International Christian Fellowship

Elstree and Borehamwood to become a Christian Community

Mankind’s Future

Episode 16 A thousand Years!

In the last three episodes we have seen how there will be much rejoicing, worship and partying in heaven.
Meanwhile on earth it is the opposite, with earth dwellers so terribly tormented they want to die, but can’t.
So bad is it that, as Jesus had foretold, if the time was not shortened no one would survive.

The most awful of battles, Armageddon, has taken place. It would appear that 200 million from the east (both China and India have over a billion population) have come up against Israel.
Why so many? It seems not only the East is involved in this war but also those from the north, hence such a large army.

So terrible is it that it is going to take seven months to bury all the dead! And if a wayfarer finds a dead body he is to put up a marker for an expert to collect it. Possibly because of radiation or germ/virus contamination. See Ezekiel chapter 39.

Among the prophetic utterances preparing the Jews for these momentous events is Jesus’ discourse with His disciples on the Mount of Olives.

In Jeremiah 32 we read that the prophet purchased a piece of land which would remain dormant for 70 years before it could be reclaimed.
Following the expulsion of the Jews from Israel by the Romans Israel has lain waste, largely mosquito infested and a desert.
Isaiah prophesied that the nation would be born in a day, and that is what happened in May 1948, against great odds.
Isaiah prophesied the desert would bloom, and mosquitoes are now a thing of the past, and the desert is blossoming.

But right up to Armageddon Satan will try to stop the Jews fully possessing the land promised them.

So what changes after Jesus’ return and the battle is over?
Many people think that every thing will immediately be idyllic, like a magic wand being waved and immediately every thing changes.
Well, I have already mentioned it is going to take months to bury all the dead, but that is not all.

The Bible describes Jesus as being the Prince of Peace - and certainly that is one of the things he is coming to bring. 
Whereas the first time He came, He came as a helpless babe, this time He will come in power to rule with a rod of iron.

Isaiah chapter 2 tells us, as does Joel chapter 3 that we will beat our swords into ploughshares and our spears into pruning forks. 
We are also told we will not learn war anymore. But that will not hold indefinitely as we will see.

The prophets also tell us that we will take our instructions from Jerusalem.
In Isaiah chapter 11 we learn the ruler will not judge based on what the eye sees but will judge with righteousness.

The Millennium reign of Christ will be, not only a time of great prosperity, see e.g. Amos 9:13 ff but also of abundant health.
It will be a time when there will be no need to be afraid of animals, whether tame or wild.

Isaiah 11 tells us that The wolf shall also dwell with the lamb; and the leopard lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

The bear and the cow shall graze; the young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox, (just as in the beginning).
The nursing child shall play by the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.

Micah informs us that many nations will go to Jerusalem, to the house of God, to learn the ways of the Lord.
Isaiah also informs us in chapter 65 that Children will not die in infancy, but expect to live to a ripe old age and the sinner, being a hundred will be accursed.

The question is rightly asked, who will live on earth during this 1,000 year reign of the Messiah?

As part of Jesus’ discourse on the mountain He explains that when He returns He will judge the nations.
So let us read that well known passage, which is often quoted out of context.
Matt 25:31-46

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  32All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

33And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  34Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  35for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;  36I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'  

37"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  39Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  40And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'   

41"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  42for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;  43I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'

44"Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'  45Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'

46And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

We see from this, and other passages, that the Millennium earth will be filled with, not just Christians but with others whom the Judge considers worthy to inherit the earth.

In this passage we see those who, possibly at great risk to themselves, offered help to Jesus’ brethren.

Speaking of the Jews, the Bible says Jesus came to His own and His own received Him not. So we see that we can legitimately say the Jews were Jesus’ brethren.

Elsewhere Jesus says that those who obey His voice are His brothers and sisters. So this can apply not only to raptured Christians, but also to those who acknowledged Him during the tribulation, and even those who showed love to Jesus’ brethren.

Others will say that Jesus is the second Adam and therefore we all are His brethren.

Scripture implies the population will increase through child birth - though not the offspring of Christians who do not live in a marital relationship.

I have spoken in a previous episode about those receiving rewards and how some Christians will find themselves governing cities and geographical areas.

The biggest surprise for some will be Satan being released and deceiving the nations once more. But we will leave this until the next episode.

Neither do we have time to explore worship in the new Temple set up in Jerusalem. Other than to say it will be honouring the work Jesus has already performed on the cross.

Put another way, Just as Breaking of Bread looks back in remembrance and thanksgiving for Jesus’ supreme sacrifice, so will the Temple worship.

So ‘till next time, keep praising the Lord for what He has in store for you, if you are faithful.