THE FUTURE NEW HEAVEN & NEW EARTH

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At the end of this life, most Christians want to go to Heaven. But what does the Bible tell us about the place where Christians will spend eternity? It is a concept far beyond our imagination.

In this video, Impact Vision Ministries do a great job of reproducing the Scriptures that provide the incredible details God gives us of the new Heaven and the new Earth where believers will live with God the Father and Jesus for eternity.

It is important to remember that the Bible tells us that Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom precedes the second resurrection and the White Throne judgement (http://www.millennialkingdom.net). It is only after the White Throne judgement and unbelievers are thrown into the Lake of Fire that John sees the Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven onto the new Earth.

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” Revelation 21:2-3

This fallen Earth still has another 1,000 years before it is destroyed by fire. Raptured, resurrected believers will return to Earth with Jesus to rule and reign with a rod of iron on this Earth. People will still marry and have children and die. They will still need to make a decision to repent and want Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord. We know this because, at the end of the 1000 years, Satan is released from that Abyss and is still able to raise an army of rebellious people to come against Jesus and the Saints.

“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.” Revelation 20:7-8

WHO CAUSED DEATH, DISEASE, AND SUFFERING IN THIS WORLD?

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For those Christians who believe in millions of years, it is only logical that the world as we see it today with all its groaning has gone on like this for millions of years before man. This then puts the blame on God for death, disease, and suffering. But God’s Word blames our sin!

No, one can’t add millions of years into Scripture. To do so is to attack the character of God and undermine the authority of the Word of God.

When God originally created everything, it was “very good.” There was no death, disease, or suffering. But because we (in Adam) sinned against our holy God (we committed high treason against God by our outright disobedience), God judged that disobedience with death and the curse (Genesis 3:14–19; Romans 5:12).

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned… The good news is ”For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:12, 17

It must be remembered that there was a supernatural entity, Satan, involved in deceiving Eve and Adam into disobeying God. He is a fallen angel who we are told rebelled against God because he wanted to be God.

Satan is called the “prince of the power of the air” in Ephesians 2:2. He is the “ruler of this world” in John 12:31. These titles and many more signify Satan’s capabilities. To say, for example, that Satan is the “prince of the power of the air” is to signify that in some way he rules over the world and the people in it. This is not to say that he rules the world completely; God is still sovereign. But it does mean that God, in His infinite wisdom, has allowed Satan to operate in this world within the boundaries God has set for him.

We know from Biblical prophecy that all of the O.T. prophets were told that their Messiah would eventually rule Israel (Acts 3:24), the nation God established for His purposes. Almost 2,000 Biblical prophecies are of Jesus’ return to this Earth first to rescue His Saints and pour out His wrath upon an unrepentant world. Jesus then returns to Earth with the glorified Saints to rule and reign the nations with a rod of iron for 1000 years. Satan has ruled this world for 6,000 years but now he is bound in chains for most of the thousand years. He is released at the end of the thousand years and we are told that he is still able to raise an army of rebellious people to come against Jesus and the Saints. Fire from heaven consumes them and it is at this stage God destroys the old heaven and earth. Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom is a transition period.

It is after the second resurrection and the White Throne judgement that John sees a magnificent new Jerusalem descending from a new Heaven onto a new Earth where there will be no more death, disease, pain, or suffering. It will be a restoration (Acts 3:20–21). If death, disease, and suffering have been here since God created life, then it makes no sense that there will be a restoration to a new heaven and earth with no death and suffering.

WHAT DOES GOD LOOK LIKE?

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As Christians, we have a fair understanding of God’s characteristics, such as love. But what does He look like? Scriptures clearly tell us that He has fire from His waist up and from His waist down, and it’s mingled with electricity. The word in Hebrew is Ashman, which means “electricity.” In Greek, it’s electros, again “electricity.” We see in other places that it’s lightning. So you have this fiery, lightning, kind of God that cannot have sin or corruption in His presence, not because He doesn’t like us, but just because we’re incompatible. Daniel says His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. Imagine being in the presence of God and all of His blazing fire. Now imagine going up to God and giving Him a hug. How would that feel? That would really be the end of your day, wouldn’t it? Because you cannot do that, I cannot do that, in our present bodies we are incompatible with God. 

So God put a veil between heaven and earth, until that time in the future when the veil will be lifted. Actually, God is the one who left the Garden and He cursed the Cosmos and allowed mankind to live on planet Earth for a limited life span. But on occasion, that veil was opened so that people could see through. Stephen, when he was being stoned, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God. He said, Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! Acts 7:56 This is just one occasion when God allowed people to see beyond that veil. John says in Revelation, “Now I saw heaven opened”. Rev. 19:11 

There were so many places where the heavens were opened and people were able to see just through a little bit. When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the Syrians, Elisha prayed that God would open his eyes and then he saw horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:17). It was like Elisha’s servant put on his decoder glasses, and could then see beyond into that other realm and he could see what was behind the veil. God’s desire has always been to dwell with men openly, without any kind of a veil, with nothing between us, and completely exposed, one to another. This is His great desire.

The day is coming; and it will happen after Jesus’ Millennial reign on this Earth, the second resurrection of the dead, and the White Throne Judgement that the righteous will dwell with God on the new Earth.

“And he who sits on the throne will dwell among them.” Revelation 7:15

“The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. Revelation 21:3

 

 

EVOLUTIONARY VIEW OF THE FUTURE VERSUS A BIBLICAL VIEW

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An article appeared in Science Daily entitled “New research maps 14 potential evolutionary dead ends for humanity and ways to avoid them.” What are these “dead ends” we must avoid?

Well, these “dead ends” are defined as “evolutionary traps” humanity can get stuck in that initially began with innovation but can if we don’t escape them, lead to the end of the Anthropocene (the supposed current geological age) as we know it.

Summary: Humankind risks getting stuck in 14 evolutionary dead ends, ranging from global climate tipping points to misaligned artificial intelligence, chemical pollution, and accelerating infectious diseases, finds a new major assessment by scientists from multiple different disciplines. To break these trends, humans must become self-aware of our common futures.

BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING

Now, how should Christians understand this? We need to practice dominion with our Bibles open and our hearts attuned to the Holy Spirit, seeking godly counsel. We should want what is best—not just for creation but ultimately for mankind because we’re the only creatures made in God’s image. So we care for everything God made, making it our goal to honor the Creator in everything we do.

Is humanity doomed to an “evolutionary dead end”? Not at all. While we can certainly make decisions that negatively (or positively) impact mankind, our future has already been decided by God, and He has told us in advance. This Earth and mankind won’t end until Jesus returns first to rule and reign with the glorified Saints for 1,000 years. Jesus needs to fulfill the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenant before God destroys this Earth with fire. The final judgment of mankind then takes place after the second resurrection with the White Throne Judgment. It is only after the White Throne Judgement that John sees a new Jerusalem descending from the new Heaven onto a new Earth where only the righteous dwell.

MILLENNIAL KINGDOM

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34

“Also I (John) saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6

This Earth still has 1,000 years before it is destroyed by fire. Jesus and the glorified Saints will rule and reign with a rod of iron even though Satan is bound in the Abyss. Much detail was given to the O.T. prophets about Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom, check out http://www.millennialkingdom.net.

For 6,000 years Satan has ruled much of Earth, and now Jesus will fulfill Israel’s destiny with its Messiah ruling the nations for 1,000 years. At the end of Jesus’ 1,000 reign, God releases Satan one more time and he is able to raise an army like the sand of the sea of rebellious people. How wicked is unregenerate mankind? Only then will this Earth’s destiny be complete.

“When the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them.” Revelation 20:7-9

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” Revelation 21:1-3

THE DAY GOD DESTROYS THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WITH FIRE

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God tells us in His Word (Bible): “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). But are you also aware that one day God will destroy the heavens and the earth with fire?

“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:11-12

Shocking? Absolutely. Unbelievable? Not at all.

The Apostle Peter, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, delivered this staggering news to God’s people: “The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be burned up … That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat” (2 Peter 3:10,12).

Yes, you read that correctly. The heavens will be dissolved, and the earth will literally melt in the heat.

A few verses earlier Peter described how in the last days before Jesus returns scoffers will deny that God judged the world previously with the worldwide flood of Noah’s day.

 “Knowing this, first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing… For they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s Word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and with water. By water also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:5-7).

The coming day of judgment is just as certain as God’s creation of the universe, and just as sure as the great flood in Noah’s day. The worldwide flood that buried millions of dead creatures all over the world, fossils, including fossil fuels (decayed vegetation under pressure), adequate evidence it occurred.

The good news: the Apostle John was given a vision of what will happen after God burns up the earth.

“Then I saw a new Heaven and a new earth, for the first Heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ’Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (Revelation 21:1-5).

Every child of God will inhabit the New Heaven and New Earth with a perfect body that is incorruptible.

“The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

Talk about an upgrade! If you could choose today between going to Heaven or going to Hell, you would certainly choose Heaven, right? After all, who wants to go to Hell? But do you realize that there is only one way to be forgiven of your sins and get into Heaven?

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Peter proclaimed: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Saved from what? 1. Sin, 2. Death, and 3. Hell. The final chapter of the Bible makes things crystal clear:

“And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also, he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end… The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:5-8

Those who have deliberately and persistently pursued their sinful desires will find themselves in the Lake of Fire where there is punishment and the second death.

Your good works cannot remove a single stain from your soul. Like everyone else, you need the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross 2,000 years ago. When you turn to Christ in faith and rely upon His death for your salvation, your robe is instantly washed clean and made white in the blood of the Lamb.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Peter informed believers: “In keeping with God’s promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13).

The day God burns up the earth will be terribly frightening, to say the least, but this global upheaval must take place before the Lord ushers in a New Heaven and a New Earth.

In the meantime, “God wants everyone to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth,” (1 Timothy 2:4), and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

I have adapted this post from an article by Dan Delzell, The Day God Burns Up The Earth, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Papillion, Nebraska. 

ANOTHER PROPHESIED END-TIMES SIGN – ECONOMIC COLLAPSE

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America’s Banks Are Still Teetering on the Edge

Abstract from an article by Briton Hill, co-founder of Weber Global Management.

The U.S. survived the largest banking crisis in its history earlier this year… So far, at least.

It might seem like a distant memory. But in the first half of 2023, the failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank wiped out nearly $550 billion.

When Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank collapsed over a three-day period in March, ripples of fear shot through the economy. Anxious depositors lined up outside nearly every financial institution. And they pulled hundreds of billions of dollars out of U.S. banks.

The panic initially hit regional banks the hardest. Some of these banks’ stocks fell almost 50% in a single day. It didn’t take long for the crisis to spread throughout the financial services industry. Even some of the country’s largest institutions fell victim to the panic… For example, Charles Schwab’s (SCHW) depositors and investors didn’t need to worry about bankruptcy. And yet, the panic caused the company’s stock to plunge more than 30% in a matter of days. The entire U.S. financial system teetered on the brink of collapse.

So on March 12 – a Sunday, by the way – the Federal Reserve stepped in. The central bank said it would “assure banks have the ability to meet the needs of all their depositors.” In other words, it guaranteed all depositors’ funds in the failing banks. Crisis averted. At least for the time being.

The unrealized losses on investment securities for U.S. banks in 2022 and 2023 make the financial crisis look like child’s play…

Bank of America (BAC) is the second-largest bank in the country. It holds $760 billion in U.S. Treasury securities. But recently, it was sitting on an unrealized loss of $110 billion.

That’s more than the entire financial system at any point during 2008 or 2009.

If U.S. consumers catch wind of how big this problem is, it could ignite another bank run…

We’re talking about hundreds of billions of dollars in unrealized losses. These losses are keeping banks’ balance sheets underwater. As a result, many banks’ “reserve ratios” are off. (The reserve ratio is the portion of cash that a bank needs to hold, rather than lend out or invest. It’s how the system makes sure the bank has enough cash on hand to meet customer withdrawals.)

In other words, the banks can’t lend. America’s banks are paralyzed. They’re still teetering on the edge of collapse today.

But just because the banks can’t lend doesn’t mean cash needs to completely disappear… This situation has created a vacuum. People and businesses still need cash. And they’re willing to pay premium rates. But banks can’t help because of their terrible balance sheets. As a result, a long-forgotten sector has been reborn over the past few years… Private credit.

Nonbank lenders are filling the void. They’re gobbling up billions of dollars in market share every day…

The size of the private-credit market totalled around $875 billion in 2020. These days, it’s around $1.5 trillion. That’s a roughly 70% increase in just three years. In fact, insurance companies are essentially becoming the “new banks” in the market. They’re making a fortune doing it. This helps corporations and investors but what about the average worker depending upon his bank for finance?”

The chasm between the rich and poor is only going to get larger and is one of the reasons Jesus must return to restore righteousness. Prior to God destroying this Earth by fire, it has another 1,000 years with Jesus ruling and reigning with the glorified Saints. The nation God established for His purposes, Israel, will finally fulfill its destiny but only with Jesus ruling from a new Jerusalem.

“From His (Jesus) mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Revelation 19:15-16

Then we will have had 6,000 years of unregenerate man ruling the world under the influence of Satan and his demons followed by 1,000 years with Jesus and the Saints ruling the nations with a rod of iron. At 7,000 years this Earth’s history is complete.

“Then comes the end, when he (Jesus) delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” 1 Corinthians 15:24-26

Then comes the second resurrection of the dead followed by the White Throne judgement and only then does John see a new Jerusalem descending from a new Heaven onto a new Earth where only the righteous dwell.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4

A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH

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Albert Wolters concisely and persuasively demonstrates that God’s plan for righteous humanity to live on and reign over an uncursed earth was not thwarted by Satan or by man’s sin. God never revoked or abandoned His original great commission for us to rule on a perfect earth to His glory. The last chapters of the Bible promise that His original design—as revealed in the first chapters and greatly enhanced and magnified through Christ’s work—will indeed be fulfilled on the New Earth. Having fallen on mankind’s coat-tails, Earth will rise on our coat-tails—resurrected humanity will occupy and rule a resurrected earth. This is the full gospel of the Kingdom, and it is vital to a biblical worldview, which alone explains the Bible’s description of Christians as those who are “looking forward to a new heaven and new earth.”

Al Wolters writes, “[God] hangs on to his fallen original creation and salvages it. He refuses to abandon the work of his hands—in fact, he sacrifices his own Son to save his original project. Humankind, which has botched its original mandate and the whole creation along with it, is given another chance in Christ; we are reinstated as God’s managers on earth. The original good creation is to be restored.”

Moreover, prior to the White Throne judgement and the new heaven and the new earth, the promises God made to Israel that their Messiah will rule and reign from Jerusalem over all the nations will also be fulfilled in Jesus during His Millennial reign after the battle of Armageddon and Satan is bound in the Abyss for 1000 years.

“And He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him so that he might not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be released for a little while.” Revelation 20: 2-3

“They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-5

To my knowledge, Albert Walters does not address Jesus’ Millennial reign prior to the White Throne judgement. Nevertheless, Albert’s other penetrating insights help us to stop redefining the gospel in narrow and shallow, and individualistic terminology and assumptions that discredit the breadth and depth of God’s redemptive plan.

Regardless of theological leanings, anyone reading this book will undoubtedly find it a treasure trove.

A NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH

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The new heaven and new earth will only be experienced after the second resurrection and the White Throne Judgement. What is not taught much in our churches is the Millennial reign of Jesus on this earth that proceeds the second resurrection and the White Throne Judgement. And yet much of Bible prophecy, all the O.T. prophets, reveals their Messiah ruling and reigning the nations on this earth. We know it is on this earth because the curse has not been lifted. People are being born and people are still dying but with longer life spans and infant mortality is close to zero.

Much of what you read on livingeternal.net is to prepare Christians for the coming Millennial Kingdom and what precedes it. God has given us a lot of information on the last seven years (70th Week of Daniel) preceding Jesus return to earth first to take the Saints to heaven (The Rapture) and to simultaneously pour out His wrath upon unrepentant earth with the Trumpet and Bowl Judgements. He must want us to know it.

We need to use these prophecies to plead with the lost that they need to get right with their Creator, they do not want to face His coming wrath. Read the extent of the disasters God unleashes on the earth with the final Bowl Judgement.

“Then the seventh (angel) poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the sanctuary from the throne, saying, “It is done!” There were flashes of lightning and rumblings of thunder. And a severe earthquake occurred like no other since man has been on the earth — so great was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the Great was remembered in God’s presence; He gave her the cup filled with the wine of His fierce anger. Every island fled, and the mountains disappeared. Enormous hailstones, each weighing about 100 pounds, fell from the sky on people, and they blasphemed God for the plague of hail because that plague was extremely severe.” Revelation 16:17-21

After the wrath of God is poured out, Jesus returns with the resurrected saints (new bodies) for the final battle with the Antichrist’s armies. Jesus then ushers in His Millennium Kingdom. I am preparing a new website http://www.millennialkingdom.net where people can go to find out what God has already revealed to us about Jesus coming Millennial Kingdom. It is early stages but you can take a look at it. Any constructive input on it is welcome.

“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on His head. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself. He wore a robe stained with blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from His mouth so that He might strike the nations with it. He will shepherd them with an iron sceptre. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and makes war… And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Revelation 19:11, 14-17

NOW IS THE TIME TO LIVE WITH ETERNITY IN VIEW

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This catastrophe (Covid 19) is a perfect opportunity for the church to remind people that the kingdoms of this world are not where our hope is found, and that we preach a kingdom that is coming and has come: the kingdom of God with Jesus on the throne. First, Jesus will fulfill the Abrahamic covenant and rule and reign on this earth for a thousand years.

“They (resurrected believers) came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6

In this kingdom there is perfect rule, although we are told Jesus and the resurrected saints will need to rule with a “rod of iron” (Rev. 2:27, 19:15) and at the end of the thousand years when Satan is released from the abyss where he has been chained for the thousand years he is still able to raise an immense army to come against Jesus and the saints.

“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10

It is only after this final battle will this earth be destroyed with fire. The second resurrection of the rest of the dead (mostly unbelievers) will take place followed by the white throne judgement. It is only then John sees the new heaven and new earth where the saints will dwell not only with Jesus but also our Heavenly Father.

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.” Revelation 20:11

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,..” Revelation 21:1

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” Revelation 21:2-3

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Preface to my book LIVING ETERNAL NOW

The Bible is full of fulfilled prophesy which is testimony of its divine inspiration and inerrancy. It is estimated that as much as 75% of the 2,500 prophesies in the Bible have already been fulfilled, and most of those yet to happen are “last days/end time” events.

How many churches today are preparing their congregations for Jesus’ second coming? Do you realise that there are more prophecies about Jesus’ second coming than His first. The Pharisees and Sadducees did not get it with His first coming, and the church is not getting it, with His second coming, maybe in your lifetime.

“For this reason, you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” Matt. 24:44

Equipped with the knowledge of the Bible’s “last days” prophecies, we will see many of these events unfold in our time. We will look at these unfolding “end times” events in the last chapter, Discerning the Times. It is an exciting time for a Christian who is prepared to live eternal now. For both the unbeliever and believer alike “great tribulation” is ahead, but the discerning believer understands the times and is prepared.

I would like this book to help equip Christians to fulfil God’s assignment for them in these last days. You will only be able to do that, if you are aware of the times we are in, submit to the indwelling Holy Spirit, have total confidence in God’s Word, and are able to defend it to an unbelieving church, atheists and agnostics.

PREWRATH ESCHATOLOGY SIMPLIFIED

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Prewrath eschatology sees the Parousia as a complex-whole, where God will fulfil a variety of purposes:

  1. Beginning with the revelation of Christ in the sky displaying his shekinah glory and power to the whole world .
  2. Resurrection and rapture of God’s people.
  3. Immediately followed by the wrath of God poured out on the earth with the trumpet and bowl judgements. It is the day of the Lord’s judgements upon the ungodly and Antichrist’s kingdom. Duration is possibly 1 year and 10 days, same time as God poured out His wrath the first time during the days of Noah.
  4. Jesus return to this earth with the saints, restoring Israel to salvation which begins Christ’s earthly reign on this earth for a thousand years. Curse is not lifted off the entire earth. People still die. At the end of Jesus thousand year reign, Satan is released and deceives the nations and a final battle occurs which God ends with fire from heaven. Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire and God’s word says he, the beast and the false prophet will be tormented forever and ever.
  5. The Great White Throne Judgement is held in heaven after the dead unbelievers are raised to life.
  6. Unbelievers will be cast into the lake of Fire, which for them will be ultimately, after due punishment, the second death. “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14 Also Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Only Satan and his minions face eternal torment in the Lake of Fire which was prepared for them. Matthew 25:41
  7. “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
    Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:2-5