Revelation 20 is best understood in what way?

[Checkpoint]

Many questions are asked about this chapter of Revelation, and answers given can differ widely.

Here are just a few questions, for example.

1. How does the chapter fit in with the theme of the whole book?

2. The "thousand years", if literal, are for what purpose? If metaphorical or symbolic, this conveys what?

3. "the first resurrection" describes what, and takes place when?

4. "the lake of fire" is what, and how is it related to "the second death"?

5. What is the nature of the reign "with Christ" that is mentioned?

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 1 by Checkpoint]

Many questions are asked about this chapter of Revelation, and answers given can differ widely.

As clearly illustrated by the posts of peacedove and J.W.ORG.

To one, almost all is about the past, to the other almost all is future.

I suggest most refers to the present.

[Monta]

[Replying to post 1 by Checkpoint]

Many questions are asked about this chapter of Revelation, and answers given can differ widely.

As clearly illustrated by the posts of peacedove and J.W.ORG.

To one, almost all is about the past, to the other almost all is future.

I suggest most refers to the present.

After the Lord's Ascension, a new ear started.
I believe the book of Revelation opens up this process.

It is written by correspondences and representations so that
it can be understood at any age.
It opens itself to genuine seekers and protects itself from those
who would blaspheme it and by that harm their soul.

[Monta]

[Replying to post 61 by Monta]


"After the Lord's Ascension, a new ear started.
I believe the book of Revelation opens up this process. "


Correction, don't know how I missed it....
not 'ear' of course it is 'era' which all of you smart people
would have worked out anyway

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 1 by Checkpoint]

Many questions are asked about this chapter of Revelation, and answers given can differ widely.

As clearly illustrated by the posts of peacedove and J.W.ORG.

To one, almost all is about the past, to the other almost all is future.

I suggest most refers to the present.

After the Lord's Ascension, a new ear started.
I believe the book of Revelation opens up this process.

It is written by correspondences and representations so that
it can be understood at any age.
It opens itself to genuine seekers and protects itself from

those
who would blaspheme it and by that harm their soul.

The letter kills, takes away life, but the Spirit gives life.

1 Corinthians 2:

10 The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except by their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except by the Spirit of God.

12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 61 by Monta]


"After the Lord's Ascension, a new ear started.
I believe the book of Revelation opens up this process. "


Correction, don't know how I missed it....
not 'ear' of course it is 'era' which all of you smart people
would have worked out anyway

The way of all flesh. We all make silly mistakes from time to time.

I did with my post starting this thread.

Revelation 20 begins with a whole paragraph on the devil, and I failed to include a question on it.

Better late than never; here it is now:

1a. What is the binding of Satan; in what sense is he bound?

[Monta]

[Replying to post 64 by Checkpoint]


"1a. What is the binding of Satan; in what sense is he bound?"

Made incapable to function, to pervert truth and convince others.
We are not told how is God going to do it.

[tam]

[Replying to post 65 by Monta]

Yes, the Adversary is rendered incapable of deceiving others and causing harm for a thousand years. But we are also told how this occurs:

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.



He is bound, thrown into the Abyss (the world of the dead) and locked inside that place for a thousand years. He cannot leave (not until he is released).




Peace to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

[Checkpoint]

[Replying to post 64 by Checkpoint]

1a. What is the binding of Satan; in what sense is he bound?

The binding of Satan is the taking away of his hitherto success in deceiving the world.

It is already a spiritual reality, having been brought about by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The devil is now on a chain, and Jesus holds the keys, and the authority to open and to shut, to bind and to loose.

[Pipiripi]

Many questions are asked about this chapter of Revelation, and answers given can differ widely.

The two verses in Revelation 20 that have always struck me as being in contradiction with the main theme of Christianity, and that is being "Saved by Grace" through Jesus.

The verses are:

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.
[13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Why are these people being judged based on their own works?

It's my understanding that in Christianity no man can obtain salvation through his own works. Only through grace offered by Jesus can a man obtain salvation.

So why are these people being judged according to their own works?

If they had previously believed in Jesus and accepted him as their Lord and Savior, then it's my understanding that they are supposed to be forgiven their sins and given the "Free Gift" of eternal life. There would be no need to judge people who have already been forgiven.

But in here Revelation we have men being judged based on their own works.

So then we have questions:

1. Will everyone be judged whether they had accepted Jesus as their savior or not?

2. Or will these only be people who have not believed in Jesus or accepted him as their savior? Although, according to John 3:18 those people are condemned already, remember?

3. Even if it's only the people who didn't believe in Jesus, then the question becomes: Will any of these people be exonerated based on their own works? If so, then Jesus is not the only way to the Father and John 3:18 was wrong as well.

4. If not, then why bother "judging" them at all if they are all going to be condemned anyway? Why not just toss them straight in the hell hole?

I can't say that these kinds of inconsistencies with the main theme of Christianity surprise me, but I thought I'd mention them since this topic came up.

Thanks you get the question of work. The answered is so. FAITH without work is dead Faith. Show me your faith without work, and I will show you my faith through my work. Jesus said in revelations that I will come with the recompense for all, who has done good or evil. Even what you have done in secret. Do you see that salvation goes with work and faith? That's why they cannot preached the Three Angels Message, because they have only
But faith with work is so. Rev. 14:12. Keep GOD commandments (work) and have the FAITH (faith) of Jesus. Those people you see there, they are the thru Christians. They obey God.

[TripleZ]

1. I think it fits with the theme of the book of end time prophecy.

2. I believe literal, relating the thought of a thousand years is like a day to the Lord...

3. It seems to me it describes the 144000 Elect of the tribes of Isreal. At the time of Christ's return.

4. We have a earthly death and secondly a spirit one. Fire purifies and refines and if too hot or long, consumes. IE, impurities removed.

5. Sounds like a pretty good period of time here on Earth. Maybe to sort out the fate of those here before the Second death.

it is always better understood with Gods Help and as per the exact way it is given to us.