The Day of the Lord
Picking up where we left off in lesson 8, where we saw the Day of the Lord fleshed out with Christ’s return to conquer His enemies at Armageddon. The Revelation supplies us with definitive language, removing any doubt of Christ’s victorious return to earth. The armies of earth who came to fight Christ are destroyed by the sword that comes out of His mouth (Rev 19:15-21). Antichrist and the false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire (Rev19:20), and an angel, independent of all that has been happening with Christ, descends from heaven, seizes Satan, binds him, and throws him alive into the pit and seals it for 1000 years (Rev 20:1-3).
Revelation 20:1 explains this is a powerful angel, specifically empowered by God for the job of overcoming Satan and binding him with chains. The “pit” where this mighty angel throws Satan is not the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were thrown (Rev 20:10). This is a unique place of waiting, it is an actual place of confined, chained incarceration, with absolutely no communication with, or influence over, the outside world being possible. During the coming 1000 year Kingdom reign of Christ on earth, Satan shall have absolutely no influence over mankind.
The Day of the Lord is an eventful day, one that marks a sovereign and irreversible shift in history. The world will never be the same. For the first time in human history, the Lord Jesus Christ shall seat Himself on His throne on planet earth.
Israel and Jerusalem Restored
Matthew 25:31 tells us that when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
The hidden and protected remnant of Israel comes out of hiding and Isaiah’s prophecy will be fulfilled. Isaiah 59:20, a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, declares the LORD. The Lord’s words through Ezekiel 37:27-28 shall be visibly fulfilled, My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.
As Christ is seated upon His throne in Jerusalem, the Lord will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn (Zechariah 12:10). Israel’s repentance shall be great as they all shall recognise Jesus Christ their Messiah.
The remnant of Israel (Zch 13:8-9; Rev 12:6-16) throughout the tribulation period shall be fully restored, cleansed and surrendered to their King. On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness (Zechariah 13:1). The apostle Paul’s teaching of this time shall be completed in Israel. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, the Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob; 27 and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins (Romans 11:26-27). As we know, God is a covenant keeping God, and this covenant is no exception.
Zechariah foresaw on that day his (Christ’s) feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east… (Zechariah 14:4). The house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward (Ezekiel 39:22). So the entire ethnic nation of Israel is fully restored under King Jesus, never to wander away again.
Added to restored Israel shall be the 144,000 Jewish evangelist men (Rev 7:1-8; 14:3b). They had been sealed by God and have lived through the entire tribulation. They shall witness the return of Christ with the armies of heaven, and they shall simply live on into the kingdom as Jews of Israel, having never experienced death.
The sheep and goat judgement
Following Satan’s incarceration and the restoration of Israel under King Jesus comes the sheep and goat judgement that Christ explained in Matthew 25:31-46. To enable this gathering of people, Mark 13:27 tells us that Jesus will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. I assume that, simultaneously, other angels are sent out to gather the surviving wicked who received the 666 mark of the beast during the tribulation (cf. Jude :14-16; Heb 10:12-13).
Then Jesus will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (Mat 25:31-32). This is speaking of all peoples of all nations on earth still alive at the end of the tribulation at Christ’s return. People from around the entire world, who were not part of the battle of Armageddon or the battle at Jerusalem, and somehow survived the horrors of the tribulation judgements.
Then King Jesus shall place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:33-34). Those called sheep are the elect gentiles who have not been martyred for their faith in Jesus and have not received the 666 mark of the beast. These, says Jesus, are rewarded by joining other saints entering the 1000 year Kingdom on earth which Jesus is going to reign over.
The goats who are placed on Jesus’ left, are those who either took the 666 mark of the beast, or, who hid from antichrist and survived without the mark, yet did not believe in Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Matthew 25:41 tells of their doom, then he will say to those on his left, depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. There will be no negotiation, no challenging of Jesus judgement, and no changing of Jesus mind for these people. All opportunities of grace have expired. Only the fearful wrath of eternal fire is certain for these people.
The 7 month clean-up
Due to the enormity of human death and dead bodies, the birds spoken of in Revelation 19:17-18, will not be able to devour them all.
Therefore, the first job for restored Israel will be to bury the remaining dead bodies in their land. Ezekiel 39:11-13 explains, on that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the sea. It will block the travellers, for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried. It will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. All the people of the land will bury them, and it will bring them renown on the day that I show my glory, declares the Lord God.
Even with the whole nation working in the burial project, Israel still takes 7 months to bury the dead. Not to mention the terrible pollution in the rivers, lakes, and oceans from the death during the tribulation judgements.
The 75 Day Interim
When Daniel prophesied of the end of days, he included some maths. Daniel 12:11-13, from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate (the mid-point of the 7 year tribulation) is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives (arrives at the Kingdom period) at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end (the end of the tribulation). And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days (the end of the present counting of days before the 1000 year kingdom begins).
The blessing spoken of at the start of verse 12, is entry into the 1000 year, millennial Kingdom. Daniel says there shall be 1290 days from the mid-point of the tribulation to its end. But that’s more than 3 ½ years which is 1260 days.
He then says there shall be 1335 days from the mid-point of the tribulation to the kingdom. 1335 – 1260 = 75 days. 75 days total difference, or interim gap, between the end of the tribulation and the beginning of the Kingdom period.
There may well be an overlap effect; involving the 7 month burial period and the 75 day interim, reaching from the Day of the Lord through into the beginning of the Kingdom period. However, there is this interim period of time which will accommodate, in part, the early reconstruction of the planet surface and initial rebuilding of Jerusalem in preparation for the Kingdom. Obviously, due to manual labour being used in the burial program, Jesus is going to limit the use of His supernatural power during this interim period.
Remember also, that the surface of the planet has already been levelled during bowl judgement 7. Revelation 16:19-20, …the cities of the nations fell… and every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. Earth’s landscape will look very different. With the total collapse of the world’s cities, the rebuild program is going to be extensive and impressive. Depending upon the extent to which Christ uses His supernatural power, human and technological advancements will accelerate at never before seen rates. In a very short time the earth will produce an abundance of food. More on the Kingdom to follow.
The 1st Resurrection
Revelation 20:4b-5, …also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
All those who were killed during the tribulation for their faith in Christ, who were not included in the armies of heaven that descended with Christ in Revelation 19:14, are resurrected. These are unique believers as they are not included in the New Testament bride of Christ, yet they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4). During what is going to be the most tortured period of human history, they remained faithful. As they had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands (Rev 20:4), they are included as saints who shall reign with Christ. Theirs’ is not a place of servitude, or in any way of second importance, or of less blessedness in the Kingdom. These tribulation saints shall be from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes (Rev 7:9). This shall be a spectacular resurrection exploding with joy and praise. These precious saints are the recipients of God’s mercy during the wrath of God being unleashed upon the world. These resurrected tribulation saints will know more than any other, that mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13). The rejoicing at this 1st resurrection shall be great!
When John writes that the rest of the dead did not come to life in verse 5, he is referring to all the people who died during the tribulation carrying the 666 mark of the beast, including all who died without faith in Christ. There will no doubt be people in isolated and remote parts of world who will manage to avoid antichrist. Yet they will not respond to the 144,000 evangelists (Rev 7:3-8; 9:4; 14:1-5), or the flying angels. These 3 angels take the gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people (Rev 14:6-11). Not a single person on the face of the earth shall escape hearing the gospel. Yet, sadly, many will reject Jesus Christ.
At this time also, the Lord shall resurrect the Old Testament saints. Ezekiel 37:12-14 provides some details, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel… And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord (cf. Dan 12:1-2).
These Old Testament saints shall experience the fulfilment of every outstanding Old Testament covenant promise. This brings us to the long awaited Kingdom.
The Millennium (Christ’s 1000 year Kingdom)
The world often dreams of a utopian environment, a place of peace, pleasure, and love. There have been books written in hope of it, songs composed of it, poems inspired by it, movies made of it, and there are even online games with the theme of utopia. Something within the human heart wishes the world was different and better than it presently is. We wish for a paradise that’s the opposite of the world we know today. The world as we know it has been disfigured by sin. Rebellion against God’s authority has spoiled the earth and everyone who lives on it, and we all feel the pain of it.
Just imagine a world where everything is always right, true and just, with no crime, no war, and no fear. Where every part of society, business, family life, and education, was orderly, safe, and harmonious. Think of this world with total and lasting peace built on righteousness. A world where relationships are loving, forgiving, and long lasting. Where differences get resolved calmly. Where joy and good health is everywhere, with people living long and contented lives.
Imagine no natural disasters, where weather is dependable, where wild animals and lambs lie together in peace. Where not only wild animals play with children, but the children lead the wild animals. Imagine having a global abundance of food and fresh drinking water, where there is no pollution or waste problem.
A world ruled by one perfect ruler. Where only glorified, perfected people serve as governors of countries, who carry out the ruler’s will and purposes without hidden agendas or corruption. Imagine a world where sin is almost never seen and is not a problem. And if sin does occur it’s dealt with instantly and firmly. Where justice is truly righteous.
Ever since the garden of Eden, God has been promising such a future kingdom. A kingdom where that which was lost in Eden shall be restored and much more added. Prophets have predicted it, the world has cried out for it, the church has prayed for it, but it won’t come until Jesus Christ returns to establish such an earthly kingdom.
I speak of course, of the coming consummation of the earthly Kingdom of God. The 1000 year millennial reign of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords shall initiate an eternal sovereign reign on earth.
In our walk along the path of God’s chronology of His planned future, the justice which God’s people have been crying out for finally arrives. God works it all out through His Son Jesus Christ in what the Bible describes as the tribulation, culminating in the Day of the Lord. With Satan and all his evil demons imprisoned, and every nonbelieving person also incarcerated, Christ initiates His earthly Kingdom.
All of God’s believing people are now gathered from all ages and all nations ready for God’s Son to establish His long awaited Kingdom on earth. This is NOT simply a spiritual kingdom, but a divine physical Kingdom on planet earth.
Here, Jesus will rule on the throne of His Jewish ancestor King David, as the Sovereign over His Kingdom. Jesus declared of Himself in Revelation 22:16, I am the root and the descendant of David. Luke 1:26 tells us that the angel Gabriel was sent from God to tell the young virgin girl called Mary of the Son she would soon give birth to. Gabriel explained that He (Jesus) will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:32-33).
Israel shall be restored (Isa 11:9-12) and become the prime nation as Jeremiah 3:17 predicted. At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. The planet shall be governed through Jesus as Zechariah 14:9 said, and the LORD will be king over all the earth. (cf. Gen 15:18; Dt 7:6-9; 2Sa 7:12-16; 1Ki 8:22-24; Jer 33:14-16).
Jerusalem will be the governing city positioned on an elevated piece of land where Jesus’ throne shall reside. The Prophet Micah clarifies this in Micah 4:2, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Old Testament saints shall rule as under-shepherds of King Jesus. Daniel 7:27 sets the program out for Israel; and the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. So, this resurrection of all Old Testament saint is critical to the integrity of God keeping His promises and the future operation of Israel in Christ’s Kingdom.
Similarly, New Testament saints shall also rule as under-shepherds of Jesus in this Kingdom. Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? 1 Corinthians 6:2 (cf. 2Ti 2:12; Rev 2:26; 3:21).
Likewise, the disciples/apostles shall rule as under-shepherds of Jesus in this Kingdom. When Jesus was explaining to the disciples how difficult it is to enter the Kingdom of God, He said in Matthew 19:28, …in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me (the disciples) will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The Consummation of the New Covenant
At this time Christ brings to fruition every outstanding covenant promise made with Israel, including the New Covenant which was ratified by Christ on the Cross (Luk 22:20; 1Co 11:25). The prophet Jeremiah looked past Christ’s mission to the cross, and says the ultimate consummation of the New Covenant is in the distant future. Jeremiah 31:31, 33 Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah… 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people (cf. Eze 37:26-28; Isa 59:20-21).
Remember, the New Covenant is primarily focused on Israel. We Gentiles of the church have secondarily been grafted into it (Romans 11:17-19). As with all of God’s covenants, they are based upon the integrity of God’s “I will” declarations.
According to the New Covenant, it will be God who pours out on Israel a spirit of grace, and Israel will plead for mercy as those predestined and energised by the Lord to call upon the mercy of God. This shall happen because the Lord will implant within them an awakening to the fact that they pierced Christ. Their repentance will be initiated and empowered by the sovereignty of God in fulfilment of His eternal will. In Daniel 4:35, we read Nebuchadnezzar’s statement of how this happens, following the Lord restoring him after 7 years of living like a wild animal. He does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” God’s sovereign will and power shall bring to perfect fulfilment in the millennial Kingdom every covenantal promise ever made to Israel. God’s holy integrity guarantees this.
So, all the surviving remnant of Israel are saved, and restored as a nation under the new covenant with their redeemer, King Jesus. The 1/3 remnant of Israel, the 144,000 evangelist men, plus the survivors of the tribulation who survived the goat and sheep judgement. All these shall enter the 1000 year earthly millennial Kingdom with Jesus as King.
Old Testament Covenants Fulfilled
The New Covenant is simply one of many covenants God made with His Old Testament people which shall come to full execution. All spiritual, physical, and land promises within Old Testament covenants shall find their literal fulfillment based on God’s gracious will. The Lord declared to Israel through the mouth of Moses in Deuteronomy 7:6-9, for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.
God’s selection of Israel and His unique covenant relationship with Israel has never been based on Israel’s performance or worthiness. Yes, the way God interacted with Israel has varied in accordance with Israel’s obedience or disobedience. But the covenant relationship with Israel itself remains, and it waits for ultimate fulfillment in every detail.
God will fulfil His covenant land promise to Abraham. Genesis 15:18, On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates…” The Lord will give the promised land in full to Israel in the Millennial Kingdom.
The Davidic Covenant of 2 Samuel chapter 7, establishes the eternal rule of David’s line, with its ultimate fulfilment in the coming of Jesus Christ. The Lord spoke to King David through the prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 saying, …I will raise up your offspring after you (Solomon), who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 …and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever… 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever (cf. Jer 33:14-16).
Solomon proclaimed at the dedication of the temple he built in 1 Kings 8:22-24, …there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; 24 you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day (cf. 2Ch 6:14).
Paul explained in Galatians 3:17 that the law, which came 430 years afterward (that is, after Abraham), does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. Paul was confident that the Lord would fulfil the covenant He made with Abraham and David without any need to reinterpret or spiritualise it. The covenant promises stand without question because of God’s holy integrity.
Characteristics of the Kingdom
The 1000 year period spoken of in the first 7 verses of Revelation 20, is a literal 1000 year period. This is as certain as when God created the world in 6 literal, 24 hour days. It is as certain as the 3 days between Jesus’ death and resurrection. God meant what He said. This 1000 year period is mentioned 6 times in 7 verses (:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) as if to reinforce the literal nature of the Holy Spirit’s intended meaning in His authorship.
Christ shall reign for these 1000 years over a restored earth, but it is NOT a re-created earth, because it still carries the marks of sin and wrath incurred during the tribulation. Although the Day of the Lord ends human history as we know it and the millennial Kingdom shall be wonderful, it still cannot be compared to the upcoming eternal state.
However, the Millennial Kingdom shall be wonderful and beyond anything we have experienced. First and foremost, Jesus the Lord will be king over all the earth… (Zec 14:9).
Society shall be safe for young and old, with no need to hide for fear of harm. Society shall function in a much more open fashion as Zechariah describes. Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets (Zec 8:4-5). And it (Jerusalem) shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security (Zec 14:11).
While there shall be many nations present in the Kingdom, the prime, governing nation shall be Israel under the rulership of King Jesus. Daniel prophesied that …to him (Jesus) was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed (Dan 7:13-14).
Judah and Israel reunified
At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. 18 In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel (Reunification of Israel), and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers for a heritage (Jer 3:17-18).
Repopulation of the earth
No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed (Isa 65:20).
- Israel, the tribulation survivors, and the 144,000 Jewish men shall all be able to marry and have families.
- Infant mortality shall cease. No more abortions. No more euthanasia of old people.
- There shall still be death, but people shall live much longer.
- There, sin will only occur occasionally, and it shall be judged immediately – more on this shortly.
- They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands (Isa 65:21-22). Land squatters shall no longer exist. No longer will people steel land of any kind from others. Those who build and farm the land shall enjoy the benefits of their property and work for a very long time.
- Business endeavours shall prosper. Productive living shall be normal. Horticulture shall flourish. People will experience high productivity and satisfaction from their work.
- They shall not labour in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them (Isaiah 65:23). There will be no more natural, social, or economic disasters to ruin lives.
- Christ shall rule with righteous justice. For the few who sin, Christ will deal with it immediately. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins (Isa 11:3-5). Sin will carry the ultimate penalty of death. Justice for sin shall be right, fair, just, and swift. These people shall go to the holding place called hades and wait for the 2nd resurrection to the Great White Throne Judgement which follows the Millennial Kingdom.
- King Jesus will not base His judgement simply on hearsay but on what He knows to be true. He shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. Neither evidence or witnesses shall be required (Jer 23:5). The King shall make His rulings based on His infinite and perfectly accurate knowledge of the sinner’s heart and the facts of the events. This shall NOT apply to the New Testament saints, the tribulation saints, or the Old Testament saints, as they will have had their ability to sin removed.
- God’s temple shall be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Acts 15:16 After this I (Jesus) will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it. Zechariah 6:12-13 adds, and say to him (:11 Joshua, the son of Jehozadak), ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch (Jesus, Zec 3:8): for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honour, and shall sit and rule on his throne…
Micah 4:2 expands on this, and many nations shall come, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Religion shall not be a begrudged duty for most – they shall be able to enter the temple in Jerusalem and have counsel with the King of kings and Lord of lords.
- The curse of Genesis 3 shall be lifted. Physically, the horticultural blessings of Eden shall be restored. The human and animal kingdoms shall live in harmony with each other. Isaiah 11:6-9 tells us that the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
- There shall be an abundance of food for which people will praise God. Joel 2:25-26 explains, I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. 26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, People shall praise God for His abundant supply of food – gratitude.
- Good health shall prevail. Even the surviving saints who enter the Kingdom damaged from the tribulation shall be healed. Isaiah 29:18-19, In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. 19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord. Depression and all forms of mental health problems shall be a thing of the past. Isaiah 35:10, everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
- It shall be a time of intimate relationship and provision by King Jesus. Isaiah 65:24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. Although Jesus is living on earth, people will still pray to Him. Remember also, that people will be able to travel to Jerusalem to seek an audience with their King. This Kingdom period is when people shall have a personal relationship with the Lord which will be so close that He will anticipate and provide for their every need in advance (cf. Isa 58:9; Mat 6:8, 32).
Conclusion
The Millennial Kingdom shall be a unique time on planet earth. With Satan, demons, and rebellious unbelievers gone, God’s people will willingly and joyfully obey and worship King Jesus.
There is obviously going to be governmental and social structure flowing down from King Jesus through Israel to the rest of the world. Leadership will not be challenged as they will rule with perfected righteousness. Submission will be a joyful expression of worship. Gratitude for the abundant supply of every needed thing will flow naturally and without complaint. Peace and unity within human society, marriages, families, and right through to the animal kingdom shall be the normal pattern of life.
For only the second time in human history, perfect health will be experienced by all. Complaining will be rare and will stand out as the terrible thing it is as King Jesus provides an abundance of everything in life. Worship shall flow as freely and naturally as breathing. True holy living shall be the common experience and not thought of as being strange or restrictive.
Human repopulation of planet earth shall be rapid. Security within the family shall be absolute. Divorce shall be unheard of. In all aspects of all relationships, a righteous reflection of Jesus’ character shall be normal.
Indeed, we believers who live now have much to look forward to. Our hope should be strengthened, our sense of security enriched, and our longing for the return of Jesus in the clouds to rapture His church heightened. The rapture is the next great event on God’s calendar, triggering all that must follow leading up to the Kingdom with Jesus Christ reigning supreme.
Come Lord Jesus!
