The problem I'm having with you is that you seem to contradict yourself, and when asked about it you just brush it aside and continue to ask questions. You aren't making any point for yourself, nor explaining why these things are contradictions for you.
But I'm not upset about it. I like trying to answer questions regardless. It would just help if you could clarify what you believe or what your concerns are.
I'm asking questions without expecting answers for each one, as though the question is unanswerable - because my position can only be called "agnosmillennialism" because I am neither a-millennialist, nor pre-millennialist, nor post-millennialist.
I believe in a literal millennium (so not Amil at all. They pretend Satan is now bound and the millennium commences before anyone was beheaded for refusing to worship the beast - Revelation 20:1-6). I don't believe the church will continue to expand until most of the world is Christian before Christ returns (Post-mil).
But nowadays I have a problem with Premil also - because when I look at things like this, I realize there isn't any evidence for the NHNE following the millennium:
Without looking at the chapters, see if you can separate the verses in Revelation 7 talking about the rewards of those who came out from great tribulation (which happens when Christ returns) from the verses talking about the rewards of those who overcome (in the NHNE):
The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them. They serve Him day and night in His temple. And He sitting on the throne will dwell among them. They will not hunger any more, nor thirst any more, nor will the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will feed them, and will lead them to the fountains of living waters. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. To him who thirsts I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.
The question about who the nations are who bring their glory into the New Jerusalem is a good one. I've asked myself the same question for many years. I've played with the idea that the New Jerusalem is actually part of the Millennial Age, but most often I've had to conclude, because of the language, that the New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven at the end of the Millennial Age.
So I think the nations represent a new order in the eternal ages of Man, in which people are grouped by nationalities, though only by theocratic political systems. There will be no more need to procreate and multiply the human race. But there will still be a need for organization and collaboration. God's wish to create us in diversity could explain the continuity of "nations" on the eternal earth.
.. and those nations are all resurrected people. Not only so, but in Revelation 19:7-14 we see the bride of Christ being invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb and following Him on white horses when He comes to judge the beast - and in the NHNE we see the bride of Christ (New Jerusalem) coming down from God out of heaven. Who says there is a millennium between the one and the other?
But consider this (remember I'm expressing the questions I'm asking myself if I ask you questions not trying to establish any position):
If there were (ever) to be a repeat,
following the return of Christ and the resurrection of the saints, of the (resurrected) sons of Adam being tested
even while the sons of Adam are alive and living forever in the new heavens and new earth during the sabbath rest of God (the way Adam had been alive and living forever in the Garden of Eden) - and these
resurrected saints follow Satan in a rebellion (Revelation 20:7-9), as Adam had done when
he was tested
- then for these resurrected ones, there will be
no 2nd sacrifice for sins, no 2nd resurrection of Christ (who IS the resurrection and the life), and therefore no 2nd resurrection from the 2nd death either.
However, those who were beheaded for their testimony to Jesus, and for the Word of God,
who refused to worship Satan or his beast, or the image of the beast (Revelation 13:4) had already been tested before the return of Christ, and overcame. The 2nd death has no power over them. "Once saved, always saved" applies to them.
Do you now understand why I asked you "How long after Adam became a living soul did God allow Satan to test him. A thousand years, maybe?
Then I said. We are not told how long Adam lived before this took place.
So my next question to you is (bearing in mind that I definitely do believe in a literal millennium following the return of Christ, but I'm expressing the questions an
agnosmillennialist turns around in his own mind, without coming to answers or conclusions):
Haven't we all just assumed that it will be
mortals who survived the Day of Christ / Day of the LORD who those mentioned in Revelation 20:3-6 will be reigning over? Why aren't all the other saints who will be resurrected when Christ returns mentioned there? Is it not perhaps
resurrected saints who will be reigned over by the martyrs of Revelation 20:4-6 and (probably) the Apostles and all martyrs from all centuries?
The rest of the resurrected saints who have not been tested between following Satan and following God in the same way that Adam was, and that those in Revelation 20:4-6 and all other martyrs had been - will they not be faced with the same choice a thousand years later when Satan is released once more? And if we are ruled over by the martyrs, won't that make some resurrected saints rebel?
I'm asking a lot of questions
without inserting it into scripture. That's why ended my first post in this thread with what I ended it with.
.. and the reason I'm in an agnosmillennialist place is because
scripture is showing me (I've only quoted Revelation and 7 and 21 now in this post, but there are other scriptures too) that the NHNE does not follow
after the millennium, but the millennium commences
with the NHNE, and the millennium is literal.
I apologize for confusing you. I realize that this is an unusual concept to everyone else.
