God’s Plan of Salvation - Part VII
The Millennium
We have gone through God’s timeline of events - Adam/Eve, the fall of mankind, Noah and the flood, and the history of Israel and her prophets. The central theme of God’s Plan of Salvation for all mankind through the person of Jesus Christ is the cross, His life, His death and His resurrection.
Before His death, Jesus promised that He and the Father would send “another Helper” (See John 14:16). The work of this helper, the Holy Spirit, arrived on the scene for the church age to help believers carry on the teaching that He (Jesus) began. We currently are living in the church age., making the next event on God’s timeline to be the Rapture. No prophetic events need to happen for the rapture to occur, it can happen at any time - in the twinkling of an eye.
The rapture is when believers, both living and dead, will be caught up in the air to meet Jesus in the clouds (See I Thessalonians 4:13-17); from there, onward and upward, to heaven where we participate in the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Believers will remain in heaven for the next 7-years during the Tribulation period on earth; believers will not participate in the Tribulation - they will return with Christ at His Second Coming. The Second Coming of Christ marks the beginning of a thousand-year reign that is known as the Millennium.
The tribulation, filled with chaos, immorality, and despair will be over. The battle is won. Christ comes, with His bride, all believers, and defeats the armies of the world that have formed against Him at the Battle at Armageddon. Revelation 19:15 says from His mouth comes a sharp sword and the beast was seized. Jesus will now reign as King of Kings on earth and Satan will be bound in hell (See Revelation 20:2) for a thousand years.
The reign of Jesus will be a marked contrast to today’s world. There will finally be true peace on earth. Isaiah 2:4says Jesus will judge between the nations and will render decision for many peoples. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, never again will they learn war. It will be a perfect time. There will be peace in the animal kingdom - the lion will lay with the lamb. Isaiah 65:25 wrote the wolf, and the lamb will graze together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. They shall do no evil or harm. During the Millennium there will be peace among mankind - all hostilities that have been a part of our world will be gone.
We are now at the end of God’s timeline. Revelation 20 says when the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the world. God allows Satan one last stand and then he is thrown into the Lake of Fire where he will be tormented day and night forever, for all eternity (See Revelations 20:9-10).
With Satan finished, the Great White Throne judgment will take place. This is a judgment for all non-believers who are judged for their works and their sins. Without having accepted Jesus and His blood, as payment for their sins, they are all condemed to hell and thrown into the Lake of Fire.
With Satan and all unrighteousness gone forever, God begins with a completely new heaven and new earth. Revelation 21:1 says, “and I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”
Revelation 21:4 tells us the God will wipe away every tear, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, or crying. There shall br no more pain, for the former thing have all passed away.
God’s has completely restored His creation to its origional sinless state. God will once again enjoy fellowship living among His people. Revelation 21:3 says, “Behold the tabernacle of God is among them and they shall be His people and God Himself shall be among them.
Then Time Will Be No More
