Tag Archives: Eschatology

July 5, 2026 · 10:00

Anticipating the Millennium

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Lately, I find myself musing about the thousand-year reign of Christ on Earth. I have written about end-times prophecy over the years in anticipation of the Rapture of the Church[1] and the following seven-year Tribulation.[2] However, other than affirming that there will be a coming thousand-year reign of Christ—the Millennium—I have not ventured much speculation on what that time will be like.

Scattered throughout pages of prophetic Scripture lie hidden hints of life on Earth with Jesus as Supreme Potentate over all the nations of the earth. That the reign of Christ on Earth for 1,000 years is a well-established fact in Scripture is beyond question. Revelation 20:1-7 confirms the timeframe as “a thousand years” no less than six times. Skeptics scoff, saying that the 1,000 years is figurative language signifying an undetermined long period of time. Others claim it refers to the current church age since Christ’s ascension. Yet that period has already stretched nearly 2,000 years, and earthly conditions hardly match the glorious descriptions in Scripture. No, the 1,000 years recorded in Revelation must be taken literally.

Christ’s Absolute Rule

During those 1,000 years, Jesus will reign on Earth. Revelation 19:15 says, “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” (emphasis mine). Ruling with “a rod of iron” establishes His absolute authority, yet Isaiah adds this balance: “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked” (Isaiah 11:4, emphasis mine).

The prophet Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the multi-metal statue representing successive kingdoms.[3] The final kingdom, symbolized by feet of iron mixed with clay and ten toes (ten kings), corresponds to the rulers during the coming Tribulation. “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Daniel 2:44, emphasis mine). That kingdom, is the kingdom of Christ. Daniel later saw “one like the Son of man” receiving everlasting dominion (Daniel 7:13-14, 27). The Apostle Paul affirms that in that day, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11, emphasis mine).

Peace Among the Nations

In the Millennium, the nations (Hebrew: goyim; Greek: ethnos), i.e., all ethnicities, not of Jewish descent, will be subject to Jesus. Isaiah foretells: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it … and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:2-4, emphasis mine). The Prophet Micah[4] echoes this nearly verbatim, and adds, “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it” (Micah 4:4, emphasis mine). Absolute peace will prevail.

A familiar Christmas passage points to the coming Messiah: “For unto us a child is born, … and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7, emphasis mine). When Jesus presented Himself as the expected king,[5] He was rejected and nailed to a Roman cross. His earthly kingdom is yet to come. “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one” (Zechariah 14:9, emphasis mine).

Jesus will reign over all the earth, but King David appears to hold a special role over restored Israel. Hosea prophesies that Israel will “return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days” (Hosea 3:5, emphasis mine). Ezekiel reinforces this: the Lord will set up “my servant David” as shepherd and prince over Israel (Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:24-25). Ezekiel 37 presents the restoration of Israel through the dry bones vision [6] and the uniting of the two sticks (Judah and Israel).[7] Chapters 40–48 describe the Millennial Temple, where the Glory of the Lord returns—unlike its departure from Solomon’s Temple.[8] The prophet describes it like this:

And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me. And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places. (Ezekiel 43:4-7, emphasis mine)

Life in the Millennial Kingdom

Jesus will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords over all the Earth, but what will daily life be like in that Millennial kingdom? It will be a time of perpetual peace where men “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Micah 4:3). What else? Isaiah describes a restored Earth approaching Edenic conditions: “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17). Lifespans will lengthen dramatically: “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed” (Isaiah 65:20). Private property will be secure and fruitful: “And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands” (Isaiah 65:21-22, emphasis mine). Natural-born survivors of the Tribulation will procreate, and “their offspring [shall be] with them” (Isaiah 65:23).

Even the animal kingdom will return to their pre-fall state. “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 65:25, emphasis mine).[9] Innocent children will play safely: “And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the [viper’s] den” (Isaiah 11:8).

Our Glorified Role

For those of us who have placed their trust in Christ, the Millennium holds even greater promises. First of all, at the Rapture, the Apostle Paul says that the those who died believing in Christ will rise from the grave and those of us who are living at that time will metamorphose into their glorified bodies and join the risen dead to meet Jesus in the air.[10] “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” (Philippians 3:21, emphasis mine). Imagine that! To have a body like that of our Savior. After His resurrection, He was able to transport Himself at will from one place to another, even into rooms with locked doors.[11] He could also eat as before.[12] I suspect that our glorified bodies will be equivalent to that of a young adult of late 20’s to early 30’s. My reasoning comes from knowing that when Jesus rose from the dead, He was around 33 years old (humanly speaking). Also, when God created Adam and Eve, they were fully mature adults. Not only will we be eternally youthful, but we will be endowed with many of the same superhuman abilities demonstrated by the resurrected Christ in that “He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself ” – not to the same extent as the omnipotent Lord Jesus Christ, but certainly greater than what we know now.

Secondly, we will serve in His administration on Earth. The Gospel writer Matthew records Jesus’ promise to His disciples, “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28, emphasis mine). These would be the “tribes” that survive the Tribulation and enter the Millennium in their natural bodies. The promise is not just for the 12 apostles, but for all the saints,[13] those who were taken up in the Rapture and will return with Christ at His second coming. Revelation 19:11-21 describes Christ’s return at the end of the Tribulation, riding on a white horse – symbolic of a conquering king – prepared to execute justice on a sinful and rebellious world. “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean” (Revelation 19:14, emphasis mine). The fine white linen, as opposed to “white robes,” shows that these are the Bride of Christ who were formally joined to Him at the “wedding supper of the Lamb.”[14]

Revelation 5 presents the scene immediately following the Rapture, where the saints are around the throne of God, and Jesus – the Lamb that was slain – receives the seven-seal scroll – the title deed to the earth. “And [the saints] sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10, emphasis mine). The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Corinthian Church, says, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” (1 Corinthians 6:2, emphasis mine). To Timothy, he writes, “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:11-13, emphasis mine). The promise is sure!

As for the rest of life in the Millennium, the earth and animals return to Edenic conditions with perfect peace. Technology may advance far beyond today to serve the natural population boom, but glorified saints will have no need of such things. When I consider the beauty of our fallen and cursed Earth, I can only imagine the wonder of a fully restored creation. I am anxiously awaiting that time—I don’t believe it is distant.

Reader, if you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, this future is not for you, but it can be. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

Notes:

[1] “The Rapture” https://erniecarrasco.com/2021/09/05/the-rapture/

[2] “End-Times Overview: The Big Picture” https://erniecarrasco.com/2026/02/22/end-times-overview-the-big-picture/

[3] Daniel 2

[4] Micah 4:1-4

[5] Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19

[6] Ezekiel 37:1-14

[7] Ezekiel 37:15-28

[8] Ezekiel 10:4, 18-19: 11:22-23

[9] See also Isaiah 11:6-9

[10] 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

[11] John 20:19, 26

[12] John 21:9-13

[13] “Saints” are not icons that are to be venerated. Rather, a “saint” (Gk. “hagios”) is a “most holy thing” who has been set apart for God – sanctified, consecrated, elect, etc. All true believers in Christ are “saints.”

[14] Revelation 19:6-9

Three Days

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hosea 6:2)

In one of my Bible readings this week, I was reading Luke’s account of Jesus’ resurrection. Luke records that two disciples (not apostles) were returning to their home in Emmaus.[1] Because they invited Jesus into their home, I assume that they were husband and wife; Luke does not say. Regardless, after Jesus broke bread with them and disappeared from their sight, they finally recognized that it was Jesus who had traveled with them. They immediately returned to Jerusalem and found “the eleven” together. However, according to John’s account, Thomas was not with them.[2] Apparently, Luke used the term (“the eleven”) in a generic sense referring to the Apostles.

While the two recounted their experience, Jesus appeared in their midst. After assuring them that He was not a ghost by inviting them to inspect His wounds and by eating a piece of broiled fish and bread with them, Luke writes, “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day” (Luke 24:45-46, emphasis mine). That last phrase stopped my reading. Jesus said, “Thus it is written,” meaning that His suffering and resurrection had been prophesied. I checked the cross-reference in my Bible and found two: Isaiah 53:3-12 dealing with His suffering and Hosea 6:2 predicting His resurrection.

There is no question that Hosea’s prophecy, quoted above, refers to Jesus’ resurrection because Jesus applied the prophecy to Himself. However, what caught my attention was the use of the plural first-person pronouns, “us” and “we” rather than “me” and “I.” It is always best to read a single Bible verse within its context to get a clear understanding. Backing up to the previous verse, we understand that the prophet is addressing Israel. “Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up” (Hosea 6:1, emphasis mine). In the previous chapter (Hosea 5), the prophet foretold the demise of Israel (Judah and Ephraim). The Lord says, “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early” (Hosea 5:15). The “I” here refers to the Lord Jesus. He fulfilled this prophecy when He ascended and returned to “His place,” and He waits there until they repent and turn to Him. The Prophet Zechariah says, “they shall look upon me [Jesus] whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10).

In 70 A.D. the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, razed the Jewish temple, and scattered the Jews all over the world. Hosea encourages Israel, the Jews, to “return unto the LORD.” Then he adds this prophecy that Jesus applied to Himself. “After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight” (Hosea 6:2, emphasis mine). In context, the primary application is to Israel. They have been torn. They have been smitten, and the promise is that God will heal and bind their wounds “after two days” and “in the third day he will raise us up.” That raises the question, are the days literal or symbolic? Obviously, when applied to Jesus’ resurrection, the days are literal; He was in the tomb for three days and raised on the third. However, the days cannot be literal when applied to Israel.

Three days have long passed since the destruction of Jerusalem. Indeed, almost 2000 years have gone by. However, we see the prophecy taking place with the rebirth of the nation of Israel, which is yet another event that was foretold by the prophets. However, they have yet to turn to their Messiah, but we see the dry bones taking on flesh.[3]

Perhaps the “days” have something to do with what Peter said in his second epistle. “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” (2 Peter 3:8, emphasis mine). Because of his use of simile, I have always understood, and still do, that this verse refers primarily to God’s timelessness. The psalmist echoes the same refrain. “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4, emphasis mine). God is not bound by time, and so time for Him is irrelevant. However, that is not true for us.

Therefore, if we take the days in Hosea symbolically to mean 1000 years, 2 days equals 2000 years, which is where we are now since the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has returned the Jews to their homeland as foretold by the prophets, but yet, as Ezekiel described, the breath of God is not in them yet. They have yet to undergo the final seven years assigned to them by Daniel the Prophet.[4] Then, after the seven years (of Tribulation), Israel will be fully restored (“raised”) as prophesied on the third day, the final 1000 years[5] when Christ will rule as absolute monarch from His throne in Jerusalem.

If you would like to study more on end-times prophecy, find my page on “Revelation.” There you will find links to articles I have written that will take you systematically through the Book of Revelation along with other articles that cover end-times in general.

Notes:

[5] Revelation 20:1-7

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Filed under Apologetics, Bible, Christianity, End Times, Eschatology, Resurrection, Second Coming of Christ, Theology

Tagged as Bible, Christ, Christ Jesus, Christianity, End-Times, Eschatology, God, Israel, Jesus, Second Coming of Christ, The Tribulation

August 6, 2023 · 10:00

Coming Quickly

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:7)

Have you ever imagined traveling in a time machine and going backward or forward in time to witness what happened in the past, or to see what would happen in the future? I am sure many people have, and several science fiction movies have attempted to portray what that might be like.

Jesus granted John the privilege of actually traveling into the future to record the events that would take place at “the end of days.” Much of what John witnessed seems unpleasant, but the end result climaxes in a completely remade planet and universe – a New Heaven and a New Earth.[1] John then sees an indescribable city descending from heaven to the New Earth with space enough to accommodate the billions of God’s children throughout the ages. The city is the New Jerusalem where God will dwell among His people.

What John witnessed defies any hitherto known reality. John could hardly believe his eyes. It was incredible! It was unbelievable! And when we read John’s attempt at describing it, our mind’s eye cannot visualize it, so we may be tempted to brush it off as fantasy. In anticipation of such an occurrence, his angel tour guide reassures John and encourages him to believe what he sees. “And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done” (Revelation 22:6, emphasis mine). It may be too much for our feeble minds to take in, but the guarantee comes directly from God, and we can rest assured that it will all come true because He is faithful to keep His promises.

Then, from some unspecified source, we hear the words of Jesus. “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7, emphasis mine). The Greek word translated as “quickly” is tachu from which we get our English word “tachometer.” Since Jesus said this almost 2000 years ago, it makes us wonder, “What is His definition of quickly?” It also gives fodder to the skeptics of whom the Apostle Peter warned. “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:3-4, emphasis mine). Peter also reminded us that God’s timing is not like ours. “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” (2 Peter 3:8, emphasis mine). Peter is not providing a formula by which we can calculate God’s timetable. Rather, he applies simile (“as”) to emphasize that God’s measure of time does not correlate to ours. God is infinite. He is “timeless.” He is not bound by time. His attribute of omnipresence – being everywhere present at all times – also applies to our understanding of time. He exists in the past, present, and future simultaneously, which explains why He can tell the end from the beginning.[2] Considering the word “tachu” with the application of a tachometer, which measures the revolutions per minute (RPM) of an internal combustion engine; the faster the engine turns, the higher the RPMs the tachometer reads. In the same way, as we begin to see the things described in Revelation, they will rapidly increase in number and intensity the nearer we get to execution time. Even now, we see the rapid decline in morality and what used to be the “social norm.” The plans of the globalists – the “One-Worlders” – are being implemented worldwide at this moment. It is happing “quickly,” and this is probably what Jesus meant by the word “tachu.”

Many “Christians” today pay little attention to the Book of Revelation for a variety of reasons; however, Jesus says, “blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” Sadly, far too many pastors avoid teaching it because they fear that it breeds controversy and contentions. Fear is not of God; it is of Satan whose silencing the Word of God is part of his strategy. If taught rightly, there should be no controversy and those who object are the ones that need to hear it the most. Other pastors will not teach it because they do not understand it themselves. There is only one remedy for that. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Still, others think it might incite fear in people for the things that are about to come. Good! If they are lost, fear might be the incentive they need to get saved. If the pre-millennial, pre-tribulational view is taught, Christians have the hope of the Rapture and a greater incentive to share the Gospel with friends and family. The study, preaching, and teaching of this book is a blessing, says Jesus.

“And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand” (Revelation 22:8-10, emphasis mine). John is so overwhelmed by all that he has seen – the Rapture he experienced, the Great Tribulation, the Millennial Kingdom, the Great White Throne Judgment, the New Heaven, New Earth, and the New Jerusalem – that he falls at the feet of the angel and worships him. Note that the angel refuses the worship and directs the worship to God who alone is worthy of worship. The angel instructs John not to seal up the prophecy, “for the time is at hand.” The Prophet Daniel wanted to understand the prophecies of the end-times given to him, and he was given much different instructions. Daniel says, “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Daniel 12:8-9, emphasis mine). Daniel was not given the insight to understand the end-times. However, in the end, “the wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:10). Revelation is NOT sealed, and it is written for “the wise” to understand, and now, more than ever, “the time is at hand” for the wise to understand.

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still” (Revelation 22:11). At this point in the Revelation, all accounts have been settled. Those that are unjust and filthy have been condemned to the lake of fire for all eternity, and they will continue eternally in the same state in which they were found guilty. The righteous and the holy (by the righteousness imputed on them by Christ) will continue in that same state for eternity.

For those of us living today, Jesus once again speaks. “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Revelation 22:12-13, emphasis mine). We see again the Greek word “tachu,” indicating that things are quickly winding up. Jesus comes with His reward in hand to give every person according to their works. For the unrepentant, unbelieving Christ-rejectors, their reward is the lake of fire. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). For those who place their trust in Christ, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Jesus claims authority as the great “I AM.”[3] “I AM Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” He is the timeless, everlasting God!

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Revelation 22:14-15, emphasis mine). This is meant for us today. This is not future; it is now. “Blessed are they that do his commandments.” Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). What are those commandments? “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1, emphasis mine). “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31, emphasis mine). “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12, emphasis mine). “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37-39, emphasis mine). Those who keep His commandments are on the “inside” (now) and have the right to the “tree of life” (i.e., eternal life). Those on the outside are the “dogs.” In John’s day, dogs were not the lovable pets that we love and cherish today. In his day, dogs were nasty, filthy, mangy, scavengers kept outside of the house. God regards sinners with the same contempt. Their sins are listed in the text; however, their main fault is their rejection of Christ and their refusal to obey His commandments. They will remain outcasts forever unless they repent while there is time. “The time is at hand!”

“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (Revelation 22:16, emphasis mine). This message is contemporary. It is relevant for us today. It is meant for the churches, not only for the seven churches that Jesus, through John, addressed but for the churches throughout the Church Age.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17). Here is the invitation. It is the Holy Spirit that speaks to the heart of every person to convict them of sin,[4] to convince them of their need for the Savior.[5] The Bride, the Church, the local body of believers, is the instrument through which the Holy Spirit works. Together they issue the invitation, “Come.” It is not through coercion but through the preaching of the Word of God. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:13-14, emphasis mine). All who respond to the invitation are welcome to partake of “the water of life freely,” i.e., eternal life.

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19, emphasis mine). Anyone (including myself) who handles the Word of God should take this warning very seriously. As humans, we are prone to error, and we can misinterpret Scripture occasionally for any number of reasons: lack of understanding, lack of maturity (spiritual growth – sanctification – is a process), lack of knowledge, etc. Such “mistakes” are understandable and excusable to some extent; they can be corrected. However, this admonition is for those who purposefully tamper with God’s Word in order to have it say what they want it to say. This warning is not only for the Book of Revelation, but it applies to all of Scripture because it is all prophecy, i.e., telling forth the Word of God. The Old Testament has a similar admonition. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2, emphasis mine). Anyone who handles the Word of God – pastors, evangelists, teachers, authors, etc. – needs to take this warning seriously.

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20, emphasis mine). “He which testifieth” is the Lord Jesus Christ. He reminds us once again that His return is imminent. As we see the events predicted in this prophecy falling into place at an alarming rate, we know that the full force of this prophecy cannot be that far off. For those of us who have placed our faith in Christ, we can say with the Apostle John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” We may even add “quickly.”

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:21). “Grace” is the free, unmerited, gift of the Lord (Master, Owner, Possessor) Jesus (Yahweh Saves) Christ (Messiah, the Anointed One). That gift is eternal life, not only future, but in this present life. Eternal life, for the believer, starts right now and never ends. This physical, corrupt flesh must be done away with, but our spirit lives forever. The Apostle Paul says, “For this corruptible [flesh] must put on incorruption, and this mortal [flesh] must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53). He explains how this takes place. “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed, 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” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). So, whether our dead bodies are resurrected and rise from their resting place or our living bodies are instantly changed at the Rapture, they will be renewed to incorruptible bodies suitable to be in the presence of Holy God. That is the “grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” that is with us always.

“Amen.” It is the same word in Hebrew and in Greek meaning, “it is true.”

Reader, Jesus is coming quickly, as He promised. Are you ready to meet Him? If you do not know the Savior, do not wait any longer. The time is short. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

Notes:

[1] A New Creation | Ernie’s Musings (erniecarrasco.com)

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July 16, 2023 · 10:00

A Thousand Years

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, Copyright 1992.
Click here to visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Revelation 20:1-2)

When Jesus entered Jerusalem almost 2000 years ago on the back of a donkey’s colt, He presented Himself as melek shâlêm, “King of Peace.” Now, He comes on a white horse as the conquering KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS.[1] In the previous chapter of Revelation, we learned that He comes to rule “with a rod of iron.” Unlike kings that have come before, His rule will be absolute but benevolent, and He will reign on Earth for a thousand years.

The question arises here about the thousand years. Are these literally 1000 years or should it be taken as symbolic of “a long time” or even eternity? Two main viewpoints exist. The premillennial view, in all of its variations, takes the position that the 1000 years should be taken literally. The amillennial view takes the position that the 1000 years should be taken symbolically and allegorically of the eternal reign of Christ.[2] In that view, the millennium symbolizes either the present church age or the eternal state. There are no 1000 years. The “a” prefixed to “millennium” negates the millennium, therefore, there is “no millennium.” Along with that view is the idea that the Church is responsible for preparing the world for Christ’s return. That idea should make one ask, “How well is the Church doing in that regard?”

Without wasting keystrokes, let me just say that the amillennial view is wrong. At the same time, I need to stress that those that hold that view are not lost. One’s eschatological view is not a salvation issue. Faith in CHRIST ALONE is the only requirement for entry into heaven. That said, the amillennial view is wrong for two very fundamental reasons. First of all, as we read Revelation 20:1-7, there is nothing in the text to indicate that the 1000 years should be taken in any other way than literally. Secondly, in the first seven verses of the twentieth chapter, the phrase “a thousand years” is repeated SIX TIMES. When the Bible says something once, it should be taken as fact simply based on the fact that it is God’s Word. When the Bible repeats something twice, it should get our attention. If it repeats something three times, we need to take it very seriously. Here, the Bible repeats “a thousand years” six times. To take it to mean anything other than what it says is poor hermeneutics and just foolishness.

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:1-2, emphasis mine). At the sounding of the fifth trumpet, we saw an angel (a star) “fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit” (Revelation 9:1, emphasis mine). In my opinion, that angel was a demon who did not have possession of the key to the bottomless pit, but rather that it was “given” to him. Here we have a different angel. This angel does not “fall” out of heaven, but he comes down from heaven. Also, he is not “given” the key to the bottomless pit, but he has possession of it. This angel is probably the one that handed the key over to the demonic angel back in Revelation 9:1. This angel is the keeper of the key. He takes a “great chain” and lays “hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan” and binds him for a thousand years. Without a doubt, Satan is a powerful creature, but God’s angel has no trouble subduing him. “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” (Revelation 20:3, emphasis mine). This is the second time the “thousand years” is mentioned. How long will Satan be bound? – a thousand years!

“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” (Revelation 20:4, emphasis mine). John mentions two distinct groups here. Those seated on thrones represent the Church (the Bride of Christ) that was raptured before the Tribulation. Those that were “beheaded for the witness of Jesus … which had not worshipped the beast, etc.” are those who were martyred during the Tribulation. Together, they will be involved in the administration of Christ’s reign on Earth. How long will they reign with Christ? – a thousand years!

John does not detail the Millennium. What will the Millennium be like? For that, we need to check with other prophets. One of the reasons the Jews in Jesus’ day missed their promised Messiah was because they were looking for a reigning monarch as described by the prophets. They rejected the prophecies that foretold of His suffering, death on the cross, and His resurrection. However, the Old Testament prophecies are clear on that regard. Of Millennium, Clarence Larkin says, “It is to be regretted … that the world ‘Millennium’ ever supplanted the Biblical word ‘Kingdom,’ for it is this period that Christ taught His Disciples to pray for the petition ‘Thy Kingdom Come.’[3]

In his book, Larkin presents five distinct characteristics of the Millennium.[4] (1) Satan is bound.[5] One advantage people living in the Millennium will have over our “first parents” in the Garden of Eden, is that neither Satan, nor his demons, will be around to tempt people to sin. However, this will only serve to prove that mankind does not need a lot of help or encouragement to rebel against God.[6] With Satan out of the picture, there will be no one around to stir up hate and strife and the world will enjoy true peace; there will be no more wars and there is the promise that men “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks.”[7]

(2) The revival of Israel. When Larkin wrote his book, the nation of Israel did not exist. At the end of World War I in 1917, efforts were started to establish a “national home for the Jewish people.” The brainchild of British Foreign Secretary, Artur James Balfour, the “Balfour Declaration” set aside the original homeland of the Jews, called Palestine at that time. The fruit of that effort was not realized until May 14, 1948, when Israel was reborn in the Promised Land. Although Israel exists in the present, it is only a partial fulfillment of what was prophesied in the Old Testament. The complete fulfillment will not be realized until the Millennium, but the fact that Israel exists presently lets us know that the fulfillment in full is much closer than we might think. It is no longer the same land that Mark Twain visited in 1867. His impression was that it was a “rocky and bare, repulsive and dreary … landscape … There was hardly a tree or a shrub any where. Even the olive and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country.”[8] He should see it now![9]

(3) There will be changes in the animal kingdom. In God’s original creation, before the Fall, man and animals were herbivorous.[10] There will be complete harmony between mankind and animals and among all the animals.[11] We will not be killing off each other for food.

(4) Human life will be prolonged. We read in the genealogical record[12] before the flood that lifespans averaged over 900 years. In the Millennium, long lifespans will be the norm. The Prophet Isaiah records, “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed” (Isaiah 65:20, emphasis mine). I must emphasize that those who do die are those who came through the Tribulation in their natural bodies. They will have the ability to reproduce and repopulate the earth. Those who do die, in my opinion, will be those who in some way or another violate the absolute law of Christ (i.e., “the sinner”) Who will “rule with a rod of iron.” Lawbreakers (“sinners”) will not be tolerated in the Millenium. Those who return with Christ at His Second Coming, the Raptured saints (the Bride of Christ), and the Tribulation saints, have their glorified bodies[13] that are not subject to disease or death.

(5) There will be a sevenfold increase of light. “Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound” (Isaiah 30:26). I am not sure whether this refers to the Millennium or to the New Heaven and New Earth, but Larkin seemed to think it referred to the Millennium. We will know soon.

“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection” (Revelation 20:5, emphasis mine). We saw the Beast and the False Prophet cast alive into the “lake of fire,”[14] but the armies that followed them “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 19:21). These go to “the grave,” a.k.a., hell, a.k.a., hades, a.k.a., the abode of the dead, a.k.a., “Torments.” Jesus referred to this place when He recounted the death of the rich man and Lazarus.[15] These will be resurrected and face the Great White Throne Judgment[16] at the end of – how many years? – a thousand years.

“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, emphasis mine). The first resurrection takes place at the Rapture.[17] Those caught up in the Rapture will have their bodies transformed into glorified eternal bodies that will never grow old or experience pain of any sort. “For our [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 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” (Philippians 3:20-21, emphasis mine). I am certain the Tribulation saints will have glorified bodies also, but how they receive their new bodies we are not told. I suspect that they will receive them instantly when they die; however, I am not certain about that. The good news is that “the second death hath no power” over them. The “second death” is an eternity in “the lake of fire.”[18] Instead, they reign with Christ – for how long? – a thousand years!

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison” (Revelation 20:7, emphasis mine). After – how many years? – a thousand years of perfect peace on Earth, Satan is once again loosed on the earth. Why? We will see in my next article – if the Lord wills. Another argument against amillennialism is that the 1000 years has an expiration date; therefore, it cannot be eternal. These verses make it clear that the Lord Jesus Christ will reign as KINGS OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS for a thousand years.

How about you, reader? Will you experience the thousand-year reign of Christ? If you do not know the Savior, do not wait any longer. The time is short. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

Notes:

[1] Revelation 19:15-16

[2] What is Amillenialism? Beliefs & Chart (crosswalk.com)

[3] Clarence Larkin, The Book of Revelation Illustrated, (Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate, Philadelphia, 1919), p. 180.

[4] Ibid, pp. 188-191

[5] Revelation 20:1-2

[6] Revelation 20:7-10

[7] Micah 4:3-4

[8] https://blog.nli.org.il/en/mark-twain-in-palestine/

[9] Psalm 67:6; Isaiah 35:1; 55:13; Joel2:24-26; Amos 9:13

[10] Genesis 1:29-30

[11] Isaiah 11:6-9

[12] Genesis 5

[13] 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

[14] Revelation 19:20

[15] Luke 16:19-31

[16] Revelation 20:11

[17] 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

[18] Revelation 20:14

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Tagged as Bible, Christ, Christ Jesus, Christianity, End-Times Prophecy, Eschatology, God, Jesus, Rapture of the Church, Second Coming of Christ, The Church, The Tribulation, theology

July 2, 2023 · 10:00

Heavenly Wedding Reception

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. (Revelation 19:7)

I have never been a bride, so I have no idea how a bride feels when the big day comes, and all her wedding plans come to fruition. She gets to take center stage at the wedding ceremony and later at her reception. It is a day for which she has prepared for months – picking the perfect bridal gown, selecting the perfect colors for her theme, selecting the floral arrangements, picking the perfect venue, choosing her wedding party, etc. It must be exhausting, yet exhilarating when the day finally comes.

Soon, I will experience the greatest wedding ever as part of the Bride that will join her Groom at a heavenly wedding. It will be a wedding unmatched by the grandest royal wedding ever seen on Earth. However, before the party starts, John sets up the scene.

“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: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand” (Revelation 19:1-2, emphasis mine). These “people in heaven” are Christians who died in Christ,[1] Christians who did not die but were raptured,[2] and those who missed the Rapture, but came to faith in Christ during the Tribulation and died for their faith.[3] These praise and worship God for His “true and righteous” judgments. All that God does is true and right. All the judgments of the Tribulation had a twofold purpose: (1) to give a final opportunity for people to repent and turn to Christ, and (2) to punish those who continue to reject God’s free offer of salvation. The psalmist put it succinctly when he said, “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works” (Psalm 145:17). In His righteousness, He avenges the blood of His martyred saints. The Lord says, “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste” (Deuteronomy 32:35). Of the time of Tribulation, Jesus said, “For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled” (Luke 21:22).

“And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever” (Revelation 19:3). The whole heaven celebrates the demise of the “great whore.”[4] I believe this takes place in the immediate future of the Revelation timeline. At this point, Jesus is ready to return to Earth as King of kings and Lord of lords to destroy Babylon the Great for all eternity. So, the praise of these saints is given in the past tense as if the deed has already taken place.

“And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great” (Revelation 19:4-5). We see the 24 elders[5] and the four beasts[6] once more. As discussed in a previous article,[7] the 24 elders are possibly the patriarchs of the 12 tribes of Israel plus the 12 Apostles, but at any rate, they represent the redeemed of all time. The four beasts represent God’s creation: the wild animal kingdom, domesticated animals, birds, and mankind. These give constant praise to God.

In the first five verses of this nineteenth chapter, we see the word “Alleluia” repeated three times, which seems appropriate for the triune Godhead reflecting His perfection. “Alleluia” is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew word “hallelujah” which means “praise Yahweh” (the LORD). Interestingly, the word appears nowhere else in Scripture, neither in the OT nor the NT, except here in this chapter of Revelation.[8] There are many references to giving praises to God, however, that particular word is only used here. That makes its significance all the greater! The call to worship is directed to “all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.” “Ye” is a plural, second-person pronoun. “All” is all-inclusive. In Texas, we would say, “all y’all” to include everyone and exclude no one. All “His servants” includes all the saints, and all the host of angels of all kinds and stations; all “that fear Him, both small and great.” Imagine the thunderous praise given to the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth!

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (Revelation 19:6). Praise the Lord! Alleluia! The Lord – the master, owner, and possessor of Heaven and Earth, the great potentate and sovereign – God – the One and Only true, triune God – omnipotent – almighty, all-powerful – reigns – He has absolute authority and rule over His creation, the universe, and all it contains.

Here comes the Bride! However, before proceeding, I want to share some things about a Jewish wedding, particularly a Galilean wedding, since most of Jesus’ ministry focused in the Galilean region, and all of His disciples were Galileans. Hence, they could relate to His illustrations, where those illustrations make little sense to us who are so far removed. Some of this I learned from a documentary DVD entitled Before the Wrath.[9] During His earthly ministry, Jesus made many references to weddings and marriage. Indeed, His first miracle was to turn water into wine at a wedding in Cana.[10]

In the Galilean custom, there was a betrothal before the marriage. We recall that Jesus’ mother, Mary, was “betrothed” to Joseph. We read in Matthew’s Gospel, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was [betrothed] to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily” (Matthew 1:18-19, emphasis mine). The betrothal was a written contractual agreement that was legally binding. Even though the couple lived apart during the betrothal period, they were considered to be married. Mary, coming up pregnant (and not by Joseph) created a serious breach of contract. Mary could be charged with adultery, and, at Joseph’s discretion, could be put to death by stoning.

To affect the betrothal, the prospective groom came to the bride’s father, in the presence of the town’s people as witnesses, and presented the written proposal/marriage contract that both the groom and bride signed. The groom presented a gift, something like a dowry, to the father of the bride. This was not a purchase price for the bride but rather “insurance” in case something happened to the groom before the marriage took place. In such a case, the bride would be taken care of.

Next, the groom offered the bride a cup of wine called the “cup of joy.” At any point in this process, the bride was free to accept or reject the proposal. If she agreed to the proposal, she would drink from the cup. The groom would then take and drink from the cup as well. Then he would say, “I will not drink of this cup again until I drink it anew with you in my father’s house.”

The groom would then return to his father’s house to build a bridal chamber as an addition to his father’s house for his bride. The process took about a year, and it was up to the groom’s father to determine when the room was ready. Ultimately, the father controlled when the wedding would take place. The bride, in the meantime, had her own preparations to make for the wedding. Not only did she have to make her wedding gown, but she needed to start collecting the things she would need to set up housekeeping.

Once the groom completed the bridal chamber and with the father’s approval and at the father’s direction, he would go get his bride. This usually occurred in the middle of the night when the whole town was sleeping. The groom sounded a ram’s horn that alerted the town that he was going for his bride. The whole town joined the parade. The bride had been ready long before this day arrived. She slept in her bridal gown. She kept her lamp full of oil and even kept some extra. Neither she nor the groom knew the day or the hour when this event would take place, but she was ready.

The groomsmen prepared a litter for the bride to sit in as they lifted her off the ground and carried her to the place the groom had prepared for her. This was known as “flying the bride” to the groom’s house. Once at the house, all those that could fit entered the house to celebrate, and they celebrated for seven days (one week). When the house was full, the doors were closed and no one else could enter.

With this understanding, we can clearly see what Jesus taught about His second coming, particularly as it relates to His Bride, the Church. At the Last Supper, Jesus presented His contract to His Bride. “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28, emphasis mine). The “contract” was signed with His body and blood. He called it “the new testament” or “covenant” or “contract.” The Bride was His disciples and those that would succeed them in faith. They all took the cup and drank of it in acceptance of the covenant. The betrothal was in effect. Jesus then said, “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29).

Before adjourning from their Passover meal, Jesus prepared His Bride for what would come. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3, emphasis mine). This is the Groom’s promise that He is going to prepare a place for His Bride, and when the Father gives His approval, the Groom will sound the trumpet and descend to get His Bride, the Church, so that she can spend eternity with Him.

Now, while the Groom is away, the Bride must busy herself in preparation for the marriage. Jesus told a parable[11] about “a certain nobleman” (Himself) going away on a journey to receive a kingdom. Before leaving, He gave His stewards, ten of them, each equal amounts of money to invest in His kingdom. With that, He charged them saying, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). That is what the Bride is to do while the Groom is away preparing a place for her. There was also the matter of the “gifts” the Groom gives His Bride as “insurance.” That comes in the form of the Holy Spirit,[12] who Paul calls the “seal”[13] or guarantee of the promise.

In the meantime, the Bride awaits the shout, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him” (Matthew 25:6). However, the Bride cannot join her Groom in ordinary clothes, she must be changed. The Apostle Paul provides insight into this transformation. “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, emphasis mine). In another place he says, “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not [go before] them which are asleep. 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: 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” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, emphasis mine). Just as the Galilean bride was “flown” to the groom’s house, so will the Bride of Christ be flown to His house.

When that happens, the marriage will take place. “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” (Revelation 19:7, emphasis mine). John records “the marriage of the Lamb” just prior to Jesus’ return to Earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, but that would seem to make the marriage a rushed affair. Thinking back on the Galilean wedding; the festivities went on for seven days. That would parallel Daniel’s final week[14] – seven years. In the Galilean wedding, the festivities started when the bride entered the groom’s house. For the Church, that begins when the trumpet sounds and Jesus calls “Come up hither” (Revelation 4:1). Then during those seven years, as Bride will be examined, not for punishment, but for rewards. “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:9-10, emphasis mine). “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15, emphasis mine). All this will take place in Heaven during the seven years of Tribulation on Earth.

Therefore, I see John’s report as the culmination of the wedding feast as the Bride prepares to follow her Bridegroom as He receives His kingdom. “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” (Revelation 19:8). Above we considered the “judgment seat of Christ” where our “works” will be evaluated and rewards will be allocated based on how those works survive a “trial by fire.” All who stand before the judgment seat of Christ are saved by the blood of Christ, and nothing can annul that. However, our works here on earth will determine the rewards with which we will be clothed. Will our wedding gown be a nice, plain, unremarkable, white gown or will it be really fancy and decked out with elaborate lace and sparkling jewels? Either way, it is the “whiteness” that really matters.

“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. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:9-10, emphasis mine). “He” is probably the same angel that spoke to John in Revelation 17:1.[15] He makes what is probably one of the greatest understatements thus far: “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Blessed indeed! God has blessed me all my natural life far beyond what I deserve. I cannot begin to imagine the blessing of being in the presence of God, and “These are the true sayings of God.” John is so overwhelmed by what he has witnessed that he falls down to worship the angel. The angel quickly prohibits John from worshiping him. In the OT we often find “the angel of the Lord” accepting worship, which no ordinary angel would ever dare to do. This is how we recognize “the angel of the Lord” as a pre-incarnate manifestation of Jesus. He is God and worthy of worship. Here we are given a solid reason for studying prophecy: “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” God promises that before He does anything, He will reveal it to His prophets. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:9-10). Amen!

How about you, reader? Will you be seated at the marriage supper of the Lamb? If you do not know the Savior, do not wait any longer. The time is short. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”