I,{ILLEI'I}IIAL STUDI trS by Robert C. Brock The name "miIl-ennium" comes Írom trvo Latin words "Mil-le" (1000) and "annum" (year). It is not a Bible word but it does mean 1000 years. The Bible word that best describ,es this time is the word "Kingdom". This is what our Lord taught His disciples to pray fo:: - "Thy Kingdom come" (l,Iatt. 6:10) . The period of time of 1000 years is found only in one passage of Scripture Revelation 20. It j.s mentioned six tj-mes, in verses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. It is to be understood as a liberal, real 1000 years, and is not to b,e spiritualized to mean something else. The 1000 years can also be seen in the OId Testament under 3 different phrases representing a period of time: 1. I'Iosea 6:2 - THE THIRD DAY. See 2 Peter 3:B a day equals I000 years. 2. Isaiah 24:22 - the phrase "l,lÀNY DAYS" refers to the 1000 year reign of Christ. The fallen angels of verse 2L are those in prison in verse 22. This corresponds to Rev. 20:2,3, the abyss. 3. Psalm 72:7 - the phrase "TN HIS DAYS" refers to the 1000 year reign of Christ. Psalm 72 gives a complete vision of l,lessiah's Kingdom. Even though rnost of the information concerning the Millennium is contained in the Old Testament, yet the specific time element is veiled by the use of general terms. It is not until we come to the last book of the Bible that the time element is definítely mentioned as being 1000 years. This is one example of why we need to believe in the doctrine of progressive revelation. Divine truth was revealed by God over a rather long period of tj-me. There is another passage of Scripture in the Ol-d Testament which a-lso teaches of a f uture Kingdom for Israel. This is Danie1 2234,35,44,45. Christ is the Stone (I{att. 2L242-44) , and this Stone Kingdom conquers the whole earth. Just as the 4 previous Kingdoms were literal, so the l4illennial Kingclom is page 2 OTHER NAI"iES FOR TTIE I"{ILLtrNNIUM 1. THU WORLD (age) TO COIUE (It{att. 12:32 - the Greek word for "world" is AION àge, wtrich is only used once in this verse but understood twice. This is why the second use of "wor1d" is in italics; Mark I0:30 - "world" is AION - age; Ephesians 1:21) . 2 a 4 THE KINGDOM OF GOD - Mark L4225; THE KINGDOM OF IitrAVEN - Matt. 18 only in Iviatthew, some 33 times. THE KINGDOM - Acts I:6. 'Ihe Greek has the article, referring to a specific Kingdom. Also notice how the Lord let Peter be the spokesman for the Nation in Acts 3:L2-26 instead of Himself in Acts 1. IN THE RtrGENERATION - Matt. L9:28. The Greek word for "regenerationt' mearls "renewing again" r "re-creaticlnt'r "the making of all things nev/"; is used only two times in the New Testament. here and in Titus 3:5 of believers in this Age of grace. THE TII{ES OF RESTITUTION OIr ALL THI}JGS * Acts 3:2L. The Greek word for "restitution" means "restorati-on", ancl signifies a complete restorati"on of 'Ll-re Kingdom. It is used only here and in Acts l:6. The prophets speak of the restoration of Israel to the lancl, and of the Theocr:acy under David's greater Son. BVBRLASTING KINGDOM OÉ- OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CI.IRIST 2 Peter I : l.l . It is " everf asting ' because the Divine ryrysi- nlg of Rev. 2L:1. tr'Je neecl to remember this because "for ever" and "everlasting" are used of l-he Kingdom and of the New Covenant in some verses (tteb,, 13:20; 2 Sam. 7 tL6; Psalm B9:35-37; Luke l-: 33) . The amillennj-al-ist uses these verses to refute the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. This everlasting Kingdom begins with the Second Coming of Christ to earth. THE STONE KINGDOI,{ - Darniel 2:44,45 THE TIMES OF REI'RESI-IING - Acts 3:19 . The Greek word for "refreshing" means "cooling" and is only used once in t.he New Testament. It spealcs of Itlessianic blessedness. Luke 1-4. 19 : 11; John 3:3-5. This title is used PART 1 ISRAEL'S COVENANTS AND TTIE }IILLENNIUIU God macle 5 covenants with the Nation of Israel. only 4 of them are related to the Millennia} Kingdom. The 5th Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, was not related to prophecy and was only a temporary Covenant until the New Covenant should come in (Heb. B:13). The death of Christ abolished the Olcl Covenant, atrother name for the lrlosaic Covenant (trph. 2:15; CoI. 2:L4) . The purpose of the Mosaic Covenant was to show the Hebrews how to tive a life pleasing to Jehovah God. The 4 Covenants that are ::elated to the I'lillennium are the Abrahamic, Davidic, Palestinian, and New Covenant. They are classed as unconditiopal covenants, lvhi-ch means that their ful-fillment depends on Gocl and not on the Nation of fsrael. There is an inter-relationship between these Covenants, with the Àbrairamic beíng the founclationa1 Covenant. The Covenant made with Abraham is the SEED PLOT from which the other covenants are made with Israel. The covenant made with Abraham falls into 3 major parts: 1" The promise of a national land - Gen- 12:1; 13:14-18; 15:18 2. The2. The romise of man descendents to form a en. 6; J The ise of r:edem tion national and universal reat nation ;Ga Covenant develops the land promises Covenant Deut. 30:3-5; Ezek. This covenant gave Israel Partof final, permanent restoration nant has to do with promises of and th::one 2 Sam . 1 zLL,13 ,16; Gen (1) The Palestinian of the Àbrahamic 20: 33- 31 ,42-44. lcular assurance to the 1and. (2) The nav.fiïE cove dynasty, nation, Jer. 33:2T;7T. The Ivles s la 's kingly rights come from thi.s covenant. (3) The New Covenant has particularly to do with fsrael's spiritual blessing s and reilemption - Jer. 31: 31-40 ; Ezek " 36 : 26 ,27 i Heb. B : 6-l-3 . The relationship of these covenants can be diagrammed like this: ABRATIAMIC COVENANT .iJ ídÉ +rO rd -"1 0)lr !6 lCI IrD l.'l tÉto ls lFi j Pr d Fi 0) "d CJ É 0) (, ."t É o l"l Ol lo(Í) l'"{ o H Èr Pal.estinian Covenant Davidic Covenant New Covenant page 4 The covenant that has caused the most confusion amortri believers in Christ is the New Covenant. This is l:ecause c,f its emphasis on reclemption and the spiritual blessings fr:om that redemption. The writings of Peter, James, and John, who were pillars of the Jerusalem Messianic Church (Gal. 2:9), are in relation to Israel's New Covenant. This is the only way to view these epistles. This is the only way they make sense. And when this j-s unders't-ood, they harmonize beautifully v;ith tire New Covenant. Peter said in his 2 epistle that there were some things in Paul's wrJ.tings that were hard to understand. This was a normal reaction from Peter because he did not receive Pauline doctrine. Paul didl Paul wrote aLrout the New Covenant in H,:b. 8:7-13 (and he viewed it as still future); Ron. Ll:26,27; and in 1 Cor. tI:25. His use of the word 'covenant' in 2 Cor. 3:6 is questionable, because the basic meani-ng of the Greek word for 'covenant' , which is DIATHEKE, is 'arrangement' and 'wil.1'. Both meanings fit in 2 Cor. 3:6. PauI re.rll.y means that God made tl-rem able ministers of a New Arrangcment the Revelation of the Mystery. We know f rom Epl-r. 1 and Col. I that the llystery is God's new WiIl for the human race in thís Age of grace. The New Covenant will }:e God's standard of righteousness inthe Millennium. IL will be based on Lhe death of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt ". 26:23) . f t rvi1l l:e the basis for a definite spiritual empirasis in the Millenniurn. The HoIy Spirit will be poured out on many people (Joel 2228,29; ZecZech. 12210) . There are 4 major viewpoints of the Ner,v Covenant: l-. TLrat the chur:ch is a continuation of the Nation of Israel and so is fulfi11i-ng the New Covenant dur-ing this Age of grace. This is the vj-ew of Covenant Theology, and i-s the pretlominant view in Roman Catholic and Protestant churcires today. 2. The view of J.N" Darby (around IB50 a brethren preacher) that there is only one New Covenant and it was made wi'bh the house s of f srael and Judah. Itwill be completely futfilled in the Mj.llennium and the Church has no relationship to it in any way. This is 1-he correct vi-ew. 3. The view of C.I. Scofield, who agreed with Darby in its rela'tionship to the Nation o.E Israel, but added the idea that there is a. trvo-fold appfication of this Covenant: one to Israel irr the future and one to the Church now. This is in respect to spiritual blessings, ancl is the more popular view of dispensationalists 4. The view of L.S. Chafer, who believed and taught that there are two Nerv Covenants: one f or Israel- and one for the Church. Tiris is tauqht in his B volume Theology. FIis main passage of Scripture for this is 2 Corinthians 3. So then, these fou:: Covenants made with Israel will be completely and Iiterally fulfilled duri-ng bhe 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. PART 2 THE PERSOI.] Otr CI]RIST AND HIS MINISTRY IN TI{tr MI],LENNIUM The Lord Jesus Chrisl- is the central Person in the I'{ittennium. Everything will revolve around Him. The entire age of 1000 years depends upon the personal manifested presence of the Messiah of Israel. His ministry can be seen by the names and titles that are given to [Iim in the Scriptures. His Person of being God the Son can be seen by the fulfilling of some of the Divine attributes during His reign on eartll. None of the names and titles and attributes could be fulfilled by a mere son of Adam. His Deity is indicated throughout the followinq notes. A. NAMES AND TÏTLES GIVEN TO CI.IRIST IN THB MILLENNIUM The names and tit1es of our Lord reveal much truth concerning IIj-s manifold relationships in the Millennium1. KING - this title indícates regal authority and looks back to the Davidic Covenant. He will rule from Palestine (Psalm 226). He wil-I sit on the throne as David's heir (Psa1m 89:20-37; Isaiah 32zL; 33:22i 44t6). He came at His first coming as a King (Luke t:32,33); FIe was rejected as a King (t4ark 15:12,13,18) ; He died as a King (Matt. 27:37; Irlark 15:26); and when He comes at llis second coming, it is as a King (Rev. 19:16). He will be a King of righteousness (Isaiah 32zL); King of Israel (John l2:L3), and Ki.ng over all the earth (Zech. 14:9) . This i"s one of His most important titles 2. MESSIAH THE PRINCtr I Christ' . 3. THE JUDGE - Isaiah.l-l-:3,4; 33:22;16:5; Micah 422,3. This is part of a King's c1uty, to judge when occasion demands. Compare 1 Cor. 6:2,3 by way of contrast. REDEEMtrR - Isaiah 59 z20; is in reference to bringing salvation to all those who hrelieve the Gospel- message as being a part of the New Covenant. THE LIGHT - Isaiah 60:1-3; John B:12; 925; al-so refers to salvation. TLIY GOD - Isaiah 52:1, refers to His Deity (compare Romans -10:15). This and other names show that Christ is tru-ly God, so that His reiqn may righLly be called a Theocracy - God ruling on the affairs of men on earth in a very personal way. THE LORD OUR RIGHTIIOUSNI1SS - Jer. 23t6 Daniel 9:25,26. The Hebrew for is equivalent to tl're Greek word TIIE ANCIENT OF DAYS Dan. 7:9 qgIgyèE - zech. L4z9; Isaiah 40:9-Il SON OF ABRÀIIAM - Matt. 1: 1, ín relation to the Abrahamic 'IvIess iah ' for Covenant section of the Lancl promise L ( page 6 11. 11. SON Otr DAVID - Matt. l:1, in r:elation to the Davidic Covenant and the Lhrone. L2. SON OF MAN - Dan. 72L3, refers t-o His humanity13. THE BRÀNCH used in a 4-fold way: a. The Branch of Jehovah Isa iah 422 the fmmanuel character of ChrisL. (Isa. 7:14; Matt. l-z23) - Represents Deity and is equivalent to the Gospel of John. b,. The Branch of David - Isa. ll:1; Jer. 23:5; 33:15 presents the tlessianic side of Cl-rrist; is equivalent to the Gospe1 of Matthew. c. Jehovah's Servant, the Branch - Zech. 3 : B - Itlessiah's humiliation; ís equivalent to bhe Gospel of I'{ark. d. The Man whose name i"s the Brancl-r - Zecb. 6:12,L3 has to do with Him being the Son of lvlan, ÍIis humanity; represented by the Gospel of Luke. L4 . THtr STONE Isa. 28 27.6; I Peter 2 z 4-8 i Rom. 9 :32 ,33 Israel stumbled OVER Christ (f Peler 2:B) the Church is }:r:ilt UPON Christ (f Cor. 3:11) Gentile world-clorninion will be broken BY Christ (Dan. 2:45) 15. SHEPIItrRD Isa. 40:t0,1I; Psalms 22, 23 and 24 - the good shepherd, the great sheptrerd, and the chief shepherd; John 10:11 TEACFIER - ïsaiah 2:3; I{icah 4:2 PROPHET - Deut. lB:I5,IB; Acts 3222,23 LAWGIVBR - Isaiah 33:22; Gen. 49:I0 B. DIVINE ATTRII]UTES I.JILL BE MANII,'EST'ED B. DIVINE ATTRII]UTES I.JILL BE MANII,'EST'ED BY CHP.IST 1. OMNISCIENCE, meaning 'al-I knov,,ing' - Isaiah 66:15-18; example, John 1:46-48 meaning 'aIl powerf ul ' - Isaiah 4l- : I A ,17 -20 ; promises that i,vill be fulfilled in the Kingdom (Psalm 46:L) . HOLINËSS Isaiah 6:3. Holiness wil-I pervade everything and wj-ll l:e manifested by the llessiah; JoeI 3:17; fsaiah 35:B TRUTH - John 14:6; fsaiair 25:L; 61:B RIGHTEOLISNtrSS - Psalm 45:4 ,7 ; Daniel 9:24; Isaiah 63 :1 6 . I4ERCY - Psalm 89 zL ,2; Isaiah 54 : 7-10 7. GLORY - Mat.thew 24:30; Psalm 72:19; Isaiai-r 4024,5 16. L7. 18. 2. OMNIPOTENCE,

page 7 PÀRT 3 THE SPIRIT'UAL CHAITACTtrR OF THE KINGDOI"I Covenant theologians accuse di-spensationalists of presenting a 'carnal', 'material' Kingdorn. The1, view this as veïy 'unspiritual' and Ínsist that the Kingdom is 'spiritual' and exists NOW in the hearts of believers. But this is falsel The idea that it exists now in the hearts of men is basecl on a bacl translation of f-uke 17 z2L, with the phrase 'the Kj.ngdom of God is within you'. (The NIV also translates j-t thj"s vray) . The Greek word for 'within' is ENTOS, and means 'in the midst', so that the phrase should be rthe Kingdom of God is in the midst of you' . This is to be understood to mean that the Kingdom is in their midst in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ - the K5-ng. Jesus spoke these words to unbelieving religíous Jews, not. to believing Jews as is commonly supposed. However, the Kingdorn is characteri:zer1 by spiritual quali-ties; and these qualities will be produced by the Holy Spirit. The Millennium can be called a spiritual Kinqdom without detracting from the mater:-ial and earthly blessings that will be world wide. 1. RÏGHTEOUSNESS - With God ruling on earth in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the righteousness of God will cover the earth (Isaiah 6I:11). Righteousness will pervade everything. OnIy the righteous wiII enter the Kingdom (Matt. 25237) . This is in relation to bhe Gent.iles. Israel is referred to in Isaiah 60:21; 2622. Righteousness will be synonymous rvith the l'lessiah (l4al-achi 4:2; Isaiah 46:13; 51:5) . His priesthood will be characterized by righteousness (Hebrews 6:20; 1:2). Psalms B 5 :10 and 7 2:l- 7 wi 1I t--hen be f ulf illed. Jerusalem will be the source of al1 righteousness (Isaiah l:26,27; 6221,2) . The Sermon on the }"lount (Ma'tthew 5-7) wil-I have its complete f ulf í1Iment in L.he t4illennium (tulatt. 5: 6 ,10 ) . 2. OBEDIENCE - Adam and Eve were created obedient human beings. They were bo do Goil's will at all times. They remained oLredienl- until Satan tempted them and since then, all members of the human race (except One) have become disobedient to God. Salvation is the only way to correct this condition. But during the I'1illennir.mr, beinq obedient to the will of God will be of the utmost irnportance. According to the According to the New Covenant, God will CAUSE His people to walk in His ways (ezekiel 36-.27,28) . sver)-the Gentiles will honor the name of Jehovah God and be obedient to I-Iim (Ma1achi 1:11; Psalm 22227,28) . The knowledge of God witl cover the earth (Isaiah tl:9) . 3. IIOï,INESS - This is anotirer ou.tstanding feature of the hol-iness Kingdom. Christ will reign from a throne of (Psalm 47:7,B) . Jerusalem will be holy (.]oel 3:17; Zech.