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Addendum “C”      -REVELATION TWENTY-

BEFORE we commence our evaluation of Revelation twenty, we must establish the position of Satan prior to this restraint that is being put in place.  By following the flow of Satan’s power and abode on The Rapprochement Eschatology chart and in Chapter II, we see Satan being cast out of heaven before or during our Lord’s earthly ministry—

“And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars; ²and she was with child; and she cries out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered.

³And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems. ⁴And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stands before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child. ⁵And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. ⁶And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”

          The beginning position of these passages is very plain: First we see the woman that is pictured here—Which would depict the personification of the wife of Jehovah.  We also see the plain description of the birth and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Last in this encounter, we see the dragon pictured in opposition to this young monarch.  These next passages that we have here before us will describe the method by which Satan was excommunicated out of heaven.

⁷And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels; ⁸And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. ⁹And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him. [Ref. 2Pe.2:4; Jude.6]  

These were the very first steps toward establishing the Dispensation of God’s Grace.  LISTEN!

¹⁰And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation [Rom.1:16], , and the power, and the kingdom of our God , and the authority of his Christ [Eph.4:8]: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuses them before our God day and night. ¹¹And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.

¹²Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe for the earth and for the sea: because the devil is gone down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time. ¹³And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man child.

¹⁴And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. ¹⁵And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. ¹⁶And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth. ¹⁷And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus:”  Rev.12:1-17

The remnant of her seed who have the testimony of Jesus Christ, would surly be representative of the saints from this Dispensation of Grace.

“And standing upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns, and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy. ²And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority. ³And I saw one of his heads as though it had been wounded unto death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast; ⁴and they worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? And who is able to war with him? ⁵And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty-two months. ⁶And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, even them that dwell in the heaven. ⁷And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. ⁸And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that has been slain. ⁹If any man has an ear, let him hear. ¹⁰If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goes: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”

Rev.13:1-10   

So it would appear by these passages that Satan took full advantage of his allotted time—this short time before his imprisonment.  If we understand this properly, Satan had the opportunity to put a hierarchy in place [The Beast, the False Prophet, and the Image of the Beast] that would do only his bidding for the full time of his captivity.  Since Satan gave the Beast his power, his seat, and his great authority, I see very little difference between the essential power of the Beast and the essential power of Satan when it comes to the saints of God.  Then throughout this Dispensation of Grace, the forces of Satan are in a constant struggle with these same saints of God. 

“¹⁰Fear not the things which you are about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Rev 2:10 

Rev 20:1-3  “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of <A>the abyss and a great chain in his hand. ²And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, ³and cast him into <A>the abyss, <B>and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: <C>after this he must be loosed for a little time.”

For those who resist the principle of recapitulation in the book of the Revelation, must see in these three verses the absolute proof for recapitulation.  These passages contain the beginning and the end of this one thousand years, yet they lack all of the specific details of what is to take place during this one thousand years.  Only if God scripturally recapitulates this time frame in His chain of events, can we ever hope to be apprised of these important details.  The Scripture from Rev.20:1-3 would surely be a picture of the binding of Satan himself.

“²⁵And knowing their thoughts he said unto them,

Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: ²⁶and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?

                  ²⁷And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your  sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges.  ²⁸But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. ²⁹Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house. ³⁰He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathers not with me scatters.”

Mat.12:25-30; Ref. Mk.3:27

Which is also confirmed in Rev.17:8 “⁸The beast that you saw was, and <B>is not; <C>and is about to come up out of <A>the abyss, <D>and to go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, those whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and <B>is not, <C>and shall come.” 

Though the Beast and the Dragon are not exactly the same in name, they are nearly the same in description and essence.  Again, it is because the Dragon conveyed all of his powers to the Beast that they must be viewed as identical.  So it is the essence of the Beast that is being described in Rev.17:8.  We must understand that the origin of the Beast itself must have been the bottomless pit: The habitation of Satan.  We must also see that this binding of Satan was a necessary prerequisite for the dispensational fulfillment of the Everlasting Covenant—This Year of Jehovah’s Favor.

By looking more closely at the judgment of The Great Harlot, we discover the exact definitions of these symbols that we have here before us. 

“And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spoke with me, saying, Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot that sits upon many waters; ²with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication.                                       

³And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. ⁴And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication, ⁵and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. ⁶And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder.

⁷And the angel said unto me, Why did you wonder?  I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. ⁸The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, those whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come.” Rev.17:1-8

First, we see the Beast being defined:

“And here is the mind which has wisdom.  The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits.” 

Some have defined these seven mountains as being representative of the seven hills of the city of Rome.

Then we see that these seven heads have an added physical dimension:

“⁹Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits: ¹⁰and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a little while. ¹¹And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes into perdition. ¹²And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. ¹³These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast.

¹⁴These shall make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they that are with him, those called and chosen and faithful, shall also overcome.”  Rev.17:9-14

The Beast that we see in these passages is always defined as existing as a human being: But for us to assign any individual identification to the Beast is most difficult—if not impossible.

Second, the waters are defined as the peoples of the world:

“¹⁵And he said unto me, The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. ¹⁶And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire. ¹⁷For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished. ¹⁸And the woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.”  Rev.17:15-17

These are the same ten kings that receive their power for one hour with the Beast. Ref. Rev.18:10, 17, and 19

Then third, the woman is defined as that great city:

“And the woman which you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.” Rev.17:18;

And here again, many have defined this great city as Rome.  But this city could also be Babylon the Great. Rev.18:2  Or this great city could be the personification of all of the world’s evils.

Rev 20:7-10 “⁷And when the thousand years are finished, <C>Satan shall be loosed out of his prison [the bottomless pit], ⁸and shall come forth to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”

This portion of our picture will be greatly enhanced when we consider these added passages from Rev.16:

“¹³And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs: ¹⁴for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. ¹⁵(Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, unless he walk naked, and they see his shame.) ¹⁶And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew Har-magedon.”  Rev.16:13-16 

The presence of the Dragon in the above passage would surely mandate the release of Satan from the bottomless pit before this described event.  We might also note here, that this passage is pre-Armageddon.

To observe the preparation for the Battle of Armageddon through the final judgment of Satan himself, it might be helpful for us if we consider the deceptive capabilities of Satan in a more detailed way. 

Starting with the Old Testament economy: Even though Satan was free to deceive all of the Nations during this whole time period, it was always with the exception of the peoples of God.  So you could say that even then, as far as the peoples of God were concerned, Satan was actually bound: Satan had to get God’s permission before he could even touch one of God’s elect.

Now during the economy of the New Testament, where God’s peoples are now being selected from all peoples, tribes, tongues, and Nations—Satan has been bound /or restrained from actively deceiving the Nations on a complete scale.  Which is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham.  But after this Dispensation of Grace is ended, when the hidden elect priesthood of God (all those who are in Christ) have been gathered /or raptured up into Heaven to be with their God and Father, Satan will again be free to actively deceive the Nations on more of a complete scale.

Chapter eighteen explains many of the specific details about these abominations that have brought about this judgment of the great harlot.  The Beast and the judgment of the great harlot are only pictures or symbolic types, which are taken from the Year of Jehovah’s Favor through the end of The Day of the Lord.  Once again, they are the personification of all that is evil in the world.

But to see this battle picture a little more clearly, we must include this additional information that we have concerning this Armageddon:

“¹¹And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon was called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he does judge and make war. ¹²And his eyes are as a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he has a name written which no one knows but he himself. ¹³And he is arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure. ¹⁵And out of his mouth proceeds a sharp sword, that with it he should strike the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. ¹⁶And he has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KINGS OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

¹⁷And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and be gathered together unto the great supper of God; ¹⁸that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great. ¹⁹And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army. ”  Rev.19:11-19 

It might also be helpful for us if we understand these passages as a detailed description of the Rev.17:14 war:

“¹⁴These shall make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they that are with him, those called and chosen and faithful, shall also overcome.” 

And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake... Joel.3:16

I have commanded My consecrated ones, yes, I have called My mighty men for My anger, (even those who rejoice in My exaltation). The noise of the multitudes in the mountains... the noise of a tumult of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together!  Jehovah of Hosts is mustering the hosts for battle.  They come from a far country, from  the uttermost part of heaven, even Jehovah, and the weapons of His indignation, to destroy the whole land.  Wail you; for THE DAY of Jehovah is at hand; as destruction from the Almighty shall it come. Isa.13:3-6

Then shall Jehovah go forth, and fight against those nations...  And Jehovah my God shall come, and all the holy ones with Him. Zech.14:3,5   

Jehovah utters His voice before His army, for His camp is very great. Joel.2:11a

And He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked. Isa.11:4b

And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of His mouth... 2Thes.2:8

But you that forsake Jehovah... I will destine you to the sword, and you shall bow down to the slaughter... Isa.65:11 and 12

Behold, Jehovah will come in fire, to render His anger with fierceness, and His rebuke with flames of fire.  For by fire will Jehovah execute judgment, and by His sword upon all flesh: And the slain of Jehovah shall be many. Isa.66:15 and 16; Ref.Nah.3:15

Therefore will I make the heavens tremble, and the earth shall be shaken out of its place, in the wrath of Jehovah of Hosts, and in THE DAY of His fierce anger. Isa.13:13

For He is strong that executes His word; for THE DAY of Jehovah is great and very terrible;, and who can abide it? Joel.2:11b

“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.20:9

“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.  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.”  Rev.19:20-21

<D>“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.20:10

(For) THE DAY of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2Pe.3:10

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner. Isa.51:6

And all the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll... Isa.34:4; Ref.Rev.6:14  

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I would suggest that one of the major problems in understanding this eschatology, has been the general failure on the part of most commentators to gain this deeper understanding concerning the complexities of the visible and the invisible.  First, is to understand the correct identification of the elect peoples of God.  Then second, is to understand the actual role that physical Israel was to play throughout God’s reconciliation.  To answer the first part—since God is invisible, and since we worship this Spiritual being on the Spiritual plane, the essence of the elect peoples of God must be invisible as well.  What that means, is that the physical peoples of Israel were in fact only visible examples of the inner workings of God; they were visible examples of God’s invisible dispositions.  Now in answer to the second part—because God’s secret dispositions are invisible, physical Israel was established strictly as an example of the relationship that God desired to have with the human populations.  So we must plainly see that without this example relationship that God had with His visible peoples Israel, we would have no way of understanding this invisible God nor could we understand how to relate to Him.

Rev 20:4a And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: 

These crowned elders (Rev.4:4) that were resurrected bodily at the Passover of our Lord, presently sit with Jesus in the Heavenly tribunal.

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Rev 20:4b-5a and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ⁵The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished.

Rev 20:5b-6 This is the first resurrection. ⁶Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: over these the second death has no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The multiple subjects that are evident in this passage, makes any understanding very difficult.  To begin, define the First Resurrection:

1. The First Resurrection must be seen as Christ’s own resurrection.  [The First Resurrection provides the means for all of these other things that are happening].

2. These living (zao) souls are reigning with the resurrected Christ in Heaven.

3. These living souls reign with Christ during this one thousand years [which is the full amount of time that is required to accomplish all of these things].

4.  These living souls are only partakers in the First Resurrection.

5. These souls have already experienced death, because of the powerlessness of the Second Death that is indicated here in these passages.

6. These living souls are also identified as PRIESTS of God and of Christ.

The first part of this passage must also be seen as a conformation of the picture that we saw in Rev.6:9-11—Where we saw an evident description of the souls of the Old Testament priests of God.  Now the souls of these martyred priests that we saw in Rev.6 are pictured as having as existence [living] underneath this Heavenly alter: Where their impatience seemed to be generally satisfied when they were given these very special white robes.  Then they were told that they must rest yet a little longer: And be patient too, for their brethren’s sake.  Now looking again at Rev.20:4b—A Heavenly presence for the resurrected souls of Christ’s saints is clearly pictured here in this passage.  This promise of a living existence in Heaven for the souls of the departed priests is new and unique to this Dispensation of the Grace of God: for this Year of Jehovah’s Favor.  It is because no other dispensation had such a promise for God’s elect, that we now find this detailed explanation in these important passages.  So here at the very beginning, we must establish that the soul essence of every invisible elect priest—all those who are in Christ, at the moment of their regeneration [Jn.5:25], because they are then in possession of eternal life, immediately become a participant in Christ and a participant in His resurrection as well [Jn.11:25].  Now this translation of the soul must not be confused with the bodily resurrection.  Because if resurrection were the case here, the word “soul” would never have been used.  We must remember that these disembodied souls that we see pictured here, are only participants [partakers] in this First Resurrection: Partakers in Christ’s own blessed resurrection.  Some attempts have been made to define this “living” as a resurrection—that this coming to life is in fact a bodily resurrection.  But John was very careful in his use of the word “soul” in these passages, because he is specifically telling us about this new found heavenly existence for these living souls.  This is all given as an explanation for the clear promise we received in 2Cor.5:8 and Phil.1:23—that when and if any of those who are in Christ should die, an immediate heavenly presence is promised to each and every one of them.  To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  It is because these souls that are pictured here in Revelation twenty have already experienced death—they have passed on, that mandates the location of this picture into the heavenly realm.  All of the individual souls of those who are in Christ, will ultimately become a part of that aggregate—part of the corporate body of Christ: Which ultimately represents the completed Kingdom of God.  We must then see this completed Kingdom as the full manifestation of the body of Christ as well as the full manifestation of the First resurrection.  Because we all know that as members of Christ’s heavenly priesthood, we are all individually a part of His body.  Though this passage seems to specify just the martyred saints, the full revelation of the Scriptures clearly shows us that all of the dead in Christ should and will be included in this picture.  Key to our understanding in this chapter of Revelation is in understanding this exact definition of the “First Resurrection”.  Acts.26:23 confirms our Lord’s own statement in Jn.11:25—That Jesus is the First Resurrection.

Rev 20:5a But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. 

This passage must not be viewed as a resurrection as such, but a description of the expected life essence for some others in a future time.  The “rest of the dead” who were to come back to life, would surely include all those of physical Israel who died while in the service of God.  Their bodily resurrection would occur at the time of the General Resurrection and Judgment (They are the sheep). Mat.25:31-46; Rev.20:11-15; Jn.5:28, 29; Acts.24:15

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Rev 20:11 ¹¹And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. Ref. Rev.6:14

This is a picture of the final resurrection and judgment.

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Rev 20:12-15 ¹²And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³And the sea gave up the dead that were in it;

This first part presents a picture of the resurrection of all of the righteous dead who have reposed in the place of the dead; from Elysium [Which is the resurrection that brings “the rest of the dead” into this living (anazao) existence; To the resurrection of eternal life.  We are then told that the books were opened so as to execute this judgment.  We also know from Scripture, that the only book that has any consequence here is the Book of Life.  It is verse fifteen that makes that plain statement—“and whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire”.  These righteous dead would represent the Sheep of Mat.25: Which would include all those of physical Israel, as well as those from the visible Church who have died while in the service of God.

Rev.20:13b—and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them:

This is a picture of the resurrection of all of the unrighteous dead who have resided in the place called Death and Hell.  These are resurrected from the place of the damned; from Tartarus: Where all of the lost from the beginning of time to eternity have been held.  Then these would represent the Goats of Mat.25.

Rev.20:13c—and they were judged every man according to their works.

This is the basis on which the unrighteous are judged.  Even in this judgment of the unrighteous, the only book that is of any consequence is the Book of Life.

Rev.20:¹⁴And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. ¹⁵And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

This is a picture of the destiny of all of the unrighteous dead: Which is the same picture as the Mat.25:31-46 and the Jn.5:28-29 judgment.  These rewards are eternal in every respect.  There is no second chance or any future hope at all pictured here in these passages for the unrighteous dead.

                                                                 Amen.

Note:

Though the book of Revelation does not specifically define the gathering /or rapture of the invisible priesthood in so many words, it does, through its intricate language, mandate its resultant inclusion.  This special gathering event that has been designed for only the elect priesthood especially from this dispensation of grace, is principally pictured in Mat.24:31; Mk.13:27; 1Cor.15:23, 24; 1Thes.4:16, 17.  We should note that none of these passages that are mentioned here, indicate any immediate earthly presence for these resurrected saints: all of these passages would have this great multitude moving in an upward direction—into the celestial presence of God.

One of the first primary proofs for the inclusion of this pre-Armageddon rapture, is the necessary bodily presence of the invisible priesthood in heaven before the marriage of the Lamb can take place.  This essential event is evident, when we properly understand the gathering picture that we see depicted in Rev.7:9-17 as a heavenly picture of that completed gathering.  To achieve this understanding, it is extremely important that we notice these slight descriptive changes that are indicated; that those who are present in this heavenly picture are no longer identified as souls.  This is true because this great multitude (Ref. Rev.19:6) pictured here are now in their resurrected bodies.  We are told that these translated saints escaped out of the earthly great tribulation—that they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev.7:14)  This last picture concerning their escape is speaking specifically about those elect saints who would still be alive at the time of our Lord’s appearance and the pre-Armageddon rapture.  So the key for our understanding here is in recognizing the importance of these identifying white robes that are being worn by these resurrected and raptured priests.  These bright and clean garments represent the cleansing power of Christ’s blood and the fine linen is representative of the righteous acts of the saints (Ref. Rev.19:8).  These white garments are surely the priestly robes that are to be worn within the holy tabernacle of God—the heavenly Jerusalem.

Then in direct support for this pre-Armageddon rapture is the inclusion of the invisible priesthood as an intricate part of the armies of the Lord.  They, clothed with their priestly attire and also riding upon white horses, follow along with their Lord as He rides His white horse into the battle of Armageddon. (Ref. Rev.16:16; 19:14)  This resurrected /translated group would be inclusive of all of God’s priestly elect from the beginning of time to its end.

Now the general resurrection that precedes the final judgment, or the post-Armageddon resurrection (Ref. Jn.5:28, 29; Mat.25:31-46; Rev.20:11-15), differs considerably from the pre-Armageddon resurrection that we have just been discussing.  Most noticeably absent from this general resurrection picture, are these special white robes that so beautifully clothe God’s holy priesthood.  Also absent is the indication of any celestial travel for these institutionally called out ones.  Absent as well is any indication of their having the Lamb of God to guide them on in their future pilgrimage.  Those who are pictured here, would represent all those who have died in the service of God; they would represent the peoples of the saints (Ref. Isa.65:17-25; 66:22; Dan.7:27; Rev.11:15-19); The extended corporate family of God.  Their inheritance (Ref. Mat.25:34) would be a new dwelling located upon the new earth—the Kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world.   Amen.

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RAPPROCHEMENT ESCHATOLOGY SUMMARY & CHART 

          I would pray for God’s Spiritual enlightenment of these difficult teachings to our hearts and to our minds.