Gregor, I don't know how long the reign of Christ during the new heaven and earth will be, but it will follow the 1000 year reign.
Revelation Chapter 20 (KJV)
1 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.
4 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.
<<<<Note: This is the milleniel reign (1000 year reign of Christ which begins when Christ returns) This is the next age/aion which follows this present aion/age we now live in.>>>>
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
<<<<Note: The rest of chapter 20 tells of satan's being bound for the 1000 years, his release and then his defeat, then the great white throne judgment.>>>>
Chapter 21 (KJV)
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
<<<<Note: This is the age which follows the thousand year reign. That's THE two ages that Christ will rule out of all the other ages.>>>> Christ reigns for the "aions of the aions". Not "forever and ever".
Chapter 22 (KJV)
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
<<<<Here we see at the end of Revelation that A) all is not subjected. B) sin still exists and C) Death still exists (the second death) As we know from 1 Corinthians 15, death is the last enemy. And it will be abolished. So if there are still sinners wandering around, there is still sin which means there is still death. This means that Christ has not yet subjected all. He has not defeated all enemies. Remember, death will be abolished, not simply swept under the rug. An end will be made to sin, yet sinners still remain at the end of Revelation. This can't be the final state.
1 Corinthians 15 takes us farther than Revelation. In 1 Corinthians 15, Christ ceases to reign after He subjects all, abolishes death and makes an end to sin and hands a perfect kingdom to the Father Who becomes all in all.>>>> |
