heathen, yes there is the ambiguity. He also promised the evildoer that they would be together in paradise. My point was that Jesus even talked in earthly terms that night: sitting at tables, drinking and eating in the kingdom. They had an earthly hope, understanding and partook. of course they were called to heaven later.
so will partakers today. you partake first, for forgiveness of sins- and you might be called, sealed, axed later. surely,
not only 144 000 are saved from pentecost to armageddon. the majority of all christians that ever took the emblems will not "-go where ever the lamb goes-" Rev.14.
Look at israel. all were in the law covenant. all celebrated the passover (a family meal, not a mass gathering) but only the firstborn first, later the tribe of levy were priests. davids clan became kings.
some of the mansions jesus was talking about may be illustrated in the 2013 calendar.
The new City is made up of the saints. it is the bride of Christ, so they are not the ones that enter through the gates. they are immortal before making up that city. they therefore do not need the water of life, trees for healing. its the rest of the world that has to go through the gates , they are divided into 12 sumbolic, spiritual tribes. (as you said correctly). The unworthy are kept out by the angels. so there must be unworthy ones around, the dogs, etc. when that happens. strangers in paradise.
thank you for discussing this. my real concern is that all this like critiquing shakespeare, interesting, but its just a story. how could it not be if at the basis os this is the garden, the snake, the fruits, 6000 years ago with temples beeing build in the same area 4000 years earlier.
