UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLICAL MILLENNIUM
We live in the last days of history. The end of life as men now know it is
nearly ended.
Soon Jesus will return. We only have one period of probation-and
that is during our present life. The millennium will not be a thousand years
of glory and peace here on earth. And it will not be an age of technological
progress or a "second chance" for the wicked. All mankind will
not be converted before it, during it, or after it. And neither Christ nor His
redeemed ones will be on the earth during the thousand years. Here is
the truth about the millennium and the events that mark its beginning and end:
1. Jesus is going to return for His people. He promised us that He would (John 14:1-3), and so we can know that He will.
2. There are four identifying marks of His second advent that cannot be counterfeited by false christs: (a) He will come so that all alive on the earth at that time can see Him return (Rev 1:7; Acts 1:9-11; Matt 24:30, 23-27). (b) He will come so all can hear Him as He returns (Matt 24:31, 1 Thess 4:16). (c) He will come in immense glory-that of His own and the millions of angels that will come with Him (Luke 9:26, Matt 28:2-4, Matt 25:31, Rev 6:14-17). (d) He will come unexpectedly (Matt 24:36,44).
3. His second coming will mark the beginning of the millennium. Six
events will take place: (1) He will raise the righteous dead (1 Thess
4:16). (2) He will catch up the righteous living together with the righteous
dead-to meet Him in the clouds
(1 Thess 4:17). (3) He will change
their vile bodies to be like unto His glorious body (Phil 3:20-21) and translate
them
(1 Cor 15:51-55, Isa 25:9). (4) Having gathered all the righteous
(1 Thess 4:17-18, Matt 25:34-40, 24:30-31), He will take His redeemed
ones to heaven (John 14:1-3, 17:24, 1 Thess 4:16-18), (5) He will destroy
the living wicked with the brightness of His coming (Luke 17:26-30, 2 Thess
2:8). (6) He will bind Satan to this earth (Rev 20:2-3).
4. During the millennium, the earth will be desolate (Rev 20:3; Jer 4:23-27; Isa 24:1,3). The wicked are dead (2 Thess 2:8) and there is no man left (Isa 24:20-22, Jer 4:25-26, 25:31-33). Satan is bound on a desolate earth (Rev 20:1-3) and the righteous are in heaven (Rev 20:4,6; Dan 7:22), engaged in a work of judgment (Rev 20:4, 1 Cor 6:1-3, Acts 24:25, Jude 6).
5. At the close of the millennium, the Holy City descends from heaven (Rev 40:9,21:1-5, Zech 14:4,9), the wicked are raised-the "second resurrection" Rev 20:5,first part), and Satan is thus loosed to deceive them again (Rev 20:7-8). Satan and the wicked surround the City to take it (Rev 20:8-9). All of the wicked are destroyed (Rev 20:9) and this earth is made new (Rev 21:1-5, 2 Pet 3:10-14). How we long for the second coming of Christ!
Friend, Jesus loves you and He has made every provision so you can share the
glorious future that He has waiting for you.
Just ask Him into your heart and ask that He will forgive you of your sins and
keep you by His grace. If you stumble don't become discouraged, but day
by day and hour by hour commit your self to Him and He will not fail you. 2
Peter 3: 9, John 3:16, 17, 36.
To learn more about how to be prepared for Jesus soon coming and to understand the Bible and the events of the closing scenes of this earth's history and how to be prepared for what's coming. The Mark of the Beast, Who is the AntiChrist of Revelation, How to be prepared to meet the deceptions that will make all the world wonder after the Beast Revelation of 13:3, How America will annul the constitution and inforce the Mark of the Beast and much, much more. Order the Bible Reference Library.