FROM PANDEMONIUM TO THE MILLENNIUM |
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In our studies of Revelation, as we moved into chapter six, we saw pandemonium breaking out on the earth. In chapters 6-19 we saw a seven year period of time, known as the Tribulation Period, in which unprecedented things happen on the earth.
There is the rise of the antichrist and the false prophet and a world blindly accepting their claims and following their diabolical plans. During this period of time a society exists throughout the world that is characterized by godliness, lawlessness and spiritual hardness. The very earth itself is shaken with one devastating blow after another as earthquakes, famines and other devastating events. The blood of many a saint stains the ground as war is declared on God, Christ, and all that is holy.
The word pandemonium was coined by John Milton in Paradise Lost. Pandemonium was the name he gave to the capital of hell. During the Tribulation Period, the earth is a place of pandemonium, marked by hellish activity and accomplishments, a place filled with tumult and unprecedented disturbances.
However, as we shall now see, pandemonium will be replaced with a millennium. The word “millennium” comes from the Latin word meaning “one thousand years.” In Revelation 20 you find reference to “one thousand years” in verses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. This one thousand years introduces a complete reversal of things as they existed throughout the tribulation. Actually, it will introduce a period of time that is a complete reversal of all history.
Back in 1923, H.G. Well’s wrote a science fiction novel entitled Men Like Gods. In the book he describes a utopia on earth. He paints a picture of an alternate world that is a land of men and women who are bright and happy, healthy and long-lived. Their appearance is likened explicitly to Greek deities. The population is collapsed to only two hundred million people in the whole Utopian world, although allowed to increase again. There is plenty of open space. Families are amorphous and shifting. The ecology is as rigidly controlled as the humanity. Vast numbers of species of bugs and birds have been wiped out deliberately — a true silent spring. Cows are not afraid of a leopard, and the leopard merely curious about the English men and women who drive into Utopia.
The dictionary defines the word “utopia” as a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions. Men have often dreamed of such a society and have even advanced ideas and goals to bring about such a condition in society.
In the year 2000, all 191 United Nations Member States pledged to meet the following goals by the year 2015:
These goals are known as the Millennium Declaration.
I have news for you and anyone who think they can bring a utopia to this earth. There is only One who can bring about such a condition on earth and that is the Creator of the earth—the Lord Jesus Christ. In chapter 19 we see the Lord Jesus returning and then in chapter 20 we see Him bringing about such a utopia on the earth. It is what we call the Millennium because it duration is one thousand years.
Let’s look at this glorious time by first considering:
1. THE RULE OF THE SAVIOUR OVER THE EARTH
In Revelation 19 the Lord Jesus returns to the earth and verse 16 we read that He has “on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” The Lord Jesus will return to this earth one day unlike the first time He came. The first time He came to redeem the world. The next time He will come to rule the world. The first time He came as an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes. The next time He will come as the infinite one whose name is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
In this return we see:
A) A Return of the Earth to the Lord
Back in chapter 5 we see a “book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals” (Vs.1). This book we learned is the title deed to the earth. We also saw that that “no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open and read the book, neither to look thereof” (Vs. 3). In other words, there was no on the earth or under the earth that was the rightful owner of the earth.
It was not until the Lord Jesus stepped forward and took the book that the rightful owner and Lord of the earth was revealed. Chapter 5, verses 8-10 says, “And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having everyone of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sung a new song, saying, ‘Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.’”
The Lord Jesus was declared the worthy One. The praise and worship of the Lord Jesus exalted Him as the only one who is the rightful owner and Lord of the earth.
In chapter 5 the Lord Jesus steps forward to signify that He is the rightful owner of the earth. In chapter 19 He returns as the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS to take back that which belongs to Him.
The 1,000 years described in chapter 20 is a time that He will rule and reign upon this earth as the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS and all the earth will acknowledge His Lordship. His return to the earth is a return of the earth to His rule and Lordship.
We live in a world that largely ignores the rights and claims of the Lord Jesus. Even in our beloved USA more and more Jesus is being divorced from our public affairs and mention of God is taboo. This world as a whole fails to recognize that Jesus is rightful owner of this earth and is to be proclaimed Lord of all human affairs. However, there will come a day when He will take possession of that which belongs to Him and will rule and reign as the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. The King will return to this earth to set up His kingdom upon the earth.
Not only do we see that during this 1,000 years will there be a return of the earth to the Lord, but there will also be:
B) A Restoration of the Earth by the Lord
We read in Acts 3:19-21, “(19) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; (20) And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: (21) 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.”
Peter described this 1,000 years as “the times of refreshing” and the “times of restitution of all things.” During the reign of Christ upon the earth, the earth will be restored to God’s original design and plan. When sin entered the world it marred creation as God intended. But during the millennial reign of Christ, the earth will be restored to God’s original plan.
J. Dwight Pentecost in his book Things To Come gives us these facts about the millennial reign of Christ on the earth. Let me give you just a few of them:
Things will be as they were meant to be. Things will finally be as they ought to be. Oh, what a turn around on this earth when the Saviour rules and reigns over the earth.
Secondly, we see in our text that not only the reign of the Saviour over the earth, but also:
2. THE REMOVAL OF SATAN FROM THE EARTH
Satan may be having his way right now, but the hour is coming when the real God of this world will take charge once again. What a glorious time it will be. There will be an earth with no more depravity, no more disasters, no more disease, and no more death, and hallelujah, an earth with no more devil.
In verse 2 the devil is addressed by his various names which reveal his personality. He is called the “dragon” because he is dangerous. He is called the “old serpent” because he is devious. He is called the “devil” because he is discouraging. He is called “Satan” because he is destructive. He is a fiend and foe of everything that is godly and everyone who names the name of Christ.
However, his day is coming. In Revelation 20 we learn about his future. That is one of the reasons the devil hates this book so much. It is a book that proclaims his destination.
Notice in verses 1-3:
A) The Incarceration of Satan
We read in Revelation 20;1-3, “[1] And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. [2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, [3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him…”
Pardon my imagination, but I can see the angel that comes down from heaven, swinging a chain back and forth in one hand and holding a key in the other, saying, “Come here buddy boy. I have been waiting a long time for this.” Powerless, the devil cannot fight or flee. Like a helpless foe, the angel puts heaven’s handcuffs on him. The words “laid hold” in verse 2 literally mean to “seize.” Again, you will have to pardon my imagination, but I can imagine the angel grabbing him by the knap of the neck and saying, “Assume the position hot shot.” I can hear the Lord Jesus saying, “Book him, Dano.” I know, I have been watching too many cop programs, but I like to imagine what that moment will be like when the dragon, that old serpent, the Devil, Satan will be arrested and imprisoned for 1,000 years.
You’ll have to forgive me, but I couldn’t help but think of that old Merle Haggard song that has the lines:
As the warden, led the prisoner, Down the hallway to his doom. I stood up to say goodbye like all the rest.
I can’t help but believe that God will let us see this moment. When the angel chains the devil and casts him into the bottomless pit, I think the saints of all ages will stand and cheer.
We read in verse 3 that he is cast into the bottomless pit, shut up, and a seal is set upon the pit. The “bottomless pit” (abyss) occurs 7 times in Revelation. It is described as a place of torment where the demons fear being sent. It is not hell or the lake of fire, but a prison for the most vile and evil demons. What a glorious picture. Satan is locked up and sentenced to hard time for 1,000 years.
I can’t help but wonder if God want put him in stripes! It would only be fitting.
Furthermore, we see:
B) The Incapacitation of Satan
We read in the latter part of verse 3 that Satan is imprisoned “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.” For thousands of years the devil had deceived nations and individuals. He has been the cause of evil in the world. However, now he is locked up and no longer able to operate. He will be totally incapacitated for 1,000 years. Imagine a world totally free from the devil.
Writing in Moody Monthly, Carl Armerding recounted his experience of watching a wildcat in a zoo. “As I stood there,” he said, “an attendant entered the cage through a door on the opposite side. He had nothing in his hands but a broom. Carefully closing the door, he proceeded to sweep the floor of the cage.” He observed that the worker had no weapon to ward off an attack by the beast. In fact, when he got to the corner of the cage where the wildcat was lying, he poked the animal with the broom. The wildcat hissed at him and then lay down in another corner of the enclosure. Armerding remarked to the attendant, “You certainly are a brave man.” “No, I ain’t brave,” he replied as he continued to sweep. “Well, then that cat must be tame.” “No,” came the reply, “he ain’t tame.” “If you aren’t brave and the wildcat isn’t tame, then I can’t understand why he doesn’t attack you.” Armerding said the man chuckled, then replied with an air of confidence, “Mister, he’s old—and he ain’t got no teeth.”
The devil will become like a wildcat without any teeth. It is not a matter of his activity being restricted or limited. All his activity will be totally curtailed. He is put out of business for 1,000 years.
We will learn more in our studies to come how he will be loosed for a short time, as indicated in verse 3, but imprisonment is the least of the devils punishment.
Lastly notice:
3. THE REIGN OF THE SAINTS ON THE EARTH
In chapter 19 we saw the saints of God returning with the Lord Jesus back to his earth. In verse 4 we see that we will reign with Christ on this earth for during His 1,000 year reign.
In verse 4 we see:
A) The Role of the Faithful Saints
Do you ever get frustrated with the Washington politicians? Of course here in Tennessee, it looks like several of our state politicians are going to be making car tags for a few years. If you are like me, you wish there was someway you could fire the whole bunch and start all over.
Sometimes I feel like a farmer I read about. A busload of politicians were driving down a country road when, all of a sudden, the bus ran off the road and crashed into a tree in an old farmer's field. The old farmer, after seeing what happened, went over to investigate. He then proceeded to dig a hole and bury the politicians. A few days later, the local sheriff came out, saw the crashed bus and asked the old farmer where all the politicians had gone. The old farmer said he had buried them. The sheriff asked the old farmer, "Were they ALL dead?" The old farmer replied, "Well, some of them said they weren't, but you know how them politicians lie."
In our day and time, woe be to the politician and claims to be a Christian. If you want to setoff a firestorm, just be a politician that says he prays and seeks guidance from the Bible. Well, it may surprise you to know that during the millennial reign of Christ, Christians will be those who will serve in positions of authority and leadership.
We read that John “saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them.” During the millennial reign of Christ a kingdom of peace and righteousness will be established upon the earth. With the coming of the Lord back to the earth, not only will Satan be dethroned, but all those who held political positions as well. One group will be dethroned and another enthroned.
John saw the saints of God sitting upon throne and making decisions such as a judge or politician would make. As you read the Bible it speaks of how the saints of God will be put in such positions during the millennial reign of Christ. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:2, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?"
It seems that these positions are given as a reward of one’s faithfulness to Christ during their life. Some saints will rule countries, some counties, and some cities. I would like to be the mayor of Chattanooga for 1,000 years. My first order of business will be to eliminate emissions testing. Amen!
In a world that is totally Christ-centered, there will only be those who sit in positions of authority that make every decision a Christ-honoring and Christ-exalting decision. In that day, Congress will do more than just open their sessions in prayer. They will spend much of their time worshipping the Lord Jesus. In fact, all government will be about Jesus!
There won’t be any Republicans or Democrats in office; only Christians, those who served Christ and honored Him during their life.
Furthermore, John saw:
B) The Resurrection of the Fearless Saints
In verse 4 John saw “the souls 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.”
John sees all the saints martyred during the tribulation. These are they who had stood fearless in the darkest days the world has ever known. Even in the face of death, they refused to bend the knee to the antichrist or acknowledge his claims. These fearless saints of God will be resurrected to share in the reign of Jesus Christ. The words “and they lived” seem to suggest a resurrection.
I can hear them singing during the millennium:
The service of Jesus true pleasure affords, In Him there is joy without an alloy; ’Tis Heaven to trust Him and rest on His words; It pays to serve Jesus each day.
Refrain: It pays every step of the way,
Though the pathway to glory may sometimes be drear,
It pays to serve Jesus whate’er may betide, It pays to be true whate’er you may do; ’Tis riches of mercy in Him to abide; It pays to serve Jesus each day.
Though sometimes the shadows may hang o’er the way, And sorrows may come to beckon us home, Our
precious Redeemer each toil will repay;
It may be pandemonium on the earth now, with things only getting worse. But there is a millennium coming.
© 2006 by the Living Word |