The Last Days Of The Millennium

by G. PRASHER, SR. | Category: Lessons From The Last Days | Dec 1962

The millennium! What a peaceful vision is conjured up in the mind by the word! At last, all nations will be subject to one righteous Ruler, and the benefits will be felt from pole to pole.

The last days of the millennium! Can it be, after such length of peace and plenty resulting from such righteous rule, that men will still revolt ? That is just how it will be.

Reviewing the subjects in this series for the year, perhaps such an end to the millennium is not surprising. Each phase of history that has been considered has ended in a decline from the path of harmony with the Almighty. However, the dark clouds of rebellion or decline have not totally covered the sky; the warm and assuring rays of divine promise have always broken through. With the fall of man came the foretelling of Christ; out of Israel's idolatry after the death of Joseph rose a Moses; Solomon's departure from God, resulting in the splitting of the kingdom, was accompanied by the promise of Josiah.

Can such compensation be found in the last days of the millennium also? Surely this is seen in the final and complete overthrow of the adversary and the advent of the new heaven and the new earth.

This month's subject, and that for last January, are specially connected, for they are the first and last acts of the adversary in relation to man. It is interesting, not only to compare the acts themselves, but the periods immediately preceding the acts. A little thought will reveal that the following are true both of Eden and of the millennial reign of Christ

Provision by God of all necessities of life in abundance.

Peaceful relations between humans.

Peaceful relations in the animal kingdom.

God's presence on earth.

God's clear instructions given to be obeyed.

God's communion with willing and obedient ones.

In all, an ideal environment for mankind.

The adversary's first act of temptation has the following characteristics: he selected the person most likely to yield easily; he approached by the presentation of apparently desirable ends; succumbing to the temptation by Adam and Eve led to anti-God acts; God's anger was righteously roused and His direct judgement was evoked, yet He showed the way to better things for the future by the promise of the Saviour.

A similar pattern will emerge in the last act of the adversary. Read about it in Ezekiel 38.1-23; 39.1-16, and in Revelation 20.7-10.

Some interpreters of prophecy take the Ezekiel and Revelation scriptures to refer to different occasions, but we suggest that they coincide in time.

The person selected by the leader of the revolt will be Gog, chief prince of Magog, Meshech and Tubal. The precise location of these places is difficult to assess, but while suggested maps differ, it appears that Magog, Tubal and Meshech are comparatively close to and north of Jerusalem. It would seem very possible that, although all nations throughout the thousand years' reign of Christ will be enforced to worship in Jerusalem, some will still only do it out of necessity. Read Zechariah 14.16-21, where it is clear that, although Egypt will know blessing (Isaiah 19.18-25) through the missionary efforts of Israel, a hard core of Egyptians will maintain the ancient and present antipathy towards Israel right through the millennium. This will also be true of other nations, although their names are not specifically mentioned. The devil will deceive Gog and Magog, and present what will seem desirable ends to them. He will perchance suggest: "Here is your chance to win an easy victory against the people of God. There has been no war for a thousand years; Israel is a land of unwalled villages; they have no arms of defence; you will easily overcome them."

Others, nearby and far away, will be willing to share in the revolt. Revelation 20.8 describes collaborators as coming from the four corners of the earth. Ezekiel 38.5 specifies in more detail. Persia (on the east of Jerusalem), Cush (south) and Put (west) will join with Magog and associated countries (north) in their evil adventure.

The attack will take place on a grand scale and will be directed against the camp of the saints and against Jerusalem. Thousands will be gathered to the battle, mounted on horseback and armed. However, God's righteous anger will be shown by fire and brimstone from heaven. So great will be the slaughter that the people will be seven months burying the dead and seven years burning up the firewood of the weapons that will have been scattered.

The adversary will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Then follows the Great White Throne where the dead who have not shared in the first resurrection will be righteously judged. God will then bring in a new heaven and a new earth, and in that eternal state higher service to God will be rendered in a beautiful and peaceful setting.

Thus it is seen that the first and last acts of the adversary, separated perhaps by seven thousand years or more, have very much in common. As the wheels of time roll on, how little the pattern of temptation changes and how skilfully and easily the adversary causes men to fall! The only successful power against him is the victorious Christ. May those who are Christ's live victorious lives to His praise and glory!

G. PRASHER, SR. | Dec 1962
Lessons From The Last Days