Thy Kingdom Come

* This page is related to the theological concepts of A-millennialism, Pre-millennialism, and Post-millennialism, but says nothing about any of them, and there is a reason why:

So that the reader's mind can be cleared of all theological ism-clutter, and just follow the scriptures:-

"I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, says the Lord,

who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

(Revelation 1:8)

THE BASIS FOR THE REST OF THE REVELATION:

REBUKES, EXHORTATIONS, COMMENDATIONS,

WARNINGS AND PROMISES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES

THE PROMISES TO THOSE WHO OVERCOME:

1. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give him to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.". (Rev.2:7)

2. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. (Rev.2:11)

3. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give to him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows except he who receives it. (Rev.2:17)

4. And he who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, to him I will give power over the nations. And he will rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter they will be broken to pieces, even as I received from My Father. And I will give him the Morning Star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Rev.2:26-29).

5. The one who overcomes, that one will be clothed in white clothing. And I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Rev.3:5-6).

6. "Him who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will go out no more. And I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev.3:12-13).

7. I counsel you to buy from Me gold tried in the fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be clothed, and so that the shame of your nakedness does not appear. And anoint your eyes with eye salve, so that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me.

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame and have sat down with My Father in His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Rev.3:18-22).

βασιλεύσει (He will reign) forever and ever: Revelation 11:15 (Christ).

βασιλεύσουσιν (they will reign) on the earth: Revelation 5:10 (those who overcome).

βασιλεύσουσιν (they will reign) with Christ a thousand years: Revelation 20:6 (those who overcame).

βασιλεύσουσιν (they will reign) forever and ever: Revelation 22:5:

“And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they will reign (βασιλεύσουσιν) for ever and ever.”

A series of visions seen by John follows Jesus' words in Promise #7 above ).

WHILE JOHN IS BEHOLDING THE VISIONS HE SEES, JESUS SAYS NOTHING -

- UNTIL THIS:

"Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.

--- And he gathered them into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air. ---

And a great voice came out of the temple of Heaven, from the throne, saying,

--- It is done! "---

(Rev.16:15-17)

THEN AGAIN:

"And He sitting on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said to me, Write, for these words are true and faithful.

And He said to me,

--- It is done ---.

I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.

To him who thirsts I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely. He who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

(Rev.21:5-8)

THEN AGAIN:

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

AND FINALLY:

And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.

Blessed are they who do His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and they may enter in by the gates into the city. But outside are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and makes a lie.

I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify these things to you over the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright and Morning Star.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let the one hearing say, Come! And let him who is thirsty come. And he willing, let him take of the water of life freely.

(Rev.22:7, 12-17).

THE KING IS COMING

The bride of Christ

are those who are "clothed in white clothing" (Revelation 3:5), whose names Jesus promised He "will not blot out of the Book of Life", are mentioned in Revelation 7:13-17 as those who had "come out from great tribulation and had washed their robes and whitened them in the blood of the Lamb. "

They are mentioned again in Revelation 19:7-9, 14 as "the armies in Heaven", who "followed Him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.", who were "permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints)", and have been "called to the marriage supper of the Lamb". (Revelation 19:9).

They:-

Came out from great tribulation (Revelation 7:9-13).

Are seen following Him on white horses when He comes in judgment of the beast (Revelation 19:7-9, 14).

Are seen by John as New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven (Revelation 21:2, 10).

Many Christians, because of the doctrine they have received and believe (or believe and teach), are not going to understand the reason why the phenomenon you are about to read about is the case, and are going see this as a coincidence, therefore they are going to disagree with what it implies, and it's going to go over their heads -

- but It is what it is.

This is what we find in :

THE FIRST THREE AND THE LAST THREE CHAPTERS OF THE BIBLE

God's creation (Genesis 1:1-31) ⇾ Christ makes all things new (Revelation 21:5).

Perfectly good (Genesis 1:31) ⇾ Only righteousness dwells in it (Revelation 21:27).

Tree of life (Genesis 2:9, 16-17) ⇾ Tree of life (Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:1-2, 14, 17).

Adam given dominion (Genesis 1:26-28) ⇾ Last Adam given dominion (Revelation 20:4).

Satan's deception (Genesis 3:1-7, 11-19) ⇾ Satan's deception (Revelation 20:7-10).

Adam's death. Expulsion from Eden (Genesis 3:22-24) ⇾ Second death. Lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8).

Revelation 20:4 identifies those who were beheaded, BY what they refused to do, NOT by their state of being. Yet John saw them as alive in their bodies (záō).

In the long list of verses where it's found, the word záō (alive | living) is always referring either to the living God, or to humans who are alive in the body. The word is never used in reference to anyone who has died | fallen asleep | is not alive and living in the body.

Revelation 20:4-6 states:

1. Why those whom John saw alive in their bodies (zao) in Rev.20:4 had been beheaded (they were beheaded for their refusal to worship the beast); and

2. the fact that John saw them alive in their bodies (zao); * and

3. uses the word anastasis in verses 5-6, which in the New Testament is always talking about the resurrection of the body.

* We can legitimately infer that they had been born of God.

Revelation 7

BRIDE OF CHRIST: THRONE OF GOD WILL BE AMONG THEM AND ALL TEARS WILL BE WIPED FROM THEIR EYES

13 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, Who are these who are arrayed in white robes, and from where do they come?

14 And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me,

These are the ones who came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes, and have whitened them in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in His temple.

And He sitting on the throne will dwell among them.

16 They will not hunger any more, nor thirst any more, nor will the sun light on them, nor any heat.

17 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.

Revelation 19 & 20

BRIDE OF CHRIST

6 And I heard as the sound of a great multitude, and as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of strong thunders, saying, Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns!

7 Let us be glad and rejoice and we will give glory to Him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.

9 And he said to me, Write, Blessed are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.

Revelation 21

BRIDE OF CHRIST: THRONE OF GOD WILL BE AMONG THEM AND ALL TEARS WILL BE WIPED FROM THEIR EYES

2 And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem,

coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband.

3 And 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 will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.

4 And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.

And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away.

THE COMING OF CHRIST:

Revelation 19

TRUTHFULNESS OF THE WORD

(Revelation 19:9) And he said to me,

These are the true sayings of God.

WORSHIPING THE MESSENGER

Revelation 19:10

-- And I fell at his feet to worship him.

And he said to me, Stop! I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. --

11 And I saw Heaven opened. And behold, a white horse! And He sitting on him was called Faithful and True. And in righteousness He judges and makes war.

12 And His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head many crowns. And He had a name written, one that no one knew except Himself.

13 And He had been clothed in a garment dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

14 And the armies in Heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, so that with it He should strike the nations. And He will shepherd them with a rod of iron. And He treads the winepress of the wine of the anger and of the wrath of Almighty God.

THE COMING OF CHRIST:

Revelation 21

TRUTHFULNESS OF THE WORD

(Revelation 22: 6) And he said to me,

These sayings are faithful and true.

WORSHIPING THE MESSENGER

Revelation 22:8-9

-- And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel showing me these things.

Then he said to me, Behold! Stop! For I am your fellow-servant, and of your brothers the prophets, and of those who keep the sayings of this Book. Do worship to God. --

Revelation 22

10 And he said to me, Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this Book; for the time is at hand.

11 He acting unjustly, let him still act unjustly. And the filthy, let him be filthy still. And the righteous, let him be righteous still. And the holy, let him be holy still.

12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is.

-----------------------------

Compare Revelation 16:15:

"Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.".

Among the promises to those who overcome that Christ makes to His churches, are the following:-

They will be clothed in white clothing.
It will be given them to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
They will not be hurt by the second death.

SAINTS SEATED ON THRONES

Matthew 19:28

"Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne,

you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matthew 19:28 NETfree).

The underlined words are translated slightly differently in other Bible versions, but mean one thing only:

"At the renewal of all things" (NIV)

"When the world is made new" (NLT)

"In the new world" (ESV)

"In the regeneration" (NKJV)

"Him who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will go out no more. And I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev.3:12-13).

"And he who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, to him I will give power over the nations. (Rev.2:26).

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame and have sat down with My Father in His throne. (Rev.3:21),

SAINTS ARE SEEN SEATED ON THRONES IN REVELATION 20:4

If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark in his forehead or in his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the anger of God, having been mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented by fire and brimstone before the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. And they have no rest day or night, those who worship the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name. – Revelation 14:9-11	And all dwelling on the earth will worship it, those whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain, from the foundation of the world. – Revelation 13:8 And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire. -- Revelation 20:15
Here is the endurance of the saints. Here are the ones who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. -- Revelation 14:9-12	But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. -- Revelation 21:8
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive [záō] into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. – Revelation 19:20 Záō always = “alive in the body” in the New Testament (without exception).	*And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they were* alive in their bodies [záō] and reigned with Christ a thousand years. – Revelation 20:4 *
And the rest [loipoí] were slain [apokteínō] with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. -- Revelation 19:21 apokteínō means to put to death, to kill, to slay, to destroy.	But the rest [loipoí] of the dead did not live again [anazáō] until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection of the body [anástasis]. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand years. – Revelation 20:5 Anazáō = “alive in the body again”. Anástasis = “the resurrection of the body” in the New Testament (without exception).

REVELATION CHAPTER 20

This is what it says in Revelation Chapter 20:-

1. Satan is bound and shut up in the abyss for a thousand years.

2. The saints who were resurrected when Christ returned, who had been beheaded for their refusal to worship the beast, will reign with Christ for a thousand years - but the rest of the dead will not live again until the thousand years are finished.

3. Satan is released again to deceive the nations at the close of the thousand years. He goes out and deceives the nations, gathering them to battle.

4. They surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours them.

5. After this Satan is destroyed in the lake of fire. Death and hades too are destroyed in the lake of fire, and "the sea" in which only the dead existed delivers up the dead in it to stand in judgement.

6. All whose names are not found written in the Lamb's book of life will be destroyed in the lake of fire, which is the second death.

These are the same themes that we find written about in the first three and in the last three chapters of the Bible:

God's creation (Genesis 1:1-31) ⇾ Christ makes all things new (Revelation 21:5).

Perfectly good (Genesis 1:31) ⇾ Only righteousness dwells in it (Revelation 21:27).

Tree of life (Genesis 2:9, 16-17) ⇾ Tree of life (Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:1-2, 14, 17).

Adam given dominion (Genesis 1:26-28) ⇾ Last Adam given dominion (Revelation 20:4).

Satan's deception (Genesis 3:1-7, 11-19) ⇾ Satan's deception (Revelation 20:7-10).

Adam's death. Expulsion from Eden (Genesis 3:22-24) ⇾ Second death. Lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8).

There will be no second sacrifice for sins and no second resurrection from the second death:

Revelation 20:14-15

And death and hades were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire.

Revelation 2:11

"He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death."

Revelation 21:8

"But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.."

Revelation 21:27

"And there shall in no way enter into it (New Jerusalem) anything that defiles, or any making an abomination or a lie; but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."

In Revelation 13:8 we read that only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of Life did not worship the beast.

In closing this message to His churches, Jesus repeats the above again, saying,

Blessed are they who do His commandments,

that their authority will be over the Tree of Life,

and they may enter in by the gates into the city.

But outside are the dogs, and the sorcerers,

and the fornicators, and the murderers,

and the idolaters,

and everyone who loves and makes a lie."

(Revelation 22:14-15)

"And behold, I am coming quickly,

and My reward is with Me,

to give to each according as his work is.

I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the Beginning and the End,

the First and the Last.

(Revelation 22:12-13)

PAUL ON THE RESURRECTION AND REGENERATION OF ALL THINGS

Paul wrote that

"just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.

(1 Corinthians 15:22-23).

Paul also wrote that

"the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility - not willingly but because of God who subjected it - in hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God's children."

"For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now. Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies."

(Romans 8:19-23).

Paul's words above link a new heavens and earth to the bodily resurrection of the sons of God, at which time it will be revealed who the sons of God are, because as Paul says,

"just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him." (1 Corinthians 15:22-23).

Whether it be in the current creation that is now still subject to the bondage of decay or a new heavens and earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13), the Kingdom of Christ exists in the creation. The destruction of the beast and false prophet mentioned in the above scriptures, is mentioned in Revelation 19:19-20, as well as in Revelation 16:12-21 and Revelation 17:12-14.

Revelation 16: It is done!

17 And the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a great voice came out of the temple of Heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done!

Revelation 21: It is done!

6 And He said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who thirsts I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Revelation 21:6-8

To him who thirsts I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely. He who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.

But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

Revelation 22:14-15

Blessed are they who do His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and they may enter in by the gates into the city.

But outside are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and makes a lie.

CHRIST MAKES ALL THINGS NEW

Isaiah 60
1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen on you.
5 Then you shall fear and become bright, and your heart shall throb and swell for joy; because the abundance of the sea shall turn to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you.

11 Therefore your gates will always be open; they will not be shut day nor night, to bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their kings may be led.

12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you will perish. Yes, those nations will be completely wasted.
20 Your sun will no more go down, nor your moon withdraw; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be ended.
21 Your people also will all be righteous; they will inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified.

Revelation 21
24 And the nations of those who are saved will walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

25 And its gates may not be shut at all by day, for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

27 And there shall in no way enter into it anything that defiles, or any making an abomination or a lie; but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Revelation 21
22 And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty is its temple, even the Lamb.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they might shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

THE TWELVE GATES,

THE CITY WALL,

AND THE WAY

Revelation 22:14-15

"Blessed are they who do His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and they may enter in by the gates into the city. But outside are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and makes a lie.

Revelation 21:7

"Nothing ritually unclean will ever enter into New Jerusalem, nor anyone who does what is detestable or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."

THE CITY WALL

The city has a high wall (Revelation 21:12), which implies a border to keep those mentioned in Revelation 21:27 and Revelation 22:15 outside, and there are 12 gates that have the names of the 12 sons of Israel inscribed on them, through which the nations of those who are saved (Revelation 21:24) may enter into the city, and the wall has 12 foundations, and in them the names of the 12 apostles:

"Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:20).

The Revelation uses a great deal of metaphor and symbolism. What's written in the Revelation about New Jerusalem and the new heavens and new earth are metaphorical descriptions of a reality that both has existed ever since the veil in the temple separating the holy of holies from the holy place was torn in two when Christ died and rose again from the dead, and will come into existence in its fullness after Christ has returned and made all things new.

Passing through the 12 gates of New Jerusalem = passing through the gates into the presence of God, where there is no need for the light of the sun, "for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.", and the gates both are, and will be open, and remain open for the saints, both now and in the new heavens and the new earth in which righteousness dwells. (Revelation 21:23).

THE GATES / THE WAY

The only way to God the Father is through Jesus Christ:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

The only way to come through Jesus Christ is through faith in Jesus Christ.

It's also the only way that anyone can enter through any of the twelve gates of New Jerusalem.

The saints in Christ are able to enter into New Jerusalem through 12 gates, but the unholy and unsaved cannot enter. They must remain outside the city.

Isaiah 65

16 He who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth. And he who swears in the earth will swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from My eyes.

17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. And the things before will not be remembered, nor come to mind.

18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and I will rejoice in My people; and the voice of weeping will no more be heard in her, nor the voice of crying be heard in her.

20 There will not be an infant, nor an old man that has not filled his days. For the child will die a hundred years old; but the sinner who is a hundred years old will be despised.

21 And they will build houses and live in them; and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

22 They will not build, and another live in them; they will not plant, and another eat. For like the days of a tree are the days of My people, and My elect will long enjoy the work of their hands.

23 They will not labor in vain, nor bring forth for terror. For they are the seed of the beloved of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

24 And it will be, before they call I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the food of the snake. They will not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, says the LORD.

Isaiah 65:20 (above) is difficult to understand the meaning of (it could be a Hebrew idiom), but the rest of the context agrees with Isaiah 60.

What is clear is that the New heavens and new earth, and new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven is about the eternal experience of the bride of Christ (those who had overcome).

So why do we find that the the themes found in the first three and the last three chapters of the Bible are the same?

"You will not surely die" is the first lie. For someone to possess immortality in himself, he must also possess eternal life in himself. The only man who possesses eternal life and immortality in Himself, is the Man, Jesus Christ.

Our eternal life | immortality is in Christ.

"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. And they gather and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." (John 15:6)

We now exist in a time suspended in-between the coming of God's Anointed One, and the coming of God's Anointed One;

in-between His Kingdom that has come, and His Kingdom that is coming;

in-between His Kingdom that exists in the world, and His Kingdom that will cover and rule the world;

in-between New Jerusalem that exists in the world, and New Jerusalem that will come down from God; in-between all things having become new in Christ and all things being made new by Christ when He has returned.

God's creation (Genesis 1:1-31) ⇾ Christ makes all things new (Revelation 21:5).

Perfectly good (Genesis 1:31) ⇾ Only righteousness dwells in it (Revelation 21:27).

Tree of life (Genesis 2:9, 16-17) ⇾ Tree of life (Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:1-2, 14, 17).

Adam given dominion (Genesis 1:26-28) ⇾ Last Adam given dominion (Revelation 20:4).

Satan's deception (Genesis 3:1-7, 11-19) ⇾ Satan's deception (Revelation 20:7-10).

Adam's death. Expulsion from Eden (Genesis 3:22-24) ⇾ Second death. Lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:8).

The thousand years of Revelation 20 is the first thousand years in the new heavens and new earth. Those who overcome will be granted to eat of the tree of life. There is no more sea, hades and death for the immortal,

but only Christ has life in Himself and only Christ is immortal in Himself - immortality | eternal life cannot remain the experience of those who do not abide in the Word of God (Christ, the Vine), who believe Satan's deception, like Adam did.

There will be no second sacrifice for sins and no second resurrection from the second death.

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