p. 2 | 3294.-Desolate Earth

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 22, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 46.

3294.—Desolate Earth

What proof is there that the earth is not to have a single inhabitant on it during the thousand years, or the so-called millennium? M.

There are many scriptures used of the future inheritance on this earth which are wrongly applied to the millennium. People argue sometimes after this fashion,—that the saints are to go to heaven, and yet the Bible promises they will sometime reign on the earth; and the conclusion is that this reigning on the earth must come during the millennium and before the saints enter upon their final reward in heaven. Now the Bible teaching completely reverses this theory. The saints will go to heaven, but they will go there when Christ comes before the millennium. John 14:1-3. The awful wars, plagues, and calamities that will sweep the earth before Christ comes, will destroy a large part of the inhabitants of the world. See Jeremiah 25; Revelation 19. The remainder will perish at the glorious presence of Christ when He shall come. Rev. 19:21. That absolutely sweeps out all the human inhabitants from the earth to destruction. Of this Isa. 24:1-3 speaks. Few will be gathered out from this, but these will be taken to heaven with Christ. See also Jer. 4:23-26. On the other end of the thousand years sin and sinners, including Satan and all his angels, will be punished, and will die the second death. The flames of God will purge the old sin-cursed earth of all its iniquity, and forth from its ashes will come a new heavens and new earth. In that new heavens and new earth the saints will reign forever. See Revelation 21, 22; Dan. 7:27; also "The Great Day of the Lord." This view shows the perfect harmony that exists in the Word of God concerning Christ's coming and the glorious reward which lies before His people. Every other view presents insurmountable difficulties.