The Age to Come or The Millennium
The millennium, or the thousand years, is the period in the future of this world’s history, when the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, shall take into His own hands the rule and government of the world. The thousand years are mentioned no less than six times in the first seven verses of the twentieth chapter of Revelation, and doubtless are to be taken in their literal import. The Scriptures teem with descriptions of the blessings and glory to be enjoyed by this now groaning creation in that glorious age, or world to come. Peter, in addressing the Jews in Acts 3:20-26, speaks of the sending of Jesus Christ, “whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. * * * Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.” The Lord referred to the same period, when He said to His twelve disciples, “That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt. 19:28).
The despised and rejected Jesus of Nazareth has been cast out and crucified here, but “God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess than Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11). All who bow receive the priceless gift — eternal life; are called to suffer with the rejected One now, and will appear and reign with Him by-and-by; those who refuse will surely come into judgment. But there is a moments coming when “every knee shall bow” ( Isa. 45:23), when “all kings shall fall down before Him; and all nations shall serve Him” (Psa. 72:11). “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one” (Zech. 14:9).
What joy for the heart of the Christian to know that the Blessed One in whom he has trusted, the One whom he has not seen, but yet loves (1 Peter 1:8) whose rights in this scene have been usurped by Satan, the prince of this world, will shortly have all things manifestly under His sway. Then “the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isa. 9:6-7).
(Continued and to be Continued).