| In-Depth Study of The Book of Revelation Explanation of Terms G - Q |
Heaven - Heaven refers in the Scripture to (a) the far off starry heavens, Genesis 1:1;
(b) the atmospheric heavens in which the birds fly, Jeremiah 4:25; and to (c) the place
wherein G-d specially manifests His presence, Matthew 6:9. This Third Heaven is
where the redeemed have an eternal place prepared for them (2 Corinthians 5:1; John
14:2). Before Christ's resurrection it was sometimes called "Abraham's Bosom" or
"Paradise" (Luke 16:22; 23:43). In the new Testament it is especially marked by the fact
that there the believer is alive and "present with the L-rd" (2 Corinthians 5:8). In the
future, after the millennium and after sin is forever done away with, G-d will make a
"New Heaven and a New Earth" (Revelation 21:1). Upon this New Earth the heavenly
New Jerusalem will descend wherein (i.e., on the New Earth and in this New city) the
redeemed will dwell throughout all eternity with Christ (Revelation 21 and 22).
Hellenization - From the Greek, Hellen, meaning "a Greek." Thus this term denotes
the movement to spread Greek language and culture to the rest of the world. This
desire received its impetus from the conquests of Alexander the Great (336-313 B.C.)
and from the onward it spread. The Pharisees opposed the hellenistically-minded
Herodians and Saducees on this. They hated that which was Greek, but Herod adored
it.
Immortality - Immortality is the state of living forever. The Bible indeed makes it clear
that human souls are immortal. Man's sin has brought to man spiritual death
(separation from G-d) as well as physical death (separation of the soul from the body);
but Christ's substitutionary death on the cross has made forgiveness and true
immortality (union forever with G-d) possible to those who will repent and trust Him.
Both those who now die in Christ (believers) and the Old Testament saints have
everlasting life; they are conscious today, they are in joy and peace present with Christ
awaiting their resurrection bodies (John 11:25-26); Matthew 22:31-32; Luke 16:19-31; 2
Corinthians 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58). These are immortal in the true sense of the
word! Those, however, who die in unbelief are now in hell, the unseen world, awaiting
consciously their resurrection, final judgement, and final fate of being sent to dwell in
the "Lake of Fire" forever and ever. Here they are not annihilated, for their souls
remain alive )(Mark 9:48; Revelation 20:10). Hence these "lost souls" are in this sense
also immortal. But, since the Lake of Fire involves eternal separation from G-d, they
are spiritually eternally dead! Hence the Lake of Fire is rightly given the awful title of
"The Second Death" (Revelation 20:10-15)! Thus only the redeemed, the saved, have
true immortality - for these are both eternally conscious (as are the lost) and eternally
with G-d (which the lost are not).
Last Days - Our reference to the Last Days means the days immediately prior to the
"Rapture" of the saints and the ushering in of the tribulation Period of 7 years.
Mark of the Beast - During the second half of the seven year Tribulation Period the
Antichrist (who previously was setting himself up as a Man of Peace) will suddenly
move against the Jews and all those who have accepted Christ as Saviour during the
first 3 1/2 years of this period. In Revelation 13:16,7 we read that "...he (False Prophet)
causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive some mark in
their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that
had the mark..."
Therefore those who refuse to submit to the authority of this system by having this
mark (The Mark of the Beast), face either starving to death slowly, or being slain by the
representatives of the government, who will treat as traitors all who refuse to accept
this identifying mark.
Millennium - Millennium is from the Latin, mille, "thousand," and annum, "year." It
thus refers to the prophesied coming 1000 year period when Christ shall reign on the
earth with a rod of iron (Revelation 20:4; 12:5; etc.). Satan shall be bound at this time
and a period of earthly peace shall prevail (Revelation 20:1-10). In the Old Testament
this period is described as the period of the Kingdom of Heaven (Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14).
Isaiah 11 is the key O.T. passage which tells of the peace and righteousness of this
time. Israel shall be restored and converted, and it shall have an honored place in this
Millennial Kingdom (Zechariah 8:20-23; Acts 1:6).
Pre-Millennialism - Pre-Millennialism (pre, "before," the Mille annum, "1000")
advocates that the Second Coming of Christ will occur before the millennium. In fact, it
believes that the 1000 year Kingdom Age of the earth (the Millennium) cannot be
started until Christ, the King, comes again personally and visibly. Matthew 25:21-34
indeed shows that the Second Coming of Christ is the event which does inaugurate this
1000 year reign of Christ (Revelation 19:11-20:6).
Post-Millennialism - Post-Millennialism (post, "after, the mille annum, "1000 year")
advocates that the Second Coming of Christ will be after the Church has led the world
into conversion and 1000 years of earthly bliss. This opinion, once popular when it
seemed as if the missionary message was going to bring the whole world to Christ, has
today been largely abandoned. It is now clear that until Christ comes there will be no
1000 year millennial peace.
Amillennialism - Amillennialism comes from the Greco-Latin, a, "no," and
milleannum, "thousand year." Thus those who hold to this school of thought say that
there will be No future Millennial reign of Christ on the Earth. They say that the
prophecies of the millennial kingdom are not literal; but rather that they refer
figuratively to the happy state of the Church today. They understand Satan to be
bound today "so that he should deceive the nations no more" (Revelation 20:3). (When
one compares however, the state of the nations and the church today with Revelation
20:3 it is difficult to defend the amillennial notion that Satan is today bound "so that he
should deceive the nations no more").
Mystery - Mystery (musterion in the Greek) is a term used in the New Testament
which can only be truly understood in the light of its Greco Roman usage in the ancient
world. There it referred to a secret known only to the initiated members of a secret or
exclusive group - for example, the "mystery religions" of the time were those with
secret oaths, rites, laws and books. Hence in the New Testament a "mystery" is a truth,
plan, or a program of G-d which has been either kept secret in prior ages or which,
though hinted at in grasp. To the disciples and believers, the initiated, these are
revealed (Matthew 13:11; Luke 8:10 Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 4:1; Ephesians 5:32;
6:19; Colossians 1:26).
Pre-, Mid-, Post-Tribulationist - Pre, Mid-, Post-Tribulationist is a person who is of the
persuasion that the Rapture of the Chruch (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) is respectively
before (Pre), in the midst of (Mid), or after (Post) the Prophecised Tribulation Period -
the final 7 year period when Antichrist rises and reigns (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 21;
etc.). Pre-Tribulationists believe that since the Church is said to have been delivered
from the "wrath to come" (I Thess. 1:9-10; 5-9; Romans 5:9), it, the church, therefore
must be raptured before the Tribulation Period which is the great day of G-d's wrath
(Revelation 6:17). See Genesis 19:22!
(b) the atmospheric heavens in which the birds fly, Jeremiah 4:25; and to (c) the place
wherein G-d specially manifests His presence, Matthew 6:9. This Third Heaven is
where the redeemed have an eternal place prepared for them (2 Corinthians 5:1; John
14:2). Before Christ's resurrection it was sometimes called "Abraham's Bosom" or
"Paradise" (Luke 16:22; 23:43). In the new Testament it is especially marked by the fact
that there the believer is alive and "present with the L-rd" (2 Corinthians 5:8). In the
future, after the millennium and after sin is forever done away with, G-d will make a
"New Heaven and a New Earth" (Revelation 21:1). Upon this New Earth the heavenly
New Jerusalem will descend wherein (i.e., on the New Earth and in this New city) the
redeemed will dwell throughout all eternity with Christ (Revelation 21 and 22).
Hellenization - From the Greek, Hellen, meaning "a Greek." Thus this term denotes
the movement to spread Greek language and culture to the rest of the world. This
desire received its impetus from the conquests of Alexander the Great (336-313 B.C.)
and from the onward it spread. The Pharisees opposed the hellenistically-minded
Herodians and Saducees on this. They hated that which was Greek, but Herod adored
it.
Immortality - Immortality is the state of living forever. The Bible indeed makes it clear
that human souls are immortal. Man's sin has brought to man spiritual death
(separation from G-d) as well as physical death (separation of the soul from the body);
but Christ's substitutionary death on the cross has made forgiveness and true
immortality (union forever with G-d) possible to those who will repent and trust Him.
Both those who now die in Christ (believers) and the Old Testament saints have
everlasting life; they are conscious today, they are in joy and peace present with Christ
awaiting their resurrection bodies (John 11:25-26); Matthew 22:31-32; Luke 16:19-31; 2
Corinthians 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58). These are immortal in the true sense of the
word! Those, however, who die in unbelief are now in hell, the unseen world, awaiting
consciously their resurrection, final judgement, and final fate of being sent to dwell in
the "Lake of Fire" forever and ever. Here they are not annihilated, for their souls
remain alive )(Mark 9:48; Revelation 20:10). Hence these "lost souls" are in this sense
also immortal. But, since the Lake of Fire involves eternal separation from G-d, they
are spiritually eternally dead! Hence the Lake of Fire is rightly given the awful title of
"The Second Death" (Revelation 20:10-15)! Thus only the redeemed, the saved, have
true immortality - for these are both eternally conscious (as are the lost) and eternally
with G-d (which the lost are not).
Last Days - Our reference to the Last Days means the days immediately prior to the
"Rapture" of the saints and the ushering in of the tribulation Period of 7 years.
Mark of the Beast - During the second half of the seven year Tribulation Period the
Antichrist (who previously was setting himself up as a Man of Peace) will suddenly
move against the Jews and all those who have accepted Christ as Saviour during the
first 3 1/2 years of this period. In Revelation 13:16,7 we read that "...he (False Prophet)
causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive some mark in
their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that
had the mark..."
Therefore those who refuse to submit to the authority of this system by having this
mark (The Mark of the Beast), face either starving to death slowly, or being slain by the
representatives of the government, who will treat as traitors all who refuse to accept
this identifying mark.
Millennium - Millennium is from the Latin, mille, "thousand," and annum, "year." It
thus refers to the prophesied coming 1000 year period when Christ shall reign on the
earth with a rod of iron (Revelation 20:4; 12:5; etc.). Satan shall be bound at this time
and a period of earthly peace shall prevail (Revelation 20:1-10). In the Old Testament
this period is described as the period of the Kingdom of Heaven (Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14).
Isaiah 11 is the key O.T. passage which tells of the peace and righteousness of this
time. Israel shall be restored and converted, and it shall have an honored place in this
Millennial Kingdom (Zechariah 8:20-23; Acts 1:6).
Pre-Millennialism - Pre-Millennialism (pre, "before," the Mille annum, "1000")
advocates that the Second Coming of Christ will occur before the millennium. In fact, it
believes that the 1000 year Kingdom Age of the earth (the Millennium) cannot be
started until Christ, the King, comes again personally and visibly. Matthew 25:21-34
indeed shows that the Second Coming of Christ is the event which does inaugurate this
1000 year reign of Christ (Revelation 19:11-20:6).
Post-Millennialism - Post-Millennialism (post, "after, the mille annum, "1000 year")
advocates that the Second Coming of Christ will be after the Church has led the world
into conversion and 1000 years of earthly bliss. This opinion, once popular when it
seemed as if the missionary message was going to bring the whole world to Christ, has
today been largely abandoned. It is now clear that until Christ comes there will be no
1000 year millennial peace.
Amillennialism - Amillennialism comes from the Greco-Latin, a, "no," and
milleannum, "thousand year." Thus those who hold to this school of thought say that
there will be No future Millennial reign of Christ on the Earth. They say that the
prophecies of the millennial kingdom are not literal; but rather that they refer
figuratively to the happy state of the Church today. They understand Satan to be
bound today "so that he should deceive the nations no more" (Revelation 20:3). (When
one compares however, the state of the nations and the church today with Revelation
20:3 it is difficult to defend the amillennial notion that Satan is today bound "so that he
should deceive the nations no more").
Mystery - Mystery (musterion in the Greek) is a term used in the New Testament
which can only be truly understood in the light of its Greco Roman usage in the ancient
world. There it referred to a secret known only to the initiated members of a secret or
exclusive group - for example, the "mystery religions" of the time were those with
secret oaths, rites, laws and books. Hence in the New Testament a "mystery" is a truth,
plan, or a program of G-d which has been either kept secret in prior ages or which,
though hinted at in grasp. To the disciples and believers, the initiated, these are
revealed (Matthew 13:11; Luke 8:10 Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 4:1; Ephesians 5:32;
6:19; Colossians 1:26).
Pre-, Mid-, Post-Tribulationist - Pre, Mid-, Post-Tribulationist is a person who is of the
persuasion that the Rapture of the Chruch (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) is respectively
before (Pre), in the midst of (Mid), or after (Post) the Prophecised Tribulation Period -
the final 7 year period when Antichrist rises and reigns (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 21;
etc.). Pre-Tribulationists believe that since the Church is said to have been delivered
from the "wrath to come" (I Thess. 1:9-10; 5-9; Romans 5:9), it, the church, therefore
must be raptured before the Tribulation Period which is the great day of G-d's wrath
(Revelation 6:17). See Genesis 19:22!
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Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc.
Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007
Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007