Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!paul.rutgers.edu!christian From: wagner@karazm.math.uh.edu (David Wagner) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Reading Revelation Message-ID: Date: 19 Oct 90 08:21:04 GMT Sender: hedrick@paul.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Houston -- Department of Mathematics Lines: 47 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu I pretty much agree with Tom Albrecht's brief article on revelation. For a good reference, see Siegbert Becker's commentary on Revelation. I believe it is available from Northwestern Publishing House. I want to add just a few comments. Rev. 20:11-14 is a picture of judgement day. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it is interesting to note that the resurrected dead, believers and unbelievers, are judged first according to their deeds recorded in the book of deeds, (and found guilty, as we infer from the rest of scripture, for 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God'). Then God will look in the book of life to see if we have faith in Christ. If our name is found there, then we are saved from the lake of fire and will live forever in the New Jerusalem (ch. 21). I find it difficult to identify the New Jerusalem of ch. 21 with the church militant in the present world, as Tom seems to do. To me this is the church triumphant, after the resurrection, and after Judgement. It is all well and good to refute Milleniallism, but we should be careful not to throw out the baby (Judgement day and eternal life in God's new creation) with the bathwater. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev. 21:4 David H. Wagner a confessional Lutheran. "Behold a host, arrayed in white, Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright, With palms they stand. Who is this band Before the throne of light? Lo, these are they of glorious fame Who from the great affliction came And in the flood of Jesus' blood Are cleansed from guilt and blame. Now gathered in the holy place, Their voices they in worship raise, Their anthems swell where God doth dwell, Mid angel's songs of praise." --"Den store hvide Flok vi se" by Hans A Brorson, c. 1760. My opinions and beliefs on this matter are disclaimed by The University of Houston.