4. What Is the Millennium?

1. According to Bible Prophecy, the Millennium is a period of one thousand years which will begin when Christ Jesus returns to set up God’s Kingdom on this earth. This is the same Kingdom for which Jesus instructed His disciples to pray, and for which so many Christian have prayed these past two thousand years. “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’” (Matt. 6:9-10). This Millennium will be the most glorious epoch for mankind since Adam and Eve lived joyfully in the perfection of the Garden of Eden.

2. Man has always been longing for a Utopia, where there will be no more wars, starvation, sickness, crime, destruction, death, or evil of any kind, where everyone will live in peace and extend benevolence towards their neighbor. Mankind with their many forms of kingdoms and governments have failed to accomplish any of these goals despite their good intentions. Jer. 8:11 expresses well the world’s longing but frustrated desire for harmony: “’Peace, peace,’ they say, but there is no peace.“ There will never be peace on this earth until the “Prince of Peace” returns to take total control of earth’s affairs (Isa. 9:6).

3. We read in Isaiah 55:11: “So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” On the basis of this promise from God’s own mouth, let us consider some prophecies leading up to and during this promised millennium.

4. We read in Daniel 2:35 of a prophetic vision that the prophet had in regard to the great image that represented all the kingdoms of this world: “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.” In Daniel 2:45 we are told: “This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands -- a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. ‘The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy.’" This Rock is Christ’s Kingdom that will totally destroy all earthly forms of government and will fill the whole earth. We read in Hebrews 12:26-27: “At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken -- that is, created things -- so that what cannot be shaken may remain.”

5. In Isaiah 9:6 it tells us that the government shall be upon Christ’s shoulder. Verse 7 goes on to say, “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He (Christ) will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” Psalm 2:6-9 states, ”I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, ‘I (God) have installed my King (Jesus) on Zion, My holy hill. You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.’”

6. Isa. 11: 1-5 tells us: “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch (Jesus) will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him -- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -- and He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what He sees with His eyes, or decide by what He hears with His ears; but with righteousness He will judge the needy, with justice He will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth; with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be His belt and faithfulness the sash around His waist.”

7. Daniel 7:13-14 describes this Kingdom further: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. He (Jesus) was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.“

8. There will be those who will assist Jesus in this work of rulership. We read of them in Rev. 2:26, 27: “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations -- He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery -- just as I have received authority from my Father.” The overcoming Church will also have positions as judges. 1 Cor. 6:2-3 tells us: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? ..... Do you not know that we will judge angels?” Yes, the overcoming church will be joint-heirs with Jesus in His Kingdom. Paul speaks of this promise in Romans 8:16-17: “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” Rev. 20:6 continues: “Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” Daniel 7:27 prophesies: “Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints (the Church), the people of the Most High. His (Christ’s) kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey Him.”

9. A promise was made to faithful Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3: “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Jesus was the one referred to in this promise and the faithful church will have the privilege of assisting Him in this world-wide Kingdom work. Read Gal. 3:16, 29.

10. Adam sinned in the Garden, plunging all his posterity into death. He and mother Eve were shut out of the perfect conditions in which they had lived in this Garden of the Lord’s own planting. Acts 3:21 speaks of Jesus returning to restore all things to the condition that existed prior to the earth being cursed: “He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets.” (Read Gen. 3:17-19.)

1. Isaiah 35:1-7: “The desert and parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.’ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass, and reeds and papyrus will grow.”

2. Isaiah 65:17 and 25: “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” “’The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,’ says the LORD.”

3. Rev. 22:1-3: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him.” (Read Ezek. 47:1-12.) Isaiah 11:6-9: “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will not harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as water covers the sea.”

4. Rev. 21:1-4: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’"

1. Satan will no longer be the problem he is in this present Gospel Age. 2 Cor. 4:4 tells us, he is now the “god of this world,. and he has blinded the minds” of men. Eph. 2:2 says, he is at this time “the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” This will not be so in Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. We read in Rev. 20:1-3, “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.”

2. Since the Church will be raised in the “first resurrection” (Rev. 20:6), the world will be raised afterwards from their graves in a second resurrection. This is stated by Jesus in John 5:28-29,“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out -- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be judged.”

3. Isaiah 26:9 tells us, “When Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.” It will be the task of Christ and His Church to instruct all mankind in the ways of righteousness. The whole Millennium will be a time of learning righteousness without the hindrance and deceptions of Satan to interfere and divert mankind. Both the prophets Isaiah and Habakkuk prophesied, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14; Isa. 11:9). Those who are willing to learn and let righteousness rule their hearts and minds will be blessed with eternal life on this earth and become sons of God. Rev 21:6-7 says, “To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”

4. While it is God’s desire that all would be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:3), the Bible indicates that this will not be the case: “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars -- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death" (Rev. 21:8). Note that occurs at the end of the thousand-year Kingdom for these did not overcome while those overcomers in verse 7 did.

5. Despite all that Christ and His Church will do to teach mankind righteousness, as the above text and Rev. 20:7-9 show, not all will choose to accept righteousness. Satan will be released to test the hearts of all with his last deception: “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 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. 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. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown” (Rev. 20:7-10). This “lake” is symbolic of total destruc-tion.

6. It seems hard to believe that anyone would revert back to the ways of Satan and unrighteousness after being exposed to the blessings and benefits of the kingdom, but sadly the Scriptures show this to be true. Our hope is that this will not be a large group. Those who follow Satan at that time will be destroyed, along with him, in the Second Death from which there is no return. Rev. 20:14-15 goes on to tell us that at that time death and the grave will also be done away: “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

7. The purpose of redemption was to bring mankind back to perfection and harmony with their Creator. This is well expressed in Isaiah 35:8-10: “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” (See also Isa. 51:11.)

8. What a grand day that will be! Psalm 150 might well express the excitement of that day: “Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.”