The Millennuim - (Part 2)

In this part we look at where the saints will be during the millennium and some of the things they will be doing during this time. As the millennium begins, after the second coming of Jesus, only the righteous (those who resurrected and the living) will be present. If we recall the study on the seven last plagues (God's wrath), both the wicked and the elements of this world are destroyed.

I stress a very important point which may bring confusion. The book of Daniel was sealed until the end time in order to be revealed through the book of Revelation. We must recognize that not all items concerning the end-time were revealed to the prophet Daniel. So the thousand-year period is only found in Revelation but is it complementary to Daniel.

You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth...And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.” Daniel 2:34, 35, 44, 45

God revealed to the prophet Daniel (in King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream) that he will finally establish His kingdom. This kingdom will destroy all other kingdoms and will last forever. God himself establishes this kingdom! We also see this prophecy in the dream that Daniel himself has.

‘But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’ Daniel 7:26, 27

Lets compare these verses to clarify some points.

He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 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. 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. Revelation 20:2-6

We can identify certain important aspects in these verses. The first is that the kingdom of God and of the saints begins with the 1,000 years (after the second coming). Then we can see that during the thousand years the saints "shall be priests of God and of Christ." It might seem like an insignificant point but it allows us to understand that during this time we will dwell with Jesus and God in heaven. We will be before the very throne of God.

Also note that the throne of Jesus in this world will be established after the 1,000 years. The prophet Daniel sees a stone not cut by human hand destroy all other kingdoms, all nations. Then the stone is made into a great mountain and fills the whole earth. But if you recall, during the period of the 1,000 years Satan is only bound but not yet fully destroyed. After the 1,000 years the wicked are resurrected (the second death), Satan is released and gathers them for the last great battle.

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 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. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. Revelation 20:7-9

At the end of the 1,000 years the prophecy revealed to the prophet Daniel has not yet been completely fulfilled. The saints are safe inside the beloved city, the new Jerusalem, while Satan with all the nations are surrounding it. We will go into further detail about these events later on.

Let's look at the promise that Jesus makes.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3

The place that Jesus is preparing for us is in our heavenly Father’s home in heaven. Jesus promises that he will come again and take us with him, take us to the house of our heavenly Father. How exciting to think that we will celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven with our Heavenly Father!

At the conclusion of the 1,000 years after this great feast, after the judgment of the wicked the holy city of will desecend.

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. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:1-5

I emphasize that the new heavens and new earth will be created after the holy city descends. The Bible itself tells us this.

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Revelation 20:12, 13

The judgment in which the saints will be a part of will be over the wicked and Satan himself. Again I turn to some details that seem insignificant. The apostle John mentions that the sea gave up the dead who were in it. After the holy city comes descends and the new heavens and new earth are created the sea ceases to exist. During the 1,000 years the earth is still in its terrible condition while the righteous are happy in heaven.

To summarize, the righteous resurrected and those who are alive at His coming are caught up in the clouds. Then the Lord leads us to heaven during the millennium to the house of our heavenly Father to celebrate the wedding of the lamb. At the end of this time the holy city descends to earth. The goal now is to eradicate sin forever, creating new heavens and new earth, and finally we inherit it forever.

JESUS IS COMING!