Revelation's presentation of a future reign of 1000 years in heaven for Christian martyrs has significant meaning. Their reward of "serving God day and night as pillars in the temple of heaven" (Rev.3:11-12) focuses on the incentive for Endtime Saints to be faithful unto death...knowing they will be specially rewarded after the "first resurrection". Amils deny this reward of a literal 1000-year period applies only to martyred Saints who are *beheaded* for not worshiping the Beast. Rev.20:4-6. 

Amils remove the special incentive for victory over the Beast, his image and his mark during Endtime days. They believe the great tribulation and "1000 years" have been ongoing since Christ's ascent to heaven...by claiming the "first resurrection" of Rev.20:5 refers to the "new birth." That destroys the incentive of a 1000-year reward that requires the Day of the Lord to last for 1000 years when Christ comes. Faithfulness to the End for Martyrs means "serving God and reigning with Christ in heaven". Faithfulness to the End for Survivors means sitting on earthly thrones to reign with Christ 1000 years. Rev.7:15-17; Rev.2:25-27. 

God's answer to the Martyrs' prayer, "How long, O Master before you avenge our blood," extends the time of suffering for the final number who must be killed to the few days after the Beast kills the Two Prophets. Rev.6:9-11; Rev.11:9-11. Jesus specifically had them in mind by saying that "some of those standing (t)here would not taste death, by any means, until they had seen the kingdom of God after it comes with power." Mark 9:1. Their reward to "serve God and reign with Christ in heaven" is not concurrent with their time in heaven before the resurrection nor with the final 3½ days before the End. Their reign begins after God avenges their blood on the Lastday of this present age. 

That's what makes the introduction of their 1000-year-reward so strikingly relevant for those knowing the End is near. Matt.24:33. Especially is this true after the 1260-day-countdown ends when the Beast kills the Two Prophets. I believe it is God's way of shoring up the faith of wavering Endtime Saints. "They love not their life unto death and none worship the Beast or his image or accept the mark." Rev.12:11; 13:8; 17:8. 

Jesus will "bring His reward with Him for each one." Matt.16:27; Rev.22:12. The reward begins on the day God avenges their blood...in answer to their prayer as as the Lamb "smites the nations (present tense) with a word from His mouth and shall rule them (future tense) with an iron rod." Martyrs are avenged before even those who "survive to the End" can begin to "reign with Christ on earth." Rev.2:25-27; Rev.19:15-21. 

Sitting on thrones to rule the nations applies to survivors to the End of the age. "Serving God in heaven as pillars in the Temple day and night and wearing the name of the New Jerusalem" (for 1000 years) prior to the New Heavens and Earth) is for "loving NOT one's life unto death." Rev.3:12; 7:15-17; 20:4-6; 12:11. 

That's why Revelation's 1000 years pertains to Peter's 1000-Year-Day of God's patience so that "all men might be saved." 2 Pet.3:8-9. Amils delete the one mention of literal bodily resurrection from the Book of Revelation. The resurrection and glorification of believers is our cardinal doctrine of the eternal state. Saints will not suffer the "second death"...an experience that also requires resurrected bodies! Rev. 20:6,14.

The 1000 years are necessary to set the stage for a final testing of mankind before Jesus separates the sheep from the goats to determine who will inherit the "Kingdom on earth for all eternity". Matt.25:32-34. Those who have worshiped God during the Millennium may then enter the New Jerusalem at any time to continue being "healed by the leaves of the Tree of Life." In fact, they will be healed by its leaves in the Millennium. Ezek.47:12; Rev.21:24-26; Rev.22:2,14. 

All of the Bride of the Lamb will "serve God in the New Jerusalem" after 1000 years where there is neither Temple nor the existence of night and day. Martyrs will "serve God and the Lamb will be their shepherd" in  advance of the New Heaven and Earth with the same blessings to be inherited by the Lamb's Bride forever. Martyrs serve God while it is still day and night on earth and New Jerusalem remains in heaven. They receive the name of God and the Lamb and the New Jerusalem and are shepherded by the Lamb before coming down in the New Jerusalem with its foundation upon/over the New Earth! Rev.3:12; 7:15-17; 21:1-4. 

The most serious default in the Amil and Dispensational views is that of ignoring the repetition of Joel's promise by Paul that God will "relent and abundantly pardon" all who call on Him for mercy after "Gentile fullness comes in" and with it a judicial declaration that, because of their rebellion, unbelieving Gentiles are as guilty as Jews for "disobedience." God's ways are revealed as opposed to man's ways. Rom.11:30-32. This is Paul's confirmation of Isa.55:7-11 and Joel 2:11-14. 

God will "show mercy to all mankind" for 1000 years to procreate a countless number of sheep...as well as goats. The latter will finally be deceived by Satan even with Christ dwelling among mankind on the earth. They will be "separated from the sheep" after the 1000 years are finished. The goats will be cast into Hell on the basis of their treatment of the "least of Jesus' brethren." Matt.25:41-46.

Christ will "sit on His throne" before the sheep inherit the eternal kingdom on earth. They will have perennial access to the New Jerusalem. Matt.25:32-34; Rev.21:24-26; Rev.22:2. They will have the "right to enter the New Jerusalem." Rev.22:14. The excuses given by the goats will be unmasked when they ask why they should not inherit the Kingdom with the sheep; but are cast alive into Hell. Matt.25:41-46. Mel

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