Q and A: What happens after the Millennium?
righteousness, trusting that God will provide for their needs. The Chris- tian’s highest priority is allegiance to God’s government rather than confi - dence in human solutions. Every oth- er allegiance is secondary. What is the Christian’s mission today? Jesus commissioned His follow- ers to preach the same message He preached. Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:6-8. Comment: Before the end of this age, Jesus said that the gospel of the Kingdom would be preached throughout the world as a witness to all nations. After His resurrection, He commissioned His disciples to make disciples of all nations, teaching them everything He had commanded. The Church’s mission is not to reform this world’s governments but to proclaim the coming Kingdom of God and pre- pare people for Christ’s return. Rath- er than placing confidence in tem - porary human solutions, Christians proclaim the only lasting solution— the return of Jesus Christ to establish God’s government over all nations. Human governments rise and fall, but God’s government will never fail. Jesus Christ did not come merely to improve this world’s systems—He came to announce and prepare for the establishment of God’s perfect King- dom. A Christian’s highest allegiance belongs to that coming government. Until Christ returns, His people are called to live as faithful ambassadors of His Kingdom, seeking first God’s righteousness while proclaiming the good news of the wonderful world tomorrow.
T he events to happen after the thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth are described in Revelation 20:5 through to the end of the book of Revelation. Revelation 20:5 shows that the second resurrection will oc- cur after the millennium: “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished…” These are not the dead in Christ but simply the dead – those who have not yet had their opportunity for salva- tion. This will be a resurrection to mortal life (Ezekiel 37:1-14). During the millennium Satan will be restrained and prevented from de- ceiving the nations (Revelation 20:1- 3). After the thousand years are over Satan will be loosed out of his pris- on (Revelation 20:7-9) and go out to deceive the humans who are not yet born into God’s Kingdom. Satan and the demons will then be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). In the lake of fire, they will be powerless to deceive their rest of the dead who will then be resurrected to physical life in the second resur- rection (Ezekiel 37:1-14). We read about the second resurrection, also called the Great White Throne Judg- ment period, in Revelation 20:11-12. This will be a resurrection to mortal life and will include all those who died in ignorance in past ages. After God’s plan of salvation is com- plete the earth will be cleansed with fire (II Peter 3:10-12). The lake of fire will destroy everything that is physical and will burn itself out after
consuming everything combustible on the entire surface of the earth. Following this “Gehenna fire,” God will create a new heaven and a new earth. In Revelation 21:1-3 it states: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tab - ernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God” . At that time the earth will become the headquarters of the universe for God’s Kingdom (Revelation 21, 22). Hebrews 2:6-8 states that God will ultimately put all things (the entire universe) under the control of Him- self and those who will be born into His Family and given immortality (I Corinthians 15:50-54). Whatev- er our glorious future will be, it will be astonishing beyond imagination (Romans 8:18; II Corinthians 4:17). Those in God’s Kingdom will inhabit eternity. In Isaiah 9:7 it states: “Of the increase of His govern - ment and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time for - ward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
■
■
19
A Good Report, Vol. 2 No. 3
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker