Dan. 2:35, the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Daniel 7 also pictures a succession of earthly kingdoms, the last one cast down and repossessed by the saints of the most High. The last earthly kingdom, that of the “beast” or the antichrist, is taken over by the saints.
Dan. 7:18, But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Dan. 7:22, Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Dan. 7:27, And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High
In Rev. 20, that those of the first resurrection are the ones who rule on earth with Christ should be presupposed by Bible believers - such passages as these above from Daniel, for example. It is only those influenced by some variation of philosophic Gnosticism that see otherwise.
The rule by Christ and his saints on earth after the 2nd coming is presupposed in the Bible. In the book of Daniel, we see it prophesied in such passages as the following:
Daniel 2 pictures a succession of earthly kingdoms, the last one crushed by a stone from heaven, after which it becomes a great “mountain” (“mountain” is prophetic scripture signifies a kingdom, or world empire) filling the whole earth. The “stone” from heaven crushing the last kingdom, the kingdom of antichrist, is the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ -
Dan. 2:35, the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Daniel 7 also pictures a succession of earthly kingdoms, the last one cast down and repossessed by the saints of the most High. The last earthly kingdom, that of the “beast” or the antichrist, is taken over by the saints.
Dan. 7:18, But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Dan. 7:22, Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Dan. 7:27, And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High
In Rev. 20, that those of the first resurrection are the ones who rule on earth with Christ should be presupposed by Bible believers - such passages as these above from Daniel, for example. It is only those influenced by some variation of philosophic Gnosticism that see otherwise.
I agree the saints will judge the nations (for example, the disciples judge the 12 tribes;) but there is no reference, whatsoever, that states they will judge from the earth at any time. Rather, all references point to their presence with the Lord on heavenly mount Sion, in new Jerusalem. They serve as the foundations for both the holy temple and the beloved city, New Jerusalem.
>>>In the book of Daniel, we see it prophesied in such passages as the following: Daniel 2 pictures a succession of earthly kingdoms, the last one crushed by a stone from heaven, after which it becomes a great “mountain” (“mountain” is prophetic scripture signifies a kingdom, or world empire) filling the whole earth. The “stone” from heaven crushing the last kingdom, the kingdom of antichrist, is the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ <<<
>>>Dan. 2:35, the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.<<<
I have a different interpretation of the four kingdoms in Daniel 2 and 7. I believe they were the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Macedo-Grecian, and the Roman empires. Daniel clearly stated the first was Nebuchadnezzar's:
"Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold." (Dan 2:37-38 KJV)
The succession of world-dominating kingdoms leads to the other three. The kingdom mentioned in the following verse is the Kingdom of God (or Heaven,) which overrules all other kingdoms:
"And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (Dan 7:14 KJV)
That kingdom has existed since (at least) the days of John the Baptist:
"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." (Mat 11:12 KJV)
Jesus (and by implication, his saints) took over the kingdom after his resurrection (Acts 2.) He clearly stated he would not eat again until he was in the kingdom (Luke 22:15-16,) and he ate with his disciples after his resurrection (Luke 24:41-43,) implying he was in his kingdom at that time.
>>>In Rev. 20, that those of the first resurrection are the ones who rule on earth with Christ should be presupposed by Bible believers - such passages as these above from Daniel, for example.<<<
That is partly correct. For example, we know that the twelve disciples sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes, as Jesus promised. We also know they were resurrected before the end of their own generation, as Jesus also promised. But there is no mention of their return to earth, whatsoever. Also, to claim that "bible believers" of today are "presupposed" for anything other than the final judgement requires a fantastic stretch of the imagination.
>>>It is only those influenced by some variation of philosophic Gnosticism that see otherwise.<<<
You are not trying to poison the well, are you?
Philip