The Millennium - Part 2C

Why a Millennium? – Continued

Purposes for a Literal Millennium

Now, I will look at some passages in the Old Testament that reveal much more about the Millennium than we have in the New Testament. These Old Testament passages will speak of “the day of the Lord,” Christ “coming to judge,” Christ “smiting the nations,” and other like phrases that make it clear that the second coming of Christ is being referenced. Then, these Old Testament passages will speak of a kingdom and describe it. In these descriptions, you will see reasons for a literal Millennium upon this present earth.

A Literal Millennium Restores That Which Was Lost in the Fall of Man

In Genesis 1, God created a world that He called “very good.” Yet, because Adam sinned two chapters later, we lost some things. However, God made THIS EARTH to be pleasant, fruitful, and under man’s dominion. But since man sinned, we lost much of this. But man WILL rule THIS EARTH just as God intended. Let us look at some things that we lost in the fall of man that God will restore in the Millennium.

MAN’S DOMINION OF THIS EARTH WILL BE RESTORED

The first thing man lost in the fall was his dominion over ALL the earth. Let us look at God’s intent for man to rule this world.

Genesis 1:26 – “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

God gave man dominion over the earth – all of it. Yes, man has dominion now, but we have dominion in no way like God intended. Look at the above verse. God gave man dominion over “the fish of the sea,” “the fowl of the air,” and over “the cattle, and every creeping thing.” You could say it this way – God gave Adam dominion over “everything in the water,” “everything in the air,” and “everything on the ground.” This is the kind of dominion that God intended for mankind to have. Man, because of Adam’s sin, does not have this kind of dominion. But there will come a day when the saints of God will possess the dominion that was lost in the fall. I am not talking about dominion in the new earth of Revelation 21; I am talking about dominion over THIS EARTH, just like God intended. Notice:

Daniel 7:18 – “But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.”

Notice the wording here – “the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom.” He is talking specifically about the fourth kingdom that Daniel saw. The fourth kingdom will be the last kingdom given to man upon THIS EARTH. The saints will take that fourth, EARTHLY kingdom for themselves, and reign upon this earth for a thousand years, and then in the new earth FOR EVER. Notice again:

Daniel 7:21, 22 – “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”

Daniel 7:27 – “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”

Why have a literal Millennium? Because our dominion of THIS EARTH was lost in the fall. We cannot lead a lion by the neck. But one day we will have dominion over THIS EARTH in a literal Millennium.

FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD WILL BE RESTORED AS IT WAS IN EDEN

When God placed man in the Garden of Eden, He had fellowship personally with Adam and Eve. This fellowship was lost when Adam and Eve sinned. Notice the Bible’s description of this fellowship:

Genesis 3:8 – “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”

You may say, “Yes, I know that man’s fellowship with God has been disrupted, but didn’t Jesus die to reconcile us to God? Christians can have fellowship with God NOW, without a Millennium, can’t we?” My answer to you is, “Yes, Jesus bridged the gap, reconciling us back to God.” However, even after being reconciled to God, there are still things in the world to hinder us in our relationship with God. But in the Millennium, no devil will hinder our fellowship with God; no world-system will hinder our fellowship with God; and no flesh will hinder the Christian’s fellowship with God, as we will have glorified bodies. We will have uninterrupted fellowship with God IN THIS WORLD, as it was meant to be.

Micah 4:1-7 – “But in the last days [that is, the last days of THIS EARTH, not the new earth] it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths [“He will teach;” “We will walk” – this is restored fellowship]: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations [Judgment of nations] afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.”

THE CURSE OF ENMITY BETWEEN SATAN AND THE WOMAN WILL BE LIFTED

Let us look at the curse that God put on the serpent in the Garden of Eden:

Genesis 3:14, 15 – “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Satan has always fought the seed of the woman. In the Old Testament, it was the nation of Israel that Satan fought, because Christ would spring from there. In the gospel writings, it was Jesus he fought. In the book of Acts and throughout church history, it was the church that he fought, because the church was born of Christ’s Spirit. But in the literal Millennium on this earth, there will be no enmity between Satan and the seed of the woman.

Revelation 20:1, 2 – “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.”

THE CURSE UPON THE WOMAN WILL BE LIFTED

As a result of sin, the woman was cursed.

Genesis 3:16 – “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”

It is not “childbearing” that is the curse, but “pain in childbearing.” It is “bringing forth children in sorrow,” He calls it. The sorrow in childbearing will be lifted in the Millennium.

Isaiah 66:7, 8 – “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.”

Now, I do understand that this passage deals with Israel becoming a nation in one day. It deals with the regathering of Israel at the coming of the Lord. But look at the analogy – “Before she travailed, she brought forth.” Isaiah is comparing Israel’s sudden birth as a nation to a woman bringing forth a child before any travail whatsoever. I believe this comparison is made because in the Millennium, the woman will do just that – bring forth children without travail.

THE CURSE UPON THE MAN WILL BE LIFTED

Man, because of sin, is also cursed. That curse will be lifted in the Millennium.

Genesis 3:17-19 – “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

“Cursed is the ground for thy sake.” That is the first curse with which man must deal. The ground is cursed. Work is toilsome. The ground will not bring forth as it did before. But the ground will yield, upon THIS EARTH, what it would have had Adam not sinned.

Isaiah 35 – “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly [that is, the desert and solitary place, will blossom. The curse will be removed from the ground], and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance [this is the Lord coming to judge, showing us that these promises will take place at that time, when the kingdom is set up], even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped [The curse, to some extent, upon every natural body will be lifted]. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

STILL NOT FINISHED…

The Millennium - Part 2B

Why a Millennium? – Continued

What Will Happen at the Second Coming of Christ?

The reader may wonder why I am spending all this time dealing with all these events when I am supposed to be expounding on the Millennium. I am spending this time on these events because I do not want the reader to confuse the second coming of Christ with any other event. It is when Christ returns with the saints that He will set up His literal, millennial kingdom. I do not want you to confuse this second coming with any other event.

The second coming of Christ leads directly to the Millennium. John gives us the picture of Christ coming with the saints in Revelation 19. Immediately following His second coming, Christ sets up His kingdom in Revelation 20.

Because the second coming is the event after which Christ sets up His kingdom, I want us to look at some of the things that happen at the second coming. In the Old Testament, the “day of the Lord” often is shown at its climax when the Lord comes again. Later, we will look at some Old Testament passages that show Christ reigning. In those passages, you will notice phrases that deal with the second coming of Christ. So, let us look at the coming of the Lord and see some things that will happen at that time.

A Look at Revelation 19 – The Day of the Lord

In Revelation 19, Christ returns with the saints to the earth. We will look at the whole passage. I have emphasized some of the phrases, putting them in bold print. I will expound on these phrases, as they show specific things that will happen when Christ comes to the earth to set up His kingdom.

Revelation 19:11-21 – “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”

You will notice the first phrase in bold type is the phrase “he doth judge.” When Christ comes to the earth to set up His kingdom, He is coming to judge. II Thessalonians chapter 2 tells us that Christ, when He comes after the tribulation, will destroy the Wicked one (antichrist) with the brightness of His coming. The first thing Christ will do when He comes after the tribulation is destroy the antichrist and his armies. He will first destroy those nations who fight with the antichrist. Remember this phrase, as you will be reminded of it when we look at Old Testament scriptures regarding the Millennium. He doth judge!

The second phrase of emphasis is “and the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses.” These armies are the saints of God which will come to the earth with Christ. Remember this phrase as well. We will look at some Old Testament passages that remind us that Christ will come WITH HIS SAINTS.

The third phrase to examine in this passage is the phrase “smite the nations.” This is a specific judgment that occurs at the second coming of Christ. I will expound on it more than I do the other phrases, because it is key to understanding the Millennium. When we look at Old Testament passages regarding the Millennium, remember this phrase, as you will be reminded of it.

The Judgment of Nations

Looking at some things that will happen at the second coming of Christ to this earth, one of those things is the judgment of nations. Christ will come, as we have seen, to “smite the nations.” What does this mean? It is important to understand what this means. Christ expounds upon this “judgment of nations.” The passage where Christ gives us His exposition of the judgment of nations is found in Matthew 25.

Matthew 25:31-34 – “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Now, some have taught through the years that this judgment is a general judgment of individuals at the end of the world. This is not true. You may say, “Well, I’ve always thought that!” My answer is, “You’ve always thought wrong.” Here, Christ is not judging individuals, but nations.

Notice verse 31, the first verse in the passage – “When the Son of man shall come in His glory...” This judgment takes place at the second coming of Christ, when He comes to set up His kingdom.

Notice verse 32 – “Before Him shall be gathered ALL NATIONS, and He shall separate THEM…” When Christ says, “He shall separate THEM,” who are the “them”? Clearly it is ALL NATIONS! Jesus plainly states, “Before Him shall be gathered ALL NATIONS, and He shall separate THEM!”

Christ, when He comes, is going to separate the nations as a shepherd divideth His sheep from the goats. He then tells the “sheep” nations, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.” The sheep nations will then enter the Millennium. Later in the exposition, Christ tells the “goat” nations, “Be ye cursed into everlasting fire.” The “goat” nations are destroyed then and there and are cast into hell.

So, here’s how I see it. Christ will come after the tribulation with the armies of heaven, the saints of God. He will first destroy the powers of the antichrist and the kings that fight with him, and all their armies. Then, the nations that remain will be gathered together to be judged. These nations are composed of people who are living at the time of the second coming. Some people will not be destroyed at the second coming, but they will survive to endure the judgment of nations. The “goat” nations will go into hell, fulfilling Psalm 9:17 – “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all THE NATIONS that forget God.” The “sheep” nations will then enter the Millennium – the kingdom prepared for them. They will enter the Millennium as they are, in natural, physical bodies. Saints will have already been raptured and we will have already been given our glorified bodies at this time. But the nations that enter the kingdom are composed of people in natural bodies, and they will enter the kingdom with those bodies. They will bear children during the millennium, and those children will have a chance to be saved. If Isaiah 65 deals with the Millennium as some suggest, notice what Isaiah says in Isaiah 65:20 – “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” If a man dies at 100 years old – he will be considered a child!

Now, you may ask, “What determines if a nation is a ‘sheep’ nation or a ‘goat’ nation?” That is a good question, and the Bible gives an answer. Right after Jesus tells the “sheep” nations “Inherit the kingdom prepared for you,” He tells them WHY they will enter the kingdom. He tells them what makes them a “sheep” nation. Notice:

Matthew 25:34-40 – “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

What makes the “sheep” nations eligible for the kingdom? They fed the Lord when He was hungry; they visited Him in His sickness; they clothed His nakedness. The “sheep” nations then will ask, “Lord, when did we see you naked and clothe you…” and so forth. Christ answers them, “When ye have done it to the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.” His “brethren” are those of the nation of Israel. The nations that help Israel during the tribulation will be the “sheep” nations that enter the kingdom. During the tribulation, Israel will be scattered. Notice:

Matthew 24:15-21 – “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

Did you notice those phrases? “Let them which be in Judaea FLEE…” “Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house.” “Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.” “But pray that your FLIGHT be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day!” The message to Israel will be “FLEE!” Israel will be on the run! And those nations that take them in, giving Israel aid and assistance will be the “sheep” nations that enter the Millennium. Another passage that gives a very clear picture of the judgment of nations is Joel 3. If the reader has any doubt that NATIONS will be judged when the Lord comes, I encourage you to read Joel 3 in its entirety.

So, at the time of the day of the Lord, when Christ comes with the saints to set up His kingdom, He will destroy the antichrist and his armies and all other nations that support him; he will judge the nations, determining which nations enter the Millennium. But there is one more thing He will do at the second coming.

The Regathering of Israel

I just showed you how that, during the tribulation, Israel will be scattered. When Christ comes after the tribulation, He will certainly gather those Jews who have been scattered. He will gather them to their own land. Take note:

Matthew 24:29-31 – “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Notice the two phrases I emphasized above – “the sign,” and “gather together.” This verse does not refer to the rapture of the church, but rather the gathering of the Jews who had been scattered. The “sign” and the “gathering together” are mentioned in Isaiah 11, and these phrases are associated with the regathering of Israel.

Isaiah 11:10-12 – “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”

One can see clearly in Isaiah the “sign” and the “gathering together.” What Jesus calls “the elect” in Matthew 24, Isaiah calls “the outcasts of Israel” and the “dispersed of Judah.” Truly, at the coming of Jesus Christ after the tribulation, the Lord Himself will assemble the outcasts of Israel, the dispersed of Judah, and ALL the Jews that have scattered and bring them to their own land.

At the second coming of Christ after the tribulation, it is clear that Christ will:

1) Come with His saints to the earth.

2) “Judge and make war” – He will destroy the antichrist’s powers and the kings and armies that fight with him.

3) “Smite the nations” – He will judge the nations, determining which ones will enter the Millennium and which ones will not.

4) Gather the outcasts of Israel and place them in their own land

All of these things will occur when Christ comes to the earth in Revelation 19. Immediately after these things are done, Revelation 20 teaches us that Christ will then set up His literal, millennial kingdom.

TO BE CONTINUED…

The Millennium - Part 2A

Why a Millennium?

After clearly understanding that the Millennium is a literal, 1000-year period where Jesus Christ reigns literally upon this earth, the student of this subject is, in most cases, questioning the purpose of such a time. WHY? Why have a literal Millennium where we, the saints of God, reign with Jesus Christ for 1,000 years, and then have a little time when Satan is again released, and then have the judgment of the doomed and the damned, and then reign with Christ for ever? Why don’t we just reign with Christ for ever starting at the second coming of Christ?

In studying the following points, I hope the reader considers my efforts to answer this question a success. I feel like there are good reasons why the literal reign of Jesus Christ upon this present earth will come to pass.

It would do the reader good to understand, first and foremost, that when dealing with subjects such as the Millennium, we are dealing with items relating to the plan of God. We must always remember, especially when attempting to answer “why this…” and “why that…” that God’s ways are higher than our ways. I will never be able to answer fully why God does this or that. I do not understand everything about God; and, if I ever do, I would do good to seek a better concept of God. There are, however, answers in the Bible to some of our questions concerning the Millennium. A look at a few scriptures may enable us to understand the purposes of a literal Millennium upon this present earth.

Some Upcoming Events

Before looking at the Millennium exclusively, it is necessary to examine a few events that will happen to us all; some events occurring sooner than others.

DEATH

The first event that is certain to happen to all of us who are not alive at the coming of Christ is death. Let us look at what happens at the death of the Christian, then at the death of the sinner.

When a Christian dies, his body becomes lifeless; his soul goes to be with Jesus Christ immediately. There is no soul sleep. Notice:

II Corinthians 5:8 – “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

When an unsaved man dies, the moment he closes his eyes in this world, he opens them in hell. Listen to the account of Jesus Christ of a rich man who died and what happened to him immediately:

Luke 16:22, 23 – “…the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”

It is clear that the moment he died, the rich man found himself within the regions of the doomed and the damned.

I understand that there are gospel tracts that seem to indicate that as soon as an unsaved person dies, they are immediately before God in judgment. The Bible does not teach this. The Bible does teach that judgment comes after death. Notice:

Hebrews 9:27 – “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment.”

It is Bible truth that judgment occurs after death, but the scripture does not say that judgment occurs immediately after death. Actually, Revelation 20 tells us that there will be a resurrection of the unsaved dead after the Millennium, and they will stand before God at that time. Hell, we are told, will deliver up the dead that is in it. Those who are in hell will come forth out of hell and be judged after the Millennium at the Great White Throne Judgment. The unsaved man does not go to a judgment immediately at the time of death. He immediately goes to a literal, burning hell.

THE RAPTURE

The rapture means nothing to the man who dies without Jesus Christ. At the time of the rapture, the man who died lost will be yet in hell. The rapture will not change that fact.

The word “rapture” is one of those words that does not appear in the King James Bible. Like the word “millennium,” though the actual word is not in the Bible, its meaning certainly is. By the word “rapture,” we mean “caught up.” Notice:

I Thessalonians 4:16, 17 – “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

There are two things that happen in this verse. First, the dead in Christ will rise to meet the Lord in the air. Secondly, we who are alive and remain will join them. The “dead in Christ” refer to Christians who will have already died when Jesus comes for the church. As for these Christians who have already died, the “dead in Christ,” what are they doing when Jesus comes for them? Are they sleeping in a grave? NO! Absolutely not! Their bodies are in graves, but their souls are with the Lord. As a matter of fact, when Christ comes for the church, the souls of these Christians will come with Him. Notice:

I Thessalonians 4:13 – “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

So, it is clear that when a Christian dies, he goes immediately to be with the Lord. Then, when Jesus comes for the church, his soul will come with Christ to be reunited with his body. His body will come forth from the grave, being changed into a glorious body, “like unto His glorious body!” Those who are saved and yet alive when Jesus comes for His church will immediately be changed, receiving at once a glorious body like Christ’s, and will meet Christ in the air.

We will receive a “glorified body,” as we call it, at the rapture. Once we receive this glorified body, it is impossible for us to be lost at that point. The Bible says concerning us who receive a glorified body – “…so shall we ever be with the Lord.” When I rise to meet Jesus in the air, I will receive a glorified body, and never again will I be separated from Christ.

THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

This is another event that is meaningless to the one who has died as an unbeliever. I personally believe that the judgment of the believer will take place at the rapture. The Bible says in Romans 14:10 and II Corinthians 5:10, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” I believe that the best picture of the judgment seat of Christ is found in I Corinthians chapter 3:

I Corinthians 3:10-15 – “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

There are a couple of things to note concerning this passage. First, nothing is said in the passage regarding sins. God is not judging sins in this passage. God the Father already judged my sins. The judgment of my sins took place nearly 2,000 years ago. Look at it:

Isaiah 53:6 – “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Christ was judged at the cross of Calvary for my sins. I will not have to stand in judgment for my sins; Christ stood in Pilate’s judgment hall for my sins! When a believer stands at the judgment seat of Christ, he is not standing there to find out if he’s saved or not – the glorified body he received at the rapture tells him he’s saved! He is not standing there to show the Lord whether he’s saved or not, for “the Lord knoweth them that are His.”

So, it is clear that sins are not dealt with at this judgment. Four times in the above passage, we read the word “work.” The judgment seat of Christ is about our works. In the aforementioned passage, Paul gives us a picture of a building. The apostles and prophets laid the foundation for this building. Paul gives us the warning – “But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” What we do for Christ will be examined at this judgment. At this judgment, our works for the kingdom of God will be added to the foundation. After everyone’s works have been added to the building, the fire will be set to it. Everything we did for show, for selfish motives, for self-benefit, out of hypocrisy, or anything else that brought glory to self will be burned to a crisp. Those works will be gone. They will go up in smoke, and no reward will be given for those works. But the works that truly promoted the work of God out of a pure heart will remain. When the smoke clears, here is what we will have –

Ephesians 5:27 – “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

This judgment of the believers’ works will take place, I believe, shortly after the rapture.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

After the tribulation, the scripture makes it clear that Christ will return to the earth. He will come with the saints who met him in the air at the event we call the rapture. It is at this time that the Millennium will begin. Christ, when he comes to the earth again, will come to set up His kingdom upon this earth. At this time, the beast (antichrist) and false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire. The devil will not be cast into the lake of fire at this time. I will elaborate more on the second coming of Christ shortly.

THE MILLENNIUM

This is the 1,000 year reign of Christ. It immediately begins when Christ returns to earth with His saints. During this time, the devil will be bound. He will no longer deceive the nations.

SATAN LOOSED

After the Millennium, Satan will be loosed out of his prison for a short time. He will then be able to deceive the nations again. Those of us who were in the rapture will NOT IN ANY CASE BE DECEIVED. As I stated earlier, the Bible says that when we meet Jesus in the air, “so shall we ever be with the Lord.” We will never be separated from Christ. So, when the devil is loosed for a short season after the Millennium, there is no way he will deceive us who were with Christ in the rapture. There is no way for us to be lost at that point.

SATAN DESTROYED

After the short time when Satan is loosed, those whom he deceives will fight one final battle with Satan as their leader. Fire from heaven will destroy them, and Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, where the beast and the false prophet are.

THE FINAL JUDGMENT

After the destruction of Satan, the unsaved dead will be resurrected. They will stand before God at the great white throne. The books will be opened. They will see that God is just in allowing them to go to hell. They will see that their name is not in the Lamb’s book of Life. Then, “death and hell” will be cast into the lake of fire.

THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH

After the final judgment, Satan and unbelievers are gone for good. At this time, God destroys the heaven and earth that are in existence now, and He creates a new heaven and a new earth. The New Jerusalem will come down from God out of heaven and will settle upon this earth. In the new heaven and new earth, we will reign with Christ for ever and ever.

STAY TUNED...

The Millennium - Part 1B

A Literal Millennium – Continued

Views of the Millennium

Although the language of Revelation 20 is among the simplest words in the book of Revelation, some still confuse the subject of the Millennium, and henceforth give us several views to consider. I will mention a couple of these views briefly.

POSTMILLENNIALISM

“Post,” meaning “after,” and “millennial,” meaning “the millennium,” we understand postmillennialism to mean “after the Millennium.” Those who believe this teaching believe that Christ will return to earth AFTER the Millennium. While adherents to this teaching believe in a literal Millennium, they are faulty in placing it before Christ comes to earth again.

There are basically two schools of thought regarding postmillennialism. Some who hold to this view believe a literal Millennium of peace has already occurred. Some say that the Millennium began in the fourth century, around the time of Constantine, and lasted for 1,000 years. This is entirely impossible, considering that the Millennium is to be a time of complete peace (as I will show later) with no wars whatsoever. The eleventh century is stained with blood from the Crusades. The Millennium is not in the past; it is in the future.

Others who hold to the postmillennial view say that the Millennium will not be ushered in by the coming of Jesus Christ to this earth. They rather believe that the Millennium will come gradually by the efforts and technology of man. They believe that the world will get better and better until Christ comes to a perfect utopia. I will not comment on this view further; anyone will two working eyes in their head can examine the truth that the world is not getting better and better by anyone’s standard except the devil’s. Furthermore, Christ will not come to a world of peace; it is Christ’s presence, rather, that brings peace to this world!

AMILLENNIALISM

The Latin “a” means simply, “without.” The word “amillennial” therefore simply means “without a Millennium.” Those who hold to this view simply believe that there is no literal Millennium whatsoever. They teach that the aforementioned passage, Revelation 20:1-6, should be taken figuratively, not literally.

So, here’s how they “spiritualize” Revelation 20:1-6:

The Bible says in Revelation 20 that while Christ reigns for 1,000 years with those who take part in the first resurrection, the devil is bound at that time. Then, at the end of the 1,000 years, the devil is loosed for a season. He deceives the nations one last time. He is then destroyed and cast into the lake of fire.

First, they say that the time period of 1,000 years mentioned five times is not literal. They say that, instead of meaning 1,000 years, it just means “a long time.” They teach that the thousand-year period is just the church age. It is the time between Christ’s ascension and His return. Then, they say that during the church age, the devil is bound and Christ is reigning. The church age is now. So, they teach that right now, the devil is bound and Christ is reigning. Then, the short time that the devil is loosed is the tribulation period. Then, after Satan deceives the nations, there is a final battle, which they say is just the same battle as found in Revelation 19, where Christ destroys the beast and his armies.

There is so much wrong with that interpretation. First, why would the Bible say “1,000 years” if it is not? There is no sensible reason to deny that “1,000 years” in this passage would mean anything other than “1,000 years.” Secondly, the thousand-year period is NOT THE CHURCH AGE! In the thousand-year period mentioned in this passage, the devil is bound and Christ is reigning. The devil is NOT BOUND! I agree with the preacher who said, “If the devil is chained, he’s on an awful long chain!” Those who hold to this view say, “Christ is reigning right now IN OUR HEARTS.” Christ may indeed reign in the hearts of His people, but this passage is not talking about Christ ruling in the hearts of His people; this passage is talking about Christ ruling AMONG THE NATIONS! When the devil is bound, it is stated in Revelation 20 that he will not deceive the nations any longer! I know that Satan is not restricted from deceiving the nations because the nations are being deceived! Thirdly, the belief that the loosing of Satan after the thousand-years is the tribulation, and the battle after Satan is loosed is just a restatement of the battle in Revelation 19 doesn’t hold up. Notice:

Revelation 19:19, 20 – “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

Notice, in the battle in the above verses which takes place after the tribulation, the beast (or, Antichrist) and the false prophet were both cast into the lake of fire. The devil WAS NOT cast into the lake of fire. In Revelation 20, in the battle after Satan is loosed following the Millennium, THE DEVIL is thrown into the lake of fire. We are told that the beast and the false prophet are already there! Notice:

Revelation 20:7-10 – “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

At the end of the Millennium, when the devil is loosed for a little season, the devil is cast into the lake of fire. Amillennialists say that the “little season” is just the tribulation. But in Revelation 19, when Christ returns after the tribulation, the devil IS NOT cast into the lake of fire. The beast and the false prophet are. So the battle after the tribulation in Revelation 19 IS NOT THE SAME BATTLE as the battle at the end of the “little season” when the devil is loosed after the Millennium. Amillennialism does not hold up.

Albert Barnes, a commentator in the 19th century, comments on Revelation 20:4 where it reads, “…and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded…and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Barnes says that because John saw the “souls” and not the “bodies,” that John could not have been referring to a literal, bodily resurrection. It sounds like a good point.

But, I turned to Acts 27, that great chapter that tells us about Paul’s shipwreck. How many people were on that ship? The Bible says in Acts 27:37 that there were “two hundred threescore and sixteen (276) souls.” Can you imagine that? After these people came to shore, here come 276 souls, and not a single one of them had a body!

You know that’s not right. When the Bible says there were 276 souls, he was not saying that there were no “bodies” present. Sometimes, the word “souls” in scripture just means “people.”

I sent a text message to a preacher some time ago. It read, “Man does not have a soul.” In about five seconds my phone rang. “What do you mean, man doesn’t have a soul?” he asked. My reply was this: “Man doesn’t have a soul; man is a soul.” Genesis 2:7 states, “And God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” When John said, “I saw the souls of them that were beheaded,” he was not teaching that they have no body of any kind. After all, John tells us that these “souls” had been resurrected. We know that John was referring to their physical DEATH when he says that they were beheaded. If you are beheaded, your head is taken off your body, not your soul! When they were beheaded, their body died, not their soul! So, when they are resurrected in the first resurrection, it will be their bodies that are resurrected. So, amillennialism just does not work.

At one time, I considered amillennialism, but I never believed it. One thing that made me consider the teaching was the fact that there are several verses in the Bible that refer to the Lord reigning FOR EVER. This made me consider doing away with a literal Millennium.

Some of these scriptures are Exodus 15:18; Psalm 146:10; Daniel 7:14; Daniel 7:27; Micah 4:7; Luke 1:33; Revelation 11:15; and Revelation 22:5. If Christ is going to reign FOR EVER, I considered, then He is not going to reign for a literal 1,000 years. But after studying the scriptures, it is clear to me that although Christ is going to reign for ever in the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth, His eternal reign will begin with a literal Millennium upon this present, literal earth.  It is the Biblical viewpoint that Jesus Christ is coming literally to this earth, and a literal, 1,000-year reign follows His coming.  We call this PREMILLENNIALISM.

If the Millennium is not a Futuristic, Literal Kingdom…

Understanding that the Bible rejects both the postmillennial and amillennial viewpoints, let me speak hypothetically.  If it were true that the Millennium is either something past; or something figurative, then there are some questions that must be answered.

First, what did Jesus mean when He told His apostles in Matthew 19:28 – “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” What does this mean, if it doesn’t mean that the apostles will sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel?

Secondly, in Matthew 20:20-23, I am told that the mother of James and John, Zebedee’s children, came to Jesus with a request. She asked if her two preacher boys could sit, one at Christ’s right hand and the other at His left, in the kingdom. Christ does not straighten her out. He does not tell her that there is no kingdom. He simply states that those positions are not His to give. This would have been a perfect time to correct her faulty thinking, if there is no literal kingdom. But Christ does not correct her. Concerning mansions in the Father’s house, Christ told His disciples, “If it were not so, I would have told you.” Don’t you think He would have told the mother of James and John differently when she expected a literal kingdom to come? Sure He would have…but He did not. There is a literal kingdom coming.

Thirdly, consider Acts 1:6-8. The disciples are told to go to Jerusalem. Something clicks in their minds. They remember the Old Testament prophecies that state that the Lord’s house would be established in the mountains of Jerusalem, and that all nations would flow to it. When Christ tells them to go to Jerusalem, they automatically think, “He’s about to set up His kingdom.” They know from the scriptures that the Christ would come to set up such a kingdom. So they ask the Lord this question: “Wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel.” This is another chance for the Lord to tell all of us that there is no literal kingdom. But again, He does not. He simply tells his disciples that the time of the coming kingdom is not their department. Their concern should be to get full of the Spirit of God and be witnesses – “The time of the kingdom is not in your power,” He tells them. “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses…”

There is a literal kingdom coming. But, until then, may we be full of the Holy Ghost and win the lost to Jesus Christ.

MORE TO COME…

The Millennium - Part 1A

A Literal Millennium

Introduction

As I begin this study on the Millennium, it is important to understand, first and foremost, that this is a brief study, and is in no way designed to be an in-depth study of this subject. Clearly, I understand that this study is basic rather than exhaustive. There is no way in this brief study to answer every question concerning the Millennium, to examine every passage of scripture dealing with the Millennium, or to establish myself as an expert on this massive subject. In this study, it is my desire to present the basics of this vital Bible doctrine.

The Primary Passage – Revelation 20:1-6

The twentieth chapter of Revelation is perhaps the easiest understood chapter of the book of Revelation. In spite of the simplicity of its language, many Bible readers still choke at its clarity. Let us look at the passage which I will be examining throughout this study.

Revelation 20:1-6 – “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

It would be good for the reader to understand that the word, “millennium” is found neither in the above passage, nor anywhere else in the Bible. Some have chosen not to believe in a literal Millennium because the word, “millennium” is not found in the Bible. Though the word itself may not be in the Bible, its exact meaning is found in the Bible, and we see it clearly in the above passage.

The word “millennium” comes from two Latin words. The first, “mille,” means “thousand;” and the second, “annus,” means “years.” So, the Latin word “millennium” is the exact equivalent to our English phrase “thousand years.”

Five times in the above passage we find the phrase “thousand years.” First, in verses 2 and 3, we are told that an angel took the devil, bound him, and cast him into the bottomless pit to remain for a thousand years. In these two verses, the phrase “thousand years” is found twice. So, we who believe in a literal millennium believe that during the millennium, the devil will be bound for A THOUSAND YEARS! In verse 4, I am told that those who were martyred during the tribulation LIVED and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. In verse 5, I am told that the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. In verse 6, I am told that those who escape the second death will reign with Christ for a thousand years.

So, the Millennium is a Bible doctrine that is preached by Bible-believing preachers, proclaiming that those who escape the second death, especially those who suffer for the gospel, will live and reign with Jesus Christ upon this present, literal earth for 1,000 years of peace.

The Binding of Satan

In the aforementioned passage of scripture, Revelation 20:1-6, John informs me that, at the beginning of the Millennium, the devil himself is bound with a chain and confined to the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. Praise God for this truth! The devil, who caused so much trouble through the centuries for both Israel and the church, is bound! Satan, the god of this world who blinded the minds of them who refuse to believe Christ, is in confinement! Perhaps one of the greatest aspects of this passage is the fact that it only takes one angel to bind that old serpent. When Jesus Christ was arrested, the Romans sent a band of soldiers, each soldier possessing a torch and a sword. When Peter was arrested and placed in jail he was guarded a band of soldiers. But when God binds the devil, he does not send heaven’s armies! He does not send the artilleries of heaven’s forces! He does not empty heaven’s fort of its officials! Jesus Christ, the commander-in-chief of the heavenly realm, simply sends one officer – just one angel – and Satan’s freedom to deceive the nations is a thing of the past!

TO BE CONTINUED…