The Last The Last MillenniumMillennium

Revelation 20:1-Revelation 20:1-1515

As promised by God, the throne As promised by God, the throne of David shall gain prominence of David shall gain prominence on a global scale because Jesus on a global scale because Jesus Christ himself shall return to Christ himself shall return to earth and reign over the whole earth and reign over the whole earth for one thousand years.earth for one thousand years.

This comes after the doomsday This comes after the doomsday calamities upon the earth have calamities upon the earth have been cleaned up and renewed been cleaned up and renewed for an orderly life-conducive for an orderly life-conducive natural environment.natural environment.

Peace and justice shall reign Peace and justice shall reign because Satan and his forces will because Satan and his forces will be rendered powerless and be rendered powerless and prosperity and health shall prosperity and health shall characterize life for all creatures.characterize life for all creatures.

““I will make a covenant of peace I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in desert and sleep in the forests in safety. I will bless them...the people safety. I will bless them...the people will be secure in their land...they will be secure in their land...they will no longer be victims of will no longer be victims of famine...” famine...” (Ezekiel 34:25-29)(Ezekiel 34:25-29)

““The wolf will live with the lamb, The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child yearling together; and a little child will lead them...The infant will play will lead them...The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest.”viper’s nest.” (Isaiah 11:6-9)(Isaiah 11:6-9)

““In the last days the mountain of In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the established as chief among the mountains...they will beat their mountains...they will beat their swords into plowshares and their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” anymore.” (Isaiah 2:2-4)(Isaiah 2:2-4)

Life in the MillenniumLife in the Millennium

1.1.PeacePeace2.2.HappinessHappiness3.3.Long life and healthLong life and health4.4.ProsperityProsperity5.5.Joy in workJoy in work6.6.Mortals on earthMortals on earth7.7.Resurrected saints Resurrected saints

Four prominent features of the Four prominent features of the millennial kingdom outlined in millennial kingdom outlined in chapter 20 of the book of chapter 20 of the book of Revelation unveils for us a vivid Revelation unveils for us a vivid panorama of what Christ’s 1,000 panorama of what Christ’s 1,000 years reign on earth will look years reign on earth will look like.like.

As we understand these As we understand these features, let us reflect on what features, let us reflect on what the certainty of the last the certainty of the last millennium offers: millennium offers: Comfort for the Persecuted,Comfort for the Persecuted,Challenge for the Complacent,Challenge for the Complacent,Hope for the Suffering, andHope for the Suffering, andWarnings for the Compromising.Warnings for the Compromising.

The The Removal Removal of of

the the SerpentSerpent, , vv. 1-3.vv. 1-3.

The Removal of the Serpent, vv. 1-3The Removal of the Serpent, vv. 1-3

a.a.A perfectly righteous world A perfectly righteous world where peace and prosperity where peace and prosperity reign requires first and foremost reign requires first and foremost the removal of Satan, the the removal of Satan, the adversary, who is also known as adversary, who is also known as the ancient serpent.the ancient serpent.

The Removal of the Serpent, vv. 1-3The Removal of the Serpent, vv. 1-3

b.b.The Deceiver will be bound for The Deceiver will be bound for a thousand years and a thousand years and imprisoned in the bottomless imprisoned in the bottomless pit.pit.

The The Reign Reign of of

the the SaintsSaints, , vv. 4-6.vv. 4-6.

The Reign of the Saints, vv. 4-6The Reign of the Saints, vv. 4-6

a.a.Saints from all ages in their Saints from all ages in their glorified bodies will reign with glorified bodies will reign with Jesus Christ on earth, perfectly Jesus Christ on earth, perfectly carrying out His will to the carrying out His will to the renewed world.renewed world.

““But the saints of the Most High will But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever – yes, forever and possess it forever – yes, forever and ever...the Ancient of Days came and ever...the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed time came when they possessed the kingdom.”the kingdom.” (Daniel 7:18, (Daniel 7:18, 22)22)

““I tell you the truth, at the renewal I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel..”tribes of Israel..” (Matthew 19:28)(Matthew 19:28)

““Do you not know that the saints Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?...Do you not will judge the world?...Do you not know that we will judge angels?”know that we will judge angels?”

(I Corinthians 6:2 & 3)(I Corinthians 6:2 & 3)

The Reign of the Saints, vv. 4-6The Reign of the Saints, vv. 4-6

b.b.The tribulation saints, those The tribulation saints, those who died during the 7 years of who died during the 7 years of tribulation, are among those tribulation, are among those saints who will reign with Christ.saints who will reign with Christ.

““And I saw the souls of those who And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God...They because of the word of God...They came to life and reigned with Christ came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”a thousand years.”

(Revelation 20:2-4)(Revelation 20:2-4)

The The Doom Doom of of

the the DragonDragon, , vv. 7-10.vv. 7-10.

The Doom of the Dragon, vv. 7-10The Doom of the Dragon, vv. 7-10

a.a.Satan will be temporarily Satan will be temporarily released after one thousand released after one thousand years for one last escapade and years for one last escapade and will deceive and lead the final will deceive and lead the final rebellion against God.rebellion against God.

The Doom of the Dragon, vv. 7-10The Doom of the Dragon, vv. 7-10

b.b.The Dragon’s fierce nature is The Dragon’s fierce nature is no match to God’s awesome no match to God’s awesome power who will swiftly destroy power who will swiftly destroy him and his armies.him and his armies.

The The Damnation Damnation of of

the the DeadDead, , vv. 11-vv. 11-15.15.

The Damnation of the Dead, vv. 11-15The Damnation of the Dead, vv. 11-15

a.a.The sinners from all ages who The sinners from all ages who did not believe in Jesus as the did not believe in Jesus as the Christ, will be resurrected, Christ, will be resurrected, judged, and punished with the judged, and punished with the second death – the lake of fire second death – the lake of fire (v. 14b).(v. 14b).

The Damnation of the Dead, vv. 11-15The Damnation of the Dead, vv. 11-15

b.b.Hell is real. If it were not, why Hell is real. If it were not, why would Jesus have to suffer and would Jesus have to suffer and die for our sins?die for our sins?