The Second Coming of Christ
 

Is Christ's second coming an event in Revelations that will occur sometime in the future, for you? Why? i'd like to invite you to read everything you know about this concept with a different set of eyes; Christ comes when the bride, that's you, is prepared.
http://i.imgur.com/oKMuT.jpg

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

I know that it was not necessarily intended the way that I took it, but I have to agree with Bucky whole heartedly on this one. Of course, you can not have the one without the other.

The Bride of Christ is the church through the ages. He is coming to fetch her, and when He does, it will be as described in the Bible.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Amen; just like that. I would discourage any "mass" events that your or another's interpretation might have provided for you, though, as these are simply unsupported. See that "in a twinkling of an eye, everyone," commonly interpreted to mean "everyone at once," is not supported here, or anywhere else that I can find, in the Bible.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

I disagree. The twinkling of an eye scenario is EVERYONE WHO IS SAVED will be resurrected at the same time. The context reads that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom, therefore flesh must be changed. And the change will occur at the same time. It says in 1 Cor 15:51-52 ....

...We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 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.

"We" refers to al the saved people. And not everyone who is saved shall physically die. But everyone who is saved shall be physically changed in body. When will this change occur for everyone? "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: ". It is speaking about when everyone will be changed that was mentioned in verse 51. The reason not everyone will die is because some will still be alive when the Lord comes, and will be changed in BODY at that moment. And that is also when the dead shall have their bodies changed. Again, this change is required for the physical part of us to inherit the Kingdom, while our souls and spirits have been enjoying the KINGDOM since we first got saved.

So read it like this: "we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump." That means everyone at the same time ARE CHANGED, both dead and alive.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

I might only take exception to the "at the same time" here, but feel that this is splitting hairs. I will say that your interpretation here strikes me as the common one, which makes me suspect it, that we have not maturely interpreted this yet, and still hear our version of "stay here for the present," possibly.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Just because some thoughts are common does =not mean they are wrong. the ONLY way to analyse a passage is to carefully read the passage. There does not have to be a hidden meaning anywhere. Some common thoughts are wrong, and I can think of many. But I do not think so with this one.

The context says that not everyone will die, but everyone will be changed. And then it tells us when this will happen. In the twinkling of an eye at the last trump. Stop and consider what that means. If everyone will be changed whether they are dead or alive, how can it NOT be at the same moment?

It is not splitting hairs. It is a huge difference to believe he comes for each individual at a different time as opposed to coming for everyone all at once.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Here's something I've heard recently. I don't know if it is splitting hairs or not.

But I think I agree with both BByrd009 and Bro. Blume.

I think what BB (shortened version of your name, if you don't mind... ) is trying to say that is Christ going to be manifested fully, and completely in each believers life at some point in time when God decides enough is enough, and the trumpet sounds. Then our physical bodies will be changed "in a twinkling of an eye" but instead of going somewhere supernatural... meaning outside of our present world... could it be... and this is my big question... could it be that we are changed from our physical bodies here to a spiritual body like Christ's, and be part of a changed immortal church group of people here on the new earth that God says he will be creating? I don't know. Nor does anyone really know for sure. But just a thought.

If we can believe that we will be changed, and taken out of this world, a big concept to grasp, why is it so unbelievable that it is also possible that we be supernaturally changed to stay here, in the new earth God will be creating... ????

The OT writings seem to point to the natural earth being recreated where the wolf will once again lay down with the lamb....

Isaiah 65:17-25 17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever [in that] which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner [being] an hundred years old shall be accursed.

21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree [are] the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they [are] the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust [shall be] the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Sounds like a natural earth recreated to me, and perhaps our immortal spiritual bodies will dwell in this new earth.

I believe Revelation speaks of this also.

I am wondering if BB and Blume's thoughts could somehow both be right?

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

I'm far from being an expert,but I do believe in a general resurrection of the just and the unjust and a final appearing of Christ.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

I must admit I agree with mfblume here, for the most part, and am tempted to see a mass occurrence here, at this special event in Rev, which may be just that; but I am too often led to a personal meaning to not be suspicious of a group translation.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Me, too, I just accept that my image of it, surely still pretty much the same as in the common mind, is naive.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

kbtw,

When we study 1 Cor 15 (the moment we are ALL changed, whether dead or alive (which means it has to all happen at once)), that chapter does not speak about catching away. So the context there does not say if we are caught away at the same time from the world. But the point of all being changed at once, whether dead or alive, is raised again in 1 Thess 4. THERE is where it says we will be caught away from this world physically, at the same time. Now, the CHANGE is in a moment, but it did not say in 1 thess 4 that the CATCHING AWAY is in a twinkling of an eye.

Compare:

1Co 15:50-52 KJV Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (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.

1Th 4:15-17 KJV For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

THE TRUMP is mentioned in both 1 Cor 15 and 1 Thess 4. It is one and the same trumpet. It involves BOTH DEAD AND LIVING saints to be CHANGED at the same time, and is when the dead rise first AND THEN THE LIVING ARE CAUGHT UP. The change in a twinkling of an eye is not the catching away. The catching away is NOT DONE in the twinkling of an eye. Who knows how long we will be here AFTER WE ARE CHANGED? It cannot be long, though,l but it is not the twinkling of an eye that sees us gone. All we know about being caught up physically is found in 1 Thess 4. And there we read that the dead rise first and then the living are caught up to be WITH THEM. All of us at the SAME TIME MEET THE LORD. But even meeting the Lord is not done in the twinkling of an eye.

Summary:

1) THE CHANGING OF OUR BODIES, whether dead or alive occurs in the twinkling of an eye at the same time for everyone.

2) The DEAD RISE or are CAUGHT AWAY FIRST, though.

3) THE LIVING are then caught up AFTER THE DEAD RISE, to be with the resurrected dead IN THE AIR TO MEET THE LORD.

So it IS explained in scripture,. but we just have to look at all the passages which are 1 Cor 15 and 1 Thess 4 to see it all.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

We should ALWAYS be suspicious of common beliefs. SOME hold up, but others upon closer scrutiny do not.

I think the common idea that change in body and catching away both occur in a moment are incorrect. THE CHANGE is in a moment. But since the dead and living are changed at the same time, but the dead RISE FIRST before the living RISE, then the catching away CANNOT BE at the same time. It is pretty close in time, though, because we who are alive will rise to be with the risen dead, and ALL OF US rise to meet the Lord in the air together.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Amen, but seek other definitions for "in the air" if you will; this is a horrible translation, imo, and you might agree if you look at the MSS for "air" here. Also, I might even argue about your "at the same time" being true, but still not necessarily "together?" We all enter puberty at roughly the same time? Like that? But I am not clear on this.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

IN THE AIR is another issue. But timing of things is clearly laid out, I believe.

But the phrase "at the same time" has to be the issue in the thought of change. Like I said, if not everyone in the church dies, but everyone, dead or alive, are changed in a moment, and if the dead rise first and we rise to be together with them in the air to meet the lord, then the CHANGE has to happen at the same time.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Think of it this way. Paul said all the believers WILL NOT experience death. BUT ALL WILL be changed in a moment and twinkling of an eye. Paul grouped all Christians into two sets with one of those who will die and the second of those alive, and then say both these people will be changed. And then for it to say that this change will occur in a moment at a particular sound of a trumpet -- both dead and living -- it has to be at the same time. On top of that, 1 Thess 4 speaks also of the dead and living, and says both groups will rise in the air, with the dead rising first, and the living rising to be TOGETHER WITH THEM to MEET THE LORD, the Lord has to be COMING in order for them to MEET HIM. The Greek term for MEET implies His coming to us and we moving towards Him to be with Him.

The PHYSICAL part comes from 1 Cor 15 where it can only be talking about PHYSICAL BODIES being changed from natural ones to immortal ones, like Jesus was physically made immortal in his resurrection. So, apply the PHYSICAL CHANGE of the bodies of both the dead and the living, and couple that with the catching away in 1 Thess4, and it has to be a physical bodily catching away.

These things were considered for centuries and well though out and studied. I believe we will physically leave this earth. Why else would 1 Cor 15 stress a physical change of bodies for the dead if they are not going to physically rise according to 1 Thess 4? Why have a physical new body from the grave and not rise physically according to the info on rising in 1 Thess 4?

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Nicely put. A pretty compelling argument. I certainly have no doubt that we are in for miraculous things, and have to agree that this seems to describe a future corporate event. There is another interpretation here, which I'm sure you're aware of; but I am not familiar enough with it to present it. Your model here would lead to Rapture from there, yes?

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Yes it would lead to rapture. But it is not a rapture before a trib, etc., in association with the traditional premillennialism disp models. 1 Cor 15, in my estimation, demands a physical bodily resurrection. Why would God intend that for us?

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

I think we should all live as if something could happen at any given point, we need to be ready for anything. Whether He comes tomorrow, or you die tomorrow, anything could happen. I try as hard as I can to be ready.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Hmm, I just reread it, and I read that one can't resurrect in a physical body, but it's early, and I'd chiefly like to get the other interpretation of 1 Cor 15 in here, if you or someone would, for comparison, and completely ignore the
"24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;" blowing away any attempt to make Christ the Father.

I'll give this another day, read the commentaries, and then post a synopsis, if someone doesn't beat me to it, and I'd like to continue this from there, not expecting to marry the two viewpoints, but respect them both enough to present both interpretations fairly, if possible.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Paul said Jesus was made a "quickening spirit". His body was changed from earthy to Heavenly. From natural to spiritual. He never once says we will have a "physical" body. A physical body is a natural, earthy body. That what Paul says we will not have.

However our new, heavenly body will be able to transform as needed as the heavenly bodies of the angels likewise do. But the basic substance of the resurrected body will be "spiritual".

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

1 Cor 15 says flesh and blood cannot enter inherit the kingdom. Not a physical body. I think you mistook FLESH AND BLOOD for a PHYSICAL BODY. FLESH AND BLOOD is an idiom. Notice this:

Jesus told Peter and that flesh and blood did not reveal the revelation of the Father to him. Paul said that we fight not against flesh and blood. but principalities. It is a periphrasis. A round about way of referring to THE FALLEN STATE OF MAN where sin is part of our flesh now.

The whole chapter is about physical bodies. IT is the same IT that is both sown and raised. IT IS SOWN IN CORRUPTION AND IT IS RAISED in incorruption. Jesus' body was very physical and came out of the tomb in the same way God shall FASHION OUR BODIES from mortal to immortal.

Php 3:21 KJV Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

The whole question of 1 Cor 15 is WITH WHAT BODY SHALL THEY COME?

1Co 15:35 KJV But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

In all due respect, MTD is incorrect, NATURAL does not mean PHYSICAL. It means something that is empowered by natural life -- nature. SPIRITUAL does not mean NON-PHYSICAL. It means something, even physical, that is supernatural in quality. That is why SPIRITUAL MEAT AND DRINK were mentioned in the same book in 1 Cor 10. And it was VERY PHYSICAL.

Jesus rose in a PHYSICAL body that was said to be SPIRITUAL.

NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL have nothing to do with physical or not. There are people right now who are alive in earth and are SPIRITUAL people and NOT NATURAL:

1Co 2:14-15 KJV But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

Does the above mean he that is non-physical without a physical body, alone can discern spiritual truths? Of course not.l And that again is in the same book, 1 Cor!

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

I started a whole thread on this issue and delved into the greek terms used here:

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...light=sarkikos

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Cool-I'd say you expanded on Michael's post, ty both.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Jesus was always "spiritually" minded. But Paul speaking of contrasting bodies said Jesus WAS MADE a "quickening spirit".

Paul does NOT use the phrase "physical body" at all. He says we will have a SPIRITUAL body.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Can anyone address this issue? Thanks!

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

I don't have a problem with us being physically changed into a supernatural body and the fact that it will take place in the twinkling of an eye. Those things are not in question, in my mind anyway. In fact, I do believe that.

However, one question that seems to be in my mind, is where will our new supernatural bodies be residing... and the question I had posed earlier, and re-posted.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

I believe we will pass in and out of the invisible realm and physical realm. Psalm 115 says the EARTH was given to the sons of men. EARTH will be ours forever when sinners do not exist along with satan and death.

Psa 115:16 KJV The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

God gave Adam dominion on the earth before Adam sinned and fell.

Gen 1:28 KJV And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

When we die and go to heaven before we get our new bodies, WE ARE NOT STAYING THERE FOREVERMORE, despite what the hymns say. Heaven FOR MAN is a TEMPORARY PLACE until we get our new bodies. You cannot find a verse that says we will live forever in heaven. But we WILL OBTAIN THE EARTH FOREVER.

Mat 5:5 KJV Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

We will return to the position that Adam was given before Adam sinned. DOMINION OVER EARTH. We will pass into heaven as Jesus did with His physical body that obviously could experience the supernatural realm of Heaven. But HEAVEN is not where we will stay forever. Everyone who believes that stands solely upon hymns that are faulty. the bible does not teach we shall spend eternity in heaven. Look for it, and you will not find it in the bible.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

We pray this all the time, but so many do not get what it is saying. OUR FATHER DWELLS IN HEAVEN. And we are not praying to GO TO HEAVEN, but THY KINGDOM COME and THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH as it is in heaven. God's will is to bring the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN TO THIS EARTH. We PRAY correctly, but THINK incorrectly. We THINK our goal of all goals is to die and go to heaven to be there forever. It only says we shall be with the LORD forever, but who said Jesus will stay in heaven forever? HE IS COMING BACK!

Yes, we WILL GO TO HEAVEN if we died today as a saved person. But we will not stay there. When he comes again, we will return to our bodies that have been changed and made spiritual, though still very physical, and RULE THIS EARTH with Jesus forevermore. Not just for one thousand years either.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Yes!!!! This is what I have been seeing as I read and study OT writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zachariah! The end times (with typical writings of moon turned into darkness, and sun into blood and so forth) are almost always accompanied with descriptions of man living again in a recreated earth, must like it was in the garden of Eden, I suppose.

This is something most people don't see, I think, and don't realize. I've never been able to understand how the doctrine of rapture and heaven could coincide with the writing of the OT prophets.

I'm glad I have found a witness to this. Understanding this concept puts the scripture much more into context in so many ways.

But most people don't want to see that this earth will be our "heaven" because we want to believe it is something "other worldly" or out in the heavenlies somewhere singing with the angels. It sounds better that way I guess.

Thanks again for answering my post Bro. Blume!!!

Stay warm :)

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Hey, k, good to see someone not flip out since a tradition was lamb-basted. Lol

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Yes, and you'll notice no one else has posted an opinion...

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

I’m seeing a growing trend towards Christoplatonism. I first discovered this term in one of Randy Alcorn’s books. The term is used to denote the combination of Christian thought and Platonic thought. Plato believed that all physical matter was “evil” or “bad”. Platonists (followers of Platonic thought) believe that when someone dies their “spirit” leaves their body to enter a place that is absolutely non-physical in nature and appearance. In death people are “wispy mists” that proceed into the “light” where existence is nothing like our earthly existence and is virtually indescribable. Christoplatonists take these ideas and incorporate them into Christianity. The notion of a “physical resurrection” is rejected and the idea that “Heaven” or the “Eternal State” will be physical in nature (though glorified) or appearance is also rejected. Therefore they reject a physical resurrection, a real and tangible New Earth with an actual city called New Jerusalem, and an existence that is perceivable as life is today, although glorified and eternal. Since they believe this they “spiritualize” texts of the Bible wherein these things are taught. It’s the blending of pagan Greek thought and Christian concepts.

The Bible and ancient Hebrew thought is quite different. In the Bible God is the “God of the living”. God is a God who created all physical matter “good” and it is His original intent to have this physical creation exist forever in a glorified and sinless state (see the original creation as a prototype). The Bible speaks of Jesus as the “firstborn” of all creation in that He is physically arisen from the dead glorified and eternal. It is God’s desire to conform all men into the image of Jesus Christ; this implies that we too will one day be physically raised from the dead. We shall be like Him! Paul states that this will happen in the “twinkling of an eye” wherein we all shall be changed (glorified as Christ Jesus was), the dead in Christ rise from their graves, and we who are alive and remain are caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord...and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

The Bible speaks of this current creation (sinful and fallen) as passing away and a New Heavens and a New Earth being created (a glorified and sinless creation); a creation with all the beauty and pleasures that God originally introduced in Eden. A creation with rolling seas, majestic snow capped mountains, crystal clear lakes, pure white sandy beaches, vast forests and deserts, teaming cities, nations of people, languages, cultures, art, holy science, love, worship, rewarding and refreshing work, elegant foods, music, dancing, animals, economy, praise, laughter, exploration, libraries holding sacred and unknown ages of history, freedom, and leisure unsurpassed. Some, perhaps the great ones in our world, will find the pleasures of serving. Others, perhaps the lowly of our world, will find the pleasures of governing. Many will find their callings as kings governing the nations and others will find their callings as priests of the resurrected Lord. Those who never attained their callings will find said callings realized in this eternal state of glory. Every dream will come true. People don’t realize the beauty of God’s true intentions for our future and so we run a race unable to conceive of the prize we are trying to win. We begin to focus on this life, its pleasures, and its blessings and forget that God has a world so much greater in store for all of His elect. It will be an unending golden and heavenly renaissance. It will be in one word…GLORIOUS.

So yes... I believe in an actual and physical RESURRECTION when Christ returns. It will be part of my eternal reward.

Heaven - Don’t you want to go?

Even so, come Lord Jesus! Maranatha!!!

http://i2.listal.com/image/937036/60...screenshot.jpg

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

For it is written:

Revelation 21:1-27 (KJV)
1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
25And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Also...

Isaiah 65:17-25
17For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
19And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
20There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
21And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
24And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 66:22-23
22For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 11:9
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Luke 19:12-19
12He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

Revelation 1:6
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The implications of the above texts, especially the highlighted, are mind blowing.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

None of the joys God has promised His people can be experienced if there isn't a bodily resurrection in glorified bodies. And Paul explains plainly that we all shall experience this at once (including those who have passed on before us):

1 Corinthians 15:51-53
51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52In 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.
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Be ye comforted, all of you who are God's children.

http://media.thestar.topscms.com/ima...bab573be9.jpeg

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

What will eternity hold for you beloved?

rolling seas
majestic snow capped mountains
crystal clear lakes
pure white sandy beaches
vast forests and deserts
teaming cities
nations of people
languages
cultures
art
holy science
love
worship
rewarding and refreshing work
elegant foods
fine wine
music
dancing
animals
economy
praise
laughter
exploration
libraries holding sacred and unknown ages of history
freedom
leisure unsurpassed

All in a New Earth governed by Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, from the New Jerusalem.

http://inthebeginningandattheend.org...erusalem-6.jpg

1 Corinthians 2:9-10
9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

We need not debate over our bodily resurrection and it's timing with relation to the Second Coming. We need a REVELATION about Heaven and Eternity, once we have this the truth falls perfectly into place. Give God praise and glory!!!

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Aquila, thank you for sharing these scriptures, and thoughts with us! I pray God begins to illuminate this truth more, and more for his saints. What a hope we have in Christ!!!!!

I agree that REVELATION is needed for all those people who think their "mansion in heaven" is somewhere in outer space somewhere. The heavens are the Lord's, but the earth is for man.

Psalms 115:16 "The heaven, even the heavens are the Lord's, but the earth hath he given to the children of men."

Looking forward to the day when we will be changed with immortal bodies!!!!

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

Amen.

There is a lot about Heaven that we don't talk about or explore in Scripture. I wish we asked more questions about the eternal state than standards.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

I agree.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

I am far more interested in learning how to manifest His will in my life NOW, and to be led more by His Spirit and manifest Himself through my life. The bible says extremely LITTLE about heaven, because the focus ought to be more on what we can do to manifest His will and bring His kingdom here in earth as it is in heaven right now.

Re: The Second Coming of Christ
 

I just really read this, and think you are nailing it, imo. I might change "when God decides enough is enough," as I don't find anything in Scripture that prevents us from "the kingdom of Heaven beside you," or "life, more abundantly" except ourselves, but hey, that's me.