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I received this question today and it was such a good one that I thought I would post it for all to see. It went something like this. After the resurrection, who is left to populate Jesus Christ's millennial kingdom? First of all I kind of just threw this together. I am sure that I will have to make changes to this as time goes on. I thought I would approach this by first looking at who would not be used to populate the millennial kingdom. We know the Church will have a role to play but it will not be to populate the world. (Rev 20:6 KJV) 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. (Luke 20:34-36 KJV) And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: {35} But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: {36} Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. We know the 144,000 will have a role to play, and it does not look like it is to populate the world. (Rev 14:4 KJV) These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. We also know that there will be those that cannot be the Church or the 144,000 because they are deceived again after the 1000 years are over. These could have a role in populating the Earth. (Rev 20:3 KJV) 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. (Rev 20:7-8 KJV) 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. We also know there will be those that perish during the millennium reign and this passage is also where we derive that there will be people populating the Earth during this 1000 years. (Isa 65:17-25 KJV) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. {18} But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. {19} And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. {20} There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. {21} And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. {22} They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. {23} They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. {24} And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. {25} The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD. In this verse it says that there is a group of people that can still be cursed, so we know that it is not Israel. Longevity is restored during the millennium reign but it looks like they can still be cursed and perish during this time. I am not to sure if this applies to the Israelites. It might only apply to the Gentiles. Just an opinion. I am open to scripture when it comes to other opinions on this. Whether or not you believe in Pre-trib or Pre-wrath there are Gentiles left after what most call the rapture but what the bible calls the resurrection, and it looks like they live through the wrath for the millennium reign. I believe there will be both Jew and Gentile left to populate the Earth. The Gentile will serve the Jew. (Isa 14:1-3 KJV) For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. {2} And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors. {3} And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve. (Isa 61:4-9 KJV) And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. {5} And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. {6} But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. {7} For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. {8} For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. {9} And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed. The Gentiles will be those that are deceived again after the 1000 years, when the Dragon is loosed. I am under the persuasion, when it comes to the Gentiles, that there last day of hope is in the resurrection of the just or the first resurrection (what most call the Rapture). The resurrection takes place when the fullness of the Gentiles is reached. Let me explain why I have come to some of the conclusions that I have come to. The Gentiles reach a time, referred to in scripture as the fullness of the Gentiles. Scripture says when it happens all of Israel will be saved. (Rom 11:25-26 KJV) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. {26} And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: So all of Israel
gets saved when the fullness of the Gentiles takes place. What could this fullness
mean? The Webster’s dictionary says fullness means: (Rom 11:11-15 KJV) I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. {12} Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? {13} For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: {14} If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. {15} For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? This sounds like the resurrection takes place at the receiving or salvation of Israel (the same time the fullness of the Gentiles be come in "and so all Israel shall be saved") Along with this fullness comes a term used by Martha and Jesus referred to as the Last Day. This Last Day takes place at the Ressurection of the just. What is it the last day of? I believe it to be that last day of hope for the Gentile (their fullness has been reached). (John 6:38-44 KJV) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. {39} And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. {40} And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. {41} The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. {42} And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? {43} Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. {44} No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54 KJV) Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 11:24 KJV) Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Scripture makes it sound as though when Christ returns, and the resurrection takes place, the door is shut for anyone else to enter in. There is no more hope for those that could have been part of the church. (Mat 25:9-13 KJV) But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. {10} And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. {11} Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. {12} But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. {13} Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Two resurrections, the just and the unjust The resurrection takes place the same day, and just before, they which are alive are caught up (what most call the rapture). But Martha and Jesus said the ressurection is the last day. It is a fact that there are only two resurrections mentioned that are yet to come, one for the just and one for the unjust, (Which the one for the unjust happens after the 1000 years). We also know that there will be people perishing during the millennium reign only to be resurrected after, to a resurrection that the bible seems to refer to as the unjust and those that are in it, as the dead. (Acts 24:15 KJV) And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (Luke 14:14 KJV) And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (John 5:29 KJV) 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. (Dan 12:2 KJV) And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. We know that the First Resurrection consists of an innumerable number (as spoken of in Rev 7) and those that were around during the time of antichrist. (Rev 20:4-7 KJV) 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. The first resurrection in Rev 20 is a singular resurrection. It is not first resurrections’. This first resurrection, I believe, is the "resurrection of the just". It takes place in the great Tribulation (actually ending it, otherwise no flesh would live) and is spoken of here: (Rev 7:9-17 KJV) After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; {10} And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. {11} And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, {12} Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. {13} And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? {14} And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. {15} Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. {16} They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. {17} For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. These are those that were alive in Christ, and those that had died up until this time in Christ. They were resurrected and some were changed in the Great Tribulation and ascended into Heaven, so that the wrath of God might commence on those that are left behind and are not a part of Israel. The next resurrection, which the Bible calls the resurrection of the unjust, is described here: (Rev 20:13 KJV) 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. Interesting how it refers to these as “the dead”. I am under the persuasion that our only hope to escape the second death is to be in the “first resurrection”. (Rev 20:6 KJV) 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. What most people call the rapture is referred to in scripture as the resurrection. When the resurrection takes place (the same day) those that are alive will be changed. I think this is where they get their rapture from. (1 Th 4:15-17 KJV) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. {16} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. This passage actually explains when the resurrection (or what most call rapture) will take place. At the Last Trump. But again notice that there is a resurrection taking place prior to the changing of those that alive at His coming. (1 Cor 15:51-55 KJV) Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, 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 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. {55} O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Lives prolonged for a season This verse is interesting in that it refers to kingdoms that will have their lives prolonged (but only for a season) after the destruction of antichrist, which just happens to take place just prior to Satan being bound in chains for 1000 years in Rev 20. I think this is the verse you are looking for. (Dan 7:11-12 KJV) I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. {12} As concerning the rest of the beasts (kingdoms), they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. (Maybe the 1000 years of the millennium) Notice the similarity with this passage (Rev 19:20-20:3 KJV) And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. {21} And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. 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. From what I read in the bible, Gentiles that live through the wrath (or have their lives prolonged for a season) are forced to honor certain holidays and be good for the millennium but after the 1000 years they are deceived all over again. (Zec 14:16-19 KJV) And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. {17} And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. {18} And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. {19} This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Rev 20:7-10 KJV) 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. Virgins and like unto the angels As explained earlier the role of the Church is not to populate. I just threw these in because they say the same thing. (Luke 20:34-36 KJV) And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: {35} But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: {36} Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (Mat 22:30 KJV) For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. (Mark 12:25 KJV) For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. (Rev 14:1-5 KJV) And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. {2} And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: {3} And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. {4} These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. {5} And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. They repented not Those that are left behind after the resurrection refuse to repent. No matter what is done to them the bible says “and they repented not”. Even in the end when they are forced to visit Christ during the millennium reign, they all turn back to following the dragon after being bound in chains for 1000 years. I believe there will not be another chance for the Gentile after the first resurrection, like pre-tribers would like to believe. Once the resurrection takes place the bible says of those that are left behind “and they repented not”. (Rev 9:20-21 KJV) And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: {21} Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. (Rev 16:9-11 KJV) And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. {10} And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, {11} And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. Why is it so hard for Christians to accept that there will be no hope except that which is made available to us in Christ at His coming? God has destroyed everything in the past before with Noah, and all the Jews but Caleb and Joshua and their children in the days of Moses. The angels did not get another chance in Christ like we do. There is no mention of a third chance after Jesus comes. All the verses referring to saints being killed are not saints that are left behind after the rapture, they are saints that are waiting for His coming which takes place immediately after the tribulation and the same day the wrath begins. (Luke 17:29-30 KJV) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. {30} Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. I hope this answers you question. Mike Search
the Scriptures
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