EDITORIAL: The Church in the Millennium

From: Christian Treasury: Volume 6

• 5 min. read • grade level: 9

First of all, we want to thank each one who has contributed articles for use in this monthly periodical, and also for information that has been helpful. We appreciate the many who have sent these to us and we apologize that we cannot reply more personally to each one who has helped us.

“Heaven" is the primary subject this month, so we want the editorial to be of the same subject. Frequently we have written about the seven-year tribulation period that precedes the thousand-year kingdom and reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. Surely the nearest event is the coming of the Lord Jesus for His Church; then will be the tribulation period. The millennium will come next, and so let us think of that time and of how near it is.

For this we think it good to let you read a little from the pen of C. E. Lunden.

The Millennial Heaven

In the book of Revelation an angel calls John the apostle to see the bride, the Lamb's wife. He was shown the city, "the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." Rev. 21:10-17¹⁰And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ¹¹Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; ¹²And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: ¹³On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. ¹⁴And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. ¹⁶And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. ¹⁷And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. (Revelation 21:10‑17).

Think of a jasper stone, transparent, clear as crystal, radiating in various hues the light of the glories of the Lamb, the Redeemer. Just think, dear brethren, that the grace of God has put the Church in the position of making known the glories of God and the Lamb to the earth below (Eph. 3:21²¹Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21)). The bride will dwell in the Father's house in uncreated light, yet she is the city descending from heaven (above the earth) and will have the glory of God. She is not divine; she is the Church, the city, the holy Jerusalem, the heavenly center of government: She is the "mother of all living," as was the type "Eve", so named by Adam in faith (Gen. 3:20²⁰And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. (Genesis 3:20)).

All who have died in faith down through the ages until Pentecost, also the martyrs of Rev. 20:4⁴And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4), will dwell in the holy city. The babes who will have been raptured will be there with mature, heavenly bodies (Psa. 110:3³Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. (Psalm 110:3); 1 Cor. 15:51-54⁵¹Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑54); Matt. 18:11¹¹For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11)).

Of Abraham it is said, "He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Heb. 11:10¹⁰For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10)), and of other men of faith, children of Abraham, it is said, "They that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country." Heb. 11:14¹⁴For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. (Hebrews 11:14). "But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city." Heb. 11:16¹⁶But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16). These are the heirs of righteousness by faith, the generation of the children of faith from the Old Testament.

The full overflowing of blessing to the earth from this glorious millennial heaven is symbolized by the pure river of the water of life (Rev. 22:1¹And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Revelation 22:1)), clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb—a fixed channel of blessing, through Christ and the Church (Eph. 3:21²¹Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21); Mic. 5:7⁷And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. (Micah 5:7); Hos. 2:21-23²¹And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; ²²And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. ²³And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. (Hosea 2:21‑23)).

The tree of life is Christ in the midst of the plaza and of the river. The heavenly saints, in communion with Him, will enjoy the continuous fruits, food for the heavenly ones, and the leaves are for the healing of the Gentiles on earth (Rev. 22:2²In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2)). How much needs to be healed in the earth in the hearts of His people. The result will be a millennial paradise, a permanent healing from heaven.

We "shall see His face" suggests personal, intimate communion; it is the "white stone" of Rev. 2:17¹⁷He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17). We shall carry our Redeemer's name on our foreheads (Rev. 22:4⁴And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. (Revelation 22:4)). There will be no night in heaven, no artificial or created light (Rev. 22:5⁵And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)).

The glory of the Gentiles shall be brought to the holy city which will reign over the earth (Rev. 21:24²⁴And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. (Revelation 21:24)). Only those whose names will be found written in the Lamb's book of life will dwell within the holy city, the new Jerusalem: "The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." Rev. 21:22²²And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (Revelation 21:22).

After the rapture of the saints to heaven, the kingdom of heaven, in heaven, will be spoken of as the kingdom of the Father (Matt. 13:43⁴³Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:43)). Such will be its character and place for the duration of the heavenly millennium.

“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." Rom. 8:19¹⁹For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19). The sons of God are the Church (Heb. 12:23²³To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23)).

The manifestation is the Church coming visibly to reign with Christ over the earth.

The kingdom on earth in which Christ reigns will be known then as the kingdom of the Son of man. It will continue for 1000 years, when "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Isa. 11:9⁹They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:9). The gospel of the kingdom will be preached for this period until all men have heard it individually (Isa. 66:19¹⁹And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. (Isaiah 66:19)).

“That in the dispensation of the fullness of times [the end of the millennium] He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him." Eph. 1:10¹⁰That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10). This will include all believers and elect angels everywhere. All wicked men and angels will be judged at the great white throne and will be cast into the lake of fire. Then will begin the eternal state with God all in all (1 Cor. 15:24,28²⁴Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:24)
²⁸And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:28)), and will result in a new universe.

C. Buchanan

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