Title: The Millennial Reign of Peace
1The Millennial Reign of Peace
- The Lord shall be king over all the earth, and
his name one. - Bible Lecture
- MILLENIAL PEACE
2The Millennial Reign of Peace
- The Lord shall be king over all the earth, and
his name one. - This is universal monarchy instead of universal
republicanism! A glorious monarchy such as the
world has never witnessed beforea government
which is theocratic, not popular and one to
which none are appointed by votes of majorities,
but by the absolute will and pleasure of the Lord
God alone. - Herald of the Kingdom
3The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Outline
- Peoples righteous actions will yield blessings
- Nations are to be at peace
- Autocratic and Theocratic Rule of Christ and his
brethren - Work of the Saints and Mortal Jews
- Temple - The House of Prayer for all People and
Nations - End of Millennium
4The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Mission of the Kingdom
- The kingdom of God is itself but an
instrumentalityanother step in the march of
God's beneficent schemeanother stage in the
accomplishment of His purpose to "gather together
in one all things in Christ" (Eph. i. 10). It
only lasts for a thousand years (Rev. xx. 6).
What is to be accomplished during this period?
Paul says "He (Jesus) must reign till he hath put
ALL ENEMIES under his feet. The last enemy that
shall be destroyed is death" (1 Cor. xv. 25-26). - Hence the millennial mission of Christ is to
subdue "all enemies," which he will accomplish
within the period of a thousand years. The
"enemies" spoken of are not necessarily personal
enemies, for death is mentioned as the last of
them, which we know to be an evil event, and not
a personal adversary. Hence, we may understand
Paul's statement to mean that "he must reign till
he hath subdued every evil." This being so, we
have a starting point supplied to us in our
endeavour to understand the mission of the
kingdom of God. It is to subdue "all enemies," or
every evil. - Christendom Astray
5The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Righteousness gt Peace
- Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto
him for righteousness - Those of faith are the children of Abraham
- Gospel preached to Abraham In thee shall all
nations be blessed - (Galatians 3 v 6-8)
- At what time would the blessings occur?
- and thy seed shall possess the gate of his
enemies (Future) - Nations to be subdued at the setting up of
Christs Kingdom - Psalm 2, Daniel 2, Zechariah 2, Zephaniah 2,
Micah 41-3 - thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou
shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel
(Psalm 28-9) - it shall break in pieces and consume all these
kingdoms (Daniel 244)
6The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Righteousness gt Peace
- When Yahwehs judgements are in the earth, the
inhabitants will learn righteousness. - How will they learn?
- the people of the nations will be taught a
righteous way of life - the laws will be effective and enforced
- Psalmist says thy law have I hid in mine
heart - He will teach us of his ways out of Zion
shall go forth the law, and the word of Yahweh
from Jerusalem (Is 23)
7The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Righteousness gt Peace
- 6 Therefore my people shall know my name
therefore they shall know in that day that I am
he that doth speak behold, it is I. - 7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet
of him that bringeth good tidings, that
publisheth peace that bringeth good tidings of
good, that publisheth salvation that saith unto
Zion, Thy God reigneth! - Isaiah 526-7
- Publisheth 8085 Shama (Shaw-Mah) means to hear
intelligently with the implication of being
obedient, also paying close attention. - Peace 7965 Shalowm (Shaw-lome) means to be
safe, well, happy, at peace
8The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Righteousness gt Peace
- 20 And though the Lord give you the bread of
adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall
not thy teachers be removed into a corner any
more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers - 21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee,
saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye
turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the
left. - Isaiah 3021
- Teachers 3384 Yarah means to direct, instruct
9The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Righteousness gt Peace
- Under the Mosaic order, the law was the
schoolmaster (teacher or leader) to bring them
unto Christ. - Concerning this schoolmaster administration, bro
Roberts says the following in Christendom Astray - In view of the evident conclusion that the
promises to Abraham give an unconditional
guarantee of "good things to come," it may be
asked, why the law of Moses, and the bitter
national experience of the Jews, have been
allowed to intervene between them and their
fulfilment, Paul anticipates and answers this
question in Gal. iii. 19 "Wherefore, then,
serveth the law, It was added because of
transgression till the seed should come to whom
the promise was made." If we wish to know the
purpose it served, we find the information five
verses down "The law was our schoolmaster unto
Christ" (verse 24). On account of the almost
undisturbed reign of ignorance and sin in the
times when the promises were delivered, it was
necessary to institute a schoolmaster
administration of the divine mind, which should
inculcate those first lessons
10The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Righteousness gt Peace
- concerning God, without which nothing good could
be accomplished, since their existence in the
human mind is the very basis of that community
between God and man which honours Him and saves
them. It was necessary to engrain those first
principles on the mind of the chosen nation, by
way of paving the way for the development of the
state of things promised to the fathers. This was
done by the establishment of the Law of Moses in
the midst of Israela system which, in itself,
was a mere allegory of divine truth, as was meet
in the training of children (Heb. x. 1), but
which, by its exactions, severities, and
scrupulosities, engraved in deep and lasting
characters the estimate of the Deity's relation
to mankind. The power, supremacy, and holiness
of the Deity were made palpable by it, even to
those who were disobedient and, in the course of
centuries, that conception of God was formed
which existed in the days of Jesus, as the
foundation on which to push forward the
operations by which the seed of Abraham (faithful
believers) should be provided by the promulgation
of the word of faith. Without the law, there is
no doubt that the knowledge of God would have
perished from the earth, and mankind would have
been wholly enslaved by the foolishness and
unenlightened speculation, and abandoned to the
wickedness which prevailed before the flood the
little
11The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Righteousness gt Peace
- light of the promises would soon have been
extinguished, and the world would have been sunk
in the darkness of incurable barbarism ripe for
as complete a destruction as that which overtook
it in the days of Noah. This great catastrophe
was prevented by the establishment of a system
which, while (superficially considered) it
offered an obstruction to the glorious
consummation promised to Abraham, was potently
influential in developing the moral situation
among mankind which was necessary to the
bestowment of the promised blessing. -
12The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Righteousness gt Peace
- Jeremiah 33 v 7 to 11 the voice of joy and the
voice of gladness - Zechariah 1 v 11 to 17 Yahweh shall yet comfort
Zion - Zechariah 8 v 20 to 23 men shall take hold of
the skirt of a Jew - Zechariah 14 v 9 Yahwehs Name One no more
war amongst false religion - Psalm 22 v 22 to 28 neither hath he hid his
face - Psalm 67 v 4 let the nations be glad and sing
for joy judge righteously - Psalm 72 in his days shall the righteous
flourish - Isaiah 51 v 4 for a law shall proceed from me
13The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Righteousness gt Peace
- Isaiah 2 v 2 to 4 no more war
- Micah 4 v 2 to 5 beat their swords into
plowshares nation shall not lift up sword
against nation - Revelation 21 v 3 to 5
- Isaiah 35 v 10 sorrow and sighing shall flee
away - Isaiah 51 v 11 they shall obtain gladness and
joy - Isaiah 65 v 19 - .nor the voice of crying
-
14The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Righteousness gt Peace
- 14 And the LORD hath given a commandment
concerning thee, that no more of thy name be
sown out of the house of thy gods will I cut off
the graven image and the molten image I will
make thy grave for thou art vile. - 15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him
that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth
peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform
thy vows for the wicked shall no more pass
through thee he is utterly cut off. - Nahum 114-15
15The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Autocrat Theocrat
- V33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall
again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art
thou the King of the Jews? John 1833 - Christs first mission, 2000 years ago, was to
conquer the power of sin, sin in the flesh, in
himself, and to be offered as a representative
for the sin of the race. - Christs second mission is to rule the world as
King. - with power (autocrat)
- appointed by the God of Heaven to rule the
nations (theocrat) - with absolute authority
- Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for
thine inheritance . Kiss the Son, lest he be
angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath
is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they
that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2)
16The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Autocrat Theocrat
- After his resurrection, the lord triumphantly
told his followers "All power is given me in
heaven and in earth". - He exercises that power now, and will do so more
openly in the future. - Democracy will no longer prevail. Meaning of
Democracy - "State having government by all the people,
direct or representative form of society
ignoring hereditary class distinctions and
tolerating minority views. - Democracy gives people freedom and choice. It
fits in nicely with the notion that every man
does that which is right in his own eyes. It is
at the heart of all the world's problems today.
17The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Autocrat Theocrat
- When Christ is King in the earth, there will be
an autocratic rule (autocrat means absolute
ruler, absolute government by one person). - This describes the nature of Christ's rulership.
You may think that autocratic nations have caused
more problems in our day and in days gone by than
democratic nations. The fact is, when mere men
are in power, it doesn't matter what form of
leadership they take - they will never be able to
rule effectively to which history has testified
for the last 6,000 years. The difference with
Christ being an autocrat and other autocrats, is
that he will also be a theocrat - a theocracy is
a form of government appointed by God. It will
be a God centred kingdom. - History abundantly testifies that society needs
such a king, possessing the wisdom, ability and
power to rule effectively. Failure has marked
man's attempts to govern righteously, or to
establish permanent peace.
18The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Autocrat Theocrat
- "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I
will perform that good thing which I have
promised unto the house of Israel, and to the
house of Judah. In those days and at that time, I
will cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up
unto David, and he shall execute judgment and
righteousness in the land." (Jer. 33 v 14, 15). - "UNTO US a child is born, unto us a son is given,
and the government shall be upon his shoulder
and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor the Mighty God, the Everlasting
Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of
his government and peace there shall be no end,
UPON THE THRONE OF DAVID, AND UPON HIS KINGDOM,
to order it, and to establish it with judgment
and with justice from henceforth, even for ever.
The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this"
(Isa. 9 v 6, 7).
19The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Autocrat Theocrat
- "Behold the man whose name is the BRANCH and he
shall grow up out of his place . . . and shall
sit and rule upon his throne and he shall be a
priest upon his throne" (Zech. vi.12, 13). - "He shall judge among the nations, and shall
rebuke many people and they shall beat their
swords into ploughshares, and their spears into
pruning hooks nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more" (Isa. ii. 4). - "And the Lord shall be king over all the earth
in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name
One" (Zech. xiv. 9). - "Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and
princes shall rule in judgment" (Isa xxxii. 1). - "The Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and
in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously"
(Isa. xxiv. 23).
20The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Autocrat Theocrat
- "The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the
Lord, as the waters cover the sea. And in that
day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall
stand for an ensign of the people to it shall
the Gentiles seek and his rest shall be
glorious" (Isa. 9 v 9, 10). - "Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion for
great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of
thee" (Isa. 12 v 6). - "I will make them (the Jews) one nation in the
land upon the mountains of Israel and one King
shall be King to them all" (Ezek. 37 v 22). - "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and
from the river unto the ends of the earth....Yea,
all kings shall fall down before him all nations
shall serve him" (Psa. 72 v 8, 11). (See also
Dan. 7 v 14) -
21The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Autocrat Theocrat
- The outcome of an effective rulership
- "At that time they shall call Jerusalem the
throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be
gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to
Jerusalem neither shall they walk any more after
the imagination of their evil heart" (Jer. 3 v
17). - "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and
let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the
house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us
of His ways, and we will walk in His paths, for
out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word
of the Lord from Jerusalem" (Isa. 2 v 3). - The mortal population will go up to Jerusalm
annually, as we learn from Zech. 14 v 16
22The Millennial Reign of Peace
- Autocrat Theocrat
- "And it shall come to pass that every one that is
left of all the nations which came against
Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to
worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to keep
the feast of tabernacles." - If a nation was to refuse to pay this annual
homage to the king of all the earth, they will be
summarily dealt with. No need for the worlds law
enforcement agencies in that day. A word from the
King will stay the supplies of heaven, and compel
submission. It is written - "And it shall be that whoso shall not come up of
all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem, to
worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, even upon
them shall be no rain" (verse 17). - These are the characteristics of Christs reign.
23The Millennial Reign of Peace
- The work of the Saints
- Primary role is to assist Christ in ruling the
nations. - If we suffer with him (now), we shall also reign
with him (in the Kingdom) - And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and
judgment was given unto them and I saw the souls
of them that were beheaded for the witness of
Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not
worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither
had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in
their hands and they lived and reigned with
Christ a thousand years. Blessed and holy is he
that hath part in the first resurrection on such
the second death hath no power, but they shall be
priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign
with him a thousand years. (Rev 20 v 4,6)
24The Millennial Reign of Peace
- The work of the Saints
- Let the saints be joyful in glory let them sing
aloud upon their beds. - Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
and a two-edged sword in their hand - To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and
punishments upon the people - To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles
with fetters of iron - To execute upon them the judgment written this
honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
- (Psalm 1495-9)
25The Millennial Reign of Peace
- The work of the Saints
- Revelation ch 3 v 21
- Revelation ch 2 v 26-27
- The glorified saints will be the administrators
and the mediators of the kingdom age. They will
govern and guide the mortal populace in every
aspect of life. - Prominent among their tasks will be the education
and instruction - of mortals in divine ways. They will also
administer the new law - based upon the Law of Moses and judge with
righteousness on Christ's behalf - Isaiah 32 v 1,16-17
- Psalm 72 v l-4
26The Millennial Reign of Peace
- The work of the Saints
- As priests, the saints will seek to take care of
the spiritual needs of those over whom they are
given responsibility. - They will guide and instruct the mortals with the
same compassion and insight now applied by Christ
towards his brethren. - Hebrews 2 v 17-18 Hebrews 5 v 1-2
- They will be direct in their action towards
straying mortals - Isaiah 30 v 21 Isaiah 33 v 5-6
- Saints will have varying degrees of authority,
and of responsibility. Mark 1040 and Matthew 19
v 28. Cp. also Luke 1917-19 (ten cities).
27The Millennial Reign of Peace
- The work of the Jews
- As to Israel, the Lord will have gotten them
praise and fame in every land where they have
been put to shame and have made them a name and
a praise among all the people of the earth (Zeph.
319-20). "All nations shall call them blessed,
for they shall be a delightsome land, saith the
Lord of hosts" (Mal. 312). Instead of being a
bye-word and a reproach, as at this day, the
Gentiles will glory in their patronage for "in
those days it shall come to pass, that ten men
shall take hold out of all languages of the
nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him
that is a Jew, saying, we will go with you for
we have heard that God is with you" (Zech. 823).
Yes, the kingdom and throne of David will then be
in their midst again, and Christ the Lord God,
and Holy One of Israel, sitting upon it in power
and great glory. The gospel of the kingdom will
be no longer a matter of hope, but a reality and
those who have believed it, and submitted
cheerfully and lovingly to the law of faith in
the obedience it requires, and have perfected
their faith by works meet for repentance, will be
shining "as the brightness of the firmament, and
as the stars for ever and ever" (Dan. 123). This
is the Hope of Israel. - Elpis Israel
28The Millennial Reign of Peace
- The work of the Jews
- The mission of the Kingdom is to subdue all
enemies. The mortal Jews will help to instruct
the nations in the ways of God and will assist
Christ and the Saints to fulfil this mission. - Zechariah 8 v 1-5, 14-23 (note verse 16)
- They are to be the chiefest of all nations, the
true subjects of the Kingdom.
29The Millennial Reign of Peace
- The Temple
- Ezekiel paints for us a wonderful depiction of
the house of prayer to be built for all nations. - Representatives of all the nations will go up
yearly to offer sacrifices and to truly
understand worship. - The Temple is destined to be the Centre-piece of
the entire world. It is a house that was
promised to King David and his lineage. - The earthquake decimates Gogs forces and a huge
cleanup operation begins - As the nations are being judged, Christ will
direct the building of the Temple which we
completed for the start of the next Jubilee.
30The Millennial Reign of Peace
- The Temple
- The materials for the Temple will be prepared by
both Jew and Gentile - Isaiah 60 v 5, 6, 9-ll, 13, 17
- Many passages of Scripture tell us that Mt Zion
is the location of the Temple - Psalm 132 v 13-14
- Ezekiel 43 v2-7
- Zech.l16
- Psalm 48 v 1-3,11-13
- Isaiah 2 v 2-3.
31The Millennial Reign of Peace
- The Temple
- The entire city of Jerusalem is to become a
temple-city, ''built unto Yahweh - Jeremiah 31 v 38-40
- Circle within a Square eternity predicated upon
the hope of Israel - Entry is by the south and north to go out
opposite way you came in (Psalm 48v12) - All visitors entering from the north and south
will have to go through running water from the
Altar so that the principle of baptism is
maintained for salvation
32The Millennial Reign of Peace
- The Temple
- On approaching the Temple, the visitor will see a
magnificent building with symmetrical arches and
pillars extending for over a mile, and rising to
a height of some 120 feet. Here, met by a mortal
Levite, the visitor will be instructed in the
etiquette of worship and symbolism of the Temple
(Ezek.449,23,24, 4310-11). Sacrifice then
having been made (Isa. 607), the visitor will
then be invited to ascend the seven (covenant)
steps (Ezek.406,26) to the entrance hall where a
line of tall, slender, elegant pillars made like
palms and teaching a powerful lesson (Ezek.4016
Ps. 9212) will meet his gaze. There will be both
compulsory (Zech.l416), and voluntary
pilgrimages to the Land (Zech.821-22), and
services of various kinds will be continuous
throughout the year (Isa.6623).