Hi John and Doves,
For the many years since about 1984 I have been watching off and on for christs return,
since a NZ preacher Barry Smith had books and tapes about the soon end.
I had been hoping for "a rest", but as I read some bible verses like the below, I am
wondering if instead of much of a rest, we are being "trained" for hard but satisfying work
with Jesus Christ in the 1000 years of Christs reign on earth.
After all, if we were just going to get to lounge around on a hammock with the birds tweeting, then
why would there be such a need to push us to learn and train for holiness and good works?
Looking at these verses
Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Above all, put on love — the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15 HCSB
A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
James 1:12 HCSB
By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.
James 1:18 HCSB
(We are being trained. We have new birth.
Are we to be like the Angels? (some verses somewhere says "we will not marry, but we will be like the angels"), so will we be like angels
and work with Christ for the 1000 years, and help make Christs Kingdom the ideal kingdom?
If christ is ruling in Jerusalem for 1000 years, wouldn't we want to be here with him anyway!?
This verse below points to "Citizenship in heaven" and "we will have glorified bodies", but maybe this doesnt mean we will "be" in heaven, but
maybe like the angels doing work back and forth???
but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.
Philippians 3:20-21 HCSB
(It seems to me that there are 3 things
trials
new birth
hope
but what is the hope...?
earth or heaven? in the 1000 years, or maybe wandering back and forth between like the angels seem to do...
I guess it is with Jesus whatever the case.
Revelation 20 seems to be about the 1000 years
20:2 He seized the dragon, that ancient
serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and
bound him for a thousand years.
They came to life and
reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5(The rest of the dead did not come to
life until the thousand years were
ended.) This is the first resurrection.
they will be priests of God and of Christ and
will reign with him for a thousand years.
Revelation 21 and 22 seem to be "after the 1000 years", and likely this is what peter saw when he talked about "the earth being destroyed",
so maybe Peter didn't know about the 1000 years?
Reigning with christ...
He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.
Colossians 1:13 HCSB
christ
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.
Colossians 2:3 HCSB
For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Colossians 2:9-10 HCSB
So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4 HCSB
(Where the Messiah is..... so if the Messiah is on earth for the 1000 years, I am guessing we work with him ...
and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.
Colossians 3:10 HCSB
(The harvest.
Therefore, brothers, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.
James 5:7 HCSB
(What does Jesus say?
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Mark 13:8 HCSB
And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations.
Mark 13:10 HCSB
And you will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.
Mark 13:13 HCSB
“When you see the abomination that causes desolation standing where it should not” (let the reader understand ), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains!
For those will be days of tribulation, the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning of the world, which God created, until now and never will be again!
Mark 13:14, 19 HCSB
Unless the Lord limited those days, no one would survive. But He limited those days because of the elect, whom He chose.
Mark 13:20 HCSB
(this
moment)
“But in those days, after that tribulation: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will be falling from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. He will send out the angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
Mark 13:24-27 HCSB
((And if we are wondering how long until this moment.. then MAYBE the next verse following all this gives a hint))
After two days it was the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a treacherous way to arrest and kill Him.
Mark 14:1 HCSB
after 2 days
2000 years..