 1.
How long will the time period be from the day the holy city descends until
the wicked are destroyed by fire from heaven? Revelation 20:3
The Bible says it will be a "little," or short, season (Revelation
20:3). Enough time will be required for Satan to persuade people to follow his
plan and prepare weapons of war. The exact length of time is not revealed in
Scripture.
2. What kind of bodies will people have in God's new
kingdom? Philippians 3:21
The Bible says the redeemed will have bodies like that of Jesus (Philippians
3:21). Jesus had a real body of flesh and bones after His resurrection (Luke
24:36-43). The saved will not be ghosts. They will be real people, as were Adam
and Eve.
3. Does the Bible say how the lost will react at Jesus'
second coming? Revelation 6:17
Yes. The Bible says they will cry "to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us,
and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath
of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to
stand?" Revelation 6:16, 17. (See also verses 14 and 15.) The righteous,
on the other hand, will say, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him,
and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad
and rejoice in his salvation." Isaiah 25:9.
4. When the holy city descends, will the wicked
be able to see the righteous people who are inside the
city? Revelation 21:18
Quite likely they will. The Bible says the city will be the see-through type--clear
as crystal (Revelation 21:11, 18). The righteous will be able to see the wicked
(Psalm 37:34), and the wicked will be able to see the righteous (Luke 13:28).
This could mean that some very sad encounters will take place at the city wall,
with the saved part of a family inside and the lost part outside. The resulting
heartache and trauma are too much for human language to describe.
 5.
The Bible says God will wipe away all tears from the eyes
of His people and there will be no more death, sorrow,
or pain. When will this happen? Revelation 21:4
From Revelation 21:1-4 and Isaiah 65:17, it appears that this will happen after
sin and sinners are destroyed. During the final judgment and destruction by fire,
God's people will have many reasons for deep sorrow. As they realize that relatives
and friends are lost and that people they loved are being destroyed in the fire,
anguish will doubtless bring tears and heartache to God's people. But after the
fire goes out, the Lord will wipe away their tears. He will then create new heavens
and a new earth for His people, which will bring them unspeakable joy and fulfillment.
And sorrow, sadness, crying, and heartache will be forever gone.
6. How will the destruction of wicked angels and people
affect God the Father and His Son? Isaiah 28:21
Doubtless they will be relieved and overjoyed that the ugly cancer of sin is
gone forever and that the universe is secure. Surely they will also experience
deep, wrenching sadness over the fact that so many of those they loved--and for
whom Jesus died--chose to cling to sin and reject salvation. Satan himself was
once their warm, personal friend, and many people in the fire were their dearly
beloved children. It will be like the agony of seeing one of your own errant
children executed. Sin has been a crushing load upon both Father and Son since
its inception. The aim of the Father and Son has been to love people and gently
draw them to salvation. Their feelings are expressed in Hosea 11:8, NASB: "How
can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? ... My heart
is turned over within Me, all my compassions are kindled."*
*The New American Standard Bible, (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971,
1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
7. What kind of body does Jesus have? Luke 24:39
He has a body of flesh and bones. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to
His disciples (Luke 24:36-43) and demonstrated that He was not a spirit or
ghost by stating that He was flesh and bones, having them feel His body, and
by eating some fish and honey.
Jesus Ascends
He then walked with them to Bethany and, as He was conversing with them, ascended
to heaven (Luke 24:49-51). The angel who appeared to the disciples as Jesus
ascended explained that "this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts
1:11.
This Same Jesus Will Return
The angel's emphasis was that this same Jesus (of flesh and bones) will come
again. He will be real, not ghostly, and the risen and translated saints
will have bodies like His (Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2). The saints' heavenly
bodies will also be incorruptible and immortal (1 Corinthians 15:51-55).
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