OT Saints, NT Saints,Tribulation Saints and Millenium Saints

Where are the Old Testament Saints Today?

Are the Old Testament Saints still in heaven? If God comes back for the second time for us, are we going to meet this people, or are they no more existing?

The Bible is very clear that the Old Testament saints still exist today and that we will see and fellowship with them in Heaven.

The first and foremost evidence we have of this truth is the immortality of the human soul. Man being created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26
) is a Trichotomy (a three part being) as the Lord is (1 John 5:6-8
) and thus has a spirit, soul and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23
).

At death the soul departs the body (Genesis 35:18
, 1 Kings 17:22
) while the body goes to the grave and the spirit returns to God (Ecclesiastes 2:17
). The righteous soul continues to exist in Heaven (Paradise for those believers who died before the crucifixion which we will look at later) or Hell for the unbelieving. While it is true that man shares the same “breath of life” with all of God’s animal creation (Genesis 6:17
, 7:15
) only man was said to have become “a living soul” (Genesis 2:7
, 1 Corinthians 15:45
) and thus he alone possess the capability of an eternal existence. This truth encompasses every person ever born from the time of Adam’s creation to our present day.

The age in which one lives has no bearing on the immortality of their soul. As was stated previously, the main difference between the death of the saints before the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord was that they were not granted immediate access to Heaven as we believers are now. Instead, they were gathered to a place of comfort and rest called Paradise which was located in Abraham’s Bosom in the heart of the Earth. There they would abide until the atonement of their souls and the payment for their sins had been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross (Hebrews 10). After His resurrection they were loosed from this “holding area” (Ephesians 4:8-10
) and were then able to enter into Heaven where they live to this day waiting for the resurrection of their glorified bodies. We get a glimpse of this dwelling of the deceased in Luke Chapter 16 with Lazarus and the Rich Man and to a lesser extent again with Samuel in 1 Samuel Chapter 28. In both cases these men are said to be dead but yet they continue to live and retain all of their mental and physical capacities that they possessed while alive here on Earth. Obviously then death in the Bible does not mean complete annihilation of a person’s being but rather the transformation from this earthly, physical existence to that of a spiritual realm. That man would cease to exist at his death or drift off into a state of unconsciousness is a false teaching propagated by various cults and is easily refuted by Scripture (Mark 9:44-48
, Philippians 1:21-23
, Revelations 20:4
, Hebrews 12:1
).

Another reason that we know these Old Testament saints are still alive is the fact of the resurrection. These men and women also had the same hope as believers do now of a bodily resurrection.

David definitely had this hope.

Psalms 17:15
– "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."

Again David speaking,

Psalms 71:20
- "Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth."

Also see the hope he had of seeing his dead son again in 2 Samuel 12:23
. Job also had this assurance that the grave was not his final resting place when he hinted at what his glorious future would hold.

Job 14:14
– "If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come."

Again he reiterated his belief of a resurrected bodily existence in -

Job 19:26-27
– "And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."

Isaiah also believed in the resurrection when he prophesied of this future event for the nation of Israel.

Isaiah 26:19
- “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."

(See also Ezekiel 37:1
-14) As well as Daniel.

Daniel 12:2
- “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

In fact, a hope in the bodily resurrection was not limited only to the believers after the Cross but is found through out the Bible in every dispensation and is one of the great promises of comfort and hope for believers of any age (1 Thessalonians 4:18
).

We can also add the testimony of Jesus Christ Himself to the evidence of these saints existence when He referred to the patriarchs being present during his future Millennial Reign on the Earth.

Matthew 8:11
– "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven."

At the Mount of Transfiguration we also see Moses and Elijah appear and visit with the Lord.

Matthew 17:1-3
– "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him."

In fact, when Jesus was faced with the religious leaders (Sadducees) of his day who didn’t believe in the resurrection or an afterlife he refuted them for their false doctrine by explicitly referencing Old Testament saints.

Matthew 22:31-32
“But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

(See also Mark 12:18
, Luke 20:27
)

Paul also testifies that this hope was one of the sustaining strengths that helped these saints persevere and faithfully endure the great trials of persecution that they suffered:

Hebrews 11:13-15
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.” But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

In fact, these same Old Testament saints that Paul is referring to in chapter eleven are said to be the witnesses in

Hebrews 12:1
- “ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

In light of this and other scriptural evidence, I believe that there can be no doubt as to the eternal existence of the Old Testament saints and that we will live and fellowship with them together throughout the ages to come.

 

Jeff Newman

WHO ARE THE TRIBULATION SAINTS?

After all believers in Christ are raptured away to heaven, the people left behind who come to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord after the rapture will be known as Tribulation Saints. The Bible predicts that a huge number of people will be saved during the seven year Tribulation.  Rev 7:9 describes the number as a "great multitude, which no man could number."

The Bible repeatedly states that Tribulation Saints will face a strong likelihood of being martyred under the Antichrist's demonic rule. Many Tribulation Saints will have to pay the ultimate price and give their lives for their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. There are several passages that warn how rough it will be for Christians to endure the Tribulation:

"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations" (Rev 13:7).

"He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints" (Rev 13:10).

"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed" (Rev 13:15).

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them" (Rev 14:12-13).

"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" (Rev 20:4).

The Tribulation Saints will not be silent during these dark years, nor will they roll over and play dead for Antichrist. These Christians will continue serving their Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of their desperate surroundings. Faithful to the end, some of these Christians will die for their beliefs, but God shall reward them in this manner: "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (Revelation 7: 15-17 NKJV)." (1)

A realization of how difficult it will be for Tribulation Saints  has motivated many christian to leave helpful advice for those left behind. Here are two examples.

First of all, it is to warn those who receive this manual prior to the rapture of the events that will take place in the last days as foretold in the Bible. Based on what the Bible has to say about future events, nobody in their right mind would want live on earth after the rapture. Hopefully, many will read, believe, seek God, repent and be saved. Salvation is very simple, so simple to attain, in fact, that most people cannot accept its simplicity; thereby reject it completely. However, it is complex because it is life-changing and based on that which we cannot see; it is based on faith. Simple, because Jesus does all the work. If you want to be saved and have eternal life, simply pray in belief and humility to the Lord Jesus:

"Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and ask you to forgive me of my sins and prepare for me a new heart. I surrender my life to you."

Your predicament is quite serious, so this is very important: Try to find a Holy Bible (containing 66 books), which you must study and know well ---although that task will present some very thorny problems--- because if you are reading this at the beginning of the tribulation, then all of you "tribulation saints" are brand new "baby" believers in Christ. There are no older believers to help you in person, so, you'll have to survive on your own, without such a support group ...there is no true "Church" on earth... that's why I'm concerned to write to you.

REVIEW
During the tribulation, Satan—the great counterfeiter—will introduce his own man—a man of lawlessness and a man of perdition (Daniel 11:36-39) who will seemingly lead the world into time of peace and prosperity. This man is The Antichrist.  He will accomplish, at least for a season, what no other ruler has managed to accomplish—global unity. He will come to power at the beginning of the tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) and establish himself as the world ruler. During the first part of Antichrist’s seven-year reign, the inhabitants of Earth will live in relative harmony. And literally billions of misguided people will worship him as their god and savior. Not only will Antichrist accept this worship, he will demand the people’s worship! He will exact the allegiance of all (Revelation 13:16). Those who refuse to worship Antichrist will face death.

In this dark hour, however, many will come to know Christ Jesus as Savior. These are the tribulation saints who will face the wrath of Antichrist (Revelation 13:7), yet their eternal salvation is secure (Revelation 14:12-13). No one, not even Antichrist, will be able to wrench these saints from God’s loving hands.

The tribulation saints will not be silent during these dark years. These Christians will continue serving their Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of their desperate surroundings. Faithful to the end, some of these Christians will die for their beliefs, but God shall reward them in this manner: “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:15-17 NKJV).

More importantly, the saints living in this time of great distress will not be forgotten by our merciful God as He pours His wrath upon a wicked earth. While unregenerate men and women face the white-hot judgment of God’s righteous fury, His saints shall “have the seal of God on their foreheads” and be spared the terrible wrath that follows (Revelation 9:4).

Two such tribulation saints will serve from Jerusalem as God’s mighty witnesses, “and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These have the power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire (Revelation 11:3,6 NKJV).” What a ministry—they will boldly preach God’s truths while performing awesome miracles, and those unregenerate fools who try silencing them will be devoured by fire! So hated and despised will the preachers be, the whole world will celebrate the eventual deaths of these witnesses with gifts and merriment—but God will raise His slain witnesses back to life and carry them off to Heaven, and the entire world will see this spectacular event (Revelation 11:9).

The day of great trouble is rapidly approaching, so now is the time to ask, “Where will you be when Antichrist makes his appearance?” Will you be safe and secure in the loving hands of the Savior, or will you be fodder for Antichrist? Will King Jesus be your rescuer, or will you be one of the billions to perish when God’s divinely appointed wrath is poured out upon the rebellious masses? Prophecy is tomorrow’s headlines, so let no one say he or she has not been warned. The Lord Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. Confess Him as your Lord and Savior. Come to Jesus and live.

Will people die during the Millennium when Christ is ruling on earth? 

After the Judgment of separating the sheep from the goats, the saved go into the Millennial period (Mt.25) the unsaved (goats) go into the fire, which is judgment. There are two kinds of believers that will enter the Millennium. Those who have come back with Christ (1 Thess. 4:14b) who are made eternal, been transformed, and have glorified bodies. And those that are mortal that lived through the Great Tribulation and survived (sheep). Those mortals will become the non immortal race of man on earth which those who were made like Christ in the resurrection will co rule and reign over (Rev.20:6). Isaiah states, "There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed" (Isaiah 65:20). During this Millennial period a 100-year-old person will die as a child, if saved they will live to the extent of years (likened to Adams day), v.22 “ for as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people.”

Those born in Millennial period must receive Christ as Savior just as people in prior dispensations. By the end of the 1,000 years there will be millions of people born under Christ's Kingdom that will still refuse to accept Him as Savior. During this time period of Christs theocracy, Satan is bound in the bottomless pit. But the adamic nature is not eradicated in mortal mankind that is still being born. Those who are born to those who have entered the millennium can refuse and not be saved (even if their parents are saved). At the end of this time period Satan will be released from the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:7) and will lead All unbelievers in a rebellion against Jesus Christ, against the saints and the city of Jerusalem (Rev.20:6). The fire of God will come from Heaven and devour them (Revelation 20:8, 9). Then comes the white throne judgment -- the last judgment before the new Heavens and earth are made prepared for the heavenly Jerusalem to come down where death will be no more.

Who Will Populate the Millennium?

When I talk with post-tribs, I like to ask them another question. The question is: Who will populate the millennium?

Why is this question so difficult for post-tribs to answer? Let me explain the situation. When Christ returns to earth after the tribulation He will rule with a rod of iron. He will bring peace and prosperity at last. Every wrong will be righted. The curse will be partially lifted so that crops will grow more abundantly. Because this time lasts for 1000 years we call this the millennium (Revelation 20:1–7).

Some do not believe in the millennium. If you are one of these, then I suggest that you read carefully the closing sections of the Old Testament prophetic books. There you will encounter numerous details, specific details, which can be fulfilled in no other way than in a literal millennium. Also read Jeremiah 32:42 and Amos 9:11 to find out how literally the promises will be fulfilled.

 

 

Who will populate the millennium? Watch closely. Isaiah 65 describes this time of better conditions. Verse 20 says,

There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

From this verse we see that people live longer, of course. But some still die. Death is not yet erased. This is important to notice. During the millennium people will be walking around on the face of this planet with natural bodies, subject to decay and death which we all inherited from Adam. Where do these people come from?

THE PEOPLE IN NATURAL BODIES

Are they present-day Christians? No, these people cannot be present-day Christians. The split-second that Christ returns we Christians will lose our natural bodies and gain immortal bodies.

Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51–53).

This transformation occurs at the rapture. The rapture is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17:

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Our term "rapture" comes from the Latin translation of "caught up" in this passage. At the rapture we Christians are caught up into the clouds to meet Christ and at the same moment He transforms our bodies. So if people are still walking around on earth with natural bodies after the return of Christ, where do they come from?

Are they present-day non-Christians? Absolutely not, they cannot be present-day non-Christians! Here is a long list of verses which prove that no unbeliever will enter the millennium.

Psalm 2:12: Kiss the Son, let he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.

Zephaniah 3:9: 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.

Malachi 4:1: For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Matthew 13:41: The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.

Matthew 24:51: [The Lord of the evil servant] shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:12: [To the foolish virgins] He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Matthew 25:30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luke 17:29: But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

Luke 17:27b: [Noah] entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Luke 17:32–33: Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

1 Thessalonians 5:3: For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape [strong dual negative in the Greek].

2 Thessalonians 1:7b–8; 2:12: When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ... That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Others could be added to this list. The Bible is full of it. For example, many of the Psalms open up with new light when viewed with this rooting out of the wicked in mind. But these listed are sufficient to prove that no unbeliever stands a chance of entering the millennium.

All will be destroyed. The little word "all" is too wide to get around. Some might wish that "all" doesn't mean "all," that it is only a figure of speech. This is only wishful thinking, though, without support from the contexts. The contexts of these verses support a literal and full meaning for "all." Check it out and see for yourself.

In the above list of verses I included a few about Noah and Lot. There is a reason for that. Jesus expressly made Noah and Lot types of the end times. Jesus compared the destruction by the flood to the destruction at the end. He also compared the destruction of Sodom to the end-time destruction. Is anyone still wondering if "all" means "all"? All unbelievers were destroyed by the flood literally. All unbelievers in Sodom were destroyed by fire and brimstone literally. If this is true in the antetypes, then how much more true it is of the day of the Lord, which is "very dark, and no brightness in it" (Amos 5:20).

Of course, I don't rely on types alone to prove my doctrine. But taken together with the other passages which clearly and explicitly say that all unbelievers will be destroyed, the examples of Noah and Lot powerfully illustrate the meaning. The contexts of the other verses in the above list also support a literal and full meaning for "all," but these examples of Noah and Lot are an extra bonus.

The parables also in the above list illustrate the meaning. Suppose one of the five foolish virgins continued pounding on the door even though it was too late. And suppose the bridegroom answered that one, "All right. Come in, come in. I'll make an exception for you. But don't let it happen again." Can you imagine that? You see, if there were only one exception, it would make Jesus' parable untrue.

"Oh, but you can't make a parable teach anything you want to," some say. "The purpose of a parable is to teach only one central truth." Fine, fine, I agree. Is not the central trust of the parable of the virgins to teach advance preparation? Those unprepared do not enter. It's that simple. If this is not the central thrust of the parable, then what is?

The same is true of the other parables in Matthew. Whether it be tares, bad fish, evil servant, foolish virgins, or unprofitable servant, all of that class suffer the same fate. There are only two classes of people; none of one class can cross over to receive the fate of the other class. Without exception each person receives the fate of his own class.

We cannot get around it by moving the destiny of the wicked to the end of the millennium, for this separation takes place when the Lord returns and specifically "in the time of harvest" (Matthew 13:30) which is at the end of the tribulation (Revelation 14:15).

We are surrounded by many passages. Explicit passages, illustrations, and parables all agree that no unbeliever can enter the millennium. Couple this with the fact that all present-day believers will receive new bodies at the rapture, and this leaves us with the question, "Who will populate the millennium with natural bodies?" A puzzling dilemma.

 

 

The above diagram is oversimplified because after believers go up into the air they will come back down again to rule and reign with Christ on the earth. But it illustrates my point: where do the natural-bodied people come from? Or, to put it another way, if we are the rulers during the millennium, then who are the subjects?

Could they be people saved after the rapture? Pre-tribulationists have a simple solution for the problem. By putting the rapture before the tribulation, this allows a new group of believers to spring up who will populate the millennium. After the rapture and during the tribulation many people will believe and be saved. These tribulation saints will be saved by the same means that people today are saved. The identical gospel and the identical salvation will apply during that time. The only difference is that they will be saved after the rapture, too late to gain a new body. If they survive the tribulation they will enter the millennium in their natural bodies.

 

 

What about tribulation saints who do not survive the tribulation? What happens to them? They will join the resurrection after the tribulation and they will gain new immortal bodies at that time (Revelation 20:4). If you are reading this after the rapture, this fact will encourage you. Don't be afraid to die at the hands of the antichrist. If he kills you, you will have a new body very shortly. If he doesn't kill you, you will be stuck with your natural body for another 1000 years. At the end of the 1000 years all will receive immortal bodies, because "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 15:50).

How do post-tribs respond to this question of who will populate the millennium? Many ignore this question altogether as if it didn't exist. I don't blame them. A few make an honest attempt to answer it. We will examine some of the attempts to answer this question.

OTHER ATTEMPTED ANSWERS

Attempt Number 1: Unbelievers Enter the Millennium. One attempt to answer the question says that some unbelievers will survive the tribulation and enter the millennium. This would not be according to God's previous pattern. God destroyed the wicked old world with the flood and began afresh with righteous Noah. A fresh beginning in the millennium would follow the pattern. What proof is offered to offset this pattern? Only one passage as far as I can tell. We gave a long list of passages proving that no unbeliever can enter the millennium. If one passage appears to say the opposite, we ought to examine it very closely. The passage is Zechariah 14:16–19:

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.

It is true that this passage speaks of unbelievers during the millennium. Where do they come from? If only believers enter the millennium, how do unbelievers slip into the picture? During the millennium, of course, people will have children. And since these children inherit the sin nature from Adam, some of them will turn out to be unbelievers. In fact, at the end of the millennium these unbelievers will stage a rebellion, a last-ditch attempt to overthrow Christ.

The point is this: unbelievers come later in the millennium, not at the beginning. Yes, this passage in Zechariah talks about unbelievers in the millennium, but it proves nothing about unbelievers entering the millennium at the beginning. That is the crucial point.

Now, this very same passage in Zechariah gives hints that all will believe at the beginning. Look at verse 16. It says "every one" worships. These who worship are those left over after the destruction of the armies who come against Jerusalem. These did not participate in the attack against Jerusalem. (All those who do participate in this attack are slain according to Revelation 19:21.) These left over ones, these believing worshipers, encompass "every one" at the beginning.

The next verse, verse 17, fits unbelievers who are born later in the 1000-year period. This passage does not say that these unbelievers are present at the beginning. You can make it say that if you want to, but then what will you do with the long list of passages above which say the opposite?

Now look at verses 18 and 19 which give the example of Egypt. Egypt is a seal of confirmation upon our interpretation of this passage. True, this passage indicates that Egypt might not believe at some point during the millennium. But at the beginning, at the beginning, I say, Egypt will undoubtedly believe. We know from Isaiah 19 that they, speaking of Egypt, "shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice ..." (Isaiah 19:21).

This use of Zechariah 14 is an honest attempt to solve the problem, but does it really prove that unbelievers enter the millennium? What is the clear teaching of the Bible? Set this lone passage alongside the long list of passages above and then decide for yourself what the clear teaching really is.

Attempt Number 2: A Remnant of Israel Is Saved After the Tribulation. A second attempt by post-tribulationists to answer the question of who will populate the millennium goes as follows: "A remnant of Israel, such as the 144,000, will believe when they see Christ descending in the clouds at the end of the tribulation. Since they are converted the instant He returns to earth, it will be too late for them to be raptured. Therefore, this believing remnant of Israel will remain on earth in natural bodies to populate the millennium."

If this were true, what would happen to the long list of passages above? Will the Lord say, "You foolish virgins should have made advance preparation; it's too late to let you in unless you are one of the 144,000"? Will He say, "Cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness unless he is an Israelite"? Is Israel any exception? Do they have a deferred chance to believe which no one else has? The long list of passages above allow no room for that. No matter who you are; no matter where you're from; no matter what color, race, creed, you must believe before Christ returns or else you can throw away the long list of passages above.

But do not Matthew 24:30 and Revelation 1:7 say that all tribes of the earth mourn when they see Christ coming? Yes, it's true. All mourn. But do they mourn in repentance? Or do they mourn because they missed salvation? Or might there be a third reason for mourning?

For the sake of argument, let's suppose that all tribes mourn in repentance. And we'll suppose that Israel gets saved just after a post-trib rapture and just as Christ descends. We'll forget that this supposition is impossible according to our long list of verses at the beginning of this chapter. For now we'll just suppose it could happen this way. But in order for it to happen this way the timing would have to be precise. Repentance could not come before the rapture (otherwise they would be raptured), and repentance cannot come after Christ returns (otherwise they would be destroyed with the rest of the wicked). Repentance has to come precisely after the rapture and before the destruction in order for them to squeak by.

Let's test this timing in Matthew 24:30–31 (assuming that Revelation 1:7 refers to the same event):

30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Now post-tribs see the rapture in verse 31. But the mourning already happened in verse 30. Therefore, the timing doesn't work out. Anyone who supposedly repents in verse 30 would be raptured in verse 31, and if raptured they would not have natural bodies for the millennium. (More about the order of events here in chapter eight.)

If the timing doesn't work out in Matthew 24:30, then what about Zechariah 12:10? Does not Zechariah 12:10 show that Israel gets saved the moment Christ descends?

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Is this verse talking about the moment Christ descends? Well, it doesn't say so. Is this verse talking about repentance and salvation? Well, it doesn't say so. Taking the verse alone we can make it mean anything we want to. But to find out what it really means we need to check other Scriptures as well as the immediate context.

A STORY ABOUT ISRAEL

As I tell you this story about Israel it will explain why a remnant of Israel repents and turns to Christ before His return, and it will explain why she mourns and sorrows after His return. Several scattered passages harmonize to tell one beautiful story.

Israel Repents Before Christ Returns

To introduce our story we have two verses showing the time of Israel's repentance: "I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face; in their affliction they will seek me early" (Hosea 5:15). "For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Matthew 23:39). From these verses we know that Christ will not leave heaven, Israel will not see Him descend, until they first repent.

How does God bring about her repentance? Let us go back to Zechariah 12, not verse 10 this time, but back to the beginning of the chapter. This part of the chapter describes the end of the tribulation period when "all the people [nations] of the earth be gathered together" against Jerusalem and "when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem" (verses 3 and 2). At that critical moment extermination seems certain. Then "the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God" (verse 5). That cry to God at that critical moment, as they recognize that their strength is in the Lord instead of in themselves, is the salvation prayer for Israel. You see, Israel's spiritual conversion occurs in verse 5, not verse 10, of Zechariah 12.

Think of all the events that will lead up to her conversion. These days the nation Israel is victorious and proud. They feel no need to return to God; their pride will continue through the beginning of the tribulation period when they will be riding high on the coattails of antichrist. But when antichrist betrays them at the middle of the tribulation (Daniel 9:27), when he abolishes their precious religious system, and when their beloved city Jerusalem is overrun (Zechariah 14:2; Revelation 11:2), this begins their travail which ends in the spiritual birth of the nation (Jeremiah 30:6–7; Isaiah 66:8). During this travail they will undergo intense tribulation in which God will sift them as wheat (Amos 9:9), and two-thirds of the Israelites will be killed (Zechariah 13:8–9). The climax comes at the end of the tribulation, when God gathers the nations of the world against Jerusalem. By this time Jerusalem is already overrun and desolate; only half of the population remains (Zechariah 14:2). So for them to see all the nations gathered against her to exterminate her completely is a hopeless sight. And when Israel finally realizes that her national ambition is beyond recovery, when her last hope in this world is dashed to the ground, it is then that she turns her eyes upward.

Through these events God brings about the repentance of Israel. Her time of trouble is her spiritual travail (Jeremiah 30:6–7; Isaiah 26:16–17). Her spiritual birth comes as a result of her travail, not as a result of seeing Christ when He returns.

It is amazing to find a prophecy of Israel's repentance way back in Moses' time, but we read in Deuteronomy 4:30–31: "When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord they God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice ... he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee ..." This is the very first prophecy in the Bible of the tribulation, and it shows Israel repenting during the tribulation.

The actual prayer of repentance is prophesied by Isaiah. Part of the prayer reads as follows:

Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down ... We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away (Isaiah 64:1,6).

We quote and apply these verses to other situations, which is fine. But the primary meaning, according to the context, refers to Israel during the tribulation. The context of Isaiah 60–66 gives the general time setting for Isaiah 64. Notice the prayer that God "would rend the heavens." This phrase shows that God did not yet rend the heavens, and so it pinpoints the time of the prayer to before Christ's return from heaven.

Therefore, we discover a blend of several passages that tell one harmonious story about the time of Israel's conversion.

     

Hosea 5:15	I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense....
Matthew 23:39	Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say....
Deuteronomy 4:30	When thou art in tribulation....
Isaiah 64:1	Oh, that thou wouldest rend the heavens....
Zechariah 12:2	When they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem....

 

These verses show that Israel is converted not as she sees Him return in the clouds. It has to be before.

Christ Returns

We now continue our story. In direct answer to Israel's prayer that God would "rend the heavens," He does exactly that. He has been waiting for precisely this moment, for His chosen people to return to Him. They have turned to Him in hopeless moments before and He has miraculously saved them before. Now He saves them again. He saves them spiritually, and He also rescues them from their enemies. In response to their prayer of repentance He rends the heavens as He breaks through the clouds and "in that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem ... and it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem" (Zechariah 12:8–9).

Does the return of Christ occasion the repentance of Israel? No, it is the other way around. The repentance of Israel occasions the return of Christ.

Israel Mourns After Christ Returns

The story I have been telling you so far has been about the repentance of Israel before the return of Christ. But I still haven't explained Zechariah 12:10 which happens after the return of Christ. If this verse is not talking about Israel's initial post-salvation experience, then what is it talking about?

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

In the context of Zechariah 12, verse 10 comes after the return of Christ. We have seen that Israel's cry of repentance occurs in verse 5. We have seen that Christ returns to rescue Jerusalem from her enemies in verses 8–9. Verse 10 follows. Verse 10 happens after Christ defeats the enemies, not while He is still in the clouds. Verse 11 confirms the time:

In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem.

Where does this mourning take place? In Jerusalem. Why not the world over? Why only in Jerusalem? This tells me that Christ has already gathered His people from the four corners of the earth, and by this time He has brought them to Jerusalem. The time is after His coming and after His gathering.

When do they look upon Him whom they have pierced? While He is in the clouds? The text does not say so. The text says "in Jerusalem." After Christ has gathered the Israelites from the four corners of the world, after they arrive in Jerusalem, then they see Him there in Jerusalem. They see the One whom they as a nation have crucified, and they mourn over what they have done.

They may also see Him as He descends with clouds. But that's not what this verse is talking about. They may also mourn earlier. But that's not what this verse is talking about. Not this verse, nor any other verse, teaches that Israel gets saved when Christ descends.

Why Do They Mourn?

Why does Israel mourn? Are they mourning in repentance in order to be saved?

The words "mourning" and "supplication" both are used in cases where the person is already a believer (Genesis 23:2; I Kings 8:30; 13:29; Psalm 130:2; 143:1; Ecclesiastes 3:4). The use of these words, therefore, in Zechariah 12:10 in no way proves that Israel becomes saved at this point. (A concordance will be helpful here.)

If not for salvation, then why does Israel mourn? Remorse and regret. Perhaps you have had this experience. When you get especially close to God you feel an acute awareness of your sinfulness. You feel a deep remorse for your past, more so than when you were first saved. This is what many Israelites will experience as they look back on their long rejection of their Messiah. Ezekiel indicates this reason for mourning (Ezekiel 20:38–43; 36:24–31).

Jeremiah indicates their supplications may be in view of a new covenant to be made in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 50:4–5).

My point is this: Scripture gives good solid reasons for the mourning mentioned in Zechariah 12:10. In light of this no one can positively claim that Zechariah 12:10 is talking about last-minute repentance as Christ descends with the clouds. That moment is too late for salvation.

Cleansing Is Not Repentance

In addition to Zechariah 12:10, other passages have been used to "prove" that Israel is saved at the return of Christ (such as Zephaniah 3:8–13; Zechariah 3:8–9; Malachi 3:1–5). But just like Zechariah 12:10, these passages properly fall into place after the return of Christ. And like Zechariah 12:10 they refer not to Israel's salvation experience, but to a post-salvation experience.

What kind of post-salvation experience is this? Joel 2:28–32 speaks of those who call upon the name of the Lord for salvation before the day of the Lord, and these receive a pouring out of the Spirit afterward (similar to the apostles in Acts 2 who received a pouring out of the Spirit after they were saved). You see, these tribulation saints will receive a special cleansing, a special purifying, that is distinct from the divine forgiveness they receive at salvation.

I believe this special cleansing is the prophetic fulfillment of the ancient Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29–30). The Day of Atonement was one of seven feasts which Israel observed. On this day Israel afflicted their souls in memory of their past sins, and on this day the entire nation was officially cleansed. It is generally agreed that the feasts of Israel have prophetic significance. In a later chapter we will show how all seven feasts find fulfillment in prophecy in order, according to the dates on the calendar. But for now we will just mention that the Day of Atonement is prophetically fulfilled after Christ returns and after He gathers His people. On this future day Israel will once again afflict their souls as they remember their past sins. And on this future day God will once and for all remove the iniquity of the nation.

This is why I say that repentance is not the same as cleansing. These are two different events. They happen at two different times. Israel repents and is saved and is forgiven before Christ returns. But she receives a special cleansing after Christ returns.

 

 

In other words, the verses used to prove the salvation of Israel at the return of Christ are referring instead to her post-salvation experience of official cleansing. Once Christ returns, it's too late to be saved.

What if I'm wrong about the time of Israel's salvation? What if the Lord will say to the foolish virgins, "All right, I'll let you in if you are an Israelite"? What if the Lord will say to the unprofitable servant, "I'll make a special case for you if you are one of the 144,000"? What if I'm wrong and Israel does sneak into the millennium in this way?

Post-tribs would still have the problem of Gentile nations in the millennium. Zechariah 14:16–19 and Revelation 20:8 show that many nations, not just one nation, will populate the millennium. Furthermore, these passages show that the offspring of these nations are natural-bodied people (because they sin).

So post-tribs have to put both Israel and Gentiles into the millennium in order to save their case. Where will they get them from?

We come back to the main question of this chapter: "Who will populate the millennium in natural bodies?" It cannot be the church because it will be raptured and gain new bodies. It cannot be unbelievers because they will all be destroyed when Christ returns to earth. We cannot make an exception for Israel, because any Israelite, just like any Gentile, must be saved before Christ returns to earth or else they will be destroyed with the rest of the unbelievers. Who will enter the millennium with natural bodies? Only one answer remains. It has to be tribulation saints. Tribulation saints are saved during the tribulation after the rapture. Since they miss the rapture they remain in their natural bodies to enter the millennium.

Attempt Number 3: Ignore the Problem. Another way that I have seen post-tribs try to answer the problem of who will populate the millennium goes something like this: We don't have to answer all the problems. Some questions we can leave hanging in the air. To derive a pre-trib rapture from the question of who will populate the millennium is only an implication anyway. It is only an argument that is far from clear teaching, and so we don't have to answer it.

I agree that we don't have to answer every problem in the Bible. Since God is so far above us and since man is so puny, we cannot expect to understand everything. In this case, however, there is a difference. I'll show you what it is.

There are two kinds of implications. Some implications you can get around and some you can't get around. One day the telephone rang at our house and when I answered it I heard a voice on the other end say, "Your cat is up our tree."

I said, "What?"

"Your cat is up our tree."

For a second I was speechless. (How often does this happen to you?) But as I glanced around it hit me. I responded with assurance, "I see our cat right here in the kitchen."

My neighbor on the phone simply said, "Oh," and hung up. That was the end of that.

Do you see my point? I answered my neighbor with an implication she couldn't get around. I never once came right out and plainly said, "Our cat is not up your tree." I didn't have to. I didn't go outside and look up the tree. I didn't have to. I didn't have to find out whose cat was up the tree. All I had to do was see our own cat in the kitchen and that was answer enough. I didn't even tell my neighbor that our cat's front leg was broken and that it was in a cast and that it was not able to climb a tree. All this was true, but one simple answer was sufficient. One little implication settled the matter because it was an implication she couldn't get around.

It doesn't impress me when someone comes along and says, "Aw, that's just an implication." It doesn't impress me a bit, because there are two types of implications, implications you can get around and implications you can't get around.

Some questions regarding the Bible you can leave hanging in the air. You recognize that there are possible ways to get around those problems even though you might not happen to know what they are. But this matter of who will populate the millennium has no other possible way to get around it. This type of implication you cannot ignore.

I know that pre-tribs in years past have used some implications you can get around. To say that Christ comes to the air one time and to the earth the next time is a weak implication. You can get around that by saying that both may happen on the same day. To say that Christ comes for His saints one time and with His saints the next is no proof. You can get around that by supposing that both happen on the same day. But pre-tribulationists have also used this question of who will populate the millennium. I like this question because you can't get around it. You can't ignore it.

The previous chapter also presented an implication. The known day and the unknown day cannot be the same day. They must be different days. This type of implication you can't get around.

If anyone says to you that these two chapters are only implications, simply smile and ask them: How do you get around these implications?

Articles from David Berg and the Family International - www.deeptruths.com

The Millennium!

Compiled from the writings of David Brandt Berg

When you pray the Lord's Prayer, have you ever really thought about the part, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven"?--Luke 11:2. We who know and love the Lord already have Heaven in our hearts, thank God, but is there really much Heaven on Earth today?--No! There is mostly confusion and selfishness and unhappiness and war and fighting and Hell on every hand!

But one day soon, the Lord is going to wipe away all of today's Hell on Earth and He's going to set up His Own Kingdom of peace and goodness and fairness and mercy and love! Then His Kingdom won't only be in our hearts, it will be all around us! God's Kingdom really IS going to come in all of its power and glory, right here on Earth!--And then it's at last going to be "on Earth as it is in Heaven"!

But before Jesus' wonderful Kingdom is set up on Earth, there are some other things that have to happen: First, the evil Antichrist World leader and his kingdom of the Devil will come to power, and the last part of his reign will be a time of trouble called the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), when the Antichrist and his forces will be fighting against God's children.--But we will keep preaching the Gospel and doing mighty miracles to protect ourselves from him and his evil, Christ-hating Red forces!--Revelation 13:7; 11:3-5.

Then Jesus will return "in the clouds of Heaven, with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30), to resurrect and rapture all of His children, and we will all join Him for the wonderful Wedding Supper of the Lamb in Heaven, while the wicked anti-Christ people back on Earth will be suffering the awesome Wrath of God!--Revelation 19:7-9; 16:all.

They will finally gather together under their Devil-possessed Antichrist leader to try to crush all their opponents--entire religions and nations who have refused to worship the Antichrist or receive his Mark of the Beast! (Read about his wars against his opponents in Daniel 11:21-44.) Just as the Antichrist's armies think they're about to win, we will come riding down out of Heaven on flying Heavenly horses to rescue those resisting the Antichrist! We will return to Earth to win the biggest war that ever happened: The Battle of Armageddon!--Revelation 16:14,16; 17:14; 19:11-15. In this gigantic Battle of Armageddon, the forces of God will win a glorious victory over the forces of the Devil and his Antichrist Devil-man and his whole wicked kingdom! Not a single one of the Mark-of-the-Beast-branded members of the Antichrist's kingdom will survive into the following Kingdom of Christ on Earth!--Revelation 19: 19-21. It is then, after this big battle, that we, the saints of God, along with our King, Jesus Christ, will take over this World and set up the Kingdom of God on Earth, to rule it and run it the way it should have been run if Man had obeyed God!--Revelation 5:10; 20:4.

This amazing period of God's Kingdom on Earth is called the "Millennium", which is an old Latin word meaning 1,000 years.--Which is exactly how long this period will last--for 1,000 years! The Bible says that all those who were resurrected and raised to meet Jesus at His Second Coming will be very blessed during the Millennium, because "they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years!"-Revelation 20:5-7.

During the entire 1,000 years of the Millennium, the Devil will be chained up as a prisoner and held in God's prison, the bottomless pit! For a thousand years he will no longer be able to bother us and no longer be able to lead the other fallen angels and evil spirits across the Earth to bother Mankind!--See Revelation 20:1-3.

Jesus Himself is then going to rule the Earth in Person, and we will help and rule and reign with Him! He will reign from shore to shore, and we, His children, will no longer be the poor, persecuted few as we are today!--We, together with the resurrected Christians of all ages, will then number in the millions and the billions, and we are going to rule with Jesus over the remaining good people. These people, even though they weren't saved, resisted the Antichrist and refused his Mark, therefore God mercifully allowed them to live through the Antichrist reign, and even survive the following period of the Wrath of God and the Battle of Armageddon! They are the "blessed" whom the Bible speaks of in Daniel 12:12 who live on into the Millennium.

All the evil Gospel-rejecting people who received the Mark of the Beast will have been slain in the Battle of Armageddon, but millions of people will live on into the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ where they will have their chance to hear and know the Truth under the loving rule and reign of Jesus Himself and us, His resurrected followers! Multitudes will turn to Jesus in those days!

Under the mighty and powerful rule and reign of Christ and God's children, there will be no wars and the World will be ruled fairly and well with true fairness, freedom, peace, plenty and happiness for all! The Bible says, "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more!"--Isaiah 2:4.

Just think, there will be no more war!--No more weapons of the wicked or horrible fighting or bombing or killing like there is in Man's World today! In that day, when Jesus is King and we are His law enforcers, they will remake their weapons of war into tools of peace! PTL!

During the Millennium, all of us, God's saved children, will have new, powerful, supernatural resurrected bodies! But the rest of the World--those who were blessed enough to live through God's judgments on the World and the Battle of Armageddon into the Millennium--are going to still be in their old natural bodies. So life is sort of going to go on as usual in a lot of ways for them! A lot of them will live almost like they are living now: They'll still have to grow food and make clothes and live in a normal natural World, the same World they're living in now!--Only all the big cities, industrialization and pollution will be destroyed! Everyone will live much more naturally and close to the land, as God intended Man to live!

One big difference is that the curse which came upon Man and on the Earth because of Man's sins will be partly lifted, so that a lot of things will be a whole lot better, thank the Lord! The Earth will be almost like it was during the days of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before they sinned and God had to curse things to punish them. (See Genesis 2:8-15; 3:17-19.)

We who love Jesus now will be like supermen then, like Angels of God, with new miraculous bodies that will never get hurt, weary, weak or sick! But even the normal Earthly people that we will be ruling over, who will still be in their natural fleshly bodies, will have much less disease and sickness. It says that anyone who dies at 100 years old will be thought of as just a child!--See Isaiah 65:20. People will again live to be hundreds and hundreds of years old, just like they did before the Flood! Some people back then lived to be nearly a thousand years of age!--Genesis 5:27.

The Bible says that not only Man, but all of Creation will be made free from most of the Curse and everything will be much better than today!--Romans 8:19-21. It even says that "the wolf shall lie down with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the baby goat; and the calf and the young lion will lie together also; and a little child shall lead them!--And the cow and the bear shall feed together; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat grass like the ox. The nursing child shall play on the hole of the poisonous snake, and the toddler shall put his hand on the viper's den!"--Isaiah 11:6-8. You never hear about a wolf lying down with a lamb today, do you?--Unless the lamb is inside the wolf! Or a leopard lying down with a little baby goat?--They usually lie down with the goat inside of them too! And what about the calf and the lion together?-Usually the lion is tearing them apart and eating them! Neither have you heard about a little child leading them all! The day is coming when there will be peace between Man and the animals and you'll be able to call them by name and they'll come playfully running to you like your pets, like a dog or a cat does now!

All the animals will eat only plants and vegetables and fruit, and they won't hurt each other or us!--Isn't that beautiful? And Man won't eat them for meat either! "For nothing shall hurt nor destroy in all My Holy Kingdom!"--Isaiah 11:9.

And do you know how the normal Earthly people will travel during the Millennium?--On horses, camels, donkeys, wagons, sailing ships and things like that! Because all that will be left is what God has created and given Man to use, God's creations and Man's good inventions, which were good enough for the World for almost six thousand years before they ever heard of anything else!

Just think!--There won't be any more stinking cars or trucks belching out smoke and fumes and killing people, or any big smokey stinky factories! They're not going to have any more evil machines and motors that destroy things with all their smoke and oil and pollution and evil weapons! The World is going to go back to animal transportation and carriages and wagons!--They'll sure be thankful for the animals then! For moving large and heavy loads of materials, food etc. they'll even use sailing ships, powered by God's Own good clean winds and breezes! 

Why do you think the Lord is going to have this 1,000-year rule of His Kingdom on Earth over normal, natural men? Well, it will give a chance to be saved to all those who survive and live into the Millennium who never really got to hear the Gospel or know the Lord during this life.--Especially lots of children and young people who never had a chance, and also lots of natives in the deepest jungles and hard-to-reach places and "closed countries" who never heard. It will give them all a chance to hear and see and know the Lord! During the Millennium, everyone will be reached with the Good News of Salvation!--"For the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea!"--Habakkuk 2:14. How do the waters cover the seas?-Completely!

It will be much easier for people to believe and receive Jesus during the Millennium, because they will be able to actually see Him and His mighty power and have proof that He is real! Instead of just believing in the Lord and accepting Him by faith as we do today, they will then be given the chance to believe by actually being able to see the Kingdom of God and Christ on Earth and His Saints in power and ruling the World! But, like "Doubting Thomas" in the Bible, they will probably not be blessed as much we who are now believing and receiving and obeying by faith alone, without seeing! (See John 20:29.)

The Millennium will most likely be the time when God gives a first chance to a lot of people who didn't have a chance before, because the church failed or maybe even we failed to give them all the Gospel! everyone on Earth will see the Lord's glorious power and Kingdom, and everyone will believe then! The Bible says, "No longer shall every man teach his neighbor and his brother, saying, `Know the Lord', for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them."--Jeremiah 31:34.

We won't have to say "know the Lord" then!--Because everybody will be able to see Him and they'll all know Him! But they won't know Him as well as we do, because we already know Him in this life and are learning to love Him and live with Him and serve Him now. So it will undoubtedly be part of our job to teach them and train them in the ways of the Lord!

Even though there won't be any unbelievers then, there will still be some unreceivers, sad to say! Even though they will see the power of God and the people of God and the Kingdom of God and the Son of God personally ruling the Earth, there will still be some wicked people who won't like it, who will refuse to submit to our loving rule!

Can you imagine?--All men on Earth will have the chance, under Jesus Christ Himself in person, to learn to do good, and will have every advantage under our loving Heavenly administration, yet some will still willfully, defiantly rebel. Isaiah 26:10 says, "Let favor be shown to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness; in the Land of Uprightness (the Millennial Kingdom of Christ on Earth), will he keep on behaving unjustly, and refuse to behold the majesty of the Lord!"

In fact, at the end of the Millennium, God is going to test all of the Earthly people to see who has really received Him and who has rejected Him. He will let the Devil out of prison for just a short while, and all of the rebels will follow the Devil again and try to fight against all of the good Earthly people who have received Jesus and His Kingdom!--But the Lord will be so angry with them that He will just get rid of them once and for all and burn up them and the whole surface of the Earth in a flood of fire called "The Battle of Gog and Magog"!--Revelation 20:7-9; 2Peter 3:7,10.

All of the people who received Jesus will be spared, and God will then reform the melted surface of Earth by creating a New Earth, which you can read all about in our "Here's Heaven" article!--Revelation 21:1; 2Peter 3:12,13. So another purpose for the Millennium is to serve as a time of sifting, to sift the good from the bad, so when it comes time for the final "Great White Throne Judgment" at the end of the Millennium, they will have clearly made their choice and be either worthy of Heaven or Hell. (See our article, "Heaven, Hell and In-between".)

Many of the people during the Millennium will still be so stubborn and slow to change that they're still going to disobey, even with the Devil gone, and the Bible says that we will have to rule over them with a rod of iron!--Revelation 2:27; 19:15. It's going to be a forced rule, a strong iron rule over the rebellious and disobedient.--It will have to be, or else many people would never obey!

Thank the Lord, we'll have great supernatural powers which will make our job of ruling them easier, powers like you've seen in some science fiction movies! We'll be able to just look at them or think or point our finger at them and they will be frozen, pushed back and stopped from doing evil or completely destroyed! And they won't be able to touch us or do a thing to hurt us!

We will be like the Angels of God: Able to appear or disappear whenever we want, fly from one place to another as fast as we can think it, or have such a rod of God's power that, if we need to, we can smite God's enemies and rebels with the lightning of God! So there'll be very little crime or evil, no more riots and no more war!--Just total peace under the government of the Lord, in which you and I will be His supermen with super-powers!

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ in the Millennium will be a perfect Kingdom, a perfect government, with anointed rulers--you!-You're going to run it! The Lord said that He would make you a ruler over many cities! You can rule a city or a whole country or a whole continent, whatever you are able to handle, depending on the training you've already had and depending on your faithfulness and your obedience to the Lord while here and now!

Jesus said that "He that was faithful with very little, will be faithful also with very much."--Luke 16:10. He even said, "Because you have been faithful in a very little, I will make you ruler over ten cities!"--Luke 19:17,19. We're going to rule real, down-to-Earth, Worldly cities, countries, nations and continents, and teach and train real, physical, down-to-Earth people just like you and I are now! It's all going to be very real, and it's all going to actually happen!

But it seems like the Lord has so few Christians today who really give all their lives to Him, forsaking all to Jesus, really loving Him and only wanting to do what He wants, that He will probably have a hard time finding enough people to fill all the jobs that will need to be done! Thank God He will be able to use a lot of those faithful ones who have gone on before, all the millions of dedicated Christians from past ages who will be there with us, as well as good people of the Earth.

There are going to be all kinds of grades and classes and levels of Christians! I'm sure the great Prophets and Apostles and heroes of the Bible and of History, who were so faithful to the Lord in their lives on Earth, will be trusted with a lot of big jobs in the next life!--And just where each of us is going to be and just how much each of us will be trusted with will depend a lot upon how faithful we are to Him and the job He's given each of us to do here and now!

Right now we are in training for the days when we will rule the Earth!--But before we can do that, we must first learn to rule ourselves! So God is now having us train and practice for what is going to be the real thing, and how well we do now is going to have a lot to do with how well we will do in the future.

So remember, everything you're being taught now and doing now and the decisions you're making now and the lessons you're learning now are all a part of your schooling and your training here and now so you can be greatly used by the Lord there and then!--If not, a lot of what we're doing now would be a big waste of time, except for what little we get done here, which isn't very much compared to what we will do then! So let's really try to learn our lessons today and learn to be faithful and obedient servants of the Lord now so He can trust and bless us with a place of blessing and usefulness to Him and others tomorrow, in the beautiful Kingdom of God on Earth during the Millennium!--When you and I will rule and reign with our King of kings, Jesus! 

--Are you preparing now to rule with Him when He comes?

 

Saints Alive!

Q. I understand from my studies that there are 3 groups of saints, Old testament saints who believed in a coming Messiah, Church saints, who come to the Lord between Pentecost and the Rapture, and Tribulation Saints who believe in Him after the Rapture but before the 2nd Coming.  When is each group given glorified bodies? I know that the Church/Bride is given glorified bodies at the Rapture – but what about the others? And where do we/they all reside in the years between the (pre-trib) Rapture and the New Heaven & Earth after the Millennium?

 

A. You’re correct in saying that all Church Age saints will receive glorified bodies at the rapture/resurrection. We will reside in the New Jerusalem.  Old Testament saints will receive their new bodies at the time of the 2nd Coming (Daniel 12:2) and will dwell in Israel. Tribulation saints who are martyred will receive new bodies along with Old Testament saints at the time of the 2nd Coming (Rev. 20:4-5), and will serve the Lord in His Temple (Rev. 7:14-15).  Tribulation Saints who survive in their natural state will re-populate the nations on Earth during the Millennium. (Matt. 25:34)

But you must look at Rev. 21-22 again.  The first verses of each chapter are virtual copies of the Old Testament, put there to show you that John was speaking of Earth at the beginning of the Millennium, not its end.  It’s confusing because Rev. 20:7-15 is a parenthetical passage John used to follow two thoughts to their conclusion; the final disposition of Satan and the 2nd resurrection.

Then, beginning in Rev. 21 he went back to describe the Millennium including the New Jerusalem, home of the Church, and the restored Earth, home of redeemed Israel and Tribulation Saints.  We know this partly because Rev. 21:1 is a direct quote from Isaiah 65:17 where the context is the Millennium, and Rev. 22:1-7 is taken from Ezekiel 47:1-12, another Millennial passage.  Time is also referenced in Rev. 22:2 with the tree bearing 12 crops of fruit one each month, and eternity by definition is the absence of time.

Do They Have Glorified Bodies?

Q.  Here is a question which has puzzled me for a rather long time.  If I understand correctly, all of the Old Testament and New Testament Saints who have passed away are in Paradise right now.  Do they already have glorified bodies?  If they already have glorified bodies, then what bodies will rise from the graves during the Rapture?

A.  The spirits of Old Testament saints waited in Paradise until after the cross, then went to Heaven with the Lord (Ephes. 4:8). Those of New Testament believers go directly to be with the Lord upon death (2 Cor. 5:6-8). No one but the Lord has a glorified body. New Testament saints get theirs at the rapture (1 Cor. 15:51-52), while Old Testament saints will have to wait until the 2nd Coming (Daniel 12:1-2).

Millennial Reign

   The Real One World Government

As we rapidly approach the end of this age, events such as the Rapture and the horrors of Tribulation as well as individuals such as the Antichrist capture our focus. For those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus by accepting the free gift of salvation, not only do we have the Blessed Hope (the Rapture) to look forward to, but we (along with those who accept Jesus as their savior during the Tribulation period) can look with great joy to the rapidly approaching time period known as the Millennial Reign of Christ.

The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy describes this period as:
“The word millennium comes from the Latin word mille, meaning one thousand, and annum, meaning year. The Greek work “chilias”, also meaning one thousand, appears six times in Revelation 20, defining the duration of Christ’s kingdom before the destruction of the old heaven and old earth. The millennium therefore refers to 1000 years of Christ’s future reign on earth, which will immediately precede eternity [and starting at the second coming Christ which will bring to an end Tribulation]. During the millennium, Christ will reign in time and space. It is his time of manifestation and his time of revelation. Christ, in all of His glory, will institute His reign of righteousness and peace. During the millennium, the unveiled glory of Christ will shine forth in all of its fullness. ”

John MacArthur:
"There are a couple of things that I need to say to you before we look at the text itself because, of course, this has been a theological battleground (this matter of the Kingdom), for years. And I want to help you to get an understanding of why we believe and teach what we do.

First of all, let me say that foundational to any understanding of the Kingdom is capturing the chronological order of the book of Revelation. The passage fits into the chronology of the book. If you go into chapter 19 and verse 11, you have the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ comes. At the end of chapter 19 (that is described in great detail), He arrives, in verse 16, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There is an immense battle that ensues. He is the conqueror and the victor. The holocaust of that battle is described at the end of chapter 19 (as the carnage lays all over the place and is devoured by birds). And then we read about the beast and the false prophet, in verse 20, being thrown into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone; and all the rest were killed with a sword which came from the mouth of the Lord who returned. All the birds were filled with their flesh. So, there you have the devastating judgment at the return of Jesus Christ.

Over in chapter 21, and verse 1, "I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away." Here you have the eternal state at the end of the Kingdom. So, you have the Lord Jesus Christ returning in chapter 19; you have the creation of a new heaven and a new earth in chapter 21; and in the middle, you have chapter 20. Chapter 20 describes the thousand-year Kingdom. The chronology is very simple. You have a period of time called the Tribulation: it started in Revelation 6; it ended in Revelation 19. It ends with the return of Christ and His total judgment of the ungodly; after that judgment, chapter 20, He sets up His Kingdom. At the end of His Kingdom, He creates the new heavens and the new earth.

That is the simple, clear chronology of the book of Revelation. And [it] certainly is an interpretive key. Whatever you're going to do with this Kingdom, you have to deal with the chronology that is here in the book of Revelation. And clearly, the Kingdom is placed between the Great Tribulation, the return of Christ at the end of the Tribulation, and the creation of the new heavens and the new earth. It fits right in between those events.

Having said that this must be understood in terms of its chronology, I want to go outside the chronology and mention also that the details of the Kingdom are only given a summary fashion here in chapter 20. In fact, it's a very limited presentation. It gives us just some general perspectives here and does not exhaust, by any means, all that could be said about the character or the nature of that thousand years. And yet, there is instruction about the Kingdom itself throughout the Bible. In fact, if we were to just study all of the places in the Scriptures that deal with the Kingdom, we would be at it for months and months. It is scattered throughout the Old Testament and it is scattered throughout the New Testament."

Who’s in the millennium

The millennial kingdom Christ establishes will be indwelt by both glorified and unglorified believers. Those who are glorified are the previously Raptured (before Tribulation) “Bride of Christ” and will know life in both heaven and earth, and those who remain unglorified are those who accept Jesus during Tribulation and live to see the Second Coming. They will enter into the Millennial Reign as flesh and blood people and will live only on earth. The unglorified believers will still eat meals, plant crops, cook, work, and depend on public services. The glorified and unglorified will mingle together. Christ, after He was glorified, still mingled with His disciples (Luke 24:33-43), and Abraham and Sarah dined with angels (Genesis 18:1-10).

Believers who survive the Tribulation will be brought into the kingdom in their earthly bodies. There will be no change for them. They are the ones who will bear children in Christ's earthly kingdom (Isaiah 11:8; 65:20). And those children will bear the offspring who rebel against Christ at the end of the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:7-9).

In our glorified bodies, we--like angels--will be able to go wherever we want to. Our bodies will be fit for both earth and heaven. We will be able to ascend to or descend (Revelation 21:2).

The Glorified Body

Let’s pause for a moment and examine what our glorified bodies will be like. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul reveals that the glorified body will be "imperishable" and "immortal." It will be raised in "glory and power" and will be spirit controlled, rather than controlled by the flesh (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 52-54). In Philippians 3:21 Paul further states that the glorified bodies which will be given to believers will be like the body that Jesus had after His resurrection.

Think about that for a moment. Jesus had a tangible body that could be touched and recognized (Luke 24:41-43 and John 20:27-28). It was body very similar to the bodies we have now, and yet it was also very different. It could pass through a wall into a locked room (John 20:26), and it could move about from one place to another instantly (Luke 24:30-36).

Our resurrected glorified bodies, like Christ's, will no longer be part of the physical universe and will thus be changeless and timeless, able to be seen, then vanish, and to pass through closed doors and walls. "Jesus himself stood in the midst of them... but they were terrified... [thinking] they had seen a spirit... Handle me, and see," said Christ, "for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (Luke 24:36-43).

Our bodies will no longer be debilitated by sin. The new bodies we have will be fit for both heaven and earth. When Jesus rose from the grave, He ate, walked, and talked with His disciples (Luke 24:33-43). Later on He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9) to sit down at the right hand of God's throne (Hebrews 10:12). That we will have bodies fit for earth and heaven helps prove that Christ's future kingdom on earth will be literal and visible. Why would God bother restoring the earth in eternity (Revelation 21:1) if He weren't going to give us bodies that could live on it?

1 Thessalonians 4:16 says, "The dead in Christ shall rise first." When Christ calls us at the Rapture, the dead will rise and those of us who are alive will join them. But where do the spirits of dead Christians reside while we await the Rapture? When believers die, their spirits go to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). When the Rapture occurs, they will receive new, glorified bodies. It won't matter if their old bodies are long gone--God will create their new bodies out of nothing.

When a Christian dies, his spirit goes to heaven and his body stays here on earth. He doesn't need his body because God is a Spirit (John 4:24), and the believer's spirit can communicate with God. When you talk on the phone, your body isn't really involved; it's your spirit that does the communicating. The spirit is your real self, and it simply resides in a physical body. Nevertheless the Lord promises this in 1 Corinthians 15:52: "In the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." The new bodies that rise from the grave will be joined with their spirits at the Rapture, and those of us who are alive at the Rapture will be changed as we ascend. Those who became believers before the Tribulation--whether dead or alive--will be taken up in the Rapture. They will be given glorified bodies, and take part in the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9)

One question that isn't dealt with in the Rapture is, when will those saints who die during Tribulation be resurrected? They will be resurrected at the end of Tribulation. Daniel 12:1-2 confirms that there will be a great resurrection after the Tribulation: "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people [Israel], and there shall be a time of trouble ... and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life."

What it will be like

This thousand-year Kingdom is the subject of the twentieth chapter of Revelation. It is called by many names in Scripture. Just in the New Testament alone there are verses that call it “the regeneration” (Matthew 19:28); “the times of refreshing” (Acts 3:19); “the times of restitution” (Acts 3:21); and “the dispensation of the fullness of times” (Ephesians 1:10). And there are many more Scriptures on the subject of the Kingdom Age. In fact, there are more Scriptures on this subject, than [on] almost all other subjects that the Bible deals with.

Eden will be restored. It will be like the Garden of Eden again; paradise will be regained. This renovated earth then will become the place where Jesus rules. He will sit on the throne of David in the city of Jerusalem, that great city, from which He will rule the world. And, as we were saying to you this morning, He will be truly the God of that age; and the whole world in all of its economics, and all of its labor, and all of its social life, and all of its morality, and all of its understanding and learning and opinions and thoughts and ideas and concepts, will reflect the mind of Christ. It will be the opposite of a world like ours today, which has as the god of this age, Satan, and everything in it reflecting him. It is this very utopia, this Golden Age, that men have longed for. From the remotest point of antiquity, men have dreamed of a Golden Age; they have longed for a utopia. They have written about it. They have desired an age of righteousness, and an age of peace, and an age when oppression would cease and injustice would be gone, and war would end.

This will be a time of both political and spiritual rule. Politically, it will be unveiled (Daniel 2:35) authoritative (Isaiah 11:4) and characterized by righteousness and justice, with assurances for the poor (Isaiah 11:3-5) and admonition and judgment for the violators of Christ’s rule (Psalm 2:10-12).

The literal earthly reign of Christ will also have spiritual characteristics. First and foremost, it will be a reign of righteousness in which Christ will be the King, reigning in absolute righteousness (Isaiah 32:1). It will also be a time when the fullness of Christ and the holiness of God will be manifested (Isaiah 11:2-5) and (Zechariah 14:20-21). Everything from work to worship will be holy. Sin will be punished (Psalm 72:1-4, Zechariah 14:16-21) in an open, just way.

Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost has complied the following list of what the thousand-year reign of Christ will be like:

1. Peace
   The cessation of war through the unification of the nations under the reign of Christ, together with the resultant economic prosperity (since nations will not devote vast proportions of their expenditure on munitions) is a major theme of the prophets. National and individual peace is the fruit of the Messiah’s reign. (Isaiah 2:4, 9:4-7, 11:6-9, 32:17-18, 33:5-6, 54:13, 55:12, 60:18, 65:25, 66:12, Ezekiel 28:26, 34:25, 28, Hosea 2:18, Micah 4:2-3, Zechariah 8:18-19, 10:6-7)
   
   
2. Joy
   The fullness of joy will be a distinctive mark of the age. (Isaiah 9:3-4, 12:3-6, 14:7-8, 25:8-9, 25:30:29, 42:1, 42:10-12, 52:9, 60:15, 61:7-10, 65:18-19, 66:10-14, Jeremiah 30:18-19, 31:13-14, Zephaniah 3:14-17, Zechariah 8:18-19, 10:6-7)
   
   
3. Holiness
   The theocratic kingdom will be a holy kingdom, in which holiness is manifest through the King and the King’s subjects. The land will be holy, the city holy, the temple holy, and the subjects holy unto the Lord. (Isaiah 1:26-27, 4:3, 29:18-23, 31:6-7, 35:8-9, 5:21, 60:21, 61:10, Jeremiah 31:23, Ezekiel 36:24-31, 37:23-24, 43:7-12, 45:1, Joel 3:21, Zephaniah 3:11-13, Zechariah 8:3, 13:1-2, 14:20-21)
   
   
4. Glory
   The kingdom will be a glorious kingdom, in which the glory of God will find full manifestation. (Isaiah 4:2, 35:2, 40:5, 60:1-9)
   
   
5. Comfort
   The King will personally minister to every need, so that there will be fullness of comfort in that day. (Isaiah 12:1-2, 29:22-23, 30:26, 40:1-2, 49:13, 51:3, 61:3-7, 66:13-14, Jeremiah 31:23-25, Zephaniah 3:18-20, Zechariah 9:11-12, Revelation 21:4)
   
   
6. Justice
   There will be administration of perfect justice to every individual. (Isaiah 9:7, 11:5, 32:16, 42:1-4, 65:21-23, Jeremiah 23:5, 31:23, 31:29-30)
   
   
7. Full knowledge
   The ministry of the King will bring the subjects of his kingdom into full knowledge. Doubtless there will be an unparalleled teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 11:1-2, 11:9, 41:19-20, 54:13, Habakkuk 2:14)
   
   
8. The removal of the curse
   The original curse places upon creation (Genesis 3:17-19) will be removed, so that there will be abundant productivity on earth. Animal creation will be changed so as to lose its venom and ferocity. (Isaiah 11:6-9, 35:9, 65:25)
   
   
9. Sickness removed
   The ministry of the King as a healer will be seen throughout the age, so sickness and even death, except as a penal measure in dealing with overt sin, will be removed. (Isaiah 33:24, Jeremiah 30:17, Ezekiel 34:16)
   
   
10. Healing of the deformed
    Accompanying this ministry will be the healing of all deformity at the inception of the millennium. (Isaiah 29:17-19, 35:3-6, 61:1-2, Jeremiah 31:8, Micah 4:6- 7, Zephaniah 3:19)
    
    
11. Protection
    There will be a supernatural work of preservation of life in the millennial age through the King. (Isaiah 41:8-14, 62:8-9, Jeremiah 32:27, 23:6, Ezekiel 34:27, Joel 3:16-17, Amos 9:15, Zechariah 8:14-15, 9:8, 14:10-11)
    
    
12. Freedom from oppression
    There will be no social, political, or religious oppression in that day. (Isaiah 14:3-6, 42:6-7, 49:8-9, Zechariah 9:11-12)
    
    
13. No immaturity
    The suggestion seems to be that there will not be the tragedies of feeble-mindedness nor of dwarfed bodies in that day (Isaiah 65:20). Longevity will be restored.
    
    
14. Reproduction by living people
    The living saints who go into the millennium in their natural bodies will beget children throughout the age. The earth’s population will soar. These born in the age will not be born without a sin nature, so salvation will be required. (Jeremiah 30:20, 31:29, Ezekiel 47:22, Zechariah 10:8)
    
    
15. Labor
    The period will not be characterized by idleness, but there will be a perfect economic system, in which the needs of men are abundantly provided for by the labor in that system, under the guidance of the King. There will be a fully developed industrialized society, providing for the needs of the King’s subjects.  (Isaiah 62:8-9, 65:21-23, Jeremiah 31:5, Ezekiel 48:18-19) Agriculture as well as manufacturing will provide employment.
    
    
16. Economic prosperity
    The perfect labor situation will produce economic abundance, so there will be no want. (Isaiah 4:1, 35:1-2, 35:7, 30:23-25, 62:8-9, 65:21-23, Jeremiah 31:5-12, Ezekiel 34:26, 36:29-30, Joel 2:21-27, Amos 9:13-14, Micah 4:1-4, Zechariah 8:11-12, 9:16-17)
    
    “Some who study the riches of the earth estimate the combined value of the gold, silver, grain, oil, timber, fish, fruit, minerals, etc. at one decillion dollars! This figure of course, was beyond my comprehension, but slowly I repeated. ‘million, billion, trillion, quadrillion, quintillion, sextillion, septillion, octillion, novillion, decillion’! Taking pen to paper, I divided the for billion of earth’s population into this figure, and saw that everyone would be a billionaire, if he shared such wealth! The psalmist said: ‘The earth is full of thy riches!’ (Psalms 104:24) (Money Master of the World, Logos Press, 1976, p.137)
    
    
17. Increase of light
    There will be an increase in solar an lunar light in the age. This increased light probably is a major cause in the increased productivity of the earth.(Isaiah 4:5, 30:26, 60:19-20, Zechariah 2:5)
    
    
18. Unified language
    The language barrios will be removed so that there can be free social interchange. (Zephaniah 3:9)
    
    
19. Unified worship
    All the world will unite in the worship of God and God’s Messiah. (Isaiah 45:23, 52:1, 52:7-10, 66:17-23, Zephaniah 3:9, Zechariah 2:2, Zechariah 2:10-13, Revelation 21:3)
    
    
20. The manifest presence of God
    God’s presence will be fully recognized and fellowship with God will be experienced to an unprecedented degree. (Ezekiel 37:27-28, Zechariah 2:2, Zechariah 2:10-13, Revelation 21:3)
    
    
21. The fullness of the spirit
    Divine presence and enablement will be the experience of all who are in subjection to the authority of the King. (Isaiah 32:13-15, 41:1, 44:3, 59:19, 21, 61:1, Ezekiel 11:19, 20, 36:26-27, 27, 37:14, 39:29, Joel 2:28-29)

No unsaved person will enter the millennium. (Isaiah 35, Jeremiah 31:33-34, Ezekiel 20:37-38, Zechariah 13:9, Matthew 18:3, 25:30, Matthew 18:4-6, John 3:3) However millions of babies will be born and raised during the millennium. They will be born of saved but mortal parents who lived through Tribulation and entered the millennium in that mortal state (Thus the possible reason for the Tree of Life in Revelation 22:2). As they mature, some of these babies will refuse to submit their hearts to Christ, though their outward acts will subjected to existing authority. Thus Christ will rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:27, 12:5, 19:15, Zechariah 14:17-19)

Dr. H.L. Willmington
“As beautiful as the Millennium is, it will not be Heaven. Sin will still be possible during the thousand years (Isaiah 11:4, 65:20). Certain families and certain nations will refuse to go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. (Zechariah 14:17-19) Such deeds will be all the more inexcusable because the tempter will be absent and because the revelations of the Lord will be greater. Those who have been thus smitten will serve as examples to all those who would be tempted to imitate them. (Isaiah 66:24) (The Return of Christ, Moody Press, 1955, pp.428, 429)

David Rules as King

The Lord Jesus will of course be King supreme, but there are passages which suggest that he will graciously choose to rule through a vice-regent, and that vice-regent will be David. Note the following scripture:

Jeremiah 30:9
Instead, they will serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

Jeremiah wrote these words some 400 years after the death of David, so he could not have been referring to his earthly reign here.

Ezekiel 34:23
I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. (See also Ezekiel 37:24)

Hosea 3:5
Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days.

David will once again sit upon the throne of Israel. He will thus be aided in his rule by:

1. The Church (1 Corinthians 6:3)
2. The apostles (Matthew 19:28)
3. Nobles (Jeremiah 30:21)
4. Princess (Isaiah 32:1, Ezekiel 45:8-9)
5. Judges (Zechariah 3:7, Isaiah 1:26)

The Geography

For the first time Israel will possess all the land promised to Abraham in Genesis (Genesis 15:18-21). A river will flow east to west from the Mount of Olives into both the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Zechariah 14:4, 14:8, 14:10
On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south.

On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously in both summer and winter.

All the land from Geba, north of Judah, to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become one vast plain. But Jerusalem will be raised up in its original place and will be inhabited all the way from the Benjamin Gate over to the site of the old gate, then to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses.

(See also Joel 3:18, Ezekiel 47:8-9, Ezekiel 47:10)

Jerusalem will become the worship center of the world.

Micha 4:1
In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.

The city will be named “Jehovah-Shammah” meaning “The Lord is there” (Ezekiel 48:35), and “Jehovah Isidkenu” meaning “the Lord our righteousness”. (Jeremiah 23:6, 33:16) These will be the final names for God’s beloved city.

Animal Sacrifice

The Bible tells us that there will animal sacrifices in the millennial temple Isaiah 56:6-7, 60:7, Jeremiah 33:10, Zechariah 14:16-21. This will not be done for atonement of sin, but rather done in remembrance of what Jesus did for us. Much in the same way that we today partake in Communion, animal sacrifice will be performed in the temple during the Millennial Reign.

The passage that is the most extensive, giving the greatest detail, is Ezekiel 43:18-46. It should be noted that this is part of a greater passage dealing with the millennial kingdom, a passage that begins with Ezekiel 40. In Ezekiel 40, the Lord begins to give details of the temple that will exist during the millennial kingdom, a temple that dwarfs all other temples previously built, even Herod’s temple that was quite large in size, which existed during the earthly ministry of Christ.

After the Lord finished giving details concerning the size and appearance of the temple and the altar, the Lord then begins to give detailed instruction as to the animal sacrifices that will be offered (Ezekiel 43:18-27). In chapter 44, the Lord gives instructions as to who will be offering sacrifices to Him. The Lord states that all of the Levites will not be offering blood and fat to Him due to previous sin; it will be those from the lineage of Zadok (verse 15). Chapters 45 and 46 continue to mention that animal sacrifices will be made.

The primary objection made to the idea of animal sacrifices returning during the millennial kingdom is that Christ has come and offered a perfect sacrifice for sin, and there is therefore no need to sacrifice animals for sin. However, it must be remembered that animal sacrifice never removed the sin that spiritually separated a person from the Lord.

Hebrews 10:1-4 says, “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" (NASB).

It is incorrect to think that animal sacrifices took away sins in the Old Testament, and it is incorrect to think they will do so in the millennial kingdom. Animal sacrifices served as object lessons for the sinner, that sin was and is a horrible offense against God, and that the result of sin is death. Romans 3:20 says, “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”

Most scholars agree that the purpose of animal sacrifice during the millennial kingdom is memorial in nature. As the Lord’s Supper is a reminder of the death of Christ to the Church today, animal sacrifices will be a reminder during the millennial kingdom. To those born during the millennial kingdom, animal sacrifices will again be an object lesson. During that future time, righteousness and holiness will prevail, but those with earthly bodies will still have a sin nature, and there will be a need to teach about how offensive sin is to a holy and righteous God. Animal sacrifices will serve that purpose, "But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year" (Hebrews 10:3).

Satan Loosed

As Christ’s 1000 year reign comes to an end, Satan will be loosed.

Revelation 20:7-9
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.

Dr. J Vernon McGee writes:

“When the late Dr. Chafer (founder of Dallas Theological Seminary) was once asked why God loosed satan after he once had him bound, he replied, ‘If you tell me why God lets him loose in the first place, I tell you why God lets him loose a second time’. Apparently satan is released at the end of the Millennium to reveal that the ideal conditions of the kingdom, under the personal reign of Christ, do not change the human heart. This reveals the enormity of the enmity of man against God. Scripture is accurate when it describes the heart as ‘desperately wicked’ and incurably so. Man is totally depraved. The loosing of Satan at the end of the 1000 years proves it” (Reveling Through Revelation, pp 74-75)

This insane and immoral insurrection is doomed to utter and complete failure. The Apostle John records this final battle:

Revelation 20:9-10
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 forever and ever.

Because the rebellion is labeled “Gog and Magog” some confuse it with the battle of Gog and Magog spoken of in Ezekiel 38 and 39. This of course is not the case and is not possible for the conflicts described are not parallel as to time, place, or participants. Only the name is the same. (see our article on Gog & Magog for more information on the battle spoke of in Ezekiel 38 & 39)

After this final rebellion, Satan will be cast into Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10) and will then come to the Great White Thrown Judgment with all other unsaved heathens and then the new heavens and earth.

Conclusion

All of God's redemptive purpose since the fall of man culminate in the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ—as it has been called—paradise regained. This glorious paradise regained, this Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, this one-thousand year millennial reign of the Savior over the earth, is the fulfillment and the climax of all redemptive promise and the realization of the hope of all the saints of all the ages. Because, at that particular time, God will bring salvation and righteousness and peace to the very center of the universe.

It is at that time that Jesus Christ will reign fully as King of Kings and Lord of Lords over all creation. This thousand-year Kingdom is the end of human history, the end of the present universe as we know it. And after the thousand-year Kingdom is completed, everything as we know it now in the created order will be completely destroyed (because it has all been tainted by sin).

Even though Christ is reigning, He is reigning over a renewed and regenerated and restored earth and universe, but not a recreated one. And so, it still bears the marks of sin. And after the thousand years is over, the Lord will destroy completely the universe and create a new heaven and a new earth in eternal perfection, unstained by sin. And that will become the everlasting kingdom.

Reference
Holy Bible
Dr. H. L. Wilmington: The King is Coming (Revised And Expanded)
Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson: The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy
John MacArthur: Grace to You
Grant Jeffrey: Bible Prophecy Revealed
David Jeremiah: Turning Point
Hal Lindsey: The Hal Lindsey Report
J. Dwight Pentecost: Theologian

The Millennium

At this point in our study of life in the Kingdom, the thoughtful reader will probably be asking, 'Doesn't this picture of the Kingdom of God all seem rather human?' People in the Kingdom will still be producing babies (Isa. 65:23) and even dying (Isa. 65:20). These people will still have disputes which Christ will settle (Isa. 2:4), and will still need to work the ground in order to survive, even though this will be much easier than at present. This all seems a far cry from the promises that the righteous will receive eternal life, and a nature like God's, being made equal to the angels, who do not marry or reproduce (Luke 20:35,36) The answer lies in the fact that the first part of the Kingdom of God will last for 1,000 years - a 'Millennium' (see Rev. 20:2-7). During this Millennium there will be two groups of people on earth:-

1. The saints - those of us who have followed Christ acceptably in this life, who will have been given eternal life at the judgment seat. Note: a 'saint' means 'a called out' person, and refers to any true believer.

    

2. The ordinary, mortal people who did not know the Gospel at the time of Christ's return - i.e. they were not responsible to the judgment seat.

When Christ comes, two men will be in the field, one will be taken (to judgment), and the other left (Lk. 17:36); those who are "left" will be in this second group.

Having received God's nature at the judgment seat, the saints will be unable to die or produce children. The descriptions of people experiencing these things in the Kingdom must therefore apply to the second group - those who are alive at the time of Christ's return, but who did not know God's requirements. The reward of the righteous is to be "kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth" (Rev. 5:10). Kings have to reign over somebody; those people who were ignorant of the Gospel at the time of the second coming will therefore be left alive, to be reigned over. Through being "in Christ" we will share His reward - which is to be the king of the world: "He that overcometh...to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron...even as I received of my Father" (Rev. 2:26,27).

Christ's parable of the pounds now falls into place - the faithful servants were rewarded with ten or five towns to rule over in the Kingdom (Luke 19:12-19). Knowledge of God's ways will not spread immediately Christ is declared King in Jerusalem; the people will travel to Jerusalem in order to find more knowledge about God (Isa. 2:2,3). Recall, too, how the mountain of Dan. 2:35,44 (representing the Kingdom of God) gradually spreads over the earth. It will be the duty of the saints to spread the knowledge of God and therefore His Kingdom.

When Israel was the kingdom of God previously, the duty of the priests was to teach the knowledge of God (Mal. 2:5-7). For this purpose they were placed in various towns throughout Israel. In the more glorious re-establishment of the Kingdom, the saints will take over the role of the priests (Rev. 5:10).

Should Christ come today:

1. The responsible dead will be raised and, along with the responsible living, taken to the judgment seat.
   
   
   
   
2. The responsible wicked will be punished with death, and the righteous given eternal life. Judgment will also be given to the nations who resist Christ.
   
   
3. The righteous will then rule over those people who are then alive, but who are not responsible to God; they will teach them the Gospel as "kings and priests" (Rev. 5:10).
   
   
4. This will last for 1,000 years. During this time all the mortal people will hear the Gospel and therefore be responsible to God. These people will live much longer and happier lives.
   
   
   
   
5. At the end of the Millennium there will be a rebellion against Christ and the saints, which God will put down (Rev. 20:8,9).
   
   
6. At the end of the 1,000 years, all those who have died during that time will be resurrected and judged (Rev. 20:5,11-15).
   
   
7. The wicked amongst them will be destroyed, and the righteous will join us in having eternal life.

The purpose of God with the earth will then have been completed. It will be filled with immortal, righteous beings. God's Name 'Yahweh Elohim' (meaning 'He who will be revealed in a group of mighty ones') will then be fulfilled. Never again will sin, and therefore death, be experienced on earth; the promise that the seed of the serpent would be totally destroyed by being hit in the head, will then have been completely fulfilled (Gen. 3:15). During the Millennium, Christ will have reigned "till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death...And when all things shall be subdued unto him (God), then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him (God) that put all things under him, that God may be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:25-28).

This is "the end, when he (Christ) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father" (1 Cor. 15:24). What will follow in this period when God is "all in all" we are not told; all we know is that we will have eternal life, God's nature, and we will live to glorify and please God. It is presumption to even enquire further into what the state after the Millennium will be like.

An understanding of "the gospel of the kingdom of God" is vital for the salvation of every reader of these words. May we plead with you to re-read this study and look up the Bible passages quoted.

God wants us to be in His Kingdom. His whole purpose was designed for us to have a real part in, rather than just to express, His creative ability. Baptism relates us to the promises concerning this Kingdom. It is hard to believe that baptism, followed by a few years' humble obedience to God's word, can gain us entry to that glorious, eternal age. Yet our faith in God's vast love must be firm. Whatever our short-term problems, surely we have no sensible reason to resist the Gospel's call?

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31).

"The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18).

"Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17).

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