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Intro to the End Times Seminar Session 7: Millennial Realities I. Intro to the Thousand-Year Reign of Christ: There is coming a literal 1000-year reign of Christ on the Earth where many elements of this current age change will be greatly affected, some even done away with. It will be a time unlike any time creation has ever seen, Jesus will be King on Earth as He has been in Heaven. This period of Christs rule on Earth is the new beginning for all things; it will be a time where all areas of life on the planet are touched in a divine way. The Bible gives us unbelievable detail about many of these realities and includes and how we as resurrected saints will interact with the new age. II. Eternal Rewards: A. Rewarded at the 2nd Coming: A major part of our faith is that we believe in Christ’s actual 2nd Coming. At which point we will receive our reward (Is. 42:10, 62:11; Mt. 16:27; 1Co. 3:13-14; 1Th. 2:19; 2Ti. 4:8; 1Pe. 5:2; Re. 11:18, 22:12). This will mean many good things for those that served Him faithfully. B. Primary Motivation Tool: God has given us a tremendous amount of information about heavenly rewards in order to motivate us into godly living (Ps. 58:11, 62:12; Is. 32:1; Pr. 19:17, 25:22, 28:10; Da. 7:18, 22, 27, 12:13; Is. 40:10, 49:4, 62:11; Je. 17:10, 32:19; Mt. 5:5, 12, 19, 46, 6:4, 6, 16-20, 10:41-42, 11:1112, 16:27, 18:1-6, 19:21, 29, 20:16, 20-23, 26-28, 23:11, 25:13, 34-40; Mk. 9:33-37, 10:21, 30, 35-45; Lk. 1:14-19, 6:23, 32-36, 9:46-48, 22:24-30, 12:33, 14:11, 13-14, 16:10-12, 18:14, 22, 30, 19:17, 21:1-4, 22:30, 36-38; Jn. 13:12-17, Ro. 2:7, 8:17-18; 1Co. 3:14, 4:5, 6:2-3, 9:17, 24, 15:58; Eph. 6:8; Phil. 3:14; Co. 3:23-24; 1Ti. 4:8, 6:6; 2Ti. 2:12, 4:8; Ja. 1:12, 2:5; He. 2:5, 6:10-12, 10:35-36, 11:24-26, 35; 1Pe. 3:3-4, 5:4; 2Pe. 1:11; Re. 2:2627, 3:21, 5:10, 22:5, 12). C. Vision for a Greater Inheritance: He desires to give us a vision for greatness not primarily in this age but in the age to come so that we would pursue the right things in this life. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Co. 3:23-24).” 1 “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come (1Ti. 4:8).” “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2Pe. 1:10-11).” D. Some Resurrected Saints will Receive Eternal Crowns: (1 Co. 9:25; 2Ti. 4:8; Ja. 1:12; 1Pe. 5:4; Re. 2:10, 3:11, 4:10, 4) “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away (1Pe. 5:4).” “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever (1Co. 9:25).” “Now, there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2Ti. 4:8).” III. The Resurrection: Each one of the following points is a study in itself so I invite you to spend extended time looking over these verses and ideas and then discussing them with each other. By doing so you will gain a far greater understanding than can be grasped in the short period we will be giving to each one. A. Our Resurrected Bodies: Our bodies will become like Christ’s. The purpose of this is so that we will be able to interact with the environments of both Heaven and Earth. When a believer dies now their spirit goes to be with the Lord in Heaven and so they have no need of a body, but we will be like Christ and will interact with both environments in a perfect way (Mt. 28:1–20; Mk. 16:1– 8; Lk 24:1–53; Jn. 20:1–21:25; Ac. 1:1-11; Ps. 104:1-2; Mt. 13:43; Php. 3:20-21; 1Co. 6:14, 15:35-53, 2Co. 3:18). “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2Co. 3:18).” “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Php. 3:20-21).” 2 “And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven (1Co. 15:49).” B. Role of Resurrected Saints: The prophets spoke much about the various activities of the redeemed in the in Kingdom Age (Ps. 37:9, 11, 62:12; Is. 1:26, 32:1; Da. 7:22, 27; Mt. 5:3, 5, 10, 19:28, 20:16, 21-23, 26-27, 25:23; Lk. 14:14, 18:14, 22, 30, 16:10, 19:17-19, 22:29-30; 1Co. 6:2-3; 1Ti. 4:8; 2Ti. 2:12; 1Th. 4:14-17; Ro. 2:7, 8:17; Ja. 1:12, 2:5; He. 2:5, 6:11-12, 10:35-36, 11:35; Re. 2:26-27, 3:21, 5:10, 7:14-17, 20:1-6, 22:3-5, 12). Life will be real, full, fulfilling and varied, below are just a few of the dynamics we will walk in. 1. The resurrected saints will serve before God (Re. 5:10, 7:14-17, 22:3). 2. Resurrected saints will be ruling with Christ (Is. 1:26, 32:1; Da. 7:27; Lk. 19:13-19; Mt. 5:3, 5, 10, 19:28; 1 Co. 6:2-3; Re. 2:26-27, 3:21, 5:10, 20:4-6, 22:5). 3. Resurrected saints will dwell in the New Jerusalem while unresurrected humans primarily dwell on Earth (Lk. 16:8-9; Jn. 14:1-4; Re. 22:3, 7:14-15; Ga. 4:26; Ps. 27:4; 1Pe. 2:5, 9, 11; 2 Co. 5:1-8). IV. The Resistors: At the start of the Millennium there will actually be two major groups of people; the resurrected saints and those on the earth with natural bodies where natural life continues on. This group is often referred to in the scriptures as “those who are left (Is. 4:3, 7:22; Zch. 9:7).” For the sake of our study however I will here forward refer to this group as “the Resistors.” Below are several of the defining characteristics about this Resistor group. A. Biblical Foundation: The following passages lay the clear foundation for the existence of this group (Ps. 67:1-4, 76:10; Is. 4:2-3, 10:20-22, 11:11, 16, 12:4, 19:20-21, 28:5, 37:31-32, 49:6, 65:8, 66:19; Je. 23:3, 31:2; Ez. 7:16, 20:38-42, 36:36; Da. 12:1; Jo. 2:32; Am. 9:9-10, 14-15; Mi. 4:7, 5:7-8; Zph. 2:9, 11, 3:9-10, 12-13, 20; Zch. 8:12, 9:6-7, 12:14, 13:8, 14:16; Ma. 1:11, 14). B. They Previously Resisted: The reason for this designation is that this group resisted nearly everything and everyone during the period of the Tribulation; they resisted the Antichrist and refused to take his mark, but so too they resisted Christ and were not saved during the Great Harvest. Thus they enter the Millennium with natural bodies but without the judgment that awaits those who take the mark of the beast. C. They Receive Salvation: These people will all come to Christ in the early period of the Millennium as they see Christ face to face and have the entire story line unveiled to them. It is foundational to the 1000 year reign of Christ that there be people on the Earth who serve Christ with natural bodies during this time. 3 D. Their Role & Function: It is important to understand the difference between this group and the Resurrected Saints because of how different their lives will look from ours. Their role will look very much like lives do now while we, with resurrected bodies will be experiencing all the promises of Heaven and have dynamic interaction with the earth unlike anything in history. IV. Heaven on Earth: A. New Jerusalem Descends near to Earth: The Holy City comes down out of the Heavens and into plain view of the inhabitants of the Earth for the first time in history. This will be the most amazing sight (Ps. 48), glorious and beautiful (Re. 21:9-26). “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal…The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it (Re. 21:1012, 24).” B. The Wedding Supper of the Lamb takes Place: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns…the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”…‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb (Re. 19:6-9)!’” C. Unprecedented Peace and Justice Mark the 1000 Years: “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this (Is. 9:7).” V. Life Continues On Planet Earth: A. Mankind Repopulates the Planet: 1. There will be natural reproduction in the Millennium, procreation will continue on for those with natural bodies (Le. 26:9; Ps. 22:30-31, 45:16, 48:13, 87:4-7, 102:27-28, 103:17; Is. 11:6-8, 34:10, 17, 45:18, 54:3, 59:21, 61:9, 65:9, 20, 23, 66:22; Je. 30:20; Ez. 36:10-13, 37, 37:25-26, 47:22; Jo. 3:20; Zch. 8:5, 10:8; Re. 20:8). “I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know 4 that I am the LORD. I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children (Ez. 36:11-12).” “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people…when my sanctuary is among them forever (Ez. 37:26-28).’” 2. People will again live for hundreds of years (Is. 65:20, 22; Zch. 8:4). “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed (Is. 65:20).” 3. Tranquil relationships in nature will mark this season in an unusual way (Ps. 68:30, 91:13; Is. 11:6-8, 34:13-15, 35:9, 43:20, 65:25; Ez. 34:25). “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea (Is. 11:6-9).” B. The Cities and Infrastructure of the World are Rebuilt: 1. Literal cities will be rebuilt (Ps. 69:35, 102:16, 147:2; Is. 44:26, 45:13, 54:3, 58:12, 60:10, 61:4-6, 65:21; Je. 30:18, 33:7; Ez. 36:10, 33, 36-38; Am. 9:14; Mi. 7:12; Ac: 3:21). The Great Tribulation will have brought about nearly total devastation to the Earth. “They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations (Is. 61:4).” “I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt (Ez. 36:10).” 2. All the houses will have been destroyed and they will need to be rebuilt (Is. 58:12, 65:21-22; Je. 30:18; Ez. 28:26). “They will build houses and dwell in them…No longer will they build houses and others live in them…For as the days of a tree, so will be the 5 days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands (Is. 65:21-22).” 3. Agriculture will have to be reestablished, vineyards and gardens and such will be tilled again and then crops planted (Ps. 65:9, 10, 13, 67:6, 72:3, 16, 85:12, 147:14; Is. 4:2, 13:20, 27:6, 30:23-24, 32:20, 14, 61:5, 62:9, 65:10, 21-22; Ez. 28:26, 36:8, 29-30, 34:27-29, 47:12; Am. 9:14; Zch. 2:4). “They will…plant vineyards and eat their fruit (Is. 65:21).” “I will call for the grain and make it plentiful…I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer… famine (Ez. 36:29-30).” 4. The land will be restored to how it was at the Garden of Eden (Ps. 65:9-13, 18:8 linked with 2Sa. 22:9; Is. 4:2, 32:15, 33:21, 35:1-2, 6-7, 41:18-19, 51:3, 55:12, 13; Ez. 36:35, 45:15; Jo. 3:18; Zch. 14:8). C. The Nations will be Fully Discipled: All the nations of the Earth will meet in Jerusalem for teaching, instruction and worship (Ps. 66:4-5, 67:4, 68:31-34, 29, 86:9, 99:5, 110:2; Is. 2:3-5, 11:10, 25:6, 54:13, 60:3-4, 66:23; Je. 3:17; Da. 7:14; Mi. 4:1-3, 7:12; Zch. 14:16-19, 8:20-22; Ac. 3:21-23; Re. 15:4). The years of the Millennium will be to fulfill the great commission. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Mt. 28:19-20).” “Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem (Is. 2:3).” VI. Government: A. Jesus is Crowned King of All the Earth: 1. Jesus becomes the new King of the planet (Ps. 72, 45:1-8, 118:22-29; Ps. 37:11; Mt. 19:28, 20:21-23, 25:23; Lk. 19:17-19, 22:29-30; Ac. 3:21; Ro. 8:17; 1Co. 6:2-3; 2Ti. 2:12; Re. 2:26-27, 3:21, 5:10, 20:4-6, 22:5). 2. He will be a very wise leader (Ps. 111:3; Is. 11:1-3, 49:10b; Je. 23:5; Ez. 34:11-24; Zch. 8:20-22; Re. 7:17). B. He Rules the Nations Henceforth: 6 1. The nations are made His inheritance forever (Ge. 15:4; Ps. 2:8-9, 22:27-28, 66:7; Da. 7:14; Zch. 9:10; Mt. 5:5, 21:38; Mk. 12:7; Lk. 20:14; Jn. 3:16; He. 1:2; Re. 2:26-27). “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore (Is. 2:4).” 2. He will assume control over all the governments of the Earth (Is. 2:14; Mi. 4:1-5; Je. 3:17; Ez. 37:28, 43:4-7). 3. He will put into place a one world governmental institution (Zch. 14:9; Ez. 37:13-28, Re. 19:16). 4. There will still be literal nations, as in different territories under different leaders authority (Ps. 2:8-9, 67:4-7, 72:10-11, 17, 86:9, 99:12; Is. 2:4, 26:15; Ez. 37:28; Mi. 4:3; Zch. 2:11, 8:22-23, 9:10, 14:18; Re. 2:26). 5. All of the nations will serve Israel (Ps. 72:10-11; Is. 14:2, 45:14, 49:2223, 60:10, 12, 61:5; Zch. 8:23). C. New Leadership is Put in Place: 1. New kings will be put into place (Ps. 47:9, 72:11, 89:27, 102:15; Da. 7:27; Re. 16:14; 19:19-21). 2. Real human leaders will be given places of authority in Christ’s Kingdom (Ps. 2:10; Is. 24:23, 32:1-2, 49:23). 3. There will be judges and governors over various areas of jurisdiction (Is. 1:26, 24:23, 32:1; Je. 30:21; Ez. 45:8-9; Mt. 19:28; Lk. 22:30, 19:1228). D. The Wicked are Rounded up and Executed: As it was after the fall of Nazi Germany war tribunals will take place where wicked men will be rounded up and then punished for their crimes (Ps. 9:19; Is. 13:11, 14:2, 24:21-22, 26:21, 45:23-24: Na. 1:3; Lk. 19:27, 20:16; Php. 2:9-11; 2Th. 1:8-9). “In that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below. They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison and be punished after many days (Is. 24:21-22).” “I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless (Is. 13:11).” 7