C. The Millennial Reign of Christ Is Israel's Restoration After the Tribulation.

C. The Millennial Reign of Christ Is Israel’s Restoration After the Tribulation.
Immediately following the Rapture begins the 7-Year Tribulation upon the Earth. This includes Jews and Gentiles. Isaiah, prophesied of Israel that only one out of 10 Jews will survive in the world outside of Israel. (Isaiah 6:11; Isaiah 6:13)
“Then said I (Isaiah), Lord how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate...(Isaiah 6:11)
But yet in it, shall be a tenth, and it shall return (to Palestine) and shall be eaten; as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves, so the holy seed (Jews that are saved) shall be the substance thereof.” (Isaiah 6:11; Isaiah 6:13)
Little did the Jews know what the consequences would be, when they told Pilate (referring to Christ), “His blood be on us and on our children.” (Matthew 27:24-25) And so it has been—for over 2,000 years. The great Diaspora began when Titus, the Roman general, besieged Jerusalem and the Jews were scattered throughout the world. The great historian, Josephus, tells us that over 1,000,000 Jews were killed in this siege alone.
Then, is there any hope for Israel in the future. The answer is most definitely, "Yes”! After the 7 years of tribulation on the Earth, Christ returns to establish His kingdom and fulfill His promises to Israel. Ezekiel speaks of this in Ezekiel 36:24; Ezekiel 36:26-28.
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land... (Ezekiel 36:24) A new heart also will I give you; and a new spirit will I put within you:... (Ezekiel 36:26) and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them... (Ezekiel 36:27) And ye shall dwell in the land (Palestine, approximately 255,000 square miles, that I gave to your fathers; fulfilling Genesis 15:18-21; Genesis 17:7-8).”
When Christ returns to establish His kingdom, then and only then, will Israel inherit ALL of her land, along with the peace, protection and prosperity that God has promised her.
1. Israel Will Never Be Scattered Again. (Amos 9:15).
And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be plucked up out of their land, which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God.”
The "Land Grant" which God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be given them, as God had promised. (Genesis 13:14-17; Genesis 17:7-8)
The measurements given in Genesis 15:18-21 amount to over 255,000 square miles.
“From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.” (Joshua 1:4)
The Jews now only have about 4 or 5% of it. A small strip of land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, and from Dan, north of the Sea of Galilee to Beer-sheba, south to the end of the Dead Sea, and between the Mediterranean Sea. 10,000 square miles. Even though they keep sacrificing "land for peace," one day they will have the whole thing.
2. The Land Will Be Blessed For Israel. (Isaiah 35:1)
“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them (Israel); and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.”
Ezekiel 36:34-35 also describes this blessing,
“And the desolate land shall be tilled...And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities, are become fences, and are inhabited.”
All of Earth's resources will be available for enjoyment. All industry will be manufacturing articles of a peaceable luxury, and, no doubt, no unemployment! No hospitals, doctors or nurses. All medicines will be worthless & uncalled for. There will be no poverty and children will never get sick. Violence & crime will be unknown. No waste lands--the desert shall blossom again. No storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. (No crop failures or the natural disaster of floods. Wild animals will be tame and harmless.
3. Peace At Last, Not Only For Israel, But For the Whole World. (Micah 4:3)
The prophet Micah 4:3 tells us,
“And he (Christ) shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
No more war and no more need for armament plants; no soldier, sailor, marine in uniform; all nations will be at perfect peace with each other. There will be no military plants; and, not one penny spent for defense!
4. No More Sickness or Disease. (Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 60:22; Psalms 127:3-5)
There will be no need for emergency wards, hospitals, doctors, etc.( Isaiah 35:5-6 a)
“Then (i.e. during the millennial reign of Christ on this earth), the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped (Isaiah 35:5)
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing;...”
“Dumb” does not mean illiterate, only that one is unable to talk. Isaiah 60:22 lets us know there will be no birth defects or complications in giving birth. This will fulfill Psalms 127:3-5. The blind will see, deaf will hear, lame will walk, and those that could not talk will sing. (Isaiah 35:5-6)
5. No Ferocious Animals To Attack Man (Isaiah 11:6; Romans 8:19-22).
During the 7 years of the Tribulation, just prior to the Millennium, one-fourth of the population will die from the sword, hunger, wild beasts, etc. (Revelation 6:8) But, during the Millennium, there will be no ferocious animals to attack mankind. Isaiah 11:6 tells us that,
“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...and the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together.”
6. There Will Be No Need to Steal, People Will Have All They Need.
There will be no need for stealing; as everyone will be taught the Lord’s ways; and He will rule from Jerusalem. They shall sit under their own vine and fig tree; meaning they will have their portion of the Land Grant promised to Israel by God. They can plant, and build without fear, for “he (the Lord) shall break in pieces the oppressor.” (Psalms 72:4 b) “Righteousness shall flourish.” (Psalms 72:7 a)
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." (Isaiah 11:6-9)
And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Micah 4:2
“And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. (Isaiah 65:21)
They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.”(Isaiah 65:21-22)
This is a great promise for the Jews, and Gentiles, to look forward to, considering the poverty conditions many exist in today.
7. The Lord Will Be King Over All The Earth (Zechariah 14:9; Jeremiah 23:5-6).
"And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one." (Zechariah 14:9)
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. (Zechariah 14:5)
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE Lord OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jehovah Tsidkenu). (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
8. The Desert Shall Blossom As a Rose....(Isaiah 35:1-2).
“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. (Isaiah 35:1)
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.” (Isaiah 35:2)
9. There Will Be a Highway to Jerusalem To Worship.
“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. (Isaiah 35:8)
No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: (Isaiah 35:9)
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:8-10)
There is now no need to fear the ferocious beasts of the Tribulation. Those that come out of the Tribulation alive remember the wild beasts killing people (Revelation 6:8). They remember.
10. An Abundance of Harvest, Times Are Good!
There will be an abundance of harvest. (Amos 9:13-14) Abundant rainfall at the right time. (Isaiah 35:7) Food and cattle will be in good supply. (Isaiah 30:23-24)
“Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. (Isaiah 30:23)
The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.” (Isaiah 30:23-24)
11. A Change In the Atmosphere And the Solar Spectrum.
“The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. (Isaiah 60:19)
Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.” (Isaiah 60:19-20)
12. Geological Changes.
Zechariah 14:10-11. Many geological changes will take place. (Zechariah 14:4) The Mount of Olives is just one of the myriads of changes involved in the entire land of Israel. Verse 10 will encompass all the topographical changes to elevate Jerusalem above the surrounding territory, to suit the Millennial conditions. This will accommodate the new Millennial Temple of Ezekiel, which would not fit Israel in its present form.
“All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses. “ (Zechariah 14:10)
"Geba" is the North border of Judah in Benjamin. "Rimmon" is the South border of Judah in Simian. All the mountainous country now around Jerusalem would keep the waters from flowing from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. This will all change. Ezekiel 47:1-12 describes an eastward flow into the Dead Sea. Verse 11 speaks of salt pits. Many Arabs use them today for their flocks and personal use.
13. Topographical Changes.
The Dead Sea will become alive again. A river, over a mile wide, will flow out of the sanctuary (Ezekiel 47:8-9). Jerusalem will be exalted and the mountains and hills will be made low. (Isaiah 2:1-3 same as Micah 4:1-2, and Isaiah 40:4-5).
The Dead Sea will be healed. Zechariah, along with Ezekiel give the details as to how this will take place.
a. Jerusalem will be lifted up, and the surrounding area will become a plain.
“All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.” (Zechariah 14:10)
b. Water comes out from under the Temple as described in Zechariah 14:8,
“And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.”
This fountain of living water is then divided into two rivers. One river goes down to the “former sea,” which is the eastern, i.e., the Dead Sea. The other, which is the western, flows toward the “hinder sea,” that being the Mediterranean Sea. The water going towards the Dead Sea starts small and progresses to a large river, as described in Ezekiel 47:1-5.
“Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. (Ezekiel 47:1)
Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. (Ezekiel 47:2)
And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. (Ezekiel 47:3)
Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. (Ezekiel 47:4)
Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.” (Ezekiel 47:1-5)
A cubit is 18 inches; therefore, 4,000 cubits equals 6,000 feet. There are 5,280 feet in a mile. As it flows, it gets deeper and widens to over a mile wide as it enters the Dead Sea. Nothing could live in this sea of salt; but, now, in the Millennium, it has been healed and flourishes with life.
“Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. (Ezekiel 47:8)
And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. (Ezekiel 47:9)
And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.” (Ezekiel 47:8-10)
God will preserve a section to retain salt for the people’s use, just as they had prior to the Millennium.
“But the miry places thereof and the marshes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.” (Ezekiel 47:11)
The healing of this river and the Dead Sea, and the surrounding area adjacent to the river, is described as being productive on both sides.
‘And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” (Ezekiel 47:12)
The same is described in Revelation 22:1-2,
“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. (Revelation 22:1)
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.” (Revelation 22:1-2)
I am aware that some believe this Tree of Life is after the Millennium, and in the New Heavens and New Earth. I believe this eating of the Tree of Life is during the Millennium for several reasons. Here is just one.
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:14)
During the Millennium there will be lost people, among Christians, who will not be keeping the Feast of Passover; or, the Feast of Tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16-19) If a person lives to be a 100 years old, and has never accepted Christ as their Savior, they will be killed and spend Eternity in Hell. (Isaiah 65:20) No unbeliever will be permitted to eat of this wonderful Tree of Life. If this tree were in the New Heavens and Earth, there would be no unbelievers to restrain!
Now, back to the Tree of Life in Revelation 22:2 and the word “healing.”
“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.” (Revelation 22:2)
Healing is from the Greek “therapeia” meaning “health and enjoyment.” It does not give health in the sense of healing a person from becoming sick. Our spiritual and/or resurrected bodies will never get sick or die. (Revelation 21:4) It will be healthy in the sense of feeling good as a result of enjoying all of those fresh fruits we will have the privilege of eating.
I am sure there will be an avocado tree. They are one of my favorites. Christ also ate in His resurrected body.
“And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. (Luke 24:42) And he took it, and did eat before them.” (Luke 24:42-43)
14. The Gates of Jerusalem Will Be Named After Each Tribe.
And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi. (Ezekiel 48:31)
And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan. (Ezekiel 48:32)
And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun. (Ezekiel 48:33)
At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali. (Ezekiel 48:34)
It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.” (Ezekiel 48:31-35)
15. The Earth Will Be Filled With The Knowledge of the Lord.
“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.” (Isaiah 11:9)
“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:33)
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34)
16. No Anti-Semitism.
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: (Zechariah 8:20)
And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. (Zechariah 8:21)
Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. (Zechariah 8:22)
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; 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.” (Zechariah 8:20-23)
17. The Saved Will Live Through The Millennium With No Death Recorded.
“There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” (Isaiah 65:20)
Those that start the Kingdom will live in their physical bodies for 1,000 years to the end of the Kingdom.
18. The Saints Will Judge The Angels & The World.
Saints will judge, convict, and execute righteous judgment. We will have compassion for the victim, and not for the criminal. In fact, we are told in 1 Corinthians 6:3 that we shall judge angels.
“Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”
These are the most wicked angels that brought about the flood. (Genesis 6). Peter describes them in 2 Peter 2:4,
"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;"
19. All Nations Must Come Up To the Feast of Tabernacles.
Those who do not come to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles will have no rain.
“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. (Zechariah 14:16)
And it shall be, that whoso will 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. (Zechariah 14:17)
And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:18)
This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.” (Zechariah 14:16-19)
God controls the weather.
“By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. (Job 37:10)
Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: (Job 37:11)
And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. (Job 37:12)
He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. (Job 37:5-13)
Unfortunately, even in the time of God's perfect peace on Earth, there will be a negative side. Demons and unclean spirits will still be free on the Earth; while, at the beginning of the Millennium, Satan will be chained; the Beast, False Prophet will be cast into the Lake of Fire; and, the most Wicked Angels are still imprisoned in Tartarus. The remainder of the 1/3 of angels which followed Satan are still free. Many people will be possessed. (Matthew 8:16 and Luke 4:33; Luke 4:41) But, the Great White Throne awaits these wicked angels who followed Satan, “from the beginning,” and they will then be cast into the everlasting fire.
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41)