I’m not sure what I believe about what order it all happens but I do agree it’s not something to fear!
I actually find reading the parts of the Bible about the end quite comforting. There’s so much suffering in this world I can’t wait for the day it’s all over.
Thank you for your insights into Revelation and the end times.
I am not sure what you mean by this: "Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies. It will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
Is this referring to the nations rising up against Israel theoughout time? Won't there be a new Jerusalem coming from heaven? I have found the symbolism in Revelation difficult to understand. Of course, I am not denying the truth of God's Word to us. I want to prayfully discern God's message in the Spirit of Truth and Love.
Please note that my posts are not all based on Revelation. Take a peek at Luke 19. “41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Yes, the Bible clearly states that the new Jerusalem will be restored/lowered, and many near-death accounts state that the City is currently in the center of heaven. Some people think of this as “merging.”
“I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.” Revelation 11:1-2
Revelation 21:2 indicates that it will lower: "And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
And again here in verse 10: "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God."
Although many seem to think this is figurative, not literal (as we do with other texts that seem difficult to imagine - ha ha), I am learning to take the Bible very literally, and this would make a lot of sense as people have seen the City in heaven.
2 Peter 3:10-13 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”
This indicates that all the Earth will actually be destroyed in some fashion, at least as we know it.
In Zechariah 12, we read something that indicates Jerusalem will be in trouble but that God will extend graciousness: “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. 3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.”
And in Zechariah 14, we read: “A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls.
2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.”
Yes, I think we have enough to consider that this important city, as a heart and gathering place, will be affected.
There are other opinions out there, as there are also verses that talk about the importance of Jerusalem and the grace given. However, from my studies, I truly think many verses refer to the New Jerusalem—the one that is currently protected and coming down. And I am even more convinced of this in hearing accounts of the literal NJ currently placed in Heaven.
I can’t and will not claim to “be right” here, as God did not clarify this to me on my trip to heaven. I am certainly open to considering other opinions and thoughts. Keep studying, friend. :-)
The end of the world is still a thousand years away, when earth is destroyed (2Peter 3:10-14). 1Thess. 4:13-17 refers to that event, not a rapture. The dead in Christ will need to be resurrected, and the alive in Christ will need to be changed, in order to dwell on the new earth.
I’m not sure what I believe about what order it all happens but I do agree it’s not something to fear!
I actually find reading the parts of the Bible about the end quite comforting. There’s so much suffering in this world I can’t wait for the day it’s all over.
I understand and agree! Come, Lord Jesus.
Thank you for your insights into Revelation and the end times.
I am not sure what you mean by this: "Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies. It will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
Is this referring to the nations rising up against Israel theoughout time? Won't there be a new Jerusalem coming from heaven? I have found the symbolism in Revelation difficult to understand. Of course, I am not denying the truth of God's Word to us. I want to prayfully discern God's message in the Spirit of Truth and Love.
Hi Beth.
Please note that my posts are not all based on Revelation. Take a peek at Luke 19. “41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Yes, the Bible clearly states that the new Jerusalem will be restored/lowered, and many near-death accounts state that the City is currently in the center of heaven. Some people think of this as “merging.”
“I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.” Revelation 11:1-2
Revelation 21:2 indicates that it will lower: "And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
And again here in verse 10: "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God."
Although many seem to think this is figurative, not literal (as we do with other texts that seem difficult to imagine - ha ha), I am learning to take the Bible very literally, and this would make a lot of sense as people have seen the City in heaven.
2 Peter 3:10-13 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”
This indicates that all the Earth will actually be destroyed in some fashion, at least as we know it.
In Zechariah 12, we read something that indicates Jerusalem will be in trouble but that God will extend graciousness: “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. 3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.”
And in Zechariah 14, we read: “A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls.
2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.”
Yes, I think we have enough to consider that this important city, as a heart and gathering place, will be affected.
There are other opinions out there, as there are also verses that talk about the importance of Jerusalem and the grace given. However, from my studies, I truly think many verses refer to the New Jerusalem—the one that is currently protected and coming down. And I am even more convinced of this in hearing accounts of the literal NJ currently placed in Heaven.
I can’t and will not claim to “be right” here, as God did not clarify this to me on my trip to heaven. I am certainly open to considering other opinions and thoughts. Keep studying, friend. :-)
Julie, I loved your analogy of the roller coaster ride with different exits to explain the tribulation theories! 😁
lol. I was trying to figure out a fun way to explain it.
The end of the world is still a thousand years away, when earth is destroyed (2Peter 3:10-14). 1Thess. 4:13-17 refers to that event, not a rapture. The dead in Christ will need to be resurrected, and the alive in Christ will need to be changed, in order to dwell on the new earth.
So, no rapture at all, then?
https://open.substack.com/pub/echoesofedentv/p/woe-woe-woe?r=5mm4j1&utm_medium=ios
Thanks for the post! Good one.
Thanks for the support!