The Millennium

2005-12-04T21:08:00.000+08:00

THE MILLENNIUM

by Harry Kloppenburg, 2006. Free distribution allowed with this notice intact.

INTRODUCTION

The Millennium is a peaceful, somewhat paradise-like period. It begins with a very violent period, the Battle of Armageddon and ends with another violent period, the Battle against Gog/Magog in the country of Israel. Each battle is followed by a Resurrection of dead people.

During the Millennium there will be one international world-religion based on the Old Testament system in a new Jerusalem Temple, including priests, sacrifices and the Jewish law.

At the end of the Millennium there will be the Coming of the Lord Jesus in awesome power power and majesty, accompanied by the main Resurrection of the dead. Then the existing Universe, including this earth, will de destroyed and a new perfect universe will be created where the true believers will live in a perfect, new world without hurt or unpleasantness.

START OF THE MILLENNIUM

Israel.

At the start of the Millennium there will be a great battle in Israel. Jerusalem will be invaded and there will be plundering, rape and killing. The survivors in Israel will then recognise the injustice done to the Lord Jesus Christ and repent with tears (Zec 12:10, Psa 22:16, Joh 19:37). After that the Lord Jesus will use nature to destroy Israel's enemies in the plain of Jezreel, near the hill of Megiddo (=Armageddon) (Hos 1:11, Rev 16:16, Joe 3:2,12) in a similar way as He did during Israel's Exodus from Egypt. Israel will be encouraged by the Lord's actions and then God will show Himself THROUGH Israel (Eze 36:23) who courageously takes up the fight and destroys its enemies.

Satan.

Angelic powers will exile Satan for a thousand years (Rev 20:1-3) resulting in peace and harmony with humans, animals and the ground . So, there will be a near perfect garden of Eden state, though people will still die but at a good old age (Isa 57:1, Eze 36:35, Isa 65:20-23).

Martyrs.

The Lord Jesus will raise in the First future group Resurrection (Rev 20:4-6) those believers who were killed because they did not worship a violent political system called the Beast and refused its Mark. These risen people will reign with the Lord Jesus Christ. However, contrary to the opinion of many the Lord and his resurrected followers will NOT be ON EARTH.

The Lord's reign.

The Lord will on the Eve of the battle of Armageddon act like He did during the Exodus (Mic 7:15-17). The Lord will show Himself THROUGH Israel, not by His personal, physical presence (Eze 36:23) but by detectable actions and phenomena. Indeed, the Lord Jesus will not physically return to earth until the End of all things (Act 3:21). Instead, there will be a ruling prince in Israel with sons, so it cannot be the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, for the resurrected ones do not marry (Mat 22:29-30, Luk 20:34-36). Furthermore, the prince has to sacrifice for his OWN sins (Eze 45:17,22). So, the ruling prince on earth during the Millennium is obviously a normal sinful human being and not the sinless Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, if a resurrected Lord Jesus and saints would live on earth, would the rebellious in the end of the Millennium dare to attack? Resurrected beings can no longer die, so it is no use fighting against them. Also the glory of the Lord Jesus would make any approach very difficult. Paul became blind as a result of seeing Him and John of Revelation fell at His feet as dead. Looking at the way the rebellious people behave in Jerusalem unopposed in the end-times (Mat 24, Mar 13, Luk 21) would indicate that the Lord was not there in body yet. This contrasts sharply with the message that the Lord will destroy His enemies by His Coming, also indicating He is not there yet.

Canaan, the country of Israel.

In the Millennium Israel will be like the garden of Eden (Isa 57:1, Eze 36:35) and Jerusalem will be the centre of worship for the whole world, any country that does not send representatives to her Jewish/Christian festivals will suffer (Zec 14:17-19). God will show Himself THROUGH Israel, not by His personal, physical presence such as the Lord Jesus Christ (Eze 36:23). So, the Lord's reign MUST be from heaven during that period.

The Book of Revelation makes it VERY clear that there will only be two future group resurrections, one thousand years apart (Rev 20:4-6). In the first Resurrection, at the beginning of the Millennium, ONLY those believers who have been killed by the Beast will be resurrected, NOBODY ELSE, no other believers or unbelievers. (It amazes me how many Christians, who otherwise are so strict on proper exegesis, here suddenly want to stretch the meaning of the passage by making it refer to a resurrection of ALL or most believers.)

The parable of the ten virgins also makes it clear to us that there was a problem in that 5 of them ran out of oil. Why was this? Because the waiting took a lot longer than they had expected and they did not have enough oil for that length of waiting. Let us make people aware that the Coming of the Bridegroom/Lord may take a lot longer than many Christians are ready for (2Pe 3:4). To have a proper view of the future will see events falling into place, thus seeing the Lord at work and confirming our faith. To have a wrong view will lead to false expectations, which will be disappointed, and may lead to dropping out of the faith. Indeed, I have met a few people who have dropped out of Christianity because they had been brainwashed with the wrong views and saw that these did not come true. Yes, I have seen how many Christians in certain quarters have jumped on the bandwagon of predictions that have proved false, such as the Bankcard, the line-up of the planets, the Y2K and other world issues and connected them to God's Word only to see their predictions fail. Even I was taken in for a while but now see that only the events mentioned in the Scriptures should be our focus.

DURING THE MILLENNIUM

Worship will be international with the newly built Temple of Jerusalem as the centre. Worship in Jerusalem will no longer be exclusively for Jews because any people's group not represented at the Jewish feasts will be punished by withholding of rain (Zec 14:17-19). This command for pilgrimage was formerly exclusively for Israel (Exo 23:17, Exo 34:23, Deu 16:16). The worship, though Jewish in form will be Judeo-Christian in character due to the Jews having accepted the Lord Jesus Christ (see above). This may explain the acceptance of many non-Jewish born people becoming Jews, even partaking in the distribution of the Holy Land along tribal lines and also some serving as priests in the Temple.

END OF THE MILLENNIUM

The end of the Millennium will start with the release of Satan, who will influence people against the proper worship in Jerusalem, possibly by the Man of Sin / the Antichrist. There will be a rebellion resulting in an army of the disobedient marching up to Jerusalem and surrounding it. However, even in Israel many will depart from the faith and persecute the true believers. Finally there will be the Battle against Gog/Magog in Israel (Eze 38, Rev 20:8), people will be killed and women raped (Zec 14:2). Then the Lord Jesus will be coming on the clouds of heaven in great power and overwhelming glory, thereby destroying His enemies (Zec 14:3-5).

Another resurrection, this time a general resurrection will take place and all humans will be judged. Those in the Book of life will forever enjoy God and the Lord Jesus' company. The unbelievers and disobedient will suffer forever in the Lake of Fire.

This universe, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed by fire and God will create a new heaven and earth in which only happiness and perfection is found.

© Copyright Harry Kloppenburg, 2006

Hark!