THE ONE THOUSAND YEARS by Charles Nelson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Sep 24, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 39.

THE ONE THOUSAND YEARS.

By Charles Nelson

"AND I saw thrones," says the prophet, "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 worshiped 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." Rev. 20: 4.

It is believed by many that those mentioned in the above verse and who have part in the first resurrection (verse 6) will reign with Christ upon the earth during the thousand years. Some persons even believe that at this time men will repent and receive salvation.

But when we carefully study this verse, and compare it with other texts of Scripture, we find that this reign will not be upon the earth, neither will men be saved after the coming of Christ.

Christ, when He comes the second time, has His reward with Him, to give to every man according to his work. Rev. 22: 12; Isa. 62: 11.

The harvest, the end of the world (Matt. 13: 39), has come, and Christ comes to reap. Rev. 14: 14-16. He is no longer mediator and high priest, but King of kings and Lord of lords. Rev. 19: 16. The time of probation is past, the destiny of every soul is fixed. No change will then be possible. The unrighteous will remain in that condition, and those that are holy will be holy still. Rev. 22: 11.

The righteous dead will then put on immortality, and, together with the righteous living that are changed, be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. 1 Cor. 15: 51, 52; 1 Thess. 4: 16, 17.

The remnant (those that are left on the earth) will be slain with the sword of Him that sits upon the horse, and all the fowls will be filled with their flesh. Rev. 19: 21.

The righteous will then be taken by Christ to the Father's house, where there are many mansions. John 14: 2, 3. Here they will reign with Him a thousand years. Rev. 20: 4. During this time the wicked (who will not be raised till the thousand years are finished, Rev. 20: 5) will be judged. Those who reign with Christ will have part in this work, as we see from our text, and also from 1 Cor. 6: 2, where we read that the saints shall judge the world.

While this judgment is going on in heaven the earth is desolate, empty, waste, and turned upside down. Isa. 13: 9; 24: 1. All the mountains and islands are moved out of their places. Rev. 6: 14. The prophet Jeremiah, beholding the earth as it is at this time, describes its condition in the following language:—

"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.

Under such conditions a thousand years' reign upon the earth would be impossible. It will be after the second resurrection, when sin is eradicated, and God the Creator makes all things new, that His people will reign upon earth. Rev. 21: 1-7. CHAS. NELSON.

Logan, Utah.