THE MILLENNIUM AND BEYOND
According to Dan. 7:18, 22, 27, the day is coming when “the saints of the most High [‘saints of the high places’ (‘heavenly places’)]” are going to take and possess the kingdom. It will be exactly the same kingdom which presently exists under Satan – governed province within God’s universal kingdom. That’s why Scripture says,
“The kingdom of the world [the present existing kingdom, under Satan] is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ [the same kingdom, but under new administration]…” (Rev. 11:15, ASV).
In the type, in the Book of 1 & 11 Samuel, when Saul was finally put down and David with his faithful men moved in and took over the government, they took and possessed the same kingdom which had previously existed under Saul. It was the kingdom of Israel. The change was in the administration of the kingdom, not in the kingdom itself.
And, as seen in the typology of 1 & 11 Samuel, so will it be in the antitype. When Christ and His co-heirs move in and take over the government, they will rule the same kingdom which Satan and his angels previously ruled. The will rule the one province in the kingdom of God into which chaos entered, and they will rule this province for a specified period of time – for 1000 years – in order to effect a complete restoration of order in this one part of God’s universal kingdom.
This is the matter dealt with in:
1 Cor. 15:24-28.
“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
For he must reign, till he hat put all enemies under his feet.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
And when all things shall be subdued under him, then shall the Son also himself be subject under him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”
At the beginning of the millennium, the curse will be lifted (with the creation restored to its condition preceding the fall), and there will be literally millions of individuals (Jews and Gentiles alike [both saved and unsaved among the Gentiles]) entering the earthly sphere of the kingdom ruled by Christ and His co-heirs, with Israel placed at the head of the nations on earth [cf. Isa. 11:6-9; 35:1ff; Acts 3:19-21]).
Isa 11:6-9
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
KJV
Acts 3:19-21
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
KJV
Israel will provide the evangels to carry God’s message to the ends of the earth during this period; and it will require 1000 years of a righteous rule, “with a rod of iron,” to bring about complete order out of chaos.
That is, when Christ returns, Gentile world power will be destroyed, suddenly, swiftly, and completely, with Satan and his angels being correspondingly put down after the same fashion. Satan will be bound and cast into the abyss. Then the physical creation will be restored, Israel will be saved and restored to the land at the head of the nations on earth, Christians (previously shown qualified at the judgment seat) will be positioned “in heavenly places” in view of their impending rule as co-heirs with Christ, and the Gentiles surviving the Tribulation will then form the nations entering the kingdom on earth (cf. Matt. 24:13, 14, 31; 25:20-23; Rev. 20:1-3).
Matt 24:13-14, 31
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
KJV
Matt 25:20-23
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
KJV
Rev 20:1-3
20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
KJV
These things will actually occur within the scope of a seventy-five-day period which will exist between the end of the Tribulation and the beginning of the Millennium (Dan. 12:11, 12); but even with conditions as such, God is still going to take 1000 years beyond that point to bring complete order out of chaos.
(Matthew 25:31-46) comprises a section of the Olivet Discourse often used attempting to show that only saved individuals will populate the earth at the beginning of the millennium. Those following this line of thought teach that this section has to do with a judgment of all living Gentiles surviving the Tribulation, both saved and unsaved, with the saved being allowed to enter into the kingdom and the unsaved being cast into the lake of fire. A teaching of this nature has its sole basis in a misunderstanding of this section of Scripture. By its own internal evidence, eternal salvation or damnation is not the subject matter in Matt. 25:31-46. The subject at hand has to do with realizing or not realizing an inheritance in the kingdom, not with eternal verities [v. 34]).
Matt 25:34
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
KJV
And, in keeping with the preceding, the Greek word aionios, translated “everlasting” and “eternal” in vv. 41, 46 would, in the light of v. 34, have to be understood as “age-lasting,” not “eternal” as it is translated in most versions of Scripture. Neither Hebrew of the OT nor Greek of the NT contains a word for “eternal.” Olam is the word translated “eternal,” “everlasting,” or “perpetual” in English translations of the Old Testament and aion [a noun] or aionios [the adjective form of aion] are the words translated “eternal” or “everlasting” in the New Testament. [Aidios, an older form of aionios, used only two times and meaning exactly the same as aionos, is the only exception (Rom. 1:20 and Jude 6)].
Rom 1:20
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
KJV
Jude 6
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
KJV
Olam, aion, and aionios all have to do with “a long period of time,” which, if the context permits, can refer to “eternity” [e.g. the Aionios God in Rom. 16:26].
Rom 16:26
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
KJV
But the words standing alone, apart from a context, cannot be understood as “eternal.” Context is the all-important factor to ascertain the length of time in view when these words are used.
Aion and aionios are usually thought of and used numerous times in the NT in the sense of “an age.” And a usage of this nature is even brought over into English. For example, the English word “aeon [or ‘eon’] is derived from the Greek word aion. The only way in which the Greek text can express “eternal” apart from textual considerations is through the use of aion in the plural [Luke 1:33;
Luke 1:33
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
KJV
Heb 13:8
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
KJV
Also in referring to [“the ages,” i.e. ages without end, which would comprise eternity] or a double use of aion, in the plural and articular both times [e.g. Rev. 1:6; 4:9, 10, referring to “the ages of the ages,” again, ages without end].
Rev 1:6
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
KJV
Rev 4:9-10
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
KJV
And the use of aionios in Matt. 25:41, 46, referring to an inverse of that seen in verse thirty-four [failing to realize an inheritance in the kingdom] can only be understood as “age-lasting.” It can only be understood as referring to the outcome of a judgment of unfaithful saved Gentiles coming out of the Tribulation. A judgment of the unsaved, with eternal verities in view, could not possibly be the subject at hand in Matt. 25:41, 46. First, the context will not permit such an understanding of these verses; and second, inheritance in the kingdom, contextually in view, would limit this judgment to the saved alone. Note Rom. 8:17 “And if children, then heirs….”
“Sheep” and “goats” (vv. 32, 33), can only be understood contextually as a metaphorical way of describing two classes of saved individuals, similar to the parable of the wheat and the tears in Matt. 13:24-30. The unsaved and eternal verities simply cannot be in view in either passages. Rather, in both passages, only the saved, with a view to an inheritance or non inheritance in the kingdom, can be in view.
The extensive use of “metaphors” in sections of Scripture such as Matt. 13:24, 25 must be recognized. Note, for example, “meat” or “food” in Matt. 24:45; 25:35, 42, all of the same discourse. The use is metaphorical in chapter twenty four [referring to that which is spiritual, the Word of God], when dealing with the judgment of a servant rendering an account at the time of his Lord’s return is with a view to regality [realizing or not realizing a position with Christ in the kingdom (cf. Luke 12:42-48)]. Why should the matter be viewed after any different fashion in chapter twenty-five when also dealing with a judgment of individuals at the time of the Lord’s return, with a view of inheritance in the kingdom [exactly the same as regality previously seen in chapter twenty-four, though stated in a different manner]?
Understanding the preceding after this fashion [which, in reality, is the only contextually correct way to view this section of Scripture] will, again, show that only saved individuals can possibly be in view throughout Matt. 25:31-46. Both those described by the “sheep” and the “goats” are seen in a position to dispense “meat,” and “food.”
There is no such thing in Scripture as a judgment of unsaved Gentiles at the end of Man’s Day, prior to the millennium. Rather, the millennium itself will form their judgment in this respect, for the millennium will simply be 1000 years of a righteous judgment, when Christ and His co-heirs will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Man on the earth during this Messianic Era, will possess a body of flesh, blood, and bone, with the old sin nature still present [i.e. he will possess a “natural” body (a “soulical” body; Gk. psuchikos, Rom. 2:24; 1 Cor. 15:44, 46), identical to that which man possess today]. This will be true both within the camp of Israel and among the Gentile nations. This is the reason Christ will be King-Priest, after the order of Melchizedek at this time. He will not only be King over the earth but He will also exercise a priestly office as well, representing man to God and God to man. And Christ must be a Priest after a new order, under a new covenant, on Israel’s behalf, for He is not of the Aaronic line.
(Note that Christ can presently exercise a ministry in the heavenly sanctuary after the order of Aaron, though not of the Aaronic line, for the simple reason that His ministry today is on the behalf of Christians [who do not come under the covenant made with Israel] rather than with Israel [with whom the old covenant was made]. Christ could not exercise a priestly ministry on behalf of Israel after the order of Aaron [present or future], which will necessitate a change in the priesthood when God restores Israel [Heb. 7:11, 12].)
Man on the earth during that future day, still possessing the old sin nature, will beget children who must be redeemed; and sin and death will correspondingly occur within activities surrounding man at that time. And, as a consequence of man’s condition, Scripture presents the possibility of ma rebelling against the authority which will emanate from Jerusalem above and from Jerusalem below (Isa. 65:20; Zech. 14:16-19) – something clearly seen in its climactic form in that which is revealed concerning Satan being loosed at the end of the millennium and leading a number described as “the sand of the sea” in rebellion against the King in Jerusalem (Rev. 20:7-9).
And within this whole scenario lies the reason God has set aside 1000 years to bring complete order out of chaos. As previously stated, Christ and His co-heirs will reign – “with a rod of iron,” breaking the nations and dashing them in pieces, likened unto “a potter’s vessel” being struck and shattered (cf. Psa. 2:6-9; Rev. 2:26, 27) – until all things have been brought under subjection. At the end of the 1000 years – after all things have been “subdued” unto Christ and He has “delivered up” the kingdom to the Father (1 Cor. 15:24, 28) – “all things” will then be made new.
1 Cor 15:24
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
KJV
1 Cor 15:28
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
KJV
Then, not before, there will be no more “death….sorrow….crying….pain….” In that day there will be no need for a priest to represent man to God and God to man, for God Himself will dwell within man, “and they shall be his people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Rev. 21:3-5).
Rev 21:3-5
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
KJV
This will be the scene beyond the millennium, after complete order once again exists in all parts of God’s universal kingdom. There will be a “new heaven [the heaven associated with this earth and solar system, not the universe] and a new earth” (Rev. 21: 1). The New Jerusalem will be the capital of the new earth (Rev. 21:2), which probably will be a much larger earth than presently exist, large enough to accommodate a city of this size. And universal rule will emanate from “the throne of God and of the Lamb” on the new earth (Rev. 22:1-3).
Rev 22:1-3
22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
KJV
That is, God Himself will dwell on the new earth and, with His Son, rule the universe from this location. Man, in that day, will come into a complete realization of the purpose which God had in mind for His creation in the beginning. Up to this time, man’s rule will have been limited to the earth alone. But, during the eternal ages following the millennium, man will exercise positions of power and authority of a universal nature in God’s kingdom. And even the saved Gentile nations and those Christians not holding positions of power and authority during the millennium will be brought into and have a part in this rule (Rev. 21:4; 22:2, 5).
Rev 21:4
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 22:2, 5
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
In the correct sense, this is what "going to heaven" really mean for the Christian. When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be.....
According to Dan. 7:18, 22, 27, the day is coming when “the saints of the most High [‘saints of the high places’ (‘heavenly places’)]” are going to take and possess the kingdom. It will be exactly the same kingdom which presently exists under Satan – governed province within God’s universal kingdom. That’s why Scripture says,
“The kingdom of the world [the present existing kingdom, under Satan] is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ [the same kingdom, but under new administration]…” (Rev. 11:15, ASV).
In the type, in the Book of 1 & 11 Samuel, when Saul was finally put down and David with his faithful men moved in and took over the government, they took and possessed the same kingdom which had previously existed under Saul. It was the kingdom of Israel. The change was in the administration of the kingdom, not in the kingdom itself.
And, as seen in the typology of 1 & 11 Samuel, so will it be in the antitype. When Christ and His co-heirs move in and take over the government, they will rule the same kingdom which Satan and his angels previously ruled. The will rule the one province in the kingdom of God into which chaos entered, and they will rule this province for a specified period of time – for 1000 years – in order to effect a complete restoration of order in this one part of God’s universal kingdom.
This is the matter dealt with in:
1 Cor. 15:24-28.
“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
For he must reign, till he hat put all enemies under his feet.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
And when all things shall be subdued under him, then shall the Son also himself be subject under him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”
At the beginning of the millennium, the curse will be lifted (with the creation restored to its condition preceding the fall), and there will be literally millions of individuals (Jews and Gentiles alike [both saved and unsaved among the Gentiles]) entering the earthly sphere of the kingdom ruled by Christ and His co-heirs, with Israel placed at the head of the nations on earth [cf. Isa. 11:6-9; 35:1ff; Acts 3:19-21]).
Isa 11:6-9
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
KJV
Acts 3:19-21
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
KJV
Israel will provide the evangels to carry God’s message to the ends of the earth during this period; and it will require 1000 years of a righteous rule, “with a rod of iron,” to bring about complete order out of chaos.
That is, when Christ returns, Gentile world power will be destroyed, suddenly, swiftly, and completely, with Satan and his angels being correspondingly put down after the same fashion. Satan will be bound and cast into the abyss. Then the physical creation will be restored, Israel will be saved and restored to the land at the head of the nations on earth, Christians (previously shown qualified at the judgment seat) will be positioned “in heavenly places” in view of their impending rule as co-heirs with Christ, and the Gentiles surviving the Tribulation will then form the nations entering the kingdom on earth (cf. Matt. 24:13, 14, 31; 25:20-23; Rev. 20:1-3).
Matt 24:13-14, 31
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
KJV
Matt 25:20-23
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
KJV
Rev 20:1-3
20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
KJV
These things will actually occur within the scope of a seventy-five-day period which will exist between the end of the Tribulation and the beginning of the Millennium (Dan. 12:11, 12); but even with conditions as such, God is still going to take 1000 years beyond that point to bring complete order out of chaos.
(Matthew 25:31-46) comprises a section of the Olivet Discourse often used attempting to show that only saved individuals will populate the earth at the beginning of the millennium. Those following this line of thought teach that this section has to do with a judgment of all living Gentiles surviving the Tribulation, both saved and unsaved, with the saved being allowed to enter into the kingdom and the unsaved being cast into the lake of fire. A teaching of this nature has its sole basis in a misunderstanding of this section of Scripture. By its own internal evidence, eternal salvation or damnation is not the subject matter in Matt. 25:31-46. The subject at hand has to do with realizing or not realizing an inheritance in the kingdom, not with eternal verities [v. 34]).
Matt 25:34
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
KJV
And, in keeping with the preceding, the Greek word aionios, translated “everlasting” and “eternal” in vv. 41, 46 would, in the light of v. 34, have to be understood as “age-lasting,” not “eternal” as it is translated in most versions of Scripture. Neither Hebrew of the OT nor Greek of the NT contains a word for “eternal.” Olam is the word translated “eternal,” “everlasting,” or “perpetual” in English translations of the Old Testament and aion [a noun] or aionios [the adjective form of aion] are the words translated “eternal” or “everlasting” in the New Testament. [Aidios, an older form of aionios, used only two times and meaning exactly the same as aionos, is the only exception (Rom. 1:20 and Jude 6)].
Rom 1:20
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
KJV
Jude 6
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
KJV
Olam, aion, and aionios all have to do with “a long period of time,” which, if the context permits, can refer to “eternity” [e.g. the Aionios God in Rom. 16:26].
Rom 16:26
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
KJV
But the words standing alone, apart from a context, cannot be understood as “eternal.” Context is the all-important factor to ascertain the length of time in view when these words are used.
Aion and aionios are usually thought of and used numerous times in the NT in the sense of “an age.” And a usage of this nature is even brought over into English. For example, the English word “aeon [or ‘eon’] is derived from the Greek word aion. The only way in which the Greek text can express “eternal” apart from textual considerations is through the use of aion in the plural [Luke 1:33;
Luke 1:33
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
KJV
Heb 13:8
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
KJV
Also in referring to [“the ages,” i.e. ages without end, which would comprise eternity] or a double use of aion, in the plural and articular both times [e.g. Rev. 1:6; 4:9, 10, referring to “the ages of the ages,” again, ages without end].
Rev 1:6
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
KJV
Rev 4:9-10
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
KJV
And the use of aionios in Matt. 25:41, 46, referring to an inverse of that seen in verse thirty-four [failing to realize an inheritance in the kingdom] can only be understood as “age-lasting.” It can only be understood as referring to the outcome of a judgment of unfaithful saved Gentiles coming out of the Tribulation. A judgment of the unsaved, with eternal verities in view, could not possibly be the subject at hand in Matt. 25:41, 46. First, the context will not permit such an understanding of these verses; and second, inheritance in the kingdom, contextually in view, would limit this judgment to the saved alone. Note Rom. 8:17 “And if children, then heirs….”
“Sheep” and “goats” (vv. 32, 33), can only be understood contextually as a metaphorical way of describing two classes of saved individuals, similar to the parable of the wheat and the tears in Matt. 13:24-30. The unsaved and eternal verities simply cannot be in view in either passages. Rather, in both passages, only the saved, with a view to an inheritance or non inheritance in the kingdom, can be in view.
The extensive use of “metaphors” in sections of Scripture such as Matt. 13:24, 25 must be recognized. Note, for example, “meat” or “food” in Matt. 24:45; 25:35, 42, all of the same discourse. The use is metaphorical in chapter twenty four [referring to that which is spiritual, the Word of God], when dealing with the judgment of a servant rendering an account at the time of his Lord’s return is with a view to regality [realizing or not realizing a position with Christ in the kingdom (cf. Luke 12:42-48)]. Why should the matter be viewed after any different fashion in chapter twenty-five when also dealing with a judgment of individuals at the time of the Lord’s return, with a view of inheritance in the kingdom [exactly the same as regality previously seen in chapter twenty-four, though stated in a different manner]?
Understanding the preceding after this fashion [which, in reality, is the only contextually correct way to view this section of Scripture] will, again, show that only saved individuals can possibly be in view throughout Matt. 25:31-46. Both those described by the “sheep” and the “goats” are seen in a position to dispense “meat,” and “food.”
There is no such thing in Scripture as a judgment of unsaved Gentiles at the end of Man’s Day, prior to the millennium. Rather, the millennium itself will form their judgment in this respect, for the millennium will simply be 1000 years of a righteous judgment, when Christ and His co-heirs will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Man on the earth during this Messianic Era, will possess a body of flesh, blood, and bone, with the old sin nature still present [i.e. he will possess a “natural” body (a “soulical” body; Gk. psuchikos, Rom. 2:24; 1 Cor. 15:44, 46), identical to that which man possess today]. This will be true both within the camp of Israel and among the Gentile nations. This is the reason Christ will be King-Priest, after the order of Melchizedek at this time. He will not only be King over the earth but He will also exercise a priestly office as well, representing man to God and God to man. And Christ must be a Priest after a new order, under a new covenant, on Israel’s behalf, for He is not of the Aaronic line.
(Note that Christ can presently exercise a ministry in the heavenly sanctuary after the order of Aaron, though not of the Aaronic line, for the simple reason that His ministry today is on the behalf of Christians [who do not come under the covenant made with Israel] rather than with Israel [with whom the old covenant was made]. Christ could not exercise a priestly ministry on behalf of Israel after the order of Aaron [present or future], which will necessitate a change in the priesthood when God restores Israel [Heb. 7:11, 12].)
Man on the earth during that future day, still possessing the old sin nature, will beget children who must be redeemed; and sin and death will correspondingly occur within activities surrounding man at that time. And, as a consequence of man’s condition, Scripture presents the possibility of ma rebelling against the authority which will emanate from Jerusalem above and from Jerusalem below (Isa. 65:20; Zech. 14:16-19) – something clearly seen in its climactic form in that which is revealed concerning Satan being loosed at the end of the millennium and leading a number described as “the sand of the sea” in rebellion against the King in Jerusalem (Rev. 20:7-9).
And within this whole scenario lies the reason God has set aside 1000 years to bring complete order out of chaos. As previously stated, Christ and His co-heirs will reign – “with a rod of iron,” breaking the nations and dashing them in pieces, likened unto “a potter’s vessel” being struck and shattered (cf. Psa. 2:6-9; Rev. 2:26, 27) – until all things have been brought under subjection. At the end of the 1000 years – after all things have been “subdued” unto Christ and He has “delivered up” the kingdom to the Father (1 Cor. 15:24, 28) – “all things” will then be made new.
1 Cor 15:24
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
KJV
1 Cor 15:28
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
KJV
Then, not before, there will be no more “death….sorrow….crying….pain….” In that day there will be no need for a priest to represent man to God and God to man, for God Himself will dwell within man, “and they shall be his people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Rev. 21:3-5).
Rev 21:3-5
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
KJV
This will be the scene beyond the millennium, after complete order once again exists in all parts of God’s universal kingdom. There will be a “new heaven [the heaven associated with this earth and solar system, not the universe] and a new earth” (Rev. 21: 1). The New Jerusalem will be the capital of the new earth (Rev. 21:2), which probably will be a much larger earth than presently exist, large enough to accommodate a city of this size. And universal rule will emanate from “the throne of God and of the Lamb” on the new earth (Rev. 22:1-3).
Rev 22:1-3
22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
KJV
That is, God Himself will dwell on the new earth and, with His Son, rule the universe from this location. Man, in that day, will come into a complete realization of the purpose which God had in mind for His creation in the beginning. Up to this time, man’s rule will have been limited to the earth alone. But, during the eternal ages following the millennium, man will exercise positions of power and authority of a universal nature in God’s kingdom. And even the saved Gentile nations and those Christians not holding positions of power and authority during the millennium will be brought into and have a part in this rule (Rev. 21:4; 22:2, 5).
Rev 21:4
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 22:2, 5
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
In the correct sense, this is what "going to heaven" really mean for the Christian. When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be.....
No comments:
Post a Comment