Retrobyter

Shalom, @Diaste. Actually, this is NOT an isolated incident. Psalm 2:1-12 is about dealing with the kings and leaders of nations who are in control of the individuals within their nations. Psalm 2:1-12 (KJV) 1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying], 3 "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us!" 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall LAUGH: the Lord shall have them IN DERISION. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion! 7 I will declare the decree: "'the LORD hath said unto me, "'"Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." ' 10 "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth! 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little! Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him!" So, there is a precedent for this interpretation. Also, the word chosen is not a "people (laos)," - a group of individuals -but an "ethnicity (ethnos)!" It's not about how INDIVIDUALS treated God's people, but how the NATION as a whole treated the Jews! And, it is the NATIONS who are divided as sheep and goats, not individuals! Let's look at just the first two verses: Matthew 25:31-32 (KJV) 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats: In the Greek, we find ... ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 25:31-32 (Scrivener's TR) 31 Ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι μετ’ αὐτοῦ, τότε καθίσει ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ, 32 καὶ συναχθήσεται ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ ἀφοριεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων, ὥσπερ ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐρίφων BlueLetterBible breaks it down for us: TEXTUS RECEPTUS 25:31 Ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι μετ᾽αὐτοῦ τότε καθίσει ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ· When g3752 Ὅταν ὅταν hotan CONJ (conjunction) the g3588 ὁ ὁ ho T-NSM (Definite article - nominative, singular, masculine) Son g5207 υἱὸς υἱός huios N-NSM (Noun - nominative, singular, masculine) of man PHRASE g444 ἀνθρώπου ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos N-GSM (Noun - genitive, singular, masculine) shall come PHRASE g2064 ἔλθῃ ἔρχομαι erchomai V-2AAS-3S (Verb - 2nd aorist, active, subjunctive - 3rd person, singular) in g1722 ἐν ἐν en PREP (Preposition) his g846 αὐτοῦ αὐτός autos P-GSM (Personal pronoun - genitive, singular, masculine) glory, g1391 δόξῃ δόξα doxa N-DSF (Noun - dative, singular, feminine) and g2532 καὶ καί kai CONJ (Conjunction) all g3956 πάντες πᾶς pas A-NPM (Adjective - nominative, plural, masculine) the g3588 οἱ ὁ ho T-NPM (Definite article - nominative, plural, masculine) holy g40 ἅγιοι ἅγιος hagios A-NPM (Adjective - nominative, plural, masculine) angels g32 ἄγγελοι ἄγγελος angelos N-NPM (Noun - nominative, plural, masculine) with g3326 μετ μετά meta PREP (Preposition) him, g846 αὐτοῦ αὐτός autos P-GSM (Personal pronoun - genitive, singular, masculine) then g5119 τότε τότε tote ADV (adverb) shall he sit PHRASE g2523 καθίσει καθίζω kathizō V-FAI-3S (Verb - future, active, indicative - 3rd person, singular) upon g1909 ἐπὶ ἐπί epi PREP (Preposition) the throne PHRASE g2362 θρόνου θρόνος thronos N-GSM (Noun - genitive, singular, masculine) of his PHRASE g846 αὐτοῦ αὐτός autos P-GSM (Personal pronoun - genitive, singular, masculine) glory: g1391 δόξης δόξα doxa N-GSF (Noun - genitive, singular, feminine) MORPHOLOGICAL GNT 25:31 ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἄγγελοι μετ᾽ αὐτοῦτότε καθίσει ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ TEXTUS RECEPTUS 25:32 καὶ συναχθήσεται ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη καὶ ἀφοριεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾽ ἀλλήλωνὥσπερ ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐρίφων And g2532 καὶ καί kai CONJ (Conjunction) before g1715 ἔμπροσθεν ἔμπροσθεν emprosthen PREP (Preposition) him g846 αὐτοῦ αὐτός autos P-GSM (Personal pronoun - genitive, singular, masculine) shall be gathered PHRASE g4863 συναχθήσεται συνάγω synagō V-FPI-3S (Verb - future, passive, indicative - 3rd person, singular) all g3956 πάντα πᾶς pas A-NPN (Adjective - nominative, plural, neuter) nations: g1484 ἔθνη ἔθνος ethnos N-NPN (Noun - nominative, plural, neuter) and g2532 καὶ καί kai CONJ (Conjunction) he shall separate PHRASE g873 ἀφοριεῖ ἀφορίζω aphorizō V-FAI-3S (Verb - future, active, indicative - 3rd person, singular) them g846 αὐτοὺς αὐτός autos P-APM (Personal/possessive pronoun - accusative, plural, masculine) one g240 ↓ ἀλλήλων ἀλλήλων allēlōn C-GPN (Reciprocal pronoun - genitive plural neuter) from g575 ἀπ ἀπό apo PREP (Preposition) another, g240 ↑ ἀλλήλων ἀλλήλων allēlōn C-GPN (Reciprocal pronoun - genitive, plural, neuter) as g5618 ὥσπερ ὥσπερ hōsper ADV (adverb) a g3588 ὁ ὁ ho T-NSM (Definite article - nominative, singular, masculine) shepherd g4166 ποιμὴν ποιμήν poimēn N-NSM (Noun - nominative, singular, masculine) divideth g873 ἀφορίζει ἀφορίζω aphorizō V-PAI-3S (Verb - present, active, indicative - 3rd person, singular) [his] sheep g4263 πρόβατα πρόβατον probaton N-APN (Noun - accusative, plural, neuter) from g575 ἀπὸ ἀπό apo PREP (Preposition) the g3588 τῶν ὁ ho T-GPM (Definite article - genitive, plural, masculine) goats: g2056 ἐρίφων ἔριφος eriphos N-GPM (Noun - genitive, plural, masculine) MORPHOLOGICAL GNT 25:32 καὶ συναχθήσονται ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη καὶ ἀφορίσει αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾽ ἀλλήλωνὥσπερ ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐρίφων In Greek, nouns must agree in number and gender with its pronouns. Here, we have "nations" as a plural, neuter noun, and the "one from another" uses plural, neuter reciprocal pronouns. Therefore, He's not separating individuals; He is separating ETHNICITIES - "NATIONS!"

Shalom, @In the Clouds. Good! That's encouraging to hear, but be careful how you treat "prophetic scripture." After all, over 400 prophecies about the Messiah were LITERALLY FULFILLED in His First Advent - His First Coming. One shouldn't be surprised to find that the rest of the Messianic prophecies will also be fulfilled quite literally when He returns or when He comes in His Second Advent - His Second Coming.

Shalom, @Diaste. No, I do NOT accept that it is a "metaphor for ruling!" He will INDEED receive His father David's throne! How do I know this? Because DAVID will be RESURRECTED when the Messiah returns, and He will KNOW how His own throne looked, even if He has to have one rebuilt! Furthermore, He MAY even know where the original throne was put before Jerusalem was destroyed! Yeeshuwa` is NOT going to rule from anywhere else other than from His throne in Jerusalem! The sooner you realize this, the easier the Scriptures will become to understand.

Shalom, @In the Clouds. That's fine if one doesn't relegate everything one reads in the Bible as an allegory. Not much in the Bible is supposed to be allegorically interpreted. Most of the Bible IS supposed to be interpreted literally, or at least with a grammatical/historical interpretation. These were two very literal trees in Gan-`Eden. They were told about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but they were NOT told about the Tree of Life.It's in the account, but we never read that they knew there where the Tree of Life or even wt they knew there WAS a "Tree of Life!" The "contest" was simply this: Could they eat of every tree without eating from the forbidden tree? I also believe that there was nothing magical about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. I think it was named that way ironically! The irony was this: before they ate from the Tree, they were good and God was good. AFTER they ate from it they KNEW that "God was Good," and that "they were Evil!" How's that for a Tree that gives "the Knowledge of Good and Evil?"

Not so, brother! Read it again: 2 Corinthians 5:1=11 (KJV) 1 For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is FROM heaven (Greek: ἐξ οὐρανοῦ = ex ouraniou = "out of-[the]-sky"): 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in [this] tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing [is] God, who also hath given unto us the earnest (down payment) of the Spirit. 6 Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (the Messiah); that every one may RECEIVE the things [done] IN [HIS] BODY, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. Don't make the mistake (as many have) of thinking that the "judgment seat of the Messiah" is in Heaven! It will be UPON THIS EARTH when He returns! The prophecy about Him AT HIS CONCEPTION was ... Luke 1:30-33 (KJV) 30 And the angel said unto her, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." And, this is a restatement of the Davidic Covenant found in 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17. This is what it means for Him to be the MESSIAH (OR CHRIST) OF GOD! And, the job of a king in Israel was to be the "SUPREME COURT JUDGE!" This can be seen in both the lives of David and Shlomoh ("Solomon"). He will be judging THROUGHOUT the Millennium!

Shalom, @WilliamL. I'm not adding anything that's not within the context; it's found within the words! The Greek word translated as "shall come" means "to come from one place to another, and used both of persons arriving and of those returning." They had just experienced Yeeshuwa` leaving the earth and rising into the sky until He was lost to them in the clouds! So, these two men in white clothing were saying He would return "IN LIKE MANNER AS THEY SAW HIM GO INTO THE SKY!" That IMPLIES that HE SHALL BE BACK, LANDING upon the ground He left! Yes, Kefa ("Cephas" or Peter) was about to die. Verse 15 should not be excluded: 2 Peter 1:15 (KJV) 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. Now, I think you're making up "the soul is the tabernacle of man's spirit." This is the same deceit that was used when early Christians added Greek philosophy and theology in the late 200s and early 300s A.D! You're not getting this from the Bible! This is coming DIRECTLY from some philosophical position you've added to your position. What's ironic is that, with the correct definitions of these words, what you said is not wrong! "The soul (the air-breathing creature) IS the tabernacle (tent) of man's spirit (breath)!" But, this is only true while the person is alive. When a person gives up his breath, that is, he "expires," then he is no longer an "air-breathing creature." He is no longer a "soul!" He's just a dead body that begins to decay. THIS IS WHY THE RESURRECTION IS SO IMPORTANT! And, it is the RESURRECTION that is our "BLESSED HOPE!" NOT "going to Heaven!" 1 Peter 1:3-9 (KJV) 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto A LIVELY HOPE (Greek: ἐλπίδα ζῶσαν = elpida zoosan = "an-expectation of-being alive") by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (rescue) ready to be revealed IN THE LAST TIME. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory AT THE APPEARING OF JESUS CHRIST: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 RECEIVING THE END OF YOUR FAITH, [EVEN] THE SALVATION (RESCUE) OF [YOUR] SOULS (AIR-BREATHING CREATURES).

Shabbat shalom, @Diaste. Why do you resist the simplicity of the sentence? Do you have "skin in the game?" I mean, do you have a book or movie or something that has income riding upon your interpretation of both Revelation 20:4-6 and Matthew 25:31-46? It's quite simple in both English and Greek. Matthew 25:31-34 (KJV) 31 WHEN THE SON OF MAN SHALL COME IN HIS GLORY, and all the holy angels with him, THEN SHALL HE SIT UPON THE THRONE OF HIS GLORY: 32 AND BEFORE HIM SHALL BE GATHERED ALL NATIONS: AND HE SHALL SEPARATE THEM ONE FROM ANOTHER, AS A SHEPHERD DIVIDETH [HIS] SHEEP FROM THE GOATS: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, "'Come, ye blessed of my Father, INHERIT THE KINGDOM prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ....' " Not 1,000 years later, not even a couple of years later! They were to INHERIT the Kingdom! What good would it do for them to WAIT A THOUSAND YEARS?!!! For them to have to wait that long would make a JOKE out of calling them "ye blessed of my Father!" The Greek is no different: ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 25:31-34 (Scrivener's TR) 31 Ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι μετ’ αὐτοῦ, τότε καθίσει ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ, 32 καὶ συναχθήσεται ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ ἀφοριεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων, ὥσπερ ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐρίφων· 33 καὶ στήσει τὰ μὲν πρόβατα ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ, τὰ δὲ ἐρίφια ἐξ εὐωνύμων. 34 τότε ἐρεῖ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ, Δεῦτε, οἱ εὐλογημένοι τοῦ πατρός μου, κληρονομήσατε τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν βασιλείαν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου. 31 Hotan de elthee ho huios tou anthroopou en tee doxee autou, kai pantes hoi hagioi aggeloi met' autou, tote kathisei epi thronou doxees autou, 32 kai sunachtheesetai emprosthen autou panta ta ethnee, kai aforiei autous ap' alleeloon, hoosper ho poimeen aforizei ta probata apo toon epifoon; 33 kai steesei ta men probata ek dexioon autou, ta de epifia ex euoonumoon. 34 tote erei ho Basileus tois ek dexioon autou, "Deute, hoi eulogeemenoi tou Patros mou, kleeronomeesate teen heetoimasmeneen humin basileian apo katabolees kosmou." 31 When but comes the Son of-the man in the fame/brightness of-Him, and all the holy messengers with Him, then He-shall-sit upon a-throne bright/famous of-Him, 32 and [they]-shall-be-gathered in-front of-Him all the ethnicities, and He-shall-separate them from each-other, like the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He-shall-set the indeed sheep out-from right-hand of-Him, the but goats out-from left-hand. 34 Then shall-say the King to-those out-from right-hand of-Him, "Come-now, the ones-well-spoken of-the Father of-me, obtain-by-lot-of-inheritance the-one prepared for-you of-[the]-Kingdom before establishing [the]-world-system."T Rearranged in English word-order, 31 But when the Son of-the man comes in the fame/brightness of-Him, and all the holy messengers with Him, then He-shall-sit upon a bright/famous throne, 32 and in-front of-Him shall-be-gathered all the ethnicities, and He-shall-separate them from each-other, like the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He-shall-set the sheep indeed out-from right-hand of-Him, but the goats out-from left-hand. 34 Then the King shall-say to-those out-from right-hand of-Him, "Come-now, the ones-well-spoken of-the Father of-me, obtain-by-lot-of-inheritance the Kingdom prepared for-you before establishing [the]-world-system." The verbs in red are both in the imperative! The first verb, "Come now!" is an adverbial imperative - an ORDER! The second verb, "obtain by lot of inheritance," is in the aorist active tense, meaning "CLAIM IT!" I don't understand how one could think this would be a THOUSAND YEARS LATER!

Shalom, @WilliamL. Continuing on, as promised.... 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 (KJV) 35 But some [man] will say, "How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?" 36 [Thou] fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened (made alive), except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other [grain]: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh [is] not the same flesh: but [there is] one [kind of] flesh of men (Greek: σὰρξ ἀνθρώπων = sarx anthroopoon = "flesh of humans"), another flesh of beasts (Greek: σὰρξ κτηνῶν = sarx kteenoon = "flesh of-[land]-animals"), another of fishes (Greek: ἰχθύων = ichthuoon = "of-fishes"), [and] another of birds (Greek: πτηνῶν = pteenoon = "of-birds"). 40 [There are] also celestial bodies (Greek: σώματα ἐπουράνια = soomata epourania = "bodies above-the-sky"), and bodies terrestrial (Greek: σώματα ἐπίγεια = soomata epigeia = "bodies above-the-earth"): but the glory of the celestial (Greek: ἡ τῶν ἐπουρανίων δόξα = hee toon epouranioon doxa = "the of-the above-skies brightness") [is] one (in the visible light range), and the [glory] of the terrestrial (Greek: ἡ τῶν ἐπιγείων [δόξα] = hee toon epigeioon [doxa] = "the of-the above-ground [brightness]") [is] another (in the infrared range). 41 [There is] one glory (brightness) of the sun, (-26.74 in magnitude) and another glory (brightness) of the moon, (-12.7 in magnitude) and another glory (brightness) of the stars: (Sirius is -1.46 in magnitude) for [one] star differeth from [another] star in glory (brightness). (others have an even higher [dimmer] magnitude) 42 So also [is] the resurrection of the dead: It is sown in corruption (fthora = decay); it is raised in incorruption (aftharsia = incapable of decay): 43 It is sown in dishonour (atimia = indignity); it is raised in glory (doxee = fame; apparentness; brightness): it is sown in weakness (astheneia = frailty); it is raised in power (dunamei = power; strength): 44 It is sown a natural body (Greek: sooma psuchikon = air-breathing body); it is raised a spiritual body (Greek: sooma pneumatikon = air-blasting body). There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, "The [first] man [Adam] was made a living soul" (Greek: Ἐγένετο ὁ [πρῶτος] ἄνθρωπος [Ἀδὰμ] εἰς ψυχὴν ζῶσαν = Egeneto ho [prootos] anthroopos [Adam] eis psucheen zoosan = Hebrew: וַיְהִי הָאָדָם לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה = Vayhiy haa'Aadaam l-nefesh hayyaah = English: And-became the-Red-[man] into-an-air-breathing-creature living") (Genesis 2:7); the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit (a life-giving air-blasting-creature)! 46 Howbeit that [was] not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man [is] of the earth, earthy (Greek: ἐκ γῆς χοϊκός = ek gees choikos = "from ground soil-like"): the second man [is] the Lord from heaven (Greek: ὁ Κύριος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ = ho Kurios ex ouranou = "the Master from [the]-sky"). 48 As [is] the earthy (Greek: οἷος ὁ χοϊκός = hoios ho choikos = like the soil-like-[one]), such [are] they also that are earthy (Greek: τοιοῦτοι καὶ οἱ χοϊκοί = toioutoi kai hoi choikoi = "such also the soil-like-[ones]"): and as [is] the heavenly (Greek: οἷος ὁ ἐπουράνιος = hoios ho epouranios = "like the [one]-of-above-the-sky"), such [are] they also that are heavenly (Greek: τοιοῦτοι καὶ οἱ ἐπουράνιοι = toioutoi kai hoi epouranioi = "such-[are]-they also the [ones]-of-above-the-sky"). 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy (Greek: καὶ καθὼς ἐφορέσαμεν τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ χοϊκοῦ = kai kathoos eforesamen teen eikona tou choixou = "and like we-have-carried the image of-the soil-like-[one]"), we shall also bear the of the heavenly (Greek: φορέσομεν καὶ τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ ἐπουρανίου = foresomen kai teen eikona tou epouraniou = "we-shall-carry also the image of-the [one]-of-above-the-sky"). 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we (the living, now including those who had been dead) shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory." (Isaiah 25:8) 55 "O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?" (Hosea 13:14) 56 The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law. 57 But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. So, the SAME MAN (Paul) who spoke through the SAME SPIRIT OF GOD in the writing of 2 Corinthians, also said in 1 Corinthians that our NEW "SPIRITUAL" BODIES - that is, our NEW AIR-BLASTING BODIES - are built out of our old bodies in the RESURRECTION! And, according to the SAME CHAPTER, this happens when "in Christ shall all be made alive," and for us, this happens "afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." So, please understand this: Paul was NOT talking about us "being in Heaven immediately." He was talking about us "being with the Lord AT HIS COMING!" So, look at 2 Corinthians 5. 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 (KJV) 1 For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle (our body) were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. {Here's the Greek of this verse: 1 Οἴδαμεν γὰρ ὅτι ἐὰν ἡ ἐπίγειος ἡμῶν οἰκία τοῦ σκήνους καταλυθῇ οἰκοδομὴν ἐκ θεοῦ ἔχομεν οἰκίαν ἀχειροποίητον αἰώνιον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. Transliterated, 1 Oidamen gar hoti ean hee epigeios heemoon oikia tou skeenous kataluthee oikodomeen ek Theou echomen oikian acheiropoieeton aioonion en tois ouranois. Translated word-for-word, we get, 1 We-see for that if the upon-[the]-earth of-us a-house of-the tent were-dissolved/decayed a-habitation from God we-hold, a-residence not-hand-made into-the-age in the skies.} Now, WHO is "in the skies?" Not us, it's the Lord Yeeshuwa` (Jesus) who went into the sky, and who shall return from the sky! And, "eternal" (αἰώνιον) doesn't truly means "forever." It means "disappearing to the vanishing point." Think of standing on flat ground on the rails of a very straight train track, looking off to the horizon. Can we see "forever?" No, we only can see to the point where the rails seem to intersect at the horizon - the vanishing point. For a six-foot man, that's only about 3 miles. It's a singular, feminine word (in the accusative case) that means "an age!" Sometimes, the word is used in the plural and should be translated "into the ages." THEN it is talking about "forever." 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven (not "IN heaven"): 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in [this] tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed (decay away to nothing), but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. This goes back to 1 Corinthians 15:54! And, there, it's talking about the RESURRECTION! 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing [is] God, who also hath given unto us the earnest (down payment) of the Spirit. 6 Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord (i.e., in the FUTURE at His coming). I hope this helps.

I agree, and you're welcome. Actually, when one remembers the words of the two men in white found in Acts 1, "in the clouds" is a precursor to His landing. Acts 1:9-11 (KJV) 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven (into the sky) as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven (into the sky)? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven (into the sky), shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (into the sky)." They were saying, "Just as you saw Him going up and disappearing in the cloud, so He shall come back in the clouds, and descend to the earth!" Same details - "IN LIKE MANNER" - only in the reverse. Haven't you read the Resurrection Chapter of 1 Corinthians 15? First, the "tabernacle" is NOT the "soul." A "tabernacle" is a TENT! Just as it is used in Hebrews 11: Hebrews 11:8-9 (KJV) 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: The Greek word is "σκηνή" transliterated as "skeenee" and pronounced "skay-nay'." Abraham, Yitschaq ("Isaac") and Ya`aqoV ("Jacob") were Bedouins, following their herds wherever they could find pasture. As such, they had PORTABLE "HOUSES" or large "TENTS!" If anything, the "tent" or "tabernacle" is the BODY! Second, a "soul" is NOT something outside of the body! The Hebrew word translated as "soul" is "נֶפֶשׁ" or "nefesh": Here's Strong's entry: H5315 נֶפֶשׁ nephesh (nefesh), neh'-fesh; from H5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental): —any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, × dead(-ly), desire, × (dis-) contented, × fish, ghost, greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, × jeopardy of) life (× in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, slay, soul, tablet, they, thing, (× she) will, ×would have it. It comes from the verb form, H5314 נָפַשׁ nâphash (naafash), naw-fash'; a primitive root; to breathe; passively, to be breathed upon, i.e. (figuratively) refreshed (as if by a current of air): —(be) refresh selves (-ed). The first instance is in Genesis 2:7: Genesis 2:7 (KJV) 7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. This describes how God created the man (Adam). He used the very technique which we've copied today in what is called "rescue breathing." Adam became "a living, breathing creature." When Adam died, he did not leave his body. Genesis 5:3-5 (KJV) 3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat [a son] in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: 4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: 5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. When God had pronounced the curse upon him, He said, Genesis 3:17-19 (KJV) 17 And unto Adam he said, "Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, 'Thou shalt not eat of it': cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return." Note: He did NOT say that "Adam's BODY was made of dust"; He said, "Dust THOU art" and "Unto dust shalt THOU return!" When we move into the New Testament, the Greek is really no different: Here are the Strong's entries for the word "psuchee" and its source: 5590 ψυχή psychḗ (psuchee), psoo-khay'; from G5594; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew H5315, H7307 and H2416): —heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you. 5594 ψύχω psýchō (psuchoo), psoo'-kho; a primary verb; to breathe (voluntarily but gently, thus differing on the one hand from G4154, which denotes properly a forcible respiration; and on the other from the base of G109, which refers properly to an inanimate breeze), i.e. (by implication, of reduction of temperature by evaporation) to chill (figuratively): —wax cold. So, by their own admission, G4490 = H5315 and G4494 = H5314. That's enough for now, but I'm going to address the Resurrection Chapter next:

Shalom, @Diaste. Sure it does. You just don't like the timing, 'cause it doesn't "fit in" with your scenario! It had better be a VERY comfortable throne, then! Look, neither David nor Shlomoh (Solomon) sat on the throne all of the time! They only sat upon the throne when they were sitting in JUDGMENT, i.e., MAKING DECISIONS, particularly OF STATE! This is said to be the FIRST time He sits upon the throne since He returned! It's a simple syllogism: "WHEN He comes, THEN He sits!" No, one can get the fact that Yeeshuwa` performed this judgment immediately after His return directly from the scriptures. Just look at the Greek! 25:31 Ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι μετ᾽αὐτοῦ τότε καθίσει ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ· 25:32 καὶ συναχθήσεται ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη καὶ ἀφοριεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾽ ἀλλήλων ὥσπερ ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐρίφων. Transliterated into English letters, we get ... 25:31 Hotan de elthee huios tou anthroopou en tee doxee autou kai pantes hoi hagioi aggeloi met' autou tote kathisei epi thronou doxees autou; 25:32 kai sunachtheesetai emprosthen autou panta ta ethnee kai aforiei autous ap' alleeloon hoosper ho poimeen aforizei ta probata apo toon epifoon. Translated word-for-word, we get ... 25:31 "WHEN <-> but comes [the]-Son of-the man in the glory of-His and all the holy messengers with Him, THEN He-shall-sit upon a-throne of-glory of-His; 25:32 and shall-be-gathered before Him all the nations and He-shall-separate them from one-another like the shepherd divides the sheep from the goats." First, that's ONE SENTENCE! Second, He is still SITTING upon this throne of His glory (brightness) while they are gathering all the nations to Him. It doesn't say all individuals, as "all men"; He gathers all NATIONS to Him! They are being represented by their individual ambassadors, and the nation's doom is pronounced to that representative. As far as Revelation 20:4-6 are concerned, you continue to ignore the first part of verse 4! Revelation 20:4-6 (KJV) 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls (air-breathing creatures) of them that were (had been) 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 (again) 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. The Greek is this (through Blue Letter Bible's Textus Receptus): 20:4 Καὶ εἶδον θρόνους καὶ ἐκάθισαν ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς καὶ κρίμα ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς καὶ τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν πεπελεκισμένων διὰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ καὶ διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ οἵτινες οὐπροσεκύνησαν τῷ θηριῷ, οὐτὲ τὴν εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἔλαβον τὸ χάραγμα ἐπὶ τὸ μέτωπον αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν χεῖρα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔζησαν καὶ ἐβασίλευσαν μετὰ Χριστοῦ τά χίλια ἔτη 20:5 οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ τῶν νεκρῶν οὐκ ἀνἔζησαν ἕως τελεσθῇ τὰ χίλια ἔτη αὕτη ἡ ἀνάστασις ἡπρώτη 20:6 μακάριος καὶ ἅγιος ὁ ἔχων μέρος ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει τῇ πρώτῃ· ἐπὶ τούτων ὁ θάνατος ὁ δεύτερος οὐκ ἔχει ἐξουσίαν ἀλλ᾽ ἔσονται ἱερεῖς τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ βασιλεύσουσιν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ χίλια ἔτη ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΙΣ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ 20:4-6 (Scrivener's TR, through BibleHub) 4 Καὶ εἶδον θρόνους, καὶ ἐκάθισαν ἐπ’ αὐτούς, καὶ κρίμα ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς· καὶ τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν πεπελεκισμένων διὰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ καὶ διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ οἵτινες οὐ προσεκύνησαν τῷ θηριῷ, οὐτὲ τὴν εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἔλαβον τὸ χάραγμα ἐπὶ τὸ μέτωπον αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν χεῖρα αὐτῶν· καὶ ἔζησαν καὶ ἐβασίλευσαν μετὰ Χριστοῦ χίλια ἔτη. 5 οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ τῶν νεκρῶν οὐκ ἀνἔζησαν ἕως τελεσθῇ τὰ χίλια ἔτη. αὕτη ἡ ἀνάστασις ἡ πρώτη. 6 μακάριος καὶ ἅγιος ὁ ἔχων μέρος ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει τῇ πρώτῃ· ἐπὶ τούτων ὁ θάνατος ὁ δεύτερος οὐκ ἔχει ἐξουσίαν, ἀλλ’ ἔσονται ἱερεῖς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ βασιλεύσουσι μετ’ αὐτοῦ χίλια ἔτη. Transliterated, this becomes ... 20:4 Kai eidon thronous, kai ekathisan ep' autous, kai krima edothee autois; kai tas psuchas toon pepelekismenoon dia teen marturian Ieesou kai dia ton logon tou Theou, kai hoitines ou prosekuneesan too theerioo, oute teen eikona autou, kai ouk elabon to charagma epi to metoopon autoon, kai epi teen cheira autoon; kai ezeesan kai ebasileusan meta Christou ta chilia etee. 20:5 Hoi de loipoi toon nekroon ouk anezeesan heoos telesthee ta chilia etee. autee hee anastasis hee prootee. 20:6 Makarios kai hagios ho echoon meros en tee anastasei tee prootee; epi toutoon ho thanatos ho deuteros ouk echei exousian, all' esontai hiereis tou Theou, kai tou Christou, kai basileusousin met' autou chilia etee. Translated word-for-word, one gets ... 20:4 And I-saw thrones, and to them given judgment were seated upon them; and the breathing-persons the beheaded-ones through the witness of-Yeeshuwa` and through the message of the God, and who not had-been-bending-the-knee to-the beast, nor to-the image of-it, and not had-received the mark upon the forehead of-him, and upon the right-hand of-him; and they-breathed and they-reigned with Messiah for-the thousand years. 20:5 the But remaining-ones of-the dead-ones not did-live-again until the-end of-the thousand years. This-one [is] the resurrection the first-one. They-shall-be priests of God 20:6 Happy and clean [is] the one-holding a-part in the Resurrection the first-one; upon them the death the second-one not does-hold authority, but they-shall-be priests of-the God, and of-the Messiah; and they-shall-reign with Him a-thousand years. So, the first line of verse 4 is NOT about those who are later ADDED; that is, those who were beheaded. Those who are given judgment are the ones who sit upon the thrones John saw. Those who were beheaded were added TO that number, once they had been resurrected. Now, not all of these who were given the right to judge were all the ones who had been resurrected, but they are more than just those who had been beheaded. See, when Yeeshuwa` haMelekh ("the King Jesus") gives out the right to rule, some will be like the man who earned 10 talents who would be the ruler/judge over 10 cities. They won't necessarily be kings over an entire nation, but what we could call "governors" and "mayors." They will be representatives for the King of kings, wherever they end up reigning. However, there will be others who never developed the rulership qualities, such as increasing revenue, and if they squandered the talent that the Lord gave them, "even that which he has shall be taken away." I agree with you that He will be the One who sits upon the Great White Throne in judgment over the wicked for "the Father has committed all judgment to the Son," but the "Sheep and the Goats" judgment is not that time period. The JOB of a king is to BE a judge! And, those who reign under the Messiah shall reign LIKE the Messiah, and if they have a matter too hard for them to judge, they will escalate it to a king higher than them. And, if necessary, it shall be escalated to the King of kings Himself! Also, note the difference between this judgment on the "goats" and the judgment on the wicked at the GWT: Matthew 25:41-46 (KJV) 41 "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, "'Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.' 44 "Then shall they also answer him, saying, "'Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?' 45 "Then shall he answer them, saying, "'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.' 46 "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." But, in Revelation 20:7-15 we read, Revelation 20:15 (KJV) 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. And, Yeeshuwa` said the same thing in His explanation of the Tares and Wheat parable: Matthew 13:41-42 (KJV) 41 "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And SHALL CAST THEM INTO A FURNACE OF FIRE: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." In the Sheep and Goats judgment, the goats are not CAST into fire; they're just SENT AWAY with the fate of eventually going "into everlasting fire!" In this prophecy, they are just CONSIGNED to the fate of going into everlasting fire; they are not thrown it at that time. I believe that this is a curse upon the NATION, but individuals won't have to suffer that nation's fate, if they independently decide to LEAVE that nation and come to the King at any time during His reign.

Shalom, @WilliamL. Actually, just read Acts 1: Acts 1:4-11 (KJV) 4 And, being assembled together with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but "wait for the promise of the Father, which," [saith he], "ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And he said unto them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven (Greek: εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν = "eis ton ouranon" = "into the sky") as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven (Greek: εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν = "eis ton ouranon" = "into the sky")? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven (Greek: εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν = "eis ton ouranon" = "into the sky"), shall so COME in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (Greek: εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν = "eis ton ouranon" = "into the sky")." If you prefer to say "He'll come BACK," that'd be okay. What makes you think this occurs in some "Heaven" off-world?! By the end of Revelation 6, He has returned to earth! Revelation 6:12-17 (KJV) 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth (Greek: οἱ ἀστέρες τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἔπεσαν εἰς τὴν γῆν = hoi asteres tou ouranou epesan eis teen geen = "the stars of-the sky fell into the earth"), even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed (Greek: #) as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?!" How would they know if He wasn't present?! As a matter of fact, when one knows the correct meaning of "soul," one will understand that the RESURRECTION has occurred by the fifth seal! Revelation 6:9-11 (KJV)] 9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled. A "soul," which is the Greek word "psuchee" and the Hebrew word "nefesh," is a "BREATHING CREATURE," "creature" in the sense of a "created being." G5590 ψυχή psychḗ (psuchee), psoo-khay'; from G5594; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew H5315, H7307 and H2416): —heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you. H5315 נֶפֶשׁ nephesh (nefesh), neh'-fesh; from H5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental): —any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, × dead(-ly), desire, × (dis-) contented, × fish, ghost, greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, × jeopardy of) life (× in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, slay, soul, tablet, they, thing, (× she) will, ×would have it. G5590 comes from G5594: G5594 ψύχω psýchō (psuchoo), psoo'-kho; a primary verb; to breathe (voluntarily but gently, thus differing on the one hand from G4154, which denotes properly a forcible respiration; and on the other from the base of G109, which refers properly to an inanimate breeze), i.e. (by implication, of reduction of temperature by evaporation) to chill (figuratively): —wax cold. And, H5315 comes from H5314: H5314 נָפַשׁ nâphash (naafash), naw-fash'; a primitive root; to breathe; passively, to be breathed upon, i.e. (figuratively) refreshed (as if by a current of air):—(be) refresh selves (-ed). So, the fifth seal is NOT talking about "bodiless souls" in "Heaven"; it is about the ones who have been brought back to life, knowing they were killed by having their heads chopped off! Now, they could BREATHE again, and they used that breath to cry "with a LOUD VOICE"; they were put back together again, and they were given clothing - "white robes!" Kind of hard to do any of that without bodies! Think about it.

Shalom, @EddieM. First, the Tribulation began in Matthew 24:9 and ends in Matthew 24:29. And, second, where do you get the idea that "the Antichrist signs a 7-year covenant with the nation of Israel?" I HOPE you're not thinking that's what Gabriel said in Daniel 9:26-27! If so, you've misread Daniel 9! (Although you're not the first to have done that.) YIKES! YOU DID! Okay, let's look more closely at ... Daniel 9:20-27 (KJV) 20 And whiles I [was] speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; 21 Yea, whiles I [was] speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed [me], and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew [thee]; for thou [art] greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 24 "Seventy (70) weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven (7) weeks, and threescore and two (62) weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two (62) weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people [of the prince that shall come] shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he (the Messiah) shall confirm the covenant with many for one (1) week: and in the midst (1/2) of the week he (the Messiah) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he (the Messiah) shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." In English, the words "of the prince that shall come" is a PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE! It's a description about WHICH "people," and "the prince that shall come" is the object of that preposition. As such, it is NOT a part of the sentence in which it is found. That is, it contains neither the subject nor a direct object nor an indirect object within the sentence! In Hebrew, the words for "people of the prince that shall come" is עַם נָגִיד הַבָּא which I transliterate into English characters as "`am naagiyd habaa' " which contains a "noun construct state" in Hebrew. This is where two nouns are found back-to-back and the first noun is the main noun, while the second is a modifier of the first. The word "of" is usually put between them. An example is "ben David." In translation, this is "son OF David." It's the same thing here "`am naagiyd" means "people OF prince," and the rest "habaa' " means "the comer." In the English of the KJV, the rest is made into a subordinate clause, "that shall come." The same thing is true for Hebrew as is in English: the second noun cannot participate in the nouns of the sentence; it cannot be the subject, the direct object or the indirect object of the sentence. It is simply a modifier of the first noun. Now, technically, the sentence that is in verse 26 doesn't end at the end of verse 26 but continues on into verse 27. Verse 27 contains verbs without their antecedent subjects. However, verbs in Hebrew can carry information about the subjects in both number and gender. Therefore, the word "he" is ADDED in translation, even though no pronouns are actually there in the Hebrew. So, we know that the noun associated with these verbs should be a masculine, singular noun. Since "prince" cannot apply for them, we must go back to the previous masculine, singular noun, מָשִׁיחַ or "Maashiyach" translated as "Messiah." So, it is not the "prince that shall come" who "shall confirm the covenant with many for one week"; it is the "Messiah" who "shall confirm the covenant with many for one week." What "covenant?" It would be the DAVIDIC Covenant, as predicted by Gabriel to Mary: Luke 1:30-33 (KJV) 30 And the angel said unto her, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Compare this to the Davidic Covenant that is found in 2 Samuel 7:4-17 and in 1 Chronicles 17:3-15. David, too, reigned over the tribe of Judah - the Jews - for 7 years, and Yeeshuwa` should have reigned over them in the same way. However, the Jews REJECTED Him as their King, and crucified Him instead. So, in the midst of the 7 years, He pronounced them "DESOLATE" in Matthew 23:38-39, and this partially fulfilled verse 27 where Gabriel said, "for the overspreading of abominations [by the scribes and Pharisees] he (the Messiah) shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined [the Tribulation also called "the time of Jacob's trouble"] shall be poured upon the [ones pronounced] desolate." When they crucified Him, YHWH God His Father put Him to grief and made Him a Sacrifice for sins. (Isaiah 53:10) He was the LAST Sacrifice that God would accept for sins. This fulfilled "in the midst (1/2) of the week he (the Messiah) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease." It didn't stop their ATTEMPTS to sacrifice for sin, but God no longer accepted them; they were just so many butcherings. Just whom do you think that He is going to be "subduing" when He "must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet"? There shall be unbelievers upon the earth during the Millennium; there just won't be any unbelievers within His Kingdom (supposedly). We must also remember the parable of the "tares among the wheat!" This will occur during the Messiah's Kingdom before He turns it over to His Father and it becomes God the Father's Kingdom. Sure. Revelation 19:15 talks about the sharp sword: Revelation 19:15 (KJV) 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. For the resurrection power, remember His conversation with Martha when her brother had died: John 11:20-27 (KJV) 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat [still] in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give [it] thee." 23 Jesus saith unto her, "Thy brother shall rise again." 24 Martha saith unto him, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said unto her, "I AM THE RESURRECTION, AND THE LIFE: he that believeth IN ME, though he were dead, YET SHALL HE LIVE: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth IN ME shall never die. Believest thou this?" 27 She saith unto him, "Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed of God to be King of Israel), the Son of God (in the Davidic Covenant), which should come into the world." Yeeshuwa` ("Jesus") also had this to say: John 5:19-30 (KJV) 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." The point is this: HE is the source of Resurrection, and He is NOT restricted to the general resurrections either before His Kingdom, or after the first 1,000 years of His Kingdom. So, those He deems should be alive, He can make alive; those He deems should be dead, He can kill with a word. And, anyone who has been killed who shouldn't have been killed, He can bring back to life at any time He is at leisure to do so.

Shalom, @Diaste. We may have already discussed this, but one should NOT ignore the obvious facts within this prophecy! (Sigh.) Read the WHOLE PROPHECY AGAIN! Matthew 25:31-46 (KJV) 31 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, THEN shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered ALL NATIONS: and he shall separate them (the NATIONS) one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, "'Come, ye blessed of my Father, INHERIT THE KINGDOM prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.' 37 "Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, "'Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?' 40 "And the King shall answer and say unto them, "'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.' 41 "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, "'Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not!' 44 "Then shall they also answer him, saying, "'Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?' 45 "Then shall he answer them, saying, "'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.' 46 "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." This is NOT a parable; it's a PROPHECY! Also, the colon at the end of verse 31 and the conjunction at the beginning of verse 32 mean that they are within the SAME SENTENCE! This judgment FLOWS immediately after the Second Coming, because it's the Second Coming that is pictured in verse 31! YES! If you prefer, you can call it "two STAGES" to the Kingdom of God. In the first stage, God will be ruling over the nations THROUGH His Messiah, Yeeshuwa`, just as He did when David was king! And, Yeeshuwa` runs EVERYTHING He does through His Father's Will FIRST before it is done. That is how He operates! That's how He did it in His First Coming, and He will continue to do so in His Second Coming! In the second stage, Yeeshuwa` turns over the Empire He has built for His Father TO His Father so that His Father can reign over it DIRECTLY! Meanwhile, Yeeshuwa` goes back to reigning JUST over the children of Israel. The first stage of the Kingdom of God will be a thousand years long. During that time, the Messiah is reigning over the Empire as it grows; so, that is what humans will see! One may refer to it as "the Kingdom of the Messiah" or "the Kingdom of [the] Christ." Paul told us that He shall be building that Kingdom by "subduing His enemies." He does this with love, but with a FIRM HAND, with a "ROD OF IRON!" Nations shall be SUBDUED and ANNEXED INTO His Kingdom! They "shall inherit the kingdom," which is NOT a bad thing! However, as David told us through his prophecy in the second psalm, some kings and leaders will think of this generous benefit as an oppression: "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us!" However, YHWH God, His Father will just LAUGH AT THEM AUDIBLY! And, the Messiah, the Son of God, will MOCK THEM! "Oh, boo hoo! 'Let's throw their cords off of us!' (You don't know how GOOD you have it!)" Psalm 2:1-4 (KJV) 1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying], 3 "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." 4 He that sitteth in the heavens (YHWH God the Father) shall laugh: the Lord (the Master Yeeshuwa`) shall have them in derision! Here's the Hebrew of verse 4: יוֹשֵׁב בַּשָּׁמַיִם יִשְׂחָק אֲדֹנָי יִלְעַג־לָמוֹ׃ That's it! That's all it says, but let's see what these words mean: First, they are transliterated into English as ... 4 YowsheeV bashshaamayim yischaaq 'adonaay yil`ag-laamow: And, here is a translation of each word: 4 He-who-sits in-the-skies shall-laugh; [the]-Lord shall-mock-to-them: You're misreading first! "Heaven" is the "SKY!" And, THAT is an "important tidbit" also! Here's what Yeeshuwa` is recorded to have said (translated into Greek) in Matthew 28:18: "Ἐδόθη μοι πᾶσα ἐξουσία ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς." Transliterated, this is ... "Edothee moi pasa exousia en ouranoo kai epi tees gees." Translated, this is ... "Is-given to-me all authority in [the]-sky and upon the earth." But then, He LEFT this earth, and left His believers with the commission: Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV) 19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world." Amen. (Hebrew for "Truth.") And then, HE LEFT! Acts 1:4-11 (KJV) 4 And, being assembled together with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but "wait for the promise of the Father," which, [saith he], "ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And he said unto them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven (Greek: εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν = eis ton ouranon = "into the sky") as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven (Greek: εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν = "into the sky")? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven (Greek: εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν = "into the sky"), shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (Greek: εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν = "into the sky")." Yeeshuwa` said prior to the "Triumphal Entry" in a parable, Luke 19:11-27 (KJV) 11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because THEY THOUGHT THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD SHOULD IMMEDIATELY APPEAR. 12 He said therefore, "A certain nobleman (Himself) went into a far country TO RECEIVE FOR HIMSELF A KINGDOM, AND TO RETURN. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, "'Occupy till I come.' 14 "But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, "'We will NOT have this [man] to reign over us!' 15 "And it came to pass, that WHEN HE WAS RETURNED, HAVING RECEIVED THE KINGDOM, THEN HE COMMANDED these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, "'Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.' 17 "And he said unto him, "'Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, HAVE THOU AUTHORITY OVER TEN CITIES.' 18 "And the second came, saying, "'Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.' 19 "And he said likewise to him, "'BE THOU ALSO OVER FIVE CITIES.' 20 "And another came, saying, "'Lord, behold, [here is] thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.' 22 "And he saith unto him, "'Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?' 24 "And he said unto them that stood by, "'Take from him the pound, and give [it] to him that hath ten pounds.' 25 "(And they said unto him, "'Lord, he HATH ten pounds!') 26 "'For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay [them] before me!' " (How often do you hear THAT from today's pulpits?) It not only has to be "cleaned up," but it has to be "GROWN" until it "fills the earth!" THEN, he gives the entire Kingdom (Empire) back to the Father. So, yes, it is but the ONE Kingdom, but from a human perspective, the first instance - the first stage - of that Kingdom will be God reigning THROUGH His Messiah thus looking like it is the Messiah reigning over that Kingdom. The second stage will be when YHWH God will be reigning over that Kingdom DIRECTLY.

Shalom, @EddieM. That's hard to do if the Tribulation (Trib.) has been happening for almost the last TWO THOUSAND YEARS! Tell me this: what is your COMPELLING EVIDENCE that the Tribulation period is 7 years long? Well, if you believe as I do, since we're already WITHIN the "Trib," many already HAVE BEEN "saved" (or rather, "justified by God"). Furthermore, ALL of those who belong to the Messiah (the Christ) will be resurrected and transformed! Who all does that include? Well, obviously some of them will be the "saved" (or "justified by God"), but it also includes those over whom He was prophesied to reign within the Millennium! That would be the children of Israel, especially the Jews - the children of Judah - who belong to the Messiah's Tribe! Indeed, ALL the children of Israel shall be His SUBJECTS within His Kingdom! He is, after all, "the Son of David!" He is HEIR to David's throne! Also, He shall be annexing other nations throughout the Millennium, making them a PART of His Kingdom. Therefore, they too will be a part of His Kingdom by the end of the Millennium.. ALL of this will occur BEFORE the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the Millennium - at the end of the FIRST 1,000 years of the Messiah's reign! Don't you think that the Kingdom of the Messiah will also be the Kingdom of God? David, after whom the Messiah will pattern His reign, believed that God WAS the TRUE King; He recognized God as his OWN King, and He considered himself to be a SERVANT of God. Yeeshuwa` ("Jesus") will be the same way! He ALWAYS was praying to His Father, seeking His Father's will for everything He did! It will be no different when He is reigning in Jerusalem! Actually, people SHALL enter the time of the Millennium in natural bodies because there will still be nations of the earth who have not yet accepted Yeeshuwa` as their Emperor, yet. They just don't enter His KINGDOM in natural bodies! The thousand years will be a time of Yeeshuwa` haMaashiyach haMelekh (Jesus the Messiah or Christ, the King) growing His Kingdom, annexing countries that He subdues. Revelation 17:1-18 (KJV) 1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, "Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication." 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 7 And the angel said unto me, "Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 9 "And here [is] the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, [and] the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 12 "And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful." 15 And he saith unto me, "The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." So, He is called "the King of kings" and "Lord of lords." That is, He shall be an Emperor and an Overlord! 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (KJV) 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: (0) Christ the firstfruits; (1) afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 (2) Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death. 27 For "he hath put all things under his feet." {But when he saith "all things are put under [him," it is] manifest that "he" is excepted, which did "put all things under him."} 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Those who don't like it will be confronted by YHWH God HIMSELF! Psalm 2:1-12 (KJV) 1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying], 3 "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us!" 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: "'the LORD hath said unto me, "Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."' 10 "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little! Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him!" Correct. As a matter of fact, Yeeshuwa` has the power of life and death in His hands! He can kill with a word (the "sword that proceeds out of His mouth"), and He has the power to resurrect people THROUGHOUT the Millennium (and beyond)! He will resurrect people in the general resurrections at both His coming and at the end of this age, but He can resurrect individuals at ANY TIME throughout the Millennium, as well! Hopefully, post trib scholars will get this right, too!

Well then, the "starting gun" was in the FIRST CENTURY A.D! The disciples had to be able to see it! That's what Yeeshuwa` said in Matthew 24!