rod.ney said:
The Beheaded Trib. saints REIGN with Christ during those 1000 Years ( Rev.20:4-6 ) before the GWTJ happens! Thus they are in Fact resurrected into their Glorified bodies in order to reign with Him
Nowhere does Rev 20 say the martyrs of the GT are 'glorified', or made immortal. Rev 20:6 plainly states they may die again, but their second death has no power over them. That is; Because their names are Written in the Book of Life, they automatically receive immortality at the GWT Judgment.
We can take it for granted that if Scripture states they lived and reigned with Christ for one thousand years, then none of them die in that timeframe.
I will agree, we could view this as a natural resurrection into unglorified bodies, because long life is one of the characteristics of the Restored Kingdom of Israel. So we could just see they live throughout the MIllennial Kingdom physically. However, since the rapture of the Two Witnesses shows that a rapture can in fact precede the First Resurrection, it is likely these martyred saints who die in the Tribulation will be glorified.
And for those who reject the Millennial Kingdom, I would ask you to explain why it is that a one thousand year period is not going to take place when Scripture makes it clear it will. If you think this...
2 Peter 3:8 King James Version
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
... makes the thousand year period something than it is, I would have to suggest you are simply not being reasonable.
First, it is with God that a thousand years is as a day, and a day as a thousand years, not with man. Peter is simply telling those who exist in the timeline of Creation that while it might seem long to us, it doesn't to an Eternal God.
Secondly, if the thousand years is as a "day" in the sense of "the day of Abraham," or "in the day of Moses," then it is still a period longer than a 24 hour day. And while we could make this "day" a thousand years, we most certainly could not make it a 24 hour period. See the problem there?
Third, since we are given the timeframe, a thousand years, then that seems to be the period of time Scripture meant to give.
Fourth, we see distinct events described within this period that deny a short period, so we know it is a long period, and the events themselves demand a long period. The point being this: there is a long period of time between the first resurrection in which the martyred believers of the Tribulation are raised from the dead, which denies the First Resurrection as the resurrection of the proof texts you use to create only one resurrection.
FIfth, we have the two very distinct resurrections themselves, which cannot be the Rapture, nor can the two be the same resurrrection. We have only believers raised in the First Resurrection (the resurrection that occurs after Christ's Return), and only the dead said to be raised in the second death, the Resurrection unto damnation. In the Rapture, only those of the Church are raised, both living and dead.
So instead of just saying "There is no Millennial Kingdom, that is false (as at least one member likes to do)," how about looking at the issue and finding out exactly who it is that has embraced the doctrines of men?
Those who deny the Rapture, and the Pre-Trib Rapture, and the Millennial Kingdom are approaching Scripture exactly like first century Jews did.: they do not understand that Prophecy has partial fulfillment which have long periods between their fulfillment. I will give you an example of that:
Luke 4:17-21 King James Version
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Note in v.18, "to set at liberty them that are bruised," and that the Lord closes the book at this part of the Prophecy. Now let's look at the original prophecy:
Isaiah 61 King James Version
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Well, it seems there is a little more to the prophecy than where the Lord stopped. It seems that He is telling them that it was not time for the Day of Vengeance to be fulfilled at that time.
Has it been fulfilled? Not at all. And we know that as we continue on in the Prophecy:
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
Did (has) Israel "build the old wastes, raise up the former desolations, repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations?"
Not yet.
So I would caution those who are rejecting the Millennial Kingdom to consider the error of the first century Jew.
I would caution the Pre-Tribulation Rapture rejecters and Amil teachers that they are similar to Hymanaeus and Philetus:
2 Timothy 2:16-18 King James Version
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Now how exactly could someone teach that the resurrection had already passed? That is very simple: the resurrection in view is the resurrection of the Rapture. You couldn't possibly teach believers the General Resurrection of the Dead (which takes place at the Great White Throne) had already taken place, so we look at other resurrections that would have been known to those Paul wrote to.
I am looking forward to speaking to those who reject the Pre-Tribulation Rapture and the Millennial Kingdom. It's a great discussion.
Continued...