Thanks for all the opinions guys (I'm still reading them) .....
(generally speaking) .... (and in my own words)... (and without scripture references ) .... it reads to me that we (saints) are in the city (new Jerusalem) .... with our Lord (of course) .... and outside are all those "other guys" ..... and we can go in and out through the gates .... but they cannot come in to the city ...... does that mean we can "visit them" .... then go back into the city ???
Yes. Per Ezekiel 44 about the Zadok (the just, or righteous). The "dead" of Ezekiel 44 represent the spiritual dead that will be cast in the "outer darkness" during Christ's future thousand years reign. Those that were relatives of the Zadok are specifically mentioned among those spiritually dead. And before the Zadok can return after going among a lost relative and go near any of God's holy things, they must go through a ritual purification.
As well I wonder if "outside the city" is maybe the hell or Hades we read about ...... ie: ... they are separated from God for eternity (outside) .... while we are with God for eternity (inside the city)
Per Rev.20:9, the "beloved city" is upon the earth. That's the same layout as Rev.22:14-15 also. The place of separation is outside the gates of the city. Satan's prison where he will be locked in chains for the thousand years apparently will be outside the city somewhere on earth too. Isaiah 14 reveals that some will look over at him and say, "Is this the man that...?"
I know it's difficult for some to dump all the dreamy images we've been served by Church tradition of what the heavenly is going to be like. We're all still going to be right here on this earth. Yet there's going to be some marvelous manifestations even in that future time of Christ's thousand years reign which we have never seen in this present world. God's River flowing out from under the Milennium sanctuary with the many trees on either side of it (tree of life) is going to be something new to us (Ezek.47).
Dear Veteran,
Your understanding of scripture is carnal and literal. Christ's words are "spirit". You will never understand God's Word from a carnal and literal view point. That is why Christ made such a point to say many times words such as these:
Mark 8:15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and [of] the leaven of Herod.
Mark 8:18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
Mark 8:20 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
Here Chist was speaking of the "leaven" of the Pharisees. Did the apostles understand his meaning? No, not at this time. Can you see that "leaven" in scripture represents false teachings? Most people do have enough vision to at least understand Christ's teachings on "leaven". I will assume you do. Christ then asked them "how is it that you do not understand?"
IN THE EVERY NEXT VERSE OF MARK, Chist shows us why people don't understand. In Mark 8:21-25, Christ gives us His answer with the two healings of the blind man. Christ is teaching us something very important here so pay close attention. The blind man represents those who are called to Christ (called out of the Bethsaida). Upon the blind man's first healing (our first coming to Christ), He leaves us spiritually blind (can only see men walking as trees). For those He chooses for His true church though (the Elect), Christ will come again and heal our spiritual vision completely (2nd healing of the blind man). It is at this point when we hear His call to "come out of her my people". His Elect (those HE chose) come out of the harlot church because they can now see and ear the Truth of scripture. I have experienced such an event in my life back in October 2005.
Here is a parable (a fictious story that conveys a spiritual truth) that will help complete the picture. It is concerning the state of the individual when they are only healed once. Our 1st healing leaves us spiritually blind and the result is the complete spiritual corruption within the individual (we become a "man of sin") who makes up all the churches in the world.
Mark 13 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
The phrase "The Kingdom of Heaven is like" is a key phrase in the parable. Where is the Kingdom of Heaven? Christ said that it does not come with observation and that it is inside you. So all the parables that say the "Kingdom of Heaven is like" occurs within an individual. Next in the parable it says that a "woman took". Who is the woman? A "woman" in scripture is the church made up of the "called" (spiritually blind). Can you now understand what Christ is saying in this parable? Here's the answer: the church took false teachings and hid it in three measures of meal (bread or the Word of God) until the "whole was leavened". Christ is saying that the church completely corrupts His Word and becomes a harlot. That event occurs within each individual that makes up the church. They are all spiritually blind and have their own particular carnal understanding of scripture. And because of that carnal understanding, there are now hundreds, if not thousands of different denominations of harlot churches in the world. It's amazing because each spiritually blind person in those churches think that their church is scriptual and the rest are harlot.
Only those who Christ chooses to come to a second time (the second coming of Christ to the individual) to heal their spiritual vision completely are able to "see" and understand scripture. Immediately after that event in their lives the hear Christ calling to them to "come out of her my people". The carnal church has completely corrupted the whole of scriptures to the point that no truth can be found in her. God's Elect must therefore come out of her and dwell with Christ in the heavens.
Veteran, do you now know why "ye do not understand?"
It is my hope that those who have been made ready to come out of the harlot will heed His words to "come out" and begin their journey down the narrow path that leds to Christ.
Joe
Well, all I can say to that is... you don't know the difference in God's Word between what is meant LITERALLY vs. what is meant SPIRITUALLY.
Christ's coming Kingdom will come with SUBSTANCE. It won't be some floating existence up in the clouds like some dreamy never-never land where you're head is at!
What you're pushing is called SPIRITUALISM. It was a movement that came over from Europe in the 1800-1900's linked with the OCCULTISTS in Europe.
What you said here is an example of their vain doctrines:
JoeinArkansas:
"Because Christ is the Savior and because His love and mercy never come to an end (Lam 3:22), He will continue His work of bringing all of mankind into the Kingdom of Heaven. Those outside the gates will be invited to come in the final age after their judgment is completed. Christ symbolically made this call on the "last day, that great day of the feast" to those remaining lost."
For those who may not be aware of the basis where that kind of idea is coming from, that idea of Christ "continuing His work of bringing all mankind into the Kingdom of Heaven" is attached to the false doctrines of today's one-world government Utopian dream.
Per that false idea, EVERYONE is going to believe and be saved. That is NOT... what God Himself and His Son said in His Word. SOME are... going to PERISH because of their wickedness along with refusing The Father through His Son, which IS... what His Word says, and very plainly at that!
Not much longer now, Christ will return, and this PRESENT time on earth will END. And SOME are to be DESTROYED off this earth at Christ's return...
Rev 11:13-15
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell,
and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.
(KJV)
Not only that, but at the end of Christ's future thousand years reign when Satan is loosed one final time to go tempt the nations, those of the nations that are stupid enough to follow him still, look what will happen to them...
Rev 20:7-9
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9
And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
(KJV)
As much as we as Christians would LIKE... for everyone to believe on Christ Jesus and be saved, and have Eternal Life through His Blood, not all will accept Him, even AFTER His return when He will reveal Himself to all the world with none being able to deny Who He is.
It's Christ's enemies that instead want this present world to keep on going. And it's those deceived that listen to those enemies of Christ that have been suckered into thinking this world ain't gonna' end until Jesus does save everyone in it. Holding that is vainness, unrighteousness, because it denies God's Righteousness of the recompense He said He would do upon His enemies, so we can finally have REAL PEACE upon this earth and live with Him forever.
