The Dogs (Edited 11-3-15)

In my previous post, “God Will BE All in All”, I talked about those people, the nations, living outside the new Holy city, Jerusalem. One of the groups are called “dogs”. I didn't know if this was a group of people or a reference to the actual animal, dog. Here is what I've found in my studies:

To an Israelite, dogs were not well loved and they were associated with evil and low status and unclean. In Jesus' time and before, the gentiles (non-Israelite) were called or referenced as dogs by the Jews.
11-3-15 - I am a gentile and knowing that I may be considered or called a dog by anyone, be it Jew or Muslim or anyone does not bother me. I am in God's eyes perfectly judged. I trust Him in His thoughts of me. I hope I have not built up more animosity towards the Jews by what I've said here. It is not my intention to do so. I only want to shed light on the "dogs" reference in Revelation.  

I found the reference in the Bible where I remembered Jesus appearing to call a women a dog. She was not a Samaritan as I thought but worse, she was a gentile (heathen, pagan, infidel, non-religious person). There are two gospels that tells the story; Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30. There has been much discussion about this. Was Jesus insulting this woman or was it something else? I think something else.

I had to consider both scriptures to build a better picture as to what was going on here. Mark says that Jesus went to Tyre to try and get away from the crowds that were constantly following Him everywhere He went; He needed some quiet time. He enters a house and didn't want anyone to know about it but His presence leaked out to the people there. Tyre was in gentile territory. A woman who was a Greek, born a Syrophoenician, found out He was there and she goes to Him and keeps begging Him to cast a demon out of her daughter. She had many things going against her when she came to Jesus; she was a woman, a gentile, and Jesus was trying to escape the crowds, it seems He was in no mood to deal with her at that time. Jesus at first just ignores her; the disciples even tried to get Jesus to send her away but she was very persistent. Here is their conversation when Jesus finally acknowledges her, according to Matthew:

Matthew 15:24-28 Common English Bible (CEB) 24 Jesus replied, “I’ve been sent only to the lost sheep, the people of Israel.” 25 But she knelt before him and said, “Lord, help me.” 26 He replied, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and toss it to dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord. But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall off their masters’ table.” 28 Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith. It will be just as you wish.” And right then her daughter was healed.

When I studied these passages in my “Ultimate Bible Study Suite”, I found that the Greek word that is translated as “dog” is actually a puppy dog, not an adult dog. When I take this into consideration, I see a type of loving exchange of words going on here between an Israelite and a Gentile. The woman knew her place as to this Hebrew man she was talking to. Jesus, referring to her as a puppy dog I think softened something that normally would have sounded harsh. I think she picked up on this which relaxed her to talk more freely with Him. She responded very well and Jesus granted her wish for healing of her daughter.

Now back to the dog referenced in Revelation 22:15, those outside the new Holy city, Jerusalem.

Revelation 22:15 Common English Bible (CEB) 15 Outside are the dogs, the drug users and spell-casters, those who commit sexual immorality, the murderers, the idolaters, and all who love and practice deception.

Some Bible translations separate “dogs” and what follows with an “and” but some seem to imply those that follow are dogs. When I think about the writer of “Revelation” being a Hebrew, then dogs may very well have been a reference to gentiles.

God Will Be All In All.

I believe that all peoples even from the beginning of time will be in God's new kingdom and here is why.

Let me start with John's description of the new kingdom that was given to him by God through an angel; written in the book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Bible (Rev 1:1). In Revelation chapter 21, he describes the holy city, the new Jerusalem. The city is huge and is surrounded by a wall measuring 1500 miles wide, 1500 miles long, 1500 miles tall and 72 yards thick (Rev 21:16-17). There are twelve gates into the city; 3 gates on each side (Rev 21:12-13). He talks about those living inside the city and those outside the city.

First, those inside the city: The Lord God and the Lamb (Jesus,Yeshua in Hebrew) (Rev 21: 22); those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life (Rev 21:27), also known as the bride, the wife of the Lamb (Rev 21:9), also known as God's bond-servants (Rev 22:3).

Those outside the city: the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murders and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying (Rev 22:15), also know as the nations (Rev 21:24).

I believe that the reference of those outside the city being dogs and sorcerers and immoral persons and murders and idolaters and those who practice lying are actually references to when they were in the old earth. Maybe even the animals (dogs) are actually dogs outside the city and not that it is referring to people being dogs. There are a number of reasons why I believe this. {I just remembered something that Jesus said, or I think He said. If my memory is correct, He was traveling through Samaria, was talking to a Samaritan woman, and made some kind of reference to her being a dog. I could not find this but this has led me to a whole new study on the subject. I will post something when I get it together.} 

In the last two chapters of Revelation it talks about the people living outside the city who are able to enter through the gates into the city; the kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into the city (Rev 21: 24-26), yet verse 27 says that “nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come in, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life”. It seems to me that at least some of those whose names are written in the book of life are living outside the city.

Rev 22:14 says Revelation 22:14 Common English Bible (CEB)

14 Favored are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right of access to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.

This shows again those who can enter the city.

Now let me talk about the city itself. There is no temple in the city because the Lord God, The Almighty, and the Lamb are its temple (Rev 21:22). There is no more darkness at all because the glory of God illumines it and the Lamb is its lamp (Rev 21:23). The gates of the city are never closed (Rev 21: 25). A river that is the water of life flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Rev 22:1). The river flows down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stands the tree of life bearing twelve crops of fruit every month and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2). Sounds like something going on with the people outside the city that needs healing. There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him (Rev 22: 3). The curse is related to sins so sounds like no more sinning. There is no longer any night or darkness and there will be no need of a lamp or the sun for light because the Lord God will illumine them (Rev 22:5)

Lets go back to the first part of Revelation chapter 21. For me, I think this sheds light on the things I've just talked about.

Revelation 21:1-8 Common English Bible (CEB)

New heaven and new earth

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look! I’m making all things new.” He also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”6 Then he said to me, “All is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will freely give water from the life-giving spring. 7 Those who emerge victorious will inherit these things. I will be their God, and they will be my sons and daughters. 8 But for the cowardly, the faithless, the vile, the murderers, those who commit sexual immorality, those who use drugs and cast spells, the idolaters and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

Verse 8 is talking about those same people that chapter 22:15 says are outside the holy city. This verse says that “their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.” I have read that in Greek culture, burning with fire and sulfur (brimstone in KJV) is symbolic for Divine Cleansing. This would go along with several places I remember reading in the Old Testament (The Mikra or Tanakh or Hebrew Bible).

Malachi 3:2 Common English Bible (CEB)

2 Who can endure the day of his coming?
        Who can withstand his appearance?
He is like the refiner’s fire or the cleaner’s soap.

Isaiah (Yeshayah) 1:25 Common English Bible (CEB)

25     and I will turn my hand against you.
I will refine your impurities as with lye,
    and remove all your cinders.

Psalm (Tehillim) 66:10 Common English Bible (CEB)

10 But you, God, have tested us—
    you’ve refined us like silver,

Psalm (Tehillim) 66:8-12 Common English Bible (CEB)

8 All you nations, bless our God!
    Let the sound of his praise be heard!
9 God preserved us among the living;
    he didn’t let our feet slip a bit.

10 But you, God, have tested us—
    you’ve refined us like silver,
11     trapped us in a net,
    laid burdens on our backs,
12     let other people run right over our heads—
    we’ve been through fire and water.

But you brought us out to freedom!

There are so many more scriptures that I have found that I believe relate to this subject; that all of God's, everyone, even all the angels including Satan, will be with Him in the end but fixed. In other words we will be as we should be; God Almighty will be our God and we will be His people.

1 Corinthians 15:28 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.

Ephesians 1:22-23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.