The Millenium

Nearly three hundred years ago Isaac Watts wrote a hymn based on Ps98, the title of which is Joy to the World. It has become world famous as a Christmas hymn celebrating the first coming of Christ into the world, but in point of fact Watts did not have Bethlehem and the manger in mind but rather Jerusalem and the throne, for the subject of his hymn was the second advent not the first as the words make clear. JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD IS COME LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING. NO MORE LET SUNS AND SORROWS GROW NOR THORNS INFEST THE GROUND. HE COMES TO MAKE HIS BLESSINGS FLOW FAR AS THE CURSE IS FOUND. HE RULES THE WORLD WITH TRUTH AND GRACE AND MAKES THE NATIONS PROVE THE GLORIES OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WONDERS OF HIS LOVE. The coming of the Messiah to rule and reign upon the earth could not be more aptly described than in the title of this great hymn, ‘JOY TO THE WORLD’. The dawning of a new millennium has raised hopes of a brighter tomorrow for the world that will soon be dashed, for man’s millennium is full of empty promise and impossible dreams. But there is a millennium to come, God’s millennium, at the consummation of history that will bring the utopia mankind longs for on God’s terms. It is this millennium that we shall consider here. 1. THE PERIOD OF THE MILLENNIUM. The Bible leaves us in no doubt about the period of the millennium, it is as its name suggests a period of a thousand years duration, cf Rev20v1-7. The fact that this time period is mentioned no less than six times and stands in contrast here to an indeterminate time period in the same passage designated "a little season" is evidence in support of a literal understanding of it. But before the book of Revelation was ever written the Jewish rabbi’s had concluded on the basis of their study of the Old Testament scriptures that there would be a one thousand-year reign of Messiah upon the earth. 2. THE PURPOSE OF THE MILLENNIUM. The millennial reign of Christ has a fourfold purpose. A. To redeem the saints. Psalm 58 v11 tells us that there is a "reward for righteousness", and during the millennium the Jew the gentile and the church of God will be rewarded. The church was rewarded at the judgement seat of Christ immediately following the rapture, but she will share in Christ’s millennial glory and this must also be considered a reward. The nation of Israel has from of old been promised a reward and this promise will be fulfilled during the millennium, cf Isa 40v10. The gentile nations will be rewarded also at the judgement of the living nations immediately prior to the millennium, cf Mt25v34. B. To redeem creation. After the fall in gen3 god cursed the earth and paradise became a wilderness, the whole of creation suffered as a result of Adam’s sin. Perfectly dependable weather conditions became extreme and uncertain, formerly docile animals became wild, and thorns and weeds appeared for the first time. From then the whole of creation has been groaning awaiting the time of its redemption, cf Rom8v19-22. That time will come with the dawning of God’s millennium. C. To realise prophecy. The millennium will be the fulfilment of four unconditional Old Testament covenants. (i). The abrahamic covenant. (ii). The Palestinian covenant. (iii). The Davidic covenant. (iv). The New covenant. D. To round off the dispensations. The millennium is the seventh and last of the dispensations. 3. THE PLACE OF THE MILENNIUM. Conditions in the millennium will extend over the whole earth, but there will be a particular emphasis upon the land of Palestine and the city of Jerusalem. Israel will have her borders greatly enlarged and for the first time ever in fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham she will possess all the land promised to her in 8-Gen.15.21" class="scriptRef">Gen15v18-21, Obedv17. A great fertile plain will replace the mountainous terrain of Israel and a river will flow east to west from the Mt of Olives into the Mediterranean and Dead seas, and the salty waters of the Dead sea will become pure and fresh, cf Zech14v4&8&10, Ezek 47v8-9&12. The ancient city of Jerusalem will become the worship centre of the world, cf Mic4v1, Isa2v2-3. The city will occupy an elevated cite and will have a circumference of six miles two miles more than at the time of Christ, and it will be called Jehovah Shammah, meaning "the Lord is there", cf Zech14v10, Ezek48v35. 4. THE PEOPLE OF THE MILLENNIUM. There are three distinct companies of people who will enter the millennium. Regenerated Israel’ Israel regenerated, reunited, regathered, and related to Jehovah by marriage, will be there, cf Isa60v14-17, 61v6-7, 62v2-5. Redeemed saints from the tribulation. Those who through the period of the Great Tribulation refused the mark of the beast and received the witness of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists will be there, cf Rev7v9-10&13-14. Resurrected saints of the church age. The church the bride of the lamb will be there, cf 1Cor6v2, 2Tim2v12, Rev2v26-27. 5. THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE MILLENNIUM. There will be a temple in the millennium were the priests descendants of Zadok will serve, cf Ezek40v46, 43v19, 44v15.This will be the seventh and last temple, the others being, - - - (i). The tabernacle of Moses from, 1500-1000bc. (ii). The temple of Solomon from, 1000-586bc. (iii). The temple of Zerubbabel from, 516bc-70ad (This was rebuilt by Herod). (iv). The temple of Christ’s body, cf Jn2v21. (v). The spiritual temple the church, 1Cor3v16-17. (vi). The Tribulational temple, 2Thess2v3-4. (vii).The Millennial temple. But there are several things that were in the tabernacle of Moses and the temples of Solomon, Zerubbabel and the tribulational temple that will not be in the millennial temple. There will be no Vail, for it was torn in two at Calvary. There will be no table of shewbread, for the living Bread will be there. There will be no lampstand, for the light of the world Himself will illuminate it. There will be no ark, for the Sheninah glory will hover over the world as it once did the ark. But what about sacrifice At least four Old Testament passages speak of animal sacrifice during the millennium, Isa56v6-7, 60v7, Jer33v18, Zech14v16-21. The question naturally arises, how can this be when Christ has made a once and for sacrifice for sin on the cross H L Willmington has suggested four reasons why there is animal sacrifice during the millennium. (i). As a reminder of the necessity of the new birth to those born during the millennium. (ii). As an object lesson of the costliness of salvation. (iii). As an example of the awfulness of sin. (iv). As an illustration of the holiness of God. In no sense are they anything other than memorial, and certainly not a return to the Old Testament concept of a covering for sin. 6. THE PROPERTIES OF THE MILLENNIUM. The nature of the millennium will be: A. A time of peace, cf Isa2v4, 11v6-9, Ezek34v25. B. A time of joy, cf Isa9v3-4, 12v3-6, Jer30v18-19. C. A time of holiness, cf Isa61v10, Jer31v23, Joel3v21. D. A time of glory, cf Isa24v23, 40v5, 60v1-9. E. A time of knowledge, Isa11v1-2, Hab2v14. F. A time of harmony, cf Isa11v6-9. G. A time of healthiness, cf Jer30v17. H. A time of freedom, cf Isa14v3-6, Zech9v11-12. I. A time of prosperity, cf Isa4v1, 35v1-2. J. A time of the universal presence of God being manifested, cf Eze 37v27-28, Zech3v9, Mal1v11. 7. THE PRINCE OF THE MILLENNIUM. Daniel speaks of Messiah being a prince, He is also a king, and during the millennium He is coming to rule and reign in righteousness. What a contrast there is between the first and second comings of Christ. A. He came the first time wrapped in swaddling clothes, when he comes again He will be clothed in garments of glory. B. When he came the first time He had nowhere to lay His head, When He comes again He will be heir of all things. C. When He came the first time he was rejected, when He comes again He will be acclaimed. D. At the first advent He was a lowly Saviour acquainted with grief, at the second he will be the mighty God anointed with the oil of gladness. E. At His first coming He was dressed in a scarlet robe, at His second He will be clothed with His vesture dipped in blood. F. When he came the first time he was smote with a reed, When He comes again He will rule the nations with a rod of iron. G. At the time of His first coming they bowed to Him in mockery, when He comes again every knee shall bow in submission. H. The first time he wore the crown of thorns, the second time He will wear the regal crown of authority. I. At His first coming they nailed His feet, at his second coming His feet shall stand upon the Mt of Olives. J. The first time he had no form nor beauty, the second time he shall be as the fairest of ten thousand. K. The first time they laid Him in a tomb, the second time he will sit upon a throne. The King is coming to receive His kingdom, it will be a kingdom in this world, a transformed world, where he shall reign in righteousness for a thousand years.