Heaven on Earth - Part B

The millennium is needed to redeem creation from the curse from the judgment there's been a curse on this creation since the fall of man in Genesis chapter 3. That is not been undone. The millennium is the answer to the reverse of. Also, during the tribulation. This is going to get completely trash worse thing to be as environmentalist in the tribulation because it's going to get trashed by God by the devil and by man studying the Bible can show you what your future holds. That shouldn't just be empty knowledge if you let him, God will change your heart.

Along the way. Today on connect with Skip Heitzig Skip shares for the future millennium is necessary and what it means for you into the program script and his wife. When you share more insight on how you can live with an eternal mindset.

I would say be faithful but then I would also say be perfect. Jesus taught us a prayer and I think it's a good template for prayer I did. It's a good template for prayer every single let's call the Lord's prayer part of it is thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Thank you, Skip them when you be sure to stay with us after today's message to hear the full discussion right now we want to tell you about a special resource that will give you important insight on the very first book of the Bible never walk into a movie like you may never catch up on one well seems to the Bible as the opening book your questions Genesis is the foundation it's the ground floor. If we don't understand the book of Genesis won't understand what follows that's divisive reminding that all attention, death and resurrection starts in the book of Genesis, God says to Satan, I will put enmity between the woman between your seed and her seed, the promise of the Redeemer is the seed out of the left of the five discover the foundation of your faith, the book of Genesis are you do you get $35 or more today. Request your copy when you get online securely connectwithskip.com/Oliver or call 800-9200 92 1888 Revelation chapter 20 is given to the message with Skip Heitzig.

Now look at verse six 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.

All the resurrected saints of all the ages of Old Testament believers. The apostles New Testament believers tribulation believers all resurrected reigning with Christ for a thousand years some of your thinking man at sound like a lot of work. I don't picture heaven like that. This is my idea of heaven will. This is in heaven. This is heaven on earth.

This is this is one of the phases of your eternal future.

You and your glorify. Let me underscore that you have glorified bodies you have renewed mind do not get tired and I was in high school my mom try to wake me up for school in the morning was empty.

Tired, I can have that excuse in the future of a brand-new body with brand-new capabilities.

I'll be tired less and I'm expecting to rule and reign with Christ for a thousand years. Jesus gave a parable of a master speaking to his servant saying well done good and faithful servant. Listen to the language you were faithful over a little. I will make you a ruler over tens such as an interesting idea.

It's so interesting that Dallas Willard in one of his books about this and I quote, perhaps it would be a good exercise for each of us to ask ourselves, really, how many cities could I govern under God.

If, for example, Baltimore or Liverpool were turned over to me with power to do what I want with it. How would things turn out an honest answer to this question might do much to prepare us for our eternal future in the universe" me just say for the record for the record for me.

Forget Liverpool.

Forget Baltimore.

I got dibs on Hawaii, rules on that. The place but will see. That's the extent of it.

It's a thousand years on a reconstructed or now I want to move to a second facet of this earthly kingdom. That is the explanation of we've noted six times in seven versus that phrase thousand years occurs. Do you realize the chapter 20 and that phrase in particular is the center of the theological battleground for years and it all revolves around that term thousand years and here's the question here's the issue is the argument here is the battleground is that thousand years really thousand years is not a literal actual thing and time. Or is that just a spiritualized figurative number thrown out there just mean one time.

Don't know how long this long time sometime anytime long time. What is it just some figurative spiritual issue. So in answering that issue. There are three viewpoints three viewpoints first viewpoint is called the pre-millennial viewpoint premillennialism.

I know it's a big worded premillennial means that we believe Jesus will come back before pre-millennium.

That's all he comes back first to the earth from heaven, and then he reigns for a thousand years from the throne of David in Jerusalem that's a premillennial viewpoint.

I believe that if you read the Bible straightforward, pretty much chronologically and you interpret the Bible. Normally you will come up with a premillennial viewpoint.

By the way, this was the dominant view of the early church for the first three centuries first three centuries was until the fourth century when a group of people in Alexandria, Egypt called the school and Alexandria decided that the Bible should be looked at mystically, not literally, but it's an allegory for the first three centuries. The great scholars like Pappy a pseudo-Barnabas Justin Martyr, Ira Naess, to Julian and hip elitists all looked at a literal thousand year reign of Christ on earth. Jesus coming before the that's premillennial second is a post-millennial view of never been to seminary you're going to it right now a post-millennial view, that is, we believe Jesus they believe Jesus will come back after good post.

After the millennium and the way it works. They say, is that Jesus will come after a golden age which we bring in. We will Christianize the world. The church will preach the gospel to the whole world and the world will get better and better and better and more Christian than it's ever been before and then will give the kingdom to Jesus when he comes and sets up an eternal state you say who on earth believes that well that was a popular view in the late 19th century. Early 20th century, things like the Industrial Revolution, lots of scientific advancements a lot of optimism because of that, but then what happened to that idea they would have been to World War I happened to the Great Depression in America happened to World War II happened to Nazi Germany happened to it on and on and on and on. Lots of real life experience happen to that viewpoint. So optimism died off. However, that viewpoint has sort of come back in what is called dominion theology kingdom theology that is we the church will take dominion of this earth. Take dominion over earthly institutions take dominion of the government, but a Christian in the White House, Christian, and the government will will bring in the kingdom and will turn the kingdom over to Jesus as if he needs our help.

1/3 viewpoint is called millennialism or the millennial view that is the belief that there really isn't a millennium at all is not a literal thousand years all figurative.

It's all spiritualized.

In fact, the kingdom is now this is it here in the kingdom. The kingdom is the church age all the promises they say that God made to Israel are null and void their fulfilled in the church we are spiritual Israel.

There is no literal revived Israel is no literal Jesus raining from Jerusalem the throne of David, all that's figurative. It just means the church age. So what they tell us is this is as good as against this is good as it gets trying to say in response to that. If this is the kingdom, I'm terribly disappointed if you call this the kingdom than that. This is one of those cases where the book is better than the movie is what I read in this book doesn't look anything like what I see around me, even in the church age. The most compelling reason to look at the Bible literally and even the book of Revelation. This way and in a in a premillennial view is really there is no other way to interpret it. If you interpret the rest of the Bible literally. But then when it comes to prophecy. This to me what it says it means you got problems you open a Pandora's box of his life, if the thousand doesn't mean a thousand was a me what you gonna tell me means without me thousand you can have drugs and I don't know what it means but it doesn't mean what it says it means and seat you have that problem not just with the thousand year you have a problem with the whole book of Revelation, because it's very exact in its numbers right, you read about seven churches 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles, are they not literal either on 1/3 of mankind. Two witnesses 42 months, 1260 days 12,000 furlongs. The Bible is very clear about the numbers that are in it. So I agree with Vance Abner who said it's always easier to understand what the Bible says and to understand what someone thinks it meant to say so in summary says I know it says that thousand but it means anything but a thousand you open Pandora's box whose unit tell you what anything means that well was put that aside for a minute with the devil incarcerated with the devil gone. What a wonderful world it will be right that dramatically alters lots of things. What's in it. What's he working to look like. According to the Bible, will, according to the Bible.

During that time it will be a time of peace, not war.

They will beat their swords into plowshares Isaiah chapter 2 their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn to make war anymore and that is by messiahs kingdom that text makes very very clear today March for peace, joy and peace movements make peace signs give out peace prizes but there's one thing that is glaringly absent in all of peace that will be a time of peace worldwide earth wide peace. A second thing, and by the way there hundreds I just don't have time to give you the highlights.

Second thing the animal kingdom will be tamed. The curse will be at least partially removed creation will be free this and what it says. Isaiah 11 and the Wolf and the Lamb will lie down together. That doesn't happen can happen now if the Wolf and lamb lay down together. The Wolf will get up and the Lamb will be gone.

The wolf and the lamb will live together the leopard and the goat will be at peace.

The child will put his hand into a nest of deadly snakes and pull it out unharmed today. We need zoos to appreciate these creatures. I was in candy at one time and we were in a truck where old Land Rover.

I was in the back and we saw a little group of lions over one section so we drove over there and I rolled down my window and I put my neck in my path. My upper body way I stretch way out of the telephoto lens and the driver very calmly said, don't do that.

Get back in the car rolled the window up an ID was very common. I rolled it up and then he proceeded to tell me about the people who have been mauled by lions, doing what I had just done. That impulse will be gone the animal kingdom will be tamed 1/3 thing the biosphere will be lush. There will be a new global ecological system and hydrological system. Isaiah 35 even the wilderness will rejoice in those days the desert will blossom with flowers. The deserts will become. Listen to this. We who live in Albuquerque the deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon Springs will gush forth in the wilderness and streams will water the desert. Albuquerque is going to look like England, the west side is in the look like Western Oregon. There will be the healing of disabilities. Isaiah 35 you will open the eyes of the blind and unstopped. The years of the death, the lame will leap like a deer in those who cannot speak will shout and sing. Can you imagine perpetual health, no aches, no pains, no doctors, no HMOs, no Abbeville. Another thing is longevity. Isaiah 65.

Never again. Never again will there be an infant who does who lives a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years. He who dies of 100 will be thought a mere youth. By the way I've mentioned before joy to the world, the Lord is come right and that's speak about the second coming. Have you ever thought of the third stanza of joy to the world.

It's all about the millennium. The third stanza no more.

Let Cindy and sorrows grow North thorns infest the ground. All of that language comes from Isaiah speaking about this earthly kingdom. So we look to the extent of it in the explanation of it. I want to close with the third facet of this coming earthly kingdom. That's the essentiality of the necessity of it. Here's a question and usually believers don't even spend this much time thinking about why we even need a millennium what's the whole purpose here. Why hassle with the thousand years on earth. Why not just go directly to the eternal state for like Monopoly game right go directly to heaven do not pass or do not collect $200. Why do we need it. There several reasons.

Let me give you just a couple number one, the millennium is needed to redeem the creation from the curse from the judgment there's been a curse on this creation since the fall of man in Genesis chapter 3.

That is not been undone.

The millennium is the answer to that to reverse it. Also, during the tribulation. This earth is going to get completely trashed worse thing to be as an environmentalist in the tribulation because it's gonna get trashed by God by the devil and by man, but God in the millennium takes an makes it beautiful. Thus, the millennium is God's answer to our prayers for so long.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven it's needed to redeem the curse from judgment. Second reason the millennium is needed is to fulfill all of those promises God made to the nation of Israel Scripture is filled with promises of an earthly kingdom as well as a heavenly kingdom to the people of Israel. God made a covenant with David second Samuel chapter 7 that somebody would come from his own body who would rule over a kingdom that would be an eternal kingdom and in David's mind.

He was in the got heaven. He was thinking about a local real earthly dominion and then that covenant was confirmed by an oath Psalm 89 tells us a heavenly and an earthly kingdom, the millennium then is phase 1 of the eternal plan God has for the future and when the millennium is over. It's the end of human history on this earth. This earth will then be destroyed it completely.

And God will make a new heaven and a new earth with the new capital city called new Jerusalem. Those are a couple of reasons are more but we don't have the time I would leave you with two questions is because in the two questions.

One is a is a question directed at Christians believers you claim to believe in Jesus and then the second is a question for the unbeliever, the person who admits you know what I have a good side to me and I even think spiritual thoughts from time to time but I I am not following Christ.

First is my question to believers as a believer. What is your relationship to what Jesus told you on the sermon on the Mount. We explained sermon on the Mount Jesus at one point said you know this earth is filled with people who make everything about themselves and and they worry about their own life all the time assist it's all about seeking their own little kingdom.

He says, but you seek first the kingdom of God. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added and you so what is your relationship to a Jesus told you on the sermon on the Mount. Are you pursuing a life dominated by God. Are you pursuing a life under the dominion of King Jesus, who is ruling you asked the first question is for you to think about meditate on make as the object of prayer or change. Second is a question directed to the unbeliever, will you be a part of his kingdom. This is an invitation. Will you be a part of his kingdom and that begins with a relationship with the king a personal relationship with the King of Kings and the Lord of lords, the Lord Jesus Christ where he becomes your master, your Savior, your Lord and you come under his dominion, his kingship, and eventually you will join him in both an earthly and heavenly kingdom. I I can almost know I can guarantee you I can guarantee you that you all have thoughts like this.

Is there something more is there something better. Is there something more satisfying and fulfilling than what I have already experience.

Is there something more. Another dimension to life. Yes it's called the kingdom called the kingship of Jesus. CS Lewis. This way if I find within myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy the most probable explanation is that I was made for a different world, that makes sense to me. If nothing in this world really satisfied, it's because God put eternity in my heart I made for a different world I fashion for a whole different purpose in life takes on satisfaction and meaning and purpose and joy when you commented that context. Jesus is my King dominated by him seeking first is that Skip message from the series. What's next to Skip to share more insight on how you can live with an eternal mindset in today study elected a future time when Jesus will rule. Of earth a thousand years. During this time.

Call the millennium. Jesus will give certain groups authority to rule as we look ahead we should start prepping now though.

Skip, how can we get ready for life during the millennium. You know that such a good question, and if not, ask nearly enough.

It's a real time. Little time.

In the future, called the millennial reign of Christ, thousand year reign of Christ outlined in the book of Revelation mentioned in detail in the Old Testament the different elements of the kingdom age.

But if you want to put prep for it now.

I was somewhat up. I say be faithful, be faithful. Now Jesus will say well done good and faithful servant. You been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many so Jesus is looking for. Faithfulness is looking for you. Just saying yes to him and doing whatever God has called you to do to the best of your ability with all your heart, Jesus will reward us with responsibilities in the future. Based on our faithfulness right now. That's good news. It means I can just plug away and be obedient to him, and that is enough for him to later on Ruble reward me with out with greater activity so I would say be faithful but then I would also say be prayerful. Jesus taught us a prayer and I think it's a good template for prayer. I think it's a good template for prayer every single it's called the Lord's prayer and part of it is thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. And so when you pray that on a personal basis. On a daily basis you're saying, Lord, in this part of of the world. My part of the world. I want you to be king I want your kingdom to come. I want to do your will. Today with you when you live like that and pray like that your prepping yourself for the future beautiful and Eve prepped us faithfully, prayerfully and this just I can't live for a thousand years.

So during the millennium. I have a new body) new a resurrected body area Kaus out because I started thinking wow I'm going to be really old, ha ha that he makes all things new and during that time. After our prayerful lesson and faithfulness here on earth it's it's going to be amazed that you know heaven has stages you know most people think of heaven and the real abstract, weird, anyway. But when you die and your get you get married you go to you. Be with the Lord in spirit.

That's the intermediate state, but then at some point in the future. There's an event called the rapture of the church of the rapture of the church is also synonymous with the bodily resurrection of the dead in Christ will be raised first so we who are alive. Marine will be caught up to the Lord near.

So at that event comes a resurrection we we get a restored renewed resurrected physical body that is capable of living forever and ever and ever. A thousand years of which are millennial reign on this earth.

Following that will be the eternal state with a new heaven and a new earth template.

Thanks. Given my Nana enjoy getting us in line.

After this conversation now take an active role in helping to connect more listeners like you been impacted by this radio fancast consider getting a one-time gift to, or making a monthly commitment to helping other listeners like you find spiritual nourishment difficult just how 892, 892 thank you. Come back tomorrow and Skip hi to share some crucial truths concerning your future, encouraging you to lean on God ensure so Skip presentation of connection communications go through