(October 14, 2013 at 10:06 am)Drich Wrote:Well Thinking the obvious thing that I could go back a few verses and see what you are talking about, I read the preceding chapter 20. OMG!(October 13, 2013 at 9:27 pm)Brakeman Wrote: Many things get overlooked when reading the bible. I thinkKeep in mind Heaven is not being described. New Jerusalem is being described. They are not the same place.
Revelation 21 10-27 is quite the gem. It raises so many questions that don't seem to follow modern xtian thought.
Revelation 20 King James Version (KJV)
20 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 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.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7 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.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
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.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Now The previous verse to the descriptions of "heaven" or as you say "the new Jerusalem" is a verse about mankind being judged and thrown into the lake of fire. By juxtaposition it would make more sense to deem it a description of an earthly addendum to heaven. By what verses do you see it talking about a new Jerusalem that is not heaven. Furthermore, if this "new Jerusalem" is not yet in existence, why would anyone build a wall around a city anymore. Why do you think we abandoned city wall building? Did the prophet not know about the coming evolution of cities? Of course god is probably the designer of this city that is supposed to "pop" out of heaven, and he is dreadfully unaware of the modern world.
What is the purpose of this new Jerusalem? Where is he going to put it? ion top of the old Jerusalem? Are the people living there going to get squished? The gates and walls must be very very important in the future. Mankind is sure to forget how to overcome a city's pre-medieval defense structures.
Find the cure for Fundementia!
