The Millennium In Light of The Cross

Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com

Brief Overview: The millennium is the thousand-year reign of Christ with His saints in heaven between the first and second resurrections. During this time the wicked dead will be judged; the earth will be utterly desolate, without living human inhabitants, but occupied by Satan and his angels. At its close Christ with His saints and the Holy City will descend from heaven to earth. The unrighteous dead will then be resurrected, and with Satan and his angels will surround the city; but fire from God will consume them and cleanse the earth. The universe will thus be freed of sin and sinners forever. (Rev. 20; 1 Cor. 6:2,3; Jer. 4:23-26; Rev. 21:1-5; Mal. 4:1; Eze. 28:18, 19.)

Why it is important to know the truth about the millennium: There are many erroneous teachings about the millennium, including the idea some will be given a second chance after the second coming. This is a false security leading many to disregard the exhortation of Paul, “For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.”Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT

Why it is important to understand the millennium in light of the cross: Only when we get to heaven will we see and realize what Jesus left to come and die for us.

Further Study on the Millennium

What happens to the earth when Jesus comes?

Look! The Lord is about to destroy the earth and make it a vast wasteland. He devastates the surface of the earth and scatters the people. Isaiah 24:1 NLT

What happens to all of the wicked?

In that day those the Lord has slaughtered will fill the earth from one end to the other. No one will mourn for them or gather up their bodies to bury them. They will be scattered on the ground like manure. Jeremiah 25:33 NLT

What happens to the righteousness?

We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 NLT

Note: When Jesus comes the wicked are all slain, the righteous are all taken to heaven, and the earth is left in a desolate state (“without form and void” Jer. 4:23; as a “bottomless pit” Rev. 20:1).

How long is Satan bound to the earth?

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while. Revelation 20:1-3 NLT

Note: Satan is chained up by circumstances. All the wicked are dead. The righteous are in heaven, and he has no one to tempt or torment. Before his expulsion from heaven he thought he would make a better ruler than God. See Isaiah 14:14. Satan now gets to roam the world for a thousand years and consider the fruits of his empire.

What will the righteous be doing during the thousand years?

Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4 NLT

Whom shall they be judging?

Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 NLT

Jesus spoke of two resurrections.

Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. John 5:28-29 NLT

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5:28-29 KJV

When are the wicked dead raised?

This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.Revelation 20:5-6 NLT

What does Satan do when they are raised?

When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. Revelation 20:7-8 NLT

What descends down from God?

And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Revelation 21:2 NLT

What does Satan attempt and what happens?

And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. Revelation 20:9 NLT

What is this fire called?

Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. Revelation 20:14 NLT

What will God create from the ashes?

But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. 2 Peter 3:10-13 NLT

What will the new earth be like?

In those days people will live in the houses they build and eat the fruit of their own vineyards. Unlike the past, invaders will not take their houses and confiscate their vineyards. For my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains. They will not work in vain, and their children will not be doomed to misfortune. For they are people blessed by the Lord, and their children, too, will be blessed. I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. But the snakes will eat dust. In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Isaiah 65:21-25 NLT

What promise of God does John see in vision?

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:1-5 NLT

Print/PDF/Email

(21)

1. Since prophetic time ceased in 1844, according to Rev. 10:6 (and 7BC 971.7), the 1000 years would be literal. So would the 1/2 hour of Rev. 8:1, which James Whites' footnotes to Ellen White's first vision in WLF acknowledges. So would the one day or one hour in which Babylon's plagues or fall comes.

2. I know of no reason why the New Jerusalem's dimensions would not be literal. The small-scale model in the final chapters of Ezekiel certainly doesn't point to something symbolic. And if it was intended to be symbolic, I doubt we'd be able to use the measurements in Revelation and Ezekiel to calculate the circumference of the earth (http://www.pickle-publishing.com/papers/ezekiels-city-circumference-of-the-earth.htm).

The JW's don't believe in a literal New Jerusalem. I was having a study with a JW elder, and when I covered how you can use Ezekiel's city and the New Jerusalem to calculate the circumference of the earth, he was freaking out, because the end conclusion was that the city had to be literal.

3. The way most Adventists explain the millennial judgment, the redeemed during the millennium judge the Judge, but not the lost. Reviewing cases to see if the judge did right is judging the judge, not the defendant.

It should be pointed out that from EW 291 to GC 661, Ellen White said that the millennial judgment involved the sentencing of the wicked, the determination of punishment the lost would receive in the lake of fire. I have never found where she said we will judge so that we will get our questions answered. Of course, that could be a secondary result, but it's not the primary purpose.

Sentencing would be judging the wicked, not the Judge. The sentencing phase is done by a jury of peers. The redeemed, in union with Jesus (as Ellen White put it), are that jury.

Actually, the sentencing idea can be found in her writings back in PrT 11-1-1850. So from 1850 to 1911, this was the explanation she gave.

Ps. 149:5 says, "Let the saints be joyful in glory." Vss. 6-9 then speak of the execution of the judgment, and has the redeemed playing some sort of role in that, and speaks of it as being an honor. Rom. 16:20 says that God will bruise Satan under our feet shortly, and so there is some sort of role for us to play in the destruction of the wicked. Our determining the sentence would explain these verses.

(0)

Reply ↓

Comments

The Millennium In Light of The Cross — 10 Comments

Kevin R James on March 25, 2019 at 5:25 am said:

Sometimes chapter and verse additions can be more trouble than good. It seems to be the case with the millennium. For some reason it is viewed apart from preceding material and out of it all sorts of mischief on its meaning and message comes forth. But letting the narrative flow from chapter 19 into chapter 20 things are a bit clearer.

The false trinity is first introduced in chapters 12 and 13. They turn up again in the sixth plague, and most likely represent the three parts of the city of Babylon. Now the three are placed in the context of the second coming with the beast and false prophets being destroyed (chapter 19), and the ring leader of the entire false system captured (chapter 20). It is here that reemphasis upon who the dragon is, is told: The old serpent, Satan. The other half of the great controversy. The one that drew Eve to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil with the promise that by consuming the fruit she would become "as God."

We have been introduced to an abyss and an angel (star) earlier in Rev. 9:1, and a key and opening. The angel or star of Revelation 9 falls from heaven and is given a key, and the star unlocks the pit. Out of it comes a fury of evil (Satan acting upon his belief that freedom comes apart from God). Now we have an angel descending from heaven with the key and a chain. Since the dragon is bound from entering heaven as we find in chapter 12, this angel is not the same as in chapter 9. The angel of 9 is the fallen star, Satan, who was allowed to work his manner upon earth. The abyss being the laboratory of the evil machinations that come forth from it. Now Satan is confined to that laboratory with no subjects to carry his experiments out on.

This confinement is a terrible mocking of all Satan has believed and promised. The earth is scorched, not a soul is alive. No one to deceive and despite all that he claims, he isn't like God. He can't raise the dead. He can't grow a plant. He can't produce an animal. He is trapped upon an empty scare that covers a rocky planet to contemplate the results of his rebellion. It must be an ultimate sense of loss and despair for Satan.

(6)

Reply ↓
MOACIR LEITE DE SENA on March 26, 2019 at 5:53 am said:

Thanks for the comment on the Millennium - but I still have some questions that I would appreciate to have some light poured on based on Scripture:
1. Are the 1000 years literal or symbolic? Considering the load of symbols in the book of Revelation concerning time - 1260 days = years - would 1000 years represent 360,000 years? - 1 day = 1 year = 360 days = 360 years?
A little longer - Rev. 6:11
3 and 1/2 days Rev. 11:9-11
1 hour - Rev. 17:12
a little season/while Rev. 20:3
the time is at hand Rev. 22:10

3 and 1/2 days Rev. 11:9-11

2. Many bible scholars believe the dimensions of the New Jerusalem to be symbolic along with the 144,000 virgins. Why not a symbolic period of 1000 years? The word “thousand” appears 521 times in the King James Version Bible. Below are some Bible passages that include the number 1,000:

* In Mathew 5:41 requires Christians to walk two miles if compelled to walk a mile. It’s interesting to note that a Roman “mile” was made up of 1,000 paces (mille passuum) or steps (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers).

* In Amos 5:3, for its punishment, a city of 1000 men would be reduced to 100 men.

* In Isaiah 60:22 during the prophesied Messianic time there will be an increase from 1 to 1000. “A little one shall become one thousand”.

* Psalms 84:10 – A day in the courts of the Lord is better than a 1000 days anywhere else.

* Psalms 105:8 – The covenant that God concludes with Abraham was valid for 1000 generations.

* 1 Kings 3:4 – On the altar of Gibeon Solomon offered 1000 “burnt offerings” to God asking Him for wisdom and understanding.

* 1 Samuel 18:13 – King Saul established David to be the chief of 1000 men.

* Judges 15:16 – Samson killed 1000 men with the jawbone of a donkey.

* Genesis 20:16 – Abimelech gave Abraham 1000 pieces of silver in compensation for acting inappropriately towards Abraham’s wife, Sarah.

3. Why would the ransomed need to judge again the dead and the fallen angels?

Thanks for your answer.

(2)

Reply ↓
- Maurice Ashton on March 27, 2019 at 2:54 am said:
  
  i. Millennium: Literal, or Symbolic. I think the 1000 years simply means a long time. For us, 1000 years is a long time, so it could be literal or symbolic. Does it matter as far as our salvation is concerned?
  
  2. I don't think the use of 1000 in other places in the Bible other than just a number. In some cases, I think it is just an approximation.
  
  3. As I mentioned in another comment, the judgment is really about transparency. God is not going to hide anything from us.
  
  (5)
  
  Reply ↓
- Bob Pickle on March 30, 2019 at 4:43 am said:
  
  1. Since prophetic time ceased in 1844, according to Rev. 10:6 (and 7BC 971.7), the 1000 years would be literal. So would the 1/2 hour of Rev. 8:1, which James Whites' footnotes to Ellen White's first vision in WLF acknowledges. So would the one day or one hour in which Babylon's plagues or fall comes.
  
  2. I know of no reason why the New Jerusalem's dimensions would not be literal. The small-scale model in the final chapters of Ezekiel certainly doesn't point to something symbolic. And if it was intended to be symbolic, I doubt we'd be able to use the measurements in Revelation and Ezekiel to calculate the circumference of the earth (http://www.pickle-publishing.com/papers/ezekiels-city-circumference-of-the-earth.htm).
  
  The JW's don't believe in a literal New Jerusalem. I was having a study with a JW elder, and when I covered how you can use Ezekiel's city and the New Jerusalem to calculate the circumference of the earth, he was freaking out, because the end conclusion was that the city had to be literal.
  
  3. The way most Adventists explain the millennial judgment, the redeemed during the millennium judge the Judge, but not the lost. Reviewing cases to see if the judge did right is judging the judge, not the defendant.
  
  It should be pointed out that from EW 291 to GC 661, Ellen White said that the millennial judgment involved the sentencing of the wicked, the determination of punishment the lost would receive in the lake of fire. I have never found where she said we will judge so that we will get our questions answered. Of course, that could be a secondary result, but it's not the primary purpose.
  
  Sentencing would be judging the wicked, not the Judge. The sentencing phase is done by a jury of peers. The redeemed, in union with Jesus (as Ellen White put it), are that jury.
  
  Actually, the sentencing idea can be found in her writings back in PrT 11-1-1850. So from 1850 to 1911, this was the explanation she gave.
  
  Ps. 149:5 says, "Let the saints be joyful in glory." Vss. 6-9 then speak of the execution of the judgment, and has the redeemed playing some sort of role in that, and speaks of it as being an honor. Rom. 16:20 says that God will bruise Satan under our feet shortly, and so there is some sort of role for us to play in the destruction of the wicked. Our determining the sentence would explain these verses.
  
  (0)
  
  Reply ↓
  - Bob Pickle on March 30, 2019 at 4:50 am said:
    
    The reference in WLF would be p. 15. Note that there is no Bible reference given by James White for the 7 days ascending to the sea of glass, while the reference for the time of awful silence is Rev. 8:1, the silence between when we say, "Who shall be able to stand?" and when Jesus answers.
    
    (0)
    
    Reply ↓
    - Inge Anderson on March 30, 2019 at 7:14 am said:
      
      Bob (and others), please use complete names of references, not acronyms familiar to you. (This is a public blog.) Also, since it is easy to hyperlink to Ellen White references through egwwritings.org, please do so whenever possible. That allows our readers to check the context of referenced quotations. Thanks!
      
      (1)
      
      Reply ↓
  - Bob Pickle on March 31, 2019 at 3:35 pm said:
    
    Thank you, Inge, for the tip on the references. They are:
    
    SDA Bible Commentary, 7:971.7
    
    Word to the Little Flock, 15
    
    Early Writings, 291
    Great Controversy, 661
    Present Truth, 11-1-1850
    
    (1)
    
    Reply ↓
    - Inge Anderson on March 31, 2019 at 7:43 pm said:
      
      Thanks much, Bob! That makes things so much easier. 🙂 (I don't always recognize the abbreviations of the older publications.)
      [Now that I'm checking out your references, I see you must be using a different method of sharing than I am. I just go to the relevant reference at egwwritings.org and then click on the "Share" icon and copy the link that pops up. Of course, to make the link live, you must use a little HTML, as you did.
      Thanks again!]
      
      (1)
      
      Reply ↓
M W Hamon on March 27, 2019 at 8:43 am said:

Remember that Satan has attacked God's character. The judgment is to show that God is Who he says He is.

(4)

Reply ↓
- MOACIR LEITE DE SENA on March 27, 2019 at 1:17 pm said:
  
  Thank you for your prompt reply, Maurice. Agreed:literal or symbolic it shouldn't matter, but the way it is taught in SDA churches (at least in Brazil)
  it never, ever is mentioned as symbolic; consequently, the implication is it is literal. So the church is led to believe that there is only one way to interpret that. "My way Or the highway". Also based on the many different interpretations elsewhere in Revelation I think it's high time we said "we understand that as meaning x, y or z but that's not the only possible interpretation". I think there is too little humility in talking about prophecies still to be fulfilled.
  
  (3)
  
  Reply ↓

Sabbath School Net

Seventh-day Adventist Bible Study Discussion

The Millennium In Light of The Cross

Comments

The Millennium In Light of The Cross — 10 Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply