THE millennium, or the thousand years, is the period in the future of this world's history, when the Son of man, the Lord Jesus Christ, shall take into His own hands the rule and government of this world. The thousand years are mentioned no less than six times in the first seven verses of the twentieth chapter of Revelation, and doubtless are to be taken in their literal import. The Scriptures teem with descriptions of the blessings and glory to be enjoyed by this now groaning creation in that coming day. Peter, in addressing the Jews in Acts 3:20-26,20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 22For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. (Acts 3:20‑26) speaks of the sending of Jesus Christ, “whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.... Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days." The Lord referred to the same period, when He said to His twelve disciples, “That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matt. 19:2828And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28).)
The despised and rejected Jesus of Nazareth has been cast out and crucified here, but "God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:9-119Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9‑11).) All who bow receive the priceless gift—eternal life; are called to suffer with the rejected One now, and will reign with Him by-and-by; those who refuse will surely come into judgment. But there is a moment coming when "every knee shall bow" (Isa. 45:2323I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. (Isaiah 45:23)), when " all kings shall fall down before Him: and all nations shall serve Him." (Psa. 72:1111Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. (Psalm 72:11).) "And the Lord shall be King over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one." (Zech. 14:99And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. (Zechariah 14:9).)
What joy for the heart of the Christian to know that the Blessed One in whom he has trusted, the One whom he has not seen, but yet loves (1 Peter 1:88Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:8)), whose rights in this scene have been usurped by Satan, the prince of this world, will shortly have all things manifestly under His sway. Then " the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, 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 forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." (Isa. 9:6, 76For 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. 7Of 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. (Isaiah 9:6‑7).)
There are several different terms employed in the Scriptures in reference to the kingdom; we get, the kingdom of heaven; the kingdom of God; the kingdom of the Father; the kingdom of the Son of man; the kingdom of His dear Son; and the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The kingdom of heaven, or of the heavens, points to the rule of the heavens owned on earth; it is only found in the gospel of Matthew. Both John the Baptist and the Lord spoke of it as at hand, not come. It commenced at the ascension of Christ, when the King, rejected from the earth, took His place in heaven. During the present interval it takes a secret form not perceived by nature. In Matt. 13 we get the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, showing the character of things here during His rejection. All who profess to bow to His name are in the kingdom. But when He is manifested in power and glory, He will gather out of His kingdom, by the instrumentality of His angels, all things that offend, and them which do iniquity (Matt. 13:4141The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; (Matthew 13:41)), and establish it openly with rich and abundant blessing for a thousand years.
The kingdom of God has a wider bearing. John the Baptist being imprisoned, Jesus came preaching, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand," &c. (Mark 1:14,1514Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:14‑15).) But He also said, “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." (Matt. 12:2828But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. (Matthew 12:28).) And again, "when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation" (marg., with outward show): " neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (marg., among you). (Luke 17:20, 2120And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20‑21).)
The new birth is necessary both to see and enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:3, 53Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5).) All who received Christ by faith were born of God, and so also now (1 John 5:11Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1)), and are in the kingdom of God. In another aspect, however, it embraces all who profess the name of Christ: this is what it is outwardly, as seen by men (Luke 13:18-2118Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. 20And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. (Luke 13:18‑21)); the rule or authority of God owned or bowed to. It has a moral significance, as Rom. 14:17,17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17) “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." It was connected with the presence of Christ when on earth, but with the presence of the Holy Ghost after He had left this world.
The kingdom of God is likened, in Luke 18-21, to similar things as the kingdom of heaven in Matt. 13, and includes the same period, though commencing a little earlier. Although that which is said of the kingdom of heaven is also said of the kingdom of God, that which is spoken of the latter in many passages could not be said of the former. At the close of the thousand years' reign of Christ, He having given up the kingdom to the Father, God is all in all.
The kingdom of the Father designates the heavenly sphere of the kingdom when displayed. The righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matt. 13:4343Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:43)); the sun shines in the heavens.
The kingdom of His dear Son (or the Son of His love) is where the Christian is already brought. Delivered from the power of darkness, he is translated into His kingdom—no longer led captive by Satan in the darkness of nature, but under the rule of the Lord.
The everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ points out the continuance of the kingdom of Christ till the end of all things, in contrast with the overturning of all earthly kingdoms and powers.
In Luke 9:2727But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:27) the Lord said to His disciples, " I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God." This was fulfilled on the mount of transfiguration, when Moses and Elias, types of the raised and changed saints, appeared in glory, talking with Jesus, the Jewish disciples being on the mountain beholding them. It is a sample of the kingdom in display, when the heavenly saints shall appear with Christ in glory, and Israel shall be at the head of the nations on the earth.
To turn back now to the second Psalm, we find the gathering together of the kings and rulers of the earth against the Lord, and against His anointed; “Yet," saith the Lord, " have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion." Judgment, as we have seen in our last paper, falls upon the powers of this world. Christ takes the kingdom, and the remnant of Judah are delivered; for “it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off, and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God." (Zech. 8, 9.)
Following upon this we get the restoration of the ten tribes of Israel, now scattered and lost among the nations. The fullness of the Gentiles being come in, the Lord begins now to bless in a special way, according to His many promises, His earthly people Israel. “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance." (Rom. 11:2929For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (Romans 11:29).)
Many deny the truth of the restoration and blessing of God's ancient people, and spiritualize and explain away the numerous scriptures which refer to it, applying them often to the present blessing of the Church of God. Such would do well to ponder the eleventh chapter of Romans, from the twenty-fifth verse. “I would not, brethren," writes the apostle to God's saints at Rome, “that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob," &c. For " thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel, for all that they have done, saith the Lord." (Jer. 31:3737Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 31:37).)
Great numbers of Jews having returned to their land by the aid of a certain maritime power (Isa. 18), come into great tribulation; one-third who witness for Christ in this time of Jacob's trouble (Zech. 13:99And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:9)) are saved out of it; others are martyred; the rest judged; then the ten tribes are gathered back (the rebellious being purged out) and united with the two, as one nation, under Christ.
Ezekiel, in Ezek. 20:34,34And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. (Ezekiel 20:34) speaks thus of this event: "And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched-out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.... And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord."
Jeremiah, in Jer. 31:8-10,8Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. 9They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. 10Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. (Jeremiah 31:8‑10) says: " Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.... Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock."
Isa. 49:20-2320The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell. 21Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been? 22Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. 23And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. (Isaiah 49:20‑23) is a most touching description of the union of the tribes after the Redeemer has come out of Zion. “The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell. Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath, brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been? Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers," &c.
Then again, in the well-known passage, Ezek. 37, the vision of the valley of dry bones, we are distinctly told, in Ezek 37:11, “these bones are the whole house of Israel." They are viewed in the vision as in their graves-the present state of the tribes scattered and lost among the nations; but the Lord God says, " I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel," &c. (Ezek. 37:12-1412Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. (Ezekiel 37:12‑14).) " Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.... And David my servant shall be king over them." (Ezek. 37:21-2421And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: 22And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: 23Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. 24And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. (Ezekiel 37:21‑24).)
I might cite many more scriptures; but these will suffice to show simply the fact of that which God will shortly do for His earthly people. The prophets speak so plainly in the above passages, that comment upon them is almost superfluous, as I do not aim at giving the reader much more than an outline sketch.
The Deliverer being come out of Zion, Israel saved, "they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, 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." (Jer. 31:3434And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, 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 31:34).)
Following upon the establishment of Israel in the land, and their recognition of Jesus, the One whom they pierced, as the Messiah, their King, we find a terrible invasion of their country takes place by the powers of the North. Many have had the thought that immediately upon the manifestation of Christ in glory, the reign of peace and blessing will set in in all its fullness; but this is not so. A terrible destruction of enemies takes place even after, though probably very shortly after, Christ has appeared. A detailed account of this scene is given us in Ezek. 38 and 39, and it is thought by many very possibly to be identical with the last blow of the Assyrian, when he falls by divine judgment, which we have already glanced at.
Israel being gathered in their land with great wealth, the cupidity of a mighty power in the North is excited. The Western powers being destroyed, he thinks that his time is now come to possess the long-coveted land, and also the riches stored there. He is called in the prophecy “Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal;" but the correct rendering of the original is " Prince of Bosh, Meshech, and Tubal," and refers to the great Russian empire. He comes down on the land with a mighty army of his own, and accompanied by Persia, Ethiopia (Asiatic Ethiopia probably, territory by the Persian Gulf), Libya (or Phut by the Euphrates), Gomer, and all his bands (part of Asia Minor, &c.), and Togarmah (Armenia), and many peoples besides.
Israel will be dwelling safely without walls, bars, or gates when he comes down to take a spoil, and to take a prey. Isa. 38:11, 1211I said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world. 12Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me. (Isaiah 38:11‑12).) The fury of the Lord God comes up in His face (Ezek. 38:1818And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. (Ezekiel 38:18)), and He says, "I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone." (Ezek. 38:21, 2221And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man's sword shall be against his brother. 22And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. (Ezekiel 38:21‑22).) The ravenous birds, and the beasts of the field, devour the vast host smitten by the judgment of God, and for seven years the children of Israel shall go forth and burn the implements of war, and take seven months to bury their bones, &c. (Ezek. 39)
Thus close the awful judgments upon Israel and the nations, which God has foretold shall accompany the second advent of the Son of man, and the establishment of His kingdom in the earth. The fortieth chapter to the close of Ezekiel gives a description of the millennial temple, the redivision of the land amongst the tribes, &c.
This brings us to the full millennial blessing. At the present time the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain; but in that day it shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty (or liberty of the glory) of the children of God. (Rom. 8:20, 2120For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:20‑21).) The dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, will be bound in the bottomless pit (or the abyss) for the thousand years, by an angel that shall come down from heaven (Rev. 20:33And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Revelation 20:3)), and no longer be enabled to make this world the sphere of his wiles and delusions, leading men captive in their sins.
The Lord Jesus Christ will reign with His heavenly saints over the earth.
In Rev. 21:99And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. (Revelation 21:9) we get a most magnificent description, in figurative language, of the glory of the Church during this period. She is spoken of as "the Bride, the Lamb's wife," but viewed as a beautiful city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, and having the glory of God. All manner of precious stones, pearls, and gold, the most valuable objects in the eyes of men, are used to convey its glory to our minds; the wall, denoting security and salvation, being a prominent feature. It contains no temple; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. Neither does it need the sun or moon; they are eclipsed by the glory of God, and the Lamb is the light (or lamp) thereof. The earth is radiant with its glory, the nations walking in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory into (to) it. And the gates are always open; there is no night there. The glory and honor of the nations shall also be brought into (to) it. All evil is forever excluded, and only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life enter its glorious precincts.
A heavenly river of water of life, clear as crystal, shall flow out from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The tree of life, with twelve kinds of fruits, yielding monthly, and leaves for the healing of the nations, will be found there also. (Rev. 22:1, 21And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In 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).)
In this coming day of glory and blessing, Israel, who are now scattered, but will then, as we have seen, have been gathered back to their own land, will have the first place among the nations, and Jerusalem become the metropolis of the whole earth.
One of the first acts of the reign of Christ will be the erection of a magnificent temple: "Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the LORD [or Jehovah]: even He shall build the temple of the LORD; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne." (Zech. 6:12, 1312And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: 13Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:12‑13).) From the fortieth to the forty-second chapter of Ezekiel we have a full description of this glorious building, and its measurements, &c., and it shall be "called an house of prayer for all people." (Isa. 56:77Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Isaiah 56:7).)
One remarkable feature connected with this will be the restoration of the Jewish sacrifices and worship by the ordinance of God. A number of details are given in the forty-fifth and forty-sixth chapters of Ezekiel, and both the burnt, meat, drink, sin, and peace offerings expressly mentioned. And "in those days...David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt-offerings, and to kindle meat-offerings, and to do sacrifice continually." (Jer. 33:16-1816In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness. 17For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; 18Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually. (Jeremiah 33:16‑18).) “And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt-offerings, and sacrifices, and meat-offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the Lord." (Jer. 17:2626And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:26).) "Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him... their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar." (Isa. 56:6, 76Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Isaiah 56:6‑7).)
These in no way deny or detract from the one perfect offering of the Lamb of God, and the infinite value of His precious blood, which cleanseth us from all sin (Heb. 10:10-1410By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:10‑14); 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)), but will point back to that offering as those of old pointed forwards. Men, biased by system, early teaching, and so on, are often slow to accept the truth of this; but there it is in the word of God, and what the Lord has spoken He will surely perform.
There will not be any ark, as in the temple of old; for the prophet Jeremiah tells us, in Jer. 16, 17, that "in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord; neither shall it come to mind, neither shall they remember it, neither shall they visit it, neither shall that be done any more." (Marg., be magnified.) "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," &c.
“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. 8:2323Thus 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 8:23).) Idolatry, which will have been forced upon the nation (and readily accepted by the mass), and also throughout the domain of the beast, will be utterly abolished by the Lord when He comes in judgment. For “in that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles, and to the bats," &c. (Isa. 2:12-2212For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: 13And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, 14And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, 15And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, 16And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. 17And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. 18And the idols he shall utterly abolish. 19And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. 20In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; 21To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. 22Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? (Isaiah 2:12‑22).)
The shekinah glory, the glory of the God of Israel, will come from the way of the east, where it was last seen when retreating from the earth, after the captivity of Judah. (Ezek. 11:22, 2322Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. 23And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city. (Ezekiel 11:22‑23).) It will then fill the house or temple (Ezek. 43:1-51Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: 2And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. 3And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. 4And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. 5So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house. (Ezekiel 43:1‑5)), which is called “the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever." (Ezek. 43:77And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places. (Ezekiel 43:7).) “The Lord is great in Zion; and He is high above all the people. Let them praise Thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. The king's strength also loveth judgment; Thou dost establish equity, Thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool; for He is holy." (Psa. 99:2-52The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. 3Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. 4The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 5Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. (Psalm 99:2‑5).)
There will also be a prince at the head of the house of Israel, mentioned many times from Ezek. 44 to 46. He must in no way be confounded with the Lord, as he is the prince of Israel, ruling as His vicegerent in the land, and offering sacrifices in connection with the temple worship; whereas Christ will reign with His saints over the earth.
The land, Israel's ancient inheritance, now almost a wilderness, and under the dominion of the Gentiles, will then be redivided after a new order, each tribe having its measured portion, and a holy oblation foursquare in the center, divided among the priests and the Levites, and part for the city and suburbs. On either side of this, the residue will be for the prince. (Ezek. 48; 45:77And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion, and of the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward, and from the east side eastward: and the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border. (Ezekiel 45:7).)
Then as to the city of Jerusalem itself in that day, its glory and magnificence, as described in the prophets and the Psalms, will far surpass anything that the world has ever seen, much as men boast of the wonders they have wrought. Neither the ancient cities of Nineveh and Babylon, with all their glories, nor the modern cities of London and Paris, bear any comparison.
From Zech. 14:1010All 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) we find that "all the land shall be turned as a plain, from Geba (north) to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem: and it (i.e., the city) shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place." The mount of Olives is described as cleaving asunder when touched by the feet of the Lord at His appearing. Important physical changes will take place, thus affording a most magnificent plateau for the enlargement of the city during His reign.
Well may the Psalmist sing, “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." (Psa. 48:22Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. (Psalm 48:2).) And again, " Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following." (Psa. 48:12, 1312Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. 13Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. (Psalm 48:12‑13).) And again, “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined." (Psa. 50:22Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. (Psalm 50:2).) "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah." (Psa. 87:33Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah. (Psalm 87:3).) “Put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city." (Isa. 52:11Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. (Isaiah 52:1).) “Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise." (Isa. 60:1818Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. (Isaiah 60:18).) “For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory; and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken: neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate; but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, (i.e., my delight is in her), and thy land Beulah (i.e., married): for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married." (Isa. 62:1-41For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. 2And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. 3Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. 4Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. (Isaiah 62:1‑4).)
These are a few of the many passages indicating the unprecedented glory and splendor of the city of the Lord of hosts, in the day of Israel's blessing, and the earth's jubilee. But this is not all; for not only will it be a praise in the earth for its beauty, but the center of government and blessing for the earth under the Lord's righteous rule. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 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, 3.) “Because of Thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto Thee." (Psa. 68:2929Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee. (Psalm 68:29).) “Yea, all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him." (Ps. 72:11.) It is then that the government shall be upon His shoulder, and He shall reign as the true Solomon, the Prince of Peace, from the river to the ends of the earth. (Isa. 9:6, 76For 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. 7Of 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. (Isaiah 9:6‑7).)
“He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; 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. 2:44And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:4); Psa. 46:9; 68:309He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. (Psalm 46:9)
30Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war. (Psalm 68:30); Mic. 4:33And he 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. (Micah 4:3).) The mighty God shall judge the earth, and break war out of it. Instead of nation arming and warring against nation as now, peace shall flow as a river; a king shall reign in righteousness, "the Prince of Peace," and princes with Him shall rule in judgment. (Isa. 32:11Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. (Isaiah 32:1).)
Another very interesting feature of that day is worthy of our notice, and that is, a miraculous river, mentioned several times in the Scriptures. Zech. 14:88And 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. (Zechariah 14:8) speaks of it thus: "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." The former sea refers to the Dead Sea, the hinder to the Mediterranean; the flowing of the river, you will observe, is in no way affected by the change of seasons. Further details are given in Ezekiel, and we find there that these waters issue out from under the threshold of the house, or temple, eastward, go down into the desert, and "go into the sea (Dead), which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed."
At the present time, as is well known, this sea is of such a saline character, that fish cannot live in it; it is often called the Salt Sea for this reason.
But the effect of the flowing of the miraculous living waters into it will be, that its present condition will be changed, its waters being healed. "And," says the prophet Ezekiel, "it shall come to pass, that everything 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 everything shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; 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. But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. 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." (Ezek. 47:1-121Afterward 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. 2Then 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. 3And 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. 4Again 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. 5Afterward 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. 6And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. 7Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8Then 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. 9And 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. 10And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; 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. 11But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. 12And 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 47:1‑12).)
Joel 3:1818And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim. (Joel 3:18) also speaks of this remarkable river, " ... a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim." Psa. 46:44There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. (Psalm 46:4); " There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God." Psa. 65:9: " Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water." Zech. 9:10,10And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:10) and Psa. 72:8,8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. (Psalm 72:8) probably both refer to the same: “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth."
On the other hand, God has decreed the utter destruction of well-known waters, which are now flowing, and also the temporary drying up of certain rivers. "The Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea," that is, of the Red Sea, which skirts the eastern coast of Egypt, and through which He has already once made a miraculous passage, when He delivered Israel out of Egypt of old; "and with His mighty wind shall He shake His hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod" (marg., in shoes). ”And there shall be an highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt." (Isa. 11:15, 1615And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. 16And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. (Isaiah 11:15‑16).)
The river would be the Nile, which at the commencement of the reign of Christ will be smitten in its seven streams, that a way into the land may be opened for a remnant of His beloved people.
These facts are repeated in other passages. In the burden of Egypt (Isa. 19) we are told that the waters shall fail from the sea and the river shall be wasted and dried up. Again, in Zech. 10:11,11And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. (Zechariah 10:11) “He shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up; and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart away." Also Isa. 1:2,2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. (Isaiah 1:2) "... Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst."
Besides this, the great river Euphrates (once turned from its course at the destruction of Babylon) will also have its waters dried up, that the way of the kings of (or “from ") the east might be prepared. This event takes place under the sixth vial (or bowl) just previous to the end of the future crisis, introductory to the millennium.
But although God's judgments will fall both on Egypt and Assyria, old enemies of His beloved people, yet will He remember mercy. “And the Lord shall smite Egypt; He shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and He shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria; and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land; whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance." (Isa. 19:22-2522And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them. 23In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. 24In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: 25Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. (Isaiah 19:22‑25).)
What a glorious day will this be for this earth And both man and beast will participate in the deliverance. “The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing." (Isa. 35:5, 65Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5‑6).) "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." (Isa. 35:1010And 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 35:10).)
Instead of the present short span of life spoken of by the psalmist, threescore years and ten, and fourscore with labor and sorrow (Psa. 90:1010The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10)), in that day men's lives will be greatly prolonged. Of old, men lived to a far greater age than now; but even Methuselah, the longest-lived of all, did not reach to a thousand years; but, in the coming day of millennial blessing, the Lord says, " I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence (thenceforth) 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. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 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," &c. (Isa. 65:19-2219And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20There 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. 21And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22They 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 65:19‑22).) An infant of days will not be heard of then; but if a person dies at the age of one hundred years, he is only reckoned as a child, and then his death is on account of sin, when Christ is reigning in righteousness, and he is cut off and accursed. The old men will fill their days; that is, live out a thousand years. The days of the Lord's people are compared to the days of a tree, and we know that some trees live to an immense age.
There is another striking allusion to the longevity of men in Zech. 8:4: " Thus saith the Lord of hosts, There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age" (marg., multitude of days). “And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof."
So great and wondrous will be the blessing of God's people, city and land, that the nations and peoples from all parts of the globe will be attracted to God's earthly center. " Thus saith the Lord of hosts, It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 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. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. 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." (Zech. 8:20-2320Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21And 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. 22Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. 23Thus 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).)
Many have had the thought that Satan being bound at this period, the curse taken off the earth, and such wondrous blessing flowing out, that death, the wages of sin, will be done away with; but this is not the case. It is an error often arising from two causes; one from linking all sin with Satan, and forgetting that there is sin in men as well; and the other, referring the scriptures which speak of all Israel knowing the Lord, from the least to the greatest, at the commencement of the millennium, to man generally throughout the whole period.
It is clear from Scripture that men will commit sin during the reign of Christ, and also suffer the penalty—death. For instance, “The child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner, being an hundred years old, shall be accursed." (Isa. 65:2020There 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).) And this, you will remark, in a prophecy relating to Jewish blessing.
How terrible is the fall of man I However favorable the circumstances in which he is placed, he utterly breaks down. In innocence he disobeyed God; left to his will unrestrained, the earth was filled with violence; later on he broke the law of God, slew His prophets, murdered His beloved Son. Grace now reigns through righteousness, and man sins openly with a high hand. Christ will shortly reign in righteousness, but sin will manifest itself notwithstanding, though swiftly and surely to be judged. The millennium must run its course, the whole scene be dissolved, before sin will be taken from the earth altogether. Then death and hades being cast into the lake of fire, in the eternal state righteousness will dwell.
Psa. 72:1111Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. (Psalm 72:11) teaches that “all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him." Yet, if we carefully examine other psalms, we find that there are no less than three distinct passages where, in the marginal reading, we find that the submission of some of the nations is only feigned after all, through fear of the power and might of the King of kings. (See Psa. 66:3; 18:44; 81:15,3Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. (Psalm 66:3)
44As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. (Psalm 18:44)
15The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. (Psalm 81:15) marg.) This is further confirmed in Zech. 14:16: "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. 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. 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. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles."
This scripture speaks plainly of threatened judgments on nations that refuse to bow to the authority of the one King over all the earth, and is a remarkable instance of the perfect accuracy of God's word. Egypt is singled out from the other nations, and threatened with a plague, should they be insubject. The withholding of rain, which would cause a terrible famine, would be no punishment to her; for it is a well-known fact, as mentioned in the passage itself, that a great part of Egypt has no rain now. Crops are obtained by the careful use of the water of the mighty river Nile, which at certain seasons overflows its banks. Thus upon Egypt the Lord threatens a plague.
Another striking and incontestable proof of the unconverted, sinful state of great masses of Gentiles in the millennium, is the fact, that when Satan is loosed out of the abyss at the close of the thousand years, he makes a last effort to overthrow the kingdom of Christ; goes out "to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of, the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." (Rev. 20:7-97And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. (Revelation 20:7‑9).) Gog and Magog are here used as symbolical terms of the great mass of nations who will then be led by Satan against the Lord's people of that day, and must in no way be confounded with Gog, the land of Magog, &c. (Ezek. 38:1-31And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: (Ezekiel 38:1‑3)); the one is a gathering at the close, the other at the commencement of the reign of Christ. They come up on the breadth of the earth, on all parts of it, and compass the camp of the saints about, wherever they may be, far and wide, and also the beloved city, that is, Jerusalem, seeking their destruction. God suddenly pours out fierce and unsparing judgment; fire will come down and devour them. Their deceitful leader, who will have been bound the thousand years in the bottomless pit, or abyss, is then cast into the place of eternal torment, the lake of fire and brimstone, where already the two great leaders of the apostasy, the beast and false prophet, have been suffering during the same period. All these, as the scripture plainly declares, shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Rev. 20:1010And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10).)
Then, as regards the brute creation, we find that the present enmity existing between different animals will cease, and that instead of preying one upon the other they will dwell together in peace and harmlessness: " 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 failing together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' [adder's] den. 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." (Isa. 11)
This interesting fact has often, like many other prophetical scriptures, been spiritualized away, and widely distorted from its evident literal meaning. And this is not the only passage which speaks of it, but similar language is used in Isa. 65:25: "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord." The sole exception to the general blessing mentioned here, is another instance worthy of note, as showing the perfect harmony of every statement of the word of God—"Dust shall be the serpent's meat." In pronouncing the curse upon the serpent in Gen. 3, God said, " Upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life;" so that its condition will remain the same to the end. And “I...will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land; and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods." (Ezek. 34:2525And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. (Ezekiel 34:25).)
The curse pronounced upon the earth by the Lord God consequent upon the fall of man (Gen. 3:1717And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; (Genesis 3:17)) will then be removed; for the Revelation tells us “there shall be no more curse" (Rev. 22:33And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: (Revelation 22:3).) Thorns and briers shall no longer be brought forth as now; but “instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree," which are both evergreens (Isa. 55:1313Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (Isaiah 55:13)), “and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing." (Isa. 35:1, 21The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2It 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 35:1‑2).) “I will open," too, saith the Lord, ”rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah-tree, and the myrtle, and the oil-tree; I will set in the desert the fir-tree, and the pine, and the box-tree together." (Isa. 41:18, 1918I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 19I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: (Isaiah 41:18‑19).)
The earth will then be so wondrously fertile and productive, that the labor necessary to procure a crop in that day will be nothing to be compared to the present toil; for "the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt." (Amos 9:1313Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. (Amos 9:13).) A beauteous strain is found in the sixty-fifth Psalm, showing how richly God will then bless the earth, and how, consequently, it will teem with plenty: "Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: Thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: Thou preparest them corn, when Thou halt so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly; Thou settlest the furrows thereof: Thou makest it soft with showers; Thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness; and Thy paths drop fatness. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered with corn: they shout for joy, they also sing." (Psa. 65) And “there shall be a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon." (Psa. 72)
The seasons themselves will not change; for the Lord said after the flood, “While the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease."
The heavens and the earth will be brought into blessed connection during this marvelous epoch, the dispensation of the fullness of times, when all things shall be gathered together in one in Christ (Eph. 1:1010That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10)), and all things reconciled; (mark, things, not all persons.) (Col. 1:2020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20).) "And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; and the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel." (Hos. 2:21, 2221And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; 22And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. (Hosea 2:21‑22).)
The thousand years having expired, then cometh the end, when Christ “shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith, All things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all." (1 Cor. 15:24-2824Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:24‑28).)
Hark! the sound of jubilee,
Loud as mighty thunders' roar,
Or the fullness of the sea
When it breaks upon the shore!
Hallelujah! for the Lord
God omnipotent shall reign:
Hallelujah! let the word
Echo round the earth and main!
Hallelujah!—hark! the sound
From the depth unto the skies,
Wakes above, beneath, around,
All creation's harmonies!
See, Jehovah's banner furled,
Sheathed His sword: He speaks—'t is done;
And the kingdoms of the world
Are the kingdoms of the Son!