Chapter Nine - The Millennium
1. INTRODUCTION
The heart of man craves security, cries out for peace and yearns for justice. But these benefits will never be permanently achieved through human effort alone. They will be secured only when Jesus Christ returns to the earth to establish His millennial kingdom. For He is "The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6) and the "Sun of righteousness" (Malachi 4:2).
1.1 The Meaning of Millennium
This word is based upon the Latin mille, a thousand, and annus, a year. The regime of Christ on earth will continue for a thousand years. Six times the words occur in Revelation 20 (verses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). The so-called "a-millennialist" (i.e. one who denies that there will be a millennium) explains the words away: he insists that "a thousand years" speaks, not of chronological duration, but simply of spiritual perfection. It is more logical to accept the words at their face value: the Lord Jesus will actually reign a thousand years.
2. THE LOGIC OF THE MILLENNIUM
2.1 The Predictions
Prior to Jesus' birth, His royal coming was heralded by Old Testament prophets. The angel Gabriel announced to Mary concerning her Child: "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 forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:32, 33).
2.2 The Rejection
But when our Lord proclaimed the glorious and saving message of the kingdom, the Jews rejected both the message and their Messiah - King. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not" (John 1:11).
2.3 The Obvious Conclusion
God's Word never fails. Christ's rule on earth has been merely held in abeyance. It will be inaugurated during the millennium.
3. THE TIME OF THE MILLENNIUM
When will the thousand-year reign of the Lord occur?
3.1 Prior Events
3.1.1 The Nobleman's Journey
Read Luke 19:11-27. The disciples thought Jesus would invade Jerusalem and forcefully set up His kingdom in their day. The parable of the ten pounds was intended to enlighten them. The nobleman (Jesus) must first go into a far country (heaven) "to receive for himself a kingdom," and only then "to return" (Luke 19:12). That is, the ascension of our Saviour to the Father's right hand must precede His establishment of a kingdom on earth.
3.1.2 The Preliminary Witnessing
After Jesus' resurrection the disciples were still confused. They asked Him, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). Jesus quickly disillusioned them by declaring that there must first be a period of Spirit-directed testimony "to the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
3.1.3 Calling Out of the Church
God must first visit the Gentiles with the gospel "to take out of them a people for his name" (Acts 15:14). This is what is happening today. Only when the calling-out process is complete will Christ return to "build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down" (Acts 15:16).
3.2 The Actual Hour
3.2.1 The Prophecy of Daniel
In the days of the revived Roman Empire and the cruel administration of Antichrist, the smiting Stone (Christ) will strike the nations, overthrow them, and in turn become a mountain, a kingdom "which shall never be destroyed" (Daniel 2:34, 35, 44, 45).
3.2.2 The Vision of John
The second advent of Christ in glory and the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21) are to be followed at once by the institution of the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6).
4. THE NATURE OF THE MILLENNIUM
The Lord Jesus will be completely sovereign. The binding of the devil for the entire thousand-year period (Revelation 20:2) will eliminate a powerful force of evil.
4.1 Its Site
Christ will actually return to this planet. Jesus' throne will be set up with Jerusalem as headquarters (Micah 4:1, 2). Read Zechariah 14:1-4, and especially verse 9. The Lord's control, emanating from Palestine (Zechariah 14:4), will be on earth (Zechariah 14:9).
4.2 Its Universality
The mountain (kingdom) will fill the whole earth (Daniel 2:35). "The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9). "And the Lord shall be king over all the earth" (Zechariah 14:9). "All people, nations, and languages...all dominions shall serve and obey him" (Daniel 7:14, 27). "His dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth" (Zechariah 9:10).
4.3 Its Righteousness
The Lord Jesus will be on the throne. His judgments will be unbiased (Isaiah 11:3), His verdicts both merciful and just (Isaiah 11:4), His ethical "garments" both righteousness and faithfulness (Isaiah 11:5). Today, wrong is often on the throne and right on the scaffold. When Jesus comes to reign, this will be reversed. Right will at long last triumph. "Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment" (Isaiah 32:1; Jeremiah 23:6; Daniel 9:24; Malachi 4:2).
4.4 The Removal of the Curse
When Adam and Eve were driven from Eden, a divine curse was pronounced upon man and nature (Genesis 3:16, 17). This curse persists today. "The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Romans 8:22); and even believers groan under the burden of mortality (Romans 8:23). Nature has its convulsions, and animal preys upon animal. But when Jesus takes up His sceptre, all this will be changed. "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid" (Isaiah 11:6-9).
4.4.1 Physical Life
Longevity, as enjoyed before the Flood, will evidently be restored, and we gather from Isaiah 65:20-22 that some might even survive the entire millennial period. At any rate, death will be the exception and will be inflicted only upon any outbreak of rebellion against the Lord.
4.4.2 Animal Life
Ferocity will give place to docility. Before the entrance of sin, all animals were herbivorous rather than carnivorous. The latter characteristic was the result of the Fall, for when Adam fell, sin affected everything under him. But in the kingdom, the very nature of the lower creature will be changed and all will be harmonious once more (Psalm 8:5-9; Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25).
4.4.3 Vegetable Life
The primal sentence because of sin pronounced a curse upon the ground for Adam's sake (Genesis 3:17; 4:12). Ever since that sad day the earth has yielded weeds in abundance and its beneficial crops only in reluctance. But in the millennium, the curse will be entirely lifted and the soil will become abundantly fertile and productive (Amos 9:13-15; Romans 8:18-23). Wars will be banished and all military equipment will be converted into implements of agriculture. The desert shall blossom as the rose. The earth's masses will be provided for by world-wide fertility. The disappearance of fear will usher in an era of fabulous productivity. Every man will sit "under his vine and under his fig tree" (Micah 4:4). Harvests will be plenteous and means of distribution effective. All will share the blessings of plenty (Isaiah 65:21-23). Study also Isaiah 30:23-25; 35:1, 2, 7; Jeremiah 31:12; Joel 2:21-27; Amos 9:12, 14.
4.5 The Prevalence of Peace
Swords will be beaten into plowshares and spears into pruninghooks. Nations will forget their martial provess, abandon their military arsenals and discard their textbooks on destruction (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3). Christ will be known as "The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). What a tremendous relief this will be after the deadly global conflicts which have devastated the human race!
4.6 The Prominence of Israel
When Jesus the Deliverer comes "out of Zion" ungodliness will be turned away from Jacob (Romans 11:26). The Jews will experience an amazing conversion (Zechariah 13:1). And "the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even forever" (Micah 4:7). Israel still has an exalted future. The Gentile branches have been grafted in and the Jewish branches temporarily cut off. But God is certainly "able to graff them in again" (Romans 11:23).
4.7 The Atmosphere of Joy
Praise and rejoicing will be heard far and wide. "And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord...Sing unto the Lord...Cry out and shout...for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee" (Isaiah 12:4-6; Jeremiah 30:19; 31:13; Zephaniah 3:14-17; Zechariah 10:7).
4.8 The Comfort of Christ's Presence
The Lord will bind up "the breach of his people," and heal "the stroke of their wound" (Isaiah 30:26). He will satiate "the weary soul," and replenish "every sorrowful soul" (Jeremiah 31:25; Zephaniah 3:18-20).
4.9 The Purity of Speech
"For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent" (Zephaniah 3:9). The prophet is not fore-telling a universal language, as though to reverse the consequences of Babel, but the conversion of the nations, but a spiritual transformation readily discernible in their purified speech. The pure language of the grace of the Lord, would teach men to use the language of humility, repentance and faith.
5. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MILLENNIUM
How will the kingdom be ruled, and who will be the subjects?
5.1 The Kingship of Christ
As Messiah, He will have absolute sway over the earth. "The government shall be upon his shoulder" (Isaiah 9:6).
5.2 The Regency of David
The Bible seems to teach that David will serve as prince in the kingdom. Read carefully Isaiah 55:3, 4; Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 34:23, 24; 37:24, 25; Hosea 3:5.
5.3 The Subordinate Officers
Apparently nobles and governors will serve under David's direction. See Isaiah 32:1; Jeremiah 30:21; Ezekiel 45:9; Matthew 19:28.
5.4 The Subjects
The people on earth over whom Christ will rule will be the saved of Israel and of the Gentiles who survive the great tribulation and are living when Christ returns to reign. No one will go into the millennial kingdom who is not born again (Isaiah 60:21; Ezekiel 36:25-29; John 3:3). The Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh in that day, because all flesh (i.e. all living persons) will be regenerated. Pentecost was simply a partial fulfillment of the great prophecy of Joel 2:28-32. Daniel writes that "the saints" will possess the kingdom (Daniel 7:18, 22, 27). While all will submit to Messiah's authority, probably some will do so under duress rather than voluntarily. Hence the Lord will "rule them with a rod of iron" (Revelation 19:15b).
6. THE CONCLUSION OF THE MILLENNIUM
It is recognized that millions upon millions will be born during the thousand years and these will not necessarily be regenerated when they come to the years of accountability. When the thousand years are ended, "Satan shall be loosed out of his prison"(Revelation 20:7). The potential rebels over whom the Son of God was forcefully ruling will be willing to listen to the devil's lying but effective propaganda (Revelation 20:8). Satan will find a great mass of ready followers. These come from the four corners of the earth and rise in rebellion against the King, but their doom is sure (Revelation 20:7-9). The reign of righteousness, peace, prosperity and joy on earth will come to an end in preparation for a series of drastic events which we shall study in a later lesson.