Is Heaven or Earth our Home?

Is The New Jerusalem Heaven?

Q. Am I correct in thinking that the New Jerusalem is not actually heaven? Will the New Jerusalem be our home for eternity or does anyone know for sure? The Bible does not give any hints , as far as I know, as to what will happen after the Millennium, so are we to assume that it will be our eternal home?

A. Here’s what I think. In Rev. 21:2 John reported seeing the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, which tells us that’s where it had previously been. I believe this is the place Jesus has been preparing for us since He left and when He comes for us in the rapture, this is where He’ll take us (John 14:2-3). When it comes down out of heaven we’ll be in it because we’ll have been living there for the preceding seven years. The New Jerusalem will continue to be our home for at least 1,000 more years, and maybe for all eternity. While it might not actually be Heaven, it will have come from Heaven and whether we realize it or not, it’s the place we’re referring to when we say we’re going to Heaven to be with Jesus.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Which will be the heaven's language for all?

Will We Speak Hebrew In Heaven?

Q. I watched a TV preacher and in his sermon he claimed we will all speak Hebrew in Heaven. I can see how it will be spoken in the 1000 year Kingdom on Earth, but I’m not sure about Heaven because we are Gentiles. What do you think on this subject?

A. I believe the Bible says Hebrew will be spoken in Israel during the Kingdom Age, and some interpret Zephaniah 3:9 to mean that Hebrew will be the world’s official language then. I have always suspected that it’s God’s “native tongue”, but I think in heaven we’ll be able to speak and understand every language, just like He does.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Our Gender Identity in Heaven?

Will We Still Be The Same Gender In Heaven?

Q. When we are in Heaven, will we still be the gender we were here on earth? I understand that there will be no need for procreation in Heaven, therefore, no sexual relations and no need for elimination of waste products, but will we still be man or woman? I assume that Jesus arose as a man and He said we would have bodies like His but what does that mean, will we ALL be men? My wife is already there and I wonder if she will still be a woman as she was here on earth?

A. The Bible doesn’t give us any clear information on this, but there are some clues. For example, when John wrote that what we’ll be has not been made known, but when He appears we’ll be like Him (1 John 3:2) I believe he meant we’ll retain our human form, just as He has. Since there are two types of human form, I think it makes sense to assume we’ll also retain our gender identity.

In 1 Cor. 15:49, Paul wrote that just as we’ve born the likeness of the earthly man (Adam) so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven (Jesus). When he said we’ve born the likeness of Adam, he didn’t mean all humans are male, so there’s no reason to believe he was saying we’ll all be males in heaven.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

What is the "White Stone" that Jesus spoke about?

The White Stone

Q. I was reading C.S.Lewis this week and in one of his books he said that the white stone we will be given by Jesus when we reach heaven will be the only possession we will have in heaven. Private ownership evidently will not exist. God will (and does) own everything except that white stone with a new name on it which only yourself and Jesus will know. It must be a very precious thing Do you have any comments or teaching on this White Stone?

A. You’re referring to the last part of Rev. 2:17. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it , known only to him who receives it.

In Biblical times, the white stone was a sign of trust. When an important businessman had to complete a transaction in a distant city, he didn’t travel there himself. It was too dangerous. Instead he sent a trusted servant empowered to act on his behalf. The servant carried a coin-like form of identification made of baked white clay. The seal of the businessman being represented was pressed into the clay as was a secret name, known only to the other party in the transaction. By the presentation of the white stone, the servant authenticated himself as being entitled to all the rights and privileges due his master. This symbolizes the way our Lord Jesus will identify us as being entitled to all the rights and privileges due Him, when we enter into the Presence of our Father in Heaven.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

The Materiality Of New Jerusalem

A Physical Or Spiritual City?

Q. I am really struggling with the idea you have taught that New Jerusalem will not be on the earth. Here’s a new idea. If New Jerusalem is in a “Spiritual state” and not a solid building type of thing, I believe it could exist right here on earth and not be seen by earth dwellers (and they would not be allowed in it at any rate). I agree with your idea that the thing would be too large to be on Earth if it was a solid block 1400 miles square. I really believe that we as “Spirit People” will be in “Another Dimension” not presently enjoyed by humans except those like The Apostle John who saw all of the tribulation events and the New Jerusalem “In the Spirit”. Have I gone off the deep end?

A. Remember, the resurrection/rapture are physical in nature. The spirits of dead believers are reunited with physical bodies, and living believers are transformed from mortal to immortal but remain physical beings. We’ll require a physical dwelling. Also, the nations bring their wealth into the New Jerusalem and it’s the source of light for Earth. (Rev. 21:24-26) All these things suggest a physical presence for the New Jerusalem in the proximity of Earth.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Rapture?

Is The Rapture Still 300 Years Away?

Q. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your website. I pray for you, that you always teach God’s Truth with love in your heart. Thank you for so kindly answering my questions. I have another:

Today (a writer on another website) said that in Ezekiel God promised the Jews that in 3 days they would get their kingdom back and a thousand years is as a day and this was in about 600 BC so we’re halfway thru the 2nd millenium and the 3rd will be the promised millenium after the Tribulation – I think I’m explaining that right – so he says there should be about 300 more years til the rapture.

I like his articles, he seems like a knowledgeable and sincere Christian – I’m just a common saint. I look to people like you who are more learned than I to explain scripture – and I’ve read a lot of your articles including the ones about why the rapture is imminent. What do you make of what he said. His thinking is flawed, right? Could you explain why he’s wrong?

A. There are several errors here. First of all the passage is from Hosea and here’s what it says.

Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me.”

“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. (Hosea 5:15-6:2)

When you look at the whole passage it says that the Lord was going to go back where He came from until they admit their guilt. This can’t refer to the Babylonian captivity which began in 586BC because its duration was fixed before hand at 70 years and wasn’t dependent on them admitting their guilt.

No, it was fulfilled when the Lord left the Earth after His Resurrection. He confirmed this in Matt. 23:39 when He said, For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ He’s not coming back until they admit that He is who He claims to be. So the count began with the Resurrection, not the Babylonian captivity which began about 600 years earlier.

Then Hosea’s prophecy continued, saying that after 2 days God would revive them. If a day is as 1000 years that means 2000 years after He left, He would revive them, bring them back to life. The reviving began in 1948 and will be complete after the Battle of Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 39:28)

Then on the third day they’d be restored. Not after the third day but on the third day, at it’s beginning, after they’ve admitted their guilt (Zechariah 12:10). This refers to the Davidic Kingdom which will be restored at the beginning of the Millennium, the third thousand years after the resurrection.

Finally, we should note that in this passage the concluding event is the restoration of the Kingdom for Israel. It has nothing to do with the Rapture of the Church which can happen at any moment. Using his calculations and beginning at the Resurrection, Hosea’s prophecy of Israel’s restoration will be fulfilled around 2032, within the window of time I’ve previously established of 2018-2037.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Work force of the Lord

The Parable of the Workers in the Field

So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Matt 20:16

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. “He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

” ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

“The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matt.20: 1-16)

What’s That All About?

I’ve been a management consultant most of my life and before I became a believer I thought the Lord had violated all kinds of motivational principles, not to mention the theory of fair compensation, with this story. Seemed to me like the landowner in the parable was training his workers to show up late. They’d still get paid for the full day.

Then I was born again, and learned that the Lord’s objective in teaching through parables was to enlighten His followers on the ways of the Kingdom, while confusing everyone else. (Matt. 13: 11-13) It had sure worked with me.

I learned that a parable is a heavenly story put into an earthly perspective, and that all the characters represent someone or something else. This one was no different. As usual the landowner represents the Lord, the workers His followers, and the vineyard, His Kingdom. The pay stands for the rewards of salvation. The work is what His followers do to deserve the reward, and the day is the length of time they’re given to do it, normally their lifespan. This parable wasn’t meant to be a management seminar. It was given to illuminate three critical principles having to do with the Kingdom of Heaven.

Three Principles

First, no matter when in your life you decide to join His Kingdom, you are entitled to all the rights and benefits pertaining thereto the moment you do. (Ephe 1:13-14) The last ones hired got the same pay as the first.

Second, you have to sign up before the end of the day. (Hebr. 4:7) No one was hired after the end of the day and as I said, the day represents our lifetime.

Third, if you think you deserve more in the Kingdom because you worked longer or harder or lived a better life than someone else, then you’ve forgotten how you got in. You weren’t saved because of your merit or worthiness, but because of His mercy and grace. Thinking He owes you something extra is a sin that if left unconfessed won’t get you thrown out, (remember every worker is a believer) but it could put a strain on your relationship with the Lord during your life and will certainly diminish your joy at having been accepted into the Kingdom.

Is Your Work All Done?

So what about the work that everyone, whether first or last, had to do to earn their pay? I thought salvation was free, and couldn’t be earned. Earlier, the people had asked the Jesus, “What is the work God requires of us?”

“The work of God is this,” He replied. “Believe in the One He has sent.” (John 6:28-29)

What a perfect opportunity to point out all the things required of us; the 10 Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, or some new list that combined them both and added regular church attendance, tithing, with maybe some missionary work thrown in. No. “Believe in the One He has sent.” Period. End of Story.

The workers who worked all day represent those who have believed in the One He has sent, but then for the rest of their lives have labored long and hard for the Kingdom. Nothing wrong with all their hard work, and it has probably achieved much good, but at the end of the age, if they think they’ll be in for some extra credit, their true motives will be exposed. The jealousy they feel when a terrible sinner makes a last minute confession and is saved without any good works to his credit shows they haven’t been working to express their gratitude to the Lord for what they’ve already been promised, but to earn something more for themselves. (1 Cor. 4:5)

And The First Shall Be Last

When the Lord said, “The last will be first, and the first will be last,” He was describing the spiritual equivalent of being sent to the end of the line. Something like that actually happened to me once. I arrived early for a popular seminar, found a good parking space, took my place near the head of the line that was already forming, and began mentally selecting the great seat I’d head for when the doors opened. As the line quickly got longer and longer, I began gloating over the fact that I wasn’t going to be one of those losers who always arrive at the last minute and get terrible parking and worse seats. No sir, not me.

Finally the doors did open and to my shock I discovered I’d been standing in the wrong place. The first ones there had been misinformed and had started the line in front of the wrong door. The real entrance was at a different door and suddenly I was nearer the end of the line than the beginning. Bummer! I had been feeling so smug and superior, and now I was the loser. I mentally missed the first 15 minutes of the seminar trying to calm down, and never did get over the fact that I had waited all that time to get preferred seating and now my seat was no better than anyone else’s. Going from first to last stole my joy that day, and my superior attitude made it all the worse.

Take Home Pay

If you’re one of those believers the Lord could accuse of being jealous over what someone else is getting, confess and do it now. Don’t let another day go by, estranged from Him by your jealousy.

And here’s one way the parable is different from life. Everyone knew the workday was 12 hours long, so all could predict its end. But who among us can predict the end of our lives? If you’re someone who hasn’t yet fully committed to becoming one of His followers please heed the advice from Hebrews 4:7, “Today if you hear His voice, don’t harden your heart” and from 2 Cor. 6:2 “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” Join Him now, the wages are great and they pay eternal dividends. Selah 2-7-04

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

-Matthew 19:30

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, “You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, “Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?” “Because no one has hired us,” they answered. “He said to them, “You also go and work in my vineyard.”

When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.” The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. “These men who were hired last worked only one hour,” they said, “and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.” But he answered one of them, “Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last. (Matt. 20:1-16)

What Good Thing Must I Do?

This parable is given as the conclusion to a discussion that began a chapter earlier with a rich young man asking what good thing he must do to inherit eternal life (Matt 19:16-30). By the way, some believe this young man was Mark, future gospel writer and companion of Paul.

As you know, a parable is a heavenly story set in an earthly context. Everyone and everything is symbolic. The key to unlocking a parable is to correctly interpret the symbolism. Here’s my view.

The vineyard represents the body of believers and the landowner is the Lord. The workers are those who respond to His call, the day is their lifetime and the wages eternal life. All through our lives God is calling. Some respond early in life, some later and others at the very end. But all who respond receive eternal life. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, not by works (Ephe. 2:8-9).

Some workers in the parable resented the fact that all were paid equally, believing that since they worked longer they should have received more. This attitude reflects the spiritual pride found in some long term believers who think their years of service should automatically count for more. It actually betrays their works based theology, showing that they’ve forgotten that we serve the Lord to express our gratitude for what He’s already done, not to earn more of what we expect Him to do. We should be grateful for long years of service because it means we’ve had more opportunities to say thanks. The landowner responded to these malcontents by saying that they had received everything he’d promised them. If he wanted to be generous with the others wasn’t that His right?

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8).

Here on earth an employer who paid his people that way would be considered unfair and could actually be in violation of wage and hour laws. Compensation is normally based upon performance and length of service. That was also the attitude of the rich young man who had asked, “What good thing must I do?” All his life he had been taught the relationship between effort and reward, and he wanted to know what he could do to earn his salvation.

But the Lord looks at things differently. His love for us is derived from who we are, not what we’ve done. And who are we? Children of the King, the highest example of His creative capability, His work of art (Rom 8:17 & Ephe. 2:10). We don’t have to work to earn eternal life, we just have to accept when He offers it. It’s our inheritance, after all.

Riches And Righteousness

The Israelites had been taught that riches were an indication of righteousness and when Jesus now told His disciples that it’s hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom, they asked, “Who then can be saved?” “With man this impossible,” Jesus replied, “But with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:23-26). Still not willing to abandon their works theology Peter said, “We have left everything to follow you. What then will there be for us?” (vs. 27)

Then the Lord illustrated the distinction between the free gift of salvation and the rewards that come from properly motivated service. (Read ) They would sit in judgment of the 12 tribes of Israel, and indeed everyone who has abandoned the things of this world in favor of a life of service would receive similar rewards, plus eternal life (vs. 28-29).

Many who perceive themselves as deserving of superior rewards based solely on their hard work or length of service will discover that the Lord’s criteria for such rewards is far different from their own. They will learn the meaning of His phrase, “the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (vs. 30) It’s the motive of our heart while serving Him that matters, not the duration or outcome of our effort. (1 Cor 3:10-15) Their pride has disqualified them for special rewards.

So the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard teaches that no matter when in your life you heed His call, you will gain Eternal Life. It’s a gift freely given to all who will receive it, irrespective of effort. The only problem is that you can’t determine in advance when your last chance to accept will come. Better make sure you’ve got it now.

Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebr. 4:7).

Class Differences In Heaven?

Q. I was just reading one of your lessons, and the writer was concerned about class differences in heaven based on our works for the Kingdom after we are saved.

I recalled the parable Jesus taught about the workers who were hired late in the afternoon receiving a penny, the same wage as those who went to work early in the morning. The early birds complained, but the owner of the field said it was his field and his money, and he could pay whatever he wished to whomever he wished.

It seems to me that this teaches that the Blessed will not make invidious comparisons regarding who gets the most rewards in the Kingdom or Eternity. What do you think?

A. The Parable of the Workers In The Vineyard (Matt. 20:1-16) is actually about the fact that no matter when in our lives we accept the Lord’s pardon, we get the same package of benefits as everyone else. Those who have a lifetime of religious work will find themselves no more completely saved than those who confessed with their dying breath. This is because it’s our faith that saves us, not our work.

Even so, you’re right in saying that none us will feel any envy, jealousy or animosity toward another believer. These are emotions of the sin nature from which we’ll have been freed in the resurrection/rapture.

Eternal Service Status?

Q. I read an article about the rapture and the author mentioned the Bema Seat. He wrote:

“Those who have lived carnal lived–lives that are not walking in the will of God will lose rewards at the bema, or judgment seat of Christ. The believer must do his or her best to live the way God expects of His children while still in this mortal flesh. The child of God should take this truth very seriously. How he or she attempts to walk righteously here on earth will determine his or her eternal service status when they look into their Lord’s omniscient eyes.”

What is disturbing me is this “determined eternal service status”. Is there any hint in the Bible for the validation of this statement? I’m not happy that I will probably lose rewards but it’s OK. However I don’t want to be “doomed” to an eternal kind of state or status, whatever it is, that is unchangeable. It would be depressing that in eternity despite I’m in heaven, there isn’t a chance or a single ray of hope to change our state or status if this kind of things really exist. What is your opinion on this?

A. The phrase “eternal service status” is man made and doesn’t appear anywhere in the Bible. Neither is there any guidance given that connects our behavior here with our relative status in eternity, only for the crowns we’ll be given.

But there’s no way we’ll spend eternity regretting things we did or didn’t do here. That would conflict with everything we’ve been taught about our joy in the presence of the Lord.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Millennium

Understanding Rev. 20-22

Q. Please help me understand the following. You state that only the Church Age Saints will live in the New Jerusalem during the Millennium. And that the Church Age Saints will be able to go back and forth from the New Jerusalem and earth. What scripture supports that those Saints will be able to go back and forth? Is the New Heaven and New Earth created after the Millennium? Also, when the New Heavens and New Earth are created will the Church Age Saints still reside in the New Jerusalem or will they live on the New Earth? Does scripture give insight what they will be doing (work, play, create, govern etc.) with regard to the New Heavens and New Earth? Thank you for any clarification on the above.

A. There is much confusion surrounding the New Jerusalem and New Heavens and New Earth that arises from what I believe is a misunderstanding of the chronology in Rev. 20-22.

Here’s a quick time line as I see it. In Rev. 20 the first 6 verses deal with the time at the beginning of the Millennium just after the Lord’s return. Then verses 7-15 skip to the End on the Millennium to deal with the final disposition of Satan and the resurrection of unbelievers. In Rev. 21:1 John went back to the beginning of the Millennium to describe the New Jerusalem which he saw coming down out of heaven. To let us know he was backtracking, John opened chapter 21 with a direct quote from Isaiah 65:17 which describes Earth at the beginning of the Millennium. When the Lord returns, the Earth will be in total ruin from the terrible destruction of the Great Tibulation and will have to be restored to the condition it was in when Adam was created to make the promises of Isaiah 65 and other places come true for Israel. The first 5 verses of chapter 22 are a summary of Ezekiel 47:1-12, another view of Earth at the beginning of the Millennium, confirming that chapters 21 and 22 describe the Millennium, not eternity.

Following the Rapture, the Church will dwell in the New Jerusalem forever. All we know about what we’ll be doing is that in some way we’ll be assisting the Lord in His millennial reign. The Bible offers no information or detail about life in eternity. As for the saints going back and forth, Jesus went back and forth, and 1 John 3:2 says we’ll be like Him.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

The Holy City

The New Jerusalem?

Q. Thank you for taking time to answer questions and working so hard with your website! I have something I have been wondering about: when you say that the new city of Jerusalem will probably orbit just above the earth, what scriptures can you find to show this point of view? I can remember one about John saying that the city came down from heaven but he never said that it landed on earth. Can you help me find some more please?

A. The verse that describes the Holy city coming down out of heaven but doesn’t mention it landing (Rev. 21:2) is the only one. The rest is deduction. Rev. 21:16 says the city is 12,000 stadia square and just as tall. 12,000 stadia is roughly equivalent to 1,400 miles. That means if it landed on Earth it would have a footprint bigger than all of Israel. In fact it would cover most of Western Europe. And 1,400 miles in height would make it 4,000 times taller than the next tallest building on Earth. If it was shaped like a ball, it would be 1/6th the size of Earth. (Most scholars believe it will be shaped like either a cube or a Pyramid.)

Since the Earth spins on its axis at the rate of about 1,000 miles per hour, something that big simply couldn’t sit on its surface without causing it to spin off into outer space and fly apart.

So, John saw it coming down out of Heaven, the Kings of Earth bring their splendor into it, and its light illuminates the Earth (Rev. 21:24) But nothing impure can ever enter it (Rev. 21:27) That tells me it has to be close enough to be near Earth, but far enough away to prevent it from de-stabilizing Earth’s orbit. To me that describes a low orbit satellite, but that’s just my opinion. We’ll all be truly amazed when we see what it’s really like.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

The third or the fourth temple?

Three Temples Or Four?

Q. I’ve heard that the Millennial Temple will be different from the one during the tribulation. I’m doing some study on this now, but the Millennial Temple seems to be quite the massive structure!

A. Yes, the Millennial Temple compound is quite a bit different from previous ones. But the idea of a “TribulationTemple” is something that originated with Christian scholars and can not be confirmed in Scripture. It’s based on the assumption that there’ll be a Temple built at the beginning of the 70th Week and destroyed by the its end. That would make the Millennial Temple the 4th one.

The Jews, to whom the Temple belongs, don’t see it this way. They think of Ezekiel’s Temple as the 3rd and final one. A careful study of the coming Temple shows that Ezekiel’s Temple will already be in place on the day that the Lord arrives (compare Ezekiel 47:1 and Zechariah 14:8) Also, when God returns to the Temple at the beginning of the Millennium, He immediately accuses Israel of allowing foreigners (anti-christ and false prophet) to officiate in it. (Ezekiel 44:7-8) This could only happen during the Great Tribulation.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

The Ark in the Millenial Temple

The Ark And The Abomination

Q. Thank you for your study and for answering our questions. My question is do you think we could be missing a literal reading of Dan 9:27? I know many translations vary, but Luther translated it “And upon the wings shall stand the abomination of desolation” and I was wondering if it could possibly mean that the antichrist might set up an image, whether a statue or a hologram of himself, right atop the rebuilt ark in the rebuilt temple. The mercy seat above the ark has two angels with outspread wings. Isn’t the mercy seat supposed to become the throne of Jesus when He comes to reign in the new Jerusalem. What better place to put an idol of himself?

A. There’s been much speculation about the Ark of the Covenant and its mercy seat, which was God’s Throne when He dwelt among the Israelites in the First Temple period. Various explorers and scholars have reported knowing of its whereabouts and some even claim they’ve seen it.

But when you read the Bible’s account of the rebuilt Temple (Ezekiel 40-46) you discover that the Ark is not mentioned anywhere. In fact, although there are several references to a Temple on Earth in the End Times the Bible’s only mention of an ark is in the Temple in Heaven (Rev. 11:19) I think the idea of a re-discovered Ark could just be an explorer’s dream.

The Ark was God’s throne. Jesus was promised David’s throne (Luke 1:32) which is a euphemism for rulership over Israel.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

O What A Glorious Body He Gives!

Resurrection Bodies

Q. As I understand it, when the rapture occurs, all believers will be ‘translated’ to heaven leaving their earthly bodies behind. Additionally as I understand it, we don’t get our new ‘perfect’ bodies until the ‘end of the age’/ judgment timeframe.

However all/most believers who will be raptured will be coming back with Jesus to ‘assist with ruling’ on the earth during the millennium, which would means we would need a suitable body.

If we get a body like Jesus had during his resurrected time on the earth we would be able to move through solid objects, perhaps move through time, etc.

In your opinion, is my ‘thinking’ biblically correct?

A. The way I read 1 Cor. 15:51-53 those of us alive at the rapture will receive perfected bodies immediately, just as those being resurrected receive theirs. The living don’t discard their earthly bodies at that time, they’re just changed. Think of it like a massive upgrade to your computer. Afterward it’s still the same computer, but it works a whole lot better. I’m not aware of any additional changes to our physical nature subsequent to that.

And my understanding of 1 John 3:2 is that our new bodies will be similar in capability to the Lord’s. “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

Millennium Goverment

Governing Earth In The Millennium

Q. In the Kingdom, who will sit on the throne in earthly Jerusalem? Will it be Jesus or David? As I understand it, God will be present in Jerusalem, but also in the New Jerusalem where the Church will live, as will Jesus. Who will be charged with day-to-day governance of the natural humans in Israel — who will be the “cops”?

And, in the rest of the world — the believing Gentile survivors — who will run things? Does the Bible address this, or are these more of the things we are not told about and will simply have to wait to see what develops?

A. When He comes back, the Lord will be King of the whole Earth. (Zech. 14:9) and will occupy David’s throne. (Luke 1:32-33) There will be someone called “the Prince” who seems to be in charge in Israel (Ezek. 44:3), although God the Father will have His Throne there (Ezek. 43:7). This prince will be a human because he’ll offer sacrifices for his own sins (Ezek. 45:22) and have children (Ezek. 46:16). I believe that in Israel at least, the day-to-day administration will be handled by the priesthood as it was in Old Testament times.

The Gentile nations will be governed by kings (Rev. 21:24) although it’s not clear who they’ll be. The Church will hold the titles of King and Priest, so there may be a role for us in this. Since Jesus is the King of Kings, all who govern on Earth will report to Him.

Who’s On Earth During The Millennium?

Q. I have a question about Isaiah 65:17-25. I know that Isaiah 65:1-16 is about Israel and their rebellion against God, but a friend told me that verses 17-25 are not about Israel, but about the people who will inhabit the earth after the Tribulation, not necessarily Israel. We are having a discussion about who exactly will inhabit the earth at that time.

The question also arises that the raptured Church won’t actually live in heaven, in mansions, but will live on the earth. So, in a nutshell: (1)who lives on the earth after the Tribulation, but before satan is released for 1,000 years, (2) who will live in heaven and will there be mansions, and (3) who will populate the earth after Satan is released?

A. Isaiah 65:17-25 clearly mentions Jerusalem and its people. There’s no justification for thinking of this as anything other than a passage pertaining to Israel in the Millennium. Remember, for Israel the Millennium is the promised Kingdom Age, so it doesn’t make any sense to have a Millennium without them in their land.

Jewish believers who survive the Great Tribulation will live in Israel during the Millennium while believing Gentile survivors will populate the nations. They and their children will live on Earth during the Millennium.

The Church will inhabit the New Jerusalem, and that’s where the mansions are that Jesus spoke of in John 14:1-2. It’s seen coming down from Heaven in Rev. 21 but is never described as actually landing here. Truth be told, it wouldn’t really fit anywhere. Far bigger than all of Israel it will have a foot print as big as western Europe, or all of the Eastern US from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River and Maine to Florida. Besides that it’s 1400 miles tall. Compare that to the tallest building on earth today at 1800 feet. In volume it’s 1/6th the size of Earth.

The Bible doesn’t say anything about what happens after the Millennium following Satan’s release. Its chronological end is in Rev. 20:7-15. Rev. 21-22 take us back to the beginning of the Millennium to show us the New Jerusalem and the restored Israel.

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