The Millennium

(#868, Imperial, 1960)

Read Isaiah 2:1-5.

DeHaan says that the middle of the 20th century may well go down in history as the most paradoxical age of all time.  While the world talks about one thing it is preparing for the opposite.  Never before have men talked peace, striven for peace, longed for peace as fervently as today.  Yet there are more men under arms and more billions being spent for engines of war than ever.

Must we resign ourselves to an inevitable doom?  Thank God we have an answer which cannot fail.  There is hope of a golden age of peace.  This age will never come through the efforts of men but only through the return of the Prince of Peace.

ƒ      The Millennium, Rev. 20:4-6. ("Millennium" means 1,000 yrs.)

w    The theological view called "post-millennialism" says Christ will return after the world gradually improves.

    1.  Sin makes this impossible.

    2.  History is against this teaching.  There has never been sustained improvement.

    3.  Scripture is against this.

w    The theological view called "pre-millenialism" says Christ will return before the Millennium, to establish this age of peace.

ƒ      The time of the Millennium.  The Bible places the Millennium...

    4.  After the days of tribulation, Matthew 24:29-30.

    5.  After the return of Jesus Christ, Rev. 19:11-21.

    6.  After the end of the times of the Gentiles, Daniel 2:44.

    7.  After the binding of Satan, Rev. 20:1-3.

    8.  After the resurrection of those martyred during the days of tribulation, Rev. 20:4-5.

ƒ      The purpose of the Millennium.

w    Christ will reign personally with His saints, Rev. 20:4.

w    The Kingdom of God is currently in existence in it's spiritual, personal and invisible phase (John 3:3; Rom. 14:17; Col. 1:13).  In the Millennium the Kingdom of God will exist in it's physical, universal and visible phase (Matt. 25:34).

w    It will be an age of righteousness and peace, Isaiah 2:2-3.

So as we see the darkening shadows of coming judgment and hear rumblings of doom, hear the voice of the Saviour:

Let not your heart be troubled.  Ye believe in God, believe also in me. (John 14:1-3)