JordanRiver

As for the new heavens and the new earth, I think that was symbollic of the church. I'll get back to you on the other stuff

K, you got me there - but Muslim and African countries are just a bunch of different countries - the Roman Empire controlled most of the known world, so it's hard to believe that a few Muslim and African countries are more brutal than the whole of the Roman Empire, but I believe you, anyway. Anyway, I still stick to the point that the evil that was defeated was the Roman Empire - one of the greatest empires this world has ever seen, yet they fell. They're not coming back, either. Rome's still around, but it's empire is long gone. Christian persecution has come back, but not the Roman empire.

First of all, the Bible didn't say anything about a millenium - it said a thousand years. yes, I am aware they mean the same thing, but let's use Biblical terminologies. Okay, the thousand years was in contrast to the short seasons - so in contrast a thousand years is like eternity. Remember, this is from a symbolical standpoint. And yes, there is still evil but it isn't a. Resulting from the Roman empire b. It's not QUITE as bad as it was. It is still bad but have any of you seen your loved ones boiled in hot oil, crucified, burned with hot tar, or tortured because someone was trying to get you to deny God? Yes, there is persecution and things that test the saints, but it isn't nearly as bad as it was. I think the evil Revelation talks about is symbolic of that which the Roman Empire did.

Alright the first temple is the temple Solomon built Second temple is the one rebuilt by Nehemiah Third temple is the Church, the Kingdom of God - you know the one John preached was at hand (Eph. 2:19-22) And the one who proclaimed himself to be god in II Thes. 2: 3-4 could be anything from the pope, or maybe Muhammad Ali, to just a person who thought they had authority.

I think that the thousand years is symbollic of the Roman Empire being gone forever - a thousand years in contrast to a short season is like forever.

When John wrote the prophecy, it had not happened yet but was going to happen.

Like I said - it's symbolic. Satan could symbolize the roman Empire and the lake of fire could symbolize their defeat

But the Roman Empire has nothing to do with it.

When the Roman empire was crushed. Don't you think it's ironic that the very thing Rome was persecuting (Christianity) was the very thing that ended up crushing them. Yes, I do believe God was behind the fall of the Roman empire.

What? Sorry, never been asked that before. But if this is what you're asking - I believe the things talked about in Revelation have already happened.

Before I say what I believe I just want to say I believe what I believe after much studying and this isn't just something that has popped into my head. I. I believe Revelation is a book of symbols a. Rev. 1:1 ...and SIGNIFIED it... look in the dictionary - signified means put into symbols. So I believe that whether or not those things have already happened, or will happen, or perhaps both, it isn't literal - it all symbolizes something. II. This one will make a few ppl mad - I think it was symbolic of the Roman persecution of the church. There are so many things that are parallel with it and Revelation. I'm not dogmatic about this, however, because I, like all of you, am just a human and I make mistakes. I will keep this in mind, however - Revelation MIGHT be a double prophecy with double fulfillment, like many prophecies in the Old Testament. III. At the beginning, it also says that these things will shortly come to pass. I know someone will whip out the scripture about the thousand years as a day thing and here is my answer - Was God deceiving his people when he gave this Revelation to John? I would say that would be downright deceptive and confusing if God told John to tell the people that these things were going to happen shortly, but then for Him to have in the back of His mind that He REALLY meant a long time. Besides, that scripture had nothing to do with Revelation. Peter was just proving the point that there is no time with God. I think we can all agree that the theme of Revelation is how God's people are persecuted, but they always overcome because God is on their side. The theme is that of complete victory! The scholars all say that the main purpose of this book was to encourage the Christians in thei time of trouble. No one here can deny that Revelation does a fine job of doing that. God be praised that He will deliver us from all of our persecutors.