PART 4 - The Eternal Reign of Christ. - Life in the Millennium.

LIFE IN THE MILLENNIUM 
Christ will be physically present and reigning.  All the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD (Num 14:21, Ps 72:19, Isa 6:3) and all the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14, Isa11:9).

This vision of the Lord, the great King personally reigning over the earth is given in the enthronement Psalms (47,93, 95-99) 
In Psa 47, He ascends to sit on His throne to rule over the earth. 
In Psa 93, we see the Kingdom established having overcome all floods of opposition.
In Psa 95 is a call to worship the King and a warning to Israel that she must believe and obey in order to possess the Kingdom, for if they harden their hearts (to Christ) as at the Exodus they did to Moses, they will not enter the promised land (rest) but wander in the wilderness (of the nations) until a later generation can enter in by faith.  This is exactly what happened in AD33 resulting in Israel’s failure to possess the Kingdom then. 
Psalms 96-98 calls the earth to rejoice because the Lord is coming to judge the world and rule over it in righteousness. 
In Ps99 the Lord reigns in glory and there is a call to worship Him at His temple in Zion.

The curse on the earth is relaxed by Christ’s Presence.  Adam (man) was given a 6000-year lease of dominion over the earth (Gen 1:26-28; Psalm 8).   His rebellion against God opened the door for evil (the curse) to come upon the world (the earth became unproductive, the climate was disrupted, animals became aggressive and carnivorous, life-spans were shortened and death came in).   The curse was recorded in Genesis 3, but all creation looks forward to Christ’s Return when creation will be delivered from the curse into liberty: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature 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 (Romans 8:19-22).  This happens when the first resurrection is complete (the manifestation of the sons of God). When Christ, the Second Adam, in obedience to the Father, takes the dominion, and rules as King from Jerusalem, the earth will come into blessing again, and be restored like the Garden of Eden - a perfect environment.

a)  Nature restored 
Isaiah 35:1-10: The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.  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.  Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.

All the sick will be healed by Messiah: Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.  Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing.

Plentiful water: For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.  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.

A main road to Jerusalem for all to come and worship: 
A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.  The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others.  Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.  No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; it shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 51:3:  For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

Isaiah 55:12,13: 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.  Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the briar 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.

Amos 9:13-15:  Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.  I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.  I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up From the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God.

b)  Animals submissive 
Isaiah 11:6-9: 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.  The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 
There will be no deadly animals, as even wolves, leopards, lions and cobras will all be tame (herbivores).  The animal kingdom will be in harmony and so children are safe.   Man will probably be vegetarian again, as before the flood, helped by the increased nutrition in the soil, fruit and crops.

c)  Man - is given longevity, his lifespan increased again to 1000 years (as it was before the Flood). 
Isaiah 65:18-25:  But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy.  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.

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.  They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.  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.  They shall not labour 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.  It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

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. 
Most live through the 1,000 years.  There is no premature death. Those who die at 100 are like children in age.  In fact those who die young are the ones removed by capital punishment (v20).  We previously saw that only unbelievers die at this time.

The Titles of the Millennium 
1. The Age to come (Hebrews 2:5) 
2. The Last DAY - the DAY of the Lord (John 6:40, 2Peter 3:10).  These 1000 years begin with the resurrection of the righteous and end with the destruction of Heaven and earth.  This is not to be confused with “the day of Christ’ which is the day of the Rapture (1Cor1:8, 5:5; 2Cor1:14; Phil1:6, 2:16). 
3. The Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14) 
4. The Regeneration (Matthew 19:28) 
5. The Restoration of all things: 
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, Who was preached to you before, Whom Heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:19-21).

General Characteristics of the Millennium 
1. Righteousness and holiness (Psalm 15:1-5; 24:1-6).   Holiness will be the first characteristic of the Kingdom, especially in Israel and Jerusalem.    (Isa 1:26-27; 4:3-4; 29:18-23; 31:6-7; 35:8,9; 52:1; 60:21; 61:10; Jer 31:23; Ezekiel 36:24-31; 37:23-24; 43:7-12; 45:1; Joel 3:21; Zeph3:11,13; Zech 8:3; 13:1-2; 14:20-21).

2. Peace and security under the one-world government centred in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-4, Micah 4:1-5). 
War will cease resulting in greater economic prosperity. 
Individual spiritual peace will be also widely available and experienced through the New Covenant (Isa 9:4-7; 11:6-9; 32:16-20; 33:5,6; 54:13; 55:12,13; 60:18; 65:25; 66:12; Ezekiel 28:26; 34:25,28; Hos 2:18; Zech 9:10).

3. Fullness of Joy again through the New Covenant  will mark this Age (Isa 9:3,4; 12:3-6; 14:7-8; 25:8-9; 30:29; 35:5-10; 42:1,10-12; 51:3, 52:9; 60:15; 61:7,10,11; 65:18-19; 66:10-14; Jer 30:18-19; 31:13-14; Zeph3:14-17; Zechariah 8:18-19; 10:6-7).

4. Glory, the manifest Presence of God (Isa24:23; 4:2; 35:2; 40:5; 60:1-9; Ezek 37:27-28; Zech 2:2,10-13). 
Fellowship with God will be experienced as never before. 
All those subject to the King will enjoy the fullness of the Spirit, enjoying His Presence and enablement (Isa 32:13-15; 41:1; 44:3; 59:19,21; 61:1; Ezekiel 36:26,27; 37:14; 39:29; Joel 2:28,29; Ezek 11:19-20).

5. Comfort  The King will minister to every need  (Isa 12:1,2; 29:22,23; 30:26; 40:1,2; 49:13; 51:3; 61:3-7; 66:13,14; Jer 31:23-25; Zeph3:18-20; Zech 9:11-12).

6.  Justice The righteous King will enforce high standards. God’s Law will go forth from Jerusalem.  The Sermon on the Mount will be the constitution (Isa 9:7; 11:5; 32:16; 42:1-4; 65:21-23; Jeremiah 23:5; 31:23; 31:29-30).

7.  Spiritual Knowledge and Instruction through the ministry of the King and the Holy Spirit (Isa 2:2,3; 11:1-2,9; 12:3-6; 25:9; 29:17-24; 30:20-21; 32:3-4; 41:19-20; 49:10; 52:8; 54:13; Jer 3:14,15; 23:1-4; Micah 4:2; Hab 2:14).

8. The Curse of Genesis 3:17-19 removed, allowing abundant productivity.  Animal creation will be changed to lose its ferocity (Isa 11:6-9; 35:9; 65:25).   Productivity is also helped by increased light (Isa 4:5; 30:26; 60:19,20); Zech 2:5).

9. Sickness and even death (except as a punishment on sin) is removed by the ministry of the King (Isa33:24; Jer 30:17; Ezek34:16).  This includes the healing of all deformity (Isa 29:17-19; 35:3-6; 61:1-2; Jer 31:8; Micah 4:6-7; Zeph3:19).   It also includes healing of mental illnesses.  Longevity will be restored (Isa 65:20).

10.  Protection and supernatural preservation of life (Isa 41:8-14; 62:8-9; Jer 32:27; 23:6; Ezek34:27; Joel 3:16-17; Amos 9:15; Zech 8:14-15; 9:8; 14:10-11).

11. Freedom from oppression of any kind (Is14:3-6; 42:6-7; 49:8-9; Zech 9:11-12). Israel reunited, never to be divided again (Jeremiah 3:18, Ezekiel 37:15-23).

12. Reproduction by those in their natural bodies will continue and lead to a population explosion because there is little death.  Those being born still have a sin-nature and need salvation. (Jer 30:20; 31:29; Ezekiel 47:22; Zech  10:8).

13. Work  There will be a perfect economic system where needs will be met by productive labour.  It will be a fully developed industrialised society.  Agriculture as well as manufacture will provide employment (Isa 62:8-9; 65:21-23; Jer 31:5; Ezek 48:18-19).

14.  Prosperity, no lack (Isa 4:1; 35:1-2,7; 30:23-25; 62:8-9; 65:21-23; Jer 31:5,12; Ezekiel 34:26,36:29-30 Micah 4:1,4; Zech 8:11-12; 9:16,17; Joel 2:21-27; Amos 9:13-14).

15. Unified Language bringing a removal of social barriers (Zeph3:9).

16. Unified Worship.  All the world will worship God and His Christ (Isa 45:23; 52:1,7-10; 66:17-23; Zech 13:2; 14:16-19; 8:23; 9:7; Zeph 2:11, 3:9; Mal 1:11).  Jesus, the King of Israel will reign from Jerusalem over the whole world.   Therefore Jerusalem will be the centre of worship as well as government and all nations will come to Jerusalem to worship the King.

17. So, Israel becomes the Chief nation and centre of Gentile attention (Micah 7:8-17, Zephaniah 3:20). 
The anointing and glory of God will be especially upon her because of the presence of the King and His Throne (Isaiah 14:1,2; 49:22,23; 60:1-14, Zechariah 8:22,23). 
She will enjoy especially great joy and prosperity  (Isaiah 61:4-9 ). 
Israel will again be related to God by marriage (Is54, 62:2-5; Hos 2:14-23). 
Israel is exalted above the Gentiles (Is14:1,2; 49:22,23; 60:14-17; 61:6,7). 
Israel is God’s witness (Is44:8, 61:6, 66:21, Jer16:19-21; Mic5:7; Zeph3:20; Zech4:1-7, 8:3)

18. The Continuation of the Millennial State.  The many blessings of the Millennium, especially the rule of Christ are not seen as temporary but will continue into eternity (Joel 3:20; Amos 9:15; Ezekiel 37:26-28; Isa 51:6-8; 55:3,13; 56:5; 60:19-20; 61:8; Jer 32:40; Ezek 16:60; 43:7-9; Daniel 9:24; Hos 2:19-23).