Hi Gerry,
I think this below is what you were speaking of from the conference "How We Got The Bible.'
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,5815.20.html ----
Believe me most people that teach and write books on these prophecies, don’t have a clue. Not only do they not have the answers, they don’t even know what the problems are.
But these verses here;
Rev 20:4 …And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
v. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Both of these verses can not be true, there is a problem here. I racked my brain, in my spare time, but I kept it in the back of my mind for a long time. There is a problem, that won’t work and I can’t make it work. It doesn’t fit, there is no way to make this thing fit. Then some months ago, now I know why it, “but the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished” won’t fit. It’s not Scripture! Tischendorf has it right there.
Rev. 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished...
It’s not in the Sinaiticus. So I said, okay now we’re moving again. We’re a little closer to the Truth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
So yes since that part of verse 5 should not be there, we can understand that the 1000 yrs is the reign of Christ on the earth. Here is another part of that same conference where Ray mentioned that.
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this whole book of Revelation is that testimony of Jesus Christ and has everything to do with His coming in us and coming back to the world to use us to convert all the nations.
Rev 5:10 And You made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign over the earth.
We will be kings and priests and we will reign with Him and it says on the earth for 1000 years.
Rev 20:4 …And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
But it is not a 1000 years, that’s a symbol for something. I think I know what that something is now. I know when the 1000 years ends. But that is another subject for another time. ---------------------------------------------
So will the overcomers will probably need to undergo some training and maturing, before they can serve the people in the second resurrection. We in this life are far from being complete, so we need to be made complete and then we can help others to be made complete (perfect). What do you think?
Those elect are being prepared now in this life to be resurrected at the first resurrection. No we are not going to reach perfection while we are still in this carnal flesh body, and even Paul knew he would not reach perfection in this life.
Php 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
But we are being made into HIS image, readied for the adoption/born into the family of God. We are coming to 'know' God and to recognize that this carnal flesh has nothing good in it. We are dying to the flesh, decrease, so He can increase (John 3:30). He is working in us now, so He can bring us in perfect unity, ONE, with the Spirit of God.
1Co 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
Php 3:21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.
v. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.
v. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Now as Paul said this is not just a change from a body of flesh to a spiritual body, but those in the first resurrection will be changed to "incorruption - glory - power." We will become one with God.
John 17:20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
v. 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
v. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
v. 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Being brought into His image, to become one with God is where we will obtain the power and glory, it is not our own power or glory, but God's. That is the "fullness of Christ," that is when we will become perfect as He is perfect.
Eph 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Christ said He did not seek to do things for Himself, but He could only do the will of the Father.
John 5:30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
John 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
v. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."
Christ could obey the Father perfectly because He had the Holy "Spirit without measure" and so will we if we are in the first resurrection.
John 3:34 For He whom God has sent utters the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure.
That's how I see that we will serve with Christ as kings and priests, not by anything we have, but by the oneness/unity of God in us, the indwelling of the Spirit without measure. Not by our own strength, power or wisdom, but by the power and glory of God.
mercy, peace and love
Kat