Posted by Bibleman [Bibleman] on October 30, 1999 at 10:15:55 {G0PnT/qYmkMRXA6xmpscslyACFuF8c}:
In Reply to: ****Jesus Rule In 1914??? posted by ros on October 29, 1999 at 14:11:04:
Hello ros,
You ask some very good questions. But to answer it, you have to chuck several false teachings by the WTS that don't work.
First of all, Jesus comes in the flesh and must rule ON THE EARTH in the flesh with the 144,000. So there is no problem with the "surviving" anointed ones versus those who have been resurrected.
Secondly, in case it wasn't clear, the resurrection has to be first back in the flesh in human form so that everybody is together to rule on the earth.
That's why everybody gets their reward at the same time. This is clear by Paul's words at 1 Thessalonians 4:15:
"For this is what we tell you by Jehovah's word, tha we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; 16 because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel's voice and with God's trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first."
Okay, quickly, there is a first and second resurrection. The first is of the 144,000 which is pre-millennium. The second is post-millennium.
No one is resurrected during the millennium.
But this first resurrection is back into the flesh since Jesus and the "144,000" must rule on the earth during the millennium. Then, after the millenniuim and after the second resurrection during a period called "Judgment Day" in the Bible, when all will come back to be judged. Then is when everybody will then be changed together in the twinkling of an eye and go to heaven.
So the so-called "rapture" doesn't happen until after they have dispensed their duties as king-priests on the earth. And doesn't that make sense that they would have hands-on interaction during the millennium? How effective could they be manipulating things from Heaven?
So that answers the logistics of those who survive Armageddon and establishes that the rule for 1000 years with the 144,000 is the same for all of them, only those who survive will be joined in the flesh by those who are resurrected.
Now, just as an advanced point, the first resurrection is into the bodies of other anointed ones! So that alone tells you that the "144,000" is a representative number, a figurative number applying to the Bride and not a literal number.
Everything else about the 144,000 is figurative as well. For instance, they all are supposed to be "virgins" (figurative), there is supposed to be 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel, all nice and neat (figurative), they all are supposed to be Jews (figurative), etc. So the number is symbolic, especially if those resurrected must share the bodies of those anointed ones already alive.
So we know it is a LIMITED number, it might not be a specific number, but more than an actual 144,000 individual lives. So my impression is that the actual number as well is figurative.
So, again, the WTS is in darkness and when you have the correct understanding, the Bible makes perfect sense.
Just a side note. It would seem, based upon the schedule of things, that everybody would pretty much be resurrected by now. Please note, however, how ingenius this type of resurrection is! That is, instead of having thousands come back from the grave, speaking extinct languages and needing to be educated to everything that happened since their death, requiring years of education including learning a new language, etc. and involving the time of many others to accomplish this before they could really be qualified as kings and priests to administer a modern world, by being resurrected within a person already alive today, all that process is skipped! What they bring with them is the memory and experiences they had during their lives, their devotion to Jehovah and their awe of his works in their lives, and thus that is added to an individual who already has all the knowledge and experience of the modern world. So it's like instant education!
Also, Paul's words about "those of us surviving until the presence of the Lord" proves that Paul along with a few others, would actually be among those who literally live through the ages from the time of Christ until our day. The apostle John also was chosen to be one of these survivors.
So you have two groups of "survivors" at the time of the millennium. Those from the first-century and many more during the 20th century. Then you have all those "anointed ones" who are worthy of the resurrection and get resurrected into the available bodies of however many anointed ones make up the Bride Class, 144,000+
And some of these resurrected ones include the faithful men of old such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Daniel. So these people are already resurrected and walking around as modern people. On the other hand, I had the chance to actually see the Apostle Paul (of course, you can't take my word for that and I know that. But I just wanted to emphasize the Bible is true when it said that some who were with Jesus would not die until he returned. So it's reality for the JIOR who are seeing these things.). So everything is amazing and totally logical when you get past the darkness of the false teachings of the WTS.
And I wish I could tell you more, but it's not time yet. A lot is going on. But so much you wouldn't believe any way, so.... just as well.
I hope that answered your questions. That is, I hope you look at the scriptures to see how they work out much better when the rule by Christ and the 144,000 is an earthly one. The scriptures are there. You make up your own mind.
Cheers,
Bibleman