1-SPIRITUAL WARFARE (MILLENNIUM)



HYPERLINK \l "Life_in_Interm_Heaven" Life In The Intermediate HeavenThy Kingdom Come – The MillenniumThe Nature of the Millennial KingdomApostle John’s Description of the MillenniumNew Heavens and a New EarthLife After The TribulationThe Kingdom was Promised to the PatriarchsThe Kingdom was Established by JesusThe Kingdom will be Demonstrated during the Millennium HYPERLINK \l "Israel" Items Dealing with Israel GeographyEcologyHealthGovernmentWorship and BeliefThe NationsAssyriaEgpytPhilistiaMoabDamascusEthiopiaEdomArabiaTyreKedar and ElamZidon and SidonAmmonites HYPERLINK \l "Fall_Away" If they fall awayNations in Eternity HYPERLINK \l "Final_Millennium_Commentary" Final Millennium commentaryLIFE IN THE INTERMEDIATE HEAVENWe can learn a great deal about the intermediate Heaven from three key verses in Revelation: (Rev 6:9-11)."When [the Lamb] opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, 'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our bloods Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed" These verses demonstrate a vital connection between the events and people in Heaven and the events and people on Earth.1. When these people died on Earth, they relocated to heaven (v.9).2. These people in Heaven were the same ones killed for Christ while on Earth (v.9). This demonstrates direct continuity between our identity on Earth and our identity in Heaven. The martyrs' personal history extends directly back to their lives on Earth. Those in the intermediate Heaven are not different people they are the same people relocated righteous men made perfect (Heb 12:23).3. People in Heaven will be remembered for their lives on Earth. These were known and identified as ones slain "because of... the testimony they had maintained" (v.9).4 'They called out" (v.10) means they are able to express themselves audibly. This could suggest they exist in physical form, with vocal cords or other tangible means to express themselves.5. People in the intermediate Heaven can raise their voices (v.10). This indicates that they are rational, communicative, and emotional-even passionate-beings, like people on Earth.6. They called out in “a loud voice," not "loud voices." Individuals speaking with one voice indicate that Heaven is a place of unity and shared perspective.7. The martyrs are fully conscious, rational, and aware of each other, God, and the situation on Earth.8. They ask God to intervene on Earth and to act on their behalf: "How long. .. until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" (v.10).9. Those in Heaven are free to ask God questionsThey have audience with God. It also means they need to learn. In Heaven, people desire understanding and pursue it.10. People in the intermediate Haven know what's happening on Earth (v.10). The martyrs know enough to realize that those who killed them have not yet been judged.11. Heaven dwellers have a deep concern for justice and retribution (v.10). When we go to Heaven, we won't adopt a passive disinterest in what happens on the earth. Our concerns will be more passionate and our thirst for justice greater. Neither God nor we will be satisfied until his enemies are judged, our bodies raised, sin and Satan defeated, Earth restored, and Christ exalted over all.12. The martyrs clearly remember their lives on Earth (v.10). They remember that they were murdered13. The martyrs in Heaven pray for judgment on their persecutors who are still at work hurting others. They are acting in solidarity with, and in effect interceding for, the suffering saints on Earth. This suggests that saints in Heaven are both seeing and praying for saints on Earth.14. Those in Heaven see God's attributes ("Sovereign ... holy and true') in a way that makes his judgment of sin more understandable.15. Those in Heaven are distinct individuals: 'each of them was given a white robe" (v.11). There isn't one merged identity that obliterates uniqueness, but a distinct "each of them."16. The martyrs' wearing white robes suggests the possibility of actual physical forms Disembodied spirits presumably don't wear robes. The robes may well have symbolic meaning but it doesn't mean they couldn't also be physical. The martyrs appear to have physical forms that John could actually see.17. God answers their question (v.11), indicating communication and process in Heaven. It also demonstrates that we won't know everything in Heaven - if we did, we would have no questions. The martyrs knew more after God answered their question than before they asked it. There is learning in the present Heaven.18. God promises to fulfill the martyrs requests, but says they will have to "wait a little longer" (v.11). Those in the intermediate Heaven live in anticipation of the future fulfillment of God's promises. Unlike the eternal Heaven where there will be no more sin, Curse, or suffering on the New Earth (Rev 21:4), the present Heaven coexists with and watches over an Earth under sin, the Curse, and suffering.19. There is time in the intermediate Heaven (vv.10-11). The white-robed martyrs ask God a time dependent question: "How long, Sovereign Lord ... Until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" (v.10). They are aware of time's passing and are eager fist the corning day of the Lord's judgment. God answers that they must "wait a little longer" until certain events transpire on Earth. Waiting requires the passing of time.20. The people of God in Heaven have a strong familial connection with those on Earth, who are called their "fellow servants and brothers' (v. 11). We share the same Father, "from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named" (Eph 3:15, ESV). We are one family with those who’ve gone to Heaven ahead of us. After we go to Heaven, we’Il still be one family with those, yet on Earth. 21. Our sovereign God knows down to the last detail all that is happening and will happen on Earth (v.11), including every drop of blood shed and every hit of suffering undergone by his children. God knows exactly how many martyrs there will be. God knows the name and story of each one and he is prepared to return and set up his Kingdom when the final martyr dies.What is true of this group of martyrs is also true of our loved ones already in Heaven and will be true of us when we die.DO HEAVEN'S INHABITANTS REMEMBER LIFE ON EARTH?If the martyrs depicted in Revelation 6 clearly remember their martyrdom, there’s no reason to assume they would forget other aspects of their earthly lives. We'll likely remember much more in Heaven than we do on Earth, and we will probably be able to see how God and angels intervened on our behalf when we didn't realize it.In Heaven, those who endured bad things on Earth are comforted for them (Luk 16:25). This comfort implies memory of what happened. After we die, we will give an account of our lives on Earth, down to specific actions and words (2Co 5:10; Mat 12:36). We must be able to remember the things we II give an account for. The doctrine of eternal rewards hinges on specific acts of faithfulness done on Earth that survive the believer's judgment and are brought into Heaven with us (1Co 3:14). Our righteous deeds on Earth will not be forgotten but "will follow" us to Heaven (Rev 14:13). The positions of authority and the treasures were granted in Heaven will perpetually remind us of our life on Earth, because what we do on Earth will care us those rewards (Mat 6:19-21; 19:21; Luk 12:33; 19:17, 19; 1Ti 6:19; Rev 2:26-28).God keeps a record in Heaven of what people do on Earth, both unbelievers and believers. We know that record will outlast our life on Earth - for believers at least until the judgment seat of Christ (2Co 5:10);- for unbelievers, right up until the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-13), just preceding the coming of the near heavens and New Earth. The "scroll of remembrance" mentioned in Mal 3:16, is now is being written in Heaven concerning those living on Earth.If we are truly ourselves in Heaven, there must be continuity of memory from Earth to Heaven. We will not be different people, but the same people marvelously relocated and transformed. Heaven cleanses us but does not revise or extinguish our origins or history. We will remember and see clearly God's works of grace in our lives that comforted, assured, sustained, and empowered us to live for him.DO PEOPLE IN THE INTERMEDIATE HEAVEN SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING ON EARTH?If the martyrs in Heaven know that God hasn't yet brought judgment on their persecutors (Rev 6:9-11). it seems evident that the inhabitants of the intermediate Heaven can see what's happening on Earth, at least to some extent. When Babylon is brought down, an angel points to events happening on Earth and says, (Rev 18:20). "Rejoice over her, 0 heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you" That the angel specifically addresses people living in Heaven indicates they're aware of what's happening on Earth.There is (Rev 19:1-5). "the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: Hallelujah!" and praising God for specific events of judgment that have just taken place on Earth The saints in Heaven are clearly observing what is happening on Earth.Heavens saints return with Christ to set up his millennial kingdom (Rev 19:11-14), It seems unthinkable to imagine they would have remained ignorant of the culmination of human history taking place on Earth. The picture of saints in Heaven blissfully unaware of what is transpiring on Earth seems insubstantial. God and his angels (and the saints themselves are about to return for the ultimate battle in the history of the universe, after which Christ will be crowned king. Those on Earth may be ignorant of Heaven, but those in Heaven are not ignorant of Earth.In the Old Testament account of King Saul wrongly appealing to the witch of Endor to call upon Samuel to come back from the afterlife, the medium was terrified when God actually sent Samuel. Samuel remembered what Saul had done before Samuel died, and he was aware of what had happened since he died (1Sa 28:16-19). Though God could have briefed Samuel on all this, it seems likely the prophet knew simply because those in Heaven are aware of what happens on Earth.When called from Heaven to the Transfiguration on Earth, Moses and Elijah (Luk 9:31). “appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. They were fully aware of the drama they'd stepped into, aware of what was currently transpiring on Earth, and of God's redemptive plan about to be accomplished They surely they returned to Heaven remembering what they'd discussed with Jesus.Heb 12:1 tells us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us," creating the mental picture of the Greek competitions, which were watched intently by throngs of engrossed fans sitting high up in the ancient stadiums. The 'great cloud of witnesses" refers to the saints who have gone before us, whose accomplishments on the playing field of life are now part of our rich history. The witnesses are said to "surround" us, not merely to have preceded us.) Even if, as some argue, the word witnesses may refer to their faithful service for God more than to the idea of their watching us, other passages clearly demonstrate Heaven’s awareness of Earth.The imagery suggests that those saints, the spiritual 'athletes" of old, are now watching us and cheering us on from the great stadium of Heaven that looks down on the field of Earth, In Heaven, Christ watches closely what transpires on Earth, especially in the lives of God's people (Rev 2-3). The saints in heaven would certainly be doing what their Lord is doing, interested in His interests.Angels saw Christ on Earth (1Ti 3:16). There are clear indications that the angels know what is happening on Earth (1Co 4:9; 1Ti 5:21). It seems the people of God in Heaven would have as much of an interest in the spiritual events happening on Earth as angels do. We expect that the body and bride of Christ in Heaven is intensely interested in the rest of the body and bride of Christ still living on Earth.Abraham and Lazarus saw the rich man in Hell (Luk 16:23-26). If it is possible, at least in some cases, to see Hell from Paradise, why would people be unable to see Earth from Heaven?(Luk 15:7). 'There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent" (Luk 15:10). "there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" Who is doing this rejoicing in Heaven? Notice it does not speak of rejoicing by the angels but in the presence of angels. Not only God but also His saints who are in Heaven rejoice at the conversion of those they know and loved on Earth. If they rejoice over conversions happening on Earth, then obviously they must be aware of what is happening on Earth - and not just generally, but specifically, down to the details of individuals coming to faith in Christ.CAN IT BE HEAVEN IF PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF ANYTHING BAD ON EARTH?God knows exactly what’s happening on Earth, yet it doesn't diminish Heaven for him. Angels in Heaven see the torment of Hell, but it doesn’t negate their joy in God's presence (Rev 14:10). While the story does not suggest that people in Heaven continually or nerally gaze into Hell, Abraham and Lazarus saw the rich man's agonies in Hell, but it didn't cause Paradise to cease to be Paradise (Luk 16:23-26). Nothing they could see on Earth could ruin Heaven for them. Its also possible that even though joy would predominate in the intermediate Heaven, there could be periodic sadness because there's still so much evil and pain on Earth. Jesus said,Acts 9:4-5 `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me," When Said asked who he was, he replied, `I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." Christ's identification with those being persecuted on Earth suggests He's currently hurting for his people, even as He's in Heaven?It's one thing to no longer cry because there's nothing left to cry about, which will be true on the New Earth. But ii s something else to no longer cry when there's still suffering on Earth. Going into the presence of Christ surely does not make us less compassionate.The verse most often quoted on the subject of sorrow in Heaven, refers specifically to the eternal Heaven, the New Earth. Rev 21:4 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." The intermediate Heaven and the eternal Heaven are not the same. Christ's promise of no more tears or pain comes in Eternity, in the New Heavens and New Earth, after the end of the old Earth, after the Great White Throne Judgment, after "the old order of things has passed away" and there's no more suffering on Earth.Happiness in Heaven is not based on ignorance or not remembering but on perspective. Those who live in the presence of Christ find great joy in worshiping God and living as righteous beings in rich fellowship in a sinless environment. Because God is continuously at work on Earth, the saints watching from Heaven have a great deal to praise him for, including God's drawing people on Earth to himself (Luk 15:7, 10). Those in the present Heaven are also looking forward to Christ's return, their bodily resurrection, the final judgment, and the fashioning of the New Earth from the ruins of the old. Only then in our eternal home, will all evil and suffering and sorrow be washed away by the hand of God. Only then will we experience the fullness of joy intended by God and purchased for us by Christ at an unfathomable cost.On this dying Earth we can relax and rejoice for our loved ones who are in the presence of Christ. Though we naturally grieve at losing loved ones, we are not "to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope" (1Th 4:13)Our parting is only an interruption. We have not "lost" them, because o "will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words" (1Th 4:17-18).THY KINGDOM COME: THE MILLENNIUM Most of the major denominations Roman Catholic and Protestant embrace an eschatology ("study of last things") that is ‘amillennial’: a view that does not envision a literal rule of Christ on the Throne of David on the Planet Earth.This denying a literal Millennium is particularly dangerous in that it would appear to be an attack on the very character of God! It does violence to His numerous and explicit promises and commitments that pervade both the Old and New Testaments. There are at least 1,845 references in the Old Testament and 17 books give prominence to a literal Messiah ultimately ruling the world through Israel from His throne in Jerusalem.Ancient rabbinical aspirations were dominated by it. There are at least 318 references in 216 chapters of the New Testament and 23 of its 27 books give prominence to the event. The early church looked for His promised return as their "Blessed Hope" to rid their desperate world of its evil rulers. Tit 2:11-14 NKJV For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.OrigenOrigen stands out as one of the great figures of the 3rd century church. Even at the age of 18, he stood out spectacularly well as a teacher in Alexandria. In misguided obedience to Mat 19:12, he emasculated himself, which he later regretted.Mat 19:12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it."Later, as a prolific writer based in Caesarea, his De Principiis systematically laid out Christian doctrine in terms of Hellenic thinking and set the pattern for most subsequent theological thought for many years. His numerous sermons and commentaries tragically established an extreme pattern of allegorizing Scripture, which was to strongly influence Augustine in subsequent years.AugustineAugustine, the Bishop of Hippo (A.D. 354 430), was one of the most influential leaders of the Western church, living during the turbulent days of the disintegration of the Roman Empire.He lived a sensuous, dissolute life, but following a dramatic conversion he experienced a total change of character. In 391 he was ordained as a priest in North Africa and 4 years later was elevated to the Bishop of Hippo. He embarked on a writing career and his extensive doctrinal writings deeply affected the Medieval Roman Catholic Church. Augustine's most elaborate writing, The City of God , was written as the Empire lay crumbling under a siege by half civilized tribes. It portrayed the Church as a new civic order in the midst of the ruins of the Roman Empire. Augustine died while the Vandals were besieging the very gates of Hippo in A.D. 430.Although his writings effectively defeated a number of heresies emerging in those turbulent times, the allegorizing influences of Origen left an amillennial eschatology in their wake. As the Church had increasingly become an instrument of the state, it wasn't politically expedient to look toward a literal return of Christ to rid the world of its evil rulers! The allegorical reposturing of those passages was more "politically correct." The Reformation Shortfall A thousand years later, under the influences of Martin Luther and others, the Reformation brought an intensive return to the authority of the Scriptures which, in turn, resulted in the subsequent reform in soteriology (the study of salvation) with its emphasis on salvation by faith alone. Many were willingly burned at the stake for their commitment to a Biblical perspective. However, one of the unfortunate shortcomings of the Reformation was that it failed to also reexamine the eschatology of the Medieval Church in the light of Scripture. Thus, the allegorizing alchemy of Origen, institutionalized by Augustine, left a denial of the Millennium that still continues to pervade the doctrines of most Protestant denominations today.From Augustine to Auschwitz One of the derivative aspects of an amillennial perspective is that it denies Israel's future role in God's plans. This led to a "replacement theology" in which the Church is viewed as replacing Israel in God's program for mankind. The forced allegorization of many key passages of Scripture, led to the tragedy of the Holocaust in Europe. The responsibility for the six million Jews who were systematically murdered in the concentration camps has to include the silent pulpits who had embraced this heretical eschatology and its attendant anti-Semitism.Reality of the Millennium For anyone who takes the Bible seriously, the numerous explicit commitments of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that the Messiah would literally rule from Zion cannot be ignored or explained away. God's explicit and unconditional commitment of the land of Israel to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the very issue that is being challenged by the world today! The resurgence of amillennialism, and its attendant doctrines, are again setting the stage for the next holocaust. In the New Testament, these commitments are reconfirmed. Every Christmas we are reminded that Gabriel promised Mary that her son was destined to sit on the Throne of David (which did not exist during the days of His ministry). Luk 1:31-33 NKJV And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."It is yet to be fulfilled and He taught us to pray specifically for it: "Thy Kingdom come...." The thousand year reign, from which the Millennium takes its label, is detailed in numerous passages including Rev 20, Isa 65, and Eze 40-48, among others. Ezekiel's detailed tour of the Millennial Temple virtually defies any skeptic's attempt to treat it allegorically.A Temple encompassing an area 50 miles on a side, located substantially to the north of Jerusalem, which is a source of a river that flows toward both the Mediterranean to the west and the Dead Sea to the east, Ezekiel's description implies a total change of topography, which is explicitly detailed in the Scripture. The more we learn about the Millennium, the more questions it raises. It is not heaven: It is clearly distinctive in contrast to the eternal state which follows (Rev 21). It will be characterized by a limited amount of evil, which Christ will judge perfectly and immediately. Isa 11:1-16Neither is it the "new earth" that God will yet create; for therein righteousness dwells, which is something not true of the Millennium.Isa 65:17 NKJV "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.H2142 ??? za?kar rememberedto remember, recall, call to mind, be thought of, be brought to mind, keep in remembrance, to mentionIsa 66:22 NKJV "For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain.2Pe 3:13 NKJV Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.Rev 21:1 NKJV Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.Millennium Paradoxes Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, a highly respected Messianic scholar, suggests that death in the Millennium will be for unbelievers only. Nowhere in the Bible does it speak of a resurrection of Millennial saints. This may be why the resurrection of the tribulation saints is said to complete the "first resurrection" (Rev 20:4-6). From the New Covenant in Jer 31:31-34, it would seem that there will be no Jewish unbelievers in the kingdom; Jews born during the Millennium will accept the Messiah before their 100th year. Isa 65:20Unbelief would thus be among the Gentiles only, and therefore, death would exist only among the Gentiles.Arnold Fruchtenbaum, p.273. Cf. Jerusalem in the Millennium: pp.330ff.Jer 31:35-37 refutes "Reconstructionism" and similar heresies.] Another strange issue is the prominence of sacrifices in the Millennium. It would seem that they are memorials after the fact, just as the sacrifices in the Old Testament were memorials in advance. Heb 10:4 ff.THE MILLENNIUM, LITERAL OR SYMBOLIC'... a thousand years ... the thousand years ... a thousand years ... the thousand years ... a thousand years... the thousand years ... (Rev. 20:27)The Latin phrase for thousand years has given us the English word "millennium," The theological world has been divided between postmillennial, premillennial, and amillennial interpretations of the Bible.There have been protagonists on the one side and on the other who have attempted to bolster up their theory by an appeal to theology or church history. One claims that the other is a modern addition to the field of theology and the other claims the reverse. To us, all such arguments are worthless. The Scriptures, when fully understood, when all of the teaching of the Word is taken into consideration, cannot contradict themselves. (2 Tim. 3:16) "all scripture" which is Godbreathed and "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" so that every bornagain child of God may, indeed, be perfect, and thoroughly furnished to every good work.Historically, theologians have taken the thousand years as descriptive of a specific period of time, whether literally or symbolized, that would someday be upon earth.Those who take it as symbolic have difficulty in explaining why the specific time frame of 1,000 years is used and repeated so often.During this time, it is generally agreed, righteousness would rule upon the earth. The main division between theologians concerned the matter of how the millennial reign of Christ would be brought about. Postmillenarians believed that the Church, little by little, would bring righteousness on the earth, until the whole world would be converted, all would be under the sway of the church, and that Christ would rule the earth spiritually through the church on earth during this period of time. Then after (post) the millennium, the Lord would come forth from Heaven to judge the world and would bring in the new Heavens and the new earth for the eternal state. Premillenarians believed that conditions would continue much as they are today, with good and bad continuing side by side until the end of the present age, when Christ at His 2nd Coming would come from Heaven personally, before (pre) the millennium, and would reign upon the earth personally, through redeemed Israel and the glorified church, after which the wicked would be judged and the new Heavens and the new earth would be established in their eternal state.The 19th century and the first third of the 20th century witnessed the practical death of the postmillennial idea. The postmillenarian theory was the first casualty that followed the great recrudescence of prophetic study which broke out about a century ago.The exponents of this idea today are mostly aged men whose concept has not changed in their lifetime from that which they adopted in youth, or else the men who hold this idea have adopted so many ideas of unbelief in the person and the work of Christ, and have preached "the social gospel" to the exclusion of the gospel of grace to such an extent that their place is, no longer found in conservative, evangelical circles. If the postmillenarian theory were held for the slightest moment it would be necessary to throw great sections of the Bible away. All the promises made to literal Israel would have to be nullified and explained in terms of some supposed spiritual application to the Church, contradicting many other promises to the Church.Taking the place of postmillenarianism there arose a new theory called amillenarianism.People did not. bother too much about prophecy before a 100-150 years ago, and certainly this new school had few followers before the rapid breakup of the postmillenarian school. The followers of this school believe, like the premillenarians, that conditions will continue much as they are today, with good and bad continuing side by side until the end of the present age, when Christ will come from Heaven, personally; but at this point they depart all and say that there will be no (a) millennium at all, and that the phrase is merely a figure of something spiritual, and that we are not to expect Christ to have any earthly reign. Much of the disagreement between the amillenarian and the pre-millennial believer in the literal reign of Christ is that extremists have muddied the waters. There have been some, who have hijacked the label “dispensationalists”, who have taken positions which are not tenable in the light of Scripture. There is one great passage of Scripture which, we believe, clears up many of these difficulties that arise out of various uses of the word "kingdom" in the Bible. That the Old Testament contains hundreds of references to a kingdom over which Messiah is to rule is as obvious as though we should state that there was water in the ocean. Amillenarians have attempted to take all of these passages and to apply them to the church. The "spiritualizing" of Scripture to give it a meaning other than the plain and the evident, should really be called by another name, for the Holy Spirit would never treat Scripture.This "spiritualizing" is one extreme position. The other extreme position is that of the dispensationalist who attempts to take much of the Scripture away from the believer by saying that there is no such thing as the kingdom of Christ on earth today because he believes that there will be a literal kingdom, yet to come. He would take away the Gospels, especially Matthew, and say that this is not for the Church but that it is future.Between these two extremes there is the centrality of truth. If certain passages in Matthew had been properly understood, neither side could have gone to these extremes. When our Lord first began to teach in parables He was immediately questioned by His followers who began to wonder why He used such a teaching method. (Mat 13:11). "Why speakest thou unto them in parables?" they asked, and He answered, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given . . ." (Mat 13:34, 35),"All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world" The mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven refers to matters unknown in the Old Testament, and, therefore, there are two absolutely distinct phases of the kingdom. When this is understood, it does away with the theories of the nonmillenarians on the one side and the extreme dispensationalists on the other side. The a-millenarians are wrong when they apply Old Testament kingdom passages to the church and The dispensationalists are wrong when they say that the church is in no wise a kingdom. The truth is that there is a literal kingdom, announced in hundreds of passages in the Old Testament, and' ardently expected by the Jews in the day of Christ, but announced as postponed until after the Church age, and there is the kingdom in its mystery aspect, moving today from heart to heart among those who are born again. So we come back to the fact that there are hundreds of promises in the Old Testament which concern a literal kingdom. There are to be considered all the promises which refer to a literal gift of the land of Palestine to Israel. The Lord God told Abraham that He had brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees in order that He might give him that land for a possession (Gen 15:7). When Abraham asked God, "Whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?" the Lord gave to Abraham a pageant of sacrifice which is a pure picture of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross as a proof that the land should belong to his seed, even as it had been promised.In Jer 33, God gives to the prophet promises so literal concerning the earthly kingdom of Israel that it is impossible to get around them. We do not for a moment follow those dispensationalists who have said that there are no spiritual promises to Israel, or that Israel was not the elect people of God. There is the larger Israel, including both saved and unsaved, including all of the physical posterity of Abraham through Isaac. Then there is the spiritual Israel, objects of the loving grace of God, saved through faith in God's great redemptive work by looking forward to Christ even as we are saved by looking backward to Christ. We must not overlook the definite, literal, earthly, kingdom promises of the Word. To Jeremiah God promised that "this city" (Jer 33:4), the very one that had been polluted by dead bodies of victims of the anger of God and had caused Him to hide His face from "this city," should be cured and cleansed. (Jer 33:1017). "There shall be heard in this place . . . the voice of joy, and the voice of gladness ... Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, Again in this place ... shall be an habitation . . and the flocks shall pass again . . . Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised . . In those days and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord. our righteousness. For thus saith the Lord: David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel..." And just as the original promise to Abraham was confirmed by a symbol of the cross of Jesus Christ, so these promises are confirmed by one of the mightiest of God's comparisons of truth. (Jer 33:20, 21). "Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne . ." In other words, the promises of a literal, earthly kingdom cannot be broken until someone has found a way to stop the earth turning on its axis, so that day and night can be brought to an end.The belief of Christians in a literal, earthly kingdom is not built on 6 verses in Revelation 20, but that it is a theme that runs through the entire Word of God. The Millennium Must Be LiteralIf there is to be no earthly kingdom, then man has an excuse that he can offer to God, and every mouth will not be stopped, as the Word of God tells us that it will be (Rom 3:19). The history of society demonstrates that man is not able to control his fellows, and there are many who would admit the need of a supergovernment from above, although man, in his unchanged condition, does not wish Christ to reign over him any more today than he did when he cried out for His crucifixion. Today man is living in a situation that may be simply described as a free offer of salvation through grace without any limitations or conditions whatsoever. "Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). But man does not accept this offer of free grace. Instead there are a thousand excuses and there are innumerable plans, for the proper government of all mankind by man himself.We have never seen a' line in any biblical commentator which deals with the fact that the Word of God prophesies conditions that are similar to those hoped for by these literary, political or social idealists using their own efforts.This leads naturally to the necessity for a literal reign of Christ on earth to the nature of that reign. Everything ever imagined by man as a possible solution of the world's problems will be brought into the conditions set up at that time, and that the millennium will be the perfect trial period for every device which the natural heart has imagined as a possible cure for the ills of mankind.THE NATURE OF THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOMWe turn to the Bible for an outline of the nature of the future kingdom period. First of all, it is to be a period without the presence of any supernatural power of enmity. Satan and all his hosts will be out of the way, bound for the thousandyear period. The kingdom rule of Christ, therefore, shall be the fullest test of the natural heart of unbelief with all its enmity against God.Second, the framework of the final test of mankind will be a world from which all the curse upon the material world shall have been removed. (Rom 8:1923). "For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. Because the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only the creation, but . . . even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body" This passage teaches that the material world is to be released from the bondage which came upon it at the time of the curse, and that this is to happen at the time when the sons of God are manifested and their bodies redeemed. This dates the prophecy as being fulfilled at the time of the first resurrection, and at the moment of the completion of that first resurrection in its various stages.There are many passages in the Bible which speak' of the nature of that change and the removal of the curse. It is to affect the earth itself. (Isa 41:1820) "For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the ' brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off" (Isa. 55:12, 13). And again, "I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together. That they may see, and know, and consider,. and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it".To argue that, botanically speaking, some of these growths cannot live in tropical climates, as one commentator, at least, has done, is to argue against the divine element in all this fulfillment. He who is able to subdue all things unto Himself (Php 3:21) will take care of the details. There are to be profound astronomical changes, since the powers of the sun and the moon are to be definitely changed (Isa 30:26).There will be definite geographical changes that will play their part. While we cannot know all that shall come to pass at that time, we are given to see dimly certain of the changes. The Mount of Olives is to be divided, and there shall be a "very great valley," probably bringing the Mediterranean to the doors of Jerusalem, and part of the land that is now below the sea shall be lifted up to a higher level (Zec 14:4, 10). A river shall flow out of the sanctuary at Jerusalem, dividing into two branches, one flowing to the Mediterranean (Zech. 14:8), and the other flowing down into what is now the Dead Sea, bringing those waters to a height where they shall flow into the Red Sea, healing the waters of the Dead Sea so that they shall be alive with fish (Eze 47:810)'. The fertility of the ground and the productivity of crops will be enormously increased, possibly to the extent of a new crop each month (Eze 47:12). This will make possible a vastly increased population, so that there may be billions and billions of people living on the earth.Not only will the material earth be changed, but the nature of the animals on the, earth will be changed. Those that are now carnivorous shall become herbivorous, the lion eating straw like the ox. (Isa 11:6, 7) "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the failing together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox" (Isa 11:8, 9) There shall be no more poison in those insects or reptiles that now have the power to , kill, for "the sucking child shall. play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain". The only mark of the curse that will remain in the natural world is that the serpent will still go rampant (Isa 65:25). This will be one of two awful symbols that will be present to the eyes of the world's peoples. \The peoples who inhabit the earth at the beginning of this kingdom on the transformed earth are of two kinds. We have already seen that the judgment of the nations excludes from participation in the kingdom all of the nations which have rejected the Lord in His messengers during the tribulation period. The "sheep" nations are taken into the kingdom, and thus are blessed of the Father (Mat 25:34). It should be definitely realized that there is no hint that these nations are composed of individuals who are all redeemed. There can be no doubt that there are many who are still "natural" men, receiving not the things of the Spirit (1Co 2:14), with the carnal mind, which is enmity against God (Rom 8:7).There are several proofs of this existence of sin in the millennial kingdom. We have seen that one of its outstanding purposes is the complete test of human nature under perfect conditions to reveal its corrupt inwardness. The Bible definitely teaches that there shall be sin and physical death during this period of Christ's reign. We know that man, before the flood, lived for centuries. So shall it be in the millennial kingdom. (Isa 65:20) Anyone dying at a hundred shall be as a child, and the sinner, at a hundred years of age shall be accursed.Not only will there be these tremendous physical advantages for man in the millennium, but there will be great economic and social advantages. These grow out of the governmental aspects of the millennium. (Psa 2:9). The Lord shall break and rule with a rod of iron, and shall dash His enemies to pieces as a potter's vessel He shall do this by means of the saints of the Old Testament and New Testament periods, who shall be given exactly the same power that He received of the Father (Rev 2:27), and who shall rule from the newly erected throne of Christ (Rev 3:21; Mat 25:31). "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?" (1Co.6:2). In accordance with the capacities developed during this life, to the one shall be given rule over one city, to another over five, to another over ten, even as Christ said (Luk 19:1624). At all events, the government of Christ will be exercised, primarily, through the saints ruling as His agents.The secondary delegation of power shall be from the saints, already in their eternal bodies, to the Jews on earth, now born again and receiving all the promises that were sworn to them in Abraham and David. (Rom 11: 29, 26, 27). "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance .. . And so all Israel [living at the time of the Lord's return in glory] shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins" It can readily be understood, from this governmental setup, that righteousness shall cover the earth as the waters cover the seas. There will be sinful, rebellious hearts, hating the government of God, but there shall be a prohibition of all evil, and any outward manifestation's of evil shall be dealt with by the immediate presence and flashing power of God's righteous instruments of government. It would appear that physical death would be the immediate portion of those who persist in open sin. The economic and social results of such a system of government are immediately apparent. There shall be no more wars. (Isa 2:4). "He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" That does not mean that the selfishness, the true cause of war (Jas 4:1), shall have disappeared from the human heart.There will be no more economic exploitation. Every man will be a land owner. (Mic 4:4). They shall all sit, every man under his own vine and fig tree Just as there will be no national power, whatsoever, that shall be in opposition to the kingdom power of the Messiah, so there shall be no spiritual or religious power in opposition to Him. Every human being upon the earth shall know that the Bible is the Word of God. Every human being shall see the flashing saints as they go about their government for God. Every human being shall look upon the Lord Jesus Christ. But many, many will be hating Him, even as they look.The Gospel shall be preached, even as it is preached today. There will be talk about sin and redemption. The story of the fall and the curse will be told, and the serpent, though robbed of its poison (Isa 11:8), shall still have its crawling body that brings a chill to hearts as they behold it. The serpent will be visible as a reminder of the fall and the curse which hearts, though knowing it to be true, will not wish to admit. Thus the depravity of the human heart is brought out in sharpest relief. Men shall be told that Christ died. These words would have little effect in a world where there is no longer any death by violence. There will, therefore, be the visible symbol of that death, seen on the altar at Jerusalem, and visible, no doubt by television, to every soul on earth. A young bullock, a kid, a ram and a goat will be killed at various times, and the nations of the world shall see the blood flow. The literal interpretation of the prophecy of the killing of these sacrifices (Eze 43:1927) has been bitterly fought by many because they did not understand the nature of the millennium.THE APOSTLE JOHN'S DESCRIPTION OF THE MILLENNIUMRevelation 20 describes the Millennium. It immediately follows the Glorious Return of Christ in Revelation 19, which was discussed above. This short chapter may be considered in three parts:Preparation for the Period (verses 1-3); Progress during the period (verses 4-6); and Postscript to the period (verses 7-15).Preparation for the period(Rev 20:1-3) And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. At the outset of the Millennium the devil will be cast into the Abyss. The Greek word abussos means "without depth.” In this passage the word is used alone but in Revelation 9:1 it is used as an adjective for another Greek word, phrear, which means "cistern," or "prison.” Together, these words are often translated "bottomless pit."In this pit Satan will be confined for the entire 1.000 years of Christ's righteous reign on Earth. Progress during the period(Rev 20:4-6) I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. The First Resurrection: Raised to eternal lifeThose believers and followers of Yeshua who were converted during the tribulation period and had been put to death -- the martyrs of the tribulation period -- will be raised from the dead (Rev 20:4). They are those who would not receive the Mark of the Beast and will have been put to death for their faith in Christ. They are raised again as part of the "first resurrection.” Jesus Himself was the "first-fruits" of this first resurrection. At the Rapture believers of the church age are raised as part of this first resurrection. Now we see these believers also joining the ranks of this first type of resurrection.Old Testament Saints are also resurrected to eternal life.(Dan 12:1-2) At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people -- everyone whose name is found written in the book -- will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. In John 5, Jesus also spoke of the coming day when the dead would rise in two separate resurrections, at his command:(John 5:25-29) I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.”Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out -- those who have done good will rise to live and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. This resurrection of the saints of Israel who lived and died before Christ's First Advent will probably take place at the same time as the resurrection of the Tribulation martyrs since they are a continuation of believing Israel during the last "week" of Daniel's "70 Weeks."Judgment of BelieversBelievers of the Church Age will have already appeared at the Bema Seat Judgment where whatever was done for Christ will be the basis of rewards, which, in turn, are given to Christ to prove our love to Him (1Co 3:10-15; Rev 4:10-11).The exact nature of the judgment of other believers -- the Old Testament believers and Saints of The Tribulation—is not described. Postscript to the PeriodThe last part of Revelation 20:7-10 is about Rebellion and Retribution (Rev 20:10-15).These events take place after the Millennium is past;Previews of The Millennium from the Old TestamentThe Old Testament has many lengthy passages which describe details of the Millennium and of the time beyond, when there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Messiah will reign from Jerusalem and the nations will come to pay tribute:(Zec 14:16-21) Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses and the cooking pots in the LORD's house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty. The survivors from all the nations that had attacked Jerusalem are the same as the sheep of Mat 25:31-46 and the Wheat of Mat 13:24-30, 36-43.Israel will live in safety alone; Jacob's spring is secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew.(Deu 33:28-29) Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you and you will trample down their high places.” An enigmatic prophecy about Enoch (who was translated into heaven prior to the flood of Noah) is recorded in the book of Jude. It has a double fulfillment: First, at the time of the Flood of Noah to judge the antediluvian world, destroying probably many billions of earth's inhabitants and delivering eight persons in the Ark. Then, at the end of the age we now live in Jesus will again appear "with his ten thousands of holy ones."(Jude 14-15) Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” A mystery-filled prophecy in Ezekiel clearly relates in part to the end time and God's judgment of His people Israel:. (Eze 20:33-37) As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will rule over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered -- with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you. As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will take note of you as you pass under my rod and I will bring you into the bond of the covenantThe promise to gather Israel from the nations was largely fulfilled during the past 100 years by the Zionist movement and the formation of the nation of Israel.The term "wilderness of the peoples" may refer to Edom, (Southern Jordan, i.e., Petra) according to some Bible scholars.The term "pass under the rod" appears in Leviticus 27 and symbolizes a separation of the consecrated and the unconsecrated animals of the flock.(Eze 20:38-44) "I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”'As for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols. For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD, there in the land the entire house of Israel will serve me and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings and your choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices. I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered and I will show myself holy among you in the sight of the nations. Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your fathers. There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done. You will know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name's sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, O house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.'" (Zec 12:10-11) "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.” Isaiah 11 also contains a mystery concerning the end time:(Isa 11:1-16) A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him -- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -- and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him and his place of rest will be glorious. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth. Ephraim's jealousy will vanish and Judah's enemies will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim. They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east. They will lay hands on Edom and Moab and the Ammonites will be subject to them. The LORD will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea; with a scorching wind he will sweep his hand over the Euphrates River. He will break it up into seven streams so that men can cross over in sandals. There will be a highway for the remnant of his people that is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt. A promise is given that "In that day" [at the end of the tribulation],"the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant " The Lord will "assemble the [rest of the] scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth."This and other passages, indicate God's plan to eventually bring all Jews back to live in the land. At the present time fewer than a third of the Jews in the world are in Israel, eventually it will likely be 100%.That the Lord will destroy the "tongue of the Sea" could be a reference to the Suez Canal and the prophecy that He will "wave his hand over the River" is probably a reference to the Euphrates River (Rev 16:12).Isaiah 19:23-25 speaks of the rebuilding of the old "King's Highway" from Egypt to Assyria and of Israel at this time, Egypt and Assyria will (by God's grace) enjoy favored-nation status along with Israel. (Isa 19:25). "Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria the workmanship of my hands and Israel my heritage" (Eze 36:21-27) I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.”Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.”'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean; I will cleanse youfrom all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. This passage is that it tells us of God's concern for His own name, reputation and character.Therefore all people and nations who bear the name of Yahweh need to understand their responsibility to be faithful to their high calling. It is for the sake of His own name that he is restoring Israel, not at all because of their meritorious performance or even their repentance.This is an announcement, similar to Jeremiah 30, of God's intention to bring the people of Israel into the New Covenant (Eze 36:28-31) You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practicesHere again is mentioned the national repentance spoken of in Zechariah 12:10-14.Ezekiel then describes Messiah's reign over all the nations, from Jerusalem and the millennial prosperity He will bring to all mankind, through Israel:(Eze 36:32-38) I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel! "'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, "This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken and I will do it.' "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep, as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD.” (Zec 16:6-11) On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime -- a day known to the LORD. When evening comes, there will be light. On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem,half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD and his name the only name. The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up and remain in its place, from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses. It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure. The Last, Last War(Rev 20:7-10) When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth -- Gog and Magog -- to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and everAfter the Millennium, Satan is allowed out of the Abyss to rally together all who do not trust in Christ. These people would have rebelled against Christ during the time of His righteous reign but they would not dare. It is most amazing that some people, who have had the privilege of living in a perfect environment and who have experienced a world ruled in righteousness, will still not accept God's plan for their lives. It gives us insight to the fairness of their future judgment, because they simply do not want to be with their Creator and Savior. Nothing could ever convince them how wonderful He is. They would be unhappy in his presence forever, even in Heaven.Gog and Magog are representative of rebellious nations. This imagery is taken from Ezekiel 38 - 39, an earlier war which takes place before or during the Tribulation. Once again, rebellious nations and troops who are personally rebellious against Christ will seek to overthrow His control.This time they will be led by Satan himself.The scene of this battle is Jerusalem, the city God loves. The outcome of this war is that those who follow Satan are destroyed by fire from above and Satan is thrown into a Lake of Fire (compare Revelation 20:14 - 15), where Antichrist (the Beast) and the False Prophet already had been thrown at the end of the Battle of Armageddon.The Other ResurrectionEarlier we read about the "First Resurrection.” The other type of resurrection is where the ungodly are raised to stand at their judgment.Judgment of Non-believers: The Great White ThroneRev 20:10-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.The lake of fire is the second death.If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:11-15)This is the judgment of all who do not believe in Christ. They will be judged according to their works. But, according to Rom 3:20, no one can be saved by the law and good works. Those who depend on works will have their name blotted out of the Book of Life. Even in the days of Moses, God spoke of His book and of the fact that those who sin against Him will be blotted out of it. (Exo 32:32-33). The imagery here is that people's names were at one time listed in this book but they were blotted out because of the sin of rejecting Christ. Those who trust in Christ have had their sins forgiven, so their names still remain in the book.In addition to the Book of Life other books are opened. The deeds of every person are disclosed in full detail at the Great White Throne and in turn suggests that there may well be degrees of punishment in hell.This is hard to imagine, since hell at any level is a total, complete and final separation from God. Yet degrees of punishment would reflect the perfect justice of God which is always thorough and overlooks nothing.Paul says that "the saints will judge the world" (1Co 6:2) so it is possible that God's people will take part in this great cosmic tribunal which is more commonly called "The Last Judgment."Those whose names are not found in this Book of Life are consigned to the Lake of Fire. This is the most vivid of the Biblical pictures of Hell as a fiery eternity without Christ.John the Baptist spoke of an unquenchable fire (Mat 3:12) and Jesus told of a fiery furnace (Mat 13:40-42), the fire of Hell (Mat 18:9). It is an eternal fire (Mat 18:11), which was prepared for the Devil and his angels (Mat 25:41). The New Testament word for Hell is Gehenna, which means the Valley of Hinnom. This is the name of the valley on the south side of the city of Jerusalem which served as the city dump. It was a fitting picture of a place where there are worms and the fire never dies. (Mar 9:45-48).New Heavens and a New Earth(2Pe 3:7-13) By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. The Lord promised never to destroy the Earth by a flood again (Gen 9:11) but it is destined for a fiery judgment which will cleanse it from all corruption and will result in anew, even better planet.The heavens also are in need of cleansing and renewing since they also have been defiled by the activity of Satan and his host prior to their being cast down to earth during the tribulation.Peter's prophecies are echoed in The Revelation where the creation of a New Heaven (Rev 21:1) and a New Earth (Rev 21:1,3-5) are foretold.This is the final realm of the believer, the place where there will be no more death, sorrow, or pain (Rev 21:4).Old Testament previews of this New Heaven and New Earth are also instructive.(Isa 65:17-25) Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.”Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands. They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together and the lion will eat straw like the ox but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," says the LORD. The Heavenly JerusalemIn Revelation 21-22, an incredible city, the Heavenly Jerusalem descends from Heaven to the New Earth. This magnificent place may be what Jesus referred to in John 14:1-3 where He told His disciples that He was going away to prepare a place for them and that He would come again for them. He called this place "My Father's house," and said that in it are "many mansions."This will apparently be the capital of the new Earth and the headquarters of Christ's operations. The things that are revealed about it correspond to the expectations of Christians in Heaven. Our Heaven will not be a cold ethereal place in outer space. This matchless city will be on a fantastic new Earth, which itself is a part of the new heavens.We will have glorified bodies like Christ's (1Co 15:40-44, 51-54) which was able to ascend into space (Acts 1:9). Perhaps we will be able to visit other heavenly locations without the aid of a space ship if it is God's will and purpose for us.The imagery and symbolism of the New Jerusalem reflects both Israel and the church, so this heavenly city is evidently not exclusively the new home for the church only.· It will be the home of the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb - Rev 21:2,9.· It will have twelve gates, named for the twelve tribes of Israel - Rev 21:12-13.· It will have twelve foundation stones, with the names of the Twelve Apostles - Rev 21:14.· It will be approximately 1,500 miles long, wide and high.- Rev 21:16. Such a huge city would stretch from Los Angeles past Denver or Detroit to the Florida Keys and would be just as wide as it was long and, most incredibly, it would be just as high! Actually, our present Earth is too small to accommodate such a huge city but, at that time, there will be a new Earth.· It will have golden walls and streets, pearl gates and jewel foundations - Rev 21:17-21.· There will be no Temple in that city because God, the Almighty and the Lamb will be there – Rev 21:22 cf. 21:3ff.· It will not need the sun or moon because The Glory of God, the Lamb is the light! - Rev 21:23.· The River of Water of Life will flow from the Throne of God and the Lamb - Rev 22:1.· The Tree of Life, from which Adam and Eve were barred after their sin (Gen 3:22-24), will be a part of the city. - Rev 22:2.· There will be no curse there - Rev 22:3-4; cf. 21:4.If we take literally the dimensions given for the heavenly city, it will evidently be a sphere or cubical structure (or perhaps pyramidal) 1.500 miles on a side. If the city has one billion inhabitants, each resident will have a cubic mile of space in which to build his new home.Jews in Israel today who are working towards the rebuilding of Israel's 3rd Temple speak about zones of holiness in the temple and its courts. They also believe the 3rd Temple is intended to be a "buffer zone" of sorts. Perhaps in some wonderful way the New Jerusalem above and the rebuilt Millennial City of Jerusalem in Israel, or Israel's 4th (Ezekiel's) Temple, will be connected. The portal will not permit any defilement to reach the New Jerusalem Rev 22:14-15 Blessed [are] those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside [are] dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters and whoever loves and practices a lie.He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen. (Rev 22:20-21)AFTER THE TRIBULATION: THE MILLENNIUM AND BEYOND"The Millennium" means the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth. It will begin when He returns from Heaven as "King of Kings" and "Lord of Lords.” All of nature will be restored to an environment that is so wonderful that it reminds us of the conditions which prevailed in the Garden of Eden.For the first time since man has existed, Satan will not be able to deceive people. For one thousand years, he will be unable to place wrong thinking into anyone's thoughts. He will no longer be able to deceive the nations. There will be peace. Overall sin and rebellion toward God, as it occurs today, should nearly disappear. Man will still have the capacity to sin; however, during the Millennium, there will be no match to ignite it, as Satan is bound. After the thousand years are expired, Satan will be loosed for a little season.The power of Satan to deceive is frequently emphasized in the Scriptures. Satan deceived Eve.Satan worked through Cain, who killed his brother.The world, before the flood, showed the working of Satan.The world, after the flood, again turned from God, because of the deceptions of Satan. The princes of this world were partakers in the crucifixion of Jesus 1Co 2:8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.Be on your guard against Satan. He has great deceptive powers. Do not underestimate your enemy, the devil.Act 5:3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?.2Co 2:10-11 NKJV Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.1Pe 5:8-9 NKJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.THE KINGDOM WAS PROMISED TO THE PATRIARCHSAbraham was given a promise by God that He would make of Abraham a great nation and give to His descendants the land of Canaan. He was also told that through his offspring all nations of the earth would be blessed Gen 12:1 NKJV Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."Gen 13:14 NKJV And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. 16 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. 17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you." 18 Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.Gen 22:15 NKJV Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son — 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."The Abrahamic Covenant was reconfirmed to Isaac and Jacob (Gen 26:3-4, Gen 26:23-24; Gen 28:13-14).Gen 26:3 NKJV Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;Gen 26:23 NKJV Then he went up from there to Beersheba. 24 And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake."Gen 28:13 NKJV And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.David was told by God that his offspring would be given an eternal throne 2Sa 7:8-17 NKJV Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 10 Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, 11 since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house. 12 "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever." ' " 17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David. 2Sa 7:24 For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God. 2Sa 7:29 Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever."1Ch 17:7-15 NKJV Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. 8 And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 9 Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, 10 since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. Also I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore I tell you that the LORD will build you a house. 11 And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you. 14 And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever." ' " 15 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.THE KINGDOM WAS ESTABLISHED BY JESUSJohn the Baptist announced that the Kingdom of God was near.Mar 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."The Kingdom exists now and is in abeyance at the present. Jesus taught much about the Kingdom of Heaven. It was the theme of His preaching (Matthew 4:17). Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."The Sermon on the Mount explained the principles of the Kingdom (Mat 5-7). His parables were given to explain various aspects of the Kingdom (Mat 13). He related His teaching about future things (The Olivet Discourse) to the Kingdom (Mat 24-25). And He stated during His trial that His Kingdom was "not of this world" (John 18:36-38; John 19:19).Joh 18:36 NKJV Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." 37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." 38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all.Joh 19:19 NKJV Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.THE KINGDOM WILL BE DEMONSTRATED DURING THE MILLENNIUMThe Millennium will usher in the beginning of the physical reign of Christ (Rev 19:11-20:6).Rev 19:11-20:6 NKJV Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 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. 4 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. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 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.The Kingdom will be Fully DEVELOPED in the New Heaven/New Earth The eternal Kingdom will be established when God creates a New Heaven and a New Earth (Rev 21-22).ITEMS DEALING WITH ISRAEL Since its birth, Israel has seldom seen peace. During the Millennium that will all change. Israel will no longer be surrounded with hostile people. All will know that God is with them, and they shall dwell in peace.They shall be safe in their own land. No longer will they be a prey to those that hated them. They will no more be plundered by other nations. None shall make them afraid. Israel will have everlasting joy and an abundance of peace. Each person will be like a refuge or shelter; Their poor shall be satisfied with bread. No more will the fool be called noble or the scoundrel be highly respected.There is peace and rest throughout the whole earth.Isa 14:7-8 NKJV The whole earth is at rest and quiet; They break forth into singing. 8 Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you, And the cedars of Lebanon, Saying, 'Since you were cut down, No woodsman has come up against us.'Isa 32:16-18 NKJV Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness remain in the fruitful field. 17 The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. 18 My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,Different languages will exist during the Millennium as they do today; Isa_19:18? In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be as the light of seven days. Isa_30:26? Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.The earth’s orbit around the sun may be changed.Egypt shall be smitten, but then shall be healed. The Lord shall be known to Egypt.During the Millennium, Assyria will worship the Lord; Israel will be the third along with Egypt and Assyria. There will be a highway from Assyria to Egypt.Isa 19:23-25 NKJV In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. 24 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, 25 whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance."The house of Esau will cease to exist.Oba_1:18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau," For the LORD has spoken.Lebanon will be turned into a fruitful field.Isa 29:17-22 NKJV Is it not yet a very little while Till Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, And the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest? 18 In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. 19 The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, And the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel. 20 For the terrible one is brought to nothing, The scornful one is consumed, And all who watch for iniquity are cut off— 21 Who make a man an offender by a word, And lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, And turn aside the just by empty words. 22 Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: "Jacob shall not now be ashamed, Nor shall his face now grow pale;Some nations will perish.The world will fear the Lord.Those that are enlightened, and made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and taste of the powers of the Millennium — if they fall, they cannot renew again to repentance.Mic 7:15-17 NKJV "As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them wonders." 16 The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might; They shall put their hand over their mouth; Their ears shall be deaf. 17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent; They shall crawl from their holes like snakes of the earth. They shall be afraid of the LORD our God, And shall fear because of You.God gathers His people from wherever they are located. His angels shall gather His elect. God’s people are brought into the Promised Land. They return with weeping, singing, and joy. From henceforth, they will dwell safely. No one will make Israel afraid. They will not be moved anymore.The blind shall now see. The deaf shall hear. Those that could not speak or stammered shall now speak plainly. The lame shall run and walk. Israel will be one nation. They will not be divided as they were thousands of years ago.God pours out His Spirit upon Israel. He takes away the stony heart out of their flesh. He puts a new Spirit within them. He puts His laws into their hearts and minds. Israel shall walk in God’s statutes and keep His ordinances and judgments. He will be their God, and they shall be His people. All shall know Jesus.Jesus will remember their sins no more. They are cleansed, they are pardoned.The idols in the land shall be abolished; they shall no longer be remembered. Israel will no longer defile themselves with detestable things.The [false] prophets will pass out of the land. Should any thereafter prophesy, his parents will thrust him through. The abominations, witchcrafts, soothsayers, and unclean spirits will be gone.God makes a covenant with the animals, birds, and creeping things. Wild animals will not attack people any longer. It will be safe to be in the wilderness. The wolf and lamb shall feed together. The lion shall eat straw, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid. The cow and the bear shall lie down together.God’s Word specifies what land shall be given to each of the tribes of Israel.The landscape of Israel will be changed. The high mountains will be low. The valleys will be elevated. The landscape will be plateaus, plains, and rolling hills. The crooked places will be made straight. There will be rivers and streams upon every mountain. There will be fountains in the valleys. The wilderness will be a pool; waters will be there. It will be like Eden. There will be streams and rivers in the desert.The fir tree will replace the thorns, and the myrtle tree will replace the brier. The tall trees will be brought low, and the low trees will be exalted.The curse will be removed from the land. The creation will be liberated from its bondage to decay. Farming will not bring forth sorrow. The thorns and thistles will no longer appear. The land shall yield her increase. The farm crops, grapevines, and fruit trees will all increase and bring forth in great abundance.They shall not plant and another eat.The former and latter rain pours down in the first month.Israel shall blossom and bud and fill the face of the earth with fruit. The desert shall blossom as a rose. The flowers appear. The birds sing. The people will plant gardens and vineyards.The desolate land shall be like the Garden of Eden. They shall deal justly and use accurate scales.Isa 30:26 Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, And the light of the sun will be sevenfold, As the light of seven days, In the day that the LORD binds up the bruise of His people And heals the stroke of their wound.When Jesus returns at Armageddon, the earth shall sway back and forth like a drunkard; it shall be moved exceedingly.The exact meaning of this verse, regarding the light of the moon and sun, is not fully understood at this time. There are several possible explanations.The light of the sun shall be sevenfold (or seven times brighter).For the sun to be seven times brighter, the earth’s orbit would have to change; it would need to be closer to the sun. The new orbit would be much closer to the planet Venus by slightly more than half way. If this would happen, the duration of the earth’s revolution around the sun would also change. This, in turn, could increase the light of the moon also; it would be much brighter, as the sun would be much closer. This could affect the climate of the earth.Another possibility is that the speed of the earth’s rotation will be seven times slower. Thus, the light of the sun would be sevenfold as the light of seven days. In other words, the earth would turn once every seven days.It is possible the moon could be closer to the earth, making it appear much brighter as well.Perhaps, a combination of these theories could provide the answer, or the Lord may do a new thing.At the time of Armageddon when Jesus returns, the cities of the world will fall. They will be destroyed and in utter ruin. Isa 30:25 - the towers fall; ref Zep 1:16.Rev 16:19 - the cities of the nations fell.Isa 30:25 There will be on every high mountain And on every high hill Rivers and streams of waters, In the day of the great slaughter, When the towers fall. Zep 1:14-18 NKJV The great day of the LORD is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. 15 That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of trumpet and alarm Against the fortified cities And against the high towers. 17 "I will bring distress upon men, And they shall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the LORD; Their blood shall be poured out like dust, And their flesh like refuse." 18 Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the LORD's wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land.Rev 16:19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.There will be a very small number of people left alive at the beginning of the Millennium, but the population will begin to increase rapidly. God brings His people back, and they rebuild the cities that have become wasted. They shall raise up the foundations of many generations.They shall not build a house and another person inhabit it. The people of Israel shall inhabit the cities; They shall be filled with flocks of men.The population of Israel shall begin to increase greatly. People shall now live very long lives; they may live even longer than they did before the flood. There will be old men and women in Jerusalem with a staff in their hand, because of their age.Many names will be changed in Israel; they will no longer be called forsaken or desolate. The land shall be called "Beulah." - meaning married- Isa 62:4 The mountain of the Lord shall be called the holy mountain. Thou shall no more be called forsaken - Isa 62:4 It will no longer be said ye are not My people - Hos 1:10 It shall be said ye are the sons of the living God - Hos 1:10 Thy land shall no more be called desolate - Isa 62:4 Jesus shall be called ?wonderfuL - Isa 9:6 ?counselor - Isa 9:6 ?the mighty God - Isa 9:6 ?the everlasting Father - Isa 9:6 ?the Prince of Peace - Isa 9:6 ?blessed - Ps 72:17 ?the Lord our righteousness - Jere 23:6 ?ISHI (or My Husband) - Hos 2:16 Thou shalt be called by a new name - Isa 62:2 The people of Israel shall be called?the repairer of the breach - Isa 58:12 ?the restorer of paths to dwell IN - Isa 58:12 ?Hephzibah, the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, blessed, and others - Isa 62:4 ?the holy people - Isa 62:12 ?the redeemed of the Lord - Isa 62:12 ?the priests of the Lord - Isa 61:6 ?the ministers of our God - Isa 61:6 ?blessed - Mal 3:12 The people of Jerusalem shall be called?sought out - Isa 62:12 ?holy - Isa 4:3 The governor shall be made peace - Isa 60:17 The ruler shall be made righteousness - Isa 60:17 Jerusalem shall be called?the city of the Lord - Isa 60:14 ?the zion of the holy one of Israel - Isa 60:14 ?the Lord our righteousness - Jere 33:16 ?a city of truth - Zech 8:3 ?the throne of the Lord - Jere 3:17 ?a city not forsaken - Isa 62:12 Thy walls shall be called salvation - isa 60:18 Thy gates shall be called praise - Isa 60:18 The mountain of the Lord shall be called the holy mountain - Zech 8:3 Upon the bells of the horses shall be holiness unto the Lord - Zech 14:20 Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord - Zech 14:21 There shall be a highway called the way of holiness - Isa 35:8 Before the people call, God will hear and answer them. They shall not labor in vain. All shall see and acknowledge that Israel is the seed which is blessed.When strangers come into the land, they will feed the flocks of Israel. The alien shall be their plowers and vinedressers. Jesus chooses Jerusalem to dwell in. Nations of the world will be gathered to it. The gates of the city shall be open continually. There will be girls and boys playing in the streets. men and cattle. Zec 8:5-6 NKJV The streets of the city Shall be full of boys and girls Playing in its streets.' 6 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, Will it also be marvelous in My eyes?' Says the LORD hosts.GEOGRAPHYThe earth will be greatly changed after the Battle of Armageddon.The second coming of Christ -- when the Lord stands upon the Mount of Olives -- will be accompanied by a great world wide earthquake so that "the cities of the nations fell and every island flees away.” The topography of the land of Israel and the rest of the Earth will be drastically altered. The crooked places in Israel will be made straight. The rough places will become smooth or plain. The literal meaning of Isaiah 40:4 will come to pass (Zechariah 14:4).Isa 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth;Zec 14:4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.Jerusalem will rise to become the capital of the Earth.Zec 14:9-11 NKJV And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be "The LORD is one," And His name one. 10 All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be raised up and inhabited in her place from Benjamin's Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses. 11 The people shall dwell in it; And no longer shall there be utter destruction, But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.The Scriptures have shown that the geography or landscape of Israel will be greatly changed after the Battle of Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ. Rom 8:19-22 NKJV For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.Rom 8:21 THE CREATURE ITSELF (or creation) ALSO SHALL BE DELIVERED FROM THE BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION (or the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay - NIV) INTO THE GLORIOUS LIBERTY (or freedom) OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD . Israel’s cities will be destroyed. Structures can be expected to crumble to the ground;No tall buildings will be left at all. The curse on the ground is lifted; thus, food all over the world should be plentiful.Throughout the world, it can be expected that Isa 40:4; Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth;Isa 30:25; There will be on every high mountain And on every high hill Rivers and streams of waters, In the day of the great slaughter, When the towers fall.Isa 41:18; I will open rivers in desolate heights, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water.Isa 35:6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.As a result of the return of Jesus at Armageddon, many other geographical changes occur throughout the world. Psa 97:5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.Psa 46:6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.Psa 46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth.Rev 16:19-20 NKJV Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.2Sa 22:16 Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered, At the rebuke of the LORD, At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.Psa 18:15 Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered At Your rebuke, O LORD, At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. (Note, these are millennial references even though they are written in past tense.)Due to the massive volcanic eruptions bringing forth great amounts of lava, many areas will also be changed. Isa 34:8-10 NKJV For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, The year of recompense for the cause of Zion. 9 Its streams shall be turned into pitch, And its dust into brimstone; Its land shall become burning pitch. 10 It shall not be quenched night or day; Its smoke shall ascend forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; No one shall pass through it forever and ever.Isa 24:17-20 NKJV Fear and the pit and the snare Are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth. 18 And it shall be That he who flees from the noise of the fear Shall fall into the pit, And he who comes up from the midst of the pit Shall be caught in the snare; For the windows from on high are open, And the foundations of the earth are shaken. 19 The earth is violently broken, The earth is split open, The earth is shaken exceedingly. 20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, And shall totter like a hut; Its transgression shall be heavy upon it, And it will fall, and not rise again.Isa 24:1 Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste, Distorts its surface And scatters abroad its inhabitants. Isa 13:13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the LORD of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger.Psa 68:8 The earth shook; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.. The landscape of Israel will be greatly changed; its borders will extend far beyond their current boundaries. Currently, the tallest mountain in Israel is Mount Hermon, which is slightly less than 10,000 feet. However, it shall be made low, along with all the other mountains in Israel. Then the tallest mountain in Israel will be Mount Zion, the mountain of the Lord. Where there were mountains, there will be plateaus.ECOLOGYThousands of years ago, Adam sinned. As a result of Adam’s sin, God pronounced judgments upon the serpent, upon the woman, and upon Adam. Many judgments came forth, including the ground being cursed. Gen 3:17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake [because of you]; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Some of those judgments that were pronounced by God included the following.. Because of Adam’s sin, the ground, even the creature (or creation), became cursed. The earth and the ground and the fields no longer bring forth the increase they once did. The seed no longer prospers as before. The corn no longer gives its increase as it once did. The fruit on the tree does not multiply, and The flowers do not blossom on the earth as they did before the curse. The creation is subjected to decay.Before the curse, there was no blindness, dimness of vision, deafness, lameness, dumbness, or stammering.From the time of the curse, the whole creation—the people, the animals, the trees, and plants, etc.,—have been groaning and travailing in pain, sorrow, suffering, sickness, and decay together until now. There has been sickness, sorrow, suffering, fear, guilt, and death ever since the curse was pronounced thousands of years ago by the Lord God. This will continue until the return of Jesus. Life is difficult since the curse. Earning or making a living from the cursed ground will be through pain and exhaustive labor, sorrow, worry, and frustration. Men work and work in SORROW; through painful toil they eat and try to get ahead.Prior to God’s judgment on Adam for sin, the thorns and thistles did not overwhelm the ground. Now man doesn’t need to plant or care for weeds. They overrun the ground.Now there are all kinds of thorns on bushes, trees, and in the grass. Gen 3:18 NKJV Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. During the Millennium, when Jesus Christ will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords, things will be different:Isa 55:12-13 NKJV "For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the LORD for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."Before the curse, Adam had the job of subduing and having dominion over the Earth – replicating God’s Garden in Eden. This may have been a sweet and rewarding job, as the ground brought forth its increase. However, the work of Adam after the curse was to be much more difficult: Gen 3:19 NKJV In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return."The Lord God is pronouncing a judgment — in sweat and hard work, weariness and much labor you will eat your food. Lamech shows how difficult it was with the curse on the ground Gen 5:28-29 NKJV Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. 29 And he called his name Noah, saying, "This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed." Men are often complaining about their work and are trying to get around this curse by working less and making more. We are to BE CONTENT WITH our WAGES Luk 3:14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.". Yet, Pro 27:19-20 NKJV As in water face reflects face, So a man's heart reveals the man. 20 Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.With the return of Jesus, the curse on the ground, as well as other curses, will be gone. Starting with the Millennium, there will be a removal of the Curse upon the earth which began with Adam's fall and continues down to the present unabatedRom 8:18-23 NKJV For I consider that the sufferings, of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.With the curse removed, farming will no longer require exhaustive labor; it will be a joy. It will be as it once was before Adam sinned.The production of the fields will increase; the seeds that are planted will prosper. The thorns and thistles shall disappear. The earth or ground shall yield her increase. The corn will be increased and The fields will be full of wheat. The grape vines shall bring forth their grapes; they shall yield their strength. The fig trees shall bring forth their figs.The fruit on the trees will be multiplied. Israel will have no famine, but will have plenty to eat. Israel will fill the face of the earth with fruit.The desert shall blossom as a rose; it shall blossom abundantly. The flowers shoot forth.The birds sing, and the cooing of doves is heard in the land.The Earth and especially Eretz Israel (the Land of Israel) will become "like the Garden of Eden".Eze 36:35 So they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.'The wilderness in Israel will become like Eden. During the time the two prophets are on earth (1260 days), they will shut off the rain so that it does not rain in the days of their prophecy. Then the two prophets of God are killed, but come back to life and ascend to heaven. During the Battle of Armageddon great hailstones will fall. In the first month of the Millennium, the former and latter rain comes. The earth springs back to life; it will blossom and bud. The wheat, the wine, and the oil will all be plentiful.Jas 5:7-8 NKJV Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.The early rains come in October and November, andThe latter rains come in February and March (perhaps extending to May).Zech 10:1 Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain [spring time]. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.Eze 34:26 I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.Joe 2:21-24 NKJV Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things! 22 Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; For the open pastures are springing up, And the tree bears its fruit; The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. 23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you— The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. 24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.The Desert will rejoice and blossom as the rose. Isa 35:1-2 NKJV The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; 2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God.There will be rivers and streams upon all the hills and high places.The valleys will be lifted up and have fountains. The rivers of Judah will flow with water.The dry and thirsty lands will have springs and pools of water. The parched ground will become a pool.Isa 35:7 The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be grass with reeds and rushes.Pastures shall spring forth.There will be joy, gladness, thanksgiving, and a melody in the wilderness or desert.Where there are now thorns, the fir tree will grow. Where there are now briers, there will be the myrtle tree. The Trees...shall clap their hands and instead of thorns there will be trees.Isa 55:12-13 NKJV "For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the LORD for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."The earth will be fruitful and there will be no famine Eze 34:27-29 NKJV Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. 29 I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore.Animals will once again be friendly to one another and to humans. God makes a covenant of peace for them with the animals, birds, and creeping things of the earth. The evil beasts shall no longer be in the land. People shall be able to go in the wilderness and safely sleep in the woods. No wild animals will attack them. Eze 34:25 "I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. Animals that are now enemies will dwell together: the wolf and the lamb shall eat together, the leopard will lie down with baby goatsthe lion will eat straw; the cow and the bear will feed their young ones and lie down together. The infant child shall play on the hole of the cobra, and the young child shall put his hand on the viper’s nest. without fear. Isa 11:6-8 NKJV "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den.Wolves And lambs will feed together and even the Lions will eat straw like the bullock.Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain," Says the LORD.HEALTHWhen the saints return with Jesus, they will have their new spiritual bodiesThe saints who had died or were raptured will be upon the earth.Also upon the earth will be those that followed Jesus and survived the Tribulation. They will have their earthly bodies and will repopulate the curse free earth, living long lives.Some of these verses cover Israel; others cover both Israel and the world.Once the Lord returns,The blind shall be able to see; people’s vision shall not get worse as they become older. The deaf shall be able to hear,The disabled person shall be able to leap, and The dumb shall be able to sing. The voice of those that stammer shall stammer no longer. People who live during the Millennium will not die young. A person one hundred years old will be considered a child, since, presumably, a person could live throughout the 1000 years in the restored environment.Isa 65:20-23 NKJV "No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them.Sickness will not be a problem because.Mal 4:2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.Later yet, after the New Earth is established, the Tree of Life will be accessible to mankind. Its leaves are "for the healing of the nations" (Rev 22:2).Rev 22:1-2 NKJV And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.There will be a population explosion after Jesus returns. At the beginning of the Millennium, the number of Jews left alive will be reduced by 2/3 from what it was at the beginning of the tribulation. Zec 13:7-9 NKJV "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion," Says the LORD of hosts. "Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones. 8 And it shall come to pass in all the land," Says the LORD, "That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it: 9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; And each one will say, 'The LORD is my God.' "Eze 5:1-4 NKJV "And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber's razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair. 2 You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. 3 You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. 4 Then take some of them again and throw them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire. From there a fire will go out into all the house of Israel.Eze 5:12 One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. In the days before the flood, some people lived over 950 years. After the flood, this began to decrease.During the Millennium, people will once again live to be very old. People will live to be very old, perhaps as old or older than those that lived before the flood.Isa 65:17-20 NKJV "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying. 20 "No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.Note: No sinners in the New Heavens and New Earth, this must refer to the MillleniumThis portion of Scripture says, A HUNDRED WILL BE THOUGHT A MERE YOUTH, God will multiply the population exceedingly over the course of the Millennium.Their number will ultimately be so great, they shall be as the dust of the earth, or the stars of the sky, or the sand upon the sea shore. There will be so many they cannot be numbered.By the end of the thousand years, the population of the world will be as the sand of the sea.Following the Millennium, Satan will be let loose out of his prison. He will go forth to deceive the nations one last time. We can expect that nearly everyone born during the Millennium will still be alive. They will be tested after the Millennium to see if they will turn against God or remain loyal to Jesus as Satan attempts to deceive them.Rev 20:7-8 NKJV Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.Some have estimated, the worldwide population could reach several hundred billion by the end of the Millennium. Deu 1:11 - (The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as He hath promised you!) This number mentioned here may be figuratively speaking only and may not apply to the Millennium. Nevertheless, the numbers mentioned are as follows. When this was spoken, there were approximately 603,000 men. If one would multiply this by 1000, the number would be 603,000,000 men, 20 years old and up. Add to that women and children, and the number could exceed 2 ERNMENTJesus Christ will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords and of the increase of His government there will be no end (Rev 19:16; Isaiah 9:6-7), Rev 19:16 NKJV And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.Isa 9:6 NKJV For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.There will be peace everywhere. The Most Holy one is anointed. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The kingdoms of this world are now become the kingdoms of Jesus, given to Him by His Father. Rev 11:15-19 NKJV Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth." 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.He shall reign over all the earth. He shall set up His kingdom upon the earth. He shall rule over all the nations of the earth. The Lord reigns in righteousness and is clothed with majesty. The government is upon His shoulder. He shall govern the nations. The kingdom is the Lord’s. His throne is established. It is called the throne of glory. It is the throne of His holiness and the throne of David.The kingdom that Jesus rules over shall stand forever. It shall never be destroyed.Jesus is called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. Mat 23:37-39 NKJV "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'BLESSED is HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!' "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Compare the first time they said thisMat 21:7-9 NKJV They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!"The people shall look upon Jesus, Whom they have pierced.Zec_12:10 "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.The Lord had been angry with Israel, but His anger is now turned away. The people’s mourning shall be turned to joy. Rom 11:25-29 NKJV For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "THE DELIVERER WILL COME OUT OF ZION, AND HE WILL TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB; 27 FOR THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS." 28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.People will "beat their swords into plowshares" and there will be war no more (Isaiah 2:2-4).Isa 2:2-4 NKJV Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.The Lord chooses Jerusalem and returns there with mercies. Jerusalem shall become a praise in the earth. The Lord’s house shall be built there, and He shall dwell in the midst. The Lord shall comfort Zion and will rejoice over Jerusalem with singing. Jerusalem will be the capital of the World and all nations will come to Jerusalem. It will be considered the center of the nations (Isaiah 2:2-4; Ezekiel 5:5).Eze 5:5 "Thus says the Lord GOD: 'This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her.David will reign as king over Israel and presumably, each nation will also have its godly king who will answer to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings.2Sa 7:12-17 NKJV "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever." ' " 17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.Amo 9:11 "On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old; Act 15:15-18 NKJV And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 'AFTER THIS I WILL RETURN AND WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID, WHICH HAS FALLEN DOWN; I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL SET IT UP; 17 SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, EVEN ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SAYS THE LORD WHO DOES ALL THESE THINGS.' 18 "Known to God from eternity are all His works.Eze 34:23-24 NKJV I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.Eze 37:24-28 NKJV "David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. 25 Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 28 The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore."'"Hag 2:6-9 NKJV "For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts. 8 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts. 9 'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of hosts."The church will share with her Lord the rule over the Gentile nations (Rev 4:4, Rev 4:10-11; Rev 20:4-6).Rev 4:4 NKJV Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.Rev 4:10 NKJV the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."Rev 20:4 NKJV 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. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 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. During the thousand years, the saints will be given authority. Their faithfulness and obedience will be tested – are they following the Lord or claiming Him in name only.Those that multiply what God gives them, under His direction, will be made a ruler over much. Those that do not multiply what God gives them shall l rulers lose what they have been given. The Lord Jesus will choose our inheritance for us. Their position are determined by their attitude, obedience, and what they do with the talents (or money) God gives them during their walk with Jesus. Those rebellious and unfaithful Christians, which will not serve and obey God, shall perish. Angels shall not rule Heb 2:5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.He shall choose our inheritance for us.Psa 47:1-9 NKJV To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! 2 For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. 3 He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our feet. 4 He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah 5 God has gone up with a shout, The LORD with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. 8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. 9 The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.The Scriptures indicate that the saints will be rulers over thousands, or hundreds, or fifties, or tens. They may be rulers over cities. Some shall have…authority over ten cities…or over five cities.Luk 19:17 And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' Luk 19:19 Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.'Some will be given power over the nations.Rev 2:26-28 NKJV And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— 27 'HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; THEY SHALL BE DASHED TO PIECES LIKE THE POTTER'S VESSELS'— as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star.Some will be a ruler over many things.Mat 25:21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' Mat 25:23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'The saints become KINGS AND PRIESTS and reign on the earth Rev 5:9-10 NKJV And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."They reign with Jesus a thousand years Rev 20:6 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. Isa 1:26 - Jesus will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning. Isa 1:26 I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city."Matters will be judged between people and also between such things as cattle and cattle. It will be a time when true justice and righteous judgment shall prevail.Knowing that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, we may expect many of the Old Testament laws to be used during the Millennium. Many of the same penalties may also be imposed.The Lord Jesus Christ returns and reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords Rev 19:11-16 NKJV Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.The Lord shall judge the earth and shall govern the nations. He shall judge from the tabernacle of David, in mercy, in equity, and in truth. He shall rebuke many nations. The saints will return with Jesus at the time of the Battle of Armageddon. Following the Battle of Armageddon, the judgment of the nations is held. Jesus shall reign and rule as the King of kings and Lord of lords. David shall be the king over Israel. The twelve apostles shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel.The saints will also be with Jesus as kings and priests of God. They shall reign with Jesus for one thousand years on the earth. The saints shall take and possess the kingdom. They shall inherit the earth. The saints shall judge the world.1Co 6:2-4 NKJV 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? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?During the Millennium, the type of government that will exist is called a "theocracy," which can be defined as "government under direction of God." It can also mean "government by priests." For one thousand years, Jesus will reign as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He will be the head of the government of the world.Jesus shall judge in mercy and in righteousness. He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes or reprove after the hearing of His ears. Righteousness will prevail. He will break the oppressor. The throne will be established with justice. The Scriptures tell us that many people will say, Mic 4:1-3 NKJV Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And peoples shall flow to it. 2 Many nations shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 He shall judge between many peoples, And rebuke strong nations afar off; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.People from all over the world will flow unto it. Jesus will shepherd the flock.The Law shall go forth from Jerusalem.David shall be the king of Israel.The apostles will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.Some of the Jewish, resurrected saints may also be rulers over tens, or fifties, or hundreds, or thousands, or cities. No sin or rebellion will be allowed, because the Lord will withhold rain and send plagues on any who would rebel Zec 14:16-19 NKJV And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.Jesus Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron (Rev 12:5; 19:15 - Greek: "shepherdize"). This means a strong central rule to bring prompt justice and quick control over unruly nations and individuals who revolt against God.Rev 12:5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.Rev 19:15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.Psa 2:1-12 NKJV Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." 7 "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' " 10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.Sinners will be born on the earth during the Millennium. Satan will be chained and therefore not free to seduce, to tempt and to deceive but the flesh will still manifest itself showing how complete was the original fall of Adam and Eve. During this 1000 years men cannot claim that the devil is responsible for their sinful failures.When Jesus returned, all the mountains were made low, but Mount Zion was elevated. Mount Zion becomes the tallest mountain in Israel, exalted above all the hills. Eze_20:40? For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. Mount Zion is referred to as MINE HOLY MOUNTAIN. It is Mount Zion that the Lord has desired and chosen for His dwelling place. It is there that the Lord shall reign. It will be a blessing. The Lord is exalted; He dwells on high.The temple will be in the top of the mountains, exalted above all the hills. It shall be beautiful. There Israel will serve the Lord. The people shall come and sing in the height of Zion. They will not sorrow anymore.Zion shall be filled with judgment and righteousness.Mk 11:17 - My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer. There shall be a cloud of smoke in the daytime and the glow of flaming fire at night. There will be a canopy that will give shelter and shade from the heat during the day. It will be a refuge from any storm and rain that comes.During the Millennium, Israel and the nations of the world shall continue to be judged by the Lord. He shall judge in mercy and in righteousness.He shall teach the people His ways. The Law will go forth out of Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Those who are yet to be born shall learn. The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord. The people are comforted and rejoice. They are satisfied and are led with peace. They are clothed with the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness. The Scripture exhorts people to be glad, be thankful, to sing and rejoice, to shout, to praise God, to clap their hands, and also to fear God.David will reign as the king of Israel. The twelve apostles will judge the twelve tribes of Israel. The saints shall inherit the earth. They will possess the kingdom and live and reign with Jesus for 1000 years. The saints shall be kings and priests. They will be given authority over the nations and shall rule over many things. Some may be rulers over tens, or fifties, or hundreds, or thousands, or cities, or nations.The Lord raises up the tabernacle of David. He raises up the ruins of old. He will build the temple. It shall be filled with glory. The nations of the world shall flow unto it. A spring or fountain shall come forth from the temple. The living waters shall go out of Jerusalem. Half will go to the Mediterranean Sea, and half toward, what is now called, the Dead Sea. There will be fruit trees on both sides of the river. Every month these trees will bear new fruit, because the waters come from the temple. Their leaves will be for medicine or healing.Many people will come up to the mountain of the Lord and shall bring silver, gold, and incense. Many nations shall be joined to the Lord. Kings, nations, and the earth shall worship and serve Jesus. They shall bring gifts. All the ends of the world shall turn to the Lord. People will take hold of the skirt of the Jew, and say, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you - Zec 8:23.The Lord outlines in His Word ordinances of the altar to offer burnt offerings.The Feast of Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles shall be kept.WORSHIP AND BELIEFThe earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.All the false gods of the earth will be destroyed.People shall come from Assyria and from Egypt; they shall worship the Lord in the holy mount. Those from the isles of the heathen shall worship Him. People from one city shall go to another and say, "Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord and to seek the Lord of Hosts." Even those that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before Him. Many people and strong nations shall seek the Lord. All nations shall worship before Him. Kings shall fall down (or bow) before Jesus. All nations shall serve Him and call Him blessed. All the earth shall worship the Lord and shall sing unto Him. The kingdom is the Lord’s; He is the Governor among the nations.All the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.Messiah will build a new (fourth) temple, probably the great temple described in the final Chapters of Ezekiel. This Temple will be used for Memorial Sacrifices Eze 40:37-43 NKJV Its gateposts faced the outer court, palm trees were on its gateposts on this side and on that side, and going up to it were eight steps. 38 There was a chamber and its entrance by the gateposts of the gateway, where they washed the burnt offering. 39 In the vestibule of the gateway were two tables on this side and two tables on that side, on which to slay the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering. 40 At the outer side of the vestibule, as one goes up to the entrance of the northern gateway, were two tables; and on the other side of the vestibule of the gateway were two tables. 41 Four tables were on this side and four tables on that side, by the side of the gateway, eight tables on which they slaughtered the sacrifices. 42 There were also four tables of hewn stone for the burnt offering, one cubit and a half long, one cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high; on these they laid the instruments with which they slaughtered the burnt offering and the sacrifice. 43 Inside were hooks, a handbreadth wide, fastened all around; and the flesh of the sacrifices was on the tables. Salvation during the Millennium will still be by grace through faith in Jesus Christ because there is "No other name given...whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:10; Php 2:9-10; Rev 22:4).Act 4:10 NKJV let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.Php 2:9 NKJV Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,Rev 22:4 NKJV They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.The Lord will put a new Spirit within believers whose home is on earth (Ezekiel 11:19).Eze 11:16-21 NKJV Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone." ' 17 Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel." ' 18 And they will go there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there. 19 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. 21 But as for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD.Israel as a nation will be brought into the New Covenant. The covenant, promised to Israel by the prophets, has been graciously shared with the church during the interim period of Israel's Diaspora and unbelief.Jer_31:31 "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—Mat_26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Mar_14:24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Luk_22:20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. 1Co_11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 2Co_3:6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Heb_8:8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "BEHOLD, THE DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH—Heb_8:13 In that He says, "A NEW COVENANT," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Heb_9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. Heb_12:24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.Part of God’s covenant with Israel is that He will remember their sins no more; they shall not be found. He forgives and pardons them.Israel shall be cleansed. They will no longer walk in iniquity, lies, or deceit. They will be righteous.The former troubles will be forgotten. Jesus will be glorified.Everything will be considered sanctified or "holy.” Even the bells and pots will be holy to the Lord (Zechariah 14:20-21).Zec 14:20-21 NKJV In that day "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the LORD's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hostsUnfortunately, some, even with this perfect environment and the opportunity to see Christ in person reigning over the Earth, will still fail to believe in Him and will rebel at the end. They will follow Satan when he is released for a little while at the end of the Millennium. They will all be destroyed Rev 20:7-8 NKJV Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.Ezekiel’s vision of the millennial temple came to him after he had been in captivity for about 25 years in Babylon. In his vision, he is transported to Jerusalem where he sees a new temple. Nations of the world will flow unto the holy mountain, where this temple is located, in the height of Israel. Ezekiel gives information about this temple in the following chapters. In Ezekiel 40 - 42, the temple is described.In Ezekiel 43 - 46, the worship is described.In Ezekiel 47 - 48, the land is described.Ezekiel appears to have written this vision 14 years after the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. Zec 6:12-13 NKJV Then speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: "Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD; 13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both." 'The house of Israel shall serve God in His holy mountain. Eze_20:40 For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel," says the Lord GOD, "there all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me; there I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the firstfruits of your sacrifices, together with all your holy things.There Jesus require their offerings and the firstfruits of their oblations. They shall bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted. The name of the Lord will be great among the nations. In every place incense and pure offerings shall be offered. Offerings shall be brought out of all nations. Gifts shall be brought to Mount Zion. The kings of Sheba, Seba, and Tarshish, and of the islands shall bring gifts.There will be peace throughout the earth. Obedience is expected.Zec 14:17-19 NKJV And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.Scripture indicates that some families of the earth may rebel against coming up to Jerusalem to worship the King and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Egypt is mentioned, but others appear to be included. Upon those nations, there will be no rain. The Lord will bring on them the plague.THE NATIONS IN THE MILLENNIUM AND THE ETERNAL STATEThe millennial reign of Christ primarily concerns the nation Israel and their restoration to their ancient land. Most of the prophecies dealing with the millennial kingdom describe Israel's day of glory and prominence with Christ as their king and David resurrected from the dead as the prince.There are numerous prophecies that indicate that the Gentiles also will participate in the millennial reign of Christ and will inherit many of the blessings which characterize this period. As the reign of Christ is from sea to sea it necessarily goes far beyond the borders of the Promised Land, outlined so long ago to Abraham as extending from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates Genesis 15:18Outside the Promised Land, but often adjacent to it are the millennial counterparts of the ancient peoples who in one way or another were related to Israel's long history.In addition to the major nations which had a large part in the history of Israel such as Babylon, Assyria, and Egypt, a number of important prophecies are found in the Old Testament relating to minor nations. While such prophecies are scattered throughout the Old Testament, three major passages are found in Isaiah 13-23, Jeremiah 46-51, and Ezekiel 25-32. Seven major nations are mentioned in Isaiah to which can be added prophecies concerning the cities of Tyre and Damascus. Jeremiah adds additional prophecies relating to five of these plus a passage on the Ammonites (Jeremiah 49:1-6) and a short prophecy about Kedar and Hazor (Jeremiah 49:28-31). Ezekiel offers additional prophecies concerning five of these nations and adds a prophecy about Zidon (Ezekiel 28:20-24). As special attention has already been directed to the prophecies relating to Babylon, the most prominent nations in these prophecies to be considered here are the remaining nations, namely, Assyria, Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia, Edom or Dumah, Arabia, the city of Tyre, the Ammonites, Kedar and Hazor, and Zidon.The great prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel treat the predictions concerning the nations in the context of Israel's coming day of restoration and glory. Unquestionably the main theme in the prophet's mind is that Israel in contrast to the nations which surround them is destined for glory and honor in God's ultimate kingdom on earth. Taken literally they provide a pattern of fulfilled prophecy in the past and a program of unfulfilled prophecy in the future which is tremendously significant in unfolding the great purposes of God for the nations of the world.The prophet Isaiah for instance portrays the glories of the coming kingdom in Isaiah 11-12 before turning to the prophecies relating to the nations in Isaiah 13 and following. It is clear that from the prophetic viewpoint the importance of these prophecies relating to the nations can be discovered only in the contrast to the prophecies relating to Israel, many of which are yet unfulfilled.The prophecies of Jeremiah emphasize Israel's restoration and coming glory. Often these prophecies are set in the midst of prophecies relating to the nations and are presented as sharp contrasts to the destined doom of the other nations and God's divine judgment upon them.The major portion of Jeremiah's section on prophecy concerning the nations occurs late in the book in Jeremiah 46-51 preceded by the historical and prophetical matter describing the stirring relationship of Jeremiah to his contemporary situation coupled with many prophecies concerning Israel in the latter days.Ezekiel by contrast presents the prophecies concerning the nations first in Ezekiel 25-32 and then follows in Ezekiel 33 and 34 with predictions concerning the coming kingdom. Then after additional prophecies concerning Mount Seir, Israel's future is again depicted in the latter portion of Ezekiel 36. The vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 foreshadows Israel's ultimate restoration. Then before the great section beginning in chapter 40 there are the prophecies concerning Gog and Magog related to Israel's restoration in Ezekiel 38-39. It is clear in Ezekiel as in the other prophecies that Israel's future is set into the context of God's dealings with the surrounding nations in the past as well as in the future. A survey of prophecies of these nations can well begin with an examination of prophecy relating to Assyria.ASSYRIAThe importance of Assyria is borne out by more than 140 references in the Bible to this ancient people and more than 20 references to its principal city Nineveh. First mention is found as early as Genesis 2:14 where Moses in describing the Hiddekel River, later known as the Tigris, stated concerning this river, “that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria.” Moses of course was alluding to Assyria as it existed at the time he was writing Genesis. A similar reference is found in Genesis 25:18.According to archaeologists, Assyria had a long history. As early as 2900 B.C. colonists, probably from Babylon, settled in a small area between the rivers Tigris and Zab southeast of the Armenian Mountains. Racially they were closely related to the people of Babylonia and mixed with the Sumerian people who were the earlier residents of this area. The Assyrians are generally classified as belonging to the Semitic race. Their language, similar to that of the Babylonians, was written mostly in ideograms on clay and stone by a wedge-shaped instrument, and hence is known as cuneiform.Assyria first became a great city state under Shamshi-Adad 1 (1748-1716 B.C.) and increased in power as Babylon declined. Its greatest period, however, began with Tiglath-Pileser I (1114-1076 B.C.) when it extended its borders westward to the Mediterranean Sea and embraced a considerable area. Its power rose and fell for a number of centuries following and it was in this period that Assyria came in contact with Israel. Shalmaneser III (858-824 B.C. ) is recorded as fighting Ahab in 853 B.C. and accepted tribute from Jehu, the son of Omri. These incidents, however, are not mentioned in the Bible.A later ruler, Tiglath-Pileser III, according to II Kings 15:19, conquered Israel and exacted tribute from Menahem and carried off many of the children of Israel as captives. His successor Shalmaneser V (726-722 B.C.) attacked Hoshea of Israel who had revolted against him. His successor, Sargon II (721-705 B.C. ), mentioned only in Isaiah 20:1, conquered the capital of Samaria (II Kings 17:3-41). Sennacherib (704-681 B.C.) is recorded as attempting to conquer Jerusalem, but was thwarted by the slaying of his army by the angel of the Lord (II Kings 19:1-37) and was succeeded by his son Esar-haddon. With the rising power of Babylon, Nineveh, capital of Assyria, fell in 612 B.C. under a collation of Babylonian, Median, and Scythian armies. With this event Assyria came abruptly to the end of its career and in a remarkably short time Assyrian civilization was completely destroyed. Its great cities became mounds of debris and for centuries were lost until finally recovered by archaeologists and identified in the nineteenth century.From the standpoint of prophecy, the history of Assyria is important because along its path numerous prophecies were fulfilled. Isaiah the prophet, for instance, solemnly warned the children of Israel of the coming invasion of the Assyrians and their ultimate captivity (Isaiah 7:17-20; 8:4-7) and predicted that Assyria would be punished in due time and brought down (Isaiah 11:12-16). The entire book of Nahum relates to the downfall of Nineveh, and the book of Jonah records the remarkable experience of repentance of the people of Nineveh at the preaching of Jonah which delayed their ultimate destruction one hundred and fifty years.Most of the prophecies concerning Nineveh have already been fulfilled. A few references, however, are subject to fulfillment in the millennial reign and events relating to it.One of the prophecies concerning the destruction of Assyria is found in Micah 5:5, 6 where the context seems to indicate a millennial situation. Some expositors have identified “the Assyrian” of Micah 5:5 as the little horn of Daniel 8 and conclude that the future world ruler who will head the Roman Empire will be an Assyrian. It is probable that Micah, living in the period of Assyria's ascendancy, is merely contrasting here the future glory of Israel with the destruction of Nineveh and of Assyria which actually took place in the 7th century B.C.That Assyria is to be recognized in the millennial situation, however, is indicated in several passages. According to Isaiah 11: 11, 16, the regathering of Israel at the beginning of the millennium will be from Assyria as well as from other nations, and a highway will stretch from Egypt to Assyria through the land of Israel as a major transportation link in the millennial kingdom. A similar prophecy is found in Isaiah 19:23-25 in reference to the future millennial kingdom:“In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LoRD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.” It is evident from this passage that Israel's two most important neighbors in the millennial kingdom will be the peoples who inhabit the area of ancient Assyria to the northeast and Egypt to the southwest. In that day both Assyria and Egypt will be blessed along with Israel. The fact that Israel is called “third” in the light of other prophecies should not be interpreted, however, as meaning that Israel is less than these nations, but rather that it will be spoken of in the same breath as a prominent world power of that day. Another reference to Israel's regathering from Assyria is found in Isaiah 27:13. Zechariah adds his contribution in Zechariah 10:10, 11 where the destruction of the pride of Assyria and the scepter of Egypt is predicted and the regathering of Israel from these lands is anticipated. Assyria, the great nation of the past which antedated the Babylonian Empire and successive dominions of the Gentiles, will have its echo in the prophetic future and its place in the divine program of the millennial kingdom.EGYPTIn the millennial situation, Egypt likewise is to have a prominent place as already illustrated in passages cited concerning Assyria. Israel will be regathered from Egypt to their Promised Land, but Egypt will be a prominent nation in the millennial situation. That Egypt will be blessed is mentioned specifically in Isaiah 19:25 and that it will be a prominent nation along with Israel and Assyria is indicated in the same passage. Egypt is singled out for special warning in Zechariah 14:18,19; God will punish them unless they keep the feast of tabernacles in the millennial kingdom. What is revealed in respect to Egypt has reference to the world-wide rule of Christ and indicates that all people will necessarily be required to serve Him.PHILISTIAThe prominence of the Philistines in the history of Israel is demonstrated by approximately 270 references to them in the Old Testament. Most of these concern historic events depicting the constant struggle between Israel and the Philistines. A few references to the Philistines contain prophecies of their doom or defeat at the hands of Israel already fulfilled. References such as Jeremiah 47:1; Ezekiel 25:15,16; Amos 1:8; Zephaniah 2:5; and Zechariah 9:6 are probably best interpreted as already fulfilled.A few references to the Philistines, however, are found in a context of the future millennial kingdom and imply that the territory of the Philistines and the inhabitants in that future day will have a relationship to the kingdom. According to Isaiah 11:14 Israel will have domination over the Philistines in that day. Again in Obadiah 19 the house of Jacob shall possess the Philistines. In both of these prophecies it may be presumed that the writer of Scripture is referring to the territory known to them at that time as possessed by the Philistines and to the future inhabitants of that area. It means simply that Israel will be victorious over their ancient enemies and possess their territory.MOABOf the more than 180 references to Moab in the Old Testament, the great majority deal with historic events. They had many contacts with the children of Israel during the Exodus as well as in the period of the judges. The fact that Ruth was a Moabitess and in the lineage of David (David’s Great Grandmother) sets this people apart.The first important prophetic utterance relative to Moab is recorded in where Balaam predicted concerning the Messiah, Num 24:17 “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.” The reference is to the Davidic line of which Christ is the ultimate fulfillment, and the prophecy anticipates not only the conquering of the Moabites under David and his successors but the ultimate possession of the land by Israel in the coming kingdom.The children of Israel are predicted to conquer Edom and Moab as well as the Philistines and the children of Ammon. Isa 11:14 They will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines on the west; Together they will plunder the sons of the east; They will possess Edom and Moab, And the sons of Ammon will be subject to them. This too refers to the possession of the land by Israel in the millennial kingdom.Still another allusion to the Moabites in the future is included in the prophecies of the final world war described in Daniel 11: 40-45. Dan 11:40-45 NASB (40) "At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them and pass through. (41) "He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. (42) "Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. (43) "But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels. (44) "But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many. (45) "He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.In Daniel 11:41 Moab along with Edom and the children of Ammon is said to escape the warfare between the king of the north and the king of the south with the Roman world ruler. This will have its fulfillment in the days just preceding the second coming of Christ.The more extensive prophecies relating to Moab seem to have their primary fulfillment in history. These prophecies anticipate that Moab will be punished by God for their sins and for their opposition to the children of Israel. Some of them, like Isaiah 25:10, may have a future reference to be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom. Isa 25:10 For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, And Moab will be trodden down in his place As straw is trodden down in the water of a manure pile.But the great prophetic passages such as Isaiah 15:1-16:14, Jeremiah 48:1-47, and Ezekiel 25:8-11, although describing in detail the downfall of Moab, seem to have their primary fulfillment in events of the past. Although they may foreshadow, as prophecy often does, the ultimate triumph of the children of Israel, the two important prophetic references to Moab in the minor prophets, namely Amos 2:1, 2 and Zephaniah 2:8, 9, refer to judgments already fulfilled.Although the unfulfilled prophecies relating to Moab do not seem to be a large proportion of the total material provided in Scripture, they add their evidence to the total picture of the future kingdom in which Israel will be restored and triumphant over her traditional enemies.DAMASCUSDamascus was one of the most ancient cities of the Middle East and one of the few to have a continuous history down to modern times. First mentioned in Genesis 14:15, it continued to have a relationship to Israel throughout the Old Testament period where there are more than forty references and in the New Testament where it is mentioned fifteen times. The more extended prophecies as found in Isaiah 17:1-14 and Jeremiah 49:23-27 have all been fulfilled as well as the occasional references found in Isaiah 7:8; 8:4; Amos 1:3-5; 3:12; 5:27. In Ezekiel 47:16-18 and 48:1 reference is made to Damascus as being in existence in the coming kingdom and furnishing identification for the borders of the land of Israel. No events are predicted and the reference seems to be to geography rather than to people who inhabit the land at that time. A territory, a land rather than a governmental capital city.It is of interest that Damascus, which has had such a long history, apparently will continue its existence into the millennial kingdom.THE ETHIOPIANSThe Ethiopians were so named by the Greeks and the Romans and refer to those known as the children of Cush in the Hebrew. They were descendants of Ham and occupied the area south of Egypt. Although most of the references to Ethiopians seem to concern events already fulfilled or historic in connection with the Ethiopians, some of the statements seem to be prophetic. The extended prophecy of Isaiah 18:1-7, while largely fulfilled, seems to go beyond the past, such as in the prediction of Isaiah 18:7 where it is stated that the Ethiopians shall be brought as a subdued people to the Lord of hosts in Mount Zion. Isaiah 45:14 may also be interpreted as picturing the triumph of Israel over the Ethiopians in the kingdom period, although the reference may be to historic fulfillment. The predictions of Isaiah 20:3-5 and Isaiah 43:3 seem to have had adequate fulfillment in the past. The prophecies of Ezekiel 30:4, 5 relating as they do to the Day of the Lord may well have some future fulfillment. The reference to Ethiopia in Ezekiel 38:5, because it describes a northern invasion, has been taken by some to refer to another people, but in any event it is future and a part of the great northern invasion of Israel yet to be fulfilled.Several other future references to Ethiopia seem to be found in the prophets. In Daniel 11:43 Ethiopia is mentioned as one of the countries that escaped warfare in the final world struggle which apparently reaches Egypt, but does not go farther south. In Psalm 68:31 it is predicted, “Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.” This seemingly refers to the future millennial kingdom, although the prophecy of Zephaniah 2:12 of destruction at the hands of the Lord probably was fulfilled in the past. The prediction of Zephaniah 3:10, that the Ethiopians will come as suppliants to the Lord, fits best into the future millennial kingdom.Taken as a whole, the references to Ethiopia recognize their continued significance in God's program and their ultimate destiny as one of the Gentile nations which will be subordinate to Israel when Christ reigns on earth. EDOMThe descendants of Esau are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament under various designations, but usually as the Edomites. Many of the prophecies relating to Edom have already been fulfilled, such as the extended predictions of Jer 9:26; 25:21; 49:7-22; Lam 4:22; Eze 25:12-14; Joel 3:19; Amos 1:6,9, 11; 2:1. Some of these may be a foreshadowing of ultimate subjugation of Edom in the millennial kingdom.The prophecies concerning Esau and his descendants stem from the original prophecy of Isaac. After Jacob had stolen the blessing intended for Esau, Isaac pronounced the lesser blessing on Esau recorded in Genesis 27:39, 40. Esau is promised physical blessing, but is put under the dominion of Jacob, although it is predicted that he would break the yoke of Jacob from off his neck. The long history of the relationship of the children of Jacob to the descendants of Esau carried out the conflict anticipated here and the children of Edom continued to figure in prophecy up to and including the kingdom age.Isaiah 11:14 mentions Edom as being subdued by Israel in the kingdom period. Isaiah 63:1 is a prophetic description of the coming of Christ in judgment at His second coming. He is described as coming “from Edom.” Daniel 11:41 includes Edom as one of the countries which escape warfare in the final world conflict before the second coming.The most extended prophecy concerning Edom is found in Obadiah which is entirely devoted to this subject. Obadiah 1:1-14 speak of the judgment of God upon Edom because of their sins in rejoicing over the captivity of the children of Judah. These prophecies had at least partial fulfillment. The passage, Obadiah 1:15-21, which conclude the book, picture Edom in the Day of the Lord as having experienced divine judgment and being under the domination of the house of Jacob. The age-long controversy between Esau and Jacob will be resolved in Jacob's favor in keeping with the sovereign choice of God in which it was declared that the elder should serve the younger (Romans 9:12). Taken as a whole, the prophecies relating to Edom have already had amazing fulfillment in so far as God's judgment has fallen upon them in the past. The ultimate fulfillment awaits the second coming of Christ. ARABIAOf the comparatively few references to Arabia in the Bible, the principal prophecy is found in Isaiah 21:13-17. Although the passage is not entirely clear, it seems to have been already fulfilled in the past. The kings of Arabia are also mentioned as those who will drink of the divine judgment of God in Jeremiah 25:24, probably already fulfilled. In Isaiah 13:20 it is also mentioned that the Arabian will no longer pitch his tent in Babylon after its destruction. On the whole, these prophecies are brief and insignificant in the total program of God.TYREThe city of Tyre like Damascus is one of the ancient cities of the world. Its riches and commercial interests were renowned, and it figured largely in the history of the ancient world. Although assigned to the tribe of Asshur, it was not subdued by them, but through much of its history was in friendly relationship with Israel as during the time of the reign of Solomon. Because of a fortress on an island in the Mediterranean to which the people could retire when Tyre was under siege, Tyre was very difficult to subdue and was able to resist the Assyrian armies and stand off Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon for more than a dozen years. Alexander the Great had to construct a causeway from the mainland in order to conquer it, and in the process fulfilled many of the prophecies concerning the destruction of the city itself.Most of the prophecies concerning Tyre have already been fulfilled, such as Isaiah 23:1-18; Jeremiah 25:22; 47:4; Joel 3:4-8; Amos 1:9, 10, and Zechariah 9:2-4.The importance of Tyre prophetically stems largely from the great prophecy of Ezekiel where three long chapters are devoted to Tyre, namely, Ezekiel 26, 27, and 28. Ezekiel 26 describes the judgment which is impending upon Tyre. The immediate occasion was Nebuchadnezzar's siege of the city, but it goes beyond the immediate situation to its ultimate destruction later at the hands of Alexander the Great. Then the remarkable prophecy of Ezekiel 26:14 was fulfilled which reads: “And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the Loiw have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.” The city of Tyre was literally scraped to the rock in order to provide materials to build a causeway out to its island fortress. Visitors to Tyre today can see the evidence of this fulfillment.Ezekiel 27 is a long lamentation over the destruction of Tyre with its description of the riches which once characterized this city. The lamentation is extended to the prince of Tyre in Ezekiel 28:1-10. The prophecies to this point can probably best be interpreted as having been graphically fulfilled in the long history of Tyre.The prophetic utterance of Ezekiel 28:12-15, while having a partial reference to Tyre, seems to go beyond the immediate human ruler to Satan himself in his original conflict with God. He is described as “the anointed cherub that covereth” who at one time was “perfect ... from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Many interpreters felt that this description is a revelation of the character of the original rebellion of Satan against God when he, according to the parallel description in Isaiah 14:12-15, sought to be like God and take the place of God in worship. The Ezekiel passage, however, beginning in Ezekiel 28:16 seems to return largely to a description of Tyre itself and predicts its utter destruction. The entire prophecy anticipates the downfall of Satan as well as the city of Tyre itself. As far as the prophetic program of God is concerned, Tyre does not seem to figure largely in end-time events, although the intimation is that it will be in existence in some form as a city in the time of the end.AMMONITES Although the Ammonites are mentioned frequently in the Bible, they do not loom large in the prophetic narrative. One of the major passages is found in Jeremiah 49:1-6 where God's divine judgment and conquest of the Ammonites is pictured. A similar passage is found in Ezekiel 25:1-7 which prophesies the conquest of the Ammonites by “the men of the east.” Other references to the Ammonites in prophecy now fulfilled are passages such as Jeremiah 25:21; Amos 1:13; and Zephaniah 2:8,9. The only reference clearly future is that of Daniel 11:41 where Ammon is said to escape some of the warfare at the end of the age. The dealings of God with the children of Ammon again illustrate His justice and the certainty of fulfilled prophecy.KEDAR and ELAMA brief prophecy concerning Kedar and Hazor is contained in Jeremiah 49:28-33. It is a prediction of judgment upon them at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. A similar judgment is pronounced upon Elam in Jeremiah 49:34-38. Other references to God's judgment on Kedar are found in Isaiah 21:16,17. Only future reference relative to those of Kedar seems to be found in Isaiah 60:7 where it is indicated that “the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together” as possessions of the coming Messiah.ZIDON - SIDONMention should also be made of Zidon also spelled Sidon, another ancient city on the eastern Mediterranean north of Tyre. In Ezekiel 28:20-24 it is predicted that Zidon will be subject to divine judgment of pestilence and warfare because of their sins. This has unquestionably been fulfilled already in history. Zidon is also mentioned as participating in the general judgment which falls upon Tyre in Isaiah 23:2, 4,12 and is also associated with Tyre in other prophecies, such as Jeremiah 25:22; 47:4, and Joel 3:4. As a city it does not figure largely in prophecy.A survey of the countries surrounding Israel demonstrate that prophecies of their coming judgment and subjugation to Israel are set in a context of Israel's exaltation in the kingdom age. Although in some cases the reference may be largely geographic rather than to the nations themselves, for racial continuity may be difficult to sustain, the language of Scripture is sufficiently clear to make plain that Israel will triumph over her enemies and in the process be restored to a place of glory and blessing under the rule of the Messiah. The fact that Israel is already in her place in the Middle East is a foreshadowing of these ultimate triumphs which await the second coming of her Messiah and Savior.IF THEY FALL AWAY This passage is often misapplied to Old Testament Israel and/or the Church. It is more rightly to be applied to those in and through the MillenniumHeb 6:4-6 NKJV For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.FOR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO WERE ONCE ENLIGHTENED (it is impossible for those who were once saved)AND HAVE TASTED OF THE HEAVENLY GIFT (and have tasted of the Holy Spirit, which is "the heavenly gift"), AND WERE MADE PARTAKERS OF (or shared in) THE HOLY GHOST, (and were possessors of the Holy Spirit), AND HAVE TASTED THE GOOD WORD OF GOD (and have tasted of God’s Word [the Bible] as well as the words of Jesus while He reigns in Jerusalem),AND THE POWERS OF THE WORLD (or age) TO COME (or the coming age). The powers of the world to come refer to the Millennium. Many incredible miracles will be done by Jesus during this time. The blind will see, the lame shall walk, and people will live to be very old. The waters from the temple will be very special.(And then) IF THEY SHALL FALL AWAY (if they turn from Jesus, if they lose their faith, if they rebel, if they depart and follow Satan after the Millennium),(it is impossible) TO RENEW THEM AGAIN (or be brought back) UNTO REPENTANCE. (If they fall away, they cannot be saved again; they cannot renew unto repentance or salvation.)This is because they have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted of the good Word of God and the powers of the "millennial kingdom." If they shall fall away, it is not possible for them to renew again to repentance. SEEING THEY CRUCIFY TO THEMSELVES (or to their loss) THE SON OF GOD AFRESH (or all over again),AND PUT HIM TO AN OPEN SHAME (or public disgrace). Jesus will dwell openly on this earth. People will see and partake of His incredible miracles. They will experience the powers of Jesus. He will dwell in Jerusalem. Therefore, if a person falls away, he cannot be saved again. He will be eternally lost. Since the word "impossible" to renew again appears, it seems that falling away during this time (when Jesus reigns openly, and Satan is chained and cannot deceive the nations) falls into the category of the unforgivable sin.It may be, these scriptures apply only to those that were saved during the Tribulation and survived, entering into the Millennium, as the words "partakers of the Holy Spirit" are mentioned.These verses are dealing with those that were enlightened or saved,and they have tasted of the heavenly gift,and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,and they tasted of the goodness of the Word of Godand of the powers of the millennial age, when Jesus shall reign and rule.If this saved person shall fall away, they cannot repent again, because Jesus Christ reigns openly. If they could repent (or renew) a second time, they would be crucifying the Son of God all over again and put Him to an open shame, because He is reigning openly, in Person; therefore, they would put the Lord Jesus Christ to an open shame or public disgrace.THE NATIONS IN THE ETERNAL STATEIt is an error to assume that national identity will be lost in eternity. Just as there will be individual identity, so also there will be racial identity, and individuals will inevitably carry throughout eternity an identification related to some extent to their place in the history of the world. Israelites will be Israelites throughout eternity and Gentiles will be Gentiles as well.If Abraham is to remain Abraham throughout eternity and David is to remain David, it is inevitable that they would be considered in their historical context in time. So also will it be with those who are saved among the Gentiles. There is no indication that nationality of individuals will be stressed, but the fact that they belong to a nation is revealed in the description of the New Jerusalem.The New Jerusalem will include the angels (Rev 21:12), the children of Israel (Rev 21:12), the church as represented in the twelve apostles (Rev 21:14) and the Gentiles (Rev 21:24). This is anticipated in the itemization of those who will be related to the heavenly Jerusalem given in Heb 12:22,23 “an innumerable company of angels,” the “church of the firstborn,” and “the spirits of just men made perfect.” Such a description obviously includes Gentiles who were saved. Rev 21:24The saved among the Gentiles will find their place in the eternal bliss which will characterize the saints in eternity to come as they dwell in perfect fellowship with God in the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem.Although the pattern of Gentile prophecy and fulfillment is largely one of judgment upon their unbelief and blasphemous rebellion against God, it is another token of the grace of God that, in addition to His program for Israel and the church, the body of Christ, countless Gentiles in the Old Testament period as well as in the tribulation and the millennium will come to know Jesus Christ and His saving grace, and accordingly will be qualified to participate as individuals in the blessings which God has ordained for those who love Him. FINAL MILLENNIUM COMMENTARY Jesus shall reign for ever and ever. Of His kingdom there shall be no end; however, the Millennium comes to an end. There has been one thousand years of peace; the saints have ruled and reigned with Jesus. The population of both the Jews and Gentiles has multiplied tremendously. There could be as many as several hundred billion people.Satan has been bound so that he could deceive the nations no longer till the thousand years be fulfilled.As a result, those who were born during the thousand years should not have experienced the temptations of the devil or had their faith seriously tested. Doubts or thoughts of war and rebelling should never have entered into their mind.All of this will change, once the thousand years have ended. Undoubtedly, the people of the world have been warned about what is soon to happen; they have been told what to expect. They have been told to beware, for those that do not stand fast in the Lord shall perish forever.The time of testing for the people of the world is about to erupt.This testing will not affect the saints that have their new resurrected bodies, who have reigned and ruled with Jesus for one thousand years. The latter days have ended; the last days are over. ................
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