Many Christians have come to the astonishing conclusion that the prophesied "millennium age" is tantamount to Christian fantasy - the wishful thinking of the hopelessly deluded who worship among us.
We expect to hear that sort of reaction from the world; of course they won't believe in a coming earth-age that will be defined by the King of Glory ruling from His Throne in Jerusalem. But to get this reaction from Christians was (admittedly) a blow to me when I first began to share with various individuals the eschatological certainties that The Lord gave me concerning that glorious time.
But what if I told you that I can prove the millennium age as an absolute fact by providing a couple quick scriptures?
Come now - let's have a go...
"To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations — that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’ — just as I have received authority from my Father." Revelation 2:26-27
"She gave birth to a son, a male child, who 'will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.' And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne." Revelation 12:5
"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords." Rev. 19:15
And in a Psalm that all theologians agree prophesy of Yeshua's coming (Psalm 2:9) we see this utterance written:
"You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery."
These scriptures (easily gleaned with a simple Bible Gateway search) immediately give us pause and beg the following logical questions:
1. Exactly how "warm and fuzzy" does "ruled with an Iron scepter" sound to you? Indeed, we might want to entirely re-think our perceptions of Jesus' return when considering these scriptures. Contrary to what is taught within the construct of (skewed) modern-day theology, and despite the constant slandering of pop-culture, Jesus is not a beat-nick be-sandled hippy prancing about throwing the peace sign wherever He goes. He is the King of Glory whose coming rule cannot be interpreted as anything other than an absolute monarchy with dire consequences for those who oppose Him. Many Christians need to get their minds right as it pertains to the One they claim to know and love. We presently enjoy The King's age of grace and mercy - but "that day" will be a different story, I assure you.
2. For those of you who think these scriptures speak of Yeshua's reign in Heaven, I must again direct your attention to the characterizing phrase, "rule them with an iron scepter". Will there be need of an iron scepter in Heaven? Of course not! Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven will be glorified and eternally freed of any carnality that might require the rule of such a scepter. No - the phrase "rule them with an iron scepter" is strictly an earth thing. As such, these scriptures prove that the rule of which Jesus speaks is an Earthly reign that has yet to be seen in the world.
This is merely a scratch of the surface. Let's examine one more scripture found among the prophetic writings of Isaiah (65:17-19):
"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more."
A quick pause to ask - this is only about Heaven, right?
Not so fast...
It goes on in verse 20 to state:
"Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed."
Beloved, please think... There is no death in Heaven. NO DEATH. It is therefore impossible for this scripture to be describing a reality restricted to Heaven. Now pause a moment and re-read verse 20 (above).
This passage is clearly including details of an EARTHLY reign of astonishing blessing and abundance wherein death is still a possibility. The Millennium reign of our King is the only logical conclusion to the matter.
The final question that I can all-but-hear some asking is something like this: "What does it matter if there's a Millennium Reign?"
Brothers and sisters - it matters immensely.
Imagine reading a story about a great hero - only to find at the end of the book that the hero could only defeat his enemies (and win the day) by appealing to the author to end the book as a means of rescuing the characters. Even if the hero proved to be the means by which the story "happily ended" (so that everyone could be saved and the wicked thwarted) would we not consider this a hallow conclusion to the matter?
No, rest assured - Jesus is not returning merely to rescue us from the devil and his puppet antichrist. He will return to stomp their guts out and take His rightful place as God Most High and Emperor of this world. For the better part of a thousand years, this world will be made right - until Abba is good and ready to call us up and end the earth on HIS terms.
The millennium reign of Jesus is the second act to what He started when He first came to make atonement and defeat the devil and his minions. It is the satisfying moment of absolute victory on Earth! The King of Glory returning to the very place of death and shame to make a spectacle of the enemy and show the world that everything He said was true - and that His Kingdom will never end.
The Millennium Reign is our happy ending.... ON EARTH as it is IN HEAVEN.
Your brother and servant in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Mark Scott Grimmett
GoldenLight Ministries
www.YeshuasArmy.com