The Millennium by Mrs. M. E. Steward

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 14, 1911

The Millennium

By Mrs. M. E. Steward

MRS. M. E. STEWARD

THE millennium begins with the resurrection of the righteous, at the second coming of Christ, and continues a thousand years till the resurrection of the wicked. Revelation 20.

There will be two classes when Christ comes, the righteous and the wicked.

1. There will be both “just” and “unjust,” “righteous” and “filthy.” Rev. 22:11.

2. The wheat and the tares “grow together until the harvest.” “The harvest is the end of the world.” Matt. 13:30, 39.

3. One class will be giving “meat in due season;” the other begin to smite their “fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken.” Matt. 24: 45, 49.

Conflicting testimony:—

1. The evil servant says in his heart, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” Matt. 24:48. The Lord says, “He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Heb. 10:37.

2. A certain class says, “Peace and safety!”—a good time coming. The Bible declares, “When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” 1 Thess. 5:3.

3. “Many people shall . . . say, . . . They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Isa. 2:3, 4. God says: “Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears.” “The great and the terrible day of the Lord” at Christ’s coming is the theme under consideration. Joel 2:30, 31.

The inhabitants of the world just before the second advent:—

1. “In the last days perilous times shall come. [The last includes the very last one.] For men shall be lovers of their own selves,”—then there follow about twenty specifications of depravity. “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Tim. 3:1-5, 13.

2. “In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Tim. 4:1.

No conversions after Christ comes:—

1. Just before he comes “quickly,” the fiat goes forth: “He which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still.” Rev. 22:11.

2. Jesus comes to take “vengeance on them that know not God,” not to convert them. 2 Thess. 1:7, 8.

3. The tares are not to be converted; they are bound in bundles to be burned. Matt. 13:30.

The conditions of the earth when Christ comes:—

1. “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth.” Isa. 24:5, 6.

2. When our Lord comes, the earth will have just received the seven last plagues. Revelation 16. All vegetation is withered by the scorching sun; the water is turned to blood; the cities are broken down; and all beautiful palaces are in ruins.

3. “The slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth.” Jer. 25:33.

The condition of the earth during the thousand years:—

1. The earth will be “utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled.” Isa. 24:1-3.

2. There will be no man, no birds of heaven, no light in the heavens. The whole land will be desolate. Jer. 4: 25-28.

3. The earth will be so chaotic that it is called “the bottomless pit.” Rev. 20:1-3.

Since the earth is “without inhabitant,” the saints must be with their Lord and in heaven during the thousand years. The Rev. 20:4.