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 will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.
And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away. Rev 21:3-4
He who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. Rev 21:7
But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Rev 21:8
And the nations of those who are saved will walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Rev 21:24
Some Will Enter, Some won't By reading the last phrase of this chapter we can confirm who these are that are saved: they are the ones who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. We see again, that not all those whose names are not in the Book of Life are in torment, for if they were, who are those kings of the earth who bring their glory and honor into the city? 21:24. If those who are saved all live in the city, and those who are not saved are in the lake of fire, what is the purpose of a new earth, since it would have no inhabitants?
According to this study, the Bible teaches that, at first, in eternity, there will be four categories of humans:
1. The first ones are the martyrs. They reign with Christ for one thousand years. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshipped the beast nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 20:4
This is the same one thousand years in which Satan is bound in the bottomless pit. After that time, they move into the Holy City when it descends. Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 21:3
2. The second are those who are saved, 21:24, the blood washed multitudes from all nations of the world. The term for these, in Christian circles, is, “those who are born again”.
Immediately, after the white throne judgment, they will enter the holy city, the place we usually call heaven. It is then that Christians will join those who were martyred for Jesus. There is no teaching in the Bible of a place out there somewhere, way beyond our imagination, that we will go to when we die.
We need to realign our thinking to agree with the teachings of the Bible. According to the description given in The Apocalypse, heaven is a physical realm with dwelling places, streets and a wall to keep out those who may not enter. The city has food to eat and water to drink. It also grows trees, the leaves of which are, used for medicine for those who still dwell on earth. We can surmise this because there is no sickness in heaven.
4. Fourth are those who turn back from following Christ because of fear, the cowards, or because of false doctrines, those without faith. It also includes murderers; pimps; drug dealers; it includes those who knew better, but who willfully, deliberately disobeyed the cardinal basic rules of decent humanity. But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and fornicators and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This means the second death. Rev 21:8 NW.
It is interesting that in the Greek text, in place of and those practicing spiritism we find this very modern prevailing sin listed; a sin found mostly in the younger generation: and to druggers. Two thousand years ago the writer of The Revelation already predicted the coming of the curse of street drugs. Now countries are jostling to get into line to be the next one to make it legal!
Those who insisted on living the lifestyle mentioned in this verse, and never in their life repented of their evil actions must, according to the rules of their Creator, pay the price in torment.
______________________________
And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away. Rev 21:3-4
He who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. Rev 21:7
But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Rev 21:8
And the nations of those who are saved will walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Rev 21:24
And there shall in no way enter into it anything that defiles, or any making an abomination or a lie; but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Rev 21:27
Some Will Enter, Some won't By reading the last phrase of this chapter we can confirm who these are that are saved: they are the ones who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. We see again, that not all those whose names are not in the Book of Life are in torment, for if they were, who are those kings of the earth who bring their glory and honor into the city? 21:24. If those who are saved all live in the city, and those who are not saved are in the lake of fire, what is the purpose of a new earth, since it would have no inhabitants?
Quoting Dr McGee* again, The children of Israel will be among the multitudes who come into this city to worship in eternity. They will come from the earth to bring their worship and glory. This statement states that even the Old Testament saints that "walked with God" did not make it into heaven. I cannot accept that teaching! Is Jehovah really Anti-Semitic?
According to this study, the Bible teaches that, at first, in eternity, there will be four categories of humans: 1. The first ones are the martyrs. They reign with Christ for one thousand years. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshipped the beast nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 20:4
This is the same one thousand years in which Satan is bound in the bottomless pit. After that time, they move into the Holy City when it descends. Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 21:3
2. The second are those who are saved, 21:24, the blood washed multitudes from all nations of the world. The term for these, in Christian circles, is, “those who are born again”.
Immediately, after the white throne judgment, they will enter the holy city, the place we usually call heaven. It is then that Christians will join those who were martyred for Jesus. There is no teaching in the Bible of a place out there somewhere, way beyond our imagination, that we will go to when we die.
We need to realign our thinking to agree with the teachings of the Bible. According to the description given in The Apocalypse, heaven is a physical realm with dwelling places, streets and a wall to keep out those who may not enter. The city has food to eat and water to drink. It also grows trees, the leaves of which are, used for medicine for those who still dwell on earth. We can surmise this because there is no sickness in heaven.
3. Third are those who did not accept Christ but they lived good, clean, honest lives. They will not spend eternity in fiery anguish but they will be the inhabitants of the new earth. These are the people, whose kings will come to visit the holy city: and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 21:24.
4. Fourth are those who turn back from following Christ because of fear, the cowards, or because of false doctrines, those without faith. It also includes murderers; pimps; drug dealers; it includes those who knew better, but who willfully, deliberately disobeyed the cardinal basic rules of decent humanity. But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and fornicators and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This means the second death. Rev 21:8 NW.
It is interesting that in the Greek text, in place of and those practicing spiritism we find this very modern prevailing sin listed; a sin found mostly in the younger generation: and to druggers. Two thousand years ago the writer of The Revelation already predicted the coming of the curse of street drugs. Now countries are jostling to get into line to be the next one to make it legal!
Those who insisted on living the lifestyle mentioned in this verse, and never in their life repented of their evil actions must, according to the rules of their Creator, pay the price in torment.
______________________________
* Through the Bible with Dr J Vernon McGee.
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