We are continuing our meditation from yesterday on the thousand-year reign of Christ. Let me clarify the difference between heaven and the Millennium. The Millennium is when we experience God's kingdom on Earth, but there is more to come! At the end of the Millennium, the New Jerusalem will arrive, and there will be no more death:
1Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first Earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4).
Scripture portrays redemption as its overarching theme. When Jesus died for our sins, He did not merely eliminate the penalty; He paid it in full. With Divine justice fulfilled, God has every right to restore creation to its intended purpose and glory. When Christ returns to reign, He will establish order, and we will witness the complete deliverance of the Earth. The Earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord (Habakkuk 2:14).
Many nations will come to Jerusalem, the capital city of Earth, to seek the Lord and worship Him. No longer will there be different religions. All humanity will finally realize that religion was one of Satan's strategies to divide and conquer. Everyone will understand that there is only one God, and His knowledge will be universal. The city of Jerusalem itself will be transformed, for the Lord Himself will be there:
2In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore (Isaiah 2:2-4).
Imagine living on Earth with the Lord Jesus Christ on His throne in Jerusalem. There will be no need for tanks, guns, or weapons of war; it will be a time of great economic prosperity because mankind will no longer train for war (Isaiah 2:4). Christ Jesus will establish His government on Earth. Every nation will coexist peacefully, with King Jesus sitting on His throne. Those who rule over countries, territories, states, cities, and towns will be counted worthy because of their faithfulness in resisting evil and caring for people.
King Jesus will guide us in His ways and resolve disputes between nations. The Scriptures tell us that the New Jerusalem does not descend to Earth from above until the thousand years are completed (Revelation 21:1-2). Until then, the throne of King Jesus is in Jerusalem, where many will come to praise and worship the Lord (Isaiah 2:2-3). The prophet Isaiah states, “Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar” (Isaiah 33:17). As remarkable as that is, our passage above indicates that He will wipe away every tear from the eyes of all who are hurting. Can you imagine sitting at the feet of Jesus as He teaches us? “He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths” (Isaiah 2:3). Heaven on Earth at last! The Lord will fulfill the prayer He gave us, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Keith Thomas
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Taken from the series Insights into Eternity. Click on study five or this link: The Millennium.
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