Continuing with the subject of,
The Millennium and the End of Sin
In our previous post we took a brief look at events suggested to take place during the millennial age as explained by our Adventist friends we should now like to examine these statements; however rather than attempt to respond to each statement in the exact order in which they were stated (as they tend to jump from one subject to another and then back again) we will attempt to consolidate what they have to say upon each particular subject. Although some statements are relatively straight forward, we may be paraphrasing a bit here and there.
For your convenience if you prefer you can easily click back to the previous post to review their original statement.
There are six specific issues they address, which we would like to respond to.
1) Where they believe believers will be during the Millennium and what they will be doing.
2) Where they believe the rest of humanity are during this time.
3) Where they believe Satan will be during this time.
4) The fate of the earth.
5) The New Earth? And who they believe will dwell there
6) The Resurrection of Condemnation
Where specifically do they believe believers will be during the Millennium and what will they be doing?
According to our Adventist friends:
“At Jesus’ Second Coming, the believers who are still alive will be joined by those who were raised from the dead, and everyone will be taken to heaven with Him. (1 Thess 4:17).”
This statement gives the false impression that those believers (the fully consecrated as distinguish from the un-consecrated, mere nominal professors something which they felled to note), who are still alive following the return of our Lord will immediately be joined with those saints raised from the dead, however the scriptures do not support this thought.
Take specially note of the following scripture.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thess 4:16, 17)
“The nominal view is that when that time comes, the dead in Christ will be raised and those who are Christians down here will be caught up together with them at the same time, but Verse 16 says that the dead in Christ will be raised FIRST and the others REMAIN for a period of time to complete their character development. We should notice the Apostle Paul’s use of the word “first,” for he used it very astutely in several places.”
The living saints who remain following the Lord’s return must still complete their consecration, their covenant (Psa 50:5) even as their faithful brethren before them did.
Not until each of these has been proven faithful unto death (Rev 2:10); has finished his or hers sacrifice in death, will they be accounted worthy to be joined with the rest of the body.
The scriptures prove conclusively that death is a prerequisite to the faithful completion of our consecration (or sacrifice).
Note closely the statement found in Rev 14:13, “Blessed are the dead (in Christ) who DIE in the Lord from now on”, this statement completely contradicts the erroneous idea put forth by our rapture friends who believe (should they be accounted worthy of membership in the body) they will be taken away without seeing death.
We must ALL die, but "we shall not ALL sleep." In the case of all those now living who die IN Christ, who make their calling and election sure, there will be no need to sleep (in the state of death) instead at the very moment of death (“in the twinkling of an eye”) they will experience their resurrection change. (Psa. 82:7; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52)
Once the final members this side of the Vail have finished their course in death and have joined the rest of the body in the air with their Lord (In the realm of spiritual control of the earth--in kingdom power and great glory) having been changed into the glory of the Lord the marriage will be consummated. Then the whole assembly complete will be taken to heaven together and presented before the Father.
“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready (is complete; having “put on Christ” Gal 3:27, perfectly adorned with a Christ like character).” (Rev 19:7)
Our friends go on to state:
“But that’s not the end of the story. Heaven is actually not our final destination.
We will get to this when we address issue number 5, The New Earth? And who they believe will dwell there, however presently we are only concerned with where believers will reside during the millennium. Adventist state:
“We will stay in heaven with Jesus for 1000 years (the Millennium) while the rest of humanity goes through the judgment and Satan and his army of followers and angels are destroyed once and for all.”
This is partially true, but not so much as our Adventist friends envision it.
As for what these believers will be doing in heaven at this time, we will address in our next post along with the fate of humanity.
The Millennium and the End of Sin
In our previous post we took a brief look at events suggested to take place during the millennial age as explained by our Adventist friends we should now like to examine these statements; however rather than attempt to respond to each statement in the exact order in which they were stated (as they tend to jump from one subject to another and then back again) we will attempt to consolidate what they have to say upon each particular subject. Although some statements are relatively straight forward, we may be paraphrasing a bit here and there.
For your convenience if you prefer you can easily click back to the previous post to review their original statement.
There are six specific issues they address, which we would like to respond to.
1) Where they believe believers will be during the Millennium and what they will be doing.
2) Where they believe the rest of humanity are during this time.
3) Where they believe Satan will be during this time.
4) The fate of the earth.
5) The New Earth? And who they believe will dwell there
6) The Resurrection of Condemnation
Where specifically do they believe believers will be during the Millennium and what will they be doing?
According to our Adventist friends:
“At Jesus’ Second Coming, the believers who are still alive will be joined by those who were raised from the dead, and everyone will be taken to heaven with Him. (1 Thess 4:17).”
This statement gives the false impression that those believers (the fully consecrated as distinguish from the un-consecrated, mere nominal professors something which they felled to note), who are still alive following the return of our Lord will immediately be joined with those saints raised from the dead, however the scriptures do not support this thought.
Take specially note of the following scripture.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thess 4:16, 17)
“The nominal view is that when that time comes, the dead in Christ will be raised and those who are Christians down here will be caught up together with them at the same time, but Verse 16 says that the dead in Christ will be raised FIRST and the others REMAIN for a period of time to complete their character development. We should notice the Apostle Paul’s use of the word “first,” for he used it very astutely in several places.”
The living saints who remain following the Lord’s return must still complete their consecration, their covenant (Psa 50:5) even as their faithful brethren before them did.
Not until each of these has been proven faithful unto death (Rev 2:10); has finished his or hers sacrifice in death, will they be accounted worthy to be joined with the rest of the body.
The scriptures prove conclusively that death is a prerequisite to the faithful completion of our consecration (or sacrifice).
Note closely the statement found in Rev 14:13, “Blessed are the dead (in Christ) who DIE in the Lord from now on”, this statement completely contradicts the erroneous idea put forth by our rapture friends who believe (should they be accounted worthy of membership in the body) they will be taken away without seeing death.
We must ALL die, but "we shall not ALL sleep." In the case of all those now living who die IN Christ, who make their calling and election sure, there will be no need to sleep (in the state of death) instead at the very moment of death (“in the twinkling of an eye”) they will experience their resurrection change. (Psa. 82:7; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52)
Once the final members this side of the Vail have finished their course in death and have joined the rest of the body in the air with their Lord (In the realm of spiritual control of the earth--in kingdom power and great glory) having been changed into the glory of the Lord the marriage will be consummated. Then the whole assembly complete will be taken to heaven together and presented before the Father.
“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready (is complete; having “put on Christ” Gal 3:27, perfectly adorned with a Christ like character).” (Rev 19:7)
Our friends go on to state:
“But that’s not the end of the story. Heaven is actually not our final destination.
We will get to this when we address issue number 5, The New Earth? And who they believe will dwell there, however presently we are only concerned with where believers will reside during the millennium. Adventist state:
“We will stay in heaven with Jesus for 1000 years (the Millennium) while the rest of humanity goes through the judgment and Satan and his army of followers and angels are destroyed once and for all.”
This is partially true, but not so much as our Adventist friends envision it.
As for what these believers will be doing in heaven at this time, we will address in our next post along with the fate of humanity.
