This story from Voice of the Martyrs is just one of many demonstrating the truth of these words.
It is the story of Sergei Bessarab who was shot to death in a small city called Isfara, where he had planted a church.
Sergei Bessarab became a Christian in prison as a result of another man also named Sergei who had prayed for Bessarab’s salvation. The two men had met in prison while Bessarab was serving time for his criminal activities.
In prison, Sergei prayed every day that Bessarab would come to Christ. But Bessarab was less than grateful for his friend’s concern. “Don’t waste time praying for me,” Bessarab told him.
Sergei remained steadfast in prayer, however, and Bessarab did eventually bend his knee to Christ. This should be a lesson for all of us. Keep praying, particularly for family members and loved ones. The former criminal became a bold witness for his Saviour both inside the prison walls and, after his release, as a pastor on the outside. In addition, he made frequent return visits to the prison to share the gospel with inmates.
Soon after, Bessarab and his wife Tamara moved to Isfara and planted a church, which began to grow as Muslims turned to Christ, a headline in the local paper asked the pointed question, “What’s Going to Be Done About Sergei Bessarab?”
Sergei Bessasab strumming his gutar in worship
On Jan. 20, 2004, the son of a local mosque leader answered the question, shooting and killing Bessarab as he strummed his guitar during his nightly time of worship, Scripture reading, and prayer.
When the young man who killed Bessarab was convicted and sent to prison, Christians were waiting there to meet him. In God’s amazing providence, the killer was eventually assigned to a cell with a Christian prisoner who had been led to Christ and discipled by Bessarab!
And over time, the mosque leader’s son became Bessarab’s spiritual grandson, placing his trust in Christ.
Think about it, Bessarab was once a convicted criminal. Many would have written him off spiritually. His killer, a Muslim was also far from God, and some may have written him off as well. But God’s grace can reach any heart.
Picture the final chapter of this story: Pastor Sergei Bessarab stands worshiping before God’s throne with the man who ended his life on earth and perhaps the two may be working together on this earth again during Jesus’ soon coming Millennial Kingdom.
“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6
The Burj Khalifa, this skyscraper is just over half a mile in height, making it the tallest building ever constructed. A reminder of the Tower of Babel. “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves,” Genesis 11:4
The Burj Al Arab hotel boasts having the highest tennis court in the world, but you have to make sure to keep the ball in the court…otherwise, you’ll never get it back!
Tallest building in the world
Tallest free-standing structure in the world
Highest number of stories in the world
Highest occupied floor in the world
Highest outdoor observation deck in the world
Elevator with the longest travel distance in the world
Tallest service elevator in the world
WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM OF GOD
The wise use of technology such as Nuclear Fusion for the production of power. Nuclear fusion is the process of taking two separate nuclei and combining them to form a different nucleus. Here’s a very easy way to think about it: Nuclear fusion is what generates energy that is emitted from the sun.
In agriculture, we might well see the production of food using the latest technology. This is already happening in places like Israel and the two projects shown here.
Green architecture: growing food in high-rise buildings close to where it will be consumed so it is fresh. This picture is of Singapore Vertical Farms Using the latest drip technology.
Modular A-Frame construction
This vertical farming system, called “A-Go-Gro” technology, grows vegetables in A-shaped towers, each of six meters tall. These modular A-frames are quick to install and easy to maintain. Each tower consists of 22 to 26 tiers of growing troughs, which are rotated around the aluminium tower frame at a rate of 1mm per second to ensure uniform distribution of sunlight, good airflow, and irrigation for all the plants. The plants don’t get overstressed under the sun… at the same time they can get nutrients in the water equally.
This farming system generates significantly higher yields than traditional growing methods — they are safe, of high quality, fresh, and delicious. Large varieties of tropical vegetables are grown, such as Chinese cabbage, spinach, lettuce, Xia bai Cai, Bayam, Kang kong, Cai Xin, Gai lan, Nai bai, etc.
The vertical farming system is housed in a protected environment of PVC roofing and netted walls to enable the cultivation of tropical leafy vegetables under natural sunlight, all year round. All these efficiencies ensure that production costs are kept low. Operational costs include raw materials like soil and seed and electricity to pump the water driving the structures. The rotation system does not need an electrical generator. It is powered by a unique gravity-aided water-pulley system that uses only one litre of water, which is collected in a rainwater-fed overhead reservoir. This method also boasts a very low carbon footprint as the energy needed to power one A-frame is the equivalent of illuminating just one 60-watt light bulb. The water powering the frames is recycled and filtered before returning to the plants. All organic waste on the farm is composted and reused.
Robbe’s Little Garden is a Finnish greenhouse construction company specializing in hybrid greenhouse-vertical farming solutions, its first hybrid farm having been built in 2015 and including 500-square meters of growing space. Two years later, Robbe’s Little Garden built a four-layered vertical farm with a footprint of 4,400 square meters. Now, the company is working on its largest hybrid farm to date, which will be built in 2022 and span 11,000 square meters. The farm will produce arugula, spinach, and baby leaf greens to reduce Finland’s reliance on field-grown products imported from southern Europe. The hybrid system has a polycarbonate roof. However, it’s a completely controlled environment that will allow Robbe’s Little Garden to fully adapt to Finland drastic seasonal variations. The system will also be equipped with 500 kW of solar panels to power the farm’s LED lighting and cooling system during the summertime. Our products are going to be crazy fresh compared to imported products,” says Robert Jordas, owner of Robbe’s Little Garden. “We’re talking about minutes or a few hours after harvest, as compared to days or weeks for imported products.”
In the 11,000-square meter facility, Robbe’s Little Garden will only need two people for the production/growing area and five people in the packing area thanks to a fully automated system. This, as Robert explains, will help to keep the farm competitive within Finland but also prove its potential for other countries as well.
In Finland, vertical farming is already well established for the production of herbs and lettuce. By combining highly efficient technology with the market demand for local arugula, spinach, and baby leaf lettuce, Robbe’s Little Garden is pushing closer to Finnish food security every day.
New technology will be wisely used in the Millennium. In fact. I believe Nuclear Fusion for energy production will be perfected as will many other technologies that are even unknown today. Moreover, resurrected Saints, such as Isaac Newton and Johannes Kepler, will probably be in charge of ensuring these new technologies are only used for good. The temptation to use powerful new technologies for evil will still exist as humans will still be fundamentally depraved because of their sinful nature. This is why the Bible repeatedly tells us that in the Millennium Jesus and the Saints will rule with a rod of iron.
Chevron invests in nuclear fusion start-up Zap Energy
God reveals Himself (in part) through what He has created and it could be expected that His creation will display these aspects of His nature. Hence, we who are made in His image (Genesis 1:26–27) will continue to create as He creates.
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalms 19:1
“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” Romans 1:19-20
Man being made in God’s likeness and given dominion over all the earth and its inhabitants (animals, fish, birds, and insects) would indicate man has the capability of understanding most of what God had made. Our having been given dominion over the creation (Genesis 1:28) and our having been commanded to love God with our minds (Luke 10:27) also provides moral justification for studying it. Indeed, to investigate our world brings glory to the Creator (1 Kings 4:30–34; Luke 12:27).
“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,” Proverbs 25:2-3
Professor Rodney Stark*, “Christians developed science because they believed it could be done and should be done.”
Sequence and overall structure of DNA1. (A) A detailed sequence of DNA1. (B) The overall structure of DNA1 quadruplex. The complexity of the structure and information on multiple levels is mind-boggling.
The basis of modern science depends on the assumption that the universe was made by a rational Creator. An orderly universe makes perfect sense only if it were made by an orderly Creator. Moreover, Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton — were all young-earth creationists (http://www.creation.com) Many key aspects in biology (as well as the other major branches of modern science) were discovered by creationists! For example, Louis Pasteur discovered that many diseases were caused by germs and showed that life comes only from life, Gregor Mendel discovered genetics, and Carolus Linnaeus developed the modern classification system. And even today, many scientists, including biologists, contribute greatly to their field despite believing in biblical creation and disbelieving the General Theory of Evolution (the theory that all the living forms in the world have arisen from a single source which itself came from an inorganic form).
Physicists and Cosmologists have come to realise that information was in existence prior to the creation of the universe. But information needs a substrate to instantiate it. Examples of information substrates are the DNA molecule that holds the genome. And as you will read further on DNA is the language of God. Information and its substrate are not all there is, there has to be an intentional mind behind it.
Biblically informed beliefs about God led to the prediction that the universe would have the characteristics necessary to do science, that men’s minds were capable of this, and that scientific endeavour would be fruitful. This was never a prediction of atheism. If it is understood that the universe “just happened” or has “just always been”, rather than being the creation of a rational God who endowed it with natural laws, why should anybody think that it would be orderly and its workings comprehensible?
Christian beliefs provided the basis for science, making possible medicine, sanitation, transport, communications, and all the other technologies that have so radically improved our quality of life.Technology will be further developed and utilised in the Millennium.
*Professor Rodney Stark is presently the Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University, co-director of the university’s Institute for Studies of Religion, and founding editor of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion.
Stark has written over 30 books, including The Rise of Christianity (1996), and more than 140 scholarly articles on subjects as diverse as prejudice, crime, suicide, and city life in ancient Rome.[2] He has twice won the Distinguished Book Award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, for The Future of Religion: Secularization, Revival, and Cult Formation (1985, with William Sims Bainbridge), and for The Churching of America 1776–1990 (1992, with Roger Finke).[3]
Imagine what it will be like ruling and reigning with Jesus on this earth during His prophesied Millennial Kingdom. All the amazing technology under development today will be fully utilised.
British Scientists In World-First Fusion Power Breakthrough. The long-held dream of pollution and radiation-free electricity derived from nuclear fusion could be a step closer to reality thanks to a major breakthrough by a team of British scientists.
“We built MAST Upgrade to solve the exhaust problem for compact fusion power plants, and the signs are that we’ve succeeded. Super-X reduces the heat on the exhaust system from a blowtorch level down to more like you’d find in a car engine. This could mean it would only have to be replaced once during the lifetime of a power plant. It’s a pivotal development for the UK’s plan to put a fusion power plant on the grid by the early 2040s – and for bringing low-carbon energy from fusion to the world.”
Imagine the green cities of the future. Plants will be grown in high-rise buildings using solar power and water drip technology. The people living in those cities will have fresh fruit and vegetables available all year round. Electric and solar-powered self-driving vehicles of the optimum size for the number of people and the length of the journey to be undertaken will be requested as required.
FUTURISTIC GREEN CITY
I am presently developing a website http://www.millennialkingdom.net where you will be able to find out all about what God has revealed in His Word, the Bible about His coming Millennial Kingdom. There are some 2000 prophecies about Jesus’ second coming to earth to rule and reign over the nations from a new Jerusalem and Israel. Did you know that new Jerusalem will be on the highest mountain in the world at that time? All nations will go up to Jerusalem in the Millennium.
“And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the Lordhave spoken it, and I will do it.” Ezekiel 36:35-36
“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,”Isaiah 2:2& Micah 4:1\
Millennial Jerusalem – A new name – The Lord is There
The new heaven and new earth will only be experienced after the second resurrection and the White Throne Judgement. What is not taught much in our churches is the Millennial reign of Jesus on this earth that proceeds the second resurrection and the White Throne Judgement. And yet much of Bible prophecy, all the O.T. prophets, reveals their Messiah ruling and reigning the nations on this earth. We know it is on this earth because the curse has not been lifted. People are being born and people are still dying but with longer life spans and infant mortality is close to zero.
Much of what you read on livingeternal.net is to prepare Christians for the coming Millennial Kingdom and what precedes it. God has given us a lot of information on the last seven years (70th Week of Daniel) preceding Jesus return to earth first to take the Saints to heaven (The Rapture) and to simultaneously pour out His wrath upon unrepentant earth with the Trumpet and Bowl Judgements. He must want us to know it.
We need to use these prophecies to plead with the lost that they need to get right with their Creator, they do not want to face His coming wrath. Read the extent of the disasters God unleashes on the earth with the final Bowl Judgement.
“Then the seventh (angel) poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the sanctuary from the throne, saying, “It is done!” There were flashes of lightning and rumblings of thunder. And a severe earthquake occurred like no other since man has been on the earth — so great was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the Great was remembered in God’s presence; He gave her the cup filled with the wine of His fierce anger. Every island fled, and the mountains disappeared. Enormous hailstones, each weighing about 100 pounds, fell from the sky on people, and they blasphemed God for the plague of hail because that plague was extremely severe.” Revelation 16:17-21
After the wrath of God is poured out, Jesus returns with the resurrected saints (new bodies) for the final battle with the Antichrist’s armies. Jesus then ushers in His Millennium Kingdom. I am preparing a new website http://www.millennialkingdom.net where people can go to find out what God has already revealed to us about Jesus coming Millennial Kingdom. It is early stages but you can take a look at it. Any constructive input on it is welcome.
“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on His head. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself. He wore a robe stained with blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from His mouth so that He might strike the nations with it. He will shepherd them with an iron sceptre. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh:KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and makes war… And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Revelation 19:11, 14-17
Is Jesus enthroned in your life? Is allegiance to King Jesus central to your life? If not, then it is unlikely you will rule and reign with Jesus in His Millennial Kingdom.
An important and neglected part of the Gospel Message is Jesus return to this earth to fulfill the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants and the prophecies of the O.T. prophets that has Israel’s Messiah ruling and reigning over all the nations of the earth from a totally renovated/restructured Jerusalem. How many pastors are talking about the need for Christians to prepare now to rule and reign with Jesus on this earth.
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10
“Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6
Moreover, Jesus and the Saints will need to rule with a rod of iron even though we are told Satan is bound for one thousand years . The curse has not been lifted off this earth. This earth still has one thousand years of existence in its fallen state before it is finally destroyed with fire. Jesus will rule and reign on this earth for one thousand years and then the unthinkable happens Satan is released and he gathers an enormous army from those who are living under the reign of King Jesus and His Saints to come against them. It is not a battle, fire comes down from heaven and destroys them. Even with Jesus and the Saints ruling on this earth in what must seem like paradise in comparison to today people will still rebel against God reigning over them just as Satan and one third of the angels did.
This earth and heaven is then destroyed and what follows is the second resurrection of the dead, the White Throne Judgement and only thena New Heaven and Earth where sin/rebellion is no more along with no more pain, suffering and death.
Ruling with a rod of iron in Jesus Millennial Kingdom
“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.” Revelation 2:27
“From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron.” Revelation 19:15-18
What will life be like in the Millennial Kingdom? Does God reveal in His Word what it will be like? Yes He does, and I will be revealing much of it on this website as I believe this is what God has called me to do with the final years He has allocated for me on His Earth. I am presently working on a new website http://www.millennialkingdom.net where House Church leaders in particular will be able to access PowerPoint sermons and videos on the Millennial Kingdom.
To encourage you to search God’s Word for information on the Millennial reign of Jesus on this earth, we will take a look at what the Scriptures say about the new Jerusalem. Did you know the entire world will be restructured when the wrath of God is poured out with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements? Did you know that the new Jerusalem will be on the highest mountain in the world?
“The cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” Revelation 16:19-20
“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,” Isaiah 2:2
“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it,” Micah 4:1
•It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,” Isaiah 2:2
The mountain’s great height emphasizes Jerusalem as the centre of world authority, for all the nations will flow to it.
The millennial Jerusalem is nine times larger than the current city.
Jerusalem – A new city, A new name – The Lord is There, A new Temple
The temple is located outside the city, in the northern section of the sacred land given to the priests and it alone is bigger than the current city of Jerusalem.
The millennial Jerusalem sits on the highest plateau and has two rivers flowing out of its east and west sides. A totally new construct.
The land surrounding Jerusalem will have been transformed into a plain. It will run from Geba in the north to Rimmon in the South. The plain will contrast with the then highly lifted Jerusalem. (Zechariah 14:10)
Geba and Rimmon/Beersheba marking respectively the northern and southern limits of Millennial Israel. (2 Kings 23:8)
I hope the above has encouraged you to do your own research: Isaiah and Ezekiel are replete with information on the Millennial Kingdom. You will note that I have quoted from Isaiah, Ezekiel, Micah, Revelation Zechariah and 2 Kings in the above post. I will be posting more on the Millennial Kingdom in the months ahead as the “end times” prophesied events continue to play out.
Most people are comfortable even happy with their life of SIN. If you are a Rock Star earning lots of money with lots of young girls wanting to be with you, regardless of the cost, then why would you want to repent? The Gospel is not good news to this Rock Star not unless the Holy Spirit convicts him of his SIN.
Nevertheless, as ambassadors of God, we are called to beg people on His behalf to turn from their SIN, to come back into relationship with Him but on His terms. They need to know their eternal destiny is at stake. However, we must also convey to them the extent of their Creator’s love for them (Jesus died that they might have life).. But, ultimately they must want to be in relation with God, to love Him as He loves them and as a result are prepared to repent i.e. turn from their sinful life and keep His commandments.
SIN IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM
“Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.” Revelation 20:4-5
The most unexpected aspect of Jesus coming Millennial Kingdom on this earth is Satan’s part in the story. We are told an angel seizes him and bounds him with a great chain, throws him into “the bottomless pit”, shuts it and seals it over him. Note that only another angel was needed to do it. My guess is the angel Michael. Satan is bound for almost the entire 1000 years.
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.” Revelation 20:1-3
Why must Satan be released?
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle;their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them” Revelation 20:7-9
Jesus and the resurrected Saints have been ruling and reigning for 1000 years. Mind you, we are told they rule with a rod of iron. Even with Jesus ruling and Satan bound, Sin is still a major problem. It is a heart problem, people still want to be God and not have anyone, even their Creator to rule over them. Remember, despite being in the presence of God, Satan and a third of the angels rebelled against God. It will still be a major problem with Jesus and the Saints ruling and reigning in the Millennium. The number that rebel is like the “sand of the sea”.
“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.” Revelation 2:27
When Jesus was asked by His disciples about the end times and His return to this earth:
“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?Matthew 24:3
The following two paragraphs are just a sample of the detail Jesus gave them in His response entitled the Olivet Discourse.
“And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:4-14
Jesus does not paint a “rosy/joyous” picture to attract followers. Why would anyone want to follow Him when this is their fate? It should challenge the sceptic as to Jesus authenticity. In addition, what Jesus prophesied is in fact unfolding in our time. Fulfilled Biblical prophecy proves the Bibles authenticity.
This idea that Jesus’ second coming is imminent is found throughout Scripture. The following scripture tells us not only to wait for Jesus second coming but also that He will deliver us from the wrath to come.
“and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrathto come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:10
This scripture reinforces that Jesus is coming again to deliver us from a time of affliction.
“and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7
The following two scriptures address the purpose of His first coming and the blessed hope we have for His second coming. The second scripture also covers His promise to deliver Israel from its enemies.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ,” Titus 2:11-13
“so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:28
Expecting Jesus to return should make us watchful, diligent in our faith, and eager to live holy lives in preparation to rule and reign with Jesus in His Millennial Kingdom.
“For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.” Isaiah 62:1-2 The name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.” Ezekiel 48:35
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6
You need to start thinking about the role Jesus will assign to you during His Millennial reign on this earth. Remember, Jesus and the Saints will rule with a rod of iron. Satan is bound for most of the Millennium but God has revealed that he will be released at the end and he is able to assemble an enormous army from people who have been born during the Millennium to come against Jesus and the Saints. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9
“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” Revelation 20:7-9
“My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, it is coming and it shall be done,” declares the LORD God. “That is the day of which I have spoken” (Ezekiel 39:8).
When will God not allow His holy name to be profaned any more in Israel? Only after Jesus returns. When will God set His “glory among the nations”? When He establishes His kingdom (Millennial Kingdom) on this earth. When will the entire house of Israel come to know the Lord and experience a great outpouring of His Spirit? Only after the Second Coming of their Messiah.
What an amazing Scripture this is. God has unfinished business with Israel. The nation He established for His purposes.All the nations will know God is the Holy One of Israel. “Behold it is coming and it shall be done.”
“And I will set My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgement which I have executed and My hand which I have laid on them. And the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God from that day onward” (Ezekiel 39:21).
It is amazing the detail God revealed to Ezekiel about what He will do with Israel in the last days.
“I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. Ezekiel 37:21-22
“Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” Ezekiel 37:26-28
Look at this scripture which says unbelievers will learn why God has dealt harshly with Israel
“And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.” Ezekiel 39:23
And finally God explains He will pour out His Spirit upon the House of Israel when He has gathered them out from their enemies lands then Israel and the nations will know God is the Lord God of Israel.
“When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 39:27-29
In this post we have looked at what God revealed to Ezekiel. He revealed just as much if not more to Isaiah. It just confirms what was said to Ezekiel and the other prophets. Next post we will look at what Moses revealed to the nation about its future even before they went into the promised land.
“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6
This catastrophe (Covid 19) is a perfect opportunity for the church to remind people that the kingdoms of this world are not where our hope is found, and that we preach a kingdom that is coming and has come: the kingdom of God with Jesus on the throne. First, Jesus will fulfill the Abrahamic covenant and rule and reign on this earth for a thousand years.
“They (resurrected believers) came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6
In this kingdom there is perfect rule, although we are told Jesus and the resurrected saints will need to rule with a “rod of iron” (Rev. 2:27, 19:15) and at the end of the thousand years when Satan is released from the abyss where he has been chained for the thousand years he is still able to raise an immense army to come against Jesus and the saints.
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10
It is only after this final battle will this earth be destroyed with fire. The second resurrection of the rest of the dead (mostly unbelievers) will take place followed by the white throne judgement. It is only then John sees the new heaven and new earth where the saints will dwell not only with Jesus but also our Heavenly Father.
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.” Revelation 20:11
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,..” Revelation 21:1
“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” Revelation 21:2-3
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Preface to my book LIVING ETERNAL NOW
The Bible is full of fulfilled prophesy which is testimony of its divine inspiration and inerrancy. It is estimated that as much as 75% of the 2,500 prophesies in the Bible have already been fulfilled, and most of those yet to happen are “last days/end time” events.
How many churches today are preparing their congregations for Jesus’ second coming? Do you realise that there are more prophecies about Jesus’ second coming than His first. The Pharisees and Sadducees did not get it with His first coming, and the church is not getting it, with His second coming, maybe in your lifetime.
“For this reason, you also must beready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” Matt. 24:44
Equipped with the knowledge of the Bible’s “last days” prophecies, we will see many of these events unfold in our time. We will look at these unfolding “end times” events in the last chapter, Discerning the Times. It is an exciting time for a Christian who is prepared to live eternal now. For both the unbeliever and believer alike “great tribulation” is ahead, but the discerning believer understands the times and is prepared.
I would like this book to help equip Christians to fulfil God’s assignment for them in these last days. You will only be able to do that, if you are aware of the times we are in, submit to the indwelling Holy Spirit, have total confidence in God’s Word, and are able to defend it to an unbelieving church, atheists and agnostics.
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 