Beliefs about the Afterlife (xxxx)

"Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, 

To make the land a desolation; And 

He will exterminate its sinners from it."

(Isaiah 13: 9 nasb)

Earlier, we stated that not all the individuals of the nations are smitten so that no one is left alive, following the tribulation and wrath, for Christ and his people begin their rule on earth over the nations, but this can only be so if some are left alive to become the seed for the new peoples of the Millennial age, just as Noah's three sons and their wives became the seed of a new world. There are many reasons for believing in a remnant of the race who survive the day of judgment, or day of the Lord (corresponding to chapters six through 19 of the Apocalypse). First, in talking about the tribulation of the days of the second coming, the Lord Jesus Christ said this in confirmation of that fact:  

"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matt. 24: 22)

Lots of people are killed by the divine judgments (wrath and tribulation) connected with the return of Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. Under the first four judgments of the Apocalypse, we have the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, and by these four and their judgments one fourth of the world's population is killed. (Rev. 6: 8) We also read of more killed after this:

"It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind." (Rev. 9: 14-15)

But, even with such devastation and death on such a large scale there are still a few, a remnant, who survive. The days of that awful destruction will stop short of universal death of all human beings so that a few flesh are "saved," i.e. preserved from physical death. This is also what is confirmed by other passages. Wrote Solomon:

"For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it." (Pro 2: 21-22) 

It is also what is foreshown by Isaiah. Chapters 24-27 describe the end times that are connected with the second coming of the Lord and "that day," also known in scripture as "the day of the Lord," and "the day of wrath," and "the day of vengeance," and "the day of tribulation," and "the day of judgment," and "the day of redemption," and "the day that shall burn as an oven," etc. Notice the whole of chapter 24 and then compare it with what unfolds in Revelation chapters 6-20.

"Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste, Distorts its surface And scatters abroad its inhabitants. And it shall be: As with the people, so with the priest; As with the servant, so with his master; As with the maid, so with her mistress; As with the buyer, so with the seller; As with the lender, so with the borrower; As with the creditor, so with the debtor. The land shall be entirely emptied and utterly plundered, For the LORD has spoken this word. The earth mourns and fades away, The world languishes and fades away; The haughty people of the earth languish. The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, Because they have transgressed the laws, Changed the ordinance, Broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, And those who dwell in it are desolate. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, And few men are left. The new wine fails, the vine languishes, All the merry-hearted sigh. The mirth of the tambourine ceases, The noise of the jubilant ends, The joy of the harp ceases. They shall not drink wine with a song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. The city of confusion is broken down; Every house is shut up, so that none may go in. There is a cry for wine in the streets, All joy is darkened, The mirth of the land is gone. In the city desolation is left, And the gate is stricken with destruction. When it shall be thus in the midst of the land among the people, It shall be like the shaking of an olive tree, Like the gleaning of grapes when the vintage is done. They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing; For the majesty of the LORD They shall cry aloud from the sea. Therefore glorify the LORD in the dawning light, The name of the LORD God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea. From the ends of the earth we have heard songs: “Glory to the righteous!” But I said, “I am ruined, ruined! Woe to me! The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously, Indeed, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.” Fear and the pit and the snare Are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall be That he who flees from the noise of the fear Shall fall into the pit, And he who comes up from the midst of the pit Shall be caught in the snare; For the windows from on high are open, And the foundations of the earth are shaken. The earth is violently broken, The earth is split open, The earth is shaken exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, And shall totter like a hut; Its transgression shall be heavy upon it, And it will fall, and not rise again. It shall come to pass in that day That the LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones, And on the earth the kings of the earth. They will be gathered together, As prisoners are gathered in the pit, And will be shut up in the prison; After many days they will be punished. Then the moon will be disgraced And the sun ashamed; For the LORD of hosts will reign On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem And before His elders, gloriously."  (Isaiah chapter 24)

Though the word for "earth" may simply mean "land," and cannot in itself denote what is true of the whole planet, yet the context of this chapter, along with the other three in this prophecy, show that it means the whole earth or planet. In fact, if one reads this chapter and then reads chapters six through twenty of the book of Revelation, he will see the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.

The great tribulation is alluded to in the words denoting one trouble after another, such as the pit and snare, the pit, and when the heavens rain down evils. This is what we see in the book of the Revelation, the book foretelling what will occur in the day of the Lord's return to earth. It occurs in that day when the Lord comes to "punish" the wicked and begin his reign on earth "on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem." So we read in the prophecy these words of the prophet:

"For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." (26: 9)

That is what we see described in chapter twenty four, where this four chapter prophecy began, for we saw tribulation and death sent to the inhabitants of the earth so that few are left alive. It is the time when Christ comes to reign in Mt. Zion. It is through these judgments, associated as they are with the apocalypse of Christ (which is his coming, appearing, or revelation), and the day of the Lord, that men will receive the vengeance of the Lord so that they will be condemned to sufferings and death, except for a small remnant. This end time destruction kills nearly everyone except for a "few men" who are left. This is what the Lord himself stated, as we have seen. 

Though most during this time fail to repent and turn to the Lord (See Rev. 9: 20-21; 16: 8-11), or to "learn righteousness" by God's end time wrathful judgments, the few remaining mostly do learn righteousness, and that very learning is necessary for them to be given opportunity to enter the Millennium and live, as mortal men on probation, and not follow Adam's and Eve's example.  

That we might further see how the prophecy of Isaiah 24-27 involves the time of the second coming (or the time period between Revelation chapter six through twenty), notice these words from chapter twenty six:

"Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, And will no more cover her slain." (26: 20-21)

Again, that is fulfilled at the time of Christ's return when he comes bringing wrath, vengeance, judgment, tribulation, etc., on the wicked inhabitants of the earth, the very thing we see in the judgments of Revelation chapters six through twenty. Notice also this verse from chapter twenty seven:

"In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong, Will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent; And He will slay the reptile that is in the sea." (27: 1)

So, who is Leviathan the fleeing and twisted (or crooked) "serpent"? And, what does it mean for him to be punished? And, if he is the same one designated as "the reptile that is in the sea," what does it mean for such sea monster to be slain? And, when and how will the Lord punish and kill this sea monster? 

In the book of Christ's return, or of his glorious Apocalypse, and of his executing upon the world the judgments written against its last generation, Satan is described as a sea monster and there is every reason to believe that he is the Leviathan of the above passage. 

The whole forty first chapter of Job is a discourse of God himself upon this creature. He ends that chapter with these words:

"He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride.” (verse 34 nkjv)

A "serpent" is a superior creature of the sea as "Behemoth" (chapter 40) is a superior creature of the land. But, "serpent" is also a label or fitting symbol of Satan (or he who was once known as Lucifer). So many scriptures refer to him by that name. In was by inhabiting a serpent (who could it seems go on land as well as sea, as most snakes can) that he first appeared to Adam and Eve and quickly enticed them to disobey God's prime directive even though God had warned them of the consequences. So Paul says "as the serpent beguiled Eve" (II Cor. 11 3); And, he is referred to as "the great dragon," and "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan." (Rev. 12: 9; See also 12: 14-15, 20: 2) Just as the Lord Jesus referred to Herod as "that fox" (Luke 12 : 32) so he refers to Satan, or the Devil, as "that old serpent," i.e. the serpent that seduced Eve, as Leviathan. The sea monster is a fitting symbol of Satan. 

Further, when Paul says to the Philippians "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision" (Phil. 3: 2), he was not warning against animals which are literal "dogs," but against people who are like dogs (thus being a symbol or metaphor). In fact, people use the word "dog" in the same way today, as when they say "he is a dog." It is thus used to speak of some negative quality of dogs which is seen in human beings. So Peter compares apostates from the Christian faith to a dog who returns to eat its own vomit. (II Peter 2: 22) 

Also, Paul says that he "fought with beasts at Ephesus." (I Cor. 15: 32) Though some think that he fought with real animals, being thrown to the lions, so to speak, as was Daniel and many early Christian martyrs who died in the Roman coliseum, I rather think that he is referring to men who denied the resurrection (as did the Sadducees and some of the Greeks on Mars Hill when hearing Paul preach about it). They are labeled by Paul as "beasts" or "animals" or even "monsters." 

The evil governments are viewed as monsters and beasts in the books of Daniel and Revelation, and in both the Antichrist is styled "the beast" or "the monster." 

Further, Job also speaks of Leviathan by the title "the fleeing serpent." Says he: "By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent." (Job 26: 13 nkjv)

This reference to "the fleeing serpent" or "the crooked serpent" (KJV), has a dual reference or application. First, to the constellation that goes by that name and secondly to Leviathan, to that "old serpent the Devil," to "the Satan." The constellation Cetus, the sea monster, is one of the largest constellations in the heavens, and no doubt pictures him. But, other constellations also allude to Leviathan or to the Dragon or Serpent. Said one source:

"The term bariach, rendered "crooked" but better as in the Revised Version, margin as "fleeing," is applied by Isaiah to "Leviathan" (liwyathan: Isa 27:1), properly a "wreathed" or writhing animal, twisted in folds, and hence also called by the prophet `aqallathon, "crooked," "twisted," or "winding"; a very appropriate designation for Draco, the great polar Dragon. But the latter was not the only "crooked serpent" in the constellations; there were three others, two of which were placed with an astronomical significance not less precise than the coiling of Draco round the poles. Hydra, the Watersnake, marked out the original celestial equator for about one-third of its circumference, and Serpens, the Adder, lay partly along the celestial equator and then was twisted up the autumnal colure, and reached the zenith with its head." (See here)

So, the point elaborately made is this: the context of Isaiah chapters 24-27 show that it has not yet been fulfilled but will be fulfilled at the second coming of Christ and that his execution of the judgments of the book of Revelation are accompaniments of his future coming (parousia), revelation (apocalupsis), or appearing (ephiphania). 

Further, Isaiah 24 says that all the inhabitants of the earth will be killed in the fiery judgments of the great tribulation and day of wrath except for a remnant. Only few people will be left and it is these living peoples who will be assembled in order to divide them in the manner described by Christ in Matthew 25. The nations who were helpful to the "brothers" of the Lord will be granted right to enter the Millennial kingdom while those who were not helpful will be sent away into everlasting fire. This shows that both the sheep and the goats are distinct and separate from the "brothers." 

If "the nations" designates Christians or believers in Christ, then we would have to read the text in this manner - "inasmuch as you (sheep nations) have done it unto the least of these OUR brethren" (or "your brethren") instead of "these MY brethren." In this prophetic scene we have several participants (individuals or groups) mentioned. They are Christ, the brothers of the Lord, the sheep nations, the goat nations. 

When Christ refers to his "brethren," most think he refers to the Jews, for Christ does call them his own people and the apostles also addressed their fellow Jews as "brothers" even though they were not saved. But, I rather think he has reference also to Christians. That being so, those few who remain alive among the nations, following the destruction attending Christ's return, are judged on how they were related to 1) the government of the beast or Antichrist, and 2) the treatment of Jews and Christians. 

In the days of Isaiah chapter 24 and Revelation chapters 6-20 a person will be forced to take sides in the six thousand year old war between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. But, there will be a few who will refuse to become followers of the beast and to take his mark, though they are not yet believers in Jesus. And, these will no doubt help Jews and Christians survive end time persecution by the Antichrist and his henchmen in much the same way Schindler, the German, helped Jews survive Hitler's genocide of Jews or as others who helped Jews and Christians in some manner. 

So, we have shown I think that there will be some few humans left after the judgments of the Apocalypse, and that these will be divided as sheep from goats. The sheep nations will be those who enter the Millennial kingdom as mortal humans, most of them being believers in Christ on some level. After all, it is written:

"For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” (Rom. 14: 11 nkjv) (See also Phil. 3: 10; Heb. 6: 13)

The living nations who stand before God at the end of the present age and at the inauguration of the age to come will bow the knee to Christ and confess his Lordship and gladly enter into his kingdom. But, if this is the case, then what can we make of the fact that at the end of the thousand years, when Satan is loosed from his prison, he is able to deceive many nations, as Gog and Magog, to rebel against the Lord? How could only believers enter the Millennium but by its end there are many who are not confirmed believers? Surely it is so because 1) many of the believers who entered the Millennial kingdom were like the Israelites who, after crossing the Red Sea miraculously, believed in Jehovah,* and 2) their children, born in the Millennium, did not become true lovers of Christ, but only feigned obedience.

*9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. 10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. 11 And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. 12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. 13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel." (Psa. 106: 9-13 kjv)

It will be the job of the Millennium's rulers, all under Christ, to govern the world, to run its cities and towns, to enforce its laws, and to manage its prosperity. This is in part how believers, after their resurrection, will spend their days. They will not be the only ones who govern the age to come, as we have seen. It will, however, be a monarchy under the King of kings and Lord of lords, in a pyramidal structure of government.

In the next chapters we will look further into how life will be for believers in the Millennium, and how life will be on earth during the reign of Christ and his kingdom.