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…
