Fascination
“Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’” (Revelation 19:10)
Our topic truly is fascinating, it’s about future things that have already been determined by God. The testimony of Jesus, the message of His Father, is the Spirit of prophecy, the revelation of God’s will. Some day, when we are not clothed in corruption, our fascination will become pure worship. In the mean time if we are attentive we get to hear God’s will.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new …..'” (Revelation 21:2-5 NASB)
Notice? “There will no longer be any death.” Now if there are verses describing death during the millennial reign of Christ on this earth, there will be evidence in favor of two separate events.
Isaiah
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing
And her people for gladness.
I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people;
And there will no longer be heard in her
The voice of weeping and the sound of crying.
No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days,
Or an old man who does not live out his days;
For the youth will die at the age of one hundred
And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred
Will be thought accursed.” (Isaiah 65:17-20 NASB)
Isaiah’s “new heavens and new earth” will have mortals with life spans of “one hundred” years. John’s revelation declares, “There will be no longer be any death.”? Is it possible that Isaiah was confused? No! Like the rest of us, he only saw in part. And his sight of the future (prophecy) primarily concerned Israel.
There is more to discover as we wait eagerly for our adoption and redemption. I hope this series on the “Millennial Kingdom” / “New Heavens and New Earth” improves our vision of Jesus, our Savior and soon coming King.
“And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (Romans 8:23-25 NASB)
to be continued
His Family Table 