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The 4 Horses of the Apocalypse END TIMES POST A website by B. Fox QUESTIONS? EMAIL ME foxbev@yahoo.com
updated 8/11/08 Christmas with a Capital "C" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CursedNet I am now on talk radio 8/11/08 |
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Thousand Year Divine Government
Before there can be a divine government the devil must be chained…..
The Expulsion of Satan from the Earth
Rev 20:1 I saw an Angel descending out of Heaven. He carried the key to the Abyss and a chain--a huge chain. Rev 20:2 He grabbed the Dragon, that old Snake--the very Devil, Satan himself!--chained him up for a thousand years, Rev 20:3 dumped him into the Abyss, slammed it shut and sealed it tight. No more trouble out of him, deceiving the nations--until the thousand years are up. After that he has to be let loose briefly. Message Bible
This passage is the continuation of the Scripture on the Battle of Armageddon of Rev. 19:11-21 and shows the confinement of the dragon in the Abyss. After Armageddon an angel will come down from Heaven having the key to the Abyss. This angel is explained under the fifth trumpet. How an angel or a spirit can be bound by a literal chain and be cast into a material place is only understandable when we see that angels have bodies and can be localized and confined to material places.. If this is not true, how are demons that are now bound in this Abyss to be loosed under the fifth and sixth trumpets? How can angels be confined to Tartarus in chains (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6, 7) and how will all wicked men, demons, fallen angels and rebellious of all kinds be confined in the lake of fire forever? (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 14:9-11; 19:20; 20:10-15)
Satan is a literal person, his doom is literal, he is to be bound by a literal angel, with a literal chain, cast into a literal Abyss, and sealed with a literal seal for the period of the Millennium.
In Revelation 12 the dragon and his angels are cast out of Heaven to the Earth in the middle of the Tribulation, where they will remain until the Battle of Armageddon when they will fight against Christ and His angels AND HIS SAINTS. It is not stated whether Satan’s angels will be cast into the Abyss with him or not. In Isaiah 24:21-22; 25:7 it is clear that they will be cast into the pit with Satan and will be loosed with him “After many days” to help him deceive the nations again (Rev. 20:1-10).
THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST AND HIS SAINTS1Th 3:13 To the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Rev 20:4 I saw thrones. Those put in charge of judgment sat on the thrones. I also saw the souls of those beheaded because of their witness to Jesus and the Word of God, who refused to worship either the Beast or his image, refused to take his mark on forehead or hand--they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years! Rev 20:5 The rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years were up. This is the first resurrection-- Rev 20:6 and those involved most blessed, most holy. No second death for them! They're priests of God and Christ; they'll reign with him a thousand years. Message Bible
This passage shows that the tribulation martyrs will also have a part in the reign of Christ in the Millennium and forever. If there were no other passages in the Bible to teach the doctrine of the Millennium this one would be sufficient, for the word millennium simply mean “one thousand years” which term is repeated six times in the first seven verses of Rev. 20.
The thousand year millennial reign cannot begin until…. 1. Satan must be bound before the Millennial reign can begin 2. Satan will be bound during the Millennium (Rev. 20:3) 3. After the binding of Satan, John saw “thrones” and their occupants (Rev. 20:4) The occupants of the thrones will be the tribulation martyrs. They will reign as kings and priests with Christ as will all other redeemed heavenly peoples. 4. A blessing is pronounced upon all who have part in the first resurrection, for “on such the second death (the lake of fire, Rev. 2:11; 19:20; 20:10-15; 21:8) has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign one thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6)
GENERAL TRUTHS ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM
This dispensation is called Divine Government because God Himself along with the Son and Holy Spirit will set up a divine government on Earth over all nations forever. The first thousand years of God’s reign is called the Millennium which is simply means one thousand years.
One thing we must emphasize in connection with the 1,000 years: That this will be the first 1,000 years wherein Christ will reign on Earth. He will continue to reign over the same kingdom eternally; and the first 1,000 years will be for the express purpose of ridding the Earth of all rebellion, destroying all enemies, destroying death and sin, and restoring this rebellious part of God’s universal kingdom to its place over all other creations, as it was before sin entered through Lucifer and Adam who headed the rebellions of their respective kingdoms. In this , the Millennial age God will gather together all things in Christ both the things which are in heaven, and which are on the earth (1 Cor. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:10; Rev. 22:4-5).
In this age man will have a beginning more favorable than in any other dispensation. Besides having many of the wonderful benefits of ather ages, man will the God of Heaven for a ruler and enjoy all the privileges that such rulership will bring. The following points concerning the divine government and blessed conditions on the Earth during the Millennium will clearly reveal the favorable conditions in this dispensation.
God’s covenants with Abraham and David guaranteed to Israel an everlasting earthly kingdom and that they would be the channel of blessings to all the families of the Earth.
After the first resurrection the saints reign with Christ on Earth for 1,000 years (Rev. 5:9-10; 20:1-6). Therefore, the saints must first be resurrected before they can reign with Him. The 1,000 years are between the resurrection of the righteous and that of the wicked (Rev. 20:4-6, 11-15).
During this time Ezekiel’s temple will be built. (Ezek. 40:1-43:7). The reign of Christ will be set up in Jerusalem in Ezekiel’s temple, therefore, the kingdom cannot be set up until then. Christ will build this temple when He comes, but the kingdom naturally cannot be set up in the temple until it is built.
At this time Israel is gathered back from all countries. (Ezek. 20:33-36; 36:17-38; 37: 1-28; Hosea 3:4-5; Dan. 9:27).
The Jews will be delivered from the armies of the nations and become a blessing to all the families of the Earth.
After all of Rev. chapters 4-19 is fulfilled, for Christ comes in Rev. chapter 19-20 to set up the kingdom.
The kingdom will be as earthly and literal as any other one that has been on the Earth. It will be the ninth of the following kingdoms mentioned in Daniel and Revelation: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, Revised Rome, Revived Greece and the Kingdom of Heaven (Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 2:44-45; 7:13-14, 17-27; Zech. 14; Rev. 17:8-18).
The Seventh Day Adventists and others teach that the Earth will be desolate during the 1,000 years and that this Earth is the bottomless pit where the devil will be bound for that period. There is not one word of truth in this theory. The bottomless pit is a department in the underworld for the confinement of certain demon and angelic spirits. Would Christ be ruling a desolate world? I think not.
God reigns through this theocratic government through His Son, Jesus Christ.
David will be king of Israel (Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34:24; 37:24-28; Hosea 3:4-5).
The Apostles and ALL saints from Adam to the Millennium, or those who have part in the first resurrection will rule. All saints will be judged and rewarded according to the deeds done in the body and will be given places of rulership according to the degree of their rewards, not according to the company of the redeemed they are a part of, or the age in which they were redeemed. This is the only true and just basis for giving rewards. If some New Testament saint is rewarded and given a greater place in the kingdom than some Old Testament saint on the mere grounds that he is redeemed in a different age, this would be unjust. But if all are rewarded “according to their works” regardless of the age in which they are redeemed, then God cannot be accused of injustice or of being a respecter of persons. It is up to every person to make good in every age and prove true to his or her own particular test. David will have a greater rulership than any one of the apostles. He is to be king over all Israel under Christ while the apostles will have only one tribe each.
Some Old Testament saints did more for God and had more power than the average New Testament saint. Take an ordinary professed follower of Christ today and compare his works with Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Elisha, etc. Shall the New Testament person be given a greater degree of reward and responsibility in the eternal kingdom than these men just because he is saved in a different age? This would not be just and it is contrary to the doctrine of personal reward according to a man’s works as proved in Prove. 24:12; Ps. 62:12; Jer. 31:15; Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10-11; 1. Cor. 3:11-15; James 2:21-25; Rev. 14:12; 20:12-15; 22:12.
The Seat of Government: Jerusalem, rebuilt and restored to a greater glory than ever before, will be the seat of the government, the world capital, and the center of worship forever. The extent of this kingdom will be world-wide and will forever increase in population and blessings.
Various classes of people will be excluded from the kingdom (Matt. 5:20: 13:49, 50; 24:45-51; Rev. 14:9-12) Some men of all nations now in existence on the Earth will continue as natural people in the kingdom forever and ever. “All people, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed” (Dan. &:13-14, 18, 22-27; Isa. 9:6-7; Zech. 14:1-21; Luke 1:32-35; Rev. 11:15).
After the battle of Armageddon and the judgment of the nations at the return of Christ, there will be many left of all nations who will go up from year to year to worship the Lord of hosts and keep the Feat of Tabernacles. It is these people and their children that will populate the Earth during the Millennium (Isa. 2:1-2; Zech. 14:16-21; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 11:15: 20:1-10).
WILL THERE BE LAWS FOR THE SUBJECTS OF THE KINGDOM?
There will be laws in this kingdom for the same purpose as in any other kingdom. There are laws even in Heaven and in all the universe. Adam was given laws to keep before he fell. Man will have laws to keep in all eternity after mankind has been redeemed from the fall, so why not during the Millennium? There will be sinners during the Millennium so God of necessity will have laws to make known His will to His subjects. It is necessary to have laws to set up certain standards for free wills, else there would be no need of a free will to choose between right and wrong. The very nature of a free will demands law and revelation of the will of God in order to be enlightened as to his duties to society to which he is a part and to cause his will to be exercised as to his moral obligations.
Many unsaved people will be permitted to live and go through the Millennium because they will keep the outward laws of the government, but in their hearts they will be rebellious against the government. On the other hand, many will be executed during the Millennium because of committing sins worthy of death (Isa. 11:3-5; 16:5; 65:20). There will have to be laws to govern such people during the Millennium else there could be no transgression of the law to bring judgment, if there were no basis for judgment.
WHAT LAWS WILL THERE BE?
The laws of both the Old and New Testament: the laws of Moses revealed the governmental plan and laws of God in detail which were sufficient to govern natural men regardless of their attitude toward spiritual things. When God gave the law to Moses He gave it in eternal terms thus emphasizing the truth that such law is eternal and should be observed by Israel forever. The law in some details will apply only to Israel in their land, for some of it was made only for Israel. The moral and governmental laws concern all nations alike. The laws of the gospel will apply to all men alike. God will adjust all matters when the kingdom is set up.
WHO WILL EXECUTE THESE LAWS?
Christ and the glorified saints, who have been made kings and priests as well as earthly rulers, will execute these laws forever.
WHERE WILL THE DIFFERENT NATIONS BE LOCATED?
The Gentile nations will perhaps live in the same places they do today with the exception of those who live in lands promised to Abraham and his seed for an everlasting possession.
The Jewish promised land is from the Mediterranean Sea on the west to the River Euphrates on the east, taking in all the Arabian Peninsula and the wilderness countries, south and east of Palestine (Gen. 15:14-18; 17:6-19; Ex. 32:13; Lev. 25:23-34; Deut. 4:40; Joel 14:29; 2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 60:21; Jer. 25:5; Ezek. 47:13-23). [the Arab nations are not going to like this]
GOD’S PURPOSE IN ESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT UNDER HIS SON:
Is to put down all rebellion in the universe (1Cor. 15:24-28). Being a just God He will not even destroy rebels without giving them a knowledge of the means of reconciliation to Him and giving them a chance to become reconciled. Hence the necessity of filling the Earth will the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. He will then have a just and recognizable basis of judgment against those who rebel and sin against the truth.
WHAT WILL BE THE LIVING CONDITIONS DURING THE MILLENNIUM?
Satan will be bound so there will be no tempter.
Universal peace. This means that there will be no taxation to keep up large armies and navies. “They shall beat their swords into plow shares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Class prejudices and other national ills will be forgotten because of the great turning to God by all nations after hearing the gospel. Spiritual revivals will break out in every land and all peoples will become one in serving the great king. The universal conversation will not be about wars, treaties, armaments, depressions, various forms of religion or government, or anything that makes up the common talk of today, but all peoples will be fully satisfied in peace and prosperity and will have no excuse to talk about anything but the goodness of God and wondrousness of His reign. (Mal1:11. Compare Mal. 3;16)
Universal prosperity. There will be no charity fund raised every year, no unemployment, and no poverty. The billions now spent on tobacco, alcoholic drinks, sickness, hospitals, cosmetics, crime, worldly amusements and many other things will supply everybody with plenty. The God of all will prosper anyone in any legitimate business and all will be capable of succeeding in life in all its varied aspects.
Financial system (Mal. 3:7-12) Tithing was the system before the law and under the law as well as since, so no doubt the same system will be used by the government of Christ in the coming ages. There will be plenty of money from such a system to balance the budget and have plenty to spare. There will be no corrupt politics or graft as Christ and the glorified saints will reign in righteousness and true holiness (Isa. 32:1-5). They will need no salaries as they will own the universe and all things will be theirs.
Full justice for all (Isa. 9:6, 7; 11:1-5; 42:1-4; 65:20; 57:15; 66:1, 2; Matt. 5-7). Crime waves will be a thing of the past. There will be no political, lodge, personal, or church pull in that day. The Lord and His glorified saints will try men and also judge them, thus assuring justice to all alike. If a man commits a sin worthy of death he will immediately be tried and executed. There will not be a thousand ways of staying execution or prolonging the trial. The law will be enforced to the letter as it should be under man today. Human life will be prolonged (Isa. 65:20; Zech. 8:4; Luke 1:33) Human life will be prolonged to a thousand years and then those who do not rebel against God with Satan at the end of the Millennium will be permitted to live on forever and ever.
Increase of light (Isa 30:26; 60:18-22). The light of the sun will be increased seven times and the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun today.
Changes in the animal kingdom (Isa. 11:6-8; 65:17-24; Rom. 8:18-23). All animals will have their natures changed. There will be no fierce or poisonous creatures. Things will be as they were in the Garden of Eden before the curse with the exception of the serpent who will still be cursed (Gen. 3:14; Isa. 65:25).
Land restored. All lands will be restored to a wonderful beauty and fruitfulness with the exception of the site of Babylon and perhaps a few more centers of great rebellion against God which will be used as object lessons to coming generations of God’s wrath against sin.
Love, joy and righteousness will prevail. The Gentiles will love the Jews who will then be the head of the nations.
Plenty of rain and water.
Plenty of trees, grass, cattle, sheep, gold, silver and other material blessings.
Rebuilding of waste places of the Earth.
Great highways.
Fruitfulness of women (Jer. 30:19; 33:22; Hosea 1:10).
These facts go far to prove that the seventh and last dispensation is to have a most favorable beginning and will be a better age throughout than any other age we have ever had. These days will indeed be the days of Heaven on Earth. (Deut. 11:21).
THE TEST (Ps. 2; Rev. 5:10; 11:15; 20:1-10)
The test of man in this dispensation will be to obey the laws of the divine government, to obey Christ and the glorified saints, and to mould one’s character in harmony with God by the Holy Spirit and the power of the gospel.
THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN THIS DISPENSATION
To put down all rebellion and all enemies under the feet of Christ so that God may be all in all as before the rebellion.
To fulfill the everlasting covenants made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and others.
To vindicate and avenge Christ and His saints (Matt. 26:63-66; Rom. 12:19; Ps. 2 )
To restore Israel and deliver her from the nations and make her the head of all nations forever.
To exalt the saints of all ages in some kingly or priestly capacity according to the promises and according to their works.
To gather together in “one” all things in Christ which are in Heaven and in Earth and restore all things as before the rebellion.
To judge the nations in righteousness and restore the Earth to its rightful owners.
To restore a righteous and eternal government on Earth as originally planned.
To fulfill the scores of prophecies concerning the reign of the Messiah.
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