When Jesus returns at the last trumpet, death will be swallowed up in victory and there will then be no more death, which will fulfill Isaiah 25:8.

[Spiritual Israelite]

I agree that Abraham and OT saints are made righteous because of Jesus. However, their inheritance is in the city which comes down out of heaven from God. (Heb. 11: 16 Rev. 21: 2)

But the Body of Christ`s inheritance is with the Lord on His own throne in the third heaven. (Rev. 3: 21)

All believers from all time will have the same inheritance. You remain mistaken.

God's promises apply equally to the OT saints and NT saints.

Hebrews 11:39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

This passage says that the OT saints previously referenced (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and his fellow Israelite believers, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets, and many other unnamed persecuted OT believers) will receive the same promise that God has for us (NT saints). But, you deny this.

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

Paul is just stating a truth, and that truth for the Body of Christ is when we are caught away to glory. The time for others will be at the end of the millennium.

The truth he was stating is that Isaiah 25:8 applies to the body of Christ because he applied it to the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. And all believers from all-time are in the body of Christ. Anyone who is not in the body of Christ is not saved and will spend eternity in the lake of fire. There is no salvation for anyone apart from Christ (Acts 4:12), so anyone who is saved is in the body of Christ.

The Body of Christ is the NEW Man coming to a perfect man, sons to glory. It is NOT female!

What does that mean when you say that the body of Christ is not female? What is the point of saying that? It is female in the sense that the body of Christ (the church) is the bride of Christ.

I`m glad you don`t think all of scripture is about us, however, you do seem to apply some parts of the OT to us.

I apply some parts of the OT to us because that's what the NT authors did. The OT talks about promises that God made to Abraham and his seed. On the surface, without looking at the NT, those promises seem to apply to descendants of the nation of Israel, but Paul said they apply to one seed, which is Christ, and because of Him, are also applied to those who belong to Christ (Galatians 3:16, 29). Why do you not accept the NT authors interpretations of the OT?

 

[Marilyn C]

All believers from all time will have the same inheritance. You remain mistaken.

God's promises apply equally to the OT saints and NT saints.

Hebrews 11:39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

This passage says that the OT saints previously referenced (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and his fellow Israelite believers, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets, and many other unnamed persecuted OT believers) will receive the same promise that God has for us (NT saints). But, you deny this.

The OT saints will receive the city as promised.

`But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for He has prepared a city for them.` (Heb. 11 16)

And that city, the New Jerusalem comes down OUT of heaven FROM God.`

`Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down OUT of heaven FROM God..` (Rev. 21: 2)

Then note that the Body of Christ is promised `something better for us,` (Heb. 11: 40) (as you quoted) And the Gk. means a greater dominion. For we see that the Lord has promised us to sit on His very own throne in the highest.

`To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne..` (Rev. 3: 21)

And as we are on the Lord`s throne then the OT saints can receive their inheritance in the city. When it comes down to the universal realm then they will also be made perfect. `that they should not be made perfect apart from us.` Each in their own ruling area of God`s great kingdom.

 

[Marilyn C]

The truth he was stating is that Isaiah 25:8 applies to the body of Christ because he applied it to the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. And all believers from all-time are in the body of Christ. Anyone who is not in the body of Christ is not saved and will spend eternity in the lake of fire. There is no salvation for anyone apart from Christ (Acts 4:12), so anyone who is saved is in the body of Christ.


What does that mean when you say that the body of Christ is not female? What is the point of saying that? It is female in the sense that the body of Christ (the church) is the bride of Christ.


I apply some parts of the OT to us because that's what the NT authors did. The OT talks about promises that God made to Abraham and his seed. On the surface, without looking at the NT, those promises seem to apply to descendants of the nation of Israel, but Paul said they apply to one seed, which is Christ, and because of Him, are also applied to those who belong to Christ (Galatians 3:16, 29). Why do you not accept the NT authors interpretations of the OT?

Paul applied the truth not the context of Isa. 25.

Of course, all who are saved will only be by Jesus' sacrifice. However, not all people knew of Jesus sacrifice. Many lived by their conscience, others by promises of God. Whatever revelation God gave and was obeyed then Jesus` sacrifice covers it all.

The Body of Christ is not male or female, but the NEW MAN. (Ga. 3: 28 Eph. 2: 15)

So, details of these promises for us please that seem to apply to the nation of Israel but are for us too?

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

The OT saints will receive the city as promised.

`But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for He has prepared a city for them.` (Heb. 11 16)

And that city, the New Jerusalem comes down OUT of heaven FROM God.`

`Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down OUT of heaven FROM God..` (Rev. 21: 2)

Then note that the Body of Christ is promised `something better for us,` (Heb. 11: 40) (as you quoted) And the Gk. means a greater dominion. For we see that the Lord has promised us to sit on His very own throne in the highest.

`To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne..` (Rev. 3: 21)

And as we are on the Lord`s throne then the OT saints can receive their inheritance in the city. When it comes down to the universal realm then they will also be made perfect. `that they should not be made perfect apart from us.` Each in their own ruling area of God`s great kingdom.

You are apparently not reading Hebrews 11:39-40 carefully at all, so let's look at it again.

Hebrews 11:39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

This is talking about the promise that God made that was referenced earlier in Hebrews 11. It's referring back to the land promise God made to Abraham which was expanded by God to be more than just a piece of land in Israel, but instead a heavenly country and a city whose builder and maker is God. This passage is not saying that God will provide something better for NT saints than OT saints. That's ridiculous. Why would He do that? He would not.

When it says "God having provided something better for us" it's talking about something better than the original land promise that God made for His people. It's talking about God providing something better than that for all of His saints (OT and NT) and refers to the fact that OT and NT saints will be made perfect together at the same time, which refers to the fact that all believers from all-time will be changed to put on bodily immortality at the same time when the last trumpet sounds (1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

Paul applied the truth not the context of Isa. 25.

What does that even mean? This is the kind of vague thing people say when they don't want to accept what scripture is saying. Paul was referencing the fulfillment of Isaiah 25:8 in 1 Corinthians 15:54. That's a fact. You are trying to get around that, which is just sad to witness.

Of course, all who are saved will only be by Jesus' sacrifice. However, not all people knew of Jesus sacrifice. Many lived by their conscience, others by promises of God. Whatever revelation God gave and was obeyed then Jesus` sacrifice covers it all.

So what?! What difference does that make? His blood brought all believers together into one body, regardless of when they lived. How can any Christian not understand this elementary concept? It's mind boggling to me.

The Body of Christ is not male or female, but the NEW MAN. (Ga. 3: 28 Eph. 2: 15)

There is neither male nor female in Christ. Of course. So, why did you say the body of Christ is not female? What was the point of saying that? I didn't say otherwise.

So, details of these promises for us please that seem to apply to the nation of Israel but are for us too?

That's what Paul taught. He very clearly taught that the promises made to Abraham and his seed apply to Christ and those who belong to Christ and he very clearly taught that Gentile believers are fellow citizens and fellow heirs with Israelite believers. Do you accept what he taught or not?

 

[Davidpt]

I can't understand how anyone can read Isaiah 25:8 and the next few chapters that follow, then insist there is nothing more that follows Isaiah 25:8? How does Isaiah 25:8 solve the state of the lost? How can death be swallowed up in victory for them as well?

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

I can't understand how anyone can read Isaiah 25:8 and the next few chapters that follow, then insist there is nothing more that follows Isaiah 25:8? How does Isaiah 25:8 solve the state of the lost? How can death be swallowed up in victory for them as well?

Why don't you ask John this question when you see him? He applied Isaiah 25:8 to the time when eternity is ushered in (Revelation 21:4) when there will literally be no more death ever again at that point. Do you understand that events in prophecy books like Isaiah are not always fulfilled in chronological order? What exactly do you see written after Isaiah 25:8 that you think occurs after the fulfillment of Isaiah 25:8 and that does not occur within the realm of eternity?

 

[Davidpt]

Why don't you ask John this question when you see him? He applied Isaiah 25:8 to the time when eternity is ushered in (Revelation 21:4) when there will literally be no more death ever again at that point. Do you understand that events in prophecy books like Isaiah are not always fulfilled in chronological order? What exactly do you see written after Isaiah 25:8 that you think occurs after the fulfillment of Isaiah 25:8 and that does not occur within the realm of eternity?

1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.


What I suspect some of you are likely doing is this, abusing the following. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye---as in you are applying in like manner pertaining to events that follow. Yet, not one single event that follows this event does it ever say nor even hints, that these events are fulfilled within mere moments of time, too.

As if it makes sense to go into all these great details in regards to events that follow after 1 Corinthians 15:52, when these events are only involving mere moments of time. To apply a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, to other events that might follow, is to take this entirely out of context since the context of verse 52 has zero to do with waging war on the beast and it's armies, for example, post this moment in time when the saved are changed from mortality to immortality.


Plus, look how Revelation 11 ends, for example.

Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.


How could this remotely be involving the time of Revelation 20:11-15 at this point? Shouldn't we be looking in Revelation 16 instead, in order to determine why this chapter ends in this manner and where it picks up again where it left off?

Revelation 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth

Notice what the text says--- And the nations were angry. What we should be asking ourselves, what does this anger lead to at the time? Anger won't do anyone any good during Revelation 20:11-15. Not to mention, the text says His wrath is come. One is to believe that none of the 7 last vials of wrath equal His wrath is come?

and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great

What I have underlined above, what does that have to do with the lost? Are any of those I have underlined meaning any of the lost?

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.


What I suspect some of you are likely doing is this, abusing the following. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye---as in you are applying in like manner pertaining to events that follow. Yet, not one single event that follows this event does it ever say nor even hints, that these events are fulfilled within mere moments of time, too.

As if it makes sense to go into all these great details in regards to events that follow after 1 Corinthians 15:52, when these events are only involving mere moments of time. To apply a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, to other events that might follow, is to take this entirely out of context since the context of verse 52 has zero to do with waging war on the beast and it's armies, for example, post this moment in time when the saved are changed from mortality to immortality.

What do you think, that Paul would quote Isaiah 25:8 in 1 Corinthians 15:54 only for Isaiah 25:8 not to actually be fulfilled until a much later time? How would that make any sense? I don't find your argument here to be convincing whatsoever.

Plus, look how Revelation 11 ends, for example.

Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.


How could this remotely be involving the time of Revelation 20:11-15 at this point?

Who said that Revelation 20:11-15 happens immediately at that point? Not me. As I have told you multiple times, I believe that once Jesus comes and burns up the earth, eternity will then be ushered in and the judgment will take place in the realm of eternity. For it to take place in the realm of time would be utterly ridiculous. Imagine Jesus having to judge billions of people one at a time in real time. Get serious. So, you are not even thinking these things through carefully at all.

Shouldn't we be looking in Revelation 16 instead, in order to determine why this chapter ends in this manner and where it picks up again where it left off?

No. How interesting that you think we can look at another part of Revelation to determine the timing of Revelation 11:19, but you deny that we can look at Revelation 20:11-15 to determine the timing of Revelation 11:18 in relation to the thousand years.

Revelation 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth

Notice what the text says--- And the nations were angry. What we should be asking ourselves, what does this anger lead to at the time? Anger won't do anyone any good during Revelation 20:11-15. Not to mention, the text says His wrath is come. One is to believe that none of the 7 last vials of wrath equal His wrath is come?

You just don't get it. I did not say that Revelation 20:11-15 occurs immediately when the seventh trumpet sounds. But, it certainly makes no sense to think it happens long after that, as you do. Obviously, the physical destruction of those who destroy the earth happens first. Revelation 20:9 happens first and then Revelation 20:10-15 happens. There's no reason to think there will be much time at all in between.

and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great

What I have underlined above, what does that have to do with the lost? Are any of those I have underlined meaning any of the lost?

You utterly failed to see the point. Did I say that the judgment of the dead is the only thing that will occur when the seventh trumpet sounds? No, I did not. So, why are you acting as if I said that? As we can see in Matthew 25:31-46, the rewards for believers and judging of the dead (the dead refer to unbelievers) happens at the same time when Jesus comes again with His angels.

In the post you responded to here, I asked what exactly do you see written after Isaiah 25:8 that you think occurs after the fulfillment of Isaiah 25:8 and that does not occur within the realm of eternity and you didn't even answer that question. So, you said all that without even answering the question I asked.

 

[Marilyn C]

You are apparently not reading Hebrews 11:39-40 carefully at all, so let's look at it again.

Hebrews 11:39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

`something better,` Gk. kreitton, stronger, better & kratos, dominion. We have a stronger, greater, better dominion.

Thus ended the lesson.

 

[rwb]

I can't understand how anyone can read Isaiah 25:8 and the next few chapters that follow, then insist there is nothing more that follows Isaiah 25:8? How does Isaiah 25:8 solve the state of the lost? How can death be swallowed up in victory for them as well?

Isaiah 25:8 (KJV) He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

David, I believe the prophesy of Isaiah speaks of the day of the Messiah who was to come. Through His resurrection, Christ defeated the reign/terror/power of death by bringing eternal life to all people who would believe on Him. It was through the cross that death has been swallowed up in victory for whosoever is born again. We who have received eternal life through Christ, have no more fear over death that shall come to our body of flesh. As Paul writes in 1Cor 15 our body too shall be resurrected immortal & incorruptible when the last trump sounds. But death of our body does not take away our eternal life. Because when our body dies we as spiritual body shall ascend to heaven living souls to wait for the sounding of the last trumpet when we shall once again be as man was created to be in the beginning before sin and death of our body through sin was ordained for mankind.

Hebrews 2:8-9 (KJV) Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Hebrews 2:14-15 (KJV) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

The prophetic utterings speak of or point to the day/age/time of Messiah who would come. And when He finally did come all that is written throughout this age since His coming, have been, and are being fulfilled, and shall be complete when the last trump sounds that Christ has come again.

 

[rwb]

Why don't you ask John this question when you see him? He applied Isaiah 25:8 to the time when eternity is ushered in (Revelation 21:4) when there will literally be no more death ever again at that point. Do you understand that events in prophecy books like Isaiah are not always fulfilled in chronological order? What exactly do you see written after Isaiah 25:8 that you think occurs after the fulfillment of Isaiah 25:8 and that does not occur within the realm of eternity?

Paul and John write of our resurrected body that shall be raised immortal & incorruptible when the last trump sounds. But there is far more that shall be accomplished in the day/age/time when the promised Messiah would come. We must read all of the prophetic words of Isaiah and not dwell only on the last day of the Lord when all that is written of Him shall be complete.

 

[rwb]

`something better,` Gk. kreitton, stronger, better & kratos, dominion. We have a stronger, greater, better dominion.

Thus ended the lesson.

Marilyn, does it not make better sense to understand the "something better" for both us and the faithful of Old points to when we shall all receive eternal life spiritually? None could ascend to heaven a spiritual body/living soul before Christ came and made atonement for sin and defeated death. The OC saints who died in faith, believing in the promised Messiah foretold to come, had to wait until the promised One came before they could ascend to heaven a spiritual body (see 1Cor 15:44). Now, since Christ has come and paid the sin debt, and defeated death, ALL who have died and shall die in faith are now together with Christ in heaven, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem and an innumerable company of angels (messengers). Every believer from both the Old Covenant body as well as we who are of the New Covenant body of Christ, together, are "the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven." We are together, "the spirits of just men made perfect." Not yet immortal flesh, but eternal spirits made perfect in Christ, for eternal life in heaven.

Hebrews 12:22-24 (KJV) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

 

[Marilyn C]

Marilyn, does it not make better sense to understand the "something better" for both us and the faithful of Old points to when we shall all receive eternal life spiritually? None could ascend to heaven a spiritual body/living soul before Christ came and made atonement for sin and defeated death. The OC saints who died in faith, believing in the promised Messiah foretold to come, had to wait until the promised One came before they could ascend to heaven a spiritual body (see 1Cor 15:44). Now, since Christ has come and paid the sin debt, and defeated death, ALL who have died and shall die in faith are now together with Christ in heaven, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem and an innumerable company of angels (messengers). Every believer from both the Old Covenant body as well as we who are of the New Covenant body of Christ, together, are "the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven." We are together, "the spirits of just men made perfect." Not yet immortal flesh, but eternal spirits made perfect in Christ, for eternal life in heaven.

Hebrews 12:22-24 (KJV) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Hi rwb,

Not quite getting that. `something better for US,` means exactly that. We, the Body of Christ will be with Christ on His own throne on Mount Zion, in the third heaven. We do not move from there. It is the OT saints who looked for the city the New Jerusalem who come down out of heaven from God. They are in the universal realm below us. Thus our `better/greater dominion` is clear, with Christ above ALL.

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

Paul and John write of our resurrected body that shall be raised immortal & incorruptible when the last trump sounds. But there is far more that shall be accomplished in the day/age/time when the promised Messiah would come. We must read all of the prophetic words of Isaiah and not dwell only on the last day of the Lord when all that is written of Him shall be complete.

What did I say that would lead you to believe that the last day is all I focus on? This is just one of many threads on this forum. In this particular thread, I'm focused on proving amillennialism is true by showing that Isaiah 25:8-9 will be fulfilled when Christ returns. John quoted its fulfillment in Revelation 21:4 in relation to the ushering in of the new heavens and new earth. Paul referenced its fulfillment in relation to the future sounding of the seventh trumpet when our bodies will be changed to put on bodily immortality. That means that eternity will be ushered in with the eternal new heavens and new earth when Christ returns.

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

Hi rwb,

Not quite getting that. `something better for US,` means exactly that. We, the Body of Christ will be with Christ on His own throne on Mount Zion, in the third heaven. We do not move from there. It is the OT saints who looked for the city the New Jerusalem who come down out of heaven from God. They are in the universal realm below us. Thus our `better/greater dominion` is clear, with Christ above ALL.

Peter said that we (believers) look for new heavens and a new earth to dwell in (2 Peter 3:13) and that is where Old Testament saints will be, also. Your attempts to divide God's people contradict many passages of scripture. Stop trying to divide what the blood of Christ brought together as one! Why would God want division amongst His people? That's utter nonsense.

 

[rwb]

What did I say that would lead you to believe that the last day is all I focus on? This is just one of many threads on this forum. In this particular thread, I'm focused on proving amillennialism is true by showing that Isaiah 25:8-9 will be fulfilled when Christ returns. John quoted its fulfillment in Revelation 21:4 in relation to the ushering in of the new heavens and new earth. Paul referenced its fulfillment in relation to the future sounding of the seventh trumpet when our bodies will be changed to put on bodily immortality. That means that eternity will be ushered in with the eternal new heavens and new earth when Christ returns.

You're only showing the last day of this age that Isaiah's prophecies pertain to. The prophecy of Isaiah refers to the whole time/age of the Messiah, when He would come! Isaiah's prophesy here begins with a song of praise to God for the anticipated deliverance of His people from bondage in Babylon as the remnant who are saved. (vss. 1-5)

Then what follows beginning in vs 6 refers to the time when the promised Messiah would come to redeem, beginning with the remnant of Old whom God has preserved for eternal salvation through the coming Messiah and extending to all the nations of saints throughout the world. Why do you make mention only of the completion of this time of the promised Messiah? Why do you consistently omit the FACT that when Christ came with the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom now in this age is NOT the material physical Kingdom that shall be when the last trump sounds and the new earth has come? All who enter into the Kingdom of God according to grace through faith now in this age by the power of gospel of the Kingdom of God preached and the Holy Spirit, HAVE ETERNAL LIFE NOW! Faithful saints don't have to wait for the sounding of the final trumpet to obtain eternal life. We HAVE ETERNAL LIFE from the moment we have been born again through Christ's Spirit in us. The last trumpet ushers in bodily immortality (not eternal life) for all who have eternal spiritual life before He comes again.

 

[rwb]

Peter said that we (believers) look for new heavens and a new earth to dwell in (2 Peter 3:13) and that is where Old Testament saints will be, also. Your attempts to divide God's people contradict many passages of scripture. Stop trying to divide what the blood of Christ brought together as one! Why would God want division amongst His people? That's utter nonsense.

We have nothing to look forward to IF we have not eternal spiritual life NOW, before we physically die and the sounding of the last trumpet. Only those who have been born again, being sealed by the Holy Spirit, both know and enter the spiritual Kingdom of God in heaven have hope for inheriting the new heavens and new earth when Christ comes again. Those who shall inherit bodily immortality and incorruptibility upon the new heavens and new earth are ALL, both Old Covenant saints as well as New Covenant saints TOGETHER! We are all together "the general assembly and Church of the firstborn".

 

[Marilyn C]

Peter said that we (believers) look for new heavens and a new earth to dwell in (2 Peter 3:13) and that is where Old Testament saints will be, also. Your attempts to divide God's people contradict many passages of scripture. Stop trying to divide what the blood of Christ brought together as one! Why would God want division amongst His people? That's utter nonsense.

God made man from the earth and to have dominion over it.

`And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.` (Gen. 2: 7)

`So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth, and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Gen. 1: 27 & 28)

God also had further plans for some men and women, and that was to be in the Body of Christ. This could only happen when Jesus ascended to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit to place each believer, (in Christ and His sacrifice for us) into the Body of Christ.

`And being assembled together with them, He (Jesus) commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the father, "which" He said, "you have heard from me: for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." (Acts 1: 4 & 5)

`For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body..` (1 Cor. 12: 12)

When the Body of Christ is brought to maturity by the Holy Spirit then they will be gathered together and changed into like Jesus.

`...till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Don of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.` (Eph. 4: 13)

`The first man was of the earth, made of dust, the second man is the Lord from heaven. As was the dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and is the heavenly man, so also are those who are heavenly.

And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man.` (1 Cor. 15: 47 - 49)

`...we know that when He (Jesus) is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.` (1 John 3: 2)

And to these in the Body of Christ, overcomers, they will sit with Christ on His very own throne in the highest.

`To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne..` (Rev. 3: 21)