The closing chapters of the book of Revelation describe the final
events of this worlds history and the plan of redemption. One of the events
it records is the 1,000 years that is commonly known as the Millennium.
The word millennium comes from two Latin words joined together — mil,
meaning one thousand, and annum, meaning year.
Unfortunately, there is much confusion in the Christian church regarding
this doctrine of the Millennium. The only way we can clearly understand
the true meaning and purpose of this doctrine is to examine it in the light
or context of the Day of Atonement, when the whole universe will be made
“at-one-ment” with God.
The purpose of the Millennium is part and parcel of the objectives of
the Day of Atonement, which is to eradicate sin and usher in everlasting
righteousness. God cannot bring sin to an end, He cannot usher in everlasting
righteousness, until all doubt about Him and His dealing with the sin problem
is removed.
It is only when the entire universe, including the devil and his angels,
as well as the lost, admits to God that “just and true are your ways.”
Finally, at the end of the Millennium, when Satan, his angels, and the wicked
are judged, they too will confess to God, “just and true are your ways.”
Then, and then only, will God destroy Satan, the originator of sin,
the wicked angels who have joined him in the rebellion, and the unbelievers
(those who have deliberately, persistently, and ultimately rejected the
gift of salvation in Christ.
In this study we will turn our attention to the thousand years, the
doctrine of the Millennium, when God will remove all doubt from the minds
of the saints about Himself and His dealings with the sin problem.
1. What are the two kinds of resurrections that Jesus taught?
| John 5:28,29 |
(i) _____________________________________________________________ |
|
(ii) ____________________________________________________________ |
Note: The Bible speaks of two resurrections. The first is the
resurrection of the believers, all those who have accepted Christ as their
Saviour. The second resurrection is that of the lost, those who have deliberately
and ultimately rejected Christ. The “time” between these two resurrections
is the millennium.
2. When will the resurrection of the believers take place?
1 Thessalonians 4:16 __________________________________________________
Note: The resurrection of the righteous will take place at the
second coming of Christ. This is the first resurrection, the blessed hope
of all believers. This is when the thousand years, or millennium, begins.
3. What will happen to the believers at the second coming of Christ?
1 Thessalonians 4:17 __________________________________________________
Note: The last generation of Christians, those who go through
the time of trouble, will not experience death but will experience a change.
4. What change will take place to the believers in the resurrection?
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 __________________________________________________
Note: Until the second advent, Christians will still have sinful
natures and mortal bodies. Immortality as a subjective experience will not
be a reality for the saints until the second coming of Christ. This is the
blessed hope.
5. Where will Jesus take the believers after they are resurrected?
John 14:1-3 __________________________________________________
6. What promise was made to the disciples who saw Christ’s ascension?
Acts:1:10, 11 __________________________________________________
Note: When Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection,
He went to prepare a place for the believers. At His second coming, He will
come to take them to His heavenly home. This is the promise He made to His
disciples and to all who believe.
7. How many who are alive will witness Christ’s second coming?
Revelation 1:7 __________________________________________________
Note: Besides the living, God will raise those who crucified Christ
in a special resurrection, just before the second advent. This is to fulfill
what Christ promised them at His trial (see Matthew 26:64).
8. What will happen to the wicked at the second coming of Christ?
2 Thessalonians 2:8 __________________________________________________
Note: God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29); therefore, when
Christ comes in His divine glory, all those who have accepted the deceptions
of Satan and rejected the gift of salvation in Christ will be destroyed
in the presence of that brightness.
9. What serious question did Jesus ask of those who reject Him?
Matthew 16:26 __________________________________________________
Note: When the wicked face death at the second coming of Christ,
they will realize what they have given up for the pleasures of sin. But
it will be too late!
10. What condition will this earth be reduced to after the second
advent?
Jeremiah 4:23 __________________________________________________
Note: This was the condition of the earth before creation week
began (see Genesis 1:2).
11. What will happen to the vegetation and the cities when Jesus returns?
Jeremiah 4:26 __________________________________________________
12. Describe the condition of the lost after the righteous are taken
to heaven?
Jeremiah 25:33 __________________________________________________
13. What will God do to Satan at that time?
Revelation 20:1,2 __________________________________________________
Note: The “bottomless pit” means that the earth will
once again be “without form and void.” Out of this formless and
lifeless earth did God create a perfect world. When Satan introduced sin
to our planet it meant doom to that perfect creation. Satan will have a
thousand years to ponder over and think about what sin has done to this
earth.
14. What will happen to Satan after the thousand years are over?
Revelation 20:3 (last part) __________________________________________________
Note: At the end of the Millennium, the wicked will be raised
up. This is the second resurrection. At this time Satan will take advantage
to deceive them again (see verses 7,8).
15. What will Satan and the wicked do at this time and what will happen
to them?
Revelation 20:9 __________________________________________________
Note: When Satan uses the wicked to attack God and the saints,
it clearly proves that the thousand years did not produce any repentance
or change in his attitude towards God. He and those who have joined him
deserve to be destroyed. This is the final end of Satan, the wicked angels,
and the lost (see verse 14).
16. What will the saints be doing in heaven during the thousand years?
Revelation 20:6 __________________________________________________
Note: Reigning with Christ involves investigating the lives of
the lost. This is what it means to be “priests of God and of Christ.”
17. How does Paul describe reigning with Christ during the Millennium?
1 Corinthians 6:2 __________________________________________________
Note: During the thousand years, all the questions concerning
God’s dealing with the sin problem will be answered and the saints
will be satisfied that God was just.
18. Before the judgment takes place what blame does God assume?
Isaiah 45:7 __________________________________________________
Note: Because God is sovereign, nothing can happen without His
permission. For this reason, He assumes all the blame for the havoc and
atrocities that sin has produced in this world. It is only after the thousand
years, when all will have had the opportunity to examine God’s dealings
with the sin problem, that all His creatures will confess “just and
true are your ways.”
19. On whom will God ultimately place the blame for the sin problem?
Leviticus 16:20-22 __________________________________________________
Note: The goat in this verse represents Satan, the originator
of the sin problem. After God has vindicated Himself on the Day of Atonement,
He will put the blame for the havoc that sin has produced where it really
belongs, on Satan.
20. How will the righteous finally respond to God’s judgments?
Revelation 16:7 __________________________________________________
Note: The whole purpose of the Millennium is to clear all doubt
from the minds of the righteous regarding God and His dealings with sin.
It is only when this is done that He can put the real blame for the sin
problem where it belongs, i.e., on Satan. Only then can Christ usher in
everlasting righteousness.
21. Will heaven be the permanent home for the saved?
Revelation 21:1-3 __________________________________________________
Note: At the end of the Millennium, Christ and all the saints
dwelling in New Jerusalem will return back to earth. This is when Satan
and the wicked will be destroyed. Following this, Christ will create a new
heaven and a new earth which will be the permanent home of the saved. Please
bear in mind that the final restoration of a perfect universe without sin
will become reality because of the wonderful truth that God loved us so
much that He willingly gave of Himself by sacrificing His only Son, Jesus
Christ, to be the Saviour of the world. This salvation is not limited to
only the human beings who were held in the bondage of sin but also involves
the absolute re-creation of the eternal home of the redeemed, the earth
made new. This will be the topic of our next study.