Hi Kent,
Could these people referenced here be the ones going thru the "lake of fire" judgements?
Rev 22
14 Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
I believe that reference in Rev. 22 is speaking about the kingdom during Christ's reign. This is the verse before that is stated.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
When Christ returns there will be a process to being saved. In the beginning there will still be many people who are "sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." Those must 'learn' righteousness and it might be a slow process with some.
But as verse 14 states, there will be those that will "do His commandments," and "enter in through the gates into the city." I believe that city is Zion. There will be those raised to the White Throne Judgment that will not be far from salvation, think of John the Baptist.
When Satan is set loose after the age-lasting reign of Jesus, and he gets an army together to attack the city, could it be that the people enduring the LOF judgements have a choice on learning righteousness (Like Isaiah spoke of in 26:9) and choose to remain in sin, until Christ finally destroys sin and death once and for all?
I'm not sure about when that will occur, because after it states that Satan will be loosed in verse 7, then you come down to verse 11 and it is talking about the Great White Throne judgment as if it were just starting.
But anyway after the age-lasting reign of Jesus all will be saved.
1Co 15:25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.
v. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
mercy, peace and love
Kat