Living In Heaven, Reigning On Earth?~Jack Kelley

Living In Heaven, Reigning On Earth?

Q. I have further questions on your article of June 25th. In it you say we will live in heaven with Christ, and yes I understand our home (or mansion) will be made there. How does Revelation 20:4-6 fit into this? If we are reigning with Christ for that 1000 years it must be on earth. God reigns in heaven forever and there is no other need to reign there.

A. You’re making an assumption that sounds logical but isn’t necessarily so. Who says we have to live on Earth? John 14:2-3 clearly says that Jesus went to Heaven to prepare a place for us there, and that’s where He’s going to take us in the Rapture. Rev. 20:4-6 says that those from the first resurrection will reign with Christ, but it says nothing about where we’ll live.

We find out from Rev. 21 that the home He built for us and will take us to is the New Jerusalem which is seen coming down out of heaven. But it never says that it lands on Earth. In fact a comparison of its dimensions shows that it’s too big to fit in Israel or any other place on Earth. Personally, I believe the New Jerusalem, which is 1/6th the size of Earth, will orbit Earth in close proximity like a satellite would. From there we’ll reign with Christ.

Tags: Millennium, Revelation Times

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• Heaven Or New Jerusalem?
• Class Division In The Millennium
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• Will The Church Live On Earth?
• Who Lives Where?

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This entry was posted on Sunday, July 12th, 2009 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Ask a Bible Teacher.

the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and the teachers

Understanding Ephesians 4:11-12

Q. The Apostle Paul speaks about the gifts that Christ has given the church we are the following: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and the teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build the church, the body of Christ.

My first question is where the operation (job description) of these gifts are defined in the Bible because I want to know how a certain gift is expected to operate?

Secondly, why in nowadays we specifically hear ONLY about Pastors and other gifts are seemingly disregarded as compared to pastoring?

A. The key to understanding Ephesians 4:11 can be found in a study of the Greek words Paul used, and comparing them with what he said about their purpose in verses 12 and 13. The word for apostle means ambassador or commissioner, the one for prophet means foreteller, evangelist means preacher, pastor means shepherd, and teacher means instructor. Their combined purpose is to bring unity, maturity, and purity to the body of Christ.

I think the position of pastor became the senior one among these when we began paying pastors as professionals and giving them ultimate authority over local congregations. But as Ephesians 4:11-12 indicates, this was not the original intention.

Tags: Interpreting Verses, New Testament

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• Old And New Testament Prophets
• A New Race of Human … Commentary on Ephesians, Pt. 3
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• Apostles And Prophets
• False Prophets And Carnal Christians

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This entry was posted on Friday, July 10th, 2009 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Ask a Bible Teacher.

Law AND Grace? The LAW Returns After Rapture?

The Great Pause, More Follow Up

Q. Are you saying that after the Rapture, one must believe in Jesus ‘and’ subscribe to the Law? The plan obviously shifts to Israel but does this mean that no Gentiles have a chance after the Rapture? What is the purpose of the sacrifices in the Temple then? Is it only for the Jew? Which blood atonement will God recognize, that of the animals for the last 7 years or that of His Son? Will there be no grace after the Rapture?

A. Just after the Mark of the Beast is introduced, God will send an angel to warn the people of earth to refuse the mark or suffer eternal consequences. Rev. 14:12 says,“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” Like it was in the time before the Church, when faith had to be evidenced by obedience, so will it be after we’re gone. Remember, the Church didn’t end the Age of Law, it just interrupted it seven years short of its appointed time.

There has only ever been one blood atonement for our sins, and that’s the blood of Jesus. The sacrifice of animals delays the judgment, but doesn’t eliminate it.

The only Temple will be in Israel, so as a practical matter only those living there will participate in the sacrificial system. And even then only until the abomination of desolation makes the Temple unusable in the middle of the last 7 years (Daniel 9:27).

Although ultimately all men are saved by grace, the Doctrine of Grace as it’s put forth inEphesians 2:8-9 will expire with the Rapture. After that salvation will be by faith in Jesus as evidenced by obedience to the Commandments, whether Jew or Gentile.

Tags: Grace, Great Tribulation, Salvation

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• Keeping the Sabbath Holy
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This entry was posted on Friday, July 10th, 2009 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Ask a Bible Teacher.

"...recent times my rapture enthusiasm seems to have waned..."

Waning Rapture Enthusiasm

Q. I find that in recent times my rapture enthusiasm seems to have waned somewhat, and I don’t know why. I am starting to fear that it is because I never had any truth faith in Jesus at all, and am just deluding myself into thinking I’m a true Christian when I am just a false convert. Do you have any advice for me?

A. Yes I have. Get back into the word and review the promises the Lord made to you. You’ll find that if you asked sincerely the Lord granted your request for salvation and will never revoke it, no matter what. If you don’t know for sure that you were sincere when you asked, then do it again. It’s important to get this resolved, because the enemy has spotted a weakness in your defenses and is exploiting it. He can’t “unsave” you, but he can cause you to fear and doubt. That’s how he steals our joy. Try Matt. 7:7-8, John 6:38-40, Romans 10:9-10,13 and Titus 3:4-7.

You should also read 2 Cor. 10:3-5 and begin taking those thoughts of doubt captive and making them obedient to Christ.

Tags: Rapture, Salvation

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This entry was posted on Saturday, July 11th, 2009 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Ask a Bible Teacher.

What are the Muslim beliefs in regards to Mary?

Mary And Islam

Q. I have a question regarding your comments about what religion would possibly be dominant during the tribulation. What are the Muslim beliefs in regards to Mary?

A. Many Christians are surprised that Moslems have a great affection Mary, the mother of Jesus. According to Juan Galvan, author of “Jesus and the Virgin Mary in Islam”, no woman is given more attention in the Quran, and of its 114 chapters, she is one of only eight people who have a chapter named after them. (Hers is number 19.) Although the Quran offers a different story on Mary’s origins than the Biblical account, it does confirm her supernatural conception resulting in the birth of Jesus (Quran 19:16-21) Mary is the only woman specifically named in the Quran and plays a very significant role in Islam. She is thought to be an example and a sign for all people.

Tags: Current Events

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This entry was posted on Saturday, July 11th, 2009 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Ask a Bible Teacher.