Millennium, Judgment, And The Eternal State

[WalterandDebbie]

Friday 10-25-24 6th. Day Of The Weekly Cycle, Tishri 21 5785 34th. Fall Day​

Studies in the Book of Revelation No. 7

By Harold S. Martin
A Bible Helps Booklet No. 201

Table of Contents [Show]​

Please read Revelation chapters 20-22.
The major portion of the Book of Revelation deals with future events. Chapters four and five tell the experiences of the saved, just after the Church is caught up into Heaven. Chapters six through sixteen tell of the terrible judgments which will fall upon the unsaved left here on the earth when Jesus comes. Chapters seventeen through nineteen tell about the Battle of Armageddon and the doom of the Antichrist as these judgments come to a close.
In Revelation 20 we come at last to that moment in history toward which everything in the Revelation has been pointing—the time when Satan will be completely conquered. In Revelation 20:1-3, Satan is bound and cast into the bottomless pit. And then at the close of the Millennium, he is let loose for a season and finally cast into the lake of fire, where he will be tormented forever and ever (Revelation 20:1-3, 7, 8a, 10).
We must keep in mind that the unseen world is just as real as the world that we can see, and that the same God who created angels, can design a method by which the angels can put the devil into a pit and lock him up and set a seal over his place of confinement. We don’t know how it is going to be done. We don’t understand why God created Satan in the first place, and when he sinned against heaven, we don’t understand why God did not obliterate him immediately. It is too deep for the human mind. But one thing sure—the devil is going to be eliminated from earth, just like this chapter says he will be.
And then after Satan is locked up and chained in the bottomless pit, the Revelator describes the millennial reign of Christ, the Great White Throne Judgment, and the eternal state.

1. The Millennial Reign of Christ​

Men throughout the years have dreamed of a golden age on earth. They have talked of the time when all men will live together as brothers and the earth will be filled with righteousness and peace. This dream is found in the literature of the ancient Egyptians, in the writings of the Medes and Persians, and in the writings of the Greeks and Romans. We hear much about it today. When Neil Armstrong first landed on the moon (in the summer of 1969), he left there a stainless steel plaque with these words: “We came here in peace for all mankind.” Science and education have long since promised to take us by the hand and lead us into the Golden Age. And yet (in every age) the rule of man has been characterized by greed and covetousness; by robbery, plunder, and rebellion; by confusion and poverty; by pestilence, disease, suffering, and sin.
Down through the years, men have tried to bring in the Golden Age (a period of lasting peace), and yet there have always been wars and rumors of wars. Jesus says they will continue until the end of the age. It is not that Jesus approves of wars. He simply predicted that human nature is so evil that men would fight wars in every generation. But at some future time this present evil world-system will pass away and Jesus himself will set up a kingdom of righteousness. Hatred and greed and injustice will be banished forever. Daniel the prophet said long ago (when he was describing some end-time kings that will arise): “And in the days of those kings, shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44).
Six times in Revelation 20 we are told that our Lord Jesus will reign on earth for “a thousand years.” Sometimes we call this thousand-year period “the Millennium.” The word “millennium” (not mentioned in the Bible) simply means a period of a thousand years. There are many things about the Golden Age that is going to come on the earth which we cannot understand, and there is no need that we try to comprehend every detail. But one thing sure—a Golden Age is coming. Many of the details are spelled out in such Old Testament passages as Isaiah 2 and Psalms 72 and Zechariah 14. For example, Jerusalem will be the capital of the millennial kingdom (Isaiah 2:3); wars will not exist and swords will be turned into plowshares (Isaiah 2:4); Christ will reign with absolute power over all the earth (Zechariah 14:9). The Kingdom Age will be a golden age. It will be a time of glory. Satan will be bound. Jesus will reign with an iron hand.
The Golden Age is going to be a time of glory for Jesus. He will not only be king over Israel, but over all the earth. At the birth of Jesus, the angel said to Mary: “And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:33). The millennial reign of Christ will eventually somehow merge into the eternal kingdom of God—and thus of His reign, there shall be no end.
The Golden Age is going to be a time of glory for the Church. When the Son of God rules here on earth, the saints are going to reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). The world today looks down on Christian people, but in that day we will share with Christ in ruling the world. See Luke 19:17.
The Golden Age is going to be a time of glory for Israel. The Jew will go back to Jerusalem, and rebuild his temple, and he will be safe from the outrages committed against him down through the centuries. Jeremiah tells how Jesus will be King over the earth, and he says, “In his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely” (Jeremiah 23:6; Jeremiah 33:16).
It is going to be a time of glory for the Gentile nations. Isaiah says, “And many people shall say, Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord . . . and he shall judge among the nations . . . and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2). See also Micah 4:1-2.
It is going to be a time of glory for the whole universe. The curse will at least partially be lifted and Isaiah says, “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid . . . and the lion shall eat straw like an ox” (Isaiah 11).
For many years God’s people have prayed, “Thy kingdom come; thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” In that great day when Jesus reigns on the earth—this prayer will be fully answered. His kingdom will come; His will shall be done in the earth. By eliminating the devil as a factor in world affairs, God will establish an era of peace (a golden age on the earth).
Some say, “But why the Millennium? What is the purpose of the Golden Age anyhow?” If earth’s history would end with the Battle of Armageddon and would be destroyed immediately afterward—up to the very end, there would be hatred and war and it would seem like Satan was the conqueror! But the fact is—Christ will be victorious, and He will demonstrate His victory for a thousand years!

​

Millennium, Judgment and the Eternal State​

biblehelpsinc.org
Love, Walter And Debbie

 

[The Official Spokesman]

A School of Sin: Rethinking the Purpose of Suffering in Christian Eschatology

Introduction

For centuries, Christians have pondered the meaning of suffering, the purpose of the Tribulation, and the significance of Judgment Day in God’s divine plan. A fresh theory has emerged, positing that human life serves as a “School of Sin,” where people learn firsthand the profound consequences of sin as a preparation for a spiritually enlightened eternity. This perspective challenges us to consider the Tribulation, typically seen as a period of ultimate misfortune, as an experience designed by God to be among His highest blessings.

The Immediate Judgment Day:
A Personal Apocalypse

In conversations about Judgment Day, it’s often assumed to be a distant event where all humanity faces divine judgment simultaneously. However, another interpretation suggests that from the moment of death, each soul experiences Judgment Day as an immediate and personal event. According to Christian doctrine, death places the soul into a state of “soul sleep,” an unconscious state with no sense of time. From this perspective, the deceased experiences no passage of time between their death and judgment, leading to the sensation of an instant transition from the end of life to standing before Christ. This view reframes the experience of Judgment Day as an individual encounter, imminent for each person, which offers a new urgency to the choices made in life.

The Role of the Tribulation:
Witnesses to the Depths of Sin

If each individual’s “Judgment Day” is immediate upon death, then what, we might ask, is the purpose of the Tribulation? Here arises an intriguing answer: the survivors of the Tribulation may serve a specific, divine purpose. Traditionally, those alive during the Tribulation are seen as unfortunate, living through a period marked by extreme suffering, upheaval, and challenges to faith. However, this theory suggests that those who experience the Tribulation do so not by accident or mere misfortune but because of a unique calling and purpose.

The concept of the Tribulation survivors being chosen as final witnesses of sin suggests that their endurance and resilience allow them to gain an advanced understanding of the true depth and destructive nature of sin. By enduring the darkest trials humanity will face, they are profoundly transformed and enlightened, gaining a level of spiritual maturity and insight that will be essential in the Millennial Reign to follow.

Life as a "School of Sin”

To fully grasp the meaning of life as a preparation for eternity, this theory presents human existence as a “School of Sin.” The notion is that humanity, endowed with free will, is uniquely placed in a world of sin and suffering as a means to fully understand its consequences. Life is thus a divine education: by experiencing the sorrow, loss, and pain caused by sin, humanity is enlightened, gaining an understanding that angels, who do not experience sin in this way, cannot achieve.

In this “school,” humans learn lessons in resilience, humility, and empathy, understanding the true nature of grace and redemption by experiencing the absence of them. As free beings, the choice to pursue God gains profound significance, for it comes after enduring the consequences of sin and consciously choosing salvation. In short, this earthly experience, though fraught with anguish, becomes a divine preparation—a necessary immersion in the consequences of sin, leading the soul toward enlightenment and readying it for its final destination.

The Final Role of Tribulation Survivors: Enlightened Custodians of the Millennial Reign

From this perspective, those who survive the Tribulation are not merely spared for practical purposes but are prepared to become guardians of the new world to follow. The extreme trials they face are not an end but a form of ultimate preparation, equipping them with insights others may not possess. Their experiences provide them with a refined spiritual maturity and a deep-seated understanding of sin’s effects that will allow them to lead humanity with compassion, wisdom, and an unbreakable resolve against sin.

This experience uniquely prepares them to repopulate the earth and guide humanity into the Millennial Reign, ensuring that this new era is founded upon an enlightened perspective born out of witnessing humanity’s darkest hour.

Conclusion

In this vision, the Tribulation becomes one of God’s highest blessings, not simply a time of suffering but a transformative experience designed for those who are chosen to lead humanity forward. Those who endure it are tasked with a sacred purpose: to become living testimonies of the consequences of sin and the power of faith, offering hope and guidance for a renewed world. They are not merely survivors but exemplars of resilience and faith, bearers of a profound spiritual enlightenment, uniquely prepared for the divine honor of stewarding the earth in God’s restored kingdom.

Through this lens, life’s trials and tribulations are reframed not as punishments but as the highest blessings—essential steps in a divine curriculum that prepares each soul for eternity. In this “School of Sin,” the trials of life serve to educate, refine, and ultimately transform, leading humanity toward a final purpose that, while hidden, is profoundly sacred.

Bible passages that refer to the idea of soul sleep.

Matthew 9:24
Mark 5:39
John 11:11-14
Acts 7:20
1 Corinthians 15:51, 52
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
2 Peter 3:4

Explanation of Soul Sleep

Soul Sleep - Apologetics

By Tal Davis “To be or not to be: That is the question.” William Shakespeare One … Soul Sleep Read More »

www.namb.net

%20as,of%20unconscious%20state%20of%20nonbeing.

 

[Hidden In Him]

A School of Sin: Rethinking the Purpose of Suffering in Christian Eschatology

Introduction

For centuries, Christians have pondered the meaning of suffering, the purpose of the Tribulation, and the significance of Judgment Day in God’s divine plan. A fresh theory has emerged, positing that human life serves as a “School of Sin,” where people learn firsthand the profound consequences of sin as a preparation for a spiritually enlightened eternity. This perspective challenges us to consider the Tribulation, typically seen as a period of ultimate misfortune, as an experience designed by God to be among His highest blessings.

The Immediate Judgment Day:
A Personal Apocalypse

In conversations about Judgment Day, it’s often assumed to be a distant event where all humanity faces divine judgment simultaneously. However, another interpretation suggests that from the moment of death, each soul experiences Judgment Day as an immediate and personal event. According to Christian doctrine, death places the soul into a state of “soul sleep,” an unconscious state with no sense of time. From this perspective, the deceased experiences no passage of time between their death and judgment, leading to the sensation of an instant transition from the end of life to standing before Christ. This view reframes the experience of Judgment Day as an individual encounter, imminent for each person, which offers a new urgency to the choices made in life.

The Role of the Tribulation:
Witnesses to the Depths of Sin

If each individual’s “Judgment Day” is immediate upon death, then what, we might ask, is the purpose of the Tribulation? Here arises an intriguing answer: the survivors of the Tribulation may serve a specific, divine purpose. Traditionally, those alive during the Tribulation are seen as unfortunate, living through a period marked by extreme suffering, upheaval, and challenges to faith. However, this theory suggests that those who experience the Tribulation do so not by accident or mere misfortune but because of a unique calling and purpose.

The concept of the Tribulation survivors being chosen as final witnesses of sin suggests that their endurance and resilience allow them to gain an advanced understanding of the true depth and destructive nature of sin. By enduring the darkest trials humanity will face, they are profoundly transformed and enlightened, gaining a level of spiritual maturity and insight that will be essential in the Millennial Reign to follow.

Life as a "School of Sin”

To fully grasp the meaning of life as a preparation for eternity, this theory presents human existence as a “School of Sin.” The notion is that humanity, endowed with free will, is uniquely placed in a world of sin and suffering as a means to fully understand its consequences. Life is thus a divine education: by experiencing the sorrow, loss, and pain caused by sin, humanity is enlightened, gaining an understanding that angels, who do not experience sin in this way, cannot achieve.

In this “school,” humans learn lessons in resilience, humility, and empathy, understanding the true nature of grace and redemption by experiencing the absence of them. As free beings, the choice to pursue God gains profound significance, for it comes after enduring the consequences of sin and consciously choosing salvation. In short, this earthly experience, though fraught with anguish, becomes a divine preparation—a necessary immersion in the consequences of sin, leading the soul toward enlightenment and readying it for its final destination.

The Final Role of Tribulation Survivors: Enlightened Custodians of the Millennial Reign

From this perspective, those who survive the Tribulation are not merely spared for practical purposes but are prepared to become guardians of the new world to follow. The extreme trials they face are not an end but a form of ultimate preparation, equipping them with insights others may not possess. Their experiences provide them with a refined spiritual maturity and a deep-seated understanding of sin’s effects that will allow them to lead humanity with compassion, wisdom, and an unbreakable resolve against sin.

This experience uniquely prepares them to repopulate the earth and guide humanity into the Millennial Reign, ensuring that this new era is founded upon an enlightened perspective born out of witnessing humanity’s darkest hour.

Conclusion

In this vision, the Tribulation becomes one of God’s highest blessings, not simply a time of suffering but a transformative experience designed for those who are chosen to lead humanity forward. Those who endure it are tasked with a sacred purpose: to become living testimonies of the consequences of sin and the power of faith, offering hope and guidance for a renewed world. They are not merely survivors but exemplars of resilience and faith, bearers of a profound spiritual enlightenment, uniquely prepared for the divine honor of stewarding the earth in God’s restored kingdom.

Through this lens, life’s trials and tribulations are reframed not as punishments but as the highest blessings—essential steps in a divine curriculum that prepares each soul for eternity. In this “School of Sin,” the trials of life serve to educate, refine, and ultimately transform, leading humanity toward a final purpose that, while hidden, is profoundly sacred.

Bible passages that refer to the idea of soul sleep.

Matthew 9:24
Mark 5:39
John 11:11-14
Acts 7:20
1 Corinthians 15:51, 52
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
2 Peter 3:4

Explanation of Soul Sleep

Soul Sleep - Apologetics

By Tal Davis “To be or not to be: That is the question.” William Shakespeare One … Soul Sleep Read More »

www.namb.net

%20as,of%20unconscious%20state%20of%20nonbeing.

Greetings, Official Spokesman. This is fairly good work. If I may ask, why did you not create your own thread for it, rather than post on top of Walter's thread?

Just curious, and welcome to CFN.
Hidden