the law, was given through Moses as the channel, but true grace, the antitypical blessings of the Gospel came into being through Jesus Christ as the Creator.

It can be seen that we pass from the grace set forth in types, to the true grace set forth in Christ. In Hebrews we read, “the law made nothing perfect”, its priests were sinners themselves and were all subject to death, and their sacrifices never took away sin, nor touched the conscience. Christ’s coming and works, sets it entirely aside.
Paul says in Galatians,
“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace”. That is, you are fallen from the grace principal.

Now there is a fundamental principal, a key to interpretation. We now reach a conclusion, and the recognition of which is of the highest and utmost importance, in seeking to understand the mind and will of God and His word. It becomes manifest that it is not sufficient for us to find just any chapter and verse for any article of our faith, important as that is. We must also be sure, that the scripture we quote is written concerning the dispensation that applies to us. The apostle Paul, who is vitally connected to us, has expressed this principal in the following passage:

“Study”, :earnestly endeavor: “to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed”, :and here’s the kernel of it: “rightly dividing the word of truth”.

For those who wish to argue, let them go right on. Without even using this verse of Paul’s. The Lord Himself set this principal forth the first time He stood up to teach in the temple. In fact, we have several teachings from the word, where we see great distances when going from one part of the verse to the other. Our Lord in His opening ministry proceeds to read the verse from Isaiah, and He closes the Book in mid verse. “To preach the acceptable year of the Lord”, and then said, “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears”. If He had continued reading that verse, He would have read, “and the day of vengeance of our God”, a day which is connected with the millennial blessings of Israel, when they become priests of the Lord, and receive double for their shame. This was not fulfilled in the days of Christ’s ministry. Over 1,900 years separate those words, which in our KJ or AV are divided merely by a comma. A 1,900 year long comma. Think therefore how important this principal must be, of rightly dividing the word of God’s in our understanding and practice.

It will be of importance to observe one other feature. The words omitted in Luke 4 were not set aside, they were simply reserved for their own proper place, and are found way over in Luke 21. 22. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. So from Luke 4, to Luke 21, is a gap of over 1,900 years from, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord – to - the days of vengeance. So rightly dividing the word recognizes all Scriptures. It does not cut out unpopular doctrine. It just apportions all Scripture according to God’s purpose. Paul makes a division between Jew, Gentile, and church of God in one verse.
Jew,
was unconditionally blessed through Abraham, re to make out of him a great nation, for the time, you see, “concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes For the gifts and calling of God are without change of mind. We must therefore, leave large room for the working out for the divine purpose, concerning their restoration, their land, and through them, and their blessings to the gentiles.
Gentile,
While the blessings through the Jew, in the full sense awaits restoration, for God said to Abraham For in thee and thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed, there are some portions of the word that refer to the nations as such, the time of their supremacy, their dispersion and the responsibilities of the powers that be. But the Scriptures which speak of the Jew or the Gentile do not necessarily contain the word of God for the Church.
Church brings us into an entirely larger scope which the various aspects to which all pieces fitly join together to form one complete course of God’s dispensational management.

The object in view, is for the exercised believer to see the blessing and the glory which God has reserved until the dispensation of the mystery.

1. to follow the principal
2. its application
3. that the exercised student of the word can be led to the truth without the help of a license or a school or a special knowledge himself
4. that the dividing line of the church as truth for today is found in Acts 28. 28, where we read,

“Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles”.
It is only after this point that Paul is able to reveal what is called the dispensation of the mystery, and which strictly applies to us as the church, not  intimately connected to the Jewish synagogue, and we are not graphed in to Israel an un naturall wild olive tree as they were before this dispensational boundry was revealed.

It is in this newly revealed truth, that the body of believers called the church which is His body may find its instructions from the Lord, for find our calling, and our peculiar blessings which are exclusively our own and in no way connected to that of any of God’s other people beyond being sinners who return to dust, saved by the Holy Blood of the risen Christ on the tree.

Acts 28, Paul is in bonds (chains) for the hope of Israel.
Following Acts, Paul is a prisoner of the Lord for the hope of you gentiles/nations/ethnos (Eph3.1).

God has divided this and marked it with an apostle to the nations.  We are not to be mixing it up to make an amalgomated invention and also be rightly dividing the word of truth.  Rather we are to be acknowledging what God has divided, respecting the Lord and trusting Him to direct our paths, guarding the unity of the Spirit, till we all come to the unity of the faith,
and the
KNOWLEDGE OF HIM.
[right][snapback]9042[/snapback][/right]

and the Divine and final authority for the Christian faith and life.

care to expound upon what you mean by that statement?

I'm a little lost and concerned..... but I'll hold off for a second until further clarification....
[right][snapback]20383[/snapback][/right]

Thanks Shekel,

I know that 

Some go to statement of beliefs first.
[right][snapback]20516[/snapback][/right]

[center]Statement of Beliefs [/center]

We believe in one God, the Creator and sustainer of all things; eternal, perfect, and manifested in three persons as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe the Holy Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, the inerrant and entire revelation of God's will for salvation, and the Divine and final authority for the Christian faith and life.

We believe Jesus Christ was God manifested in the flesh, true God and true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to the Virgin Mary.

We believe in His sinless life, His miraculous ministry, His substitutionary death on the cross as atonement for our sins, His bodily resurrection from the dead, and His ascension into heaven to serve as our intercessor before the Father.

We believe that Jesus will literally and bodily return again at the end of this age and destroy the antichrist and his armies, which will usher in a reign of peace on earth known as the millennial reign of Christ.
[right][snapback]834[/snapback][/right]

Oh come on, Sheckel.......it's your statement, after all, and your forum!  even if someone else would have an issue over it!  

leia
[right][snapback]20760[/snapback][/right]

I am in agreement with the beleifs of this forum.
But as of the Rapture it makes no difference to me when it happens, but to be always ready.
I must add, I beleive that the Kingdom of God is within each redeemed beleiver...repented of their sins, and truly in that repentance beleives that they are forgiven...and we are dead but now we live IN CHRIST JESUS.
It is a lifetime walk and a learning and discerning walk. And I beleive he is the Finisher of our Faith..but in that we surrender our will to his will be done...even if it lacks understanding...we walk by Faith and Trust in HIM. And just like Job we will all be tested for our Faith..we HOPE IN HIM, we pray and make sacrafices(get rid of) of the things of this world that lead us away from his holiness but walk to be complete and whole through his WORD=HOLY SPIRIT....and the covenant between God and us, and love of God and each other, in humility and humbleness we come to be his servant in obedience and faith, lacking in understanding for his ways are not our ways, but surrendering it all to him through prayer and a desire to be a child of God....and joy in surrender.
I also beleive the CHURCH is not a building or a denomination....but in each stone will crumble down...but one STONE REMAINS to build on...the CORNER STONE that everyone rejected...JESUS our RISEN LORD...I beleive in the Ressurection...and when he returns all will bow down to Worship King of King and LORD of LORDS.
what a day that will be...although we feel him building his kingdom within our hearts and minds daily, molding us and strenghthening us through FAITH IN HIM, grounded in love.
HE IS  A MIGHTY GOD...and won't take NO for an answer to those he draws to him. for they will be troubled and discouraged when they seek their own answers...But he said I AM the GREAT I AM...He is the ANSWER...so what is the question?
[right][snapback]20911[/snapback][/right]

I am in agreement with the beleifs of this forum.
But as of the Rapture it makes no difference to me when it happens, but to be always ready.
I must add, I beleive that the Kingdom of God is within each redeemed beleiver...repented of their sins, and truly in that repentance beleives that they are forgiven...and we are dead but now we live IN CHRIST JESUS.
It is a lifetime walk and a learning and discerning walk. And I beleive he is the Finisher of our Faith..but in that we surrender our will to his will be done...even if it lacks understanding...we walk by Faith and Trust in HIM. And just like Job we will all be tested for our Faith..we HOPE IN HIM, we pray and make sacrafices(get rid of) of the things of this world that lead us away from his holiness but walk to be complete and whole through his WORD=HOLY SPIRIT....and the covenant between God and us, and love of God and each other, in humility and humbleness we come to be his servant in obedience and faith, lacking in understanding for his ways are not our ways, but surrendering it all to him through prayer and a desire to be a child of God....and joy in surrender.
I also beleive the CHURCH is not a building or a denomination....but in each stone will crumble down...but one STONE REMAINS to build on...the CORNER STONE that everyone rejected...JESUS our RISEN LORD...I beleive in the Ressurection...and when he returns all will bow down to Worship King of King and LORD of LORDS.
what a day that will be...although we feel him building his kingdom within our hearts and minds daily, molding us and strenghthening us through FAITH IN HIM, grounded in love.
HE IS  A MIGHTY GOD...and won't take NO for an answer to those he draws to him. for they will be troubled and discouraged when they seek their own answers...But he said I AM the GREAT I AM...He is the ANSWER...so what is the question?
[right][snapback]20911[/snapback][/right]

Greetings.

I want to ask question about the Rapture. Does anyone know exactly where the rapture is cited in the Bible?

When I looked into it myself I was puzzled that the "concept" of the rapture was first poised by a man named John Nelson Darby back in 1827 (?). This bothered me because the rapture was referenced by a person and no mention of scripture as the source. Please, if someone can explain. Thank you.

Robert.
[right][snapback]27956[/snapback][/right]

BYE BYE!!!!!!!! I'm outta here!



Actually the word, RAPTURE is not in the Bible....there is something like 'Caught up in the Clouds.....anyways here is a good site:

http://biblia.com/coming/rapture.htm
[right][snapback]27961[/snapback][/right]

Wow, thanks Marta, I read that link and it say's somethings that others would find disturbing or will be confused.

For one, the author of the web site cites that "in the only one Second Coming of Christ, the earth melts by fire, there is no one left on earth!"

Further he states the rapture happens after the great millenium, and that it coincides with the day of the Lord "he comes like a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10)

He cites Isaiah 51:6 which basically states the same in 2 Peter 3:10. It sounds to me like all these thing are sudden and fast, like the rapture happens at a moment notice followed by the earth engulfed in fire. Doesn't sound like much time is had in between the rapture and the destruction of heaven and earth...
[right][snapback]27977[/snapback][/right]

Agreed...soon as you head down a road you find a new sign post pointing another direction?  
[right][snapback]28077[/snapback][/right]

Robert, I agree and like the way you think.
I have a problem: I see the logic in all the arguments

If you explain pre-trib I will understand and believe you and if somebody comes along with a logic post-trib, well then I understand them.I have been a Christian for almost 30 years and I have never settled this in my mind.
Cornelius
[right][snapback]28106[/snapback][/right]

Hi robert 

I am a post-trib rapture believer. People tend to get overly passionate about their rapture timing beliefs which is sad because rapture timing should not be seen as a central doctrine of our faith. It is a disputable matter. We should not be straining at a gnat.

You asked for my input on the matter. Well i will post what i have posted on earlier threads related to rapture.

The Day of the Lord is the Day of the Messiah's Second Coming Jesus describes what will happen on that day. I will bold the words i wish you to take close note of.

Matthew 24
27For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

So After the tribulation Jesus will return and gather the elect to Him.

There is another Rapture verse spoken of by Jesus that links the Day of the Lord to the Rapture.

Luke 17
29but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31" In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32Remember Lot's wife. 33Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left."

When will the Son of Man (Messiah Jesus) be revealed? At His second coming the Day of the Lord. Who will take the sleeping man and the woman grinding and the man working in the field? The angels sent out in Matthew 24 verse 21

It is also nice to note that Jesus revealed that this will be a world wide event because at the time of His return it will be day on one half of the world "In that day" and it will be night on the other half of the world "in that night"

  Also this will be an event that will take place in a twinkling of an eye Paul reveals the rapture and its timing at the Last trumpet this scripture is probably the best rapture supporting scripture in the bible:


1 Corrinthians15:
49And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

Here Paul is saying that as we inhabit earthly bodies derived from dust so shall we inhabit new bodies changed and not made of dust. Paul goes on to explain why:


50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

So the bodies that we inhabit cannot enter the Kingdom of God and also "corruption" dead bodies must also be changed also. Then Paul reveals a mystery:


51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

So Paul is saying that "we shall not all sleep" now I hope everyone can agree that he is talking about physical death here? Paul is saying not everyone will experience physical death. He goes on to say that "we shall all be changed" both the dead and the living "in a moment", now at this point it could be argued that both the dead and the living could be changed in a moment in time, but at different times. That is to say the moment is only referring to the time it takes to change, not at the same moment. But we read on and Paul states the moment will be. "in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet." So not only shall both the living and the dead be changed to inherit the Kingdom of God But they will both change at the same moment, at the last trumpet. As He goes on to say "For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." Paul goes on to explain it in more detail:


53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory.

So here again we see Paul referring to the two states of being that the saints will be in at the time of the 1st Resurrection/Rapture "So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality," Dead saints and living saints caught up together in a twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet.

So from what we have read the first resurrection and the rapture (although different experiences for them that take part) will happen at the same instant in time at the last trumpet.

So now we go on to the next scripture:


Revelation10

7but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. 

Now the sounding of the seventh Angel is the last of a series of seven trumpets in revelation. Note that the scripture says the "Mystery of God would be finished" now the coming of the Messiah has been described by scripture at a coming in the sky (a darkened sky) and all people will see Him. Now after this event there will be on ifs or buts about the Mystery of God because all will see that God is and who He is. Everyone will know from that moment on, there will be no Mystery left. As for the darkening of the sky this is described as happening beforehand on the sounding of the forth trumpet:


Revelation 8
12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.


Now This brings up the belief in two resurrections. The resurrection of the saints that happens at the second coming and the resurrection of the rest of mankind at the end of the 1000 years for the great final Judgement. The Book of Revelation chapter 20 clearly states that their will be two distinct resurrections one at the return of the Messiah Jesus and another at the end of the 1000 year reign of the Messiah Jesus:


Revelation 20
The Saints Reign with Christ 1000 Years
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

satanic Rebellion Crushed
(1) 7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where[2] the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.


The Great White Throne Judgment
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,[3] and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books



I hope this has been a blessing to you Robert    But no matter what you come to believe on the issue of rapture timing as long as we are ready to die today and face the Lord we are ready for rapture no matter when it happens and we are ready for tribulation no matter where it comes from  



All Praise The Ancient Of Days
[right][snapback]28178[/snapback][/right]

Greetings to all.
True that no one knows the day or hour but when Christ does return it will be the last day for all.
Amen Love Robert.
[right][snapback]28319[/snapback][/right]

Or just the beginning...

"When we've been there ten thousand years bright shining as the sun" (Amazing Grace)
[right][snapback]28346[/snapback][/right]

Greetings to all.

I will share with you my feelings, I pray are inspired by the Holy Spirit.  A few days ago I had poured over the Book of Revelation hoping to get a better understanding of the events.  But something curious struck me when I read Revelation 20:10.  Its the passage where Satan is defeated and Christ casts him into the sea of fire.  I read this part before, but immediately after this is judgement and the earth and heaven are gone (Revelation 20:11).  I was struck by the expediency on how the Lord comes, defeats Satan and then "poof" judgement day.  Then Marta showed me a site that talked about the rapture and there was 2 Peter 3:10, and it says almost the same thing but differently.  I was taken a little by this and saddened because this is what this meant to me.

That on the last day of the earth shall be the day of Judgement, and on that day God shall come.  When he comes the enemy is surely defeated, but the old earth and heaven will vanish the same.

The debate and belief by many Christians (and I to had believed this) has been that when Christ returns he will defeat the enemy and set up his one thousand years.  But Christ returns only once, not twice, so when he does return that day will also be judgement day.  This means no millennium rule awaits, but only that the millennium rule has already happened to keep the scripture true.

Then I was enlighten to think of "waiting for staff in hand."  I searched the Bible and came across Exodus 12:11. 

"And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover. "

This passage is about the time when the Israelis were ready to depart the land of Egypt, and this is what this passage means to me.  That "ye shall eat" is a reference to the things that we do daily, go to work, school, pay taxes, raise our children and soforth.  But "your staff in your hand" tells me be ready to be taken up, it will be fast.  Don't lean your staff against a wall or don't be like others who have no staff in hand but that just eat (that is, to go about their daily business).  What is your staff? It is faith in Jesus Christ, he is your staff! And have it in hand!

True that no one knows the day or hour but when Christ does return it will be the last day for all.
Amen

Love

Robert.
[right][snapback]28319[/snapback][/right]

Adstar

show me where in scripture that it says Jesus sets up his 1000 years ON EARTH???
[right][snapback]28575[/snapback][/right]

Lets go through the steps. parragraph by parragraph.

Revelation 20
The Saints Reign with Christ 1000 Years
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

So we shall reign with Him. If we are reigning with Him who are we reigning over?????

Lets go back to Revelation 19 that describes the return of the Messiah Jesus.

Revelation 19
13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.

Jesus will rule who with a Rod of Iron? Would He rule us His saints with a Rod of Iron??? No He will rule the nations with a Rod of Iron not His saints.

Lets go on with chapter 20 and see where it says that we saints will be on earth at the end of the 1000 years.

Revelation 20
satanic Rebellion Crushed
7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.10The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where 2 the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

So satans army Gog and Magog will come to the kingdom and suround the "camp of the saints and the beloved city" the beloved city is Jerusalem the camp of the saints will be on earth near Jerusalem.

This battle is not the battle of Armmagedon the beast and the false prophet will be captured and thrown into the lake of fire at the battle of Armmageddon note how Revelation 20 verse 10 states

Revelation 20
10The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where 2 the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The beast and the false prophet are already there in the lake of fire before satan is cast into it. When where they cast into the lake of fire? lets go back to Revelation 19 when Jesus defeats the army of the AC at the battle of Armmageddon.

Revelation 19
20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Note Just after this scripture in the start of the next chapter 20 it tells us what will happen to satan for the 1000 years:

Revelation 20:
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is [the] Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

So satan is not cast into the lake of fire like the beast and the false prophet when Jesus returns. He is chained and cast into the bottomless pit for 1000 years while Jesus rules the earth.

So there are two great battles seperated by 1000 years when we saints will Rule the earth with Jesus.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days
[right][snapback]28581[/snapback][/right]