Good thoughts all. Allow me to say to you that I for one appreciate openminded thoughts!
The new modernists of the neo-orthodox (so near and yet so far) schools of Barth and Brunner define inspiration in another manner ie.......
The Bible is the Word of God because particular passages have conveyed from time to time a divine message to man. To man at times the Bible becomes a word of God.
I realize that YOU are not saying that at all, but This school of teaching does not hold the Bible to be the Word of God but rather declares that under some circumstances parts of it become a word of God. As both these views dethrone the whole idea of a real divine revelation I reject them. When I speak of the Bible as the Word of God I do not only mean that it contains the Word of God but that it is the Word of God.
Now, are there symbols used in the Bible??? Certainly there are! However, the Bible is not symbolic or allagorical!
Also, allow me to say that the 1st Resurrection is not over....yet!
The 1st Resurrection is in PHASES!
1.
Jesus Christ Himself (the “first fruits,”
1 Corinthians 15:20), paved the way for the resurrection of all who believe in Him.
2.
There was a resurrection of the Jerusalem saints (
Matthew 27:52-53) which should be included in our consideration of the first resurrection.
3.
Still to come are the resurrection of “the dead in Christ” at the Lord’s return (
1 Thessalonians 4:16)
4.
And the resurrection of the martyrs at the end of the Tribulation (
Revelation 20:4).
That ends the 1st Resurrection which is a resurrection unto LIFE but the 2nd Resurrection is one unto DEATH (Lake of Fire).
You said..........
"Last there will be a great battle,one Satan has waited many centuries for between God and himself. Remember he has since his rebellion desired to overthrow God and become God.
All saints will join in this battle for Satan has his last stand here before the lake of fire!"
I hope that you do not think that I am trying to correct you or tell you anything at all. Anytime you do, please tell me to........."Keep it to myself" and I will understand.
I am just trying to grow you in knowledge. There are actually TWO Battels coming. #1 is Armageddon which will come 7 years after the Rapture removes all born again believers. Rev. 19 gives the account.
The Lord Jesus will do ALL of the work. The host of heaven comes with Him but only as observers.
Rev. 19:15,
The 2nd Battle that is coming is found in Rev. 20 and it is 1000 years AFTER Armageddon.
Rev. 20:7........
"And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city
: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them."
And it does not appear that men have anything to do with the 2nd battle either.
Rev. 20:10.....
"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. "