The Millennuim - (Part 4)

The Lord has provided everything necessary for the chosen to live eternally happy. God's judgments are just and fair. His great judgment will conclude at the end of 1,000 years.

The following graphic provides an overview of these events. We can see that the investigative judgment began in 1844 following the 2,300 year prophecy. (This subject will be covered in depth in the Sanctuary series). When the time of grace ends all cases have been determined. By this time only those whose names are in the book of life will be saved. Then the Lord returns on the clouds of heaven and the millennium begins.


During the 1,000 years something very interesting happens as part of this great judgment.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 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. Revelation 20:11, 12

If we look at the graphic, God has already determined what the final sentence for the wicked will be. The fact that the wicked were not resurrected or taken to meet the Lord in the clouds indicates that they were found wanting in the trial. I underscore an aspect which was mentioned in the study concerning the investigative judgment. We are saved by the atoning blood of Christ, saved by His grace. But we are judged according to our works. Every word, every thought, every work is registered in the books of heaven.

Only Jesus has the authority to judge and determine whether an individual’s works are covered by His grace. During the 1,000 years, the books will be opened not so we can determine if the wicked will be saved because it was already determined during the investigative judgment.

First, it is the dead who are being judged. This sounds strange but all of the wicked are dead at this point. This includes those who are alive when the Lord returns because they will be destroyed by the brightness of His glory. On the other hand, the righteous who sleep in the Lord are resurrected with immortal bodies and the living are clothed with immortality in a blink of an eye. That is why during the millennium only Satan and his angels are alive on this earth.

Because the wicked are dead, the books are open to the entire universe to judge them according to what is written. Maybe some of us will ask why an individual is not in heaven. A father searching for his son, a wife searching for her husband or a friend searching for her friend whom they believed would be in heaven. Because God's purpose is to reveal Satan’s true character and the effects of sin, the books will show that despite all the opportunities these people were given they rejected Jesus and chose not to be saved.

The records in heaven are for us to see how our sins are forgiven by the Lord when we truly repent and surrender to Him. The also exist to clarify the fact that those who by their own choice reject the atoning blood of Christ will not be forgiven or saved.

At the conclusion of the 1,000 years when the holy city descends to this earth the second resurrection occurs.

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. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:7-10

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. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:13-15

We see the compassion and transparency that exist in God’s government. This process is in place so the entire universe may see the effects of sin as opposed to God’s government of love and justice. There is nothing more that can be done for the wicked. Once the door of grace is shut and even if other opportunities and more time were given the wicked would continue to choose the path of destruction. Even after seeing the glory of God, the devil will deceive the wicked and persuade them to take the holy city by force.

Finally, the sentence is executed. The wicked along with Satan and his angels are thrown into the lake of fire. In the following study we will see what see what the commonly misunderstood “lake of fire” or "hell", really is.

In the end however, the righteous will be safe within the city and will finally live with Jesus forever in the new heavens and earth.

JESUS IS COMING!