But of course, I recognize a metaphor when I see one. On the other hand, it is ~YOU~ that insists upon a literal interpretation here.
Since it is ~you~ who insists on a literal interpretation, it is ~you~ who declares that ~God's~ poeple will only live as long as trees and then die!
This is neither true of the New Heavens and the New Earth nor is it true of the imaginary millennial kingdom nor is it true of your own words.
You just told us that "God's people will live forever", but Isaiah 65:22 says their "days" will only be as long as that of a tree!
Which is it x?
God's people will only live as long as trees?
Or they will live for ever during the millennial kingdom?
Jean
Since the millennial kingdom on earth is irrefutable, and it is the starting point, then we have 3 places to put the deaths mentioned in Is 65.
1. On the earth NOW. (Isa 65 now is only true if it's also true that people live to great ages and youths die at 100 years old.)
2. In the millennial kingdom among the non-resurrected persons who will also inhabit that kingdom all of whom obey in the Lord, many of whom trust in the Lord so that He calls them "MY People." (Many will follow Satan at the end of the 1000 years.)
3. In the New Heavens and the New Earth where there is no death.
Premillennialism places them in the millennial kingdom among those who are not in their resurrection bodies.
Amillennialism places them in the New Heavens and the New Earth, even though it is clear that there is no more death in the New Heavens and New Earth from Rev 21:4, "death will be no more."
Ergo, the true biblical doctrine is premillennialism.