Israel, the Palestinians, the United Nations, and the Bible

September 2011 has been quite a month for Israel and the Palestinians. As the reader may be aware, Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian National Authority, made his bid for Palestinian statehood before the United Nations. Also, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded with a tremendous speech to the U.N. Having said this, I would like to discuss these recent middle-eastern happenings in light of the Bible, the word of God.

God Chose Israel

Israel, in Old Testament times, was God’s chosen people. Because of their rejection of their Messiah, God cut Israel off that He might deal with the Gentiles. From Israel’s rejection of Christ came the church of Jesus Christ.

Romans 11:11 – “I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”

Some Bible scholars use verses such as the above verse to teach that since salvation has come to the Gentiles from the fall of Israel, then God is completely finished with Israel. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth! All one must do is read the beginning of the verse! “Have they stumbled that they should fall? GOD FORBID!” The very next verse shows us that, though Israel has fallen, their stumbling is not a permanent fall!

Romans 11:12 – “Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?”

Israel most certainly will experience their fullness! They will experience a kingdom to the fullest extent. They will experience a King reigning to the full from Jerusalem! God is not finished with Israel!

God chose Israel; and although Israel has broken the covenant, God will choose them again in the latter times!

Zechariah 3:2 – “And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?”

Yes, God chose Israel as a brand plucked out of the fire! Some say that God’s choosing of Israel is only in the past. But, what says the scripture? The same prophet who recorded what the Lord told Satan in the above verse also wrote that the election of Israel is also relevant to the future.

Zechariah 1:17 – “Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and SHALL YET CHOOSE JERUSLAEM.”

No, God is not finished with Israel! He chose Israel, and Israel is His covenant people, and will be such even in the end of time. Paul brings out this truth in Romans 11:25, 26.

Romans 11:25 – “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Let us notice three things about the unveiled mystery of this verse. First, BLINDNESS IS HAPPENED TO ISRAEL. I know of no one who denies that. Only one who is spiritually blind can read Isaiah 53 and not see Jesus Christ, the suffering Messiah. The fact that the Jews are still waiting for their Messiah to come the first time is sufficient proof of spiritual blindness. Israel is blinded. Secondly, Paul tells us that blindness IN PART is happened to Israel. “In part” means that the entire nation is not blinded. There is a remnant of Jews who believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. We call these Jews “Messianic Jews.” Thirdly, Paul tells us that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL…” The word, “until” means that Israel’s blindness is only temporary. Israel’s eyes will be opened! Some scholars insist that Israel’s eyes will indeed be opened, but it will be too late and the nation will perish forever. But let us read the next verse.

Romans 11:26 – “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.”

“All Israel shall be saved.” No statement in scripture is plainer! I have actually read authors who state that this verse means that the whole church will be saved. My question to them is this: “If the blindness of “Israel” in verse 25 is referring to the nation of Israel, then why, in the very next verse, does ‘Israel’ mean the church?” The one who interprets “Israel” to be the New Testament church in verse 26, but not in verse 25, is not consistent in their interpretation. They are not studying the scripture with intent to find truth; but they are rather interpreting scripture with an agenda!

The Bible is clear on the subject of God’s election of Israel! God chose Israel; and God is not finished with the nation of Israel!

God Preserved Israel

As certain as God’s election, or choosing, of Israel, the reader can be assured that God has preserved Israel. There was once an atheist who later became a staunch believer in Jesus Christ. When asked what changed his mind concerning spiritual things, the reply came in one word: “Israel.” It has been rightly said that no nation has been persecuted to the extent that Israel has. Yet, Israel is the strongest of the middle-eastern nations by far. This is not by accident. God Almighty has preserved Israel! In the Bible, there were a people known as the Philistines. That group of people today is nonexistent. That nationality became extinct! Israel has suffered far more than the Philistines, and yet you cannot destroy them!

In the United Nations assembly last week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave his speech. Now, if you’re a liberal, I am sure you were tickled to hear him speak and probably want to have dinner with the man. There has been news this past week of an Iranian pastor set to be executed in Iran. His charge? Apostasy. There are reports as I write this post that the charges have been changed to rape. It doesn’t take a scholar to figure out that Iran is intolerant to any who serves the God of the Bible. No rape has been committed. The Muslims in Iranian leadership are like the liberals who love their “tolerance” so much – they are liars. Meanwhile, in America, public school teachers teach children of a “peaceable” and “tolerant” religion called Islam.

Iran has long been known for its hostility toward the United States and Israel. In September 2003, Iran unveiled for the first time to the public the Shahab-3 missiles, capable of reaching Israel. The missiles were daubed with slogans including: “We will crush America under our feet” and “Israel must be wiped off the map.”*

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

In August 2005, Ahmadinejad became president in a landslide “election.” Ahmadinejad has echoed the desires of Iran to wipe Israel off the map. Mark it down – it is an absolute impossibility to wipe Israel off the map! You may as well remove all the sand from the desert and drain the oceans dry as to annihilate Israel. To destroy Israel, Ahmadinejad must destroy God! God Almighty (the God of the Bible) has His hand upon the nation of Israel. He has preserved Israel, and will continue to do so. The atheist reading this may not like it, but his refusal to like it doesn’t change it! Ahmadinejad along with his god, the devil, may hate what I am writing. But their hatred won’t change the truth! Israel is a preserved people!

The Restoration of Israel

A third Biblical fact regarding Israel is that they will be fully restored. This point is a vast subject of its own, and the scriptures declaring it are too numerous to articulate individually. Some such scriptures include, but are not limited to: Jeremiah 30:7-10; Jeremiah 50:20; Micah 7:18-20; and Romans 11:25-32.

The nation of Israel will be restored in several ways, although I will focus on just one. First, Israel will have their King restored to them. Yes, the very King they crucified 2,000 years ago! Only a King who rose from the dead to live forevermore can perform such a miracle! The very King they killed will rule in Jerusalem. Secondly, Israel will have a kingdom restored to them. In Acts 1:6, the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” In Christ’s answer in Acts 1:7, 8, He does not deny that a literal kingdom is coming. He simply stated that it is not in their power to know WHEN that literal kingdom will come. Thirdly, the nation of Israel will have salvation in their Messiah restored to them! Fourthly, the people of the nation of Israel will be restored to the land that God promised Abraham – ALL OF IT! The scriptures that teach this are too many to mention here. This is the point upon which I wish to expound.

Last week, President Abbas made his bid for Palestinian statehood. Of course, this request for statehood is a request for Palestinian acquisition of portions of Israel’s land. Mark this down: Israel should not give up one ant hill of one of their landfills to the Palestinians! Jerusalem, every square inch of it, belongs to Israel! God said so! And when Jesus comes, they will have every square inch of what they have now, plus what they should have!

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, in the conclusion of his speech, read from Isaiah the 9th chapter.  How ironic - he read a passage dealing with the Messiah.  And that is when there will be peace in the middle-east - when the Jewish Messiah comes to reign in Jerusalem! 

The subject of nation of Israel is a vast one, and one which I love to study. But I must save some of it for another post!

*Vollmer, Chuck. Iranian President Ahmadinejad, Islamic Eschatology, and Near-Term Implications. January 26, 2006.

A Tale of Two Church Members

Diotrephes and Demetrius

Many who have never opened a Bible know about Noah. There are citizens who have never darkened the door of any church; yet they can tell you who Jonah was. Children in Sunday School can tell you who Lazarus was, and how Jesus raised him from the dead. Yet, tucked away in the small epistle of III John are two Bible characters that are little known to even the most faithful churchgoers. I hope the reader will read what the scriptures declare concerning these two men.

Diotrephes – The Undermining, Authority-Usurping “Church Boss”

III John 9, 10 – “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.”

John’s third epistle is addressed to man named Gaius, a man about which we know but little. In verse 9, John tells Gaius, “I wrote unto the church.” More than likely, John is informing Gaius that he wrote to the church of which Gaius attended. John expounded to Gaius how that the letter he had written to the church had fallen into the hands of a deadly serpent – the hands of an undermining “church boss.” John tells Gaius that Diotrephes “loveth to have the preeminence.” This is a mark of a genuine, authentic hypocrite. A sincere Christian is content to work hard behind the scenes so that Christ may be preeminent! But Diotrephes, on the other hand, loved attention. He loved to be out in front. He loved to run things. He got glory out of the fact that the pastor had to come to him for permission to have a bus ministry, permission to have a revival, or permission to increase spending for the promotion of outreach.

Listen to me very carefully. If you are on a board of trustees, a deacon board, or some other church board, listen to me right here. If your pastor has to ask YOU for permission to have a revival, have a bus ministry, or anything else, you are wicked. I have spoken to deacon boards who were trying to find a pastor for their church. It was evident to me why they couldn’t find anyone. They wanted the pastor to preach, and they wanted to run the church. Let me tell you something, Diotrephes – if you think it is your job to run the church, why don’t you just pastor the church? Why get a pastor to be your puppet?

First, Diotrephes loved to have preeminence. He loved to have authority. Furthermore, the scriptures tell us that Diotrephes was “prating against us with malicious words.” “Prate,” according to Noah Webster, means “to utter foolishly.” Basically, when John tells Gaius that Diotrephes was “prating against us,” he is saying that Diotrephes was running his mouth often, and never knew what he was talking about. Church bosses are not content with any man of God. Church bosses are quick to run down men of God. They have no fear of God. A real Christian, on the other hand, realizes the Biblical admonition to “touch not Mine anointed,” and “do my prophets no harm.” The true Christian understands that, even when a preacher is wrong, it is just as wrong to criticize. Notice that Diotrephes was big on “prating;” true Christians are big on “praying.” Diotrephes specialized in running his mouth to others; the true Christian specializes in running his mouth to God.

John further shows us that Diotrephes had no discernment. No hypocrite has discernment. Church bosses have no discernment. If church bosses had any discernment, they would see that their desire to run the church and the pastor is of the devil. John tells us concerning Diotrephes – “neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would.” Diotrephes did not receive the brethren, but cast them out of the church. This plainly shows that Diotrephes did not know the difference between a real brother in Christ and a wolf in sheep’s clothing. So it is with church bosses. They don’t know a real man of God when they see one. When they do have a real man of God, it’s the church bosses that vote him out! Don’t be a Diotrephes!

Demetrius – The Man Whose Actions Were Right and His Beliefs Were True

III John 12 – “Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.”

Here John mentions a second member of Gaius’ church. Demetrius was a man who is commended on two fronts by the apostle John. First, John states to Gaius that “Demetrius hath good report of all men.” This is a testimony of Demetrius’ way of living – he lived right! The testimony of the life that Demetrius lived was reported BY ALL MEN! Saints and sinners alike testified that Demetrius lived right! No man’s religion is worth a wadded-up Snickers wrapper if it doesn’t affect the way he lives! I only care what you believe after I see how you live! Demetrius had gotten hold of a religion that caused him to live right, and all men saw it!

Not only did Demetrius adhere to a practical Christianity by living right, but he also possessed doctrinal Christianity by believing right! In the above verse, John states “Demetrius hath good report of all men, and OF THE TRUTH ITSELF!” “All men” testified of how Demetrius lived; “the truth itself” testified of what Demetrius believed! While it is important to live right, it is also important to believe right. Demetrius did both! His Christianity looked good in practice, but it also looked good on paper! It matters what you believe. It matters what you believe about Christ. In II John, John said, “If any man come unto you, and bring not this doctrine [the doctrine, or teaching, about Christ], receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.” It matters what you believe about heaven and hell. It matters what you believe about retribution for sin. It matters what you believe about the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It matters what you believe sanctification and holiness. It matters what you believe about the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Yes, “universal atonement” is important, and “limited atonement” is not in the Bible. If you do not believe in justification by faith, you are in serious error. If you teach that we are kept by works, then you, like the Galatians, are fallen from grace. It is a big deal if you have a problem with the deity of Christ. Before He was born in the flesh, Christ was equal with the Father. After Christ was born in the flesh, His name was called Emmanuel, meaning “God with us.” And the Father declared to the Son, “Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever!” While in the flesh, Jesus Christ was absolutely sinless! He never sinned in thought, in word, or in deed.  All these things are important.

Practical Christianity [how you live] is important; but doctrinal Christianity [how you believe] is just as important. You may ask, “What difference does it make what I believe about Christ’s sacrificial death, or some of the other doctrines you mentioned?” These doctrines matter for one major reason – each doctrine of the Bible is a test to each one of us, and that test is stated thus: “Do you believe what God said?” You tell me what you believe about hell and I’ll tell you whether or not you believe God. Don’t ever conclude that the doctrines of the Bible are unimportant – it ALWAYS matters what God said, and Demetrius believed the truth!

The Three Appearings of Christ

Hebrews 9:24-28 – “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, NOW TO APPEAR in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world HATH HE APPEARED to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him SHALL HE APPEAR the second time without sin unto salvation.”

The Importance of Spiritual Vision

All spiritual senses are important. In the pages of scripture, we are told, “He that hath an ear, let him hear.” Hearing is important. Furthermore, we are instructed concerning those who are “past feeling.” Feeling should never be the most significant of the senses, but its importance cannot be denied. Even the sense of taste is necessary, for if every Christ-rejecting sinner would only “taste and see” that the Lord is good, there would be few unbelievers in this wicked world.

In this post, it is the sense of sight that has my attention. Through faith, we can see what others cannot see. Because of what God said, we can see a picture in contrast to the one that the doctor paints! The prophet of God sees the event before it happens! The man of God who is wise in the scripture can see what ought to be done in the most difficult of situations! The prayer warrior can see what is coming before it arrives, and he can therefore be a watchman, sending forth a warning! Oh, that we might see!

Peter knew the importance of seeing “afar off.” In his second epistle, Peter admonishes the believer to add various traits to his experience. “Add to your faith virtue,” he says. “And to virtue knowledge.” He continues the list. Why have these traits in our lives?

II Peter 1:8, 9 – “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and CANNOT SEE AFAR OFF, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”

CANNOT SEE AFAR OFF! That’s why we need these things! We need to be able to see afar off! We need to see tragic events before they get to us! Peter learned this from experience. You will remember that the night of our Lord’s arrest, it was told Peter by our Lord Himself, “Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.” Jesus told Peter that before the break of day, he would deny the Lord three times.

Peter, along with James and John, go with Christ into the Garden of Gethsemane. The command of our Lord is one appealing to the vision – “WATCH!” It was the Lord’s desire that Peter, James, and John pray with Him in death’s dark hour. But finding his disciples in that dismal hour, He found them asleep. Peter slept when he should have been watching in prayer. After the conclusion of the prayer meeting, Christ dismissed Peter, James, and John to go out into the night. It was in that dark night that Peter denied the Lord three times. He did it without even trying! He never saw it coming! He wept bitterly! In those bitter tears was the bitter cry, “If only I had watched!” I am convinced that, had he been WATCHING in the garden, he would have seen the enemy coming, and would not have bitterly WEPT that night.

Spiritual Vision in Light of our Text

Having seen the importance of our vision, let us now look at our text at the beginning of this post. In Hebrews 9:24-28, three times we have Christ “appearing.” The word, “appear” means “to make visible.” In our text, it is clear that Christ HAS APPEARED (past tense); Christ DOES APPEAR (present tense); and Christ SHALL APPEAR (future tense). The single reason Christ “has appeared,” “does appear,” and “shall appear” is simple – He wants each of us to see Him! Oh, that we might see Him today! Many will be the hindrances, but may our prayer be “Lord, open our eyes that we might see!”

Christ “Hath Appeared”

Hebrews 9:26 – “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world HATH HE APPEARED to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

It is clear here that Christ hath appeared for the purpose of putting away sin. John makes it equally clear.

I John 3:5 – “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”

It is Christ’s past appearing that puts away our sins! Christ calls to every sinner to SEE HIM; Christ beckons us to look to Him to be saved from our sins! Look at the grand and glorious verse regarding seeing Him for salvation:

John 6:40 – “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which SEETH THE SON, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Jesus gives this truth to Nicodemus in a very real way. Christ makes an analogy, referring to an Old Testament story.

John 3:14, 15 – “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

In the story to which Christ is referring, many Israelites had been bitten by serpents. Moses asked the Lord to give the Israelites help. The Lord made provision. He commanded Moses to make a brazen serpent and put it high upon a pole. Everyone who simply LOOKED at the brazen serpent was healed. The infected individual did not have to understand how the healing worked; he just had to look on the brazen serpent for healing! Just look! That is all! Their faith in the brazen serpent provided the healing apart from everything else.

Jesus, using this illustration, tells Nicodemus that Christ would be lifted up in the same way. This lifting up of Christ refers to His death upon the cross. Upon the cross, Jesus Christ was lifted up from the earth! There, He appeared to take away our sins! He was made visible to the entire world! All one has to do is look at the cross for salvation. Trust Jesus to save you, and you are saved!

As simple as Bible salvation is, many complicate it, attempting to block our vision. Many churches are leading people to hell by compelling them to look at something other than the work of Jesus Christ on the cross for salvation. Some churches will lift up baptism, and command you to look unto baptism and be saved. Some are trusting, not merely baptism, but baptism in Jesus’ name to be saved. Others compel you to “live right” to be saved. Others preach that law-keeping and commandment-keeping are the saviors. But the gospel of Jesus Christ is still the same – “Every one which SEETH THE SON, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life!” He appeared at Calvary to take away our sins! See Him! Trust only His work on the cross, and you’ll be saved!

He “Does Appear”

Hebrews 9:24 – “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, NOW TO APPEAR in the presence of God for us.”

Christ not only APPEARED at Calvary’s cross to put away sin, but He also presently APPEARS in the presence of God for us.

Jesus Christ, forty days after His resurrection, ascended to the Father. There, He sits on the right hand of the Father. Christ is not sitting on the right hand of the Father twiddling His thumbs. He is there, praying for every believer, making intercession for us.

Hebrews 7:25 – “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

The devil tries everything in his power to cause believers to forget this blessed truth. When trials come, the devil lies to us, telling us that Jesus doesn’t see where we are, and that He does not care. However, if you could open your eyes, you would see right now that Christ is praying for you in your times of despair! Don’t lose courage; Jesus is praying for you.

There was a godly preacher who was preaching the gospel. In his preaching, he made the crowd angry – so angry that they began to throw stones at him. The man’s name was Stephen. As the stones were hurled his direction, he looked up! As he looked up, he caught a glimpse. Someone APPEARED! Who appeared to Stephen?

Acts 7:56 – “And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”

Dear friend, if you can look beyond your circumstance, I am sure that you will see Jesus Christ at the Father’s right hand, praying for you!

Christ “Shall Appear”

Hebrews 9:28 – “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him SHALL HE APPEAR the second time without sin unto salvation.”

I do not know of a more blessed doctrine than that of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Just as sure as He did appear at Calvary to take away sins; and just as sure as He presently appears in the heavens to pray for His own; He is sure to appear unto them that LOOK FOR HIM!

This great doctrine regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is not without its opposition. Atheists declare, “I do not believe Christ is coming.” However, stupid beliefs as such won’t change it! Ready or not; like it or not; believe it or not; accept it or not – Jesus Christ is coming again! Even in churches, doctrines of devils have gained prominence. The verse we are currently discussing, Hebrews 9:28, admonishes us to LOOK FOR HIM! Yet, there are many doctrines that try to get to look for the Great Tribulation. There are yet a number of other doctrines that try to turn our eyes toward the Antichrist. I know of preachers who have had sleepless nights because they felt that the Lord showed them who the Antichrist was. What a tragedy. If these same preachers would get a vision of THE CHRIST, and get as shook up about that as they do the Antichrist, what a revival they would see in their own lives. It is a trick of the devil to get us to look and expect the Antichrist instead of the Christ. What subtlety of the devil to get us more concerned about the coming of events instead of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. While some are preaching, “Look for the Antichrist’s appearing,” or “Look for the appearing of the Great Tribulation,” may solid, gospel preachers rise up and point to the coming Saviour, who is soon to appear to them who look for Him!

9/11 - Many Remember!

On this tenth anniversary of the dreadful events of 9/11, I wish to, first of all, say to the families of every victim – you are not forgotten. On that awful day, firefighters ran INTO the very buildings that others were running OUT OF. Many in our nation remember those heroes. And, to the families of those firefighters who gave their lives to save others – you are not forgotten. To all whose lives were personally touched on 9/11/2001, you are not forgotten. Furthermore, to every man and woman heroically serving our great nation in various capacities around the globe – neither you nor your families are forgotten. I wish to say to each one serving our nation today – thank you for your sacrifice you so freely give!

Most importantly, our nation owes a great tribute to the One who has kept His hand upon our nation – the Creator, Almighty God, the Father of Jesus Christ, the God of the Bible. He gave His best – His only begotten Son – to seek and to save that which is lost. Jesus Christ gave all to rescue us from the enemy of our souls. The best way to prove that we, as a nation, have not forgotten 9/11, is to turn again to the God of the Bible, trusting Jesus Christ to set us free from our sins for which He died.

Our fathers’ God to Thee,

Author of liberty,

To Thee we sing;

Long may our land be bright

With freedom’s holy light;

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God our King.*

*Samuel Francis Smith

The Millennium - Part 2D

Why a Millennium? – Continued

One reason for a literal millennium upon this earth, as we have seen, is for the restoration of everything that was lost in the Garden of Eden. Now, allow me to point out some more reasons for such a golden age.

The Persecuted Will Reign in the This Present World, Where They Were Victimized

Persecution, the act of a man suffering because of his faith, began in Genesis. It will end in the Millennium, and those who were persecuted will reign.

Genesis 4:8 – “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.”

The Bible makes a comparison of Cain’s murder of his brother Abel to the world hating and persecuting us, the church.

I John 3:11-13 – “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”

The connection is made – just as Cain slew his brother Abel, so the world will hate us and persecute us – because their own works are evil and ours righteous.

But it is the ones who have been persecuted and have suffered for the gospel’s sake – they will possess the most dominion in the Millennium.

Revelation 20:4 – “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.”

The Sins of Noah’s Day Will Be Traded for Righteousness

In Genesis 6, we are given a vivid description of the sin of Noah’s day. Perhaps the most notable aspect of the sin of Noah’s day is the AMOUNT of sin that was present at that time.

Genesis 6:11, 13 – “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence…And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”

Twice in the description of the world in Noah’s day, we are told that the earth was FILLED WITH violence.

In the Millennium, however, this will be completely reversed.

Isaiah 11:1-12 – “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor [Here, Christ comes to judge], and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 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 [Here is the regathering of Israel at the second coming, immediately after the tribulation].”

You will notice, in the above passage, I underlined some phrases that show the events that take place when Christ comes to set up His kingdom after the tribulation. Verse 9, the part of the passage in bold print, gives us some great insight into the Millennium. In Noah’s day, the earth was “filled with” violence. But in the Millennium, the earth is “full of” the knowledge of the Lord. Just think! The world in the Millennium will be more saturated with the knowledge of the Lord than it is saturated with sin at this present time! What a thought! There is another verse of scripture that brings out this truth.

Habakkuk 2:14 – “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

Man Will Be Humbled, and the Lord Alone Will Be Exalted

In Genesis 11, man builds a city and a tower. Man builds the tower as a means to exalt himself, making a name for himself.

Genesis 11:4 – “And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”

God stopped this plan. He confounded their languages so that they could not exalt themselves in this way. However, man has tried ever since to rule the world, exalting himself. But in the Millennium, the Lord alone will be exalted.

Isaiah 2:1-5, 11, 17 – “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days [the last days of THIS EARTH], that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations [Here’s the judgment of nations again], and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD…The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day…And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.”

Twice in this passage regarding the Millennium, it is said that “the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.” Christ will be exalted as the King of kings and Lord of lords!

God’s Covenant with Abraham Will Be Literally Fulfilled

God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. In addition to this, God promised that wherever Abraham placed his foot, his descendants would receive that land, and they would possess it for ever.

Genesis 13:14, 15 – “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.”

God made a promise to Abraham concerning the land that he gave them. It was to be their land FOR EVER. Israel only lived in their land that God gave them a few hundred years. Even now, they do not possess all the land that God promised. BUT THEY WILL. God did not promise Israel a patch of land on the new earth; God promised them their land ON THIS EARTH. We have already seen that Jesus Christ will gather Israel at the end of the tribulation and place them in their own land. The Bible bears this out further.

Isaiah 14:1 – “For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.”

Why have a Millennium on this present earth? Because it is on this present earth where God promised Israel that they would have their land. They WILL possess that land, and they will live among their neighbors in peace, on THIS earth.

God’s Covenant with David Will Be Literally Fulfilled

God promised David that Christ would sit upon his throne. When Isaiah gave prophecy concerning Christ’s birth, this promise was reinforced.

Isaiah 9:6, 7 – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

This promise was reiterated to Mary when Gabriel foretold to her the birth of Christ.

Luke 1:31-33 – “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

Some may say that Christ will have David’s throne in the new earth, and not upon this one. There can be no truth to that, for David’s throne was not upon the new earth; David’s throne was upon THIS earth, in Jerusalem. Others may try to spiritualize the passage, saying that Christ will sit on David’s “spiritual throne.” David did not have a spiritual throne; David had a literal throne. Christ has not yet possessed that throne. At His first coming, Christ came to be a humble servant – to die for the sins of mankind. He did not come to reign the first time. He had no throne the first time He came. But He is coming again to defeat the powers that exist at that time, and He will then have a throne upon THIS EARTH.

These are a few reasons why I believe that the Millennium must be literal. So, I conclude this brief study. There are scriptures I did not use; there are other points that could be made. I repeat the statement I made at the beginning. This is designed to be a brief study. I hope the reader has found this study helpful.

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Zechariah 14:1-9 – “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”

Matthew 24:44 – “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.”