I have just pointed out the reasonability of viewing the thousand-years as a time of preparation for the new heaven and earth. As far as scriptural support, consider the above verse.

Of course, we could view the above as being nothing more than a statement concerning the days leading up to the crucifixion—if it were not for the following passage:

After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. (Hosea 6:2—NIV)

I am suggesting at this point that there will be two days (approximately two thousand years) of the Church Age and then a third day of the thousand-year Kingdom Age during which the Church as a whole is perfected.

The concept of the two days being the Church Age and then the third day being the Kingdom age is borne out by the design of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. The Tabernacle building represents the entire Christian Church. The Tabernacle was divided into the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place by the ornate Veil.

The Holy Place was 2,000 cubic cubits in volume. The Most Holy Place was 1,000 cubic cubits in volume—the two thousand years followed by the thousand years.

You can see immediately that I am declaring a temporary division of the one Church into two parts, the idea being that the first, perhaps smaller part, will be empowered to gain victory over sin before the Lord returns. Then the smaller part will assist the majority as it is made ready for the descent to earth of the entire Church, the Bride of the Lamb, the new Jerusalem.

There is much support in the Bible for the temporary division of the Christian Church, God's elect, the royal priesthood, into a militant, godly remnant and then a larger part that one day will be brought to God's standard.

For example:

-The two marriages separated by the thousand-year Kingdom Age, as I have already mentioned.

-The story of Gideon and his three hundred.

-The separating of the Ark of the Covenant from the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

-The rule of David over Judah and then over all Israel.

-The firstfruits, of Revelation, Chapter Fourteen.

-The overcomers of Revelation, Chapters Two and Three.

-The "only one of her mother," and the mature "sister," of the Song of Solomon.

-The mighty men of Israel.

-The three who stood with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration.

We understand from the above that the division of Israel into two or more groups is not a weird notion drawn from one-half of a verse of questionable interpretation. It is a substantial doctrine of the Scriptures.

Let us continue with the thought of the two announcements of the marriage of the Lamb, one at the beginning of the thousand-year Kingdom Age and one after the Kingdom Age has been completed.

The two marriages separated by the thousand-year Kingdom Age.

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) (Revelation 19:7,8—NIV)

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (Revelation 21:2—NIV)

To be continued.