Observations on the Book of Life

Thanks for the detailed response

Our difference is, you believe in a literal 1,000 year kingdom on this earth, I believe the words thousand years arent literal,and taking place presently in the spiritual

Yes we have covered my belief on how no Kingdom or mortal humans are seen in Rev 20:1-6

No need to respond, we already ran about the Bush on
You disregard plain and simple instruction in Scripture relating to the Lords (Spiritual Realm) that is seen in Revelation 20:1-6

As 2 Peter 3:8 below clearly describes and instructs the believer on the words (Thousand Years)

One Day is a thousand years in the Lords spiritual, there's no literal earthly time in this physical world represented in Rev 20:1-6

(Be Not Ignorant)

2 Peter 3:8KJV
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

As seen below in Revelation 20:1-6,there is no literal earthly kingdom seen with mortal humans present?

100% in the Lords spiritual realm!

Angel, Heaven, Devil, Satan, The Souls, The Dead, God, Christ

Revelation 20:1-6KJV
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. 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, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

O.K. Let's deal with John 5:22-29 and get it out of the argument.

The context is;
22 "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

According to John 20:30-31 the Gospel of John is to display Jesus by signs so that men believe in Him and thus get His LIFE. The immediate context of John 5:22-29 is WHO IS GOING TO JUDGE MEN. Verse 22 answers. Jesus, the Man, is appointed by God to be the Judge of MEN. Then, the text goes on to DIVIDE MEN INTO TWO GROUPS; (i) those who HAVE LIFE, and those who DO NOT HAVE LIFE - the dead. In verse 24 we have the first group - men who have BELIEVED into Jesus. As first stated by John 3:14-16, these HAVE eternal life and having the indestructible and never ending VITALITY of God, are counted as those "WHO HAVE PASSED FROM DEATH INTO LIFE".

Verse 25 confirms this. These are NOT MEN IN THE GRAVE. How does a man in the grave BELIEVE??? How do they in the grave HEAR??? They are LIVING MEN because "the hour NOW IS!" They are dead IN their sins and by FAITH in Jesus Christ they are counted as having passed from the realm of the dead to the realm of the LIVING. Verse 26 again confirms this. Jesus Christ was alive as He spoke these words, but not alive in the sense of human life because the Life spoken of here is the LIFE OF GOD and He is a SPIRIT (Jn.4:24). Verse 27 again sets forth Which MAN is appointed the high position of judge of all other men.

Then in verse 28 reverts to the SECOND GROUP - those who do not believe. They remain dead in their sins and devoid of God's life. What then is their future? THE GRAVE - the normal ending of a man from Adam (Rom.5:12). And what then is his crisis? TO BE JUDGED AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. Where are those who have eternal life judged? AT THE BEMA (Roma.14:10; 2nd Cor.5:10) - a traveling throne for Jesus is traveling from above the highest heaven to earth, and stops in the clouds. And where are the "rest of the dead" judged? At the Bema??? NOOOOO! AT the "WHITE THRONE"

1. This text CONFIRMS my theory of the OP - TWO OR MORE RESURRECTIONS - (i) One for those with God's LIFE, and (ii) one for the dead. Revelation 20 has the "first resurrection" and then a thousand year gap, followed by the resurrection of "THE REST OF THE DEAD". Even if you give the 1,000 years a metaphorical value - it is still a GAP.
2. This text CONFIRMS my theory of the OP that there is LIFE afterwards for the "GOOD" and "damnation" for the "EVIL". Of FAITH not a word is said!!! It concerns their GOOD - their good works!

I can only go by what scripture tells me. If scripture says that FAITH is this, and not that, then it is so. It says in Hebrews 11:1 that for faith to be present, the object of the faith must be UNSEEN. I'm sure you agree with that.

Eternal Life, is what all believers shall receive at the resurrection and Final judgement,your claim is false!

Your claim is false, the verses below in 1 Cor 15:51-58 show the (Eternal State) in action at the future return of Jesus Christ, glorified immortal, death is defeated, gone, no more, Revelation 21:1-5 has taken place.

Revelation 21:1-5KJV
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Eternal life is shown below, at the 7th and Last Trump, the Eternal state begins,the eternal glorified body's received, death is swallowed up in victory, (Eternal Life) begins at this point.

1 Corinthians 15:51-58KJV
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Faith is blessed assured hope in evidence that is unseen. In that we are in agreement.

You adamantly INSERT "spiritual realm". On what Basis? Why do you annul Revelation 2:27 that promises Overcoming Christians RULE OVER THE NATIONS. And you deny any period! But Revelation 20:1-6 gives a period. If you deny the literal value, what VALUE do you give God's Words that six times says "thousand years". With your theory you wipe the text from the Bible. I am asking you, what is the metaphorical value of the thousand years that is stated by the Holy Spirit in Revelation 20. On this value hangs

1. The time of Satan's imprisonment
2. The rule of martyrs for Jesus Christ as opposed to those who refused Christ to save their lives
3. The period between Armageddon (70 miles west of Jerusalem) and Magog who surrounds the City

Just define the 1,000 years. If you deny it exists, do so so that we can pray for you.

Above you teach the unsaved dead will be in (The Grave)

This teaching is found within 7th day Adventism and the Jehovahs Witnesses, (Soul Sleep) in denial of a present literal hell where the wicked go to upon death

Direct Question: Are you 7th Day Adventist or Jehovahs Witness?

Thank you for printing 1st Corinthians 15:51-58. The others can judge if it concerns eternal life, OR if it concenrns those who are alive and in their old bodies at Christ's return. The reason is given; "FLESH AND BLOOD" cannot inherit the Kingdom. The BODY must change.

That's it. If you can't out-argue a brother - slander him. In all my postings, ample evidence by my direct statements shows that I count the Law as having been nailed to the cross, so I couldn't possibly be a 7th-Day, and I have continuously upheld the Deity of Christ, so I couldn't be a Jehovah's Witness. This you knew.

I think our fellowship is over.

Slander is a false claim, you openly teach that the unsaved dead will go to (THE GRAVE) exactly the same teaching as 7th day Adventist an JW's

Do you deny a literal hell upon the unsaved wickeds death presently?

Ok, I see.

The 1000 years do seem to come out of nowhere, which would suggest they could not be literal. But the Almighty has been fulfilling the themes of creation week prophetically, within each corresponding Millenium of man. So the thousand years is the 7th day. Of course, this would need to be proven through the scriptures.

Understood.

But I'm merely restating Romans 2:6-7
God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.

You got the sequence wrong here..

At the second coming of Jesus the dead in Christ ( dead believers ) will rise first and then we who are alive and remain will be caught up to meet Jesus in the clouds..

1 Thessalonians 4: KJV
16 "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: {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. {18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

1. Christ was resurrected in about 30 AD
   [*]The Church will be resurrected “at His Coming” - His “Presence” in the clouds (1st Thess.4:14-17)

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Agreed.. though i believe it was 30 AD

• Israel will be resurrected at His “Revealing” from the clouds (Danl12:2; Matt.24:31; Ezek.37)

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Not sure that these references show conclusively that the resurrection of the genetic Israel happens at the first resurrection on the return of Jesus.. They could be pointing to either the resurrection of the elect Saints Matt 24:31 or be showing the final resurrection at the end of the 1000 years.

• Revelation 20 then informs us that 1,000 years go by and then “the rest of the dead” are resurrected.

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Agreed..


You seem to be discounting the possibility of people living in the nations ( who survived the tribulation ) will not become accepted followers of Jesus during the 1000 years and will need to be resurrected and judged at the end of the 1000 years.. I think this comes down to the belief that during the destruction on the earth during the times of the LORDs return will see all humans flesh humans destroyed.. But the fact remains that their will be surviving living Christians on the day of the return of Jesus.. So the destruction on the earth during the days of the return of Jesus will not destroy all flesh..

If you read Zechariah 14.. The chapter reveals the Day of the LORD which is the day of the return of Jesus If you read through the chapter you will see the return of Jesus when He will destroy the army of the beast that will at the time being coming up against Jerusalem..His feet shall touch down on the mount of olives Verse 4 Later in the same chapter it reveals what will be happening in the 1000 year reign of Jesus..

Zechariah 14: KJV
16 "¶ And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. {17} And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. {18} And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. {19} This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles."

These heathens who will be forced to come up each year to worship the King of Kings who is the LORD of Hosts during the 1000 years are not the beloved resurrected perfected Elect Saints.. They are normal flesh human beings.. This is why it says in the book of Revelation that when Jesus returns he will rule the nations with a Rod of Iron::

Revelation 19: KJV
11 "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. {12} His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. {13} And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. {14} And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. {15} And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."

Also scriptures confirm again that not all flesh will be destroyed at the times of the return of Jesus..

Matthew 24: KJV
21 "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. {22} And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened."

The flesh being saved are the people of the nations that survive and remain.. They will serve and support the resurrected / raptures Saints ( for the elect's sake) for the 1000 years and they be ruled by Jesus with a Rod of Iron.. That is when the Jesus will fulfill the following declaration He made in the Book of Revelation::

Revelation 3: KJV
9 "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee."

When will this happen? After Jesus returns and is ruling these people with a Rod of Iron compelling them to come up to Jerusalem each year..

The Book of life is definitely about having eternal life.. The book of Revelation reveals again that the Book of Life will not be the only book opened and referenced on the day of judgement.. We read..

Revelation 20: KJV
12 "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

So the other books apart from the Book of life are where the Works of the judged are recorded and if the person is not written in the LORDs book of Life they will be damned for their sins / works recorded in the other books.. But if their names are written in the Lambs book of Life they shall not face the possibility of being cast into the eternal lake of fire.. Their works will be judged but as to determine their eternal rewards as Jesus said Some shall be greater in the kingdom of heaven and some will be lesser in the kingdom of heaven::

Matthew 5: KJV
19 "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

The 7th day Millennium cant be proven through Scripture, it dosent exist.

Yeshua, many teach of a 1,000 year Millennium on this earth, with mortal humans, and they use Rev 20:1-6 trying to establish this literal Kingdom on earth, and as you have been shown,it dosent exist, No Kingdom or Mortal humans are seen?

So then what do Millennialist do?

They drag the reader to Is 11, 65, Zech 14, Ezekiel 47-48 and try to establish their earthly kingdom with these presented Scripture?

Problem, those scriptures represent the (Eternal Kingdom) in the New Heaven, Earth, Jerusalem.

I believe that, according to scripture and particularly the book of Revelation that the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ is literal and that the saints (born again) will rule with Him. Of course, as stated in Scripture, Satan is bound during this time period, which, at the end, will be released so as to deceive the nations once again. This will result in the battle of Armageddon in the valley of Megiddo in Israel.

Well I wasn't going to use those passages, I was going to start with Genesis 1. But ok setting aside my attempt at proving a "literal" 1000 years; what did you say the 1000 years represent again? The book of Revelation is full of symbols, but each of those symbols represents something either explained in its chapters or explained in a previous book of the Bible (as it's a rule that scripture defines its own terms).

So what precedent or initial reference explains the 1000-year figure?

Your looking at plain and simple instruction in Scripture relating to the Lords (Spiritual Realm) that is seen in Revelation 20:1-6

As 2 Peter 3:8 below clearly describes and instructs the believer on the words (Thousand Years)

One Day is a thousand years in the Lords spiritual, there's no literal earthly time in this physical world represented in Rev 20:1-6

(Be Not Ignorant)

2 Peter 3:8KJV
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

As seen below in Revelation 20:1-6, there is no literal earthly kingdom seen with mortal humans present, none?

It's 100% in the Lords spiritual realm!

Angel, Heaven, Devil, Satan, The Souls, The Dead, God, Christ

Satan is bound currently in the spiritual, from one specific purpose, deceiving the nations to battle.

Revelation 20:1-6KJV
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. 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, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Ok thanks. I actually reference that passage to help explain the opposite of your position. Peter is referencing Psalm 90:4 explaining how the many years of a man fade away like dust in the wind compared to The Almighty, passing by like a brief moment to Him. So I disagree but at least I know where you're coming from.

Ok you said that satan is bound currently...so does that mean you also believe the saints are reigning now? If so how can that be if we haven't even had the 1st resurrection yet? I think you'll agree that this world is nuts and still very deceived so surely he can't be bound yet?

Yeah.. have to walk softly here. It does make you wonder just what the book of life is. There are many books.. "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." Rev 20 Hmm

Book of remembrance? "then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name."

I did notice that maybe I should say nothing since.. its off topic now

The Book Of Gods Words, The Holy Bible?

John 12:48KJV
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.