THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM OF JESUS CHRIST!

For some weeks now, we have been dealing with the prophetic word on the things that will surely happen in the future. Look at what God said concerning those that read, hear and keep the words of this prophecy: 

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3).

Last week we looked at “The Battle of Armageddon.” Today, we are going to look at The Millennial Kingdom of Christ. 

The end of the battle of Armageddon marks the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ on earth. Concerning the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, we will be answering some questions:

1. What is the Millennial Kingdom of Christ the Bible talks about? The millennial kingdom is the thousand year reign of Christ on the earth. It is the time Christ will set up His Kingdom on the earth.

2. When will this millennial kingdom begin? It will follow shortly after the tribulation period – after the 7^th bowl judgment.

In order to pinpoint the time for the millennial kingdom, we need to go to the Bible: The Bible says, “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day” (2 Pet. 3:8). 

According to the Bible God created all things in six days, and on the seventh day He rested (Gen. 1:1-2:1-3). Those seven days of creation literally lines up with 7000 years of human history. If you go through the genealogies in the Bible, from Adam to Jesus Christ is 4 days (or 4000 years).

According to the Book of Hosea 6, the Bible talks about the church age of 2000 years. God said, “In the second day yeah in the third day, I will come back to dealing with you, Israel” (Hosea 6).

Since the Bible teaches that there are only 7,000 years of human history, that puts the millennium on the seventh day.

And the 7^th day is the day of rest because on that day God rested from all His works of creation. Genesis 2:2-3 says, “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made” (NLT).

This implies that the millennium will be a time of rest.

3. Are there Old Testament Scriptures concerning the millennial Kingdom of Christ? Yes!

Daniel said, “…His rule is eternal — it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed” (Dan. 7:13-14, NLT).

 Here is the truth: Christ will set up a literal Kingdom that will reign for 1000 years. And after the 1000 years, He will rule forever because His Kingdom is eternal (Lk. 1:33).

Another Scripture says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever…” (Isa. 9:6-7).

“The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations” (Ps. 146:10).

4. Are there also some New Testament Scriptures talking about the millennial reign of Christ? Yes! And the angel said unto her, “…33 and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end” (Lk. 1:30-33). 

5. When Jesus comes back at the battle of Armageddon, He will cast Satan into the bottomless pit for 1000 years (Rev. 20:1-3).

6. Is it possible for anyone to make it through the tribulation?  Yes, but without taking the mark of the beast, because those that refuse to take the mark will be persecuted and even killed. Remember that if you don’t take the mark of the beast, they will cut off your head, unless you run away to a bunker somewhere where you will be hiding for 7 years. But the big question is: Can you stay alive that long without water and food?

7. Will there be some gentiles in the millennial kingdom of Christ? Yes! The gentile nations that helped the Jews during the tribulation will make it into the millennium.

Obviously, the Jews (the 12 tribes of Israel) will be there in the millennium.

And Jesus said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt. 19:28).

8. Realize that in this world, we have two different nations (Matt. 25:31-33): 1) The goat nations (the nations that hate Israel), and 2) The sheep nations (the nations that love Israel).

9. What will happen to the goat nations? When Jesus comes, He will take all the goat nations (the Muslim nations) and send them to hell.

And what of the sheep nations? Jesus will take all the sheep nations and bring them into the millennium. Therefore, it is wisdom to always be on the side of Israel no matter what.

10. When will the millennial Kingdom be over? The millennial kingdom will be over when Jesus puts all His enemies under His feet (1 Cor. 15:23-24). At this point, there will be no more enemies of Jesus Christ in this world. And then Jesus will hand over the earth to the Father. 

11. What will happen after the 1000 years is over? After the thousand years are ended, Satan will be loosed and allowed to deceive the people in the earth one last time, and all who fall for his deceptions will be cast into the lake of fire together with Satan and his demons.  

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea” (Rev. 20:7-8).

The people in the flesh (the people that do things according their own desires) will join Satan to fight Jesus.

12. What will be the fate of these ones that Satan deceived at this time? Fire will come down from God out of heaven, and devour them all. 

“And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Rev. 20:9-10).

13. Following the battle at the end of the millennium is the White Throne Judgment. All the lost people will now come up from the land of the dead to face the White Throne Judgment (Dan. 12:1-2).

“And I saw A GREAT WHITE THRONE, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” (Rev. 20:11-15).

14. After the White Throne Judgment, all the wicked angels, demons and people will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever.

“And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15).

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Ps. 9:17).

This will be the end of earth’s sinful career which started in Genesis 3.

15. This event will usher in the eternal age in which God will make all things new, including the earth and heaven that will be renovated by fire (2 Pet. 3:10-13).  

God will create a new heaven and a new earth, and everybody will now be in a glorified body for all eternity.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone” (Rev. 21:1).

This is when the New Jerusalem will descend out of heaven to the earth. 

The New Jerusalem will be the most beautiful, and perfect eternal paradise for believers (Rev. 21:2, 10-27).

I close with this: Are you saved? Are you living according to the instructions of the Scriptures or according to your own desires? If you die now, where will your final destination be – heaven or hell? So accept Jesus Christ today as your Lord and Saviour, and you’ll be full of joy forever. 

Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit!

• Your friend: I. I. MADUBUNYI (Head Pastor)