The Why and the What “The 1000 Year Dividing Line” Revelation 20:1-6 FBC Canton, Sunday AM, September 12, 2021 – Bro. Mike Roberson

Introduction: God’s Kingdom will come; His will be done on earth just as it is in Heaven. Luke 11

How do we know that God will rule on this earth literally? Because we take God’s Word seriously! Why would we do that? Because Jesus told us to!

See, we simply trust that God will do what He says He will do!

Daniel 2:44 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

Slides from Chuck Missler Revelation 22

1993 While many do not trust what God has said, we do! Let’s stand and read and pray for God’s Kingdom to come!

I. Satan sealed for 1000 years. v. 1-3 a. Satan is not bound now, but He will be. Ephesians 2:2, Matthew 4:8-9

i. All God needs is a key chain! ii. An unnamed angel.

1. Not a mighty angel. 2. Not a strong angel. 3. Not a named angel. 4. Not the angel of the Lord.

a. Just a regular angel. Satan is no match for God or His angels of light!

b. You cannot bind Satan, but God can! b. Abyss is bottomless: the fallen angel will always fall.

i. He is laid hold of. ii. He is bound. iii. He is cast into it. iv. He is shut up into it. v. He is sealed into it. vi. He is silenced in it. vii. Abyss: , fem. noun from a (1), an intens., and buthós

(1037), deep. Abyss, an extremely deep place. It occurs only twice outside the book of Revelation (Rom 10:7, simply the abode of the dead; Luke 8:31, the prison destined for evil spirits). In Rev 9:1,2; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1,3, it is a prison in which evil powers are confined and out of which they can at times be let loose. It is not the lake of fire (Rev 20:2,10); nor is Satan regarded as being cast into this prison forever, but only to be so cast for one thousand years (Rev 20:1,2). (from The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament © 1992 by AMG International, Inc. Revised Edition, 1993)

c. The fallen angel attempts to make others fall through deception. John 8:44-45 44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

1. He will deceive no more for 1000 years. He brings all who listen to his lies down.

a. Deception is only detected when the truth is compared to it.

b. If you do not know the truth, you will never detect the lies. c. If you do not read God’s absolute truth, you will never be

free from Satan’s lies. d. You do not get free from Satan’s lies by focusing on your

sin, you only get free from Satan’s lies by focusing on the Word of God’s washing with the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification in your life! Ephesians 5:22-33

ii. He will be released from it only to go into the lake of fire. II. Saints reign with Jesus for 1000 years. v. 4-6

a. Enthroned with Jesus. Revelation 1:6, I Corinthians 6:2-3 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

b. Resurrected with Jesus. i. The first resurrection includes:

1. Jesus at the grave. I Corinthians 15:20 2. Others resurrected on that day: Matthew 27:52-53

3.

4.

c. Blessed by Jesus. Isaiah 2:4

Pictures from Johnny Hunt’s Revelation commentary. Conclusion: Which side of the 1000 year line will you be on?

I. WHAT THE MILLENNIUM IS. Chuck Smith

A. A 1,000 year reign of divine government on earth by the Lord and His saints. 1. Satan will be bound. 2. His host in the pit. 3. Beast and false prophet in lake of fire.

B. Reign of righteousness in contrasts to sin. II. PURPOSE OF REIGN.

A. From God's side. 1. Public earthly honoring of His son.

a. Phil. "Where God hath highly exalted Him." 2. Fulfilling of God's promise to His Son.

a. Luke 1:32 "He shall be great and He shall be called the Son of the highest and the Lord shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David." b. Ps. 2:8,9. c. Ps. 110:1,2.

3. Final divine trial of sinful men. a. Does man desire God's righteous rule? b. Looking for perfect government. c. They really hate it. Revolt at end of 1,000.

4. God's answer to prayer of saints, "Thy kingdom come." B. From Christ's side.

1. Bestow upon meek of earth the inheritance. He loved to promise them. Matthew chapter 5 - "Blessed are the meek." 2. He receives the kingdom for which He has patiently waited.

C. From our side. 1. Come into state of indescribable blessedness.

a. Earth changed. 1. Isa. 35.

D. From nations and men who survived tribulation. 1. 1,000 years under iron rod sup.

E. From Creation. 1. Curse of sin removed. Romans 8. a. Wolf and lamb feed together. Isa. 65. b. Lion eats straw.

David Guzik :: Study Guide for Revelation 20

SATAN, SIN AND DEATH ARE FINALLY ELIMINATED A. Satan bound for a thousand years.

1. (Rev 20:1) A nameless angel comes to bind Satan with a great chain. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

a. An angel coming down from heaven: The angel that will subdue Satan is anonymous. It is not Jesus Himself, nor is it Michael or Gabriel or any other high-ranking angel.

i. “The final importance of Satan is perhaps indicated in the fact that it is not the Father who deals with him, nor the Christ, but only an unnamed angel.” (L. Morris)

b. An angel coming down from heaven: This is a dramatic declaration that Satan is not God’s opposite or equal; and that God could easily stop Satan’s activity at any time. Yet God allows Satan to continue, because even in his evil, he indirectly serves the purposes of God.

2. (Rev 20:2-3) Satan is imprisoned for 1,000 years. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

a. Laid hold... bound him... cast him... shut him up... set a seal on him: Satan tried to imprison Jesus in a tomb, but couldn’t. Here, God has no problem restraining Satan, and this incarceration is not for punishment, but restraint. By implication, Satan’s demonic armies are also restrained and imprisoned.

i. “Is this a literal transaction? Certainly it is. The battle is literal; the taking of the Beast and the False Prophet is literal; the slaying of the kings and their armies is literal; Satan

is literal; and his binding must be equally literal. It will not resolve itself into anything else.” (Seiss)

ii. Some people ask, “What kind of chain can hold the devil?” We don’t know, but God can fashion a chain for that exact purpose. We know that right now there are demonic spirits who are imprisoned and chained (Jude 6). If God can chain them now, He can chain Satan for 1,000 years. iii. “The elaborate measures taken to insure his custody are most easily understood as implying the complete cessation of his influence on earth (rather than a curbing of his activities).” (Mounce)

iv. Some take this as Satan’s binding on a personal level, believing that it refers to how Satan’s work can be restrained in the life of an individual. But this view does not take the text seriously. If God did want to tell us of the total inactivity of Satan, how could He have said it any stronger? v. This shows that there is no man who simply “binds” Satan with his prayer. This is a work done on divine initiative. “One very important detail is to notice that the conquest of Satan and his powers does not come by any human effort.” (Barnhouse)

b. That he should deceive the nations no more: This shows us Satan’s main mode of attack is revealed. Satan is a deceiver, so the most potent defense and weapon against Satan is the truth of God’s Word.

i. “The truth is ever against him; therefore falsehood is his particular recourse and instrument. But naked falsehood is only repulsive. What we know to be a lie cannot command our respect... Untruth can only gain credence and acceptance by being so disguised as to appear to be the truth. Falsehood can have no power over us until we are led to believe and conclude that it is the truth. And this deluding of men, getting them to accept and follow lies and false hopes, under the persuasion that they are accepting and following the truth, is the great work and business of Satan in every age.” (Seiss)

ii. Since Satan’s work of deception continues today, we know that he is not bound in the way that this passage describes. We know that Satan was not bound at the finished work of Jesus on the cross, at the resurrection, or at the founding of the church. We know this because Peter said that Satan was free to walk about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). iii. Satan continues to effectively deceive. “People not only make falsehoods, speak falsehoods, print falsehoods, and believe falsehoods; but they eat them, and drink them, and wear them, and act them, and live them, and make them one of the great elements of their being.” (Seiss)

c. Till the thousand years were finished: This thousand-year period is often known as the Millennium. Through church history, there has been many different ways of understanding the Millennium.

i. The Bible speaks powerfully to other aspects of the millennial earth. Tragically, the Church through history has often ignored or denied the promise of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. The early church until Augustine almost universally believed in an earthly, historical reign of Jesus, initiated by His return. Tyconius (in the late 300’s) was the first to influentially champion a spiritualized interpretation, saying that this Millennium is now (amillennialism) and must be understood as a spiritual reign of Jesus, not a literal reign. His view was adopted by Augustine, the Roman Catholic Church and most Reformation theologians. ii. Growing out of amillennialism is the doctrine of postmillennialsim, saying the millennium will happen in this age, before Jesus’ return – but that the church will bring it to pass. Yet the clear teaching of the Bible isn’t amillennialism or postmillennialism, but what is called premillennialism – the teaching that Jesus Christ will return to this earth before the millennial earth, and He will establish and govern it directly. iii. There is no need to say that Satan is only bound in a spiritual sense, and Jesus only rules in a spiritual sense. When we consider the rest of the Scriptures, the earthly reign of Christ and His people on this earth is plainly taught in the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, we see it in Psalm 72, Isaiah 2:2-4, Isaiah 11:4-9, Jeremiah 23:5-6, and in many, many more passages. In the New Testament we see it in Luke 1:32-33, Matthew 5:18, Luke 19:12-27, among other passages. All in all, there are more than 400 verses in more than 20 different passages in the Old Testament which deal with this time when Jesus Christ will rule and reign personally over planet earth. iv. Who will be on the earth in the Millennium? Even after the rapture and the vast judgments of the Great Tribulation, there will be many people left on earth. After Jesus returns in glory, He will judge those who survive the Great Tribulation in the judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31-46). This is not a judgment unto salvation, but a judgment of moral worthiness, and entrance into the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus. The unworthy will be sent into eternal damnation, and the worthy will be allowed in Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom.

d. Till the thousand years were finished: Some of what we know of the Millennium from other passages of Scripture.

i. During the Millennium, Israel will be the superpower of the world, the leading nation in all the earth, and the center of Israel will be the mountain of the Lord’s house – the temple mount, which will be the “capital” of the government of the Messiah. All nations shall flow to the “capital” of Jesus’ government (Isaiah 2:1-3, Ezekiel 17:22-24).

ii. During the Millennium, the citizens of earth will acknowledge and submit to the Lordship of Jesus. It will be a time of perfectly administrated enforced righteousness on this earth (Isaiah 2:1-5). iii. During the Millennium, there will be no more war. There will still be conflicts between nations and individuals, but they will be justly and decisively resolved by the Messiah and those who reign with Him (Isaiah 2:1-5). It isn’t the reign of the Messiah itself that will change the heart of man. Citizens of earth will still need to trust in Jesus and in His work on their behalf for their personal salvation during the millennium. But war and armed conflict will not be tolerated. iv. During the Millennium, the way animals relate to each other and to humans will be transformed. A little child will be safe and able to lead a wolf or a leopard or a young lion or a bear. Even the danger of predators like cobras and vipers will be gone. In Genesis 9:2-3, the Lord gave Noah, and all mankind after him, the permission to eat meat. At the same time, the Lord put the dread of man in animals so they would not be effortless prey for humans. Now, in the reign of the Messiah, that is reversed. For this reason, many think that in the reign of the Messiah (the Millennium) humans will return to being vegetarians, as it seems they were before Genesis 9:2-3 (Isaiah 11:6-9). v. During the Millennium, King David will have a prominent place in the millennial earth, ruling over Israel (Isaiah 55:3-5, Jeremiah 30:4-11, Ezekiel 34:23-31, Ezekiel 37:21-28, Hosea 3:5). vi. During the Millennium, there will be blessing and security for national Israel (Amos 9:11-15). vii. The Millennium will be a time of purity and devotion to God (Zechariah 13:1-9). viii. During the Millennium, there will be a rebuilt temple and restored temple service on the earth as a memorial of God’s work in the past. (Ezekiel 40-48, Ezekiel 37:26-28, Amos 9:11, Ezekiel 20:39-44). ix. During the Millennium, saints in their resurrected state will be given responsibility in the Millennial Earth according to their faithful service (Luke 19:11-27, Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 2:26-28; 3:12, 22, 1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

e. Thousand years: Is it a literal 1,000 years? We should take a number literally unless there is clear reason or evidence to do otherwise. We should take this thousand years literally, because God has an important work to accomplish during the Millennium.

i. The Millennium is important because it will demonstrate Jesus’ victory and worthiness to rule the nations.

ii. The Millennium is important because it will reveal the depths of man’s rebellious nature in a perfect environment. Some people seem to believe that man is basically good, and deep down he really wants God’s righteous rule. Many believe that man is really innocent, and corrupted only by a bad environment. The Millennium will answer these questions before the great judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). iii. The Millennium is important because it will display the eternal depravity of Satan, who continues his evil as soon as he is released from his incarceration.

iv. The Millennium is important because it will show the invulnerability of the city of God and God’s new order.

v. “Let us rejoice that Scripture is so clear and so explicit upon this great doctrine of the future triumph of Christ over the whole world... We believe that the Jews will be converted, and that they will be restored to their own land. We believe that Jerusalem will be the central metropolis of Christ’s kingdom; we also believe that all the nations shall walk in the light of the glorious city which shall be built at Jerusalem. We expect that the glory which shall have its center there, shall spread over the whole world, covering it as with a sea of holiness, happiness, and delight. For this we look with joyful expectation.” (Spurgeon)

B. Saints reigning for a thousand years.

1. (Rev 20:4) The saints live and reign for 1,000 years. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

a. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them: Who sits on these thrones? Perhaps the twenty-four elders representing the church (Revelation 4:4) or the apostles (Matthew 19:28) or the company of saints as a whole (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

i. And judgment was committed to them: Perhaps this is the “judging of angels” mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, but it is more likely that these are the saints ruling on and over the earth.

b. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years: These saints reign with Jesus for the same period of time that Satan is bound (a thousand years). They administrate the kingdom of Jesus Christ over the earth, reigning over those who pass from the earth of the Great Tribulation to the earth of the Millennium.

c. Who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus... who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark: All those who overcome in Jesus will rule and reign with Him (Revelation 2:26-28, 3:12, 22, 1 Corinthians 6:2-3). Why does John only mention the Tribulation saints?

i. They are specifically mentioned so as to encourage them, while not implying others will be left out. This is special vindication for Tribulation saints. They suffered under Antichrist who had said, “I will rule the earth;” now they are in authority and Antichrist is destroyed. So, these martyrs are literal, but also representative of all that give their lives in faithfulness to Jesus. ii. Beheaded is actually a broader word than we might think. The ancient Greek word really means “executed.”

2. (Rev 20:5-6) The first resurrection. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

a. This is the first resurrection: This first resurrection is the granting of resurrection life in resurrection bodies to all those dead in Jesus.

· This is a resurrection of blessing (blessed and holy is he) · This is a resurrection of power (over such the second death has no power) · This is a resurrection of privilege (they shall be priests of God... shall reign with Him a thousand years)

b. The rest of the dead: Those who do not have part in the first resurrection are not blessed, they are under the power of the second death, and they are without privilege.

i. In John 5:28-29, Jesus described two resurrections: Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. ii. The two events are separated by this 1,000 year period because the rest of the dead are not given their resurrection bodies until the thousand years were finished.

c. This is the first resurrection: If the first resurrection is a singular event, it argues well for a post-tribulation rapture, because it implies that all saints receive their resurrection bodies at the same time, immediately before the rule and reign of Jesus Christ. d. This is the first resurrection: If the first resurrection is an order or class encompassing previously dead believers (who are at once with the Lord), the raptured church (already in

heaven), and saints from the Great Tribulation, then the idea fits in a pre-tribulation framework.

i. Donald Barnhouse says of the phrase first resurrection: “It must be especially emphasized that our phrase in the Apocalypse covering this resurrection is a retrospect that looks back over all three phases (of resurrection).” ii. ” ‘The ‘first resurrection’ is not an event but an order of resurrection including all the righteous who are raised from the dead before the millennial kingdom begins.” (Walvoord)

Michael Vlach :: Is Revelation 20 the Only Supporting Text for Premillennialism?

References for Rev 20:1 — 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

In his defense of amillennialism against premillennialism, Robert B. Strimple makes mention of "one-text premillennialists"-premillennialists who allegedly rely solely on Rev 20:1-10 for their view that there will be an earthly kingdom of Christ after the second coming of Jesus.1 In my own dealings with the millennial issue I find that there is a common perception held by amillennialists and postmillennialists that premillennialism itself is based solely on Revelation 20. And supposedly without this passage premillennialism would have no support. With this paper I will address the perception that premillennialism is a one passage viewpoint. While there certainly may be "one-text premillennialists" it is not true that premillennialism is based only on Revelation 20. Although Revelation 20 is the only passage in the Bible that explicitly mentions "a thousand years," many premillennialists believe there are other passages that are consistent with the idea of an intermediate kingdom after the present age but before the eternal state. In a nutshell, our reasoning goes like this: In addition to Revelation 20, several Old Testament passages predict an era on this earth that is far better than the current age we live in but not yet as perfect as the coming final eternal state. Thus, there is a necessity of an intermediate kingdom after the second coming of Jesus but before the eternal state. As Wayne Grudem puts it: Several Old Testament passages seem to fit neither in the present age nor in the eternal state. These passages indicate some future stage in the history of redemption which is far greater than the present church age but which still does not see the removal of all sin and rebellion and death from the earth.2

ISAIAH 65 One such passage is Isaiah 65. Verse 20 in particular states: No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.

The issue at hand in this verse, which is discussing conditions associated with the new heavens and new earth, is longevity of life. Whenever this prophecy is fulfilled people will be living so long that if

they die at age 100 something must be wrong since it is expected that people will live much longer than that. In fact, it will be assumed that a person dying at the age of 100 must have done something wrong. They must be "accursed." So notice two important things here with Isa 65:20-an increased longevity of life and the presence of sin which brings curses and death. Now we must ask the question, "When will these conditions described in Isa 65:20 take place? Can it be during our present age? The answer is clearly, No. We live in a day where people live between 70-80 years on average (see Ps 90:10). If a person dies today at age 100 we say he lived a long life, not a short one. So will Isa 65:20 be fulfilled in the coming eternal state? The answer again must be, No. In the eternal state there is no longer any sin, death, or curse (Rev 21:4; 22:3), so no one will by dying. Therefore, Isa 65:20 must be fulfilled in an era that is different from our current period yet distinct from the eternal state. This means there must be an intermediate kingdom or what we call a millennium. Compare the three eras: Present Age: Lifespans of 70-80 years Millennial Kingdom: Lifespans well beyond 70-80 years but sin, death, and curses exist. Eternal State: People live forever with no presence of sin, death, or curse.

This understanding of Isaiah 65 is not recent. Christians of the second century viewed this passage as support for premillennialism. Martin Erdman points out that Isaiah 65:20-25 formed "the scriptural basis, besides Rev 20:1-10, on which Asiatic millennialism built its chiliastic doctrine."3 This was true for Justin Martyr. In reference to Isaiah 65 Justin said, "For Isaiah spoke thus concerning this period of a thousand years."4 Erdman points out that Justin's reference to Old Testament prophets "indicates his reliance on the Old Testament as the primary source of his chiliasm. He did not shy away from utilizing different passages from the Hebrew Bible to strengthen his argument in favor of a literal millennium."5 Likewise, the author of the Epistle of Barnabas was a premillennialist, and according to Erdman, "his chiliastic views are partially based on verses from the Old Testament."6

ZECHARIAH 14 Zechariah 14:5-17 also supports premillennialism. Verse 9 states that the "LORD will be King over all the earth" after His feet stand on the Mount of Olives (v. 4), but there is still disobedience and rebellion on the part of some nations. It is predicted that Egypt and other nations will be punished with drought when they do not obey the Lord as they should (vv. 18-19). Grudem states the issue well: Here again the description [Zech 14:5-17] does not fit the present age, for the Lord is King over all the earth in this situation. But it does not fit the eternal state either, because of the disobedience and rebellion against the Lord that is clearly present.7

According to premillennialists, these conditions of Zechariah 14 can only occur in an intermediate kingdom between the present age and the eternal state.

While people from all nations are being saved in the church age, the nations themselves do not obey our Lord (see Psalm 2). In fact, they persecute those who belong to the Lord. In the millennial kingdom Jesus will rule the nations while He is physically present on earth. The nations will obey and submit to His rule, but as Zechariah 14 points out, whenever a nation does not act as they should there is punishment. On the other hand, in the eternal state there will be absolutely no disobedience on the part of the nations. The picture of the nations in the eternal state is only positive. The kings of the nations bring their contributions to the New Jerusalem (see Rev 21:24) and the leaves of the tree of life are said to be for the healing of the nations (see Rev 22:2). To compare: Present Age: Jesus is in Heaven and the nations do not yet submit to Jesus as King. Millennial Kingdom: Jesus rules the nations on earth and punishes those nations that do not act as they should. Eternal State: The nations act exactly as they should with no need of punishment.

PSALM 72 Psalm 72:8-14 is another passage that has implications for an intermediate kingdom: 8May he also rule from sea to sea And from the River to the ends of the earth. 9Let the nomads of the desert bow before him, And his enemies lick the dust. 10Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. 11And let all kings bow down before him, All nations serve him. 12For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, The afflicted also, and him who has no helper. 13He will have compassion on the poor and needy, And the lives of the needy he will save. 14He will rescue their life from oppression and violence, And their blood will be precious in his sight.

This messianic psalm appears to go beyond the experience of Solomon to that of the coming Messiah. This King's rule will be global ("to the ends of the earth") and "all nations serve him." Yet verses 13-14 also mentions the presence of "the poor and the needy" that need rescue. Again, conditions are described that cannot be harmonized with our present world or the final eternal state. As Grudem states, "All of this speaks of an age far different from the present age but short of the eternal state in which there is no more sin or suffering."8 To compare: Present Age: Messiah is not ruling over the entire earth. Millennial Kingdom: Messiah is ruling over the earth and there is still the presence of the poor and needy who

need rescue. Eternal State: Messiah is ruling but no presence of the poor and needy.

So is premillennialism a "one-passage" viewpoint as some think? Not at all. The idea of an earthly kingdom that comes after Jesus' return but before the eternal state is taught in several Old Testament passages and Revelation 20. In the course of progressive revelation, Revelation 20 reveals to us how long this intermediate kingdom will be ("a thousand years") but it is not the first and only reference to such an era. When someone says to me, "You only have one passage, Revelation 20, which allegedly teaches a millennium," I say, "That's not true. Revelation 20 tells me how long Christ's intermediate earthly kingdom will be-one thousand years-but other passages teach the idea of an intermediate kingdom." Premillennialism, therefore, is a doctrine found in both the Old and New testaments.9

Footnotes:

1 Robert B. Strimple, "Amillennialism," Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond, ed. Darrell L. Bock (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), 118. Strimple was mostly referring to George Ladd. We are not claiming that Strimple is saying all premillennialists only claim they have one passage to support premillennialism. 2 Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), 1127. 3 Martin Erdmann, The Millennial Controversy in the Early Church (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2005), 118. 4 Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, The Ante-Nicene Fathers 80, 1:239. 5 Erdmann, 138. 6 Erdmann, 149. 7 Grudem, 1129. 8 Grudem, 1129. 9 I purposely have not discussed many New Testament passages that are consistent with premillennialism such as Matt 19:28; 25:31; Acts 1:6; Rev 5:10 and others that place the coming of the kingdom in the future at the time of the second coming. The main point to show here is that the Old Testament teaches the idea of an intermediate earthly kingdom.

THE MILLENNIUM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT The Mil lennium in the Old Testament

Can i t be found there?

B y D r . D a v i d R . R e a g a n

[ r e a d i n L a m p l i g h t e r ( p d f ) ] T h e A m i l l e n n i a l v i e w p o i n t o f e n d t i m e B i b l e p r o p h e c y i s t h e m a j o r i t y v i e w w i t h i n t h e C h u r c h t o d a y — h e l d b y b o t h t h e C a t h o l i c c h u r c h a n d m o s t m a i n l i n e P r o t e s t a n t d e n o m i n a t i o n s .

A m i l l e n n i a l i s t s a r e t h o s e w h o b e l i e v e t h a t J e s u s i s c u r r e n t l y r e i g n i n g o v e r a l l t h e w o r l d f r o m H e a v e n t h r o u g h t h e C h u r c h . T h e y t h e r e f o r e b e l i e v e t h a t w e a r e i n t h e M i l l e n n i u m n o w — t h a t i t b e g a n a t t h e C r o s s a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e u n t i l t h e S e c o n d C o m i n g . T h e y d o n o t b e l i e v e t h a t J e s u s w i l l e v e r r e t u r n t o t h i s e a r t h t o r e i g n f r o m J e r u s a l e m .

T o s u s t a i n t h e i r v i e w p o i n t , A m i l l e n n i a l i s t s m u s t s p i r i t u a l i z e m o s t e n d t i m e p r o p h e c i e s , a r g u i n g t h a t t h e y d o n o t m e a n w h a t t h e y s a y . T h u s , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e y d i s m i s s t h e f a c t t h a t i n R e v e l a t i o n 2 0 w e a r e t o l d s i x t i m e s t h a t t h e M i l l e n n i u m w i l l l a s t 1 , 0 0 0 y e a r s . A m i l l e n n i a l i s t s r e j e c t t h e t h o u s a n d y e a r s a s b e i n g “ f i g u r a t i v e i n n a t u r e , ” m e a n i n g o n l y a l o n g p e r i o d o f t i m e .

O n e i n t e r e s t i n g t h i n g I h a v e n o t i c e d o v e r t h e y e a r s a b o u t A m i l l e n n i a l i s t s i s t h a t t h e y h a v e l i t t l e o r n o k n o w l e d g e o f t h e e n d t i m e p r o p h e c i e s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e H e b r e w S c r i p t u r e s . M o s t A m i l l e n n i a l i s t s I h a v e e n c o u n t e r e d b e l i e v e t h a t t h e o n l y p l a c e i n t h e B i b l e t h a t t h e M i l l e n n i u m i s m e n t i o n e d i s R e v e l a t i o n 2 0 .

A Personal Experience L e t m e g i v e y o u a n e x a m p l e o f w h a t I a m t a l k i n g a b o u t . S e v e r a l y e a r s a g o I w a s i n v i t e d t o m a k e a p r e s e n t a t i o n t o a v e r y l a r g e C h r i s t i a n c o n v e n t i o n . S p e c i f i c a l l y , I w a s a s k e d t o s p e a k o n t h e t o p i c , “ W h y I B e l i e v e J e s u s W i l l R e t u r n t o R e i g n o n t h e E a r t h . ”

I w a s t o l d I w o u l d h a v e 3 0 m i n u t e s t o m a k e t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n . W h e n I a s k e d w h y I w a s b e i n g a l l o t t e d s u c h a s h o r t p e r i o d o f t i m e , I w a s t o l d , “ I t ’ s b e c a u s e t h e r e i s g o i n g t o b e a n o t h e r s p e a k e r w h o w i l l t e l l w h y h e d o e s n o t b e l i e v e t h e r e w i l l b e a f u t u r e r e i g n o f J e s u s

o n t h e e a r t h . E a c h o f y o u w i l l s p e a k 3 0 m i n u t e s , a n d t h e n t h e r e w i l l b e 3 0 m i n u t e s f o r q u e s t i o n s a n d a n s w e r s . ”

I a c c e p t e d t h e i n v i t a t i o n . T h e o t h e r s p e a k e r t u r n e d o u t t o b e a d i s t i n g u i s h e d p r o f e s s o r o f t h e o l o g y f r o m a B i b l e C o l l e g e .

I k n e w m y a u d i e n c e w o u l d b e m a d e u p o f p e o p l e w h o b e l i e v e d t h a t a f u t u r e r e i g n o f J e s u s o n t h i s e a r t h i s m e n t i o n e d o n l y o n e p l a c e i n t h e B i b l e — i n R e v e l a t i o n 2 0 . S o , I d e c i d e d t o s p e n d a l l m y t i m e t a l k i n g a b o u t o n e p a s s a g e i n t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t — t h e p r o p h e c y c o n t a i n e d i n Z e c h a r i a h 1 4 : 1 - 9 . T h i s p r o p h e c y s t a t e s t h a t a d a y w i l l c o m e w h e n J e r u s a l e m w i l l b e s u r r o u n d e d b y e n e m y f o r c e s . H a l f t h e c i t y w i l l f a l l , a n d t h e n t h e L o r d w i l l r e t u r n t o t h e M o u n t o f O l i v e s . W h e n H i s f e e t t o u c h t h e m o u n t a i n , i t w i l l s p l i t i n h a l f , a n d t h e J e w i s h r e m n a n t w i l l f l e e f r o m t h e c i t y a n d h i d e i n t h e c l e a v a g e o f t h e m o u n t a i n . T h e L o r d w i l l t h e n s p e a k a s u p e r n a t u r a l w o r d , a n d a l l t h e e n e m y f o r c e s w i l l b e i n s t a n t l y d e s t r o y e d . A n d a t t h a t p o i n t , “ … t h e L o r d w i l l b e k i n g o v e r a l l t h e e a r t h ” ( v e r s e 9 ) . T h e o t h e r s p e a k e r , w h o f o l l o w e d m e , t o t a l l y i g n o r e d m y p r e s e n t a t i o n . H e r e a d a n a c a d e m i c p a p e r b a s e d o n t h e o p i n i o n s o f t h e o l o g i a n s a n d n o t t h e S c r i p t u r e s .

W h e n t h e t i m e c a m e f o r q u e s t i o n s , t h e o t h e r s p e a k e r w a s a s k e d , “ W h a t i s y o u r e x p l a n a t i o n o f Z e c h a r i a h 1 4 : 1 - 9 ? ” H i s e x a c t w o r d s i n r e s p o n s e w e r e , “ I h a v e n o i d e a w h a t t h a t p a s s a g e m e a n s , b u t I c a n a s s u r e y o u t h a t i t h a s b e e n f u l f i l l e d s o m e w h e r e a t s o m e t i m e . ”

A Strange Doctrine I w a s n o t s u r p r i s e d b y h i s b i z a r r e r e s p o n s e b e c a u s e I h a d g r o w n u p a m o n g t h e c h u r c h e s w h i c h w e r e h o s t i n g t h e c o n f e r e n c e , a n d I w a s v e r y f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e i r a t t i t u d e a b o u t O l d T e s t a m e n t p r o p h e c i e s .

I n t h e i r a t t e m p t t o d e f e n d t h e i r A m i l l e n n i a l v i e w p o i n t , t h e y h a d d e v e l o p e d a d o c t r i n e w h i c h s t a t e d t h a t “ a l l O l d T e s t a m e n t p r o p h e c i e s h a v e b e e n f u l f i l l e d . ” T o j u s t i f y t h a t a s s e r t i o n , t h e y a l w a y s p o i n t e d t o t h e w o r d s o f J e s u s r e c o r d e d i n L u k e 2 4 : 4 4 —

These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.

T h e p r o b l e m w i t h u s i n g t h i s p a s s a g e t o j u s t i f y t h e i r d i s m i s s a l o f O l d T e s t a m e n t p r o p h e c y i s t h a t i t d o e s n o t s a y t h a t a l l O l d T e s t a m e n t p r o p h e c i e s h a v e b e e n f u l f i l l e d . I t s a y s t h e y m u s t b e f u l f i l l e d . T h e F i r s t C o m i n g p r o p h e c i e s h a v e b e e n f u l f i l l e d . T h e S e c o n d C o m i n g p r o p h e c i e s a r e y e t t o b e f u l f i l l e d , a n d Z e c h a r i a h 1 4 : 1 - 9 i s o n e o f t h o s e p r o p h e c i e s .

Reckless Spir itualization A t l e a s t m y o p p o n e n t d i d n o t s p i r i t u a l i z e t h e p a s s a g e , a s m o s t A m i l l e n n i a l i s t s d o . T a k e , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e 2 0 t h C e n t u r y t h e o l o g i a n L o r r a i n e B e t t n e r . I n h i s b o o k , T h e M i l l e n n i u m , h e a r g u e d t h a t t h e M o u n t o f O l i v e s i s a s y m b o l o f t h e h u m a n h e a r t . T h e e n e m y f o r c e s a r e a s y m b o l o f t h e e v i l i n t h e w o r l d a t t a c k i n g t h e h e a r t . W h e n a p e r s o n r e c e i v e s J e s u s a s L o r d a n d S a v i o r , H e c o m e s i n t o t h e i r h e a r t , c a u s i n g t h e h e a r t t o s p l i t i n r e p e n t a n c e . H e t h e n d e f e a t s a l l t h e e n e m y f o r c e s a n d b e g i n s t o r e i g n o v e r t h a t p e r s o n ’ s h e a r t . T h i s , o f c o u r s e , i s a n u t t e r l y r i d i c u l o u s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h i s p a s s a g e , b u t i t r e p r e s e n t s t h e k i n d o f g a m e s t h a t A m i l l e n n i a l i s t s h a v e t o p l a y w i t h t h e S c r i p t u r e s i n o r d e r t o s u s t a i n t h e i r p o s i t i o n .

I n s u m m a r y , A m i l l e n n i a l i s t s e i t h e r i g n o r e t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t p a s s a g e s a b o u t t h e S e c o n d C o m i n g a n d t h e M i l l e n n i u m , o r t h e y s p i r i t u a l i z e t h e m , o r t h e y a r g u e t h e y h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n f u l f i l l e d .

A Major Spir itual Problem

B u t t h e b o t t o m l i n e i s t h a t m o s t A m i l l e n n i a l i s t s s i m p l y d o n o t k n o w t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t S c r i p t u r e s , a n d t h i s i s a m a j o r p r o b l e m i n t h e C h u r c h t o d a y b e c a u s e i t a f f e c t s n o t o n l y p r o p h e c y b u t a l l d o c t r i n e .

I g r e w u p i n w h a t w a s c a l l e d a “ N e w T e s t a m e n t C h u r c h . ” W e f o c u s e d a l l o u r B i b l e s t u d y o n t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t b e c a u s e w e w e r e t a u g h t t h a t t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t h a d b e e n “ n a i l e d t o t h e C r o s s ” a n d w a s t h e r e f o r e n o l o n g e r v a l i d . M o s t o f u s d i d n o t o w n a c o m p l e t e B i b l e . W h e n w e w e n t t o a B i b l e s t u d y , w e t o o k o u r N e w T e s t a m e n t s .

T h e i d e a t h a t t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t h a d b e e n “ n a i l e d t o t h e C r o s s , ” a n d w a s n o l o n g e r r e l e v a n t w a s b a s e d o n a s t a t e m e n t i n C o l o s s i a n s 2 : 1 4 w h i c h r e a d s , “ … h a v i n g c a n c e l e d o u t t h e c e r t i f i c a t e o f d e b t c o n s i s t i n g o f d e c r e e s a g a i n s t u s a n d w h i c h w a s h o s t i l e t o u s ; a n d H e h a s t a k e n i t o u t o f t h e w a y , h a v i n g n a i l e d i t t o t h e C r o s s . ” T h i s v e r s e i s s p e a k i n g o f a “ c e r t i f i c a t e o f d e b t , ” n o t t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t . I t i s t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e d e b t w e o w e d G o d f o r o u r s i n s . B y t a k i n g o u r s i n s u p o n H i m s e l f , J e s u s , w h o w a s s i n l e s s , p a i d o u r d e b t t h r o u g h H i s c r u c i f i x i o n ( 1 P e t e r 2 : 2 4 ) .

The Relevance of the Old Testament T h i s s p i r i t u a l m a l a d y o f i g n o r i n g t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t i s e p i d e m i c i n t h e C h u r c h t o d a y , a n d i t i s a s e r i o u s p r o b l e m b e c a u s e t h e r e i s n o w a y t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t w i t h o u t k n o w l e d g e o f t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t .

F o r e x a m p l e , J e s u s i s r e f e r r e d t o b y P a u l i n 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 5 : 2 0 a s t h e “ f i r s t f r u i t s ” o f t h o s e t o b e r e s u r r e c t e d . T h e r e i s n o w a y t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t e x p r e s s i o n a p a r t f r o m a k n o w l e d g e o f t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t s a c r i f i c i a l s y s t e m . I n l i k e m a n n e r , J e s u s i s r e f e r r e d t o i n t h e b o o k o f H e b r e w s a s t h e “ H i g h P r i e s t o f o u r c o n f e s s i o n ” ( H e b r e w s 3 : 1 ) a n d a s “ a h i g h p r i e s t a c c o r d i n g t o t h e o r d e r o f M e l c h i z e d e k ” ( H e b r e w s 5 : 1 0 ) . T h e s e t e r m s h a v e n o m e a n i n g a p a r t f r o m a k n o w l e d g e o f t h e i n t e r a c t i o n b e t w e e n A b r a h a m a n d M e l c h i z e d e k a n d t h e r o l e o f t h e H i g h P r i e s t a s r e v e a l e d i n t h e H e b r e w S c r i p t u r e s .

Another Personal Experience L e t m e g i v e y o u a n o t h e r e x a m p l e o f t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f O l d T e s t a m e n t i g n o r a n c e . W h e n I w a s g r o w i n g u p i n a n A m i l l e n n i a l c h u r c h , o n e o f t h e s t a t e m e n t s I h e a r d i n s e r m o n s o v e r a n d o v e r a g a i n w a s , “ T h e r e i s n o t o n e v e r s e i n t h e B i b l e t h a t e v e n i m p l i e s t h a t J e s u s w i l l e v e r p u t h i s f e e t o n t h i s e a r t h a g a i n . ”

Y o u c a n i m a g i n e h o w s u r p r i s e d I w a s w h e n , a t t h e a g e o f 1 2 , I a c c i d e n t l y d i s c o v e r e d Z e c h a r i a h 1 4 : 1 - 9 w h e r e i t s t a t e s p o i n t b l a n k t h a t t h e M e s s i a h w i l l r e t u r n t o t h e M o u n t o f O l i v e s a n d t h a t w h e n H i s f e e t t o u c h t h e g r o u n d , t h e m o u n t a i n w i l l s p l i t i n h a l f . I t o o k t h i s p a s s a g e t o m y p a s t o r a n d a s k e d h i m w h a t i t m e a n t . H e s t u d i e d i t i n s i l e n c e f o r a l o n g t i m e , a n d t h e n h e s a i d , “ S o n , I d o n ’ t k n o w w h a t t h e s e v e r s e s m e a n , b u t I c a n g u a r a n t e e y o u t h a t t h e y d o n o t m e a n w h a t t h e y s a y ! ”

L a t e r I d i s c o v e r e d t h a t Z e c h a r i a h 1 4 i s n o t t h e o n l y p l a c e i n t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t w h e r e t h e S c r i p t u r e s s t a t e t h a t J e s u s w i l l r e t u r n t o t h i s e a r t h . C o n s i d e r , f o r e x a m p l e , E z e k i e l 4 3 : 7 w h e r e J e s u s , i n a p r e - i n c a r n a t e a p p e a r a n c e , t a k e s E z e k i e l o n a v i s i o n a r y t o u r o f t h e M i l l e n n i a l T e m p l e , a n d i n t h e m i d s t o f t h a t t o u r , H e s a y s , “ S o n o f m a n , t h i s i s t h e p l a c e o f M y t h r o n e a n d t h e p l a c e o f t h e s o l e s o f M y f e e t , w h e r e I w i l l d w e l l a m o n g t h e s o n s o f I s r a e l f o r e v e r … ” I t h i n k i t i s a l s o s i g n i f i c a n t t o n o t e t h a t t h e p r o p h e t E z e k i e l s t a t e s t h a t w h e n t h e L o r d r e t u r n s , t h e n a m e o f t h e c i t y o f J e r u s a l e m w i l l b e c h a n g e d t o “ Y a h w e h - S h a m m a h , ” m e a n i n g “ T h e L o r d i s t h e r e . ”

Understanding Prophecy

A k n o w l e d g e o f O l d T e s t a m e n t p r o p h e c y i s p a r t i c u l a r l y n e c e s s a r y t o t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f N e w T e s t a m e n t p r o p h e c y . R e v e l a t i o n a n d D a n i e l f i t t o g e t h e r l i k e a h a n d i n a g l o v e . N e i t h e r o n e c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d a p a r t f r o m t h e o t h e r .

T h e b o o k o f R e v e l a t i o n c o n t a i n s m o r e t h a n 3 0 0 q u o t e s o r r e f e r e n c e s t o O l d T e s t a m e n t p a s s a g e s , a n d n o t a s i n g l e o n e i s i d e n t i f i e d . A p e r s o n w i t h o u t k n o w l e d g e o f t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t c o u l d r e a d t h e b o o k o f R e v e l a t i o n a n d n e v e r r e a l i z e h o w i n t e r l a c e d i t i s w i t h O l d T e s t a m e n t p r o p h e c y . C o n s i d e r t h e t h e m e o f t h e b o o k t h a t i s f o u n d i n R e v e l a t i o n 1 : 7 —

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him.

T h i s s t a t e m e n t i s m a d e u p o f t w o q u o t e s f r o m t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t p u t e n d - t o - e n d . T h e f i r s t i s f o u n d i n D a n i e l 7 : 1 3 a n d t h e s e c o n d i n Z e c h a r i a h 1 2 : 1 0 .

The Signif icance of the Old Testament T h e A p o s t l e P a u l e m p h a s i z e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t w h e n h e w r o t e t h e f o l l o w i n g w o r d s t o T i m o t h y :

…from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15).

M o s t C h r i s t i a n s r e a d t h e s e w o r d s a n d a s s u m e t h a t T i m o t h y m u s t h a v e h a d a N e w T e s t a m e n t t h a t h e s t u d i e d f r o m . N o t s o . T h e N e w T e s t a m e n t h a d n o t y e t b e e n w r i t t e n a n d c o m p i l e d w h e n P a u l a d d r e s s e d t h e s e w o r d s t o T i m o t h y . W h e n P a u l r e f e r r e d t o “ t h e s a c r e d w r i t i n g s , ” h e w a s t a l k i n g a b o u t w h a t w e c a l l t o d a y t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t . A n d t h e p o i n t h e w a s m a k i n g i s t h a t J e s u s ’ f u l f i l l m e n t o f O l d T e s t a m e n t p r o p h e c i e s a b o u t H i s F i r s t C o m i n g w a s s u f f i c i e n t t o p r o d u c e f a i t h i n J e s u s a s t h e p r o m i s e d M e s s i a h .

P a u l p r o c e e d e d i n t h a t l e t t e r t o T i m o t h y t o s t a t e t h a t “ a l l s c r i p t u r e i s i n s p i r e d b y G o d a n d p r o f i t a b l e f o r t e a c h i n g , f o r r e p r o o f , f o r c o r r e c t i o n , f o r t r a i n i n g i n r i g h t e o u s n e s s … ” ( 2 T i m o t h y 3 : 1 6 ) . T h e t e r m , “ a l l s c r i p t u r e , ” m e a n s e x a c t l y w h a t i t s a y s . I t r e f e r s t o b o t h t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t a n d t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t .

Evangelism Based on the Old Testament T h e v e r y f i r s t G o s p e l s e r m o n e v e r p r e a c h e d — P e t e r ’ s s e r m o n o n P e n t e c o s t — w a s b a s e d e n t i r e l y o n O l d T e s t a m e n t p r o p h e c i e s . A l l P e t e r d i d f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e s e r m o n t o t h e e n d w a s t o q u o t e a n O l d T e s t a m e n t p r o p h e c y a b o u t t h e M e s s i a h a n d t h e n p r o c l a i m t h a t J e s u s h a d f u l f i l l e d i t ( A c t s 2 : 1 4 - 3 6 ) . P h i l l i p t h e e v a n g e l i s t t o o k t h e s a m e a p p r o a c h w h e n h e w a s c o n f r o n t e d w i t h t h e E t h i o p i a n e u n u c h , a d e v o u t J e w w h o h a d b e e n t o J e r u s a l e m t o o b s e r v e t h e f e a s t s a n d w a s r e t u r n i n g h o m e t o A f r i c a ( A c t s 8 : 2 6 - 3 9 ) . H e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e m a n w a s r e a d i n g a n O l d T e s t a m e n t p a s s a g e f r o m I s a i a h a b o u t t h e M e s s i a h c o m i n g a s a “ s u f f e r i n g l a m b ” ( I s a i a h 5 3 : 1 - 9 ) . P h i l l i p e x p l a i n e d t h e p a s s a g e t o t h e E t h i o p i a n , a n d t h e m a n a c c e p t e d t h e f a c t t h a t J e s u s h a d f u l f i l l e d i t . I n r e s p o n s e , h e w a s b a p t i z e d . H e t h e n c o n t i n u e d o n h i s w a y , r e j o i c i n g t h a t h e h a d f o u n d t h e M e s s i a h .

Messianic Prophecy T h e r e a r e o v e r t h r e e h u n d r e d p r o p h e c i e s i n t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t t h a t p e r t a i n t o t h e F i r s t C o m i n g o f t h e M e s s i a h , b u t m a n y o f t h e s e a r e r e p e t i t i o u s . T h o s e t h a t a r e s e p a r a t e a n d d i s t i n c t t o t a l 1 0 9 . T h e r e a r e m a n y m o r e t h a n t h i s t h a t r e l a t e t o t h e S e c o n d C o m i n g a n d t h e L o r d ’ s M i l l e n n i a l R e i g n .

A l l t h e F i r s t C o m i n g p r o p h e c i e s w e r e l i t e r a l l y f u l f i l l e d , a n d t h e r e i s n o r e a s o n t o a s s u m e t h a t t h e f u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e S e c o n d C o m i n g p r o p h e c i e s w i l l b e a n y d i f f e r e n t . W e n e e d ,

t h e r e f o r e , t o t a k e t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t s e r i o u s l y , a n d w e n e e d t o s t u d y w h a t i t h a s t o s a y p r o p h e t i c a l l y a b o u t t h e e n d t i m e s .

The Second Coming T h e B i b l e t e a c h e s t h a t J e s u s w i l l e s t a b l i s h H i s p e r s o n a l r e i g n o v e r a l l t h e e a r t h a t t h e t i m e o f H i s S e c o n d C o m i n g , a n d t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t c o n t a i n s m a n y p r o p h e c i e s a b o u t t h a t e v e n t . A s w e h a v e a l r e a d y s e e n , Z e c h a r i a h 1 4 s a y s t h e L o r d w i l l r e t u r n t o t h e M o u n t o f O l i v e s f r o m w h i c h H e a s c e n d e d i n t o H e a v e n . I n I s a i a h ’ s a c c o u n t o f t h e s a m e e v e n t , h e r e f e r s t o t h e L o r d r e t u r n i n g t o M o u n t Z i o n , w h i c h i s a n a l t e r n a t i v e n a m e f o r J e r u s a l e m : “ S o w i l l t h e L o r d o f h o s t s c o m e d o w n t o w a g e w a r o n M o u n t Z i o n a n d o n i t s h i l l . L i k e f l y i n g b i r d s , s o t h e L o r d o f h o s t s w i l l p r o t e c t J e r u s a l e m . H e w i l l p r o t e c t a n d r e s c u e i t ; H e w i l l p a s s o v e r a n d r e s c u e i t ” ( I s a i a h 3 1 : 4 b - 5 ) . B o t h I s a i a h a n d J e r e m i a h p o r t r a y t h e L o r d r e t u r n i n g i n w r a t h . J e r e m i a h s a y s H e w i l l “ r o a r ” f r o m t h e h e a v e n s ( J e r e m i a h 2 5 : 3 0 - 3 1 ) . I s a i a h s a y s H e w i l l b e “ f i l l e d w i t h i n d i g n a t i o n ” a n d H i s t o n g u e w i l l b e l i k e “ a c o n s u m i n g f i r e ” ( I s a i a h 3 0 : 2 7 - 2 8 ) . Z e p h a n i a h s a y s t h e d a y o f H i s r e t u r n w i l l b e o n e o f “ t r o u b l e a n d d i s t r e s s ” a n d “ d e s t r u c t i o n a n d d e s o l a t i o n ” ( Z e p h a n i a h 1 : 1 4 - 1 8 ) .

The Mil lennial Reign O n c e t h e M e s s i a h h a s p o u r e d o u t t h e w r a t h o f G o d o n t h e e n e m i e s o f G o d , H e w i l l e s t a b l i s h H i s r e i g n o v e r t h e e a r t h , a n d H e w i l l b e g i n t o m a n i f e s t H i s g l o r y :

Then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed, for the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and His glory will be before His elders (Isaiah 24:23).

A l l t h e v a r i o u s a s p e c t s a b o u t t h e L o r d ’ s m i l l e n n i a l r e i g n a r e s p e l l e d o u t i n d e t a i l i n t h e b o o k o f I s a i a h . T h e b o o k o f R e v e l a t i o n i s a b o u t t h e T r i b u l a t i o n . I t i s t h e b o o k o f I s a i a h t h a t r e v e a l s t h e d e t a i l s o f t h e M i l l e n n i u m .

P o l i t i c a l C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s — T h e r e i g n w i l l b e w o r l d - w i d e ( I s a i a h 2 : 2 a n d 9 : 6 - 7 ) . I t w i l l b e p e a c e f u l i n n a t u r e ( I s a i a h 2 : 4 ) , a n d t h e w o r l d w i l l b e b l e s s e d w i t h r i g h t e o u s n e s s ( I s a i a h 1 1 : 4 - 5 ) a n d j u s t i c e ( I s a i a h 4 2 : 3 - 4 ) . T h e L o r d ’ s t h r o n e w i l l b e e s t a b l i s h e d i n J e r u s a l e m , f o r H e w i l l o c c u p y t h e t h r o n e o f D a v i d ( I s a i a h 2 : 3 ) . H i s g o v e r n m e n t w i l l b e a t h e o c r a t i c o n e i n w h i c h H e w i l l s e r v e a s k i n g , l e g i s l a t o r a n d j u d g e ( I s a i a h 3 3 : 1 7 - 2 2 ) . T h e R e d e e m e d w i l l r e i g n w i t h t h e L o r d a s p r i n c e s

( I s a i a h 3 2 : 1 ) . A n d b e c a u s e t h e L o r d w i l l b e r e i g n i n g f r o m J e r u s a l e m , t h e n a t i o n o f I s r a e l w i l l b e t h e p r i m e n a t i o n i n t h e w o r l d ( I s a i a h 2 : 2 - 3 , 4 9 : 2 2 - 2 3 , a n d 6 0 : 1 - 6 2 : 7 ) . S p i r i t u a l C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s — I s a i a h s p e n d s a g r e a t a m o u n t o f t i m e o u t l i n i n g t h e s p i r i t u a l b l e s s i n g s o f t h e M i l l e n n i u m , t h e g r e a t e s t o f w h i c h i s t h e f a c t t h a t t h e g l o r y a n d h o l i n e s s o f t h e L o r d w i l l b e m a n i f e s t e d ( I s a i a h 4 0 : 3 - 5 , 5 2 : 1 3 - 1 5 , 6 1 : 3 a n d 6 6 : 1 8 ) . H o l i n e s s w i l l a b o u n d ( I s a i a h 4 : 2 - 4 ) a n d a n a t t i t u d e o f j o y a n d p r a i s e w i l l p r e v a i l :

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).

A r e b u i l t T e m p l e i n J e r u s a l e m w i l l s e r v e a s t h e w o r s h i p c e n t e r o f t h e w o r l d ( I s a i a h 2 : 2 -3 , 5 6 : 6 - 8 , a n d 6 0 : 7 b , 1 3 ) . I n c r e d i b l y , t h e S h e k i n a h g l o r y o f G o d w i l l h o v e r o v e r t h e c i t y o f J e r u s a l e m l i k e a c a n o p y ( I s a i a h 4 : 5 ) . A n d “ t h e e a r t h w i l l b e f u l l o f t h e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e L o r d , a s t h e w a t e r s c o v e r t h e s e a ” ( I s a i a h 1 1 : 9 ) . T h e R e d e m p t i o n o f N a t u r e — O n e a s p e c t o f t h e M i l l e n n i u m t h a t i s h e a v i l y e m p h a s i z e d b y t h e H e b r e w p r o p h e t s i s t h e r e d e m p t i o n o f n a t u r e . T h e l a n d o f I s r a e l w i l l n o l o n g e r b e a p l a c e o f d e s o l a t i o n ( I s a i a h 6 2 : 3 - 5 ) . I n s t e a d , “ t h e f r u i t o f t h e e a r t h ” w i l l b e t h e p r i d e o f I s r a e l ( I s a i a h 4 : 2 ) . “ W a t e r s w i l l b r e a k f o r t h i n t h e w i l d e r n e s s , ” a n d t h e d e s e r t s w i l l b e c o m e p o o l s o f w a t e r ( I s a i a h 3 5 : 6 b - 7 ) . I n a d d i t i o n t o a g r i c u l t u r a l a b u n d a n c e , t h e a n i m a l k i n g d o m w i l l b e r e s t o r e d t o i t s o r i g i n a l p e r f e c t i o n . P o i s o n o u s a n i m a l s w i l l c e a s e t o b e p o i s o n o u s , a n d m e a t - e a t i n g a n i m a l s w i l l b e c o m e h e r b i v o r o u s . A l l m e m b e r s o f t h e a n i m a l k i n g d o m w i l l l i v e t o g e t h e r i n p e r f e c t p e a c e w i t h e a c h o t h e r a n d w i t h M a n k i n d ( I s a i a h 1 1 : 6 - 9 a n d 6 5 : 2 5 ) .

T h e Q u a l i t y o f L i f e — I n a t h r i l l i n g p a s s a g e i n I s a i a h 6 5 , t h e p r o p h e t r e v e a l s t h a t l i f e s p a n s f o r t h o s e i n t h e f l e s h w i l l b e g r e a t l y e x p a n d e d t o “ t h e l i f e t i m e o f a t r e e ” ( I s a i a h 6 5 : 2 2 ) . A c c o r d i n g l y , a n y o n e w h o d i e s a t t h e a g e o f 1 0 0 w i l l b e c o n s i d e r e d a y o u t h ( I s a i a h 6 5 : 2 0 ) . E v e r y p e r s o n w i l l h a v e h i s o w n h o m e a n d v i n e y a r d . T h e r e w i l l b e n o h o m e l e s s o r h u n g r y p e o p l e ( I s a i a h 6 5 : 2 1 - 2 2 ) . A l l l a b o r w i l l b e r e d e e m e d ( I s a i a h 6 5 : 2 3 ) i n t h e s e n s e t h a t i t w i l l b e p r o d u c t i v e , a n d i t w i l l n o t b e c o n f i s c a t e d b y o t h e r s . D i s e a s e w i l l b e c u r t a i l e d ( I s a i a h 3 3 : 2 4 ) a n d p e r s o n s b o r n w i t h p h y s i c a l h a n d i c a p s w i l l b e h e a l e d :

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).

Isaiah’s Climax I s a i a h w a s g i v e n s o m a n y g l o r i o u s v i s i o n s a n d w o r d s o f k n o w l e d g e c o n c e r n i n g t h e m a j e s t i c r e i g n o f t h e L o r d t h a t h e w a s a l m o s t b u r s t i n g w i t h a n t i c i p a t i o n b y t h e t i m e h e g o t t o t h e e n d o f h i s b o o k . T h i s p r o m p t e d h i m t o s u d d e n l y c r y o u t :

Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains [kingdoms] would quake at Your presence — as fire kindles the brushwood, as fire causes water to boil — to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence! (Isaiah 64:1-2).

N o w , k e e p i n m i n d t h a t I h a v e o n l y s h a r e d w i t h y o u a f e w p a s s a g e s f r o m t h e b o o k o f I s a i a h . T h e r e a r e m a n y o t h e r p a s s a g e s r e g a r d i n g t h e M i l l e n n i u m t h a t a r e s c a t t e r e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t .

Prophecies of the Major Prophets About the Millennium J e r e m i a h p i c t u r e s t h e M i l l e n n i u m a s a t i m e w h e n I s r a e l a n d J u d a h w i l l b e u n i t e d i n p e a c e , a n d t h e c i t y o f J e r u s a l e m w i l l b e c a l l e d “ T h e T h r o n e o f t h e L o r d ” ( J e r e m i a h 3 : 1 7 - 1 8 ) . J e s u s , “ t h e r i g h t e o u s B r a n c h , ” w i l l “ r e i g n a s k i n g a n d a c t w i s e l y a n d d o j u s t i c e a n d r i g h t e o u s n e s s i n t h e l a n d ” ( J e r e m i a h 2 3 : 5 ) . A n d b e c a u s e o f H i s n e w r o l e a s k i n g , t h e n a m e o f J e s u s w i l l b e c h a n g e d t o Y a h w e h - T s i d k e n u , m e a n i n g , “ T h e L o r d i s o u r r i g h t e o u s n e s s ” ( J e r e m i a h 2 3 : 6 ) . D a v i d , i n h i s g l o r i f i e d b o d y , w i l l s e r v e a s t h e k i n g o f I s r a e l ( J e r e m i a h 3 0 : 9 ) , a n d a l l t h e e n e m i e s o f I s r a e l w i l l b e d e s t r o y e d ( J e r e m i a h 3 0 : 1 1 ) . T h e c i t y o f J e r u s a l e m a n d t h e T e m p l e w i l l b e r e b u i l t ( J e r e m i a h 3 0 : 1 8 ) , a n d t h e p o p u l a t i o n w i l l b e m u l t i p l i e d ( J e r e m i a h 3 0 : 1 9 ) . T h e m o u r n i n g o f t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e w i l l b e t u r n e d i n t o j o y ( J e r e m i a h 3 1 : 1 3 ) . T h e J e w i s h p e o p l e w i l l r e p e n t o f t h e r e j e c t i o n o f t h e i r M e s s i a h a n d w i l l e n t e r i n t o a n e w c o v e n a n t w i t h G o d t h a t w i l l b e w r i t t e n o n t h e i r h e a r t s ( J e r e m i a h 3 1 : 3 1 - 3 4 a n d 3 2 : 3 7 - 4 0 ) . T h e s t r e e t s o f J e r u s a l e m w i l l b e f i l l e d w i t h “ t h e v o i c e o f j o y a n d t h e v o i c e o f g l a d n e s s … ” ( J e r e m i a h 3 3 : 1 1 ) .

E z e k i e l c o n f i r m s t h a t t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e w i l l e n t e r i n t o a n e w c o v e n a n t w i t h G o d t h a t w i l l b e w r i t t e n o n t h e i r h e a r t s ( E z e k i e l 1 1 : 1 9 - 2 0 a n d 1 6 : 6 0 - 6 2 ) . H e a l s o c o n f i r m s t h a t t h e L o r d w i l l g u a r a n t e e t h e i r s e c u r i t y a n d w i l l “ e x e c u t e j u d g m e n t s u p o n a l l w h o s c o r n t h e m r o u n d a b o u t t h e m ” ( E z e k i e l 2 8 : 2 6 ) . T h e l a n d o f E g y p t w i l l b e p a r t i c u l a r l y p u n i s h e d f o r i t s t r e a t m e n t o f I s r a e l a n d w i l l r e m a i n a d e s o l a t i o n d u r i n g t h e f i r s t 4 0 y e a r s o f t h e M i l l e n n i u m ( E z e k i e l 2 9 : 9 - 1 6 ) . E z e k i e l a l s o c o n f i r m s t h a t D a v i d w i l l b e m a d e k i n g o f I s r a e l ( E z e k i e l 3 4 : 2 3 - 2 4 a n d 3 7 : 2 4 ) . T h e L o r d w i l l p o u r o u t “ s h o w e r s o f b l e s s i n g s ” o n I s r a e l , i n c l u d i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l a b u n d a n c e ( E z e k i e l 3 4 : 2 6 - 2 9 ) a n d t h e r e b u i l d i n g o f t h e i r T e m p l e ( E z e k i e l 3 7 : 2 6 - 2 7 ) . T h e r e s u l t i s t h a t t h e L o r d ’ s g l o r y w i l l b e s e t a m o n g t h e n a t i o n s ( E z e k i e l 3 9 : 2 1 ) . F r o m c h a p t e r 4 0 t h r o u g h c h a p t e r 4 6 , E z e k i e l f o c u s e s o n d e s c r i b i n g t h e M i l l e n n i a l T e m p l e . I t i s m u c h l a r g e r t h a n a n y o f t h e p r e v i o u s J e w i s h t e m p l e s , a n d t h e H o l y o f H o l i e s i n t h e

T e m p l e c o n t a i n s n o a r k . J e r e m i a h h a d a l r e a d y p r o p h e s i e d t h a t t h e a r k w o u l d n o t b e r e b u i l t o r r e m e m b e r e d ( J e r e m i a h 3 : 1 6 ) . O n e o f E z e k i e l ’ s e n d t i m e p r o p h e c i e s t h a t h a s a l r e a d y b e e n f u l f i l l e d r e l a t e s t o t h e E a s t e r n G a t e . H e s a y s i t w i l l b e s h u t u p a n d w i l l n o t b e r e o p e n e d u n t i l t h e M e s s i a h r e t u r n s ( E z e k i e l 4 4 : 1 - 3 ) . T h e g a t e w a s c l o s e d i n t h e 1 5 0 0 ’ s a n d r e m a i n s c l o s e d t o t h i s d a y . E z e k i e l r e v e a l s t h a t p a r t o f t h e r e d e m p t i o n o f n a t u r e w i l l b e t h e c o n v e r s i o n o f t h e D e a d S e a i n t o a s e a o f f r e s h w a t e r ( E z e k i e l 4 7 : 8 - 9 ) . H e c o n c l u d e s h i s b o o k b y t e l l i n g h o w t h e r e d e e m e d a n d g r e a t l y e x p a n d e d l a n d o f I s r a e l w i l l b e d i v i d e d a m o n g t h e 1 2 t r i b e s ( E z e k i e l 4 8 ) . D a n i e l ’ s e n d t i m e p r o p h e c i e s f o c u s o n t h e T r i b u l a t i o n a n d t h e A n t i c h r i s t . H i s f i r s t m e n t i o n o f t h e M i l l e n n i u m o c c u r s i n c h a p t e r 2 w h e r e h e i n t e r p r e t s t h e d r e a m o f N e b u c h a d n e z z a r a b o u t t h e s e q u e n c e o f G e n t i l e e m p i r e s . H e r e v e a l s t h a t t h e l a s t G e n t i l e e m p i r e w i l l b e d e s t r o y e d b y t h e r e t u r n o f t h e M e s s i a h a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f H i s k i n g d o m “ w h i c h w i l l n e v e r b e d e s t r o y e d ” ( D a n i e l 2 : 4 4 - 4 5 ) . I n c h a p t e r 7 , D a n i e l e m p h a s i z e s t h a t t h e R e d e e m e d w i l l r e i g n w i t h t h e M e s s i a h : “ T h e n t h e s o v e r e i g n t y , t h e d o m i n i o n , a n d t h e g r e a t n e s s o f a l l t h e k i n g d o m s u n d e r t h e w h o l e h e a v e n w i l l b e g i v e n t o t h e p e o p l e o f t h e s a i n t s o f t h e H i g h e s t O n e … ” ( D a n i e l 7 : 2 7 ) . D a n i e l c o n c l u d e s h i s b o o k b y i n d i c a t i n g t h e r e w i l l b e a n i n t e r r e g n u m o f 7 5 d a y s b e t w e e n t h e t i m e o f t h e L o r d ’ s r e t u r n a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f H i s w o r l d w i d e g o v e r n m e n t ( D a n i e l 1 2 : 1 1 -1 2 ) . T h i s i s m o s t l i k e l y t h e p e r i o d o f t i m e w h e n t h e M e s s i a h w i l l j u d g e a l l t h o s e l e f t a l i v e a t t h e e n d o f t h e T r i b u l a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e y w i l l e n t e r t h e M i l l e n n i u m i n t h e f l e s h . T h i s t i m e p e r i o d w i l l a l s o l i k e l y b e u s e d t o o r g a n i z e t h e M e s s i a h ’ s g o v e r n m e n t , p a r t o f w h i c h w i l l b e t o m a k e g o v e r n i n g a s s i g n m e n t s t o t h e R e d e e m e d w h o w i l l b e i n g l o r i f i e d b o d i e s .

Prophecies of the Minor Prophets About the Millennium H o s e a t a l k s a b o u t h o w G o d w i l l u s e t h e M i l l e n n i u m t o f u l f i l l a l l t h e p r o m i s e s H e h a s m a d e t o t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e ( H o s e a 1 : 1 0 - 1 1 , 2 : 1 4 - 2 0 , a n d 1 4 : 4 - 7 ) . H e c o n f i r m s t h a t G o d w i l l e s t a b l i s h p e a c e i n t h e a n i m a l k i n g d o m a n d p e a c e b e t w e e n t h e n a t i o n s ( H o s e a 2 : 1 8 ) . A n d h e m a k e s i t c l e a r t h a t G o d ’ s b l e s s i n g s w i l l a l s o b e p o u r e d o u t o n t h e G e n t i l e s ( H o s e a 2 : 2 3 ) . H o s e a ’ s m o s t f a s c i n a t i n g p r o p h e c y h a s t o d o w i t h t h e t i m i n g o f t h e L o r d ’ s r e t u r n . H e i n d i c a t e s t h a t i t w i l l b e “ t w o d a y s ” a f t e r H i s a s c e n s i o n i n t o H e a v e n ( H o s e a 5 : 1 5 – 6 : 2 ) . T h e c o n t e x t o f t h e p a s s a g e i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e t w o d a y s r e p r e s e n t 2 , 0 0 0 y e a r s . H o s e a s a y s t h a t a f t e r t h e t w o d a y s , t h e M e s s i a h “ w i l l r a i s e u s u p ” ( t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n ) t h a t “ w e m a y l i v e b e f o r e H i m ” f o r “ t h e t h i r d d a y ” ( t h e 1 , 0 0 0 y e a r s o f t h e M i l l e n n i u m ) . J o e l ’ s e n d t i m e p r o p h e c i e s f o c u s m a i n l y o n “ t h e d a y o f t h e L o r d ” w h i c h , i n h i s c o n t e x t , i s t h e d a y o f t h e M e s s i a h ’ s S e c o n d C o m i n g ( J o e l 1 : 1 5 , 2 : 1 , 1 3 a n d 3 : 1 4 ) . B u t h e d o e s g i v e u s a g l i m p s e o f t h e M i l l e n n i u m w h e n h e s t a t e s t h a t w h e n t h e M e s s i a h r e t u r n s , H e w i l l d w e l l “ i n Z i o n , M y h o l y m o u n t a i n ” a n d t h a t J e r u s a l e m w i l l b e c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y h o l i n e s s ( J o e l 3 : 1 7 , 2 1 ) . H e a l s o c o n f i r m s t h a t t h e l a n d w i l l b e r e v i t a l i z e d f o r g r e a t a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n : “ T h e m o u n t a i n s w i l l d r i p w i t h s w e e t w i n e , a n d t h e h i l l s w i l l f l o w w i t h m i l k , a n d a l l t h e b r o o k s o f J u d a h w i l l f l o w w i t h w a t e r ” ( J o e l 3 : 1 8 ) . H e a l s o a f f i r m s t h a t E g y p t w i l l b e a d e s o l a t i o n ( J o e l 3 : 1 9 ) . A m o s p r e s e n t s a p i c t u r e o f t h e M e s s i a h r e t u r n i n g a s a r o a r i n g l i o n ( A m o s 1 : 2 ) . T h e o n l y t h i n g h e h a s t o s a y a b o u t t h e M i l l e n n i u m i s t h a t i t w i l l b e c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y a g r i c u l t u r a l a b u n d a n c e ( A m o s 9 : 1 4 ) — s o m u c h s o t h a t “ t h e p l o w m a n w i l l o v e r t a k e t h e r e a p e r ” ( A m o s 9 : 1 3 ) . O b a d i a h ’ s o n l y s i g n i f i c a n t c o m m e n t a b o u t t h e M i l l e n n i u m i s h i s s t a t e m e n t t h a t i t w i l l b e c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y h o l i n e s s ( O b a d i a h 1 7 ) . J o n a h h a s n o t h i n g t o s a y a b o u t t h e M i l l e n n i u m . M i c a h b e g i n s h i s p r o p h e c y w i t h a v i s i o n o f t h e S e c o n d C o m i n g ( M i c a h 1 : 3 - 4 ) . R e g a r d i n g t h e M i l l e n n i u m , M i c a h p r e s e n t s a g l o r i o u s v i s i o n o f i t a n d d o e s s o i n w o r d s t h a t a r e a l m o s t i d e n t i c a l w i t h I s a i a h ’ s ( M i c a h 4 : 1 - 7 a n d I s a i a h 2 : 2 - 4 ) . H e e m p h a s i z e s t h e p e a c e a n d p r o s p e r i t y t h a t w i l l c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e M i l l e n n i u m ( M i c a h 4 : 3 - 4 ) . H e a l s o u n d e r l i n e s t h e p r o m i s e o f G o d t h a t H e w i l l m a k e t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e t h e p r i m a r y n a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d d u r i n g t h e M i l l e n n i u m ( M i c a h 4 : 6 - 7 ) .

N a h u m e c h o e s J o e l b y f o c u s i n g h i s p r o p h e c i e s o n “ t h e d a y o f t h e L o r d ” ( N a h u m 1 : 1 - 8 ) . T h e o n l y t h i n g h e h a s t o s a y w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e M i l l e n n i u m i s t h a t t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e w i l l e n j o y p e r f e c t p e a c e ( N a h u m 1 : 1 5 ) a n d t h e s p l e n d o r o f t h e i r n a t i o n w i l l b e r e s t o r e d ( N a h u m 2 : 2 ) . H a b a k k u k b e g i n s h i s b o o k b y a s s u r i n g t h e r e a d e r t h a t G o d w i l l b e f a i t h f u l t o s e n d t h e M e s s i a h b a c k “ a t t h e a p p o i n t e d t i m e ” ( H a b a k k u k 2 : 3 ) . H e f o l l o w s t h a t b y p r e s e n t i n g a v e r y d r a m a t i c v i s i o n o f t h e S e c o n d C o m i n g ( H a b a k k u k 3 : 3 - 1 3 ) . H e d o e s n o t h a v e a n y t h i n g t o s a y a b o u t t h e M i l l e n n i u m . Z e p h a n i a h b e g i n s h i s b o o k b y p r e s e n t i n g a p o w e r f u l a n d f r i g h t e n i n g v i s i o n a b o u t t h e S e c o n d C o m i n g ( Z e p h a n i a h 1 : 1 4 - 1 8 ) . H e c o n c l u d e s h i s b o o k w i t h a b r i e f p r o p h e c y a b o u t t h e M i l l e n n i u m ( Z e p h a n i a h 3 : 1 4 - 2 0 ) . H e r e v e a l s t h a t t h e L o r d w i l l r e g a t h e r a l l b e l i e v i n g J e w s b a c k t o t h e l a n d o f I s r a e l a n d t h a t H e w i l l l i v e i n t h e i r m i d s t ( Z e p h a n i a h 3 : 1 7 - 2 0 ) . A n d h e p r o m i s e s t h a t G o d w i l l m a k e t h e J e w i s h n a t i o n t h e p r i m e n a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d ( Z e p h a n i a h 3 : 2 0 ) . H a g g a i a s s e r t s t h a t a t t h e t i m e o f t h e S e c o n d C o m i n g , G o d w i l l s h a k e t h e h e a v e n s a n d e a r t h ( H a g g a i 2 : 6 - 7 ) , o v e r t h r o w i n g a l l G e n t i l e k i n g d o m s ( H a g g a i 2 : 2 2 ) . T h e w e a l t h o f t h e n a t i o n s w i l l b e t r a n s f e r r e d t o J e r u s a l e m , a n d t h e T e m p l e w i l l b e r e b u i l t i n g l o r y ( H a g g a i 2 : 7 ) . A n d t h e n , u s i n g Z e r u b b a b e l , t h e g o v e r n o r o f J u d a h , a s a p r o p h e t i c t y p e o f t h e M e s s i a h , H a g g a i s a y s t h a t G o d w i l l g i v e h i m H i s “ s i g n e t r i n g ” — m e a n i n g t h a t h e w i l l b e c o m e t h e K i n g o f k i n g s a n d L o r d o f l o r d s ( H a g g a i 2 : 2 3 ) . Z e c h a r i a h s a y s t h a t t h e L o r d “ w i l l r e t u r n t o J e r u s a l e m ” a n d w i l l r e b u i l d t h e T e m p l e ( Z e c h a r i a h 1 : 1 6 ) . H e c a l l s u p o n t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e t o “ s i n g f o r j o y a n d b e g l a d ” b e c a u s e t h e L o r d h a s t o l d h i m t h a t “ I a m c o m i n g a n d I w i l l d w e l l i n y o u r m i d s t ” ( Z e c h a r i a h 2 : 1 0 ) . C o n c e r n i n g t h e n a t u r e o f t h e L o r d ’ s r e i g n , Z e c h a r i a h s a y s H e w i l l b e “ a p r i e s t o n H i s t h r o n e , ” c o n f i r m i n g t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t w i l l b e a t h e o c r a c y ( Z e c h a r i a h 6 : 1 2 - 1 3 ) . T h e c i t y o f J e r u s a l e m w i l l b e c a l l e d “ T h e C i t y o f T r u t h ” a n d “ T h e H o l y M o u n t a i n ” ( Z e c h a r i a h 8 : 3 ) . B e l i e v i n g J e w s w i l l b e r e g a t h e r e d f r o m a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d ( Z e c h a r i a h 9 : 1 4 - 1 7 ) , a n d t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f J e r u s a l e m w i l l l i v e i n p e a c e a n d p r o s p e r i t y ( Z e c h a r i a h 8 : 8 , 1 2 ) . T h e J e w i s h p e o p l e w i l l b e s o g r e a t l y b l e s s e d t h a t w h e n a J e w w a l k s b y , t e n G e n t i l e s w i l l g r a b h i s r o b e a n d s a y , “ L e t u s g o w i t h y o u , f o r w e h a v e h e a r d t h a t G o d i s w i t h y o u ” ( Z e c h a r i a h 8 : 2 3 ) . Z e c h a r i a h f u r t h e r s t a t e s t h a t d u r i n g t h e M i l l e n n i u m , a l l t h e n a t i o n s o f t h e w o r l d w i l l b e r e q u i r e d t o s e n d d e l e g a t i o n s t o J e r u s a l e m t o c e l e b r a t e t h e F e a s t o f T a b e r n a c l e s ( Z e c h a r i a h 1 4 : 1 6 ) . T h o s e n a t i o n s t h a t f a i l t o d o s o w i l l r e c e i v e n o r a i n ( Z e c h a r i a h 1 4 : 1 7 - 1 8 ) . Z e c h a r i a h c o n c l u d e s h i s b o o k b y e m p h a s i z i n g t h e h o l i n e s s t h a t w i l l a b o u n d d u r i n g t h e M i l l e n n i u m . H e s a y s t h a t t h e b e l l s o n t h e h o r s e s ’ b r i d l e s w i l l b e e n g r a v e d w i t h t h e w o r d s , “ H o l y t o t h e L o r d ” ( Z e c h a r i a h 1 4 : 2 0 - 2 1 ) . M a l a c h i c o n t a i n s s e v e r a l p a s s a g e s a b o u t t h e S e c o n d C o m i n g , b u t t h e o n l y t h i n g i t s a y s a b o u t t h e M i l l e n n i u m i s t h a t t h e n a m e o f t h e L o r d “ w i l l b e g r e a t a m o n g t h e n a t i o n s ” ( M a l a c h i 1 : 1 1 ) .

Other Old Testament Prophecies T h e r e a r e s c a t t e r e d r e f e r e n c e s a m o n g t h e h i s t o r y b o o k s o f t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t c o n c e r n i n g b o t h t h e S e c o n d C o m i n g a n d t h e M i l l e n n i u m , a n d t h e P s a l m s a r e f u l l o f t h e m , b u t I d o n o t h a v e t h e s p a c e t o l i s t t h e m i n d e t a i l . Y o u c a n f i n d s u c h a l i s t i n g i n m y b o o k , T h e C h r i s t i n P r o p h e c y S t u d y G u i d e . S u f f i c e i t t o s a y t h a t I b e l i e v e I h a v e p r e s e n t e d m o r e t h a n e n o u g h e v i d e n c e t o p r o v e t h a t t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t i s f u l l o f p r o p h e c i e s a b o u t t h e e n d t i m e s a n d t h e M i l l e n n i u m .

Some Final Points S o l e t m e e m p h a s i z e o n c e a g a i n t h a t R e v e l a t i o n 2 0 i s n o t t h e o n l y c h a p t e r i n t h e B i b l e w h e r e t h e M i l l e n n i u m i s p r o p h e s i e d . I t d o e s , h o w e v e r , p r e s e n t u s w i t h s o m e n e w i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t i s n o t m e n t i o n e d e l s e w h e r e :

1 ) S a t a n w i l l b e b o u n d d u r i n g t h e M i l l e n n i u m .

2 ) T h e L o r d ’ s r e i g n w i l l l a s t 1 , 0 0 0 y e a r s . ( T h i s i s s t r o n g l y i m p l i e d i n f i g u r a t i v e l a n g u a g e i n t h e b o o k o f H o s e a . )

3 ) T h e M i l l e n n i u m w i l l e n d w i t h a g r e a t r e v o l t t h a t w i l l b e l e d b y S a t a n a n d w h i c h w i l l b e p u t d o w n b y G o d .

W e a r e t o l d i n t h e b o o k o f A c t s t h a t a f t e r H i s r e s u r r e c t i o n J e s u s s p e n t 4 0 d a y s w i t h H i s d i s c i p l e s “ s p e a k i n g o f t h e t h i n g s c o n c e r n i n g t h e k i n g d o m o f G o d ” ( A c t s 1 : 3 ) . A t t h e e n d o f t h o s e 4 0 d a y s , w h e n H e g a t h e r e d H i s d i s c i p l e s o n t h e M o u n t o f O l i v e s f o r H i s a s c e n s i o n i n t o H e a v e n , t h e y a s k e d H i m , “ L o r d , i s i t a t t h i s t i m e y o u a r e r e s t o r i n g t h e k i n g d o m t o I s r a e l ? ” ( A c t s 1 : 6 ) . H e d i d n o t r e s p o n d b y t e l l i n g t h e m t h e r e w o u l d b e n o k i n g d o m . R a t h e r , H e t o l d t h e m t h a t i t w a s n o t f o r t h e m t o k n o w t h e t i m e ( A c t s 1 : 7 ) . J e s u s l e f t u s w i t h m a n y s i g n s t o w a t c h f o r t h a t w o u l d m a r k t h e s e a s o n o f H i s r e t u r n . T h o s e s i g n s a r e e v e r y w h e r e w e l o o k t o d a y . J e s u s i s r e t u r n i n g s o o n . H e i s g o i n g t o r e i g n i n m a j e s t y f r o m J e r u s a l e m , a n d t h e R e d e e m e d w i l l s h a r e t h a t r e i g n w i t h H i m ( 2 T i m o t h y 2 : 1 2 a n d R e v e l a t i o n 2 : 2 6 - 2 7 ) . W e a r e l i v i n g o n b o r r o w e d t i m e . A r e y o u r e a d y ?