Millennium_Its

The Millennium

The People During the Reign of Christ

Dr. John Hoole – October 6, 2013

With regard to the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, we have looked at events between Christ’s 2nd Coming and His Reign. We have also investigated who the Bible says will reign with Him.

There has been a hope that has been burning in men’s hearts for centuries, the dream that there would come a day, somehow, a golden age upon the earth, a time when peace would spread throughout the whole world, a utopia, where men and women would live in unbroken peace and abounding prosperity

We will look at millennial conditions and its people in detail later. Before we go there, have you ever wondered about the coming “1,000 years.”

• Have you ever wondered what you are going to look like?

• Who all will be here during the Millennium?

• Will we see the past saints?

• What will be our relationship to millions of non-glorified people still alive after Armageddon?

• Will there be births and deaths during the 1,000 years?

• Will all the glorified saints be the same age?

• Will we just rest and play our harps?

• Will we ever visit other planets?

• What will our day-to-day life be like?

• Will there be a longer lifespan for mortals living during the millennium?

• Why will it last only 1,000 years?

• Since there are both glorified saints and ordinary humans alive during this period, what will worship of God be like?

As I mentioned in past lessons, the Millennial Kingdom will not be Heaven yet. It will be a “Theocracy,” which means “governed by God.” Jesus Christ will be recognized as the supreme civil ruler and His laws will be taken as the laws of the world. His government will be one of perfection and His rule will be so absolute and authoritative that it is likened to an “iron rule.” That characteristic of His rule is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments.

Let me ask you a question to introduce the first thing I want to discuss.

WHEN CHRIST SETS UP HIS KINGDOM, WHAT WILL HE DO ABOUT THE LANGUAGE BARRIER THAT EXISTS TODAY?

According to Wycliffe; there are 6877 known languages in the world today. Web site, www.ethnologue.com says there are 7,105. In some ways it is difficult to assess because there are both languages and dialects. It is possible to have several dialects within the same language.

Speech is a means of communication. It can be expressed by the spoken word, the written word, or by signs. Without these methods of expression, understanding what others are trying to communicate would be severely handicapped. The history of language used in the Bible is worthy of consideration. After all, these many languages had their origin in an event some 4,200 years ago, and is recorded in the Bible in Genesis, chapter 11.

Unlike the rest of mankind, Adam and Eve were never children and never attended a school. They appeared on the scene as young adults, and apparently never studied the grammar of any language. And yet, Adam was able to supply names for every animal.

Genesis 2:19 NIV

19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to Adam to see what he would name them; and whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.

Except for a few species that have resulted in cross-breading, Adam named every animal on the earth. It would be interesting to know what language he used.

We also know that Adam and Eve had fellowship and conversations with God. God also gave them a commandment about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, located in the midst of the Garden of Eden. What language was used in their communications.

Was the language identical with that spoken by Jehovah when He said, “Let there be light”? Was it the same language as was used between the members of the Godhead before time began? When 1 Corinthians 15 says, “though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,” just what language do angels speak? When the Church is raptured, will we all speak one language, allowing everyone there the ability to speak to and understand those who they could not have on earth? When God spoke the Ten Commandments, in Exodus 20, from Mt. Sinai, was God speaking in the Hebrew language?

While we may not know the answers to these question, we are given some biblical information about languages in man’s early history.

Genesis 11:1 NIV

1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

AT WHAT TIME IN MAN’S HISTORY IS THIS VERSE REFERRING?

Genesis 11 is after the flood, and reflects the well-known story of the Tower of Babel. Let me show you a genealogy chart from Adam to Noah (10 generations). If you accept the genealogies and ages given in the Bible, it was 1,656 years between the creation of Adam and the Flood. The chart also shows that the 1st and 9th generations overlapped by 56 years. Noah had three son – Ham, Shem and Japheth. Ham had a son named Cush, who had a son named Nimrod. That makes Nimrod the great-grandson of Noah. By the time of Nimrod, cities were being built, and Nimrod was the founder of the city of Babel.

I have gone through all this genealogy to show that during approximately the first 1,800 years of mankind’s history there was only one language in the world.

Genesis 11 describes how Jehovah thwarted the schemes of the people by confounding their languages. The people were unable to understand each other’s speech. This cause men and women to scatter in all directions. But as they scattered, they gathered with people speaking the same language.

I have a couple of rhetorical questions. Among all the languages created by God at that time, was the one language that was common for the first 1,800 years still in use? If so, did that language become the official language of the Hebrew nation?

The second rhetorical question is: In Genesis 11, at Babel, when God confused the languages, how many languages did He create?

In the field of Philology – the study of languages those who used to scoff at what they called the myth of Babel now are discovering that there probably was one language that is the root of all current languages.

Language studies have led many scholars to the conclusion that the varied human tongues ultimately can be traced to a common source. Max F. Muller (1823-1900) was one of the world’s foremost comparative philologists, i.e., one who studies ancient languages and observes their similarities and differences.

He taught at Oxford University. In his book, Science of Language, the professor wrote:

“We have examined all possible forms which language can assume, and we now ask, can we reconcile [with the facts] the admission of one common origin of human speech? I answer decidedly, Yes” (quoted by Free, 1950, pp. 46-47). Whatever the language was, it was spoken by Noah and his family.

As to whether that original language was what we now call Hebrew, we cannot know for sure. This entire subject is filled with some speculation, and it would be unwise to become dogmatic about thing of which God has not spoken. But I do wish I could speak to the apostle Paul right now, and ask him: “When you were caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable word, what language were they spoken in?”

Now, back to our original question. “How will Jesus take care of the language barrier?” I believe we find the answer in the book of Zephaniah.

Zephaniah 3:9 (NKJV)

9 For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one accord.

How the Living Bible renders that verse may be of interest to you.

Zephaniah 3:9 TLB

9 At that time I will change the speech of the people to pure Hebrew so that all can worship the Lord together.

I believe that may be a bit presumptuous.

Two Groups of People on Earth

Now let’s turn our attention to the people who are going to be on earth during the millennium. There are going to be two groups of people here at that time. I am not speaking of Jews and Gentiles. Neither am I talking about believers and unbelievers.

WHAT ARE THE TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE?

1. Glorified Saints

2. Natural humans.

Let’s first discuss the glorified saints.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE GLORIFIED SAINTS.

Glorified saints are those who had already been resurrected from the dead. When they were resurrected, they were given glorified bodies like the body which Christ had after his resurrection.

From the moment man is born, he has to wage a running fight with sickness and death. But that will all change for us at the Rapture, which includes the resurrection of believers who have died.

Philippians 3:21 (NIV) speaks of Christ,…..

21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Isaiah 35:5-6 (NIV) also speak about the changes made in the bodies of resurrected saints.

5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy

According to 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, our bodies will have been changed incorruptible at the moment we have been caught up to meet Jesus in the air. At that moment we will become what God originally intended us to be.

It is this group of people – glorified saints – who will reign with Christ. Under the direction of their Savior, these transformed believers, with glorified bodies, will provide the leadership necessary to create a just society for mankind.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE THE NATURAL PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE?

These are those still in their natural bodies, who have survived the Tribulation without dying. They have also survived the judgment of the nations.

These mortals are composed of both Jews and Gentiles who will occupy themselves with normal human activities, not much unlike how we live today. But there certainly will be some great pluses.

Isaiah 65:21-23 NKJV

21     They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

22     They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

23     They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, And their offspring with them.

According to this passage, the mortals will basically live normal human lives at this time. They will plant crops, build houses, hold down jobs, have weddings, bear children. They will probably drive cars to work, take airplane trips, continue their education, etc..

The non-glorified citizens of the millennial age won’t be either a physical or mental match for the saints. But those “ordinary” millennium mortals will still experience great bonuses from the new era.

There are at least three pluses for the non-glorified people living during the millennium.

1. Jesus will be present on earth.

2. Satan and his demons will be totally out of business.

3. No wicked people will be allowed to corrupt society.

Living conditions for Mortals

1. It will be a time of peace and prosperity, Isa. 11:6-10; Isa. 32:17-18; Isa. 65:24-25; Hosea 2:18; Amos 9:13; Joel 2:24-27; Isa. 35:1-2 & Isa. 65:21-23.

2. The curse that was placed on nature when Adam and Eve sinned will be removed, Isa. 55:13; Isa. 35:6-7 & Isa. 11: 6-9.

3. The Millennial Kingdom will also be a time of health and long life, Isa. 30:26; Isa. 35:5-6; Isa. 65:20 & Isa. 29:18.

4. The entire world will worship the One True God, Zech. 14:16-21; Isa. 66:23; Isa. 2:2-3; Isa. 12:2-6 & Habakkuk 2:14.

5. Government- governed by God, Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5-6; Jer. 3:17; Isa. 2:4; Isa. 11:1-5; Isa. 24:23; Micah 4:1-3.

Try to think of the many bonuses in life that the mortals will live with during the Millennium, and try to imagine the effect on our lives if we had those bonuses today. Look at them with regard to our net income which for each of us is a very important issue for us today. What would your net income look like today, Without taxes for….

• The cost of all governments – all governments will be provided by Christ.

• No military – swords become plowshares, spears become pruning hooks (Isa. 2:4)

• Unemployment

• Social Security – people will live very long and productive lives.

• Pollution control

• Minimal Police & Fire

….Without expenses for….

• Doctor / Medical bills – little to no sickness or illnesses

• Prescriptions

• Insurance – both life insurance and health insurance

• Security systems on businesses and homes – no shoplifting or theft

• Legal – attorneys, courts

• Retirement

Additionally, the costs may be much less for:

• Day care

• Transportation

• Food – farmers will be more productive and won’t have to plan for years of droubt.

• Education

• Jails and prisons.

Interaction between the mortals and the immortals

WHAT WILL BE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GLORIFIED SAINTS AND THE MORTALS?

The most noteworthy relationship between the glorified saints and the mortals is the fact that glorified saints will have been given positions of rulership. Christ will have delegated his authority to all glorified saints, and mortal men, women and children will be their subjects.

WILL THE FACT THAT WE WILL BE IMMORTAL INTERFERE WITH OUR HAVING A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MORTALS?

I don’t think the fact that we will have glorified bodies will adversely affect our relatitionship with the mortals. All we have to do is look at the post-resurrection ministry of Jesus. He had a body like we will have during the millennium.

Though He posed some unusual situations, such as when He entered a room without opening the door, and appearing and disappearing at will, none of these actually posed any complications.

Christ was able to communicate with his still mortal disciples, and they were able to respond to him. They ate meals together. They were able to see Him and feel his body. His presence in their midst was just as real in His resurrected body, as it was prior to His death and resurrection. So, there should be no problem for glorified saints to communicate and interact with those who are still mortals.

At the beginning of the Millennium, the population of the natural believers that survive the Tribulation will probably be much less than the population of the glorified saints. The glorified saints will include the saved of all ages, from the beginning of the human race through the Tribulation.

But by the end of the Millennium, the mortals will surely outnumber the glorified saints. The number of glorified saints will not change.

But the natural people will have children. Unlike past generations where the older people die off, Much fewer people will die during the 1,000 years. In fact, it is quite possible most people will live through the entire 1,000-year period. Sicknesses will be rare, if at all.

So, with the birth rate high and the dath rate low, the Bible says their number will increase greatly.

Revelation 20:8 tells us…….

…..”the number of them will be like the sands of the sea.”

Zechariah 8:5 (NIV) adds:

5 The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there."