Saturday, July 14, 2012

Question 18 - What and When is the NEXT AGE?
There is actually no dispute here. Pre-Trib says the "Next Age" begins when Jesus comes and takes His people to Heaven to the "Mansions" He has prepared for them. The Bible totally agrees, so, that settles it. There is nothing wrong with assigning names to certain time frames and calling them "Dispensations." The Pondered Question for Pre-Tribbers is figuring out what to do with the people in the "Next Age." It is evident that there are several different groups within Pre-Trib with differing views concerning the enter actions between Immortals and Mortals. The reason we need to examine this comes from something Jesus said in answer to some Sadducees that were trying to trap Him. Sadducees claimed there will be no Resurrection. They asked what would happen if seven brothers died after being consecutively married to the same woman. They asked Jesus who would be the husband of the woman after the Resurrection. Jesus answered, "The children of this world (age) marry and are given in marriage; But they who shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world (age), and the Resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. Neither can they die any more, for they are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection" (Lk.20:34-36). 

What's Next
If our view of what happens next is Christ's Second Coming, and we understand that Christ takes all of the saved to the "Mansions He has prepared for us" (see Jn.14:1-3), and we understand that all lost persons alive at that time are, "Destroyed by the brightness of Christ's Coming" (see 2Thess.2:8), Christ's answer to the Sadducees makes perfect sense and agrees with all other Scripture. However, if we believe Pre-Trib's version of the "Next Age," it becomes difficult to apply Christ's words. We believe that the words of Jesus apply to everyone, "who shall be accounted worthy to obtain that (age) world." We believe Jesus was speaking to both the Resurrected people and the Translated people. Of course Pre-Trib disagrees.

Who's in Charge?
Pre-Trib claims there'll be mortals here on this earth for a thousand years after Jesus comes. But, Pre-Tribbers disagree concerning who will REALLY be in command of the affairs of this world during this so called Millennial Kingdom. Some say that the Raptured people, the Church, the Bride of Christ will be rewarded  by being given responsible position all around the earth during this time. In other words, immortal people in charge of the mortal people within God's Kingdom. But, promoters of this Pre-Trib position have no choice but to Ponder how it is that they also teach that the REAL, and ONLY purpose of a so-called Earthly Millennial Kingdom is supposed to be for the Jews to finally be the top nation; the nation that is in command of all other nations.

Jews in Charge
Some Pre-Tribbers teach that the Raptured Church people stay in Heaven during the thousand year Millennial Kingdom while Jesus is the King of the Millennial Kingdom. These Pre-Tribbers say that the people running the affairs of the world will be ONLY mortal Jews. This thousand year Millennial Kingdom is supposed to be the time that all of the promises and prophecies in the Old Testament about the Jews having the Son of David as their King, and this King "Rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron" and the Jews getting revenge on the nations that had once oppressed them.  Unless the Pre-Trib Promoters with this view stop and Ponder this position for a moment, it seems to make perfect sense. But as they stop and think about it, they realize that they also have a teaching that says  the only people other than the Jews who enter into this Millennial Kingdom will be those who treated the Jews kindly during the time Antichrist and his evil followers are persecuting and killing Jews. Thus, who would the Jews "get revenge upon?"  Everyone that had oppressed them will be denied the Millennial Kingdom, and will be cast into Hell! 
The Answer
So,  Pastor, how can Pre-Trib resolve this question they've Pondered since Pre-Trib began in the early 1800s? Quite simple really. Why not accept that there will be no Millennial Kingdom. God's Kingdom is NOT Millennial, it is FOREVER. So what is the "Next Age?" The next Age will begin when Jesus comes to take His People to Heaven; ALL of His People from EVERY Age. It is true that John prophesied about people that will "Live and reign with Jesus for a thousand years," but take a moment, Dear Pastor, and look at who these people are! Revelation 20 is the only place in the Bible making reference to people reigning with Jesus a thousand years, and these people had been, "beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the Beast (Antichrist), 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" (Rev.:4)!

Thanks SO much, Pastor, for your time and interest.
Your Brother in Christ
Walter C. Martin Jr.
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Check Our Other Websites:

Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Post-Tribulation Second Coming of Jesus
Will We Eat Pigs During the Millennium?

Planet Earth WILL be Destroyed After the 1000 Years!
New Jerusalem - How BIG is It?
Great White Throne Judgment Seat - When and Where
Christ's Kingdom - Millennial or EVERLASTING?

 Hell Fire
Is God Torturing People Now
Did Jesus Suffer ALL of Your Hell?
The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Death
The Dead - Dead or Alive - What is Death?
Did Jesus Die YOUR Death for You?
Will Satan Ever Die - Bible Says "YES!"
Testing Our Doctrine About Death
The Dead Stand Before Great White Throne Judgment Seat

 The Gnostics Attack the Sabbath
Were Gnostics Really Christian?
Were Gnostics Satan's Implants into the Church?
Is Gnosticism Alive and Well in Today's Churches
Church is Israel - Israel is Church
Is the Church Israel and Israel the Church?
Is the Bride of Jesus the 144 Thousand?
Did Jesus Offer the Jews a Millennial Kingdom in His Ministry?
Will New Jerusalem Sit in Israel? How Big is It?
Christ's REAL EVERLASTING Kingdom is for ALL Believers!

The Sabbath
Is it a Sin to Observe the Sabbath?
Is There a Connection Between the Rapture and the Sabbath?
Will the Sabbath Be Observed By God's People During the Tribulation?
Who REALLY Changed the Sabbath in Early Christianity?
Un-Answered and Un-Answerable Sabbath Questions For Popular Preachers
How to Test Your Doctrine Concerning the Sabbath

Heaven
Marriage in Heaven - Millennial Kingdom?
Strange Animal/Demons the Millennium?
Why Jesus Hasn't Come to Take Us To Heaven?
Teachers of Anomia (Law Annulling)
Good Ministers Teaching Against God's 10 Commandments?
Teaching of Anomia - The Reason Jesus Hasn't Come Yet?
Pre-Trib Rapture and Sabbath
Pre-Trib Rapture and the Sabbath?

Walter C. Martin Jr.
Everlasting Gospel Ministries

These are just a few of the questions we examine in our Websites.
Thank you, Dear Reader,  for checking them. Please feel free to give us your comments and feedback if you look at our Sites.  If you send us your questions or comments, we will try to answer and add your question to these Websites. We will Not give your name or E-Mail address to ANY ONE or ANY Church Group or Denomination! Nor will we send you ANY annoying E-Mails!! It is NOT our purpose to get you to withdraw from your present Church, but to invite you to present things you learn here to your Pastor and Friends.
Let's pray that God will continue sending His Holy Spirit to guide as we prepare for Jesus to come. Thank You!
Your Brother in Christ!
Walter C. Martin Jr



 

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