15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp[
g] sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And
He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on
His robe and on His thigh a name written:
Let me ask you sis. Why would jesus have to rule with an iron rod if there is no more evil in the world? If we have all been ressurected, given sinless bodies. and this world is the new earth. Christ will not have to rule anything. we would be sinless and unable to sin. So God would be our groom, not our ruler (speaking of people on the new earth)
The very fact God says Christ will rule with an iron rod after he returns proves there will still be sinners on earth after he comes to rule.
I agree with you here EG, the only thing is I believe Jesus is ruling NOW in HEAVEN with an iron Rod. His grace is allowing people to continue because He is wants to give them a chance to hear the gospel (which His saints are teaching people and that is how they are Priest and Kings with Him) and repent and be saved. the 1000 years is His grace period where He binds Satan from interfering with the work of His people so they might teach and bring people to repentence without demonic influence. however those people will still have the sinful nature of their flesh and will still do evil. God will chastens them and show them the Truth but some will still reject Jesus and His discipline. Satan will gather these people to him and attack Jesus and His saints. However the city is not of this world but in Heaven. it is the Heavenly Jeruselam that will come down after the establishment of New Earth and New Heaven. It is in the spiritual realm.
Christ's return to Earth. I think we have a different idea of what that means. You seem to think it happens in Chapter 19? I don't think it happens until Chapter 21.
I can see your point if Jesus returned to an Earthly Kingdom in Chapter 19 your points would make sense, but I don't think He returns until chpt 21
because of these verses:
2 Then I, John,[a] saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it,[j] for the glory[k] of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved[l] shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.[m] 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.[n]
you see it is not until this point that it says Jesus tabernacles with men and comes down out of Heaven to Earth.
chapter 19
14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,[f] followed Him on white horses.
it says the Armies are following JESUS and are in HEAVEN. God's throne is in HEAVEN not Earth. chapter 19 is about a heavenly battle not an earthly one.
the beast is a spiritual creature not an earthly one.