The Millennial Reign

In the recent weeks we have read several passages that give us some insight into the Millennial Reign, (also called: the millennium, the Messianic Kingdom, the 1000-Year Reign of Christ, the world to come, the Kingdom Age.) Prophecy can be a point of heated debate for many Christians. There are multiple views regarding this prophesied time period, and it seems that the views are created around the beliefs that the Word is absolute, infallible, and literal OR NOT. While there is plenty of symbolism, imagery, and a variety of other writing techniques used in the Bible, God intended His Word to be interpreted very literally. There are dozens of prophecies of Christ's first coming, all of which are were fulfilled exactly as stated. We can expect the same results from the prophesies of His second coming.

There are seven periods of human history described in the Bible that are distinct from one another in the way that God uniquely interacts with humanity during that time period. We probably have all heard that we are currently in the Church Age or the Age of Grace. Most Biblical scholars, who believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible, believe that this age will last approximately 2,000 years and that the coming Messianic Kingdom will last 1,000 years, during which time Jesus will personally rule and reign over the earth. And since we are somewhere near the end of that 2,000-year period, I am excited to take a look into what our near future holds. (Hosea 5:15-6:2)

There is much to say about Christ's return to earth, and while I won't focus on that, just keep in mind that He isn't happy about the state of affairs when He arrives. Old Testament prophets portray the Lord returning in wrath: roaring from the heavens, filled with indignation, like a consuming fire, a day of trouble, distress, destruction, and desolation. When He returns, Christ will pour out His wrath on the enemies of God, establish His reign over the earth, and manifest His glory throughout the earth.

Many people think that the Millennial Reign is only addressed in Revelation 20. We can find some important details about this time period from the last book of the Bible.

1. Satan will be bound during this time period so that Jesus can rule without enemy interference.

2. The time period will last for 1,000 years.

3. At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be loosed and lead a great revolt against God, but it will be dealt with swiftly and utterly.

What an amazing time it will be to have righteous rule upon the earth! No more corrupt politicians, no more Luciferian, one world, anti-human policies!

Let's take a look at some of the descriptions of this time from the Old Testament prophets.

The prophet Hosea describes the Millenium as a time when God fulfills all the promises He made to His chosen people. (Hosea 1:10-11, 2:14-20, 14:4-7) All of Israel's enemies will be destroyed (Jeremiah 30:11), and Judah and Israel will be united in peace. (Jeremiah 3:17-18) The world-wide Messianic Kingdom will be characterized by its peaceful nature and being blessed with righteousness and justice. (Isaiah 2:2, 2:4, 9:6-7, 11:4-5, 42:3-4)

Christ will occupy the throne of David in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3, Jeremiah 3:17-18) He will serve as king, priest, legislator, and judge. (Isaiah 33:17-22, Haggai 2:23, Zechariah 6:12-13) As "The Righteous Branch," Jesus will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. (Jeremiah 23:5) Jesus will be addressed as Yahweh-Tsidkenu, meaning "The Lord is our righteousness." (Jeremiah 23:6) Israel will be the prime nation in the world as Christ rules the nations from there. (Isaiah 2:2-3, 49:22-23, 60:1-62:7, Ezekiel 39:21) The "Redeemed" will rule with the Lord as princes!! (Isaiah 32:1)

We rejoice at the prospect of this coming kingdom because God's glory and holiness will be manifested throughout the earth. (Isaiah 40:3-5, 52:13-15, 61:3, 66:18) Holiness will abound and an attitude of joy and praise will prevail. Jerusalem will live in peace and prosperity as the Lord pours out showers of blessings upon Israel. (Zechariah 8:8, 12, Ezekiel 34:26-29) The mourning of the Jewish people will be turned into joy and the Lord returns to dwell in their midst. (Jeremiah 31:13, Zechariah 2:10)

And the ransomed of the Lord will return, and come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10

There is much said about the redemptive nature of this time period; both for humans, animals, and the earth. (Isaiah 4:4) The land of Israel will no longer be a place of desolation, but a place of abundance. (Isaiah 62:3-5, 4:2, 35:6b-7) The animal kingdom will be restored to its original perfection. There won't be poisonous animals, and all animals will become herbivorous. The animal kingdom will live together in perfect peace with each other and with Mankind. (Isaiah 11:6-9, 65:25, Hosea 2:18)

Humans will multiply and live long healthy lives during these 1,000 years. (Jeremiah 30:19) Isaiah 65 gives us plenty of insight into the human living condition. Lifespans will be expanded to the lifetime of a tree and anyone who dies at the age of 100 will be considered a youth. The human body will function the way it was designed without physical handicaps or disease. There won't be any homelessness or hungry people because everyone will have his own home and vineyard. (Micah 4:4)

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb will shout with joy. Isaiah 35:5-6)

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 cone mourneth for his only son, And shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zechariah 12:10

Believing Jews will be regathered from all over the world (Zechariah 9:14-17) and will repent of the rejection of their Messiah and will enter into a new covenant with God that will be written on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34 and 32:37-40, Ezekiel 11:19-20, 16:60-62). The streets of Jerusalem will be filled with “the voice of joy and the voice of gladness…” (Jeremiah 33:11).

There will be a Temple built in Jersualem which will serve as the worship center of the world. (Isaiah 2:2-3, 56:6-8, 60:7b, 13, Jeremiah 30:18, Haggai 2:7, Zechariah 1:16, Ezekiel 37:26-27) The Millennial Temple will be much larger than any of the previous Jewish temples, and the Holy of Holies in the Temple will not contain the ark of the covenant. (Jeremiah 3:16) And, amazingly, the glory of God will hover over Jerusalem like a canopy, (Isaiah 4:5) and the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:9)

God's providence will be upon the entire earth. He will pour out His blessings on the Gentiles as well as Israel. (Hosea 2:23) The Gentiles will know that God is with the Jewish people. (Zechariah 8:23) Much is said about the land of Eqypt being punished for its treatment of Israel. (Ezekiel 29:9-16)

All the nations will be required to send delegations to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16) The nations that fail to recognize the Feast will suffer a drought upon their land. (Zechariah 14:17-18)

I don't know about you, but I cannot wait for the Lord's return!

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is". Psalm 63:1-2

"My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God". Psalm 84:2

Below are some longer passages that give insight into the Millennial Reign.

In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. Isaiah 19

And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 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. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord. Isaiah 65

Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. Psalm 72

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. 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. 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. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness Unto The Lord; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 14