08 - The Millennium
The Millennium
197. How often, when people are deploring either the state of the world in general or their own woes and sorrows in particular, do we find their thoughts running on to some future period, when all that is wrong will be put right. Most men have some such idea as this, whether they be believers or unbelievers: but the former usually imagine that their golden age will be brought about by the triumph of religion; while the latter expect it as a result of man’s own efforts, when he is better educated and more enlightened; or, perhaps, look for it as the ultimate of continuous evolution. But all those who entertain such views are, of course, utterly regardless of what the Holy Spirit has taught us by the mouth of Paul, namely, that evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13); and, also, of the Lord’s Own words, that, in the Last Days, the love of many shall grow cold, and lawlessness shall abound (Matthew 24:12).
198. Both of the two above-mentioned parties call their happy prospect the Millennium; though the word is a strange one to come from the lips of infidels, since the only authority for the promise of a thousand years of blessing is that very Bible which they condemn.
199. What, then, is the Millennium? The world will often talk of it as a time of political happiness, when "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity," will be supreme, and when the people will make their own laws, and there will be no more aristocrats.
200. But what do Christians say? Their opinions are various. Many good people affirm, that the Millennium will dawn as soon as Roman Catholicism has received its death-blow. Others, that it will come when the efforts of the Church have succeeded in converting the world to God. This last view would, at least, seem likely to be true, were it not for one unfortunate circumstance. For the Bible repeatedly, and with plainness, gives us to understand, that the world never can be converted, until Christ has returned. And, certainly, this assertion is strongly corroborated by the history of the last nineteen centuries. Finally, there are others who, although they read the daily papers, go so far as to affirm, that the Millennium is even now in progress. Thus the opinions of professed Christians, however excellent some of them may be, are far too varied to be worthy of trust: we must, therefore, have recourse to the fountain-head of all authority, and inquire with Paul, "What saith the Scripture?"
201. It tells us, that, after the destruction of the Lord’s enemies at His personal appearing, He will cast Satan and his fallen angels and demons, together with the rebellious "Kings of the Earth," into the Abyss. Then He will place His ransomed Church, as the ruling spiritual Kingdom, in the heavens, with Himself as their King. And upon earth, He will establish the children of Abraham, in their own Land, as the "Kings of the Earth upon the Earth." Peace and prosperity will follow: the knowledge of God will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea: the curse will, in great part, be removed: there will be no evil spirits of the air to tempt men to sin: every human being upon earth will render homage, in perfect outward submission, at least, to the Lord Jesus, as the King That - rules in righteousness. Such will be the nature of the next age, which will last for the thousand years during which Satan is to be bound in the Abyss; and is, therefore, called the Millennium or ‘Thousand Years’ period.
202. During its course, the Lord will take the place of Prince of this World, which is now held by Satan. On the earth, Israel will be His special people;- but, apparently, He will govern them for the most part through a viceroy, who will be David, the King, raised from the dead (Ezekiel 34:23-24, Ezekiel 37:24-25; Jeremiah 30:9; Hosea 3:5; Isaiah 55:3-4). Through him the Lord Jesus will reign over the whole world: for He will "have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth" (Psalms 72:8; Zechariah 9:10). But, while David will administer this vast realm as Prince upon earth, the Lord, as the great Over-King, will probably, visit His chosen people from time to time. Meanwhile, they will be unto Him a Holy Kingdom of Priests (Exodus 19:6), nay, even the bells upon the horses, and the cooking and other utensils, at Jerusalem, will be holiness unto the Lord. Among the Gentile nations, on the other hand, the submission of many will be feigned, and evil thoughts will be treasured in their hearts; but they will not dare to disclose them, because every open sin will meet with certain and instant punishment.
203. The principal seat of the government, and the centre and capital of the world, will, of course, be Jerusalem - Satan’s capital, Babylon, having perished for ever. And great will be the blessings bestowed upon the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Their unbelief, their pride, and their stiff-necked disposition, will have vanished; and, at last, as they walk in perfect and loving obedience, they will be openly manifested as God’s chosen people, whom He loves, by the fulfilment of promises such as those contained in Ezekiel 36:23-30; Psalms 102:12-16; Isaiah 27:6; Jeremiah 33:7-9; and Micah 4:1-8; Micah 5:7-9.
204. Then, at length, men will obtain a practical knowledge of that which for scores of centuries they have been endeavouring to find out, namely, What is the best form of government? (Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 11:1-9; Isaiah 24:23, and Isaiah 32:1; Jeremiah 33:14-15). At last, they will find themselves under the rule of an irresistible righteous and absolutely autocratic Government. "And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever" (Isaiah 33:17),
205. As we have already said, Jerusalem will be the capital of the world in those happy days; and, in the closing chapters of Ezekiel, we have a description of the glorious Temple which shall be built by the Messiah Himself (Zechariah 6:12-13). In Ezekiel 42:15-20, the measurement of the outer wall of the Temple-precincts are given to us as being 500 reeds for each side of the square. Now, a reed is equivalent to 6 cubits; but the cubit, as is well known, varied in length, so that there were, probably, three distinct cubits. It is most likely that one which contains about 24 inches, or 2 feet, was intended by Ezekiel. In this case, a reed will be equivalent to 12 feet, and 500 reeds will be 6,000 feet, or 2,000 yards, or 1 mile 240 yards. And, if this be the length of one side of the square, its four sides, or its whole circumference, will be 4 miles 960 yards. Ezekiel gives a minute description of the details of this Millennial Temple, and, also, of the form of worship which will be carried on in it. And it has been a great stumbling-block to many, that he predicts a resumption of the sacrifices, even of those in which animals were offered, which will, doubtless, be commemorative. There will also be priests appointed to perform the offices of the Temple. For a solution of the difficulties connected with this subject, see Mr. Pember’s work, "The Church, the Churches, and the Mysteries," pp. 422-9.
206. The old form of worship - with modifications, no doubt - will be restored, probably because "the Mystery of God," that is, Christ in us, will then have been finished. Hence the types which once foreshadowed His coming, at the end of the ages, to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, will be again required; but, this second time, to serve as memorials of the accomplished fact. Their reintroduction seems, however, to intimate, that the Lord will not dwell personally upon the earth during the Millennium, although He will be its acknowledged Sovereign, and, doubtless a frequent visitor; just as He was an occasional visitor in the Mosaic and older Dispensations. But His abode will be in the Heavens, where the glorified Church, His Body, will dwell with Him; while His viceroy and His chosen nation will represent Him upon earth. For, apparently, it is not until the New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven that the Temple-services will be dispensed with (Revelation 21:22). That grand event will, however, take place, after the Millennium, at the beginning of the Eternal State.
207. In Ezekiel 48:1, Ezekiel 48:5-6, we are told, that the Millennial City of Jerusalem will be in the form of a square, the length of each side of which will be 4,500 reeds; or, reckoning 12 feet to the reed, as we have done above, 54,000 feet = 18,000 yards = 10 miles 400 yards. Hence the whole circumference of the city will be 40 miles 1,600 yards. The changed condition of the earth at this time will be marvellous. To appreciate it, we must bear in mind, that the population of the globe will have been terribly thinned by the judgments of God during the Seventieth Seven, and that the survivors will gladly welcome the new rule. In connection with this subject, it will be instructive, to read Psalms 46:1-11. and Psalms 47:1-9., which belong to the period; also Ps. 155., the time of the fulfilment of which is fixed by verses 11-13.
208. The face of the Land of Israel will have undergone great changes, as we may learn by reading Isaiah 35:1-10., Zechariah 14:4-11, and similar passages. Nor can we suppose that the terrible convulsions, amid which the present age will expire, will fail to leave their traces on the surface of the whole earth. It is probable that land will appear where there is sea to-day, and that the waves will cover much of what is now land. Moreover, mountains will have disappeared, islands have been submerged (Revelation 16:20), the channels of rivers altered, and so on. See Isaiah 2:10-22.
209. Again, the conditions of the atmosphere will be altogether changed. This may be seen in the fact, that the moon will then equal the sun, as it is at present, in brightness; while the sun will shine with seven times the power that it has now; and yet the atmosphere will be so modified that the accession of light will be entirely beneficial (Isaiah 30:26). Police will scarcely be required; for God will execute His Own judgments. There will be no wars, and, therefore, no armies, and, probably, no work for hospitals, or reformatories, or charitable institutions. Of sickness, at least, there will be comparatively little, and but slight need of physicians; while the length of human life will be greatly extended (Isaiah 65:20-23), and death will be feared only when it is inflicted as the direct penalty of sin. Men will die, generally, of old age. To almost every one will the words of Eliphaz the Temanite apply:- "Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in its season"; and the dread and pain of death will all but disappear.
210. We must not, however, imagine, that the Millennial will be altogether a sinless age. There will still be evil in men’s hearts, though its manifestation will be very slight as compared with what it is now. See Psa. 155:20; Psalms 6:3; Psalms 81:15; Isaiah 65:20. All these passages indicate the presence of sin; for, although human nature will be freed from the temptations of evil spirits, and cowed by the majesty of the Lord and His inflexible rule of righteousness, it will, nevertheless, remain unchanged in the unregenerate. But every outward sin, as soon as it is manifested, will receive sharp and terrible judgment from the Lord.
Complete severance from sin cannot be the lot of all men upon earth, until the establishment of the Eternal State, when all things shall be made new; but that will not be until after the Millennium, when the earth has been thoroughly burned, and there is a renewed heaven and a renewed earth, wherein righteousness will dwell.
211. So much, then, for the condition of the nation, during the Millennium. But the chosen people will, apparently, be perfect even in that age, and Israelites, then true saints and servants of God, will preach the Gospel to all nations. Missionary work, no longer hindered by the Devil, will be carried onto perfection, and with the result that, not only all nations, but also every individual belonging to them, will know the truth, and vast numbers will rejoice in it (Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14). There will thus be an almost inconceivably improved condition of things on the earth in the Millennial Dispensation, as compared with the present age. And yet, there will be an even greater difference between the Millennium and the serenely joyful World-without-End which shall follow it, when sorrow and sighing will have fled away for ever, and sin and death shall be no more. We must, however, realize, that the Millennial earth will be the same as that which we now inhabit, however much it may be altered and improved; and, also, that, in all probability, men will work, build, plant, manufacture, travel, and study, just as they do now, the great difference being, that they will do all these things in totally changed and greatly improved circumstances. As to the cause of the improvement, we need mention but one fact - Satan will be bound in the Abyss, and the Lord Jesus will be enthroned as the Prince of this World and of the Power of the Air. But, as we have before said, we do not think that He will reside continually upon the earth during His Millennial reign, but only visit it from time to time, as in the earlier Dispensation. We cannot, however, speak with certainty on this matter.
212. But it is, probably, to be anticipated, that He will reign by deputy, and appoint a vicegerent to occupy His earthly throne at Jerusalem. And who that vicegerent will be, is very plainly indicated in Jeremiah 30:8-9; Ezekiel 34:23-24, Ezekiel 37:24-25; and Hosea 3:5. For David will then be permitted to carry out to the full the sentiments which he expressed, so long ago, in Psalms 101:1-8.
213. We have thus seen how glorious a time is in store for our world; but it is not for us to anticipate the enjoyment of it as dwellers upon the earth. For our portion at that time will be either far more blessed or disastrously less so. For those of us who shall be alive just as the Seventieth Seven is about to commence will, if found watching, be caught up to God and to His Throne, and so escape altogether the things that are coming upon the earth. But if, at the critical moment, we be found to be spiritually sleeping and careless, we shall not be thought worthy to escape the season of trial. Nevertheless, by repentance and earnest testimony, which will then involve much suffering, and, perhaps, even death, we may yet be chosen to meet the Lord in the air at the sound of the Seventh and Last Trumpet. If, however, we should have missed both of these opportunities, we must be destroyed from the earth by the wrath of God before the Millennium begins, and have our portion allotted to us with those who are reserved for the judgment of the Great White Throne. That awful Assize will take place at the end of the Thousand Years, when all who are not found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be cast into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone.