Bible Question:
Revelation 20:5 says those who had not taken the mark of the beast came to life and reigned with Christ for 1,000 years. Then verse 6 says, "The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. Who is this group of people who doesn't come to life until the 1,000 years are over? At first glance I assume those who are alive and will reign during the 1,0000 years are all Christians throughout the ages and so it must be non believers who are not alive during the 1,000 years but come to life at the end of the 1,000 years to face their judgment. Can anyone answer this question? Thanks, Chusarcik |
Bible Answer: It appears that God starts every period, of a new beginning, with believers only, Adam, Noah, and the 1000 years. But through the years, with new life being procreated, unbelievers emerge and clog up the mechanism. During the 1000 years reign of Christ there will be some with glorified bodies and those with earthly bodies, who have the ability to procreate. Unbelievers will emerge and during the final years these unbelievers will be rallied together by their leader, Satan, for his final revolt against perfect environment and perfect leadership. At the culmination of the 1000 years God will wipe out the whole mess of unbelievers by sending fire down from heaven. This is a good example of the fact that no matter how good man’s conditions are unless there is a change within man, i.e. the new nature. II Cor. 5:17, man is inherently evil, with his old nature, and will follow it dictates. Rev. 20:2-3 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, [3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. Rev. 20:7-10 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, [8] And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [9] And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. [10] And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. I hope this helps answer your question, CDBJ |