The Millennium: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”[Rev 20:1-3].
The time has finally come when Satan is vanquished and Christ comes to reign as King of King’s and Lord of Lord’s. We are told that the Lords feet will that day touch the Mount of Olives. And the Mount of Olives will be split in two forming a great valley. “On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. It will be a unique day known to the Lord. When evening comes there will be light.”[Zech 14:6-7 NIV]. A living stream will flow out of Jerusalem and flow both into the Mediterranean Sea and also the other way into the Dead Sea. Then we read the wonderful statement that the Lord will be King over the whole earth. There will be topological changes, with the land around Jerusalem being made flat with Jerusalem being raised up above the surrounding countryside. [Zech 14:8-11]. In Ezekiel chapter 43 a wonderful account of what the Jews have looked forward to for thousands of years. The Glory of God returns to the Temple. “Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks toward the east: And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shone with his glory. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to prophesy that the city should be destroyed and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.”[Ezek 43:1-5 KJV].Oh the wonder of it all. The Lord reigning as king over the whole world. We will be with Him. We are told that we will be like the angels [Matt 22:23-33]. However we are not told the jobs we will be doing during Christ’s reign on earth, but we are assured that we will reign with Him. [2 Tim 2:12][Rev 5:10] & [Rev 20:6]. This will include those saved during the Tribulation.
We have seen the devastation of cities recently, with the pictures of the situation in Aleppo. Buildings in rubble, women and children in distress, no operating hospitals, no services of any sort, a total mess. This will not be in just one city but all over the world. There is every indication that nuclear weapons will have been used. We read of Damascus being destroyed and in Zachariah chapter 14 and from verse 12 we have a very clear description of the results of nuclear war on the people involved. But the Word of God says that the Lord will rebuild the ruined cities and restore the ruined and desolate places that have eventuated through the terrible time of the Tribulation and Armageddon.
In the space I have available I can only touch upon the wonders that are to come. The Jews will return to the land of their heritage and God will build them into the leading world power. [Isa 60:1-22][Ezek 39: 23-29]. In the Bible we read in many places that the desolate land will be regenerated [1sa 35:1-10] There will be peace on earth as never before. Israel will be allocated a large area of the Middle East. [Ezek 45:1-8] [Ezek 47:1-23] & [Ezek 48:1-38]. Along the banks of the river flowing from the Temple will be tree’s whose leaves will be used for healing. Israel will be redeemed, [Zech 12:10-13] [Zech 13:1]. Mankind will not learn about war any more: And He [The Lord] shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.[Mic 4:3 KJV]. During the time of the Millennium the past promises to God’s earthly people, the Jews, will be fulfilled. Most of the world will become Christian. Those left of the other part of Abraham’s seed, those of Esau and Ismael’s descendants and possibly the other Muslim and Arab countries like Egypt, who have survived, will be converted to join the Jews in their worship. Which will be with the re-establishment of temple worship and animal sacrifices as a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice. [Isa 19:19-25]. The 1000 years will be a “Golden Age” where there will be no war, no crime, and no hunger. Crops will grow as never before [Amos 9:13-15]. And we, the redeemed Church, will reign with Christ a 1000 years. Will you be there?
Brian D. Papworth
Representative for the Prophetic Witness Movement International in the South Pacific.