LOL! Thanks for the :groan TR Thank you, David. I love that story and have cited it to friends as advice, but probably most often just as something humorous - something as you know I usually strive to be. Sadly the optimism vs pessimism angle for me is purely about timing. When...?! I found the loving pony gift in there decades ago, and I'm still blessedly riding it. But my desired final pony is now simply a "when." When I started with RITA Now, and for years thereafter, I assumed I could probably dig down and find that "when." My / our pony is absolutely guaranteed to be in there some when, yet regardless of what we are able to affect or how we can feel about hoping, it will be when it will be -- our pony at last! Sigh. I used to like that optimistic digging, yet now I poke around at the surface of the scattered stinking spread that used to be for me a big, hopeful, exciting, challenging, (although stinking), organized pile. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this [trapture]? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Thanks again. :yes: PS - thanks everyone for RITA Now participation -- a context that gives us something relational and often meaningful, (despite Solomon's "meaningless" claim), to do while we wait. Hi, Dan! Concerning Solomon's statement about "vanity," it might be useful to note that the actual meaning of the term is not "useless." Rather, it speaks of "breath," which is vital and yet still only temporary. It has to be repeated until we take our final breath. That's how it is under the sun or in this world: Nothing lasts, and in the end we can't hold onto it. At least, that's how it is "under the sun." Therefore, Solomon was correct concerning our activities here. We have to get up, go to work, pay our bills, and "occupy until Jesus returns." Our time here is relational and meaningful, yes. Even the ordinary, mundane activities of life aren't useless, as we are called to witness for Christ, and perhaps our observations about the troubles of this life will prove to be valuable in the age to come. The children born in the Millennium may need our guidance, having never known the sufferings and dangers we experience daily at present. While yet in this life, there are those who can benefit from the accumulated lessons we learned the hard way. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ... 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians 3:20-21 4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Thanks David. You said, "The children born in the Millennium may need our guidance, having never known the sufferings and dangers we experience daily at present." We may have some then unbelievable whoppers and wonders to tell those people then. I suspect we might have difficulty getting them to understand the feeling, meaning and depth of the term "war." We'll of course rule with rods of iron, so our chosen consequences for folk's transgressions will be more easily distinguished, but war...? What is that again? Wanton killing of innocents? Who would do that, and why? And also not love God? Unbelievable! Who could not love God? Earth will be a cool place to rule in then, I think. Indeed part of our life during that period will involve ruling and reigning with Christ, in various capacities. And having joined a royal priesthood we shall also have priestly duties as well. Jews will continue to fill the Temple and also have their priests. Good thing we shall not count time as we do here in the Earth now, for once we get to Heaven there will just so many things to occupy ourselves with! No laying around sleeping on clouds or playing harps all day! Except may on Sabbath! I also am thrilled that this site not only was resurrected, but also given new life. With Christmas coming near, tis the season to bless one another, daily. TR Perhaps those who are assigned the teaching jobs during the millennium will be able to use electronic war footage scenes on DVD format to explain what war was like? What I can’t comprehend is this passage below ... in a perfect environment of peace and the Lord Jesus ruling ... at the end ... many (as the sand of the sea) will revolt against God and follow satan. I reckon at the Great White Throne judgment the unsaved can’t plead and use the excuse “well if we only had a peaceful environment we would have believed and followed” because Jesus will say nope .. and will show them what happened at the end of the millennium period and the sinfulness of man’s heart in rejecting Him and choosing to revolt and follow satan. I wonder what satan is going to promise them? Also what did he promise the fallen angels as well? Higher rank? :unsure: This shows there always was just a small remnant of believers down through the ages and will continue that way ... even during the millennium. Revelation 20: 7- 9 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. The problem lies in the fact that Satan appeals to our senses and desires. God has always taught that we default to His! TR Geri, it's not hard to guess what Satan's final lie will be to the world. He really hasn't changed his basic deception since the beginning. We hear it all the time: "We can do better. It's time for a change!" I think the "Millennials" (the true ones of that age) will resent being governed by immortals with a "rod of iron." They will imagine a world in which they are free to rebel against God and enjoy the blessings of a perfect environment. Nothing ever really goes away, it just gets recycled with new terms. Indeed rebellion is manifested in many ways. The common denominator is (self), what can I get out of it! What's in it for me? TR Good point ... the devil uses the same tricks promising those that follow and worship him “they will become a “god” or “goddess” in this world with temporary fame and fortune. Sadly many unsaved sell their souls because they crave it and they think this life is all there is.
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5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:4-8
