Revelation 20:4 and 5 reads:
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, AND JUDGMENT WAS GIVEN UNTO THEM...and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years (Emphasis mine). But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished...."
These verses clearly indicate that the redeemed saints shall sit on thrones with Christ and go over the life's record of the living dead during this one thousand year period to determine THE DEGREE of punishment the wicked shall receive because the Bible tells us God shall reward every man ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS (Rev. 22:12).
Wow Wow wow wow!!!!!
Is this the picture of God we have? A God who has degrees of punishment for misdeeds done? Then Satan's claims are indeed correct. We serve a God who will punish us when we don't obey him....
I am sorry for any who sees God this way, they must live a torturous life. The text quoted in Rev about Judgement, is so misunderstood and can lead to that wrong perception of God, I agree. However when you have the correct picture of God, as evidenced throughout the whole 66 books not just one text or book, that concept of God does not fit. So what might it really be saying?
I have come to appreciate in recent times that Jesus's picture of God is not appreciated or seen. However if we want to know how God treats wicked people, unrepentant sinners, we have the evidence on the cross. He simply but painfully weeping and heartbrokenly turns his back and gives them up to their choice to distrust him which is death. For that is all he did to Jesus who took our place. Jesus became sin who knew no sin, and God did not give him any degree of punishment, he simply had to forsake him as Jesus' cry out tells us.
I believe at the end of the thousand years, all God will do is remove his glory of protection that is presently keeping us all, (till we make our choice). Then we will know what sin's wages are, eternal separation, no life at all but total none existence. It is a horrible agonizing death( as we saw in Jesus's experience) not known by any human yet but Christ knows it.
He appeals to all not to know it, that is why he came to show us what will happen. Since no one could really appreciate what it was before. Not even Satan. God did not kill his son. We all know that. So why do we think he will kill us? He simply gives us up and says, 'oh how can I give you up Oh Ephraim," while doing so.
The judgement are God's ways (Deut 32:4). The judgement that occurs during the thousand years is just simply all the evidence of God's ways,that these 6000 odd years or more, have revealed. It shows those who are now with God, why their loved ones were not there with them.Simply it was because they choose to distrust God in spite of all his ways revealed to them, in spite of all the opportunity given to them. This satisfies them that truly God could not do anymore than he did and that he was just merciful and the evidence is 100% against the wicked, not God. This is an important time for those who are with Christ in the thousand years, so there is no shadow of doubt to them, of God's character of trustworthiness. So sin would not rise again.
If these poor folk were to be only looking to see what degress of punishment should be meted out to wrongdoers, isn't it likely that someday after they will perish the thought of doing what they chose, for fear the decision is made concerning them, like was made for their loved ones. What freedom is that? What kind of kingdom is that to live in? NO no my friends I am sorry that picture of God is not only not true but sure is destructive. For I don't want to serve or live with a God like that no way. IT is bad enough living here with an enemy like that.
bev