Good analysis. I agree that A LOT worse relates to the morality issue. Immorality is a condition of the heart and that is what destroys nations. Wars can be fought over principles but a society is governed by morality. Remove morality and any semblance of Christianity is also gone. Hence, A LOT worse, is related to "38"For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark". This is not to say that there won't also be hatred and wars, for the condition of the hearts in that time will be evil. For that reason we need to be vigilant and raise our families to also be vigilant for we know not the time of His coming. It is our mission to raise our families with the goal that they will pass this truth on to their children.
Also, the same as the descriptions by Paul about what happens to the dead believers. They rise from the dead, just as Jesus did, or similarly anyway. Those texts in 1 Cor. 15 and 1 Thes. 4 I believe they are, he never said that the dead will be removed and life continue. In context, it was merely stated to comfort those concerned about their loved ones which were saved. All he says is that they'll go too. Yet, many take that to mean all kinds of stuff other than the most simple meaning that it has in context. Why? B/c they utterly ignore the context.
There will always be hatred and wars on this earth. Always. Just as "the poor you will always have with you", same thing. When haven't there been wars and hatred?
The signs are meant to be understood by true believers. There is no reason why others would understand them. Heck, "surface christians" don't understand them.
It is our mission to raise our families with the goal that they will pass this truth on to their children.
So true, so that their names may be found in the book of life and not judged by the things in the "books." Rev. 20:12
Also, to shed some additional light on this so-called "post resurrection millenial period", per Rev. 20:4, believers "come to life" when they are "born again" much as people "come to life" when they are born. Now while exactly when one becomes "born again" actually occurs notwithstanding, it clearly is different for all believers throughout the course of history, obviously. This thus is yet one more of hundreds of data points clearly indicative that this "thousand years" is purely allegorical.
It all boils down to whether or not Christ is reigning. If so, then the "thousand years" has as much literal and specific meaning as it does in its comparison to a day with God.
But as I read the Bible, Christ is already sitting at the right hand of God and reigning prior to turning it all over to God following the "close of the age." Stephen and others cannot make it more clear that "the saints", that is the bride of Christ, reign with him on earth, now, until all things come to a close.
The Bible makes it pretty clear that Christ will have nothing to do with "living on this earth." Stephen makes this perfectly clear in Acts 7;
47"But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.
48"However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:
49'HEAVEN IS MY THRONE,
AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET;
WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?' says the Lord,
'OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE?
50'WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?'
51"You men who are (BT)stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.
Yet, this theory of a "thousand year earthly reign" flies right in the face of all that. Sure, it can be spun and twisted to the point of the big picture not making any sense, but it is what it is. Christ began reigning after "death was conquered", which was conquered via his own resurrection. He himself said "It is finished." That means that everything that had to be done is done. That 1,000 year reign began with his having been seated at the right hand of God following the ascension. His saints reign with him now, from the moment that they are "born again" whenever that 'moment' is.
At the close of time, just as it says, he'll dispatch his angels to gather the elect from the four corners of the earth, resurrect them, the dead first, to everlasting life and redemption. They will pass from judgement ala John 3:24 and 5:18, while those "not saved" will be judged according to the "things in the books", Rev. 20, not by whether or not their name simply appears in the "Book of Life."
Revelation is nothing short of a very high level and big picture view of many things which have already occurred. It's a synopsis of God's overall plan if you will. The more one reads it and the more one applies it to the history of mankind, the Bible, and the significant events throughout history spiritually speaking, the more and more sense it makes. Taken any other way, it only leads to explanations having to be made for other explanations in an endless loop and circle of explanations which never fully come back around to complete the circle with whatever "doesn't make sense" being explained away by statements such as "we just don't know everything" or the like.
Anyway, not sure how I got to all that, but hey... :D
There will be sex of all kinds on the sidewalk, in neighborhood parks; on subways etc. in daylight etc.
Stay tuned.
Life is already super cheap in many places on the planet, including the USA.
Freedoms have never been so diminished in the USA, as they are now and getting more so.
Evil has never been so rampant, glorified, taught in the USA as now.