Copperhead
Well-Known Member
Now, Nowhere in scripture does it tell us that just before the everlasting kingdom is established that we will be raptured and then return to rule with Christ during the Millennium Age.
Are you sure? In Revelation 12, we see a child being born that will rule with a rod of iron. In Revelation 2:26-27, we see that those who overcome will likewise rule with a rod of iron along side Yeshua. Who are they ruling over?
Rev 12 is also describing how a birth is going on, and the child is immediately and forcibly being snatched up to the throne when it is born. Can't be Yeshua specifically, as He was never forcibly caught up to the throne at either His birth or ascension. Would seem to suggest that the body of Messiah, the ekklesia is what is in view. The Ekklesia was conceived at Pentacost when the Holy Spirit came upon them in Jerusalem. The Body of Messiah has grown and is being readied now to be born. This is alluded to in Jeremiah and Zephaniah as well as Isaiah. And specifically, those prophets say it will occur at either before the Great Tribulation or when it starts. So an early removal of the righteous is in view.
The parables of the Mustard Seed, the Leaven, etc all seem to suggest that there is not quite a heavenly thing going on in the Messianic kingdom on earth. In the Mustard Seed, the birds are nesting in the tree. In the previous parable of the Sower, it was explained that the birds are a picture of the evil ones aligned with Satan. In the Leaven parable, leaven is always seen in scripture as a picture of pride, sin, corruption. There is a woman hiding leaven in 3 measures of meal, which is the fellowship offering established with Abraham at Mamre when the Lord and 2 angels visited him. So it would seem that sin and corruption are in the Messianic kingdom and eventually permeates the entire thing. That would explain the discussion between the Trinity going on in Psalm 2. Likewise, Zechariah makes a point that during this time, those nations that do not come to Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles will have rain withheld from their land. So it would seem that not everyone has a good view of the Messiah's reign on earth.
So it would seem that there needs to be a ruling with a rod of iron to happen as those in the Messianic Kingdom on earth seem to play the same games they do now. The heart of man has been sinful since the fall of Adam, and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. These events also seem to make the case why, after Satan is released at the end of the 1000 years, virtually the entire kingdom rebels against Messiah. Psalm 2 alludes to that.
The big problem seems to be those that confuse the Messianic Kingdom on earth with Heaven. If the Messianic Kingdom was perfect, it would not be lasting only 1000 years, it would be forever. And it will be, after the 1000 years and the rebellion that occurs at the end of it, there will be a new earth and all the previous stuff will be done away with.
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