4004 BC – Creation and Adam & Eve created (various                               1056 BC – Death of Saul and David becomes King
                   scholars, based on bible genealogies vary                                  1033 BC – Birth of Solomon
                   the year from 3760 to 5872) and scientists                                 1015 BC – Death of David and Solomon becomes King
                   say the earth is millions of years old                                            1004 BC – Dedication of the Temple (took 20 to 30
2948 BC – Birth of Noah                                                                                                        years to build)
2348 BC – The Flood                                                                                              975 BC – Death of Solomon
1998 BC – Death of Noah                                                                                     586 BC – Destruction of the Temple
1996 BC – Birth of Abraham (named Abram at birth)                                   538 BC – Daniel in the lions den
1897 BC – Destruction of Sodom                                                                        516 BC – Temple rebuilt and dedicated (took 21
1822 BC – Death of Abraham                                                                                               years to rebuild)
1571 BC – Birth of Moses                                                                                          5 BC – Birth of Christ Jesus
1491 BC – The Exodus and creation of the law                                                 28 AD – Sermon on the Mount
                   at Mount Sinai                                                                                       29 AD – Feeding of the 5000, Jesus walks on water
1451 BC – Death of Moses & crossing the Jordan,                                           30 AD – Crucifixion of Christ Jesus
                   after 40 years in the wilderness                                                         36 AD – Jesus appears to Paul (proving that he still lives)
1095 BC – Saul became Israel's first King                                                                           and the conversion of Paul
1085 BC – Birth of David                                                                                         68 AD – Jesus appears to John (again proving that he lives
1063 BC – David and Goliath                                                                                                 on in Heaven)

1st Resurrection... The 1st Resurrection occurred as various times... so that they can be discussed in detail we have delineated the different times as "Groups" so they can be discussed individually.
   Group 1... Old testament saints and others who were raised from the dead when Jesus was
      resurrected.
   Group 2... The dead who believed in God who meet Jesus in the sky in the "Rapture".
   Group 3... The believers who were alive at the time of the "Rapture" and meet Jesus in the sky.
   Group 4... Babies and children before the age of accountability (dead and alive) will meet
      Jesus in the sky at "Rapture".
   Group 5... The 144,000 ministers.
   Group 6... Two witnesses (prophets) were called up to Heaven.
   Group 7... The believers who died during the "Tribulations" and those who are still alive at the
      end of the "Tribulations" (this includes the 144,000 ministers).

Biblical References (1st Resurrection - Group 1)...
Matthew 27:52-53... "Also the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
Discussion Thoughts (1st Resurrection - Group 1)... This is one of the bible mysteries... we don't know how many were raised and what happened to them after "they went into the holy city and appeared to many".  It is also unclear whether they came to life at the time of his crucifixion or at his resurrection.
My Beliefs... We know that Jesus stayed on Earth for 40 days after his resurrection (some say 38 days) and that he then ascended to Heaven... my belief is that Jesus took those others, who were resurrected with him, to Paradise.  When Jesus ascended to Heaven, Paradise was moved from "Hades" to "Heaven" (see the study on "Are Paradise and Heaven the Same?".

Biblical References (1st Resurrection - Groups 2, 3 & 4 - "The Rapture")...
1st Thessalonians 4:13-18... "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.  For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.  Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1st Corinthians 15:52... "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."
Acts 1:7... "But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority;"
Matthew 24:36... “But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."
Matthew 24:42... “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming."
Discussion Thoughts (1st Resurrection - Group 2, 3 & 4 - "The Rapture")... First we need to mention that the word "Rapture" never appears in the bible...  the  word "Rapture" is derived from the Latin word 'Rapere' (which means 'to carry off') and did not come into usage until late in the 19th century; and did not come into popular usage until the mid 1900's.  The word "Rapture" was first made popular by an Irish evangelist named John Nelson Darby in the late 1800's and later in the 1900's by a preacher named William Eugene Blackstone.  The scriptures Acts 1:7-8, Matthew 24:36, and Matthew 24:42 tell us that no one except God knows when the "Rapture" will occur.  The "Rapture" groups include (Group 2) The dead who believed in God 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1st Corinthians 15:52.  (Group 3) Those believers currently alive when Jesus returns in the sky 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1st Corinthians 15:52.  (and Group 4) Babies and children before the age of accountability (see our study on the "Age of Accountability"). 
My Beliefs... We don't know when the "Rapture" will occur, but the bible references above nicely depict how it will happen... believers who are dead and those who are alive, along with babies and children will meet Jesus in the sky!

Biblical References and Discussion Thoughts (1st Resurrection - Group 5)... To read a complete analysis of Group 5 please refer to our study entitled "Who are the 144,000?".
My Beliefs... Group 5 is a rather special group... the 144,000 will be selected during the time of the "Rapture"... these "ministers" will then preach the gospel to all remaining on Earth during the tribulations...  some of the 144,000 may be martyred during the tribulation, and they along with multitudes will be resurrected at the end of the tribulations.

Biblical References (1st Resurrection - Group 6)...
Revelations 11:12... "And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.”  And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them."
Discussion Thoughts (1st Resurrection - Group 6)... Scholars have many versions of who the "Prophets" were that were called up to Heaven... some say Elijah & Enoch, some say Moses & Elijah, some say Joshua & Zerubabel.  No one knows, because the bible does not say!  What we do know is that these "Prophets" were alive during the tribulation... and because of their "witnessing" the Devil became angry at them and killed them... because of their suffering God called them up to Heaven, so their suffering could end (this was near the end of the tribulations).
My Beliefs... I have nothing to add to the discussion... the discussion thoughts provide the answers.

Biblical References and Discussion Thoughts (7 Years of Tribulations)... We will leave this subject to study on your own... we suggest reading Joel 1-3, Matthew 24, and the entire book of Revelations to read about the 7 years of tribulations.  (we plan to do a study on the 7 years of tribulations at some later time).
My Beliefs... The 7 years of tribulations will be terrible times... the good news is that they will end, and multitudes will be saved, to enter the 1000 year reign of Jesus!  You may want to read Revelation 16:12-14 which depicts the final battle (Armageddon) near the end of the 7 years.

Biblical References (1st Resurrection - Group 7)...
Revelations 20:4-6... "Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them.  And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.  This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
Luke 20:35-36... "but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection."
Daniel 12:2... "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt."
John 5:28-29... "Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment."                                   
Discussion Thoughts (1st Resurrection - Group 7)... There are many other references to the resurrection of "Group 7" but these few references are sufficient to explain this final event that occurs after 7 years of horrible tribulations.  However... I am very perplexed by Daniel 12 and John 5... these verses are talking about the resurrection that occurred at the end of the tribulations... my beliefs have always been that the dead who were not believers would not be raised to judgment until after the 1000 year reign on Christ; these verses seem to suggest these dead are raised at this 1st resurrection... more study is needed!
My Beliefs... This "final" "Group 7" 1st Resurrection will be the last resurrection prior to Christ's 1000 year reign... following that reign there will be a final judgment (the 2nd Resurrection), then the new Heaven and the New Earth will be created and eternity will begin!


Biblical References - Millennium (Christ's 1000 year reign)...
Revelation 20:1-2... "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2And he took hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;"
Isaiah 2:4... "And He will judge between the nations, and will mediate for many peoples; and they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning knives.  Nation will not lift up a sword against nation, and never again will they learn war."
Isaiah 11:6-9... "And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fattened steer will be together; and a little boy will lead them.  Also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.  The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den.  They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
Isaiah 32:15-18... "Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field is considered as a forest.  Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness will remain in the fertile field.  And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.  Then my people will live in a peaceful settlement"
Genesis 15:18-21... "On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “to your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: the land of the Kenite, the Kenizzite, the Kadmonite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Rephaim, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.”
2 Samuel 7:16... "Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” 
Isaiah 33:24... "And no resident will say, “I am sick”; the people who live there will be forgiven their wrongdoing."
Isaiah 35:5-6... "Then the eyes of those who are blind will be opened, and the ears of those who are deaf will be unstopped.  Then those who limp will leap like a deer, and the tongue of those who cannot speak will shout for joy.  For waters will burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert."
The above scriptures are the "Good News", but there is "Bad News" when Satan is released at the end of the 1000 years; and Satan causes troubles again for a short time!
Revelation 20:7-10... "When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore.  And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them.  And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
Discussion Thoughts - Millennium (Christ's 1000 year reign)... The purpose of the 1000 year reign is to fulfill promises God made to the world that cannot be fulfilled while Satan is free and humans have control of the world.  In biblical terms those promises are called "covenants".  The 1000 years start when the "tribulations" are ended!  Revelation 20:1-2 is very clear that when Jesus returns to Earth at the end of the tribulations he came with a key to the Abyss and a great chain; he seized Satan and bound him for 1000 years.  All the other scriptures quoted above (except Revelation20:7-10) tell about some of the "covenants" that Christ will fulfill during the 1000 years... 2 Samuel 7:16 is especially interesting; this was a promise to King David saying that his throne is established for ever (Jesus is a descendant of David so the promise was kept).  Revelation 20:7-10, of course, tells how the 1000 year millennium ends... God's final triumph over Satan!  There are many more scriptures that deal with the millennium, so do some searching on your own.
My Beliefs... The discussion above summarizes my beliefs.  Jesus returns to Earth, ends the tribulations, starts the 1000 year millennium, fulfills Gods covenants, creates a wonderful 1000 year reign, defeats Satan, establishes the "final judgment" (2nd Resurrection) and moves on to create the new Heaven, new Earth and eternity!


Biblical References - 2nd Resurrection (final judgment)...
Revelation 20:5... "The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed..."
Revelation 20:11-15... "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them.  And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them; and they were judged, each one of them according to their deeds.  Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
John 5:21-22... "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.  For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,"
Genesis 4:3-5... "So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground.  Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions.   And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering;  but for Cain and his offering He had no regard.  So Cain became very angry and his face was gloomy."
Discussion Thoughts - 2nd Resurrection (final judgment)... So, who are the "dead" who will be raised to judgment?  Sin started early... Adam and Eve... and their first born Cain.  Genesis 4:3-5 explains that God was unpleased when Cain did not present the "best portions" of his crops... God was unpleased but God did not judge Cain... judgment is left to Jesus (see John 5:21-22).  So, early on in life in this world, those who did not keep the ordinances of God will be raised for judgment in the 2nd resurrection!  Later on when Jesus entered the world and died, those who do not believe in his life and resurrection are also those who will be raised to face judgment in the final resurrection.  Revelation 20:5 explains who will come to life at the final judgment... at the 1st resurrection the dead who were believers were brought to life in the "Rapture".  Revelation 20:11-15 explains perfectly the results of not being a "believer"!
My Beliefs... Those who are believers and kept his ordinances were raised from the dead; and along with those living at the time of the "Rapture" (1st Resurrection as discussed above) are in Heaven.  Revelation 20:5 and Revelation 20:11-15 explain the final judgment... all those who were not raised at the "Rapture" will be raised at the end of the 1000 years (those who died before the 1000 year reign and those who died during the 1000 year reign).  All the dead along with those still alive at the end of the 1000 year reign will then be judged at the final judgment (the 2nd Resurrection).


Biblical References - New Heaven & New Earth ("Eternity")...
Revelation 21:1-4... "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:10-27... "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.  Her brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.  It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on the gates, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.  There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.  And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.  The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, twelve thousand stadia; its length, width, and height are equal.  And he measured its wall, 144 cubits, by human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.  The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.  The foundation stones of the city wall were decorated with every kind of precious stone.  The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.  I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.  The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.  In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life."
Discussion Thoughts - New Heaven & New Earth ("Eternity")... John was shown the new heaven and the new earth.  The descriptions in Revelation really need no discussion... the descriptions are precise and wonderful... there will no longer be day and night, because the glory of God is the light!  The size of Jerusalem (where God, Jesus and the Angels live is enormous). 
Revelation 21:3-4 says it all... “Look, God’s home is now among his people!  He will live with them, and they will be his people.  God himself will be with them.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.  All these things are gone forever."

My Beliefs... The new Heaven and new Earth (which will be all together as one) will be wonderful and marvelous beyond our imagine! (see our study entitled "Are Heaven and Paradise the Same").  It is my belief that "today" Paradise is in Heaven and that when the new Heaven and new Earth are created the new Earth will be Paradise.  God, Jesus and the Angels will reside in the New Jerusalem and we will reside in the New Earth (what was Paradise before it came down from Heaven).

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