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ENCOURAGEMENT TO ETERNAL FOCUS IN UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP OF THE GOSPEL

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First Thousand Years

19

Why is the Day of the Lord a thousands years? What will happen in that Day?

• Myth: The Day of the Lord is only a 24 hour day

• Myth: There no literal millennial thousand year reign of Christ on      David's throne

• Myth: People living on earth in fleshly bodies will not die during this 1000 years

• Myth: The details of this millennial reign include descriptions of Revelation 21-22 of the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem

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After the gathering together with Christ and the transformation to new spiritual bodies we shall never leave the presence of Christ. Where Jesus goes we shall always go with Him. So the question arises what does the Lord do after the resurrection? More importantly what will we do with Him and what changes will Jesus reign bring around us? Answers to these questions come from looking at what Christ will do later in prophecy.

Much prophecy is yet fulfilled concerning Christ and Israel. God promised David in covenant Christ would rule on his throne and come from his linage. Many in Israel stumbled over the first coming of Christ because they believed He was coming as a King to deliver the nation of Israel. The angel told Mary the child she conceived with the Holy Spirit from the Father would fulfill this promise. The disciples still had this promised covenant of God in mind as Jesus left to return to heaven.  At His ascension they wondered when He would restore the Kingdom to Israel. 

1 Chronicles 17:10-14

10 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. "`I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you: 11 When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.'" NIV

 

Luke 1:30-33

30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." NIV

 

 Acts 1:6-7

6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. NIV

This promise of the Davidic Covenant is not to the Gentile believers of this age. Its fulfillment will take place in the future after the tribulation period. Jesus will come to restore the Kingdom of Israel. He will deliver Israel from the hand of the Anti-Christ and will rule on the earth with a righteous government with Israel. Israel will be the dominant government and nation of the world.

So the question arises what are the Biblical details foretold about this time that Christ rules? Let us consider…

The First Thousand Years

The Apostle John describes the duration of the plans of God during this coming Kingdom.

Revelation 20:1-6

1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. 4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. NIV

Six times in the 20^th chapter of Revelation the Apostle John tells the duration of Christ’s reign of the world. No mistake the period is a thousand years or what we often call “the millennium.” John speaks prophetically of a literal period.

History records how from just a few centuries after Christ was on the earth many began to question the literalness of this prophecy. A lack of understanding led to spiritualizing or allegorizing Scripture. The desire for world power, control and influence in religious matters led government churches to adopt these views. In this trend religious theories of A-millennial[1] and Post-millennial[2] interpretation have circulated from those early centuries after Christ’s departure. These spiritualize this teaching of John whereby the prophetic teachings of the millennium will be fulfilled in some other form.

There is no reason not to take this teaching of John literally. John states this period in prophecy as fact. In the study of the Scriptures and prophecy a literal view is the only interpretation that harmonizes completely all other inspired revelation from God. John shares details of the first thousand years of Christ’s Kingdom that will have no end.

While we are exhorted in Scripture to be loyal to our governments of men we are shown all worldly forms of rule will miserably fail. Daniel was shown in vision the gentile kingdoms of the world. Each representation pictured human fallacies due to the sinful nature of man. Daniel saw how Jesus would come and establish a Kingdom that would replace these imperfect kingdoms of man.

Daniel 7:26-27

26 "`But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.' NIV

In Revelation 20 the Apostle John makes an important observation about those who take part in the first resurrection to participate in this thousand-year kingdom on earth. They come to “life and reign with Christ for a thousand years.” They also “will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” Those who have believed in Jesus Christ as Savoir will be brought back to life to serve with Him. The time of waiting and praying below the throne of God in the second heaven, as seen in chapter A Room With Jesus, is over. Saints are now active again as they were on the earth previously. They serve as priests and reign with Him in His Kingdom. In glorified bodies we actively do God’s will as He commands.

The Final Day of the Lord - Last Day(s)

The term “last day” or “last days” refers in Scripture to the time period that Jesus will reign on the throne of David. As seen in Scripture listed below it begins with the Lord’s return and ends with God’s judgment of the earth and the formation of New Heaven, Earth and New Jerusalem.

Note when Jesus makes reference from His perspective He uses the singular “day” yet often when man references the same time period in God’s plan he says “days” in plural. The last day will be the seventh day of God’s seven days of redemption outlined in Genesis. (See Appendix 5 - Seven Days of Redemption Chart ) It is also called “The day of the Lord” and “that day” by inspired writers.

This “day” of God’s time will be all together just over 1000 years (“last days”) of man’s time due to relative time between God and man.  This lack of understanding of relative time caused many of our Baptist forefathers of the late 18^th century such as B. H. Carroll and others to be a-millennium thinkers. In their minds this day was a twenty-four hour period when the Lord returned. When they tried to apply all the prophetic teaching into one 24 hour day their was no room for the 1000 year reign of Christ. It all just ended in one great general judgment. They did not understand that this day spoken about in Scripture referenced over 1000 years of man’s time. Even today popular Christianity forgets this millennial time span of this day of the Lord attempting to apply all prophecy to the moment the Lord returns at the beginning of this period. Time as part of the Divine attributes of all God-creation relationships is discussed in chapter Relative Time Creation. In any creation relationship of God the properties of time, space and matter always exist.

In truth saints will not enter those fabled streets of gold for 1000 years of man’s time after the first resurrection. Those deceased today await just a moment of God’s time for “that day” and pray for it to come.

• The first resurrection is on the last “day” (note singular day from Jesus perspective).

John 6:39-44

39 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day . 40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."  41 The Jews therefore were grumbling about Him, because He said, "I am the bread that came down out of heaven."  42 And they were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, 'I have come down out of heaven'?"  43 Jesus answered and said to them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. NASB

 

Mark 13:32

32 "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. NASB

 

John 11:21-24

21 Martha therefore said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 "Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother shall rise again."  24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." NASB

 

1 Corinthians 5:5

5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. NASB

 

2 Timothy 1:12

12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.  NASB

 

2 Thessalonians 1:9-10

9 And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed —  for our testimony to you was believed. NASB

 

John 14:19-20

19 "After a little while the world will behold Me no more; but you will behold Me; because I live, you shall live also. 20 "In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. NASB

• The Lord returns and sets up His kingdom in the last days.

Isaiah 2:1-5

2:1 The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Now it will come about that In the last days, The mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it. 3 And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways, And that we may walk in His paths.”For the law will go forth from Zion, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war. 5 Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the LORD. NASB

 

Micah 4:1-3

And it will come about in the last days

That the mountain of the house of the LORD

Will be established as the chief of the mountains.

It will be raised above the hills,

And the peoples will stream to it.

2 And many nations will come and say,

"Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD

And to the house of the God of Jacob,

That He may teach us about His ways

And that we may walk in His paths."

For from Zion will go forth the law,

Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3 And He will judge between many peoples

And render decisions for mighty, distant nations.

Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares

And their spears into pruning hooks;

Nation will not lift up sword against nation,

And never again will they train for war. NASB

 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

5:1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. NASB

• Israel nationally will not understand God’s purpose of heart until the last days.

Jeremiah 23:20

20 "The anger of the LORD will not turn back

Until He has performed and carried out the purposes of His heart;

In the last days you will clearly understand it.  NASB

• God brings a mighty army against Israel in the last days in preparation for the battle of Armageddon.

Ezekiel 38:14-16

14 "Therefore, prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, 'Thus says the Lord GOD," On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it? 15 "And you will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army; 16 and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It will come about in the last days that I shall bring you against My land, in order that the nations may know Me when I shall be sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog. " NASB

• Israel will come to the Lord in the last days.  

Hosea 3:4-5

4 For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or household idols. 5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days. NASB

 

Acts 2:17-21

17'And it shall be in the last days ,' God says,

'That I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind;

And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

And your young men shall see visions,

And your old men shall dream dreams;

18 Even upon My bondslaves, both men and women,

I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit

And they shall prophesy.

19'And I will grant wonders in the sky above,

And signs on the earth beneath,

Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.

20'The sun shall be turned into darkness,

And the moon into blood,

Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.

21'And it shall be, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' NASB

• As the Lord returns men will be both religious and knowledgeable but not in spirit and truth.

2 Timothy 3:1-7

3:1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these. 6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. NASB

 

2 Peter 3:1-5

3:1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. 3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."  NASB

 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5

2:1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. NASB

 

Jude 17-19

17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, "In the last time there shall be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts." 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. NASB

• The Hebrew author used the term last days in reference to God’s message to man. However there is no indication he was using the term applied to the Lord's prophetic Day. His wording just applies to the days just lived before them. 

Hebrews 1:1-2

1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. NASB

• The lasting eternal reward of saints comes in the last days.

James 5:2-3

 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! NASB

 

1 Peter 1:4-5

 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. NASB

• The second resurrection at the end of the 1000 year reign at the Great White Throne judgment of God the Father takes place in the last day.

John 12:48

48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. NASB

 

Matthew 7:22-23

22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'  NASB

• Peter states it begins with the Lord coming as a thief and ends with the destruction of all the temporal earth again covering over 1000 years.

2 Peter 3:10

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. NASB

The Fight  Where the Lord Conquers to Rule and Reign the World Righteously

Our service of the Lord begins with this change in structure of world governments. The transfer of powers will be sudden. No representative or democratic vote will be taken by the nations of the world. At a time determined by the Father the Lord conquers. Note the description of this takeover given John.

Revelation 19:11-16

11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.  12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. NIV

The Lord comes from heaven in what is called the battle of Armageddon. Of interest to present believers “the armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.” As the Lord comes to make war as redeemed believers we come with Him.

The battle will be quick and decisive. It is a battle of the Lord against the world ruled at this time by the Anti-Christ. This is not as many have taught a battle of nation against nation in a world war. The world is now united and on the verge of eliminating Israel from the face of the earth. John and Zechariah describe details of this battle.

 Revelation 19:17-21

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great." 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.  21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. NIV

 

Zechariah 14:12-15

12 This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. 13 On that day men will be stricken by the LORD with great panic. Each man will seize the hand of another, and they will attack each other. 14 Judah too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected-great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. 15 A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps. NIV

 

Zechariah 14:1-9

1 A day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided among you.

2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. 3 Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. 6 On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. 7 It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime-a day known to the LORD. When evening comes, there will be light. 8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. 9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name. NIV

As the world in delusion follows the Anti-Christ claim to be God’s Son, Israel is blamed for the earthly suffering of the Great Tribulation. All nations will come against Jerusalem. Israel will suffer a holocaust as never previously known. God has sealed by His Holy Spirit at least 144,000 as safe by seal of the Holy Spirit during this terrible judgment upon the earth. These while awaiting destruction east of the Mt. of Olives are delivered by the Lord. He comes with “the holy ones” and sets His feet on the Mt. of Olives creating an earthquake. This destroys the army of the Anti-Christ and creates a valley for which Israel to flee. The dust will be so thick the sun will not be able to shine. However it will be light due to the Light of the Lord in a “unique day” as Zechariah describes it.

As shown in chapter Messiah Unveiled - The Salvation of Israel it is here at the beginning of the millennium that Israel is saved accepting Jesus as Lord. Israel flees through this valley to meet their Messiah. As we stand behind our Lord we will watch and rejoice as Israel comes to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. As prophesied by the prophet Joel and taught by Jesus, after enduring the horrors of the tribulation they will call on the name of the Lord for salvation.

Jesus in Matthew 24:3 answered two distinct questions when his disciples asked “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” NIV The “coming” by the disciples understanding of prophetic promises relates to Israel and the end of the tribulation where Jesus comes to the earth. However the “end of the age” refers to God’s completion of His purpose at the end of this thousand year Kingdom of Christ’s rule and the establishment of the New Heaven the New Earth. Each has it’s own distinct “end.”

Jesus tells His disciples of signs and events that “ end”[3] these periods two distinst events that are separated by 1000 years..  As Joel prophesied Jesus shares how those who survive to the end of the tribulation “will be saved.”  Finally after years of public denial Israel receives the blessing that was for all the peoples of the earth promised to Abraham. They are saved on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem. Mount Zion refers generally to the hills east of Jerusalem where the temple will be built. Once saved Israel will begin as a nation to fulfill the Davidic Covenant and rule the world in a government unlike any ever seen. They will preach the gospel of the kingdom until the next “end” that will come referring to “the end of the age” where God brings the New Heaven and New Earth at the completion of His purpose in redemption.

  Joel 2:30-32

30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls. NIV

 

Matthew 24:9-14

9 "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. NIV

As Israel meets and bows before their Savior the Lord will walk from the Mount of Olives to the millennial temple through the Eastern gate of the temple wall. This gate[4] is now closed today. As we walk behind our Lord watching Jews accept Christ as Savior we can understand why Zechariah calls this a “unique day.”

Ezekiel 43:1-5

1 Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, 2 and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. 3 The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. 4 The glory of the LORD entered the temple through the gate facing east. 5 Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. NIV

Biblical prophecy is replete with many references to this coming earthly Kingdom. It purpose, dominion, character, nature, structure, purity and righteousness are aptly described. The frustration of earthly “politics” or ungodly dictatorships will be gone. No longer will unjust decisions of men be allowed to stand. Fruit of prosperity, spiritual power, truth, wisdom, knowledge, fear of the Lord, counsel, power, understanding, justice, righteousness and faithfulness will mark the decisions and judgments set forth.

 Isaiah 2:2

2 In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. NIV

 

Isaiah 11:1-5

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him--the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD-- 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. NIV

 

Matthew 25:31-46

31 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 "And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? 38 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 'And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40 "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' 41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.' 44 "Then they themselves also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' 45 "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' 46 "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." NASB

The Frontier Borders of National Israel Expanded

As seen in chapter Blessing to All Nations God made a covenant with Abraham outlining the borders of that the nation of Israel will occupy during this 1000 year Kingdom. The east to west span is from the Nile River in Egypt to the river Euphrates. Abraham was given the name of common tribes of peoples in his day as specific references to different territories within these broad boundaries.

Genesis 15:18-21

18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying,

"To your descendants I have given this land,

From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:

19 the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite 20 and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim 21 and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite." NASB

 

Deuteronomy 1:8

8 'See, I have placed the land before you; go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them.' NASB

 The Fruitfulness of National Israel

The nation of Israel is promised safe at the end of the tribulation at least 144,000 survivors to begin this Kingdom reign. Specifically there are 12,000 from each tribe who will meet the Lord east of Jerusalem to accept him as their Christ Messiah of promise. 

Abraham was told he would have descendants that would encompass a vast number of people. This vastness of descendants was shared with his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob.

The Faithful Servants Will Reign With Christ

Why does this army of saints come with the Lord to the earth if Israel is the ruling nation preaching the gospel of the kingdom? Scripture shares that the purpose will be to assist the Lord govern Israel and the world righteously with a Godly government of every activity, decision and purpose among the relationships of men.

Jesus reminded the apostles of this truth in sharing the reward He will give them in the new Kingdom. In His parables He taught the blessings received for good stewardship would be serving in oversight of cities. Many of the parables of Jesus foretell the principles and practice of Kingdom law and live in the Day of the Lord. The position and responsibility of saints as Christ's priests in assistance of His righteous rule and teaching will be determined by the stewardship of the previous life. 

Also in other passages of inspired Scripture Paul reprimanded the church at Corinth in taking their disagreements to worldly courts. They did not understand in the Kingdom they will be the judges of the world.

Matthew 19:28

28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. NIV

 

1 Corinthians 6:1-2

1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? NIV

 

 Luke 19:17-19

17 "`Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. `Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.' 18 "The second came and said, `Sir, your mina has earned five more.' 19 "His master answered, `You take charge of five cities.' NIV

 

Daniel 12:13

13 But go your way till the end; and you shall rest, and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days."  RSV

Children of God both Old and New Testament will reign with Christ as priests overseeing and judging the world. While those gathered at the Second Coming now are in glorified bodies those of the world that survive the tribulation will continue to be born, live and die. Logistically, Jesus cannot in His physical form judge every matter of decision in the world. The population of the world will greatly increase above trillions. With the sin nature of man still in the world disagreements will still occur. How can the Lord hear and decide every case? He will delegate the responsibilities of judging in a system of government where charges of varying degree are assigned. We become His priest to rule with Him according to the faithfulness in the matters of our lives.

Once sin is paid for by the blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit seals a believer the promised salvation to eternal life can never be lost. One is never separated from the love of God. However, the lives of children of God are tested at death  at the Judgment Seat of Christ as seen in chapter A Room with Jesus. As  mentioned in chapter With What Body? the brightness of the glorified body received in the first resurrection at Jesus coming is determined by faithfulness.

In God's time frame of Seven days of Redemption this final Day is equivalent to the seventh day or rest of God as mentioned by the writer of Hebrews. The "rest" the author mentions does not refer to salvation to eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth but service with Christ during the millennial Kingdom. Isaiah prophesied to Israel how they would enter a special rest in the land God promised.

Knowing the blessing of restful service in the millennium that Jesus has in store for our faithfulness we should not allow our hearts to harden in sin in failure to properly follow God Word in every aspect of our lives.

The Forced Universal Peace

War, turmoil, disagreement, conflict and carnage dominate the relationships of our worldly governments today. Studies by news agencies on what boosts ratings show people are drawn to this type of news. In this new kingdom of Jesus Christ the world will finally experience peace it has never enjoyed.

Micah 4:3

3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. NIV

 

 Isaiah 2:4

4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. NIV

            The nations of the world will no longer have to defend borders, wealth, or citizens. These nations will no longer have armies. The false religions that incite most wars will be gone. Jesus will sit on His throne in Jerusalem as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Saints as His priests will judge all disputes and settle the differences between nations. His chastening hand will enforce this world peace by recognition and worship of the Lord Almighty.

Zechariah 14:16-19

16 Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. 18 If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. NIV

The Friendship of the Animal Kingdom

For this period there will be changes in the food chain. These changes enable all life to live in peace together.

Isaiah 11:6-9

6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. NIV

 

Isaiah 65:25

25 "The wolf and the lamb shall graze together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain," says the Lord. NASB

The Flower of the Middle East Desert

The geographical changes of the river Euphrates flowing down the Jordan River and the Dead Sea flowing to the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea change the whole region around Israel. This arid dry dessert of Israel will blossom into one of the most prosperous regions of the entire world. Israel will become the breadbasket of the world to feed the billions who will inhabit the earth.

Isaiah 35:1

1 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, NIV

 

Amos 9:13

13 "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills. NIV

 

Zechariah 14:4,8

4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.

8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. NIV

 

Ezekiel 47:8-12

8 He said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. 9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 10 Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds-like the fish of the Great Sea. 11  But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing." NIV

The Flesh of People Will Live Longer

Under the blessing of the Lord the temporary fleshly body of those living in this age will live longer. People will still die and the body will still return to the dust of the ground. At one hundred one will still be considered young. The population of the world will greatly increase from the seven billion we have today. The wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the Lord will bring healing and improvements necessary to sustain a growing population.

Isaiah 65:20

20 "Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. NIV

The Fantastic Teaching of Jesus and His Priests at Jerusalem

Jesus will teach principles and truth of God. Knowledge of the will and Word of God will enable the greatest degree of prosperity and the world has ever seen. The peoples of the earth are invited to go learn from Jesus as he teaches.

Micah 4:2

2 Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. NIV

 

  Isaiah 2:3

3 Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. NIV

Once saved Israel will evangelize the world preaching the gospel until the end of the age. Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 24.

Matthew 24:13-14

13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. NIV

The Final End with Great Rebellion and Judgment of Lost

One would think the world would love this new Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Jesus will bring the ultimate promise of every politician and government that has ever spoken on the face of the earth. Every issue will be answered righteously. Health maximized, prosperity overflowing, food abundant, travel at leisure, free time for enjoyment and protection from Lucifer’s influence. The Kingdom will be a place dreams are made. It just could not get any better than it will be there.

Who would say no to such peace, prosperity and blessing? Sadly the nature of man resists such a Kingdom. The world grows tired of righteousness, tired of truth, tired of wisdom, tired of knowledge, - tired of all the blessing of a Holy Kingdom. While superficially we make the claim, our sinful nature really does not want to live in a world that fulfills the love commandments of God. Such love in relationships prevents us from fulfilling the desires of our flesh and the pride of self. Many Scriptures speak of this wicked nature of man’s deep resistance to that which in good.

Proverbs 29:10

10 Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright. NIV

 

Proverbs 29:27

27 The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright. NIV

 

1 John 3:12

12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. NIV

Scripture records a great rebellion and its consequences. The rebellion is called the Battle of Gog and Magog. Satan released from his prison deceives and entices the nations. A number “like the sand of the seashore” marches against Jesus in Jerusalem. Their fate is ultimate destruction and final judgment before a great white throne in judgment by God the Father. A book of life is opened that contains records of life. Those without Jesus Christ have no record there and are cast into the lake of fire.

  Revelation 20:7-15

7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth-Gog and Magog-to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. NIV

With this final act on earth at the completion of His earthly reign Jesus then ushers in what is called the second resurrection of all those who have rejected the Father's loving offer to come eternal life through Him in presentation to the Father. The next chapter Final Judgment outlines the travesty of rejection just prior to the final chapter God With Us Celebration The New Heaven and New Earth.

Chapter 18       Chapter 20  Chapter Time Link Map

End Notes

[1] A-millennialism – the belief there will be no one thousand year reign of Christ. These believe it is somehow fulfilled already in that this is not a literal reign but perhaps spiritual through “ the church.” It can be traced back to just a few centuries from Christ.

[2] Post-millennialism – the belief Jesus rule is symbolic through “the church” and he will return after this one thousand year rule of the church government on earth.

[3]‘end’ NT:5065 telos (tel'-os); from a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly, the point aimed at as a limit, i.e. (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], purpose); specifically, an impost or levy (as paid): KJV - + continual, custom, end (-ing), finally, uttermost. Compare NT:5411. Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary,1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.

[4] Jeffrey, Grant R. Heaven-The Last Frontier. (Frontier Research Publications, Toronto, Ontario), p. 134-136

[5] "Land of Israel." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 22 Jul 2009, 17:01 UTC. 22 Jul 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Land_of_Israel&oldid=303560655>.

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