Epilogue: The Millennium and Judgment

            Jesus presents to us the true course of prophetic history: “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet [not a secret whisper as the "secret rapture" teaches], and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds [the compass headings of north, south, east, and west], from one end of heaven to the other.” “Our GOD shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.” “His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD,” “and every eye shall see Him.”  Matt.24:37-39,30,31; Ps.50:3, 97:4,5; Rev.1:7.

            Right on the brink of human extinction at the close of the seven last plagues the greatest rescue of human history will be seen: the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ. His 2nd Advent brings to a close the battle of “Armageddon” (Rev.16:16).  “The Saviour,” with His retinue of holy angels, will stand stationary in the sky while the Earth continues its rotation of a thousand miles an hour beneath His feet; and for twenty-four hours the landscape beneath Him will be melting as wax before the fire (Mic.1:4; Zech.14:12).  But the guardian angels of His faithful children (Matt.18:10) will be ahead of Him gathering the sacred harvest (Matt.24:31): those who followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and believed His Word (Rom.2:13-15).  This is “The day of the Lord” (I Thess.5:2).



            Despite the many fictitious descriptions of Armageddon, the coming of Jesus Christ is simply the conclusion of the final battle between the lawless church pretending obedience to Christ (I Tim.1:5-11) and the Biblically faithful Church bearing both His obedience to the Sacred Law and His righteous character (Jn.12:48; Rev.17:14). Today's prophecy gurus never include the threat of sin being the cause for the final conflagration among men.  Nevertheless, Armageddon is simply the culmination of the age-old death-match between Cain and Abel (Gen.4:8).  And before them, the first war in heaven prompted by none other than Satan himself (Rev.12:7; Eze.28:15,16).

As Cain demanded salvation according to his method (Gen.4:3-5) whose allowance for sin led him to murder his little brother Abel, so today’s Christianity demands salvation according to their method, whose bold, unapologetic sins against the Holy Law of GOD is leading them to follow in the footsteps of Cain (Jn.8:43-47). In the end of time, the “offering” of today’s conventional Christianity will be seen as the offering of Cain, where “the LORD…had not respect.” (Gen.4:5; Rev.16:10,11).           

            At the 2^nd Advent of Jesus Christ, the faithful from both the living and those resurrected from the dead will be carried up by their guardian angels to “meet the LORD in the air.”  They will then depart from the earth, leaving it in a state of darkness and desolation.  The prophets of GOD were vivid in their description of what is to come: “I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void [as lifeless as in the beginning (Gen.1:2)]; and the heavens, and they had no light.  I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly [like waves of the sea].  I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.  I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.  For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.  For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.” Jer.4:23-28.  

            Those responsible for the desolation of Earth are clearly identified: “A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.  And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground. Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.  And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.  A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.  And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.  He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.”  Jer.25:31-38.  

            The Savior confirms the millennium of Earth’s desolation in His Revelation to the Apostle John: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit [a lifeless abyss (Gen.1:2; Jer.4:23)] and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 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.  And I saw thrones, and they 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.  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection.”  Rev.20:1-5.  

            The risen saints are to soar with Christ through space to our heavenly home for a thousand years, as the Savior promised: “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you [in heaven].  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again [at the 2^nd Advent], and receive you unto myself [“in the clouds”]; that where I am [with GOD the Father], there ye may be also.  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight…but now is my kingdom not from hence.” Jn.14:2-4; 18:36.

            As the saints become acquainted with their homes in the “the New Jerusalem” (homes and communities that will stand forever), the Judgment of fallen angels and unrepentant men is to take place: “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge this world...Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” I Cor.6:2,3. “A thousand years” is prophesied for this period of judgment, in which every question will be answered concerning the way GOD responded to the mutiny of angels and men.  His decisions will be vindicated in every case showing decisively that in every conceivable way GOD worked redemption in the lives of angels and men, proving beyond a shadow of doubt the truth of John’s words, “God is love” (I Jn.4:8).  

            After the Millennial Judgment, Christ and His saints return in “the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,” to a barren, desolate earth: “Behold, the LORD cometh with ten thousands of His saints [the redeemed among men], To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Jude 14,15.  The saints will then witness the last and final demonstration of evil in its unquenchable thirst for domination.  Jesus raises “the wicked” from the dead.  Their number has been estimated between 40 and 120 billion people.

            Satan, who was “bound a thousand years” with his vast host of demons conspire with the countless men, women and children (of the age of accountability) to assault and conquer the city of GOD.  They proceed to surround the "New Jerusalem" whose dimensions, according to Scripture translate to be nearly the size of the state of Colorado.  It is truly “the mountain of the LORD of hosts.” Zech.8:3.  Its breathtaking radiance will glow every color of the rainbow, literally stunning the vast host of the human family who stand outside of its walls.  “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city.”  The likes of this army the world has never known!  The earth shakes with every step of the march of “evil doers” comprising a battle line over 1500 miles long and many miles thick.  As they approach the gates of the city (Rev.21:21) Jesus then makes His Presence known to the surrounding host, high and lifted up: “And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it;” and the Judgment begins: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before GOD; and the books were opened: and another book was opened; which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

            Those deceived into believing that GOD accepts the sinner in an unconverted condition will review the convictions of their conscience many times warning them of their wrong doing.  And many from these multitudes who believed in God will stand before the throne, and in sheer belligerence claim the right of entry into the city: popes, priests, televangelists, teachers, missionaries, rabbis, imams, monks and gurus: all demanding that their good works allow them to enter through the gates.  They all insist that GOD is indebted to them: that their sins should be excused for their few good deeds.  Then there are the common people who followed the example of their ministers, all standing united and unrepentant, having no love for GOD as measured by their lack of love for their fellow man.

            Then there are the vanity-laden individuals: beautiful women who only took glory to themselves for the beauty that GOD had provided them.  And muscular men who likewise lived a life of pride in their vanity.  Then there are the athletes and businessmen whose competitive spirits were ever striving to defeat their fellow man in life’s arena to gain the supremacy. 

            Then there are the intellectuals (in and out of the church), “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (II Tim.3:7): the scientists, engineers and researchers devoting their lives to “science falsely so called” (I Tim.6:20): none realizing that great intellect is no measuring stick of godliness, as evidenced by Satan’s vast intellect, whose IQ is at minimum, 3000. 

            Then there’s the criminal element seen in hundreds of millions of people: petty crooks and two-bit tyrants who kept trying to satisfy their lust, which can never be satisfied.  The gangsters, murderers, adulterers, habitual liars, thieves, robbers, muggers, rapists, child-molesters: those whose thirst for sin was never quenched, living out their days with no remorse, no reformation. 

            There will be children standing there who murdered their parents, and parents who murdered their children.  A woman’s greedy son will behold the breathtaking beauty of the city of GOD declaring, “I murdered my mother for her gold ring, and I could have had this?”  Woefully ignorant of the promises and warnings of GOD the vast host of the unrepentant will be standing there: those who disqualified the Presence of GOD from their souls through living a life of sin, forfeiting eternal life for some “pleasure in unrighteousness,” ever indifferent to the needs of others, seeking the mere moment, never the future.

            All of the things people lie for, cheat for, and kill for: never realizing that everything their hearts desired for life: eternal youth, beauty, riches, and immortality, GOD has promised through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that He will lavish all the treasures of heaven upon the redeemed of this world.

            After every individual reviews the history of their lives, remembering the few moments where unselfish love was displayed, they acknowledge their denial of conscience through which the “still, small voice” of the Holy Spirit spoke to their sense of judgment, justice, and hope—gently tugging their heart strings with the conviction of Christ’s Love and Power.  But a million years of life would not have changed that decision welded to their hearts, for there is a simple boundary men cross where revision is never achieved and repentance can never come.  Jesus identified this as the unpardonable sin of silencing GOD’S voice in the heart forever (Mk.3:28,29; Pr.1:23-30).  

            And then, finally, the instigator of all of life’s suffering takes center stage.  Satan's nakedness is exposed before them all!  At that time the prophecy of his infamy will be fulfilled: “All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?  Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell [the grave], to the sides of the pit.  They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners [in the grave]?” Isa.14:10-17. 

            At this time the answer to the prayer of Asaph will be answered before the multitudes: “Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, 0 Lord.” Ps.83:16.  All, including Satan will voluntarily bow the knee before Christ “the LORD.”  But their characters haven’t changed.  And although repentant for the moment it is not a lasting repentance.  Throughout their lives, true repentance held no place in their heart.  They are forever blind to the beauty of the Spirit-filled words of the Apostle Paul, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” II Cor.7:10.  Apologies often come, but apologies without reformation are merely empty words, as it is written: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Prov.28:13.  If they could destroy Christ they would!  

            The Great Judgment of demons and unrepentant sinners draws to its conclusion.  Death by fire ensues: “and fire came down from GOD out of heaven and devoured them.”  A world-encompassing ocean of lava consumes every trace of sin on the Earth.  Everything in this sinful world is swallowed up in the fiery ocean and reduced “to ashes,” as it is written, “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition [the absolute and eternal extinction] of ungodly men.” II Pet.3:7.

            After “the lake of fire” sweeps the globe of every trace of sin the fire goes out.  Jesus will then fulfill His promise: “Behold, I make all things new.” Rev.21:5.  The saints will then witness the full magnificence of Creation Week as it is recorded in the Genesis account.  For six days Christ re-creates the Earth.  And everything appears as He speaks "the Word:" the sky, the colors, the diversity of life, the fragrant aromas, the restful sounds!  And after all the work is done the Saviour with the saints enter the first Seventh-day Sabbath of the New Earth.  Universal tranquility is restored: never to be threatened ever again, as GOD promised, “affliction shall not rise up the second time.” Na.1:9.  An Eternal Paradise begins—as it was, “In the beginning.”  And every ideal of the human heart will be fulfilled—every lofty goal achieved.  “And all the sons of God shouted for joy.” 

            And finally, the famous closing words of childhood fables will find their true fulfillment: “And they lived happily ever after.”