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Another OT question...
Of course, dear one (again, peace to you!)...
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which co-rule lasts merely "a thousand years," compared to Christ's rule which lasts forever
I've always understood the co-rule this way. However, regarding Christ's rule, what of 1 Cor 15:24-28?
24 Next, the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. 25 For he must rule as king until [God] has put all enemies under his feet. 26 As the last enemy, death is to be brought to nothing. 27 For [God] “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that it is with the exception of the one who subjected all things to him. 28 But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone. Quote:
I've always understood that once death is done away with, Christ will hand the rulership back to his Father. You'll probably direct me to Luke 1:32,33.
This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule as king over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom.”
Well, that, Daniel, and John's Revelation, yes...
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WT comments on this seeming contradiction and says that Christ will hand rulership over, but his kingdom itself, and its effects will last forever. This seems to be a reasonable explanation of the latter part of Luke 1:33, but not the former. Here's the WT comments in full:
w00 10/15 p. 20 par. 19:
When Christ hands over the Kingdom to God, how are the scriptures to be understood that speak of it as lasting forever? The Kingdom’s accomplishments will endure forever. Christ will be honored forever because of his role in working for the vindication of God’s sovereignty. But since sin and death are then completely removed, and mankind has been redeemed, this ends the need for him as a Redeemer. The Millennial Rule of the Kingdom will also have been fully accomplished; so there will no longer be a need for a subsidiary government to remain between Jehovah and obedient mankind. Thus, “God may be all things to everyone.”—1 Corinthians 15:28.This is UTTER melarkey, dear one. Here is the chronology, dear one:
1. Christ began his rule upon returning to the spirit realm in 30CE (NOT 33 CE!). He was installed as king at that point and HIS rulership began. At that time, Satan was cast out (
Ezekiel 28:8-17) and Christ began ruling "in the midst of his enemies" (along with others, Death, the last enemy, still existing). (Psalm 110:1, 2; 1 Corinthians 15:25[/b]) The rulership was him "subduing" those who belonged to him by teaching them PEACE. He teaches them... and they learn from him... by means of holy spirit (
John 14:16, 17; 1 John 2:26-28), which he first blew upon the Apostles (
John 20:22) then later poured out upon others, starting at Pentecost 30 CE (
Acts 2:1-4), including children (
Acts 2:39; Acts 10:24, 44; Joshua 2:13). By learning peace, these become "subdued" under and subject themselves TO him.
2. While teaching those who belong to him through holy spirit, he is away "preparing a place" for these (
John 14:2-4)... in the "temple" of JAH, which he is building (
Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 3:16. Thus, he said, "In (his) Father's 'house' there are MANY dwelling places." He meant, many places for the spirit of JAH to dwell/reside - in PEOPLE (
John 2:19]/b]). That "house"... is the PEOPLE of the Household of God... Israel... and those who go with... who are in union with Christ. ([b]John 14:23) It is the temple that is currently being BUILT by Christ,
for God to occupy. It is not complete, however, and so for the time being JAH resides in the spirit realm, with some of His spirit residing in such ones.
Romans 8:9, 10 3. Immediately after the "tribulation," my Lord will return to gather his chosen ones (those who will rule with him for "a thousand years"), both those who have died before and those still living at the time of his return. That gathering is twofold: those of the one group (those who were in union with Christ when they died) are resurrected to spirit bodies ("white robes" - CLEAN, incorruptible bodies). These are those who take part in
the "first" resurrection. At the same time, those who were are in union with Christ but have NOT died when he returns are CHANGED to such spirit bodies ("white robes"). This is in fulfillment of my Lord's words: "
I am the resurrection and the life. He who execises faith in me, although he has died will come to life and everyone that is living and exercised faith in me will not die at all." The first are those resurrected to life and the second are those who are changed and so never see death at all.
John 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:51-544. Once they are gathered, my Lord takes such ALL of such ones, AT THE SAME TIME... to his Father's dwelling place... the spirit realm... which he can NOW do because such ones are now spirit and CAN enter... where flesh and blood CANNOT - where they are "married" - joined so as to become "one SPIRIT," as a man and woman become "one flesh." As Eve with Adham, they become "bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh." Spirit beings and thus, "like the angels." THIS is when Satan is abyssed.
Revelation 20:1-4; John 14:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Luke 20:34-38 5. Once "married", these who, with Christ, constitute the NEW Jerusalem (the "city" and temple/dwelling place of God),
return to the physical realm (i.e., "come down out of heaven") where they begin THEIR part of the rulership WITH him. Their part of the reign has them taking part in "separating" the "sheep" from the "goats"... which separation takes "a thousand years" and is actually done by Christ. It is BASED on how such ones treated him... by how they treated his "brothers," those who do the will of his Father, and thus are chosen to co-rule with him. These co-rulers, although having authority as kings, do NOT judge; rather, LIKE Christ
who taught them, they act as PRIESTS and plead for mercy for those sheep AND goats. This part covers "a thousand years."
Matthew 24:31-466. Because "nothing is hidden,"
what those sheep/goats did or did not do as to Christ comes to light.
Those who did good... are given "white robes" (spirit bodies) and invited to the marriage FEAST (the reception, which occurs AFTER the marriage/wedding),
IN the "city". This is what is meant as to those who "stream into" her. They ALSO join as part of the "city," but the "camp" (those inside her walls but outside her "temple" - to help you understand this, picture a medieval feudal castle - while the lord lived in the house proper, those he protected would bring their tents and camps inside the gates in the event of an attack by enemies).
Those who did NOT do good are CUT OFF from entry into the "city." They are NOT destroyed at this time but later, when they are misled to come AGAINST that beloved "city" and those "camped" within her "walls." 7. At the end of the "thousand years" (and thus, at the end of the CO-rule!), Satan is loosed and goes out to mislead those who were cut off from entry, the "goats" ("Gog"), as well as those spirit beings who are in the vicinity but NOT confined in Tartarus ("Magog") to come against the "city" because they've been misled into believing they CAN get "in"... and "eat" from the "Tree of Life" (Christ) that is in the MIDST of the "city." Why do they want to do this? Because if they EAT... they will live FOREVER.
Revelation 21:2, 10; 20:4, 6, 9; John 15:1; 14:6; Genesis 3:228. JAH does not let these gain access, however. Rather, they are destroyed by fire directly from Him
Psalm 18:8-17) along with Satan who is hurled into the Lake of Fire (
Ezekiel 28:18; Revelation 20:10)
9. And THEN... the "END"... which is the Judgment. This is when my Lord hands the kingdom BACK to the Father... for that event. Because although he (Christ) has AUTHORITY to judge, he does NOT judge but hands that authority BACK to the Father (which is WHY is was worthy to receive the kingdom in the FIRST place - unlike others, he never undertook to TAKE "all authority" although, like Joseph with Pharaoh, it was GIVEN him!). It is the FATHER, then, JAH... who sits on HIS throne and judges... based on what is written in the two sets of scrolls given Him. One set is the Book of Remembrance, in which are written the deeds, good and bad, of all who will come before Him. The other is the Lamb's Book (of Life) in which are written the names of those whose sins are covered by the Lamb's blood.
Revelation 20:11, 12; Daniel 7:9, 1010. And so commences the SECOND resurrection, which occurs AFTER the "thousand years" (
Revelation 20:5). All of those who did not take part in the FIRST resurrection are brought forth and before the throne, to be judged. ALL have their deeds, good AND bad, written in the Book of Remembrance. And because the wage of sin is death, ALL stand to receive judgment, condemnation, and ultimately destruction (of the body AND the spirit!) in the Lake of Fire -
Matthew 10:28. HOWEVER, not all receive this fate: those whose names are written in the LAMB'S Book have their sins "covered". And so, they receive LIFE. Those who have NO covering, however, because their names are NOT written in the Lamb's Book... are resurrected to judgment, condemnation, and destruction... the "second" death. Hence, "The day will come when ALL those in the memorial tombs will come out! Those who did good deeds to life, those who did vile deeds to judgment." And "There will be a resurrection of the righteous AND the unrighteous - the righteous to LIFE and the unrighteous to judgment."
11. As the LAST enemy, Death is also hurled into the Lake of Fire.
12. And once Death is done away with and is no more... the MOST Holy One of Israel, JAH of Armies, will give the kingdom BACK to His Son, Christ... and that One, Christ... will rule FOREVER. HE will be "God", because JAH will now be all things to all. But this time he shares this indefinite rule with just the "holy ones" (those of Israel) versus Israel AND the nations (faithful ones in union with him).
Revelation 20:12-15; Daniel 7:13, 14[Note, I did not know this last issue fully. Until today, I understood that, while Christ's rule was forever, the co-rule was for only "a thousand" years. Today I learned that it is the part as to the Israel
and the nations that has a time limit. Apparently,
Israel's time is not set at "a thousand years" but extends with Christ's.
Revelation 22:1-5; 14:1; Daniel 7:18 When I asked why I was only given the previous understanding I was told that it was because "it is the nation's time" (
Romans 11:17-25) and the difference
could cause some to develop a sense of jealousy and rivalry that should
not exist within the Body, that some just needed to know they WOULD rule with him (as they had been asking), and that telling of the difference between Israel and the nations in this matter would "lend toward
more division at a time when union should be first," and so what I needed to share with those for whose "time" it was is what I was given. When I asked why it was okay "now," he said because those for whom it matters can now receive it, and it doesn't matter for those who can't.]
So, there you go!
I hope this helps and, again, peace to you!
YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,
Shellama (who was a bit distracted during this post, so please forgive any typos and let me know if something isn't clear...)