THE MILLENNIUM (2)

1. The Future World

a) Men have always had a story of a golden age in the past, or a dream of one in the future. Most important, God's inspired prophets told of a wonderful time to come when all men will be blessed. From the Bible, we know that all blessings come through God the Son. So the "Golden Age" is really the Kingdom of Christ.

2. The Millennium

a) What will Millennium be like?

i) No doubt when Christ comes to reign, things in this world will be wonderful. Will everything be perfect? Outwardly, yes. But there will be many who do not really love the Lord. They will be forced to obey. But when they get a chance, they will rebel.

ii) At the end of the thousand years Satan will be loosed for a short time. He will go out and gather these men who in their hearts have not accepted Christ. They will make one last great effort to attack the saints - and fail. They will be destroyed by fire from heaven. Satan and his helpers will be thrown into the lake of fire, Revelation 20:7-10.

iii) Then will come the second resurrection. We have seen that the dead in Christ rise from among the dead when the Lord returns. This is before the Tribulation or the Kingdom. At the end of the Kingdom age there is the resurrection of the wicked, John 5:28-29. Do not think that only the saints will arise from the dead. Because Christ rose from the dead, all men will rise again, 1 Corinthians 15:22.

iv) At the great white throne, the books will be opened. Every man will be judged according to his works. The Son of God will sit on this throne, John 5:22. He knows all. He judges fairly. The God-Man also can understand human problems and weakness. Yet there is no salvation for those who did not accept Christ as their Savior in this world. Their names are not found in the Lamb's book of life, Revelation 20:11-15. They are led away to the lake of fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels.

v) What and where is hell? The Lord Jesus Himself gave a terrible picture of the condition of those who are lost: fear, sorrow, and anger, Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30.

vi) Jude says the wicked will be like wandering stars in the blackness of darkness forever, Jude 13. We do not know where hell is except that is far from God. "Where Jesus is, 'tis heaven there!"

vii) The Bible does not say much about heaven either. We do read of things that will not be in heaven: sorrow, crying, pain, curse, death. There will be light and life and love and glory, Revelation 21:22 to 22:5.