Dear Sir,
Do you believe in the coming back of the Lord? Will it be a physical or spiritual coming. In Joh 14:18, the Lord said he will come to us. How? GOD BLESS YOU.
From,
N____

Hi N____,

Christ will return and will rule this physical earth. He is now a spirit, but as He demonstrated many times after His resurrection, he can and did appear as “flesh and bone.” That is a capability all who are raised from among the dead and given spiritual bodies have. They can all appear to be flesh and bone. For this reason the physical, carnal, millennial inhabitants of this earth will believe that they can overthrow their millennial rulers.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy [ is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [ is] as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

So Luk 17:20-21 is now and is within.

Luk 17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you

But the fact that there are two resurrections, separated by a thousand year reign of God’s elect on this earth, means that at the end of the thousand years, Christ will destroy all flesh and will, through the lake of fire, bring all men to Himself. Look at the very next verse in Rev 20.

Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [ the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

There it is – the lake of fire and the great white throne. This is the salvation of all men immediately following the destruction of all flesh. It is through the destruction of all flesh and the resurrection of all who have ever died that death is finally destroyed. Death would never be destroyed as long as babies continue to be born.
I hope this helps you to see that Christ really will come and rule this physical earth. He will be a spirit who can and will appear as “flesh and bone.”

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Luk 24:37  But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
Luk 24:38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Luk 24:39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Luk 24:40  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them [ his] hands and [ his] feet.
Luk 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things.
Luk 24:49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Luk 24:50  And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
Luk 24:51  And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.[ where flesh and blood cannot go]

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Mike,

I have a question about how the sons of God will be manifested to creation. When you have a moment, which I know is rare, do you think you could give some thought to this question and write me back?

Best,
J____

Hi J____,

Thank you for your question.

You ask:

How the sons of God will be manifested to creation?

… which “manifestation” is promised in this verse:

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

I think you already know that Christ wants us all to first experience that manifestation within, in the spirit, before we will be counted able to be manifested as such to an outward unconverted world.

In these days of worldwide crisis, it is few indeed who are even concerned with the things that are within, where the real manifestation must first take place. If Christ is not first manifested to us, then we will not be the ones being made manifest to this world as “the sons of God”. That is Paul’s point here, where these verses concerning “the manifestation of the sons of God”, appears.

Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

We who “have the firstfruits of the spirit groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption”.

So it is only within us that judgment is now taking place.

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Jesus, in these verses is responding to a demand by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God would appear on this earth. Christ is not denying that the kingdoms of this world would one day be governed by His overcomer elect. What Christ is doing is taking this question by His detractors to tell us that our emphasis at this time is to keep our eyes on what is taking place within, and not on what is taking place in the affairs and calamities of the world without. The affairs of this world are being worked by God to bring the kingdoms of this world into the dominion of Christ and His Christ.

Luk 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
Luk 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luk 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Luk 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Do you think the world is somehow worse than you and me? ‘I tell you nay but except we repent you and I will likewise perish’. We are “the world” which must repent.

Do not let anyone tell you that the terrible things taking place in our country and in the world are proof that God is judging this world. He is not. He is judging only “the world” within his elect at this time. No one else.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

That is what is taking place at this time, and the answer to Peter’s question, “What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”, is that the world will be judged at its own appointed time in the “great white throne judgment… the lake of fire”.

Having said all of that I will now address your question as I understood you to ask it. What you want to know is “how the sons of God will be manifested to [the carnal world] creation?”

I think you know that there are no scriptures which use the names of modern nations or current world wide alliances or groups of nations detailing exactly how power is to be transferred from the “kingdoms of this world [to] our Lord and His Christ”. But rest assured, that is exactly what will be done in due time:

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

I cannot “think above that which is written” (1Co 4:6), so all I can do is show you the Old Testament types of how God has, in the past, turned the governments of this world over to the rulership of those in the Old Testament who typify His elect.

In all three cases, the case of Joseph, Daniel and his three friends, and Mordecai and Esther, the very lives of His elect hang in the balance just before they are placed in the position of ruling this world. That is as specific as the scriptures get. All three examples demonstrate that Christ will position His Christ to be the solution to the crisis He is bringing on this world. The events which will bring this about will be just as miraculous as the events that brought Joseph, Daniel and his three friends, and Mordecai and Esther, to rulership and power. God will somehow “trouble the spirit” of the leaders of this world and will somehow lead those who will be in power at that time to show favor towards, and acknowledge that God’s elect are the only way to cope with the impending crisis facing this world at that time.

Gen 41:8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but [there was] none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

Gen 41:38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
Gen 41:39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
Gen 41:40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

This whole scenario is thrice repeated with Daniel and his three friends, and with Mordecai and Esther.

That is as much as the scriptures reveal so far as the details are concerned, and that is as far as I am permitted to go because of this verse of God’s Word:

1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

The words “of men” are not in the Greek and serve only to cause us to miss the complete message of this verse. It is this verse which condemns all the so-called modern day “prophecies” which are constantly “thinking above that which is written”. God has made me to “tremble at His words”, and I dare not “think above what is written”.

I hope this has helped to give you a Biblical understanding of how God will, in His time, and in His way, “manifest the sons of God” to the unconverted “kingdoms of this world”.

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The words “for ever and ever” are really “for the eons of the eons” and certainly include the eons of the millennium and the white throne judgment.

Your brother in the Christ of our Lord,
Mike

Hi Mike,
I just was reading up on your trinity papers and see that the spirit and Jesus are one and the same not two totally different people.
    1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
What a great verse you point out to the Greek words.  My question is since Jesus is the parakleetos can we say that Jesus’ second advent to the earth is just when we receive the Holy Spirit?  When the disciples received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and Paul was converted on the road to Damascus and I was brought to my knees in conviction to my own sinful condition, are not these than the second advent of Christ in the form of the spirit? Would not a future physical descent mean a third advent of the Lord? Please let me know your thoughts this has been on my mind all week.
Thank You. Your Brother In Christ,
M____

Hi M____,
Thank you for your question.
You say:

I just was reading up on your trinity papers and see that the spirit and Jesus are one and the same, not two totally different people.

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: “

I agree that 1Jn 2:1 sounds as if it is saying that Christ is the holy spirit. But Joh 16:13 also sounds as if it is saying the exact opposite:

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Who is this “spirit of truth?” It is none other than “the comforter” or as the Greek reads – ‘the parakleetos.’

Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

If we take either of these verses by themselves, and apart from the rest of God’s Word, we can easily make the case that the scriptures contradict themselves, and we are right there snared by the Adversary who wants nothing more than to have us all in that very state of mind.
That is why Psa 119:160 is so very vital to a proper understanding of God’s Word.

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

All your Babylonian friends, totally unaware of this vital principle concerning the Word of God, seem to think that this says ‘ some of thy word is truth’ and will always say “Yes, but what about such and such a verse” when confronted with a verse that contradicts their Babylonian doctrines. They are more than willing to ignore those verses which reveal the error of their doctrines and cling to verses which seem to bolster their false Babylonian teachings.
No seeker of the mind of Christ will ever settle for such a intellectually dishonest approach to what is the very Word of God.
So what is “the sum of God’s Word” concerning Christ relationship to and with the holy spirit? Why don’t we let Him tell us Himself right here in this same chapter, and right here in the very next verses:

Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you.

So whose really is the holy spirit? It is the Father’s spirit, and the scriptures so clearly declare:

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.

Who is God? Is Christ the “one God,” or has the Father “given all He has to Christ?” What is “the sum of God’s Word” on this subject?

1Co 8:6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.

So just as Pharaoh gave all he had to Joseph while retaining the “power of the throne,” so too, has God given all He has to Christ, yes, even “the holy spirit of God,” while retaining the power of the throne.
Now what you say about Christ’s second coming is right on target. You say:

My question is since Jesus is the parakleetos can we say that Jesus’ second advent to the earth is just when we receive the Holy Spirit?  When the disciples received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and Paul was converted on the road to Damascus and I was brought to my knees in conviction to my own sinful condition, are not these then the second advent of Christ in the form of the spirit? Would not a future physical descent mean a thirrd advent of the Lord?

As we just saw, the Father gave Christ the ‘parakleetos,’ and the parakleetos is Christ’s to give to whom He wills. But yes, indeed, when Christ came on the day of Pentecost, when He came to Paul on the road to Damascus and when He comes to you and me, that is His “second coming,” and when he comes to rule “the kingdoms of this world,” that will be an entirely different event, and is definitely not His “second coming.” Look at this verse which concerns these appearings which you reference:

Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Neither Christ nor His Father are way off on planet heaven. When Christ left this earth, He did so “in the clouds,” and those ‘clouds’ symbolize Christ’s witnesses whose witnesses we are:

Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

What is “a cloud?”

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Spiritual eyes see clearly who are this cloud of witnesses:

Luk 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Act 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

God gives of His spirit through Him to whom He has “given all things,” through Christ. Christ did not have far to go when He was “received of a cloud.” You and I are that ‘cloud of witnesses’ who receive Him. He tells us this is so:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [ Greek, aion, age]. Amen.

I hope this helps you to see both 1Jn 2:1 and Joh 16 in a more comprehensive way which will clarify to you that Christ is not the holy spirit, but rather is God’s channel for giving that spirit to those who He wills.

Luk 10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

And yes indeed, Christ’s second coming is when He comes to each of us and destroys the man of sin within each of us “witht he brightness of His coming.”

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first [ a “carrying away into Babylon”], and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [ the old you and the old me]
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. [“Who can make war with the beast?” Rev 13:4]
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [ will let], until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his [ second] coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Joh 14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

How does Christ accomplish this? He comes to us through His Father’s spirit which His Father gave to Him:

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he [ the comforter, the holy spirit, the spirit of Truth] shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:16  A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. [ Read Is God A Trinity?]

That is what Christ meant when He said, “I come again unto you.”
Does this deny that some of his elect will be standing on this earth when He takes control of the kingdoms of this world? Absolutely not:

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

Those who happen to be standing on this earth when Christ takes over and gives the kingdoms of this world to His Christ will then be changed into spirit.
I hope this helps you to see that Christ’s second coming for His elect is spiritual and NOW, but for all others it is future.
Your brother in Christ.
Mike

Mike,

I was very anxious all week to get back to read your reply. I, too, have memory of WCG teachings about the second Passover. I remember a passage in 2Ch 30:13-15. I had in my mind that, that was what that was about, (second resurrection group keeping the Passover, spiritually), but never knew about the verses you sent in Numbers 9:6-11. Putting it all together with the polluted vessels clears up a lot for me. 2Ch 30;13 says…. a very great congregation, (implying the second resurrection). As always I really appreciate your time, (laying down your life for me). R____

Wow!

I had never noticed the fact that that passover in 2 Chronicles was in the second month!

Look at this verse:

2Ch 30:3  For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.

The priests had not sanctified themselves… neither had the people gathered themselves to Jerusalem. When you know who is Jerusalem you know that this is a confirmation of this verse:

Rev 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee [Jerusalem (Rev.3:12)]

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.

You are laying down your life for me, too, and I really do appreciate it.
Mike

Hi Mike,

Will Jesus return in a ‘literal’ way, so that every physical eye will see Him, or are these passages speaking of a symbolic or figurative return? (Mat 24:27-31 and Act 1:9-11)

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.

J____

Hi J____,

The answer to that question is that, as surely as His own disciples saw Him after His resurrection, just as surely His enemies will see Him when He sets up His kingdom on this earth. The fact that I have never seen Christ in the flesh will be no more of a hindrance keeping me from recognizing Him than the fact that Peter, James and John had never seen Moses or Elijah on the mount of transfiguration. Peter, James and John recognized two men that they had never seen in their lives. It will be the same with the return of Christ:

Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn,
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

According to Hebrews 12, this ‘cloud’ in which Christ returns is the risen, overcoming elect; “a cloud of witnesses…” While there are many things in God’s word that are symbols for something higher, when the subject is Jesus Christ or “the son of Man,” these words are never symbols of something with a higher meaning. So when we are told that “they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,” what is meant in this case, is exactly what is said:

“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.“

That “cloud of witnesses” is elsewhere called “the church, which is His body.” I understand that there is a called ‘body’ which opposes that ‘cloud of witnesses,’ who make up those of the first resurrection. That ‘cloud of witnesses’, which is the chosen ‘body’ of believers, is not a headless body. Christ is said, in symbolic language, to be returning on a ‘white horse.’ Just believe what is written there in Matthew 24:

“… And they [ All the tribes of the earth] shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.“

It will not be a ‘headless horseman.’ This time He will not be seen only by and in His saints. He will also be seen by “all the tribes of the earth.” All the tribes of the earth have no spiritual perception at all during the millennium. Yet “they shall see the Son of Man…,” and He will, through His saints, “rule with a rod of iron.” This, too, has nothing to do with rebuking in their hearts. Rather, this is a continuation of ‘the seven vials’ (bowls) being poured out on the rebellious flesh that will be ‘crushed as a potter’s vessel’ throughout this thousand-year reign. Look at what is revealed in Revelation 21:

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

Why are we told that this ‘bride’ is shown to John by “one of the angels which had the seven vials?” This phrase, ‘one of the angels which had the seven vials,’ is used in one other place in Revelation:

Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

Satan, the false prophet and the beast are all “cast alive into the lake burning with fire and brimstone.”

Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant 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.

The fact that Satan is not mentioned here, plus the fact that orthodox Christian doctrine demands judgment upon death, has lead all orthodox Christian scholars to conclude that this event takes place at the beginning of the millennium. It most assuredly does not occur at the beginning of the millennium. The fact that the beast and the false prophet are cast into this ‘lake of fire’ sets the timing of this event at the white throne judgment “when the thousand years are expired.”

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

The beast and the false prophet are not “cast into prison” during the one thousand years reign. The orthodox Christians who have been victimized by the false doctrines of “the beast and the false prophet” ever since Christ’s ascension, are dead and in their graves during the millennium. They “know not anything.”

Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

During the millennium they are still very much alive, but they are not in authority. They are rather “ruled with a rod of iron.” This is not a Biblical equivalent for being “drawn to Christ.” This is not the inward working of God’s spirit in the hearts of the inhabitants of the millennial kingdom. This is an outward ‘rebuking of nations afar off:’

Mic 4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off…

“Afar off” is not a geographical statement. Nothing in this universe is ‘afar off’ to Christ and His elect, but these nations are spiritually “afar off.” As soon as Satan is released from his prison, it becomes painfully obvious just how “afar off” the nations are.

Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

That is how ‘converted’ the nations which have been “ruled with a rod of iron”are.

This ‘rulership of the nations’ is reserved for Christ as the head of His body and His elect as His “called AND chosen and faithful” body.

Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Rev 17:14 These [the ten horns of the beast (corporately, the nations)] shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end [called AND chosen AND faithful], to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands [ called AND chosen and faithful]; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

“The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years are finished.” The beast and the false prophet are “cast alive into the lake of fire.”

“The rest of the dead” means all who are not included in that “blessed and holy… first resurrection.” The beast and the false prophet are definitely not in the first resurrection.

So I come back to my question posed above; why are we told that this ‘bride’ is shown to John by “one of the angels which had the seven vials?” Look at where the Holy Spirit has seen fit to place this statement:

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea [no more flesh (Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.)].
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

This is “after the thousand years are finished.” So what does that have to do with the fact that this is shown to John by “one of the angels which had the seven vials?” Here is what is so significant about that verse of scripture:

Rev 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Rev 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Rev 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Rev 15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
Rev 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Now ask yourself; what is this ‘temple?’ We don’t need to wonder what this is telling us. The scriptures interpret themselves for those who have been “given eyes to see and ears to hear:”

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

So,”the temple of God” is God’s elect who “will reign on earth.” Now ask yourself, “Where do the seven angels come from?”

Rev 15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple

What are we told these ‘angels’ are wearing?

“And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles…”

What are we told ‘white linen’ represents?

Rev 19:8 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.

“White… linen” is the righteousness of saints.

There! That is simply what we are told. “The seven angels came out of the temple…clothed in pure and white linen.” So these messengers, these angels, come from God’s elect who “will reign on earth.” Now ask yourself, where do these angels get the vials to pour out on the earth?:

Rev 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God,

They are given their seven vials by “one of the four beasts.” Who are we told these beasts represent? What is the higher meaning of this ‘four beasts’ symbol? The answer to this question has been right before our eyes for nearly 2000 years.

Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 And they 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;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Is there a commentary in existence anywhere that points out the scriptural definition of the symbolism of these four beasts AND the four and twenty elders? Henry and Barnes and other commentaries tell us that these beasts and these “four and twenty elders” say that they will “reign on earth,” but they do not recognize that this is an admission of the fact that heaven is not a geographical location but the realm of the spirit in which God’s throne exists in the hearts and minds of His elect saints who are “called AND chosen AND faithful. They cannot see the significance of this wonderful revelation because they do not believe that there is any difference between the called and the chosen!

Such a thought is far too spiritual for the natural man. To him ‘heaven’ is up from the earth. It is somewhere out beyond the visible stars. They may not claim to know exactly where heaven is, but the one thing they all agree on is that it is a physical place, with a physical city, with physical streets of gold, etc., etc.. The Truth of God’s Word is that one does not budge one inch to get to heaven. Christ Himself admitted as much when He said, after His ascension, “Lo, I am with you [here on earth] even until the end of the age.” Again, Paul tells the gentile, heathen Athenians:

Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Act 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

If this scripture is true, and I am ‘foolish’ enough to believe that it is, then “God is not far from every one of us… for in Him we live and move and have our being.” Then how is it possible that He could be in a ‘heaven’ which is a physical planet, with a physical city on that physical planet, with physical streets paved with physical gold. Just hearing these spiritually immature thoughts put into words should make anyone with the spirit of God within them cringe in shame and disgust at the thought of taking all the wonderful, spiritual, invisible aonian blessings that we are given, and materializing them away into the physical realm of “the things that are seen.”

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Putting all these scriptures together tells us the significance of why we are told:

Again the scriptures declare:

Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Now let’s nail down who these seven angels with the seven vials are:

Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him [The angel of God]. 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.

This messenger, this “angel” of God, is “your fellow servant” and “your brother that has the testimony of Jesus.”

Again God declares:

Rev 22:8 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.
Rev 22:9 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.

Angelic spirits are not “fellow servants” or “of your brothers.” It is true that the elect are “as Christ,” but this is not true of the angel spirits:

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Once again we are told:

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

So the angel (messenger) with the seven vials that comes out of the temple (“ye are the temple”) is a fellow servant and of those who have the testimony of Jesus (the elect of God, the called and chosen and faithful) “and of them which keep the sayings of this book.”

So yes, Christ returns to rule with a rod of iron. However, the ‘rod of iron’ is not the inward working that is now taking place in the hearts of the overcomers. It is completely a time of outward worship and obedience and does not affect the hearts and minds of the untested and untried millennial population. Rather, ‘the angels that have the seven vials’ are working throughout the entire millennium, so that “no one can enter into the temple,” which temple we are, until the seven angels have poured out the entire wrath of God upon all flesh. This statement includes all the carnal minds that are cast into the lake of fire.

Rev 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

I hope this clears up this question in your mind. It is refreshing to see the growth in the things of the spirit.

Mike