LEARNING DAILY

Revelation 20:1-3, Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a while.

I have been interested in who would be in the millennial kingdom. One of the important thoughts is that all who enter this kingdom will be redeemed therefore, they are righteous (Isaiah 35:8-10. The redeemed include two groups – those who were saved during the tribulation and have human bodies. The other group includes those with glorified bodies of the saints – those who are resurrected and those who were raptured (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18); the group also includes those martyred in the tribulation (The Revelation 20:4-6):and the Old Testament saints (Daniel 12:2).

Those who enter the Millennium in earthly bodies will live for a long time (Isaiah 65:20); go back and read how long people lived in Genesis. During that time, they will have children. The Revelation 20:7-8 states that the number of people living at the end of the millennium will be “like the sand of the sea”; the earth will be well populated! Those born during this time will have to choose to exercise their faith in Jesus Christ just like each person has had to choose. Obviously, there will be those who choose not to (Isaiah 65:20).

It seems that there would be no rebellion in the Millennium; sadly, there will be those born during this time who choose not to have faith in the Lord and King Jesus Christ and will be in rebellion. The Revelation 20:1-3,7-8 tells us that at the end of this period of time, Satan will be let loose and will stir up rebellion just as he did in the Garden of Eden. Rebellion is sin; it will not last long. The Lord and King Jesus will rule with “an iron hand” (The Revelation 2:27 from Psalm 2:9). This covers all wrongs committed during the Millennium will be dealt with swiftly by the One who knows everything, every intent of the heart. There will be no trial or long waiting periods for justice to take place. There will be immediate justice based on the holy reign of Jesus Christ (based on the writings of David Jeremiah).

The idea of a rod of iron comes from the shepherd’s staff used by the shepherd to protect his sheep (Psalm 23:4). The rod was a short stick, like a baton. The rod in The Revelation 2:27 used by King Jesus will be to judge the nation during this time. The fact that He has this rod shows that not everyone will submit to Him, even though they will eventually have to. Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) who watches over His sheep; that is exactly what He will do during the Millenium.

The sin nature in man will not be eliminated until the new heaven and new earth comes and eternity begins! Even during this 1000-year period the need for a Savior is present. Man can never achieve anything close to righteousness on their own; it only comes through a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!