THE MILLENNIAL REIGN
The Oxford Dictionary defines the word 'millennium' as
the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ on earth... a period of great happiness and prosperity for everyone.
No one will doubt, but that the world desperately needs peace,
happiness and prosperity. For six thousand years man has tried
to govern himself and has miserably failed. Every style of government
has been tried, not to mention the countless human laws that
have been formulated in the process. All have proved incapable
of bringing peace, prosperity and happiness to the human race.
Look about you and take note of the misery in the world. Man's
problems are totally out of control. We are all well able to
recognise the world's problems, but no leader, group of leaders
or government is able to cure them. Anarchy now faces many nations.
Scores of political systems and thousands of laws have come and
gone. All are impotent. All have miserably failed. But this
will all change when the millennium starts. For the first time
in human history the world will see a successful world government.
Bible prophecy tells us that the Messiah's millennial reign is
near. It is about to begin. We have seen Israel regathered
to the Promised Land. We now see world hostility against Israel
rising by the week. Zechariah tells us in chapter 14 of his
book that all nations will gather against Jerusalem to battle
and the city will be captured. The Gentiles will then brutally
dominate Jerusalem for three and a half years. We are nearing
that time. Zechariah's prophecy goes on to say that Israel's
Messiah, the Son of God, will then come and liberate Jerusalem
from Gentile rule. He will then begin his world-wide reign
from that city. Jerusalem's liberation will mark the start of
the millennium - the Messiah's 1000 year Reign of Peace.
The first fact we need to know about the millennium is that it is a 'reign.' A reign involves a King, territory, peoples, laws, judges, administrators and officials of all kinds. Think for a moment of the sophisticated machinery of government in the tiny United Kingdom of about 55 million people. Then try to imagine what a 1000 year world government involving billions of people will be like. That will need some organisation! The prophet Daniel tells us (Daniel 2:44) that when the Messiah comes, every earthly government will be swept away; because all have proved themselves totally inadequate. Like the metal and clay empires in Nebuchadnezzar's dream they will all be swept away like worthless chaff from a summer threshing floor!
| Dan.2:35 | Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver,
and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff
of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away,
that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the
image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. |
| Rev.11:15 | And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. |
Who will Reign with Christ?
The Bible tells us that the martyrs who died for Jesus Christ and Yahweh's law during the rule of the Antichrist will rise from their graves to reign with Christ for a thousand years. Along with prominent saints of ages past, these martyrs will form the new world government of the King of Kings. His government will not be elected by the people, but by God Himself. The Greek model of democracy will then be a thing of the past.
| Rev. 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…
6: 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.
|
The Bible teaches that the millennium will be spent on earth.
| Rev. 5:10 | And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. |
Many Bible prophecies tell of the Messiah's reign over all nations. Read these Psalms to get the picture. Psalm 2, Psalm 47, Psalm 93, Psalm 95, Psalm 96, Psalm 97, Psalm 98, Psalm 99, Psalm 110, Psalm 126.
MESSIAH'S POWER OVER THE NATIONS
When he returns to earth the Saviour will exercise absolute authority over all nations. He will administer the very law he gave through Moses many years ago; the law the nations of the world have rejected for generations. His absolute authority and power is figuratively described as a 'rod of iron.' No enemy will dare defy the Son of God and his government at that time; and it will not be long before the peoples of the world realise that he is indeed the Prince of Peace! These facts are clearly taught in the following Scriptures:
| Rev.2:26 | And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto
the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27: And he
shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter
shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
|
| Rev.12:5 | And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule
all nations with a rod of iron…
|
| Rev.19:15 | 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. 16: And he hath on his vesture and
on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. |
In the millennium certain believers will be promoted to positions of high rank. Those who have made good use of their time and talents during this age, will be given great authority. Their power will extend over entire cities to a degree not seen in this present age.
| Rev.3:21 | To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with
me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with
my Father in his throne. |
| Psa. 47:2 | For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great
King over all the earth. 3: He shall subdue the people under us,
and the nations under our feet.
|
| Luke 19:17 | And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant:
because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou
authority over ten cities. 18: And the second came, saying,
Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19: And he said likewise
to him, Be thou also over five cities.
|
| Rev.2:26 | And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto
the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27:
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a
potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of
my Father. |
YAHWEH'S LAW WILL BE TAUGHT TO THE WHOLE WORLD
During the millennium, Yahweh's law will be obeyed by all nations. As mentioned previously, that is the Messiah's ultimate objective; to save mankind from sin and to re-establish Yahweh's law in the minds of men.
| Micah 4:1 | But in the last days 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. 2: 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: for the law shall
go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3: And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong 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…7:
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..
|
| Isa. 42:4 | He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have
set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law…
21: The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will
magnify the law, and make it honourable
|
| Isa.51:4 | Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me,
O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make
my judgment to rest for a light of the people.
|
Zechariah chapter 14 introduces the millennial age. The chapter tells of the liberation of Jerusalem and how the Messiah will be king over the whole earth. The chapter ends with all nations keeping the laws of the Most High. The Feast of Tabernacles - that great feast which symbolises the very presence of Yeshua the Messiah (He is the very 'Tabernacle of God'), will be kept by all the nations of the world. The prophet tells us that fearsome punishments and plagues will be meted out on nations that refuse to send delegates to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles.
| Zec.14:9 | And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in
that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one…11: And
men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction;
but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. 12: And this shall be
the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have
fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while
they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away
in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth…16:
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all
the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from
year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep
the feast of tabernacles. 17: And it shall be, that whoso
will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem
to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be
no rain. 18: And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not,
that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD
will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of
tabernacles. 19: This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and
the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast
of tabernacles.
|
Implementation of Yahweh's law throughout the world will have unprecedented results. Indeed, trying to imagine that utopia is difficult enough, how much less can we describe it. Very briefly I list just four of the many improvements the millennial reign of the Messiah will bring. With Satan's evil influence out of the way and every governmental post filled by a believer of absolute integrity and great ability:
We could write at length on this subject, but the Bible tells
us that the reality will go far beyond anything we can imagine.
PREPARATION FOR THE MILLENNIUM
Preparation for the millennium should begin right away. It is dangerous to neglect salvation and to put off for tomorrow something that can be done today. A new government is about to take over the earth. Are you preparing for that event? We realise that the very idea may appear farcical to many; but the Scriptures abound with proof of it.
When our earth was created it was perfect in every way. There was no sorrow, no sickness, no war and no death. All was perfect happiness, health, harmony and peace.
Gen.1: 31: And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good...
But, alas! that state of perfection soon vanished. Satan and
his brain-child (sin) arrived on the scene and, as Yahweh had
correctly predicted, there followed doubt, sin, separation,
sickness, hatred, violence and death. Man was given six thousand
years to go his own way, to find out for himself if what God had
said was true or false. After all, God did not want to be accused
by man or angel of wiping out opponents without allowing them
a chance to prove themselves. But the six thousand years
of man's self-rule have been an unprecedented disaster
and are almost over. Nothing worked as man had expected:
no ideology, no ism, no political system, no law (and thousands
have been tried) has been able to bring peace and prosperity
to earth's millions. Man has miserably failed in every important
department of life.
The coming millennial rule of Yeshua the King will change all that. It will be a reign of peace for all mankind. During the millennium (the Sabbatical, seventh thousandth year) Jesus Christ will demonstrate how Yahweh's government and His laws really do work for the benefit of mankind. God's sacred commandments, despised for nearly six thousand years by multiplied billions of people, will at last be honoured by all the nations of the world. Then every tongue in the vast universe will confess that Yahweh was right all along; that He is holy, just and good; that His commandments are not a barbaric code at all, but a 'law of liberty,' a transcript of His own holy character, a perfect constitution designed to protect life for all time.
| James 1:25 | But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,
and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a
doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
|
After the millennium the second general resurrection will take place and then will come the appointed Day of Judgement! (Rev.20:7-15) In the diary of the Almighty the Great Day of Judgement has already been appointed. The dictionary describes an 'appointment' as an arrangement to meet or visit at a particular date and time. And that is exactly how the Almighty makes His appointments. They all relate to particular dates and times in His calendar - the sacred calendar. Of course we do not know the exact year of the Judgement, but God knows. Not only has He appointed the date, He has also appointed the Judge.
The Appointed Day of Judgement & the Appointed Judge
| Acts 17:30 | And the times of this ignorance God winked at;
but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31: Because
he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world
in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof
he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him
from the dead.
|
| Rev.20:11 | And I saw a great white throne, and him
that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled
away; and there was found no place for them. 12: And I saw
the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life:
and the dead were judged out of those things which were written
in the books, according to their works. 13: And the sea gave
up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up
the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man
according to their works. 14: And death and hell were cast
into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15: And whosoever
was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake
of fire. |
After the Great Day of Judgement, the next event in the Diary of the Almighty is the Creation of the new universe.
| Rev.21:1 | And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the
first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was
no more sea. 2: And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned
for her husband. 3: And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with
them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with
them, and be their God. 4: And God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow,
nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former
things are passed away. 5: And he that sat upon the throne said,
Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write:
for these words are true and faithful. 6: And he said unto me,
It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I
will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water
of life freely. 7: He that overcometh shall inherit all things;
and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8: But the fearful,
and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers,
and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which
is the second death.
|
The Bible begins with the record of a perfect creation which went tragically wrong when man chose to believe Satan rather than God. Then followed the story of salvation; of how Yahweh the Almighty God of Israel, the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob set about rescuing mankind from the consequences of sin.
The story of salvation is the greatest drama of all time; a love story of unparalleled appeal. The Bible then tells of how the Almighty sent His only begotten son Yeshua to die for the sins of the world; and how that anyone - Jew or Gentile - may live for all time if they simply accept His free gift of salvation. Sad to say millions treat this astonishing offer of mercy and everlasting life with unbelief and even a measure of contempt. Oh what appalling ignorance has sin spawned in the human heart! What greed! what hatred! what pride! that man should foolishly fight his Maker and choose eternal death instead of eternal life. This is one of the greatest mysteries of all time. The Bible ends with a final invitation to accept the Water of Life, freely! It is a touching appeal by Yeshua himself to accept life before it is eternally too late. Dear friend, you can not afford to ignore so great an offer! Here it is in Rev.22:17:
