CHAPTER ELEVEN

Points
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Point D Events:
Post-Tribulation Counter = 1-75 days after His Return (Timing not certain)

1999+?+7.n

Millennium - The Beginning
(Pre-Millennial)
Rev. 20:1-6

* Devil chained and bound in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-3)

* Martyred Tribulation Saints resurrected in the First Resurrection after Tribulation (Rev. 20:4)

* Christ rules from Jerusalem for 1,000 years of peace - God's 7th Day of Rest (Rev. 20:4b)

* Saints rule and reign with Him (Rev. 20:4)

    After the Parousia, the visible return of Christ at the Battle of Armageddon, Daniel prophesies about a mysterious interlude:

"And from the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. But go your way till the end; and you shall rest, and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days." (Dan. 12:11-13 RSV emphasis mine)

    It is clear that Christ returns 1260 days after Point B, the Abomination of Desolation, since the Tribulation lasts for one Shabua (1 prophetic week, i.e. the last 7 years). However, Daniel is shown a mystery concerning a time period of 1290 days - 30 days past Point C, Christ's Return. The Old Testament prophet even speaks of a more future event taking place 45 days after that (75 days beyond the Parousia).

    These two events should not contradict the clear exposition of Daniel chapter nine and the explicit timetable set forth in the Revelation but be understood as key occurrences which mark the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. After all, one cannot simply jump into the perfect 1,000 year reign without a little cleanup and preparation, let alone ceremonial inauguration and festivities (Zech. 14:16-21).
 
 

    Immediately following the Tribulation, Christ will set up His long-awaited Kingdom. This Kingdom will last for one thousand years. The Devil has tried to mimic this for some time; Satan is an imitator, and what he mimics assures us of what is real. If Satan has tried to set up a 1,000 year kingdom on earth, then we can safely conclude that God has a 1,000 year kingdom in our future. The Roman Empire lasted approximately one thousand years. Charlamagne's Holy Roman Empire lasted from 800 to 1806 AD , Hitler's Third Reich was to be a thousand year empire but God snuffed it out. In the future, the ultimate Fuhrer will announce his plans for a thousand year kingdom.

    At the time of Jesus, the Jews were looking for a King to rid them of their enemies, and even the disciples and their relatives viewed Him in this light (Mat. 20:20-22; Acts 1:6). The Lord knew that the earthly Kingdom rule was a long way off but foresaw that day when He spoke to the Disciples before going to the cross. At this time, Point D of the time line, the crucified Lamb of God will set up His Kingdom from the Temple in Jerusalem. The Millennial Temple is the subject of Ezekiel's Vision from chapters 40 through the end of his book. In the middle of this passage of prophetic scripture is the often-quoted section concerning the sealed up Eastern Gate (Ezekiel 44:1-3). These verses so disturbed and haunted the Islamic conquerors that they placed grave yards in front of the sealed up gate which are there to this day (in order to make this area un-Kosher to the Jews). They thought that they could defeat the prophecy by this tactic. They are in for a big surprise when God splits the ravine wide open with an earthquake at the Return (Zech. 14:3-5).

    Ezekiel's description of the future Temple is not an historical allusion to Solomon's Temple which had been destroyed in Ezekiel's lifetime, nor to the pitiful temple of Zerruabel which caused the old men to weep at its sight (the old men could compare the rebuilt version to the glory of Solomon's Temple which they had seen in their youth). Herod refurbished and expanded Zerrubabel's Temple at the time of Jesus, but it never approached the full description found in Ezekiel's Vision. Not to mention that Jesus predicted the destruction of Herod's Temple with no mention of His Kingdom being set up there (Mat. 24:1-2).

    The passage found in chapter 47 concerning great geographic changes will be the result of Christ's return to the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:3-5 cp. Acts 1:11). Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives and will return to that very spot. This description which is part of the overall Temple Vision has never occurred and thus discourages any attempt at past historical fulfillment. This vision is not the delusion of a desert seer on mind-altering drugs but a well detailed account of a very specific architectural and geographic journey, a detailed blueprint and aerial satellite survey of the future.
 
 

    Naves Topical Bible states that "More space in the prophetic scriptures is devoted to a future rule of God on earth than to any other theme" (p. 752). There are theologians that deny the future Millennial Kingdom, the Amillennial view. Of course, they also deny that the contemporary nation of Israel which permeates the news has any prophetic significance (although it disappeared from the face of the earth for almost two millennia and suddenly reappeared in one day as predicted). Jesus had to contend with this same mentality in His day and observed that the first century theologians could discern natural things but did not understand spiritual realities (Mat. 16:1-12).
 

    On the other end of the prophetic spectrum are Biblical scholars who believe that the Gospel of Grace will be preached into all the earth, converting the entire world and then Christ will return, post-millennialism. This view teaches that the Church will make the world such a wonderful place that Christ can't help but return. Of course, this contradicts everything that Christ taught His disciples on the Mount of Olives, spiritualizes the book of Revelation, and renders all prophetic Old Testament prophecy as historic or fanciful allegory.

    Small points aside, I don't see the world improving at all, just the opposite. Even after the Cold War, we are now entering the most dangerous period of potential disaster in history: nuclear terrorism. Pagan religion is flooding the undeveloped world, and the developed world is generally secular humanistic or superficially religious. With aids, impunity to disease, genetic engineering, and global weather changes, we are hard-pressed to adopt this utopian fantasy. World Missions are exploding, but the world at large is not receiving the message and never will, as the Master declared, "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Mat. 7:13-14 RSV emphasis mine). NOTE: Universal Salvation is not a New Testament concept.
 
 

    As was supported in the beginning section of New Millennium Prophet, the early church fathers taught that the seventh one-thousand year period of world history would be the "day of rest," i.e. the Kingdom of Christ upon the earth. The scripture clearly teaches when taken as a whole that God will rule upon the earth in a perfect Kingdom:

* In the last days, the Lord's house will be in Jerusalem and He will judge the earth:

"It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isa. 2:2-4 RSV emphasis mine)

* The earthly environment and nature will take on a completely new character:

"The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. "(Isa. 11:6-9 RSV)

* Christ will physically return to earth to the exact point of His departure.     (Zech. 14:3-5; Acts 1:11)

* Christ's Kingdom will be inhabited by mortal human beings who survive the Tribulation
   and therefore must be a  physical earthly entity (Zech. 16:16)

* Messiah will rule Israel as the Son of David. (Isa. 9:7; Micah 5:2; Zech. 12:10; Mat. 12:23, 22:42; Mark 12:35)

* After Armageddon, Satan will imprisoned for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-3)

* After 1,000 years, Satan will released from confinement (Rev. 20:7-10)

* The Tribulation martyrs will rule and reign with Christ for 1,000 years
  after the First Resurrection (Rev. 20:4)^r

* 1,000 years separates the First Resurrection from the Final Battle of Satan (Rev. 20:5)

* The Final Battle of Gog and Magog is fought on a physical "earth" (Rev. 20:8-9)

* At the end of the 1,000 years, there is a new earth, i.e. the old one exists until then (Rev. 20:11, 21:1-2)

[ Chapter Eleven | Section Three | Table of Contents ]

* Satan's loosed for the final battle of Gog and Magog (Rev. 20:7-9)

* Devil cast into Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:10)

* Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15)

* Unbelievers cast into Lake of Fire with Satan (Rev. 20:15, 21:8)

* New Heavens and New Earth and New Jerusalem (Rev. 21)

* Eternity (Rev. 22) - The Beginning . . .

    Immediately following Satan's volcanic bath in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10), God sits in judgment over all mankind (Rev. 20:11-15). The books are opened, like a huge accounting of debits and credits, where a man's life is reviewed and ultimately left wanting. Works, good or bad, cannot save you. The unsaved dead are judged according to their works. They will says things like, "I'm no worse than anybody else," "I lived a pretty good life," and "a loving God couldn't possibly judge me, wonderful me". The "works" candidates will speak of toleration and liberalism. The "works" crowd will profess philosophy and religion or at least good morals and some charitable giving. This group thinks that they can buy their way into heaven with token "good deeds" and a cursory comparison to their deluded fellow sinners. What a wake-up call that will be!
 
 

    Books will be opened at the final judgment and there is "another book" that determines the fate of all mankind called the Book of Life. Whosoever was not written in that book was cast into the lake of fire with their father the Devil (Rev. 20:12.15). Just as Jesus is the first-born of a new race of men, Satan is the father of all sinners. Men and women will spend eternity with their spiritual father, the saints with Jesus and the sinners with Satan. Christians have to choose to be with Jesus, its called "making a decision for Christ." Sinners choose to be with Satan everyday of their lives; a choice made with constant rejection of God, reliance upon their own self-righteousness, and a willful decision to go the way of the world.
 
 

    There are only two categories of people who have ever lived, and they were represented in the crowd before Pilat almost 2,000 years ago. They are with us today. The categories are not rich and poor, small and great, or educated and dumb. The categories are delineated by dripping blood from an old wooden cross in that pivotal moment of Divine time, the cross-road of eternity. The categories are separated by each man's heart as he beholds Calvary through the prism of time and rebelliously cries out for a contemporary Barrabas or humbly bends his knee to a crucified eternal King. The choice is simple; it is a choice of the heart.

    Which crowd are you in? If you are trusting in your own works and goodness then you are your own savior. Your self-centered humanistic "god of decaying flesh", who can barely get up in the morning, is your ticket to eternity. You cry out , "Give me the world's way, I will not have this Jesus rule over me," and crucify Jesus in the process. In reality, you have chosen the way of Satan. You say how can that be? Your every decision, act, and attitude nails Christ to the cross daily. Like Satan, you have chosen to rebel against your creator. If you had been there 2,000 years ago, you would have rejected Christ then just as you reject him now.

    It's not too late! The Holy Spirit is convicting you of the Truth. You can confess your sins; pray to God and tell Him that you realize you are a sinner. Cry out for the Savior, Jesus. You can receive salvation through the shed blood of Christ at Calvary and receive the free gift of salvation. The sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross is your ticket to an eternity of Heaven with God. You can live forever and inherit the Kingdom and the New Heaven and New Earth. The alternative is an eternity with your pathetic god, separated from Christ and lost in the flames of perdition. The choice is yours. Jesus has paid the price. The wages of sin is death. Choose life.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23 KJV)

"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16 KJV).

"if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10 KJV).

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:13 KJV).
 
 

    The KEY to this final letter of the prophetic alphabet is the word "new." After the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15), God makes a new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem (Rev. 21 and 22). The fact that God makes a new earth implies that up to this time the, only earth that exists is the "old" earth, i.e. the same one we are now whirling around the sun on. During the Millennial Reign, Christ will establish His rule and drastically change the world, but the core physical essence of the world will remain the same. The world will be getting a divine face lift, but not a brand new body. In a way this is like the believer, when a person is saved they get a new spirit and outlook on life, but the immortal body is on down the road. Well, the earth gets a "make over" during the Millennium, but the immortal earth will not occur until after the Great White Throne judgment.

    The New Jerusalem, the heavenly city of God, comes down to from heaven to the newly renovated earth and heavens (Rev. 21). John writes down an elaborate vision of the new city, but only in terms that a mortal first century man can manage. In this high tech age, it seems more likely that many of the descriptions here are inter-dimensional - more fitting for modern quantum mechanics and Einstein's theories. John describes the light of God as if tangible and congealed to form structural reality, as if the beams of God's brilliance were molded to form the very substance of this heavenly tabernacle. Paul describes a similar construction in Ephesians chapter two where he speaks of the keystone, Jesus Christ, and this temple built upon a foundation of apostles and prophets (New and Old Testament saints, Eph. 2:18-22). Peter gives us another glimpse of this foundational and ultimate truth in his first epistle chapter two (1 Peter 2:4-9).

    In this glorious new city, the whole of human salvation is edified into an eternal structure with Christ at the center. The curse has been removed forever and the eternal plan of salvation has found its fulfillment in this nexus of Divine presence. God is its light and its walls are prisms of saintly reflection that manifest the redemptive splendor of their Creator Christ. There is no sickness, sadness, nor death, and those who are written in the Book of Life shall live as light beings with the "Light of the World" forever.

[ Chapter Eleven | Section Three | Table of Contents ]
 
 

^r Church Age believers will be both translated and resurrected at the Rapture.  The believers who are alive at the Rapture are translated and those who have died previously will receive their glorified bodies.  Thus the term "First Resurrection" is not a term applied to those born-again during the Age of Grace.  This clearly differentiates the Church believers from the class of saints referred to in the First Resurrection. [ Return ]