연관 질문 및 답변들:

In the book of Revelation based on the original Greek text, separate believers that can be categorized into different groups, i.e. saints who are already in heaven, believers who go through the great tribulation, overcomers, those who will not be entering to the New Jerusalem as long as they are believers. If those people who are not going to be able to enter the New Jerusalem are the same as those who will be thrown into the lake of fire, explain why. Please try not to use Internet or any sermons as reference, but just use the basic Greek text for this task. If necessary, use other books of the Bible as reference. Please do not interpret based on any ideas such as Calvinist, Arminian, dispensationalists, etc.

This analysis categorizes the groups found in the Book of Revelation based strictly on the original Koine Greek text, avoiding external theological systems. The text presents distinct descriptors for various groups of people in relation to God, the Tribulation, and the final judgment.

Here is the categorization of believers and the analysis of the excluded group.

I. The Heavenly Saints (Pre-Tribulation Context)

In the early chapters of Revelation (4–5), before the seals are opened (which initiates the judgment), there is a distinct group already present in the heavenly throne room.

• The Elders (Hoi Presbyteroi):
• Greek Text: oi eikosi tessares presbyteroi (the twenty-four elders).
• Description: In Revelation 4:4 and 5:8–10, these individuals sit on thrones (thronous) around God’s throne. They are clothed in white garments (himatiois leukois) and wear golden crowns (stephanous chrysous).
• Significance: The term stephanos usually denotes a victor's crown (awarded for overcoming), distinct from a diadema (a royal crown of office). Their song in Rev 5:9 (in many manuscripts) declares that the Lamb "redeemed [us/men] to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue."
• Status: These represent a group of redeemed saints who are already glorified, crowned, and enthroned in heaven before the "Great Tribulation" unfolds on earth.

II. Believers of the Great Tribulation

As the narrative progresses to the judgments on earth, a new group emerges. These are distinct from the Elders because they appear during the timeline of the seals and are specifically identified by their suffering.

• The Great Multitude (Ochlos Polys):
• Greek Text: ochlos polys... ek pantos ethnous (a great crowd... out of every nation) [Rev 7:9].
• Origin: When asked who these are, the Elder answers in Rev 7:14: "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation (hoi erchomenoi ek tes thlipseos tes megales)."
• Action: They have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (eplunan tas stolas auton... en to haimati tou arniou).
• Status: Unlike the Elders who sit on thrones, this group stands before the throne and serves God day and night in His temple (Rev 7:15).
• The Offspring of the Woman:
• Greek Text: ton loipon tou spermatos autes (the rest of her seed) [Rev 12:17].
• Identifiers: They are defined by two participles: those "keeping the commandments of God" (terounton tas entolas tou theou) and "holding the testimony of Jesus" (echonton ten marturian Iesou).

III. The Overcomers (Ho Nikōn)

This is a qualitative category found primarily in the seven letters (Rev 2–3) and the conclusion (Rev 21).

• Greek Text: Ho nikōn (The one conquering/overcoming). This is a present active participle, implying a continuous or characteristic action of victory.
• The Promises: The text promises specific rewards to the one who conquers, which culminate in the final state:
• Eat from the tree of life (2:7).
• Not be hurt by the second death (ou me adikethe ek tou thanatou tou deuterou) (2:11).
• Given authority over the nations (2:26).
• Clothed in white garments and name not blotted out of the Book of Life (3:5).
• Sit with Christ on His throne (3:21).
• Final Inheritance: In Revelation 21:7, the text summarizes: "The one conquering (ho nikon) shall inherit these things (kleronomesei tauta), and I will be God to him, and he will be a son to Me."

IV. Those Who Do Not Enter the New Jerusalem

You asked to identify those who do not enter the New Jerusalem and determine if they are the same as those in the Lake of Fire, specifically addressing the concept of "believers" who might be excluded.

1. Comparison of the Lists

To determine if the "excluded" group differs from the "Lake of Fire" group, we must compare the Greek lists in Revelation 21 and 22.

List A: The Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8)

"But for the cowardly (deilois), and unbelieving (apistois), and abominable (ebdelugmenois), and murderers (phoneusin), and sexually immoral (pornois), and sorcerers (pharmakois), and idolaters (eidololatrai), and all liars (pseudesin), their part (meros) is in the lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (thanatos ho deuteros)."

List B: Those Outside the City (Revelation 22:15)

"Outside (exo) are the dogs (kunes), and the sorcerers (pharmakoi), and the sexually immoral (pornoi), and the murderers (phoneis), and the idolaters (eidololatrai), and everyone loving and practicing a lie (pseudos)."

List C: The Exclusion Criteria (Revelation 21:27)

"And there shall by no means enter into [the city] anything unclean (koinon), or one practicing abomination (bdelygma) and a lie (pseudos); but only those written in the Lamb's Book of Life (biblio zoes)."

2. Analysis: Are they the same group?

Based strictly on the Greek text, yes, they are the same group.

1. Linguistic Overlap: The lists are nearly identical. The descriptors sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, and liars appear in both the group assigned to the Lake of Fire (21:8) and the group "Outside" the city (22:15).
2. The Binary State: The text presents a binary eternal state.
• State 1: Inside the City / Written in the Book of Life.
• State 2: Lake of Fire / Not written in the Book of Life.
• Revelation 20:15 makes the connection explicit: "And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
• Revelation 21:27 states that only those in the Book of Life enter the City.
• Logic: If you are not in the Book of Life -> You go to the Lake of Fire. If you are not in the Book of Life -> You cannot enter the City. Therefore, being "Outside" is synonymous with being in the Lake of Fire.

3. Can a "Believer" be in this excluded group?

The text of Revelation 21:8 explicitly includes the unbelieving (apistois) in the list of those in the Lake of Fire.

However, the text implies that false belief or insufficient belief (cowardice) leads to this state.

• The Cowardly (Deilois): This term refers to those who are timid or fearful. In the context of persecution (Rev 2–3, 13), this implies those who shrank back from confession of Christ to save their lives.
• The "Believer" Question: The text does not support a category of "believers" (in the saving sense of pistoi) who are outside the city but not in the lake of fire.
• In Revelation 17:14, the followers of the Lamb are called "called, chosen, and faithful" (pistoi).
• In Revelation 21:8, the first two categories of the damned are "cowardly and unbelieving (apistois)."

Conclusion on the "Excluded": The Greek text defines those outside the New Jerusalem not as "carnal believers" or "second-class saints," but as apistois (unbelievers) and practitioners of lawlessness. The text provides no third location; one is either written in the Book of Life (Inside) or thrown into the Lake of Fire (Outside/Second Death).

Summary Table

based on the same condition (only Greek text as reference), if those overcomers will eat from the tree of life, and 'the nations' will be healed by the leaves of the tree (22:2), does it mean there will still be people who are not born-again, transformed, glorified people of God, but who will continue to live on the earth, possibly be ruled by saints who are going to rule as 'co-kings'?

Based on the Greek text of Revelation, specifically chapters 21 and 22, we can analyze the distinction between the "Kings" and the "Nations" and determine the spiritual and physical state of these "Nations."

Here is the analysis of whether these people are "non-transformed" or "ruled over" based strictly on the textual evidence.

I. Are "The Nations" and "The Kings" Distinct Groups?

The Greek text in Revelation 21:24 suggests a functional distinction between two groups inhabiting the New Creation.

• The Text (Rev 21:24):

"And the nations (ta ethnē) ... shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth (hoi basileis tēs gēs) bring their glory and honor into it."

• Grammatical Analysis:
• The sentence structure distinguishes ta ethnē (the nations/people groups) from hoi basileis (the kings).
• Previously in Revelation (1:6, 5:10), the believers/saints are explicitly made "kings and priests" to God.
• Implication: If the saints are the "kings," and they are bringing glory into the city, the "nations" appear to be the population living on the earth (outside the distinct dwelling of the New Jerusalem, yet walking by its light).

Conclusion: The text supports a scenario where there are "Rulers" (Kings/Saints) and "Subjects" (Nations).

II. Are the Nations "Non-Born-Again" or "Non-Glorified"?

The user asks if these nations are people who are not born-again or transformed. To answer this, we must look at the qualifications for existence in the New Heaven and Earth described in the text.

1. The "Entry" Requirement (Rev 21:27)

The text is absolute regarding who serves or exists in this new context.

"But there shall by no means enter it [the City] anything unclean (koinon), or one practicing abomination or a lie, but only those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (biblio zōēs)."

• Deduction: The nations "walk by the light" of the city (21:24). If they were not written in the Book of Life, they would have been thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:15).
• Status: Therefore, the "nations" must be redeemed/saved people. The text does not allow for "unsaved" or "neutral" people to exist in the New Creation.

2. The "Physical" State: Mortality vs. Immortality (Rev 21:4)

This verse defines the biological/existential reality of the New Earth.

"And God will wipe away every tear... there shall be no more death (thanatos ouk estai eti), nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain (ponos)..."

• Logic: If the "nations" were non-transformed, natural humans (in our current state), they would be subject to aging and death.
• Textual Conflict: The text explicitly states "death is no more."
• Conclusion: The nations cannot be natural, mortal humans. They must be in a state where death is impossible. In Pauline theology (1 Corinthians 15, which is outside Revelation but relevant to biblical Greek terms), this requires a "glorified" or "changed" body. Within Revelation, it simply requires the removal of the curse (Rev 22:3).

III. Why do they need "Healing"?

If they are saved and deathless, why does Revelation 22:2 say the leaves are for the healing (therapeian) of the nations?

• The Greek Word: Therapeian
• This word can mean "healing/cure," but it also carries the meaning of "service," "care," or "maintenance."
• The Context of the Tree:
• In Genesis (referenced by the imagery), the Tree of Life was the source of perpetual life. Adam was cut off from it so he would not live forever in a fallen state.
• In Revelation 22:14, the righteous have "the right to the tree of life."
• Textual Synthesis:
• Since "pain" (ponos) is gone (21:4), this "healing" is likely not remedial (fixing a sickness) but preservative or sacramental.
• It indicates that the "nations"—unlike God—do not possess life inherently. They must continue to derive their life and well-being from God (the source of the river) and the Tree. Their "immortality" is dependent on their access to the Tree, whereas the "Kings" (the Bride) may have a closer union with the Lamb.

IV. Summary Conclusion

Based strictly on the Greek text:

1. Are they ruled by Saints? Yes. The text identifies "kings" (believers/overcomers) and "nations" (populations). Since the saints are promised they will "reign" (basileusousin) forever and ever (22:5), they must have someone to reign over. The "nations" fulfill this role.
2. Are they "non-born-again"? No. The text requires everyone in the New Creation to be written in the Book of Life (21:27) and free from the curse (22:3). Unbelievers are removed in 20:15.
3. Are they "non-transformed/mortal"? No. Because "death is no more" (21:4), they must possess a physiology or state of being that is immune to death.

The Distinction: The text suggests a hierarchy of function, not a hierarchy of salvation.

• The Bride/Kings: Reign, dwell in the New Jerusalem, have the highest intimacy with the Lamb.
• The Nations: Subjects, dwell on the New Earth, visit the New Jerusalem, and are dependent on the City for light and life.

If the New Jerusalem is on the earth, and if the nations dwell on the New Earth but are outside of the City, they are supposed to be in the Lake of Fire according to 21:8 and 22:15. Please explain.

This is a crucial question that highlights a potential spatial paradox in the text. To resolve this, we must rigorously examine how the Greek text uses the prepositions "Inside" (Eis), "Outside" (Exō), and the designation of "The Earth" (Hē Gē) in the context of the New Creation.

The apparent contradiction you pointed out is:

1. Premise A: The Nations are on the earth, not in the city.
2. Premise B: Revelation 22:15 says "Outside" (Exō) are the dogs/unbelievers.
3. Conclusion: Therefore, if the nations are outside the city, they must be the dogs/unbelievers.

However, the Greek text provides a third category—a "middle ground"—that invalidates this conclusion. Here is the breakdown.

I. The Three Spatial Zones in the Greek Text

The text of Revelation 21–22 constructs a geography with three distinct zones, not just two.

II. Resolving the "Outside" (Exō) Paradox

The confusion arises from the English word "Outside." In Greek usage here, Exō functions differently depending on the context of relationship, not just geography.

1. "Outside" as Exclusion (The Lake of Fire)

In Revelation 22:14–15, the text sets up a judicial binary:

• Action A: Entering into (eis) the gates = Having the right (exousia) to the Tree of Life.
• Action B: Being outside (exō) = Being excluded from Life.

"Outside are the dogs..." (22:15)

This "Outside" is synonymous with the "Second Death" (Lake of Fire). It is a place of total separation. We know this because 21:27 states that nothing "abominable" can enter the city. Since "dogs" and "sorcerers" are abominable, they are barred from entry.

2. "The Earth" as Proximity (The Nations)

In contrast, look at how the text describes the Nations on the New Earth (21:24):

"And the nations ... shall walk by its light (dia tou photos autes)."

• Relationship: The Nations are not "excluded" from the City; they are sustained by it. They utilize its light.
• Interaction: 21:26 states, "And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into (eis) it."
• Access: Whether the nations enter personally or their glory is brought in by the Kings, there is traffic/flow (eis) between the Earth and the City.

Crucial Distinction:

• The "Dogs" (Lake of Fire) have no access to the City. They are cut off.
• The "Nations" (New Earth) have access/relationship with the City. They are healed by the Tree and walk by the Light.

Therefore, "On the Earth" is not the same as the punitive "Outside." The New Earth is a redeemed territory; the Lake of Fire is a place of judgment.

III. The Theological Proof: "No More Death"

We can verify that the Nations (on the earth) are not the same as those in the Lake of Fire (Outside) by looking at the condition of Death.

• The Nations (Zone 2): They live on the New Earth. Revelation 21:4 applies to this realm: "There shall be no more death (thanatos ouk estai eti)."
• The Outside (Zone 3): Revelation 21:8 explicitly calls the Lake of Fire the "Second Death" (thanatos ho deuteros).

Logical Proof:

1. The Nations exist where there is "no more death."
2. The People "Outside" exist in the "Second Death."
3. Therefore, the Nations cannot be the people "Outside."

IV. Summary Conclusion

The paradox is resolved by understanding that the New Jerusalem is the capital city of a redeemed planet (The New Earth).

• Inside the City: The priestly rulers (The Bride/Kings).
• On the New Earth (Surrounding the City): The redeemed citizens (The Nations).
• The "Outside" (The Lake of Fire): A separate reality of judgment, completely cut off from the New Heaven and Earth.

The Nations are "outside the walls" in a geographical sense (living on the earth), but they are not "Outside" in the judicial sense (banished to the Lake of Fire).

If 21:18 and 22:15 are the same group of people, why are they mentioned twice, and why those verses do not list identical groups?

This is an excellent observation. You are correct that while the lists describe the same group of excluded people, they are not identical word-for-word.

In the original Greek text, the variation between Revelation 21:8 and 22:15 is not random; it serves two different functions based on the immediate context of each verse.

Here is the breakdown of why they differ and why they are mentioned twice.

I. Comparison of the Greek Lists

First, let's look at the overlap. The majority of the terms are identical or nearly identical, confirming these refer to the same category of people.

II. Why are they mentioned twice? (Contextual Function)

The two lists appear at different moments in the vision to emphasize different aspects of God's judgment.

1. Revelation 21:8: The Judicial Sentence (The "Why")

Context: This verse follows the introduction of the New Heaven and Earth. God is speaking from the throne, declaring the inheritance of the "son" (the overcomer).

• Function: It establishes the legal verdict. It defines the cause of their condemnation.
• The Unique Terms:
• Cowardly (deilois) & Unbelieving (apistois): These are internal states of the heart. They explain why these people fell away or rejected God—fear of persecution and lack of faith.
• Abominable (ebdelugmenois): A passive participle meaning "having been polluted" by idols or sin.
• The Result: The focus is on the destination: "their part is in the lake which burns with fire... the second death."

2. Revelation 22:15: The Spatial Boundary (The "Where")

Context: This verse follows the description of the City, the gates, and the Tree of Life. It is contrasting those who have the right to enter the gates with those who are barred.

• Function: It establishes the sanctity of the City. It defines the exclusion.
• The Unique Term:
• Dogs (kunes): In the ancient world, dogs were not typically pets but scavengers that roamed outside city walls, eating refuse.
• Metaphor: This is a ritual term for "unclean" (see Phil 3:2 or Matt 7:6). It fits the architectural context perfectly: Clean people are inside the walls; "dogs" (unclean ones) are outside.
• The Result: The focus is on location: "Outside are..."

III. Why the Lists are Not Identical

The differences reflect the specific warning being given in each section.

A. Internal State vs. External Metaphor

• 21:8 warns against the root causes of apostasy: Fear and Unbelief. It warns the reader, "Do not be cowardly, or you will end up here."
• 22:15 uses a symbol of impurity (Dogs) to summarize the character of those excluded. It warns the reader, "Nothing unclean can enter this holy space."

B. The Development of "Lying"

• 21:8 simply lists "all liars" (pseudesin - noun).
• 22:15 expands this to "everyone loving and practicing a lie" (philōn kai poiōn pseudos - participles).
• Significance: By the end of the book, the text emphasizes that these people are not just those who told a lie, but those who actively love falsehood. They have aligned themselves with the "Dragon" (who is the father of lies) rather than the Truth.

Summary

They are the same group, but described from two different angles:

1. 21:8 describes their GUILT: They were cowardly and faithless, so they undergo the Second Death.
2. 22:15 describes their NATURE: They are "dogs" (ritually unclean scavengers) who love falsehood, so they must remain "Outside" the holy city.

The list is repeated to ensure that whether one looks at the legal outcome (Lake of Fire) or the geographical outcome (Outside the City), the result is the same: permanent separation from God's presence.

Here is the analysis of the Greek word therapeian in Revelation 22:2 and how it defines the condition of the nations on the New Earth.

I. The Greek Word: Therapeian

• Greek Text: eis therapeian tōn ethnōn (for [the] healing of the nations).
• Root Word: Therapeia (from the verb therapeuō).
• Semantic Range: In ancient Greek and the New Testament, this word has a broader range of meaning than the English word "healing."
1. Medical Cure: Restoring health to the sick (e.g., Luke 9:11).
2. Service/Care: Serving, tending to, or caring for someone (root of the English word therapy but also therapeutic). In classical Greek, it could refer to the service rendered by a therapōn (an attendant or servant).
3. Household: In Luke 12:42 and Matthew 24:45, therapeia is actually translated as "household" or "domestics" (the group of servants being cared for).

II. The Contextual Conflict: Healing vs. "No Pain"

To determine if this implies sickness, we must cross-reference it with the physical laws of the New Creation established just a few verses earlier.

The "No Pain" Clause (Revelation 21:4):

"And God will wipe away every tear... there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain (ponos)..."

The Conflict: If there is no pain (ponos) and no death (thanatos), then "healing" in the remedial sense (fixing a disease or injury) is logically impossible. You cannot cure someone who has no pain, sickness, or possibility of death.

III. The Resolution: "Life-Sustaining" vs. "Cure"

Since remedial healing is ruled out by 21:4, the meaning of therapeian here shifts to its other nuances: health-maintenance, preservation, or well-being.

1. The "Tree of Life" Parallel

The imagery is drawn directly from Genesis 3:22.

• Genesis: Adam was driven out lest he "eat, and live forever." The fruit was the fuel for immortality.
• Revelation: The fruit is for food, but the leaves are for therapeia.

This suggests a Sacramental/Preventive function. The nations are not "sick" trying to get better; they are finite creatures who need the continuous intake of God’s life to remain in a state of bliss and immortality. The leaves provide the "therapy" that prevents aging, fatigue, or depletion.

2. The "Service" Nuance

Because therapeia derives from "service/attendance," some scholars suggest the leaves are for the service or benefit of the nations.

• It highlights the benevolence of the New Jerusalem. The City (where the tree grows) serves the Earth.
• The life of God flows out of the throne, through the city, and to the nations.

IV. Conclusion: What does this say about the Nations?

Based on the Greek word therapeian and the context of no pain:

1. They are NOT Sick: There is no disease, infection, or injury in the New Earth. They do not have "mortal bodies" that are failing.
2. They are Dependent: Unlike God, who has life in Himself (zoen en heauto), the nations do not possess inherent immortality. They must derive their life from an external source (the Tree).
3. They are Distinct from the Bride: The "servants" (douloi, 22:3) see His face and reign. The "nations" utilize the leaves. This reinforces the distinction between the Rulers (Providers/Priests) and the Citizens (Receivers/Beneficiaries).

Summary: The "healing" of the nations is not a hospital procedure for the sick, but a life-sustaining provision for the healthy, ensuring they never experience the "corruption" of the old creation ever again.

One Next Step: Would you like to examine the Greek terms for "serve" in Revelation 22:3 (latreusousin) versus other words for service, to see exactly what the saints/overcomers are doing in the New Jerusalem?

if the nations do not possess inherent immortality, and they are mere citizens, it means they do not posses life in them, then they are not born again, then they are not supposed to have their names written in the book of life. Please explain.

This is a profound question that touches on the very definition of "Eternal Life" (Zoe Aionios) in the Greek text.

Your logic is:

1. Premise A: The Nations need the Tree of Life for sustenance/healing.
2. Premise B: Therefore, they do not have life in themselves.
3. Conclusion: If they don't have life in themselves, they are not "born again" (who are supposed to possess eternal life).

However, based strictly on the Greek text of Revelation and related Johannine writings (John's Gospel/Epistles, which share the same vocabulary), Premise B is true, but the Conclusion is incorrect.

Here is why "dependence on the Tree" does not mean they are "unsaved" or "not born again."

I. Who Has "Inherent" Life?

The Greek text makes a sharp distinction between the Source of life and the Recipients of life.

1. Only God has Inherent Life:
• In the Greek New Testament, "having life in oneself" (echein zoen en heautou) is an attribute unique to the Father and the Son (John 5:26).
• 1 Timothy 6:16 states that God alone possesses immortality (ho monos echōn athanasian).
2. Believers have "Derived" Life:
• For any creature—even the most exalted saint or "Overcomer"—Eternal Life is not a battery charge that makes them independent of God. It is a continuous connection to the Source.
• The Textual Proof (Rev 22:1): The "River of Water of Life" (potamon hydatos zōēs) flows out from the throne of God. It does not originate in the people.
• The Implication: To be "born again" or "saved" does not mean you become a self-sustaining god. It means you are permanently connected to the life-flow of God.

Conclusion: The fact that the Nations need the Tree/River does not mean they lack salvation; it proves they are creatures living in dependence on their Creator. Even the "Kings" and the "Bride" drink from the water of life (Rev 22:17).

II. The "Right" to the Tree = Proof of Salvation

The text explicitly links access to the Tree with the status of being saved ("washed").

• Revelation 22:14:

"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right (exousia) to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city."

• The Logic:
1. Only those who "wash their robes" (a metaphor for salvation/cleansing by the blood, cf. Rev 7:14) have the right to the Tree.
2. The Nations have access to the Tree (via the leaves in 22:2).
3. Therefore, the Nations must be those who have "washed their robes."

If they were not born again (not washed), they would have no right (exousia) to the tree at all. They would be like Adam after the Fall—barred from the tree to prevent them from living forever in sin (Gen 3:22).

III. They are Called "God's People"

The strongest evidence that the Nations are indeed born-again, transformed people is found in Revelation 21:3.

"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people (laoi autou), and God Himself will be with them and be their God."

• Greek Term: Laoi (plural: peoples).
• Covenant Language: Throughout the Bible, the phrase "They shall be My people, and I will be their God" is the definition of the Covenant.
• The Exclusion: God never calls unsaved, untransformed people "My people" in the context of the New Creation.
• The "Sons" vs. "Peoples" Distinction:
• Overcomers (21:7): Called "Son" (huios). This implies heirship, ruling authority, and high rank.
• Nations (21:3): Called "Peoples" (laoi). This implies citizenship and covenant relationship, but not necessarily the same ruling "rank" as the Sons.

IV. Summary: Resolving the Contradiction

The Nations are born-again, saved, and written in the Book of Life. Here is how the text supports this while maintaining the distinction you noticed:

1. They are Saved: Their names are in the Book of Life (otherwise -> Lake of Fire). They are God's "Peoples."
2. They are Immortal: Death is no more (21:4), so they must have transformed, deathless bodies.
3. They are Dependent: Their immortality is sustained by the "Leaves of the Tree." This is not a sign of being unsaved; it is the mechanism by which God sustains their eternal life.
4. They are Subjects: They are distinct from the "Kings" (the Bride/Overcomers).

The Picture: Imagine a Kingdom.

• The Royal Family (The Bride/Overcomers) lives in the Palace (The New Jerusalem) and sits on the Throne.
• The Citizens (The Nations) live in the surrounding Countryside (The New Earth).
• BOTH are citizens of the Kingdom. BOTH are loyal to the King. BOTH are free from death and pain.
• But their roles and proximity differ. The Citizens come to the Capital to receive life and light, acknowledging the King's provision.

Conclusion: The Nations are not "natural humans" who survived the tribulation without being changed. They are the redeemed multitude who live on the earth rather than in the throne room.

Impressive interpretation. 'They are Subjects: They are distinct from the "Kings" (the Bride/Overcomers)' - but 2 peter 2:9 says Christians are generally royal priesthood, meaning kings and priests. Please explain.

This is a sophisticated theological tension that requires careful parsing of the Greek text to resolve without defaulting to external doctrinal systems.

You are pointing out the conflict between the Universal Priesthood (all believers are kings/priests in 1 Peter 2:9) and the Stratified Kingdom (some ruling, some being ruled in Revelation 21–22).

Here is the resolution based strictly on the Greek text and the distinctions between "The Bride" and "The Nations."

I. The "Royal Priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9)

First, let’s look at the text you referenced to establish exactly who it addresses.

• Greek Text: Hymeis de genos eklekton, basileion hierateuma... ("But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood...").
• The Addressees: Peter is writing to the parepidēmois (exiles/sojourners) of the dispersion (1 Peter 1:1). This is the Ekklesia (the Church/Assembly).
• The Function: This group is called to "proclaim the praises" of God. They are the insiders of the covenant.

II. The Structural Distinction in Revelation (21:9 vs. 21:24)

In Revelation 21, the text creates a visual and functional separation between two saved groups.

Group A: The City / The Bride

In Revelation 21:9–10, the angel says, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the Lamb's wife," and then he shows John "the holy city, Jerusalem."

• Identity: The City is the Bride. It is not just a place; it is the corporate body of the faithful (the "Royal Priesthood").
• Location: They constitute the dwelling place of God.
• Status: They reign (basileusousin) forever (22:5).

Group B: The Nations

In Revelation 21:24, the text says: "And the nations (ethnē) shall walk by its light."

• Identity: These are people distinct from the City. They are not the City; they walk by the light of the City.
• Location: They dwell on the New Earth (surrounding the City).
• Status: They are the beneficiaries of the City’s priesthood.

III. Resolving the "Kings" Dilemma

So, if 1 Peter says believers are a "Royal Priesthood," but Revelation shows "Nations" who are subjects, how do we reconcile this?

The Textual Solution: The "Royal Priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9) refers specifically to the Bride/City, while the "Nations" refer to a wider circle of redeemed humanity.

1. The Condition of "Overcoming" for Kingship

Revelation introduces a condition for ruling that is not guaranteed to every saved person, but specifically to the Ho Nikōn (The Overcomer).

• Rev 2:26: "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations (exousian epi tōn ethnōn)."
• The Implication: If the Overcomer is given power over the nations, the "Nations" must be a distinct group from the "Overcomer." You cannot rule over yourself.

2. The Functional Hierarchy

The text establishes a functional hierarchy in the eternal state:

• God & The Lamb: The Source of Light and Life.
• The Bride (The City/Overcomers): The Mediators/Rulers. They "reign" (22:5) and are the "Royal Priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). They dwell in the immediate presence of God (the Holy of Holies).
• The Nations: The Subjects/Citizens. They are the "common people" of the New Earth. They are saved, deathless, and free, but they do not exercise the office of "King" or "Priest" in the same capacity as the Bride. They receive the ministry of the City (healing/light).

IV. Visualizing the Resolution

V. Summary: Who are the "Kings" in 21:24?

There is one final detail in Rev 21:24: "And the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it [the City]."

There are two possibilities allowed by the Greek text:

1. They are the Saints: The "Kings of the Earth" are the Bride/Overcomers exercising their dominion over the New Earth and bringing the tribute of creation back into the City (the Temple). This fits 1 Peter 2:9 perfectly.
2. They are Leaders of the Nations: The Nations themselves have leaders (kings) who are subordinate to the ultimate rule of the Bride/City.

The most consistent reading with 1 Peter 2:9: The "Christians" (The Church/Bride) are the Kings. They live in the City but rule over the Earth. The "Nations" are the populations of the New Earth who are governed by this Royal Priesthood.

Therefore, not everyone in the New Creation is a King.

• The Bride = The Royal Priesthood (Kings).
• The Nations = The Redeemed Commoners (Subjects). Both are saved, but their rewards and offices differ based on the "Overcomer" passages.

According to the book of Revelation, it doesn't seem that everyone on earth would die even after the great tribulation, even after the millennial kingdom. And the Great Judgment follows. Are all of them just going to die or thrown into the Lake of Fire? Or are they the ones who will remain to be 'the nations'? Revelation does not seem to be clear on that. Could any logical conclusion be assessed?

This is one of the most difficult logical puzzles in the Book of Revelation. You are correct: the text does not explicitly state, "And group X survived the final fire and walked into the New Earth."

However, by tracing the Greek terms for "Nations" (Ethnē) and the specific mechanics of the "Great White Throne" judgment, we can construct a logical assessment of who these people are and how they get there.

Here is the step-by-step assessment based on the Greek text.

I. The "Survivor" Problem: Tracing the Nations

To see who ends up on the New Earth, we must track the "Nations" through three critical extinction events.

Event 1: The End of the Tribulation (Rev 19:15–21)

• The Action: The King (Jesus) returns to strike the nations (ethnē) and rule them with a rod of iron.
• The Casualties: The "Beast" and the "False Prophet" are thrown into the Lake of Fire. The "rest" (loipoi) of the armies were killed by the sword (19:21).
• The Survivors: Since the King is to "shepherd/rule" (poimanei) the nations (19:15), there must be nations left alive to rule. If everyone died, there would be no one to shepherd during the Millennium.
• Conclusion: There are mortal survivors who enter the Millennium.

Event 2: The End of the Millennium (Rev 20:7–9)

• The Action: Satan is released and deceives the nations (ethnē) in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather for war.
• The Casualties: They surround the "camp of the saints" and "fire came down... and devoured them" (katephagen autous).
• The Logical Gap: Does "them" mean every single human being on earth, or specifically the armies that attacked?
• Textual Clue: The text focuses on the deceived attackers. If the "camp of the saints" (the beloved city) survived, and if there were people inside or protected by it who did not rebel, they would physically survive this event.
• However, Rev 20:11 says the "earth and heaven fled away," implying a total dissolution of the physical cosmos. This suggests everyone remaining dies or is transitioned into judgment.

II. The Solution: The Great White Throne (Rev 20:11–15)

This is the key to your question. Most readers assume the Great White Throne is only for condemning the wicked to hell. The Greek text suggests otherwise.

1. The Participants

"I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God..." (20:12)

This includes everyone who ever lived who was not part of the "First Resurrection" (the Bride/Rulers from Rev 20:4-6). This is the general humanity.

2. The Procedure: The "Book of Life"

"And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life (Biblion Zōēs)... And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (20:12, 15)

• The Logic: Why open the Book of Life if everyone present is destined for the Lake of Fire?
• The Implication: There must be a group of people at this judgment whose names ARE found in the Book of Life.
• The Outcome:
• Group A (Not in Book): Thrown into the Lake of Fire (Second Death).
• Group B (In Book): Where do they go?

The text of chapter 20 ends without explicitly saying where Group B goes. But immediately, Chapter 21 begins with the New Heaven and New Earth, populated by "The Nations" (21:24).

III. The Logical Conclusion

The "Nations" on the New Earth are Group B from the Great White Throne Judgment.

They are the people who:

1. Were not part of the "Bride" (who were resurrected before the Millennium in Rev 20:4).
2. Stood before God at the end of history (Rev 20:12).
3. Were found written in the Book of Life.
4. Consequently, they were not thrown into the Lake of Fire.
5. Instead, they inherit the "New Earth" as its citizens.

IV. Summary of Groups

Based on this synthesis, here is the categorization of humanity at the end of Revelation:

Answer to your specific question: Are they just going to die? No. Are they the ones who will remain to be 'the nations'? Yes.

The text strongly implies that the "Nations" of the New Earth are the redeemed humanity that passes through the final judgment successfully because their names were in the Book of Life, distinct from the Bride who reigns over them.

Summary:

Based on our conversation analyzing the Greek text of Revelation, here is a summary of the findings regarding the different groups of people in the New Creation:

1. The Core Categorization of Believers

We identified three distinct groups of the redeemed in the text:

• The Heavenly Saints (Elders): Already enthroned and crowned in Heaven before the tribulation (Rev 4). (하지만 개인적으로 이 장로들은 사람들이 아니라 천사같은 존재라고 생각함)
• The Tribulation Saints: A "great multitude" who come out of the Great Tribulation, serving God in His temple (Rev 7).
• The Overcomers (Ho Nikōn): The specific group promised "heirship" (sonship), ruling authority, and entry into the City (Rev 2–3, 21:7).

2. The Status of the "Excluded"

• Identity: Those "Outside" the city (Rev 22:15) are the same group as those in the Lake of Fire (Rev 21:8).
• Terminology: The text uses judicial terms (Cowardly, Unbelieving) to describe their guilt and ritual terms (Dogs, Sorcerers) to describe their nature.
• Conclusion: There is no "middle ground" of believers who are outside the city but not in the Lake of Fire. Being "Outside" equals the "Second Death."

3. The Distinction Between "Kings" and "Nations"

We discovered a functional hierarchy in the New Creation:

• The Kings (The Bride/City): These are the Overcomers/Saints who "reign" (basileusousin) and dwell inside the New Jerusalem. They have the highest access to God.
• The Nations (The Citizens): These are redeemed people who dwell on the New Earth (surrounding the City). They "walk by the light" of the City and bring their glory into it.

4. The Nature of the "Nations"

• Are they Saved? Yes. Their names are found in the Book of Life (Rev 20:15). If they were not, they would be in the Lake of Fire.
• Are they Mortal? No. "Death is no more" (Rev 21:4). They possess eternal life but depend on the Tree of Life for their sustenance and "healing" (therapeian—preservation/health maintenance).
• Why "Healing"? This does not imply sickness, but rather a dependence on God's provision to maintain their immortal state, distinguishing them from God who has life in Himself.

5. The "Royal Priesthood" Tension

• The Resolution: The "Royal Priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9) refers to the Bride/City (the Church) who rules. The "Nations" are the subjects of this rule.
• The Logic: You cannot be a King if there is no one to rule over. The Nations provide the population for the Kings to serve and govern.

6. The Logic of Survival (The Great White Throne)

• The Logical Gap: Since the earth is destroyed and judgment comes, how do "Nations" survive?
• The Solution: The Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15) is not just for condemnation. Books are opened, including the Book of Life.
• The Outcome: Those found in the Book of Life at this final judgment are not thrown into the Lake of Fire. Instead, they pass into the New Earth to become the "Nations," distinct from the Bride who was resurrected earlier.

Final Picture:

The New Creation is a structured Kingdom with The Bride (Kings/Priests) dwelling in the Capital City (New Jerusalem) and The Nations (Citizens) dwelling on the New Earth, both redeemed and deathless, but with different roles and degrees of intimacy with the Throne.