The Coming Kingdom
Bob Yandian
The Second Coming
Revelation 20
vs. 1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
vs. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
vs. 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
The thousand-year reign of the Lord Jesus Christ is often referred to as the Millennium, even though the word “millennium” is not found in the Bible. But the Bible is very clear about the fact that at the Second Coming, Jesus will begin to rule and reign on the earth for a thousand years.
Since the days of Paul, who first began to write about it, the Church has been waiting for the Rapture. However, most scripture is pointing to the Second Advent of the Lord. Even the rapture of the Church is the fulfillment of prophecy indicating the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Throughout the Old Testament, references are made to the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus also referred to that day. Matthew 24 and 25 speak extensively about this time. Jesus explained that darkness will cover the face of the earth, the angels will gather His elect from the four corners of the earth, and that He will return as lightning from the east to the west before He begins His thousand year reign.
What God Promises Will Come to Pass
The closing chapters of Revelation describe the events of the Second Coming. It is yet to come, but it is an established fact that Jesus will return to rule and reign in the earth for a thousand years. If God promises His Son will return for a thousand year reign, it will come to pass. We may grow tired of waiting for it to happen, and it may not come to pass in our lifetime, but God always keeps His Word! God is not like man who can change his mind on a whim. When God makes a decree, it will come to pass.
Removed During the Millennium
Satan Removed
During the thousand years of the Millennium, Satan will be cast into the bottomless pit. Revelation 12 calls Satan the one “which deceives the whole world.” He has been deceiving the nations since the time of Adam and Eve. Satan’s main weapon is deception. He tries to distort reality. He may use the New Age movement, religion, or the world’s system, but whatever avenue he uses is intended to turn people away from God and toward himself. But during the Millennium, Satan will be completely removed from the earth.
Demons and Unbelievers Removed
When Satan is removed from the earth, not only will demons be removed, but all unbelievers will also be removed. From the end of Matthew 24 and throughout Matthew 25, we are told that “goats,” foolish virgins, and unwise stewards, each a type of the unbeliever, will all be removed from the earth. Only believers will remain on the earth.
The Curse Removed
Finally, the curse that has been in the earth from the time of Adam will be removed. When we are born again, the curse of the law, the old man, and eternal death are removed. But the curse that is in the earth affecting nature around us will remain until Jesus returns to establish His kingdom.
Universal Prosperity
Joel 2
vs. 23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you – The former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
vs. 24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.
These verses are speaking of the beginning of the Millennium. “Floors” is a reference to the earth. John the Baptist used the same reference when he said Jesus would come back to thoroughly purge His floor. Today Satan and his kingdom dominate that “floor”, but one day very soon, the Lord will return and sweep the floor clean and it will then be covered with wheat and vats of oil and wine; in other words, prosperity.
During the Millennium, there will be tremendous prosperity.
vs. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you (a reference to the invasion at Armageddon).
vs. 26 And you shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed (disappointed).
vs. 27 And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed (disappointed).
Throughout the years, Israel has been taken into captivity, abused, and misused by nations. After the Church is removed from the earth during the time of the Tribulation, Israel will be hated by all nations but the day is coming when the Lord will vindicate them as a nation.
An Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
vs. 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
vs. 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
Joel is speaking in these verses, of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the millennial reign of Jesus. This will be a time of maximum spirituality—a worldwide outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We may enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit today, but it is nothing compared to what it will be like during the Millennium!
No longer will there be outpourings at this church or that church…it will be worldwide! The Day of Pentecost was just the beginning of the outpouring; it was not the fulfilling of it. Pentecost was the early rains, just a drizzle compared to the outpouring during the Millennial reign.
One day soon, the whole earth will be filled with believers only, God’s Spirit will be poured put upon the entire earth, and Joel’s prophecy will finally be completely fulfilled.
Four Unconditional Covenants Will Come to Pass
Daniel 9
vs. 24 Seventy weeks (490 years) are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression (to remove the curse from the earth), and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy (literally, “to anoint the Holy of Holies”).
The “Holy of Holies” refers to the time when Jesus will take His rightful place on the throne. Before that time, Antichrist will occupy the throne. He will be removed and the Lord Jesus Christ will occupy the throne forever.
1. Abrahamic Covenant
The Abrahamic covenant was given in Genesis chapters 12, 13, 15, 17, and 22. The Abrahamic covenant was the first mention that Israel will one day possess the land prophesied of to Abraham. Those who possess the land will not be unregenerate Israel; it will be believing Israel—those who accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah. When the Bible says all Israel will be saved, some people think that means every Jew will be saved. But that is not true. Both Jews and Gentiles will be in hell. All believing Jews will be spared, taken into the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, and given unconditional covenants that were first promised to Abraham.
2. Palestinian Covenant
The Palestinian covenant is found in Deuteronomy 30, verses one through eight. Abraham is given the guarantee that they will possess all of the land promised by God.
3. Davidic Covenant
Two promises were made to Israel in the Davidic covenant. The first promise was that they would have a permanent kingdom and the second that they would have a permanent king to rule that kingdom. It was prophesied that the king would come from the loins of David and that King is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Davidic covenant is found in 1 Samuel 7, verses twelve through sixteen.
4. New Covenant
Finally, Jeremiah 31, verses 31-34 proclaims that Israel will one day have a conversion experience. It is promised that they will be given a brand new heart. God said, “I will take out your stony heart and place within you a fleshly heart.”
The prophecies in each of these four covenants will come to pass for Israel.
Each of these covenants will be fulfilled. Although the Jews will inherit the land promised to them, the entire world will share in the spiritual blessings given to Israel. Jesus Christ will rule and reign from Jerusalem, but the blessings promised Israel will affect the entire earth. There will be great prosperity throughout the earth in that day. Until that time, the Church Age will be a foretaste of what is to come.
Perfect Conditions in the Earth
Universal Peace
Universal peace will not be the result of peace marches, peace rallies, peace signs, or even the United Nations! There will never be world peace until Jesus Christ returns for His millennial reign. On that day, our swords will be beat into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks (Isaiah 2:4). Hosea 2:1, Psalm 46:9-10, Micah 4:3 all tell us the same thing Isaiah 2:4 tells us.
Universal Prosperity
No longer will there only be certain segments of society walking in prosperity. Every nation on the face of the earth will be abundantly wealthy. During the Millennium, there will be no curse against prospering in business.
Psalm 72
vs. 7 In His days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.
vs. 16 There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, on the top of the mountains; its fruit shall wave like Lebanon; and those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
Joel 2
vs. 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
Universal Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ
Isaiah 11
vs. 9 …for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
3 John
vs. 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
Proverbs tells us that in the right hand of wisdom is length of days and in her left hand are riches and honor. All of these blessings are a result of the knowledge of the Word of God in our lives. During the Millennium, there will no longer be just certain groups of people who have a knowledge of the Lord, the entire earth will be covered with the knowledge of Him.
Perfect Government
Isaiah 9
vs. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
vs. 7 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.
His government shall literally cover the entire earth. Isaiah 11:1-2 makes reference to this as well. Zechariah 14:9 says, “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth…”
Perfect Environment in Nature
During the Millennium, we will have a perfect environment in the earth. Although we need to be good stewards of the earth, we do not need to fear the destruction of the earth because, at the end of the Tribulation, Jesus will rule and reign on this earth for another thousand years. Man will not destroy earth. Revelation 21 says heaven and earth as we know them today will pass away and be replaced with a new heaven and earth. Until that time, this earth will survive.
Romans 8
vs. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
The Greek actually says, “For the eager anticipation of all creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.” The manifestation will occur when we return with Jesus at the Second Advent. This verse is not a reference to the Rapture because even though we will receive a resurrection body at that time, we will not be manifested to the whole earth. All of creation is waiting for the Second Coming.
vs. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
vs. 21 Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
vs. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
vs. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves grown within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
The Church is waiting for the Rapture but the earth is waiting for the Second Advent, seven years later. In the same way our physical bodies, which contain a curse, will be changed to resurrection bodies at the Rapture, so the curse will be removed from the earth for the thousand years of the Millennium. All of creation is eagerly waiting for this time.
Numerous scriptures indicate there is a day coming when nature will be released for its bondage of corruption and the curse that was placed on it at the time Adam fell into sin.
1 Chronicles 16
vs. 31 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.
vs. 32 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.
vs. 33 Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth.
Psalm 96
vs. 12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.
Psalm 98
vs. 4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
Isaiah 55
vs. 12 For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you.
The trees and the seas will clap their hands and the mountains and rocks will rejoice on the day Jesus Christ returns to be King over all the earth.
The Church has the great hope of the Rapture. The whole earth has the great hope of the Second Advent and millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Perfect Environment for Mankind
Isaiah 65
vs. 20 No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; for the child shall die one hundred years old, but the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.
This verse does not mean a child will physically die at 100 years old; it means they will leave childhood and enter adulthood at this age. Much like the time before the flood, people will live very long lives to ages of 900 or 1,000 years because the curse will have been removed from the earth.
The Five “P’s” of the Millennium
There are five points that can describe the course of the millennium throughout the Word of God.
1. Prophesied in the Old Testament.
2. Proclaimed in the Gospels.
3. Postponed in the epistles.
4. Plagiarized in the Tribulation.
5. Presented at the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Feasts and Sacrifices
Imagine a thousand years of perfect environment and all the nations of the earth worshiping God. Zechariah tells us that during the Millennium, the entire earth will celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles every year. This was the last of the feasts that Israel practiced. The Feast of Tabernacles speaks of the eternal reign of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fact that He will tabernacle with his people forever. No longer will Jesus be with us only spiritually, in our hearts; He will be with us physically and all the nations will worship Him. The sacrifices during the Millennium will be to remind us of the cross and all that was accomplished through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus
Unbelievers and the Millennium
Revelation 20
vs. 7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison
vs. 8 And will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
vs. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came from God out of heaven and devoured them.
vs. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.
vs. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and he heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
There are people today who believe that if there was a perfect environment in the earth, no man, woman, or child would choose to be evil or make wrong choices. This thinking is absolutely wrong. At the end of the millennium, there will be unbelievers on the earth. Once a year, every person will pilgrim to Jerusalem to see Jesus, sitting on the throne. We will see Him physically sitting on the throne with His resurrected body. Not only will there be supernatural saints with their resurrected bodies during the Millennium, there will also be physical saints who were either born again or physically born during the Millennium. We will see both Old and New Testament saints walking the earth in their resurrected bodies.
In addition to all of this, those spared during the Tribulation will have longevity and prosperity restored to them. The knowledge of the Lord will be given to them and for a thousand years, children will be born into the earth. What is sad is that even with all that they will be blessed with during the Millennium, there will be those who reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
At the end of the Millennium, so many unbelievers will be in the earth, verse 8 says they will be “as the sand of the sea.” At the end of the Millennium, Satan will have one last chance to gather all of he followers together.
The Devil Will Never Change
Even after Satan has been in the bottomless pit for a thousand years, he will not change. When he is released for a short time at the end of the thousand years, he will gather all of the unbelievers and attack Jerusalem one last time. But God will cause fire to come down from heaven and Satan and all of his followers will be removed to the lake of fire forever.
Even after Jesus has ruled and reigned for a thousand years and man has lived under the most perfect conditions throughout the Millennium, some will still reject Jesus and rebel against Him. This will prove that a perfect environment is not the answer to man’s problem; regeneration is the answer. Once God has wiped out the rebellion, we will enter into eternity.
A New Heaven and Earth
The Lord will finally destroy the heavens and the earth, as we know them today. He will recreate the earth and the atmosphere surrounding it. We will have a new heaven and a new earth and enter into the eternity of eternities!
