p. 1 | Events Clustering About the Millennium by T. E. Bowen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 7, 1915

THE BOOKS WERE OPENED: . . . AND THE DEAD WERE JUDGED OUT OF THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS. REV. 20: 12.

Events Clustering About the Millennium

By T. E. Bowen

The Unfolding of God's Plan in the “Day of the Lord”

By T. E. Bowen

Some of the most thrilling events of all ages occur in connection with that period of time referred to in Rev. 20:1-5, and generally spoken of as “the millennium,” though that term itself does not occur in the Bible. The Scriptures do, however, undoubtedly teach the fact of “the millennium;” and, further, that this one-thousand-year period is soon to dawn. But the Word of God also makes it plain that before the millennium begins, there are some very important events to take place, events which involve the destiny of every living person.

It should be borne in mind that in the revelation of his Son to this world, the Creator is dealing with the problem of sin. This controversy, which originated in heaven, even before the world was, has come down to earth, involving the destiny of every human soul. Here the Son of God became also the Son of man, and here he lived as a man. Here his cross was uplifted. Here, too, Satan, the originator of sin, does his work, and here he is to be punished, with all his confederates — both angels and men.

A Time Appointed for Every Purpose

“To everything there is a season,” wrote Solomon, “and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Eccl. 3:1. There is a “day of salvation,” a time when sinners may turn to the Lord and be saved. That day has an end. The Lord has appointed a day,—a time,—spoken of in the Word as the “day of the Lord,” in which he will deal in a very definite manner with transgressors,—those who have spurned his love, refused his mercy, rejected his Son.

Every Scripture Will Be Literally Fulfilled

“The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10. One might gather from reading this text alone that all these wonderful events take place in a twenty-four-hour day, or at one time, whereas from first to last they embrace a thousand years. The coming “as a thief” takes place when Jesus receives his kingdom in heaven, an event just before us. Luke 16:11-27; Mark 13:32-37. The heavens “pass away with a great noise” at his second appearing (Rev. 6:14-17), while the elements melt with “fervent heat” a thousand years later (Rev. 20:7, 8).

Let us study briefly the events occurring in this day-of-the-Lord period.

Jesus Receives His Kingdom in Heaven

The time spoken of as the “day of the Lord” begins with the close of Christ's priestly work in the heavenly sanctuary, at which time he receives from his Father his kingdom — the earth. This scene is thus

described by the prophet Daniel: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds [angels] of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him.” Dan. 7:13, 14. This takes place in heaven, not on earth.

Every Person's Destiny Sealed for Weal or Woe

Coincident with, or just prior to, the event of Jesus' receiving his kingdom in heaven, the destiny of every soul on earth is determined. This event in very fact brings the end of the world, in the sense of fixing human destiny, although taking place a little time prior to the visible, personal appearing of the Son of man to reap the harvest of the earth. See Rev. 14:14-16.

This event, the Son's reception of the kingdom in heaven, marks the beginning of the day-of-the-Lord period, when the Almighty shall arise “to shake terribly the earth” (Isa. 2:19), and to “destroy the sinners thereof out of it” (Isa. 13:9). And this comes suddenly. We understand that Jesus refers to this very important event when he says: “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is.” Mark 13:32, 33.

At the close of Christ's work as priest in heaven, this decree recorded in Rev. 22:11, 12, goes forth: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly.” This ushers in the day of the Lord. Joel 3:9-13; Zeph. 1:14-18.

God's Vials of Wrath Poured Out

Following this decree the vials of God's wrath are poured out upon the earth by seven angels whose work is described in Revelation 16. The language is literal, not symbolic, and tells us in plain words what the wrath of God is. Read the whole chapter. There are seven plagues, each distinct from the others,—a plague of sores; the sea turned to blood; fountains turned to blood; the sun scorching men as with fire; a great false church punished, its worldly light going out in awful darkness; Armageddon comes on; great hailstones devastating portions, at least, of the earth. The prophet Daniel describes this as “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.” Dan. 12:1.

These scenes are just before us. And there is but one way of escape — by now making Jesus our personal Friend and mighty Deliverer, while not trying to imagine. This must be done, too, before the beginning of the millennium, before this day of trouble “such as never was” begins.

Armageddon Comes On

Near the close of this period of God's wrath upon a disobedient world — while the plagues are doing their work — Armageddon comes on. The kings of the East, and also of the West, marshal their armies upon the ancient battle fields of Palestine. What is to be the apparent occasion for this assembling, politically or otherwise, we are not told; but several of the prophets speak of this assembling of the nations. Space permits of only one or two texts: “I will also gather the nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there.” Joel 3:2. “For by fire and by sword will the Lord plead with all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many.” Isa. 66:16.

Jesus Comes to Reap the Harvest of the Earth; the “First Resurrection”

While mighty nations are engaged in mortal combat on the field of Armageddon, earth's rightful King appears in power and great glory, accompanied by the angelic host, to reap the harvest of the earth. Rev. 19:11-21. That scene no pen can portray, no tongue describe. Every face is turned upward; some gather paleness, some the blackness of despair. The event so long looked forward to, about which every prophet in the Sacred Scroll has written, is at hand. The King of kings and Lord of lords is about to claim his own.

When Jesus comes, he calls forth the millions of sleeping saints, shut up in Satan's prison house,—the grave,—and with his living saints, saved out of every nation, they are “caught up together” “to meet the Lord in the air,” evermore to be with him. 1 Thess. 4:14-17. Gloriously delivered is every one whose name is found “written in the book.” Dan. 12:1. But how different at this time the lot of the wicked! “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.” Jer. 25:33.

The Millennium Begins

Here the millennium — the one thousand years — begins. And here is the binding of Satan. Confined to earth, bound here by a chain of circumstances, with no saint to annoy, no soul to tempt, no living man or woman upon earth to lead into sin, he who rose up in heaven itself before the world was, saying, “I will be like the Most High,” is left with his angels to contemplate for ten long centuries the result of his wicked plottings against God.

CHRIST'S SECOND COMING DESCENT OF THE HOLY CITY

The beloved disciple John describes the binding of Satan in the following impressive symbolic language: “I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little season.” Rev. 20:1-3, A. R. V.

Jeremiah thus describes the condition of the earth at this time: “I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. 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.” Jer. 4:23-26.

The revelator tells us what causes all this desolation: “The seventh angel poured out his vial into the air [the last one of the seven last plagues previously referred to, which is poured out just prior to Christ's personal appearing]; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. . . . And the cities of the nations fell.” Rev. 16:17-19.

It is the mighty voice of God (Heb. 12:26, 27) that shakes the earth from center to circumference, making the proud cities ruinous heaps. No more forever are they to be inhabited or rebuilt. “For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defended city a ruin; a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.” Isa. 25:2.

Satan Loosed for a Little Season

For one thousand dreary years Satan views with dismay the results of his wicked devisings against God, compelled as he is to live among these ruins. At the close of the thousand years Jesus descends to earth, followed by the New Jerusalem, the glorious capital city of his kingdom, peopled by the nations of the saved. Rev. 21:2, 3. His feet touch the same mountain from which he ascended to his Father. “His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east,” says the prophet, “and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley.” Zech. 14:4.

The capital of Christ's glorious kingdom, a great city approximately three hundred and seventy-five miles on each side, descends and rests upon this “great valley,” consecrated by the feet of King Jesus.

The Second Resurrection

The Son of God now calls to life again the untold millions upon millions who have gone down to their graves sinning against God. Rev. 20:7. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order.” 1 Cor. 15:22, 23. These sleeping millions hear the voice of the Son of God, and live. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28, 29. The hour comes for the righteous to hear that voice at the beginning of the millennium; at its close the hour comes for the rest of Adam's children to hear that same voice calling them forth to condemnation.

Some time must elapse—we know not how long—between this second resurrection and the final destruction of the impenitent; for we read of Satan that “he must be loosed a little season.” Rev. 20:3. As he is bound by a chain of circumstances at the beginning of the millennium, so at the end of this thousand-year period he is bound to the descent of the city, the return of the saints, and the resurrection of the wicked. And again he goes forth to deceive and destroy. This is only for “a little season,” but long enough for Satan “to deceive the nations,” and to gather them together to battle, and they go “up on the breadth of the earth” and compass “the camp of the saints, and the beloved city.” Rev. 20:7-9.

Mighty giants before the flood, powerful Babylonian warriors, Medes, Persians, Greeks, Romans, as well as the best-equipped armies of today, with their knowledge of modern engines of warfare, are marshaled into one vast army. Legion upon legion, they march to what appears to them to be an easy victory over this golden city, which has come down to adorn the earth. Its untold wealth of gold and silver, its gates of pearl, they covet. And they determine to possess it. Rev. 21:10-27.

Sin's Climax Reached

But as Satan moves that mighty host against the Son of God, lo, that terrific shower of fire from heaven, so vividly foretold in the Scriptures, bursts upon him and upon his army, with withering, blighting fury. This flame shall not be quenched. It will fully accomplish God's purpose. In this sea of fire all workers of iniquity, together with fallen Lucifer, “son of the morning,” and all his angels, perish in sight of the home of the saved, which all, including Lucifer himself, might have enjoyed had they been obedient and faithful in their appointed, “reasonable service” to God and his only begotten Son. But, instead, the offers of mercy were spurned, the exceeding great reward despised, and now all have received the “wages of sin,” eternal death; and this in sight of the beloved city. “This is the second death,” even “the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:14.

Iniquity Not to Rise Up the Second Time

The death in the lake of fire is final. The earth, as well as the universe of God, is rid of every rebel against the law of the kingdom. Sin is rooted out of the universe of God. Mal. 4:1-3.

The psalmist wrote of this hour: “Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall give thee to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.” Ps. 37:34. Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5. But they do not inherit it in its present accursed condition. The apostle Peter, after speaking of the destruction of the earth by fire, when all the evil “works that are therein shall be burned up,” adds, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:13. This “kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven,” of which Daniel wrote, is soon to “be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” Only the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land.

Come to the Saviour Now

These are not fables, but facts. Eternal issues are at stake. How shall we relate ourselves to them? Jesus graciously waits to receive all who come to him. The glories of his coming kingdom we may all share. His heart yearns for every soul. Why not turn to him now, giving him loyal, loving service? “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” “He that hath the Son hath life.” “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.”

“Yet there is room; the Lamb's bright hall of song With its fair glory beckons thee along. “Yet there is room; still open stands the gate, The gate of love; it is not yet too late.”