Today, Tuesday July 26
A Literal One-Thousand Years
Revelation 20:4-6
“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. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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.”
Twice in this brief passage we read, “And they reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (vv. 4, 6). It is so clear to me that this is a literal time period that fulfills hundreds of promises and prophesies of both the Old and New Testaments! As we have said before, this Millennium reign of Christ take place at the very end of the Seven-year Tribulation, which takes place shortly after the rapture of the church happens.
Do you realize, that if the rapture took place today, which it could, that the Millennium is as close as seven years from now? Wow! That you get you very excited, that is, if you have been born again, washed in the blood of the Lamb and regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God into a new creation in Christ Jesus! We have something beyond imagination to look forward to!
We could take the next few years, and every day talk and write about this time period called the Millennium, and never exhaust this subject. The Bible begins with God giving the earth and everything in it to Adam to rule over as a king (Genesis 1:27-28). Jesus taught His disciples and us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When you read the Bible, it really is all about “the kingdom”. Remember a few years ago a president won an election with the statement, “It all about the economy, stupid.” Well, today we can say, “It is all about the kingdom, saints”
For the next few days, we want to talk about the purpose of this kingdom reign of Jesus Christ, the character of this kingdom, and the conditions that will exist in it during this wonderful and blessed time. Remember John the Baptist came preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…” (Matthew 3:2). The first and only words and of Jesus in His first message after His temptation are: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
Jesus began His message in the Sermon on the Mount with these words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The “kingdom of heaven” is a reference to the sovereign and supreme authority of Jesus Christ and His rule over our lives, which is literally fulfilled when He rules in the Millennium.
The more I study and read the Bible, I see more and more references about this kingdom reign of Jesus Christ. Recently, as I read the Psalms every day, they jump out at me in almost every chapter. For instance, in Psalm 2:4-11 we see it: “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: (This is prophetic concerning the end of the Tribulation when he destroys the kings of the earth and their armies in Revelation 19:11-21).
Psalm 2 continues: "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' " Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling.”
You read some of these same words in Revelation 19:11-21, when the Lord comes back with the armies of heaven to set up His kingdom on the earth! For the next few days, we will be discussing this wonderful subject of the Christ, the character, and the conditions of this time period. And I trust you will be greatly encouraged and blessed!
God bless!
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