Luke 21:8
Christian, Be Not Deceived!
CHAPTER XXXII.
AFTER THE MILLENNIUM—THE CONSUMMATION OF BIBLE PROPHECIES.
God's promises to man could not have been fulfilled without the first advent of our Lord; they could not all be fulfilled without the second coming of Christ at the commencement of the 1,000 years; they will not be completely fulfilled without the third coming of Christ at the end of the millennium. Throughout Scripture and human history all things move towards the consummation of the plan of redemption, which occurs after the millennium. Important though the second coming of Christ undoubtedly is, the prophecies also point beyond the glories and wonders of the second advent to His third coming after the millennium: they point to the finale of the controversy between Christ and Satan; the destruction of all sinners and the results of sin; the completion of the plan of redemption, and the commencement of the eternal kingdom. Note the following examples which demonstrate that the consummation of the prophecies occurs after the millennium:—
| THE SECOND ADVENT: BEFORE THE 1,000 YEARS. | THE THIRD ADVENT: AFTER THE 1,000 YEARS. |
|---|---|
| Jude 14, 15. Jesus comes with His holy ones "to execute judgment upon" all who are alive at the second advent. 6T., p. 392; G.C., pp. 299, 426 quote Jude 14, 15 in connection with the second advent. | Jesus comes with His holy ones "to execute judgment upon all" the unsaved from the commencement of sin—evil angels and men. G.C. 549 quotes Jude 14, 15 in connection with events after the millennium. |
| Job 19:25, 26. "He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." Jesus stood "upon the earth" at His first advent: He will resurrect the dead at His second advent, but will not "stand upon the earth" (1 Thess. 4:16-18); He will again literally stand "upon the earth" after the millennium. | After the millennium, "His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives." Zech. 14:4. |
| John 5:25-29. The resurrection of the righteous occurs at the second coming of Christ. | The resurrection of the wicked takes place after the millennium. See Rev. 20:3-6. |
| 2 Thess. 1:7-9. Jesus comes "in flaming fire, taking vengeance" punishing and destroying. | All the wicked are finally punished and destroyed after the millennium. Those who are alive at the second advent are destroyed; but the second death, from which there is no resurrection, takes place after the millennium. See Rev. 20:6; 21:8. |
| Gen. 3:15. At the second advent, Christ bruises Satan. Rom. 16:20; Rev. 20:1-3. (At the first advent Satan bruised Christ. Gen. 3:15 has a triple application.) | After the millennium, Satan is destroyed. Rev. 20. |
| The prophecy of Dan. 2. At the second advent, the stone destroys the ten kingdoms represented by the ten toes. | The complete and final destruction of all the people of the kingdoms represented by the various metals, and the establishment of the eternal kingdom of Christ ("the stone that smote the image . . . filled the whole earth") occurs after 'the millennium. |
| The prophecy of Dan. 7. At His second advent, Christ is given "dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve Him." Dan. 7:14. | The eternal kingdom is not established on this earth until after the millennium. V. 27. |
| The prophecy of Dan. 10 to 12. Daniel stands in his "lot" in the Investigative Judgment. | Daniel stands in his "lot" in the eternal Canaan. Dan. 12:13. |
| The prophecy of the seven trumpets. Rev. 8 to 11. "The kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord" at the second advent. Rev. 11:15. | Jesus "shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev. 11:15) on this earth after the millennium. |
| At His second advent, Jesus "destroys them that destroy the earth." Rev. 11:18. At His second advent, Jesus "gives reward unto" His servants. Rev. 11:18; 22:11, 12. | After the millennium, Jesus destroys all the wicked who have destroyed the earth. After the millennium, Jesus gives rewards unto His servants—they inherit the earth, and share His throne. Matt. 5:5; Rev. 3:21. |
| Dan. 7:11. The Roman beast exists until it is slain at coming of Christ. | After the millennium, it is "given to the burning the second flame." |
| 2 Thess. 2:3-8. "The man of sin . . . the son of "perdition" is destroyed "with the brightness of" Christ's second advent. | After the millennium, "ungodly men" go into "perdition." 2 Pet. 3:7. Then, "the son of perdition" (2 (Thess. 2:3) "goeth into perdition." Rev. 17:11. |
| Rev. 19:20. "The beast . . . and the false prophet are cast into a lake of fire" at the second advent. Christ's glory is so brilliant "the fiery stream" which issues before Him" (Dan. 7:10)—and so envelopes the earth (Ps. 18:12-15; 50:3-5; 97:3-5), that to John in vision the lake of fire which destroys the wicked at the end of the 1,000 years appeared to commence at the time of the second advent. "Fierce lightnings leap from the heavens, enveloping the earth." G.C. 637. "Like consuming fire . . . wrapped in flaming fire." p. 641. | After the millennium all the wicked are "cast into the lake of fire . . where the beast and the false prophet are [or, "were"]." Rev. 20:10. |
The prophecies which have a fulfilment at the second advent have their complete fulfilment at the end of the 1,000 years. Though the prophecies concerning Armageddon have a spiritual fulfilment at the second advent, they have their complete fulfilment after the millennium.
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