These articles always strengthen my faith and make me appreciate our God more and more.
To be candid about reality and the elect's place in it is sure to cause some hatred from the nonbelievers. I can see how we could and will become public enemy number 1
I've read your books, very sincere. But honestly, it isn't obvious to me that there is a Millenial reign as such. It's a word for now and forever. A symbolic number like so many others. Just as “Israel” means the church. It also is less speculative and more simple.
If 1,000 years is a symbolic number meaning eternity, how do you account for the Second Resurrection that only happens after it? And how do you account for the release of Satan from the bottomless pit and subsequent war of Gog and Magog?
Not sure, but the first resurrection could simply be being born again. I've never understood Gog and Magog. It's possible that the language of releasing Satan is that it's not so much a place, but a lessening of restraint in time before Christ returns. A physical Millenium holds many contradictions and even my first encounter with the mention of it, I even assumed it meant "forever." Forever is also a fitting way of closing the Word. After all, the "two witnesses" are obviously the OT and the NT...I think a lot of the Bible is really emphasizing the Glory of Christ and our wonderful future to be in His embrace forever.
What are the "many contradictions" of a physical millennium? The Gog and Magog battle is very straightforward if you just read Revelation, they are led by Satan (who is freshly released AFTER the literal 1,000 years) and this army surrounds the city where Jesus rules from, and then God destroys them all. Where did these nations suddenly come from? From the Second Resurrection, which is clearly said to happen after the 1,000 years.
There is no way that the Millennial Kingdom could be metaphorical because there are clear, important, negative, world-changing events that happen only after it. You sound well-intentioned and open minded, so I hope you'll reassess those assumptions. (I also assumed it wasn't a literal 1,000 years until I did a deep study for myself.)
When dealing with spiritual things, what is a "battle?"...I think the victory on the cross means Christ reigns now. Satan remains active in this world but always loses. Christ himself and Paul never made these references, so that's a problem too. I have an open mind but cannot say that I understand it based on the language. I do think that the history of the world and the "church" are in Revelation but am not sure why there would be a millennium or an extra chapter. Let's put it this way, God could destroy Satan at any time. Why have an extra timeline beyond this one? It seems right that Christ's return is a time ending event. My mind is open, but its enough to experience Gospel truth, beyond that feels very speculative.
These articles always strengthen my faith and make me appreciate our God more and more.
To be candid about reality and the elect's place in it is sure to cause some hatred from the nonbelievers. I can see how we could and will become public enemy number 1
I've read your books, very sincere. But honestly, it isn't obvious to me that there is a Millenial reign as such. It's a word for now and forever. A symbolic number like so many others. Just as “Israel” means the church. It also is less speculative and more simple.
If 1,000 years is a symbolic number meaning eternity, how do you account for the Second Resurrection that only happens after it? And how do you account for the release of Satan from the bottomless pit and subsequent war of Gog and Magog?
Not sure, but the first resurrection could simply be being born again. I've never understood Gog and Magog. It's possible that the language of releasing Satan is that it's not so much a place, but a lessening of restraint in time before Christ returns. A physical Millenium holds many contradictions and even my first encounter with the mention of it, I even assumed it meant "forever." Forever is also a fitting way of closing the Word. After all, the "two witnesses" are obviously the OT and the NT...I think a lot of the Bible is really emphasizing the Glory of Christ and our wonderful future to be in His embrace forever.
What are the "many contradictions" of a physical millennium? The Gog and Magog battle is very straightforward if you just read Revelation, they are led by Satan (who is freshly released AFTER the literal 1,000 years) and this army surrounds the city where Jesus rules from, and then God destroys them all. Where did these nations suddenly come from? From the Second Resurrection, which is clearly said to happen after the 1,000 years.
There is no way that the Millennial Kingdom could be metaphorical because there are clear, important, negative, world-changing events that happen only after it. You sound well-intentioned and open minded, so I hope you'll reassess those assumptions. (I also assumed it wasn't a literal 1,000 years until I did a deep study for myself.)
When dealing with spiritual things, what is a "battle?"...I think the victory on the cross means Christ reigns now. Satan remains active in this world but always loses. Christ himself and Paul never made these references, so that's a problem too. I have an open mind but cannot say that I understand it based on the language. I do think that the history of the world and the "church" are in Revelation but am not sure why there would be a millennium or an extra chapter. Let's put it this way, God could destroy Satan at any time. Why have an extra timeline beyond this one? It seems right that Christ's return is a time ending event. My mind is open, but its enough to experience Gospel truth, beyond that feels very speculative.