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UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
THE BOOK OF REVELATION - PART 30

John S. Torell

March 30, 2003

CHAPTER TWENTY Part 2
This chapter describes four events, the locking up of the Devil, the 1000 years kingdom with Jesus reigning out of Jerusalem, the last war on this earth, and the final judgment for all people, who did not make it to the Judgment Seat of Christ.

THE 1000 YEARS KINGDOM
Verse 4-6: The earth will now at this point be restored to its original beauty it had before Adam and Eve fell into sin. The best description of this time is found in Isaiah 11:1-16; 12:1-6 and repeated in Isaiah 65:25. A covenant is promised in Hosea 2:18.

The prophet Daniel was given a glimpse of this event, and it is recorded in Daniel 7:7-28. Jesus also spoke about this time - Matthew 19:27-30; Luke 22:29-30. The apostle Paul adds his insight - 1 Corinthians 6:1-3

WHO IS THE REAL ISRAEL AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS?
In order to understand the following, we must now establish who the real Israel is:

1. God spoke to Abraham about his seed - Genesis 12:1-3 Note that Abraham was a Chaldean, born in Ur, situated south of Babylon (Iraq).
2. God repeated his promise in Genesis 22: 10-18
3. The apostle Paul makes it very clear who the seed of Abraham is - believers in Christ. Romans 2:14-29; 9:1-8 It is in Galatians 3:1-29 that Paul settles this issue once and for all.

Abraham was a Chaldean, who was selected to become a blessing to all nations. The twelve tribes of Israel were the core of the Church to be born, which is compassed of all humans who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

JEWS WERE NOT CREATED AS A RACE BY GOD! THE WORD JEW ORIGINALLY REFERRED TO THE OFFSPRING OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH. JUDAH WAS ONE OF THE TWELVE SONS OF JACOB. Genesis 29:21-35

Since Israel was divided after the death of Solomon into two nations. Israel consisting of ten tribes and its capitol Samaria. (1 Kings 16:21-32) Jeroboam became the first king of Israel, 970 B.C..  Rehoboam, the son of king Solomon became the first king of Judah, and Jerusalem was his capitol. Two tribes followed him, Judah and Benjamin. 1 Kings 12:1-33

By usage the word Jews became the name for the people living in the southern kingdom, and the offspring of Benjamin were also called Jews, since they lived in the province called Judah. It is very interesting that the Apostle Paul called himself a Jew, yet he made it clear that he was from the tribe of Benjamin - Romans 11:1; Philippians 3:1-10

The Northern kingdom of Israel was conquered in 721 B.C. by Assyria and the ten tribes were taken into captivity and scattered in the Assyrian empire. 2 Kings 18:9-12 During the years 604-603 B.C. 

Jerusalem was besieged by the Babylonians, and when the city fell, some of the people in Jerusalem were carried into captivity - Daniel 1:1-4

The city was attacked a second time by Babylon, and now the majority of the people were either killed or taken to Babylon. 2 Chronicles 36:5-21

Some of the ten northern tribes came back to the land of Israel years later, but they had inter mingled themselves with Gentiles, and they became known as Samaritans.

Some people from Judah came back from the captivity in Babylon some 70 years after they were taken captive, and settled in Judah, and from that day they became known as "JEWS." Jeremiah 25:11; 29:10; Daniel 9:1-2

Born again Jews and Gentiles are the Church of JESUS CHRIST!
The prophet Isaiah tells us that the people of Israel (believers in Christ) shall be the prominent people on the earth at this time - Isaiah 49:10-26 and that they shall assume leadership around the world - Isaiah 61:1-11

Jerusalem shall at this time be a praise in the earth - Isaiah 62:1-12
Sickness will be done away with - Isaiah 33:24
No infants shall die, and if a person makes the choice to sin, he will die at the age of 100 Isaiah 65:17-25
No more sickness - Isaiah 35:1-10
Young men shall no longer train for war - Isaiah 2:1-5

Who will live during this time? If we add up all the Scriptures which speak on this matter, there will be the following groups of people:

A. All the believers in Christ coming back with Christ from heaven and the Judgment Seat of Christ. We will have our resurrected bodies and will not be able to reproduce children.

B. Those believers in Christ who were killed after the catching away, will be resurrected and also have resurrected bodies, and will not be able to reproduce children.

C. Believers in Christ who survived the tribulation period, will be used by God to repopulate the earth again.

Understand this: This will be the last resurrection of the dead, who are going to be with God forever in heaven. There will be one more resurrection of the dead, but it shall be THE RESURRECTION OF THE DAMNED! Daniel 12:1-2; Revelation 20:6

            WHICH RESURRECTION IS GOING TO BE YOURS?

Do you have an ear to hear with?

To be continued...

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