Scriptures on the Millennium comes from Jack Van Impe's Prophecy Bible and Tim LaHayes book.
Millennium ... M
Millennium means 1,000 years and refers to
the kingdom of Christ on earth. This era, foretold by all the prophets, wii be
a time of peace among people and nations. War will be but a relic of the past.
Jerusalem, known for war, bloodshed, and international tensions, will at last
become the city of peace and the capital of the world. The Prince of Peace will
rule from David's throne and the promises given to Mary concerning Jesus will
be fulfilled (Lk 1:32, 33; Isa 9:6,7).
Peace will come to Israel and to the
world. But it will not come through military might or treaties. Christ will
come bringing peace. When the governments of earth have finally fallen, the
Messiah of Israel, the Saviour of men, will set up His kingdom (Dan 2:44).Satan
will be bound for 1,000 years (Rev 20:1-3). There will be persons with mortal
bodies and persons with glorified bodies on earth during this time. Those who
survived the Tribulation Hour and who have not been condemned in the judgment
of the nations (Matt 25:31-46) are allowed to enter the Millennium in their
mortal bodies and will have prolonged lives. They, along with the millions of
babies born during this time, will live for the entire 1,000 years of Christ's
reign. If, at the end of this time, they did not rebel with Satan and had
accepted Jesus as their Saviour, they will live on eternally.
Their immortal lives will not be spent in
glorified bodies but in human bodies eternally preserved through partaking of
the tree of life. They will retain
perfect health and not experience aging because of the leaves of the trees that
grow for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2).
The Millennium will bring peace in the
world of nature. All of God's creation suffers as a result of the fall of man
and will be restored at this time (Rom 8:20-23). Nature will cooperate with man
again (Gen 3:17,18) productivity will return, (Zech 8:12), earthquakes,
tornadoes, floods, etc., will be absent. Even the animal world will be at peace
with man and each other (Isa 11:6-8). All economic conflict will be swept away.
Oppression and strikes will be unknown with food and housing for all (Isa
65:21-23). There will be religious peace with Jews and Gentiles worshipping the
Lord together (Isa 11:9, 10) and the Jews will be at peace in their own land
(Ezek 36:24-27). All this will happen because the Kingdom Age (Millennium will
be characterized by the fullness of the Spirit (Joel 2:28, 29) more than in any
previous dispensation. It is evident that all believers will be indwelt by the
Holy Spirit in the Millennium even as they are in the present age (Ezek 36:27;
37:14; Isa 11:2,3; Jer 31:33). No unsaved person will enter the Millennium (the
Jews as a nation will have recognized and accepted christ as Messiah during the
Tribulation period and the Gentiles will have experienced conversion prior to
admission also (Isa 16:5; 18:7; 19:19-21, 25; 23:18; 55:5,6; 56:6-8; 60:3-5;
61:8,9; Jer 3:17; 16:19-21; Amos 9:11; Obad 17-21).
Earth's motto will be holiness unto the
Lord (Zech 14:20,21). Those reigning will Christ during this time are the
returning saints (the Church, the Bride of Christ, Jude 14; Rev 19:14), the
resurrected OT saints (Dan 12:2), and the raised Tribulation saints (Rev 20:4).
Each group, saved during different dispensions of time, has different duties to
perform. The Church is the Bride of Christ and enjoys the 1,000-year honeymoon
upon earth reigning with Him (Rev 20:4; I Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6). The 144,000 serve
as accompanying bodyguards for the Lamb and His Bride (Rev 14:4). The Gentiles
saved during the Tribulation will be serving in the glorious temple described
in Ezek 40-48 and waiting on Christ and His Bride (Rev 7:15).
Terms synonymous with Millennium: Kingdom
of heaven (Matt 5:10) The regeneration
(Matt 19:28);
The last day (Jn
6:40) The times of refreshing (Acts
3:21) The restitution of all things
(Acts 3:21)
The day of Christ (I
Cor 1:8; 2 Cor 1:14; Phil 2:16) The
world to come (Heb 2:5)
The Major features of
the Millennium Include:
1. The binding of Satan
at the beginning of the Millennium (Presently, he is in rule of the earth) (Rev
20:1-30)
2. The final
restoration of Israel, which will include:
a. regeneration (Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:8-12)
b. regatheringing of believers (Deut
30:1-10; Isa 11:11-12:6; Matt 24:31
c. posession of the land (Ezek 20:42-44;
36:28-38)
d. re-establishment of the Davidic throne (2 Sam 7:11-16; I Chron 17:10-14; Jer
33:17-26)
3. the Reign of Jesus
Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords (Isa 2:3-4; 11:2-5)
4. The loosing and final
rebellion of Satan at the end of the Millennium (Rev 20:7-10)
5. the Great White
Throne Judgment and the second resurrection or judgment of the unbelieving dead
(Rev 20:11-15)
The Millennium will be a time in which the
Adamic curse will be rolled back, except for death, and in which people will
live for 1000 years. Christ will sit on the throne of David and rule the world,
bringing peace and righteousness. The Millennium will be a time of great
spiritual triumph in which national Israel will fulfill her destiny and
Gentiles will partake of tremendous blessings through Jesus Christ and the
nation of Israel. The Bible describes the Millennium as a time of
righteousness, obedience, holiness, truth, and a fullness of the Holy Spirit as
never before.
The
Millennium will be a time of tremendous environmental transformation. Isaiah
35:1-2 tells us that the desert will blossom and become productive. There will
be abundant rainfall in areas that today are known for their dryness, and there
will be plenty of food for animals (Isa 30:23-24; 35:7). In addition, the
predatory instincts of animals will cease. The distinctions between tame and
wild will be erased, as all creatures will live in harmony (Isa 11:6-7).
Physical conditions for people will also
drastically change for the better. People will live much longer and many
physical infirmities and health concerns will be eradicated (Isa 29:18; 33:24).
The absense of sickness and deformity--along with the increased life
spans--will minimize the differences between those who still have mortal bodies
and those who have resurrected bodies. In the midst of this enhanced
enviroment, people will enjoy prosperity as poverty, injustice, and disease
cease (Jer 31:12-14).
Spiritual life in the Millennial kingdom
will be unlike anything we have ever experienced. Living daily in the personal
and physical presence of Jesus Christ, who will sit on the Davidic throne, will
have an enormous impact on the lives of believers. Isaiah said, "The earth
will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea"
(11:9). The knowledge and worship of Christ will be global and unimpeded. The
Millennium will be an era of great spiritual awareness, sensitivity, and
activity for both Christians and the restored nation of Israel. For Israel, the
New covenant will be in effect, bringing fruition the conditions prophesied in
passages such as Isa 59:20-21; Jer 31:31-34; 32:37-40; Ezek 16:60-63; and
37:21-28.
The clearest expression of the spiritual
characteristics of the Millennial Kingdom is found in worship and activity in
the Millennial Temple. Jesus Christ will be reigning on earth in Jerusalem and
the Millennial Temple will be present and fuctioninag as described in Ezekiel
40-46. Worship in the Millennial Temple will no doubt be of a quality and depth
never before seen on earth, as righteous Jews and Gentiles gladly come to
Jerusalem to praise the great Savior King (Isa 2:2-4; 11:9-10; Ezek 20:40-41;
40:1-46:24; Zech 14:16).
Government of
Millennium
The government will be a theocracy, with
Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, ruling as King (Dan 7:13,14; Isa 49; Lk 1:32;
22:29) as a son of David (Matt 1:20; Lk 1:27). Humanly speaking, our Lord's
position as son of David was established through Joseph, who adopted him (Lk
3:23; Acts 2:30; 13:22,23,33; Heb 7:14; Rom 1:3; Rev 5:5; 22:16). However, Mary
was also of David's descent.
Succession in the kingly line was not
altogether by birth, but by appointment.
There is a question as to whether Jesus
will exercise the government over Palestine directly or indirectly through a
regent, even David himself (Isa 55:3,4; Jer 30:9; 33:15,17,20, 21; Ezek 34:23,
24; 37:24, 25; Hos 3:5; Amos 9:11).
Nobles and governors will reign under
David (Jer 30:21; Isa 32:1; Ezk 45:8, 9). Matt 19:28 states that 12 disciples
will rule over the 12 tribes of Israel, indicating there will be other
subordinate rulers administering the government.
There will be even smaller subdivisions of
authority (Lk 19:12-28) awarded for faithfulness (Isa 40:10; Zech 3:7). Judges
will be raised up (Zech 3:7; Isa 1:26). Their authroity will demonstrate the
theocratic power of Christ to rule with inflexible righteousness and justice
(Isa 11:3-5), to rule in the fullness of the Spirit (Isa 11:2,3) and to rule
universally (Dan 7:14,27). Any outbreak of sin will be dealt with summarily
(Isa 11:4).
Millennial Sacrifices
There is a problem justifying the
restoration of a priesthood and the reinstitution of a bloody sacrficial system
during the millennium (Ezek 20:40, 41;
43:18-46; Ech 14:16; Isa 56:6-8; 66:21;
Jer 33:15-18) with the fact that Christ suffered once for sins, the just for
the unjust, that He might bring us to God (I Pet 3:18). Thus the following
matierial to elucidate the reinstitution.
The Millennial Temple will serve as the
center for the priestly rituals and offerings that will provide guidance in the
worship of the Messiah. Special sacrifices will be offered on the first month
and the first day (Ezek 45:18-19). The
Passover Feast is to be observed by all believers on the fourteenth day of the
first month, and followed by the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread
(45:21-25).
The form of worship in the Millennium will
bear a strong similarity to the old Aaronic order. When Israel is converted
under Jehovah, their God, He will bless them as Israel, not as Christians. When
Ezekiel's visions shall be accomplished, it will be the reign of Jehovan-Jesus
on earth, and the distinction of Israel from the gentiles will again be resumed
... for blessing under the New Covenant, not under the law. The millennial
system is marked by omissions from the Aaronic order that make the two systems
different. Yet, the Millennial Age will not see the re-establishment of Judaism
as such.
The system to be inaugurated in the
Millennial (Kingdom) Age will be a new order that will replace the Levitical
order. The whole concept of the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31 envisions an
entirely new order after the passing of the old.
The fact that the Millennial Temple
includes sacrifices has led many prophecy students to wonder about the purpose
of such sacrifices. Besides Ezekiel 40-48, there are four other OT prophets
that join Ezekiel in affirming there will be a sacrifical system im the
Millennial Temple (Isa 56:7; 66:20-23; Jer 33:18; Zech 14:16-21; Mal 3:3-4),,
making it clear this matter is important enough to merit our attention.
If we accept the literal interpretation
that there will be a millennium for 1000 years, and that the will be a
Millennial sacrificial system, then we are contradicting passages such as
Hebrews 7:26-27 and 9: 26, which teach that Jesus was the perfect and final
sacrifice for sin? Premillennial scholars have fully recognized the issues at
hand here and there are at least two legitimate solutions to this question.
Nowhere is it stated that they are
offered for salvation from sin. The only way it can be held that the sacrifices
will be redemptive in the Millennium is to hold that they were so in the OT and
that would be a clear contradiction of the whole NT (Heb 10:4). Old Testament
sacrifices repeatedly looked forward to the Lamb of God who would take away the
sins of the world. They were insufficient of themselves and picture what was to
come when Christ would die on the cross (Heb 10:10-12).
The sacrifices will be memorial in
character. It is not sacrifices rendered to obtain salvation, but sacrifices in
view of accomplished salvation ... as the institution of the Lord's Supper in
the church was a memorial, not meant to obtain salvation.
During this present age, God's people
worship at His table, with the bread and wine as a memorial of His sacrifice.
It is in retrospect. We look back at the cross. We show forth His death
"till He comes." Then this material will end forever. Never again
will the Lord's Supper be kept after the saints of God have left the earth to
be with Him in glory (I Cor 13:10).
The resumed sacrifices will be the
memorial of the cross during the kingdom reign of Christ and constantly remind
the people of earth of Him who died for Israel, who paid the redemption price
for all creation.
This re reply dows not, however,
completely resolve all the concerns. Ezekiel says that the sacrifices are for
atonement rather than a memorial (Ezek 45:15, 17, 20). A second solution, then,
is that the sacrifces are for ceremonial purification. Rather than merely
functioning as a memorial, these animal sacrifices during the millennium will
serve primarily to remove ceremonial uncleanness and prevent defilement from
polluting the temple envisioned by Ezekiel. This will be necessary because the
glorious presence of Yahveh will once again be dwelling on earth in the midst
of a sinful and unclean people.
Because of God's promise to dwell on earth
during the millennium (as stated in the NT), it is necessary the He protect His
presence through sacrifice...It should further be added that this sacrificial
system will be a temporary one in that the millennium (with its partial
population of unglorified humanity) will last only 1000 years. During the
eternal state all inhabitants of the New Jerusalem will be glorified and will
therefore not be a source of contagious impurities to defile the holiness of
Yahveh.
The presence and purpose of sacrifices as
understood in this way neither diminish the work of Christ nor violate the
normal and literal interpretation of Scripture. Although there will be
sacrifices, the focus of all worship will remain on the person and work of the
Savior. What's more, the sacrifices of the Millennial Temple will not be a
return to the Mosaic Law, since the Law (the laws of scribes and Pharisees) has
forever been fulfilled and discontinued through Christ (Rom 6:14-15; 7:1-6; I
Cor 9:20-21; 2 Cor 3:7-11; Gal 4:1-7; 5:18; Heb 8:13; 10:1-14).
We see fulfillment of the Davidic
Covenant, which was eternal and unconditional, governing God's future dealing
with Israel.
Even with a quick overview of the
Millennium, even in the midst of such pristine conditions, there will still be
human rebellion because the complete effects of the Fall will not have been
erased, there will be one final revolt against the righteous government of
Jesus Christ. This will occur at the end of the Millennium when Satan is
briefly released from bondage, but as Scripture says, in the end, he will be
judged and punished forever (Rev 20:7-10).
In a world filled with chaos, despair,
corruption, violence, and rampant evil, the certainty of the Millennium offers
us assurance that God's prophetic program has not been abandoned. There really
will come a day when Christ will rule the world with righteousness and justice.
Because of this, Christians today need not have anxiety or fear, Our 'blessed
hope' is Jesus Christ (Tit 2:13), and we can have confidence that His kingdom
will indeed come.
Gen 13:14-17 --Promise
of the Land Abraham's Covenant; 22:17-18; 28:13-14;
Lev 23:34-36; Deut
29:10-15; II Sam 7:8-17, 24, 29; I Chron 17:7-15; Jb 19:25-27
Ps 2:6-9; 8:4-8;
48:1-14; 68:21-34; 69:35-36; 72:1-20; 89:1-52; 93 1-5; 94:1-23; 95 1-11
Isa 1 25-31; 2:1-5; 4:1-6;
11:1-2, 6-16; 12:2-6; 14:1, 3; 16:5; 24:23; 26:1-21; 27:12-13; 29:17-18;
30:23-33; 32: 1-8, 14-20; 33:17, 24; 35:1-10; 40:10-11; 43:5-6; 44:3;49:7;
51:11; 52:1; 54:13; 55:11--13; 59:3, 20-21; 60:1--9, 19-21; 61 4-9; 62:1-12;
65:17-22, 24-25; 66:1, 23
Jer 3:14-18; 23:1-8;
24:4-7; 31:31-40; 32:37-40; 33:14-16; 51:34;
Ezek 11:19-21;
16:60-63; 17:22-24; 20:40-41; 28:25-26; 29:21; 37:1-6; 16-28; 40:1-48:35
Dan 7:13--22, 26-27;
8:25; Hos 2:14-23; 6:1; 12:9;
13:14; Joel 2:21-27; 3:17-21
Amos 9:11-15; Obad 17-21;
Micah 2:13; 4:1-13; 5:4-14; 7:12-20;
Habakkuk 2:14
Zeph 3:9-20; Haggai 2:6-9
Zech 1:16-17; 3:8-9;
8:3-4, 7-8, 23, 20-23; 9:10-17; 10:6-12; 13:1-2; 14:8-11, 16-21
Matt 5:1-7:29;
13:24-33, 36-43; 19:27-30; 25:1-44; 26:27-29
Mark 4:26-32; 14:25; Luke 10:8-15; 22:16-18, 28-30; Acts 1:6-7;
I Cor 6:2-3, 9-11;
15:24-28; Eph 5:5; II Tim
2:11-12
Heb 1:8; 8:7-13; 10:13;
11:10, 16; 12:26-27; II Pet 1:16;
3:10-14
Rev 2:25; 3:12, 21;
20:4-14; 21:1-27; 22:5, 14-15
Credits:
Jack Van Impe Prophecy
Bible
Tim Lahaye & Thomas
Ice: Charting the End Times
12 Bible Dictionaries
