The Reign of Christ

History mankind has dreamt of a golden age.

A perfect society of peace and righteousness and justice. Plato talked of his Republic, Thomas Moore of his utopia. William Penn of Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, marks of an egalitarian communist society. Martin Luther spoke of a perfectly integrated United States of America.

I dream of a world where people don't make jokes about Scottish dancing. I dream of a world where there are no jokes about bagpipes and men can walk unmolested for new electrodes and where grandson collards and peanut butter are forever banished from civilized society is just a dream but will long for an ideal society, don't we.

An idyllic paradise were tired of a world of injustice, suffering, violence and war. But none of these utopias over the years, all built on different philosophical or economic religious foundations. None of them have ever materialized all of them without exception have failed all dreams leaders make great plans. Politicians make high sounding speeches. International summits are held throughout the world. But today our world is still full of violence, of depravity and injustice with or will there ever be, world peace will justice and righteousness ever reign on this air.

Will there ever be a perfect world how well it all and last Sunday we discovered the answer didn't wait.

The answer is a return to our other magnificent Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is going to come as King of Kings and Lord of lords, and when he comes the second time he comes to room with a rod of iron. The Bible says, and there will be instituted on this world, a period of a thousand years that we call the millennium and that will be followed by eternity. Yes, the king is coming.

I ask you, are you presently serving unloving and worshiping the King of Kings and Lord of lords. If you have your Bible, their turn with me to Revelation chapter 20 were going to look at the first 11 verse first 10 verses this morning rather than visiting were going consecutively through the last week of the Bible, the book of Revelation last Sunday Easter Sunday.

We thought of the end of chapter 19. So were going to read the first 10 verses of Revelation 20. Here it is. Revelation 20 verse one John is writing he says that I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand.

The key to the bottomless pit and a great chain and he sees the Dragon that ancient serpent was the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years and threw them 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.

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God and 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. 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. When the thousand years are ended. Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. The 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 consume them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur with the beast and the false prophet were and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever incredible passage of Scripture. The Lord brings to our attention this morning, the second coming of Jesus Christ that we thought of last week and Easter Sunday that second coming is followed by the millennial kingdom, the period of a thousand years, a literal 1000 years reign of Christ on as as King of Kings and Lord of lords. Last week we saw that the second coming of Jesus Christ comes in majestic power and glory and that is the signal for the beginning of this 1000 year reign over Savior on as called the millennial kingdom of Christ as King will visibly rain for a thousand years on earth, and the straightforward reading of Revelation 20. I am suggesting to you.

Some of you are going to disagree with me but that's okay argues for what we call premillennialism. John mentions in the passage I read 1000 years.

He mentions it six times and in Revelation when the word years is used with were not numbers use with years ever faster, literal years, so we believe that this is a literal future 1000 year reign of Christ on earth and in Revelation, the number 1000 always refers to that which is definite, not surprising, therefore, that premillennialism was held by the majority of deadly church fathers and is the view of Calvary church is my view it's the right use. Some of you are going to disagree with. That's okay, while stony silence, here's the overview which you have in the worship notes of future events. A broad overview that we got we've seen as regards your study of Revelation. I'm not going to go over it, but it shows you the position of the millennium in the future events. Premillennialism states that the millennial kingdom follows. That's important, follows the second coming of Christ and will be literally fulfilled by a 1000 year reign of Christ on our is what happens first. Christ is going to come.

Revelation 19 becomes with proud and mighty cubs that over the rod of iron and then that is followed by this golden age, as it were, the millennial kingdom and then that will be followed by the eternal kingdom of God and am suggesting this morning that the chronology of Revelation 19 and 20 is consistent with the pre-millennial position for your Bible there. For example, look at Revelation 19, verses 11 through 16. John says and then I saw that's a key term in John. Then I saw what does he see he sees Christ coming with power and glory as King of Kings and Lord of lords. That's an event yet future. Don't you agree, and then second verse 17 he says I saw what does he see nags in verses 17 through 21. The armies of the Antichrist are destroyed and the Antichrist is cast into the lake of fire, then chapter 20 of this chapter 20 verse one "then I saw what does he see in the first three verses of Revelation 20. He sees the devil imprisons is sure that the Dragon the ancient serpent was defeated by Christ on the cross, but these actions by this angel in the opening three verses of Revelation 20 refer to a future events the devil is going to be shut up and sealed in the pit. The bottomless pit.

Their best for the thousand years and then verses four through six. We converse for John says, then I saw what does he see in verses four through six Christ raining on the art for a thousand years of reign of righteousness will reign of peace on the whole earth. All long for followers of Jesus, an event yet future and then chapter 21 verse one then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. This is the future state.

The eternal state coming after the 1000 year reign of the Lord Jesus, so I'm suggesting this morning that the clear chronology.

The sequence of events in chapter 19 and 20 of Revelation supports the premillennial position.

Some of you is upsetting to say what does it really matter, John John the after all, John, that God is sovereign and he's going to work it out with her. We understand it or not they take what's called the planned millennialist you it will all pan out in the end. So why worry about it.

Now that might be cured but is really blissful or should I say on blissful ignorance. Why do I say that the first verse of Revelation. Revelation 1 verse one says this Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. Are you wiser than God. Do you think God should never reveal this to us.

God didn't need to reveal it to us.

God is sovereign.

He doesn't reveal everything to us, but he's revealed to us both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. March chapters and books of the Bible deal with the subject of future events and surely those of us who know God. Those of us who are following Christ one to know about the future events.

There is the millennialist position millennialism denies a literal millennium. They say there is no literal money and they don't believe in a future reign of Christ on earth.

They believe that the kingdom of God has already come in a spiritual form that were in the millennium now in an undetermined period between the first and second advents of Jesus Christ. So the Scripture that we just read they say does not refer to the future but it refers to the present reign of Christ in heaven and in the church on earth and if you take that view. As many do some of you do that you believe that the devil is presently bound in the read that this creates angel with a great change seizes the Dragon verse two who is the devil and Satan and binds him up for a thousand years and somehow millennialism believe in a future for the nation of Israel say that all of the Old Testament promises to Israel are fulfilled in the church now asking is the devil presently bound. It says in verse three that when his mind is not able to deceive the nations anymore.

As you look out in the world today are the nations deceived. Surely they are is the devil bound in any meaningful sense. Surely not. John says that the whole world lies in the part of the evil one. Peter says that the devil he goes around like a lion, seeking someone to devour.

Paul says in two Corinthians 4.

He says the God of this world. The devil has blinded the minds of the unbeliever.

Paul refers to the devil in Ephesians 2 as they prince of the power of the air, so the New Testament doesn't teach that Satan is presently imprisoned. His imprisonment is future and will take place during the millennial reign of Christ in this post millennialism advocates of this believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ will occur after post the millennium. First, the millennium, they say, and then Christ returned to be as difficult to get my mind going that one. They believe that the millennium will occur during the last thousand years of the present age or the thousand years may just be symbolic of a long period of time.

Now with your post millennial. We still love you but you got this idea that the world is getting better and better, that really true. Doesn't seem to be the case in United States doesn't seem to be the case internationally analyze the gospel is spreading in many countries and phenomenal ways for the post millennial's believes that the gospel will be triumphant to the whole world and the world will in a sense we Christianize and followers of Christ through our endeavor in preaching the gospel will then usher in the kingdom of God, then Christ will return as the world getting better is it right to say that the church is going to bring in the kingdom of God and anguish seen in our study of Revelation that the only one who can overthrow the kingdoms of this world and instituted this great kingdom is our Lord Jesus Christ himself solely the King of Kings and Lord of lords who can defeat the Antichrist. It's only him who can defeat all of the powers of darkness and of hell itself arrayed against them. We, the church certainly are to be faithful in preaching the gospel, but we can assure in the kingdom of God. The Bible makes it clear that evil is going to flourish in the world in the last days on till Christ, so the biblical teaching is that the millennium will be preceded by the second coming of Jesus Christ when he returns to conquer his enemies. Don't you love the beatitude of their six Revelation 20 verse six Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection. Over such the second that was the second that eternal death 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 as an interpretive beatitude, making it clear that is that there is this radiant in the future of the thousand years during the millennial kingdom. They are is going to be transformed as this is incredible. There will be transformed during the millennial kingdom saying that Christ is going to rain over there for thousand years and during that time, God's covenantal promises to Israel are going to be fulfilled during the millennium. Paul says in Romans 11 verse 26 that all Israel will be saved your Bible to Isaiah 11 to see this. Isaiah chapter 11, Isaiah has got a lot to say about the millennial kingdom and he is going to say that Israel is going to be regathered as a nation analyze since 1948 Israel has existed as a nation, but they're not all in the land and think of all of the enemies today against the little country of Israel. But notice was going to happen. Isaiah 11 verse 12 he will raise a signal for the nations, and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gathered the dispassion of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Israel during the millennial kingdom is going to be gathered and is going to possess all of the promised land. Israel will inhabit on the Messiah will reign over all of the land promised under the embryonic and Davidic covenants.

Isaiah next book is Jeremiah turn with me to Jeremiah chapter 23 is Jeremiah Jeremiah 23 verse five would you do with these prophecies. There are bold reading from Jeremiah 23 verse five below.

The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous branch, who is the righteous branch she's going to tell us, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land in his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely and this is the name by which he will be called the Lord is our righteousness double-breasted can you. The Lord is our righteousness during the millennial kingdom then our Lord Jesus Christ will reign not just over the promised land.

The land promised to Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob, but will reign over the whole earth. Zechariah 14 verse nine and the Lord will be king over all the earth on that day the Lord will be one and his name one bracket to verse four for the artist will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. That is the rule and reign of the Lord Jesus Christ will be over. Not just one country over all the earth that will be global and did you notice at the end of verse six as I read, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and they will reign with him for thousands of years to realize that if you're a follower of Jesus Christ you're going to reign with Christ is at war with us. What does that mean with the during the millennial kingdom. Christ is raining as King of Kings and we as followers, we who love him will reign with him. Paul says in first Corinthians 6 when there's Christians in the church suing each other and having to go outside of the church adjudicating is that you not know that the saints will judge the world can't even judge yourself. Then he goes on to say, an inverter and can successfully do not know that you're going to judge angels. Paul says in two Timothy two verse 12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him some of what will be reign then have much while the other extent of your rain is going to depend on the extent of your faithfulness. We know that were saved by grace and not by works with those who are saved by Christ as most of us here would claim are given gifts are given responsibilities, opportunities to serve the Lord hear each one of us without exception, depending on our faithfulness to the discharge of her gifts and the opportunities that God gives us. There will be allocated to us different responsibilities and awarded what I will get thought of that this week� When the rain on the adjuster are we tiny not an Irish island that we tiny Scottish island. This is going to be very very tiny R islands of Scotland, but just have sheep on them so that is one of them, but I thought maybe a little Scottish island was wanted on the house looking out on the sea, perfect weather 65� nice and cool for me. Light rain every other day. Sounds pretty good fresh halibut for lunch. If I'm writing, I will declare all peanut products as a legal no peanuts on my island when internalizing but it's interesting to think of isn't it does look like that. We're going to reign with Christ during that rain. This is going to be incredible. The devil will be burned for thousand years as a friend of mine who calls me and when he calls me says John what way is the devil harassing you and oppose God's sake currently is harassing me. It was around like a lion, doesn't it is after us and he can be very discouraging country.

When you realize that that the devil himself is after you, but not during the millennial kingdom. The devil is bound to think of this at the end of the reign of a thousand years. He's going to be release for the. Versus seven. The native Revelation 20 and during the thousand years the devil doesn't change his nature, no salvation for the devil and what does he do when he gets out of the abyss. Immediately he goes and tries to rebel against God to take over as a what the very throne of God and to lead people astray.

He's the deceiver he's the slander that is the destroyer we know that he is our enemy now and even after he's been in the abyss for a thousand years when he is released he still at his old tricks is a well. Will anyone listen to them. Sadly, yes. During the reign of a thousand years, many people will be born. Not all of them are going to come to saving faith in Jesus Christ and at the end of the millennium. These unbelievers will join the devil.

Can you believe this. Yes, they will join the devil in rebelling against God, demonstrating that even in the wonderful environment and conditions of the millennial kingdom. The human condition. The human heart is unchanged mumbling everything on your environment. Don't blame everything on your backgrounds. I realize that backgrounds in our environment have an impact on how we live. I understand that the basic problem of your heart and mind is not the family you came from is not your environment. The Bible says your heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. And then there's the wonder of the gospel that is only the gospel of Jesus Christ and is only the part of the gospel of Jesus Christ that can change and transform your heart with in spite of living in an almost perfect environment where Satan's bones for the knowledge of God, the universal knowledge of God were the glory and justice of God is demonstrated the wickedness of the human heart is still there in such wickedness. The man's eternal punishment, verse 10, the devil is thrown into the lake of fire. Unbelievers are going to stand before the great white throne. Verses 11 through 15 as will see in the coming weeks during the millennial kingdom. The curse of on the earth will be removed trying to think of that as we can help with all this that that means some of some of you are like me learn John Milton at school number heavy begins paradise, loss of man's first disobedience of of man's first disobedience, and the fruit of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste brought death into our world and all of our wall with the loss of Eden till one greater man restored us and regain the blissful seat who is the greater one whose only one who can restore and regain paradise lost. Milton got it right.

It's our Lord Jesus Christ. Paradise lost through Adam paradise regained paradise restored through this other man, the man Christ Jesus. He restores identity, removes the impact of the curse and universal peace and joy and righteousness and justice will prevail. Listen to Isaiah as he writes in Isaiah 2, verse four. He says he will judge. This is the Messiah will judge between the nations, and will decide disputes for many peoples, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares years ago I visited the United Nations in New York City nothing to got this verse there, but we know that the United Nations have not been harmed or not. Very good job of the of beating swords into plowshares know this will happen with the reign of our Savior, they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. The very weapons of water turned into farming implements physical diseases gone. The curse is removed.

Evil is repriced in Christ will rule with a rod of iron in the very animal kingdom will be brought under the rule of our Savior. Isaiah 11 verse five. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist and faithfulness the belt of his lines. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat that happened today and the calf and the lion and the fatted calf together and the little child shall lead them to little child rearing a lion leaving a leopard in the millennial kingdom the car when the bear shall graze the young shall lie down together and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the whole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adders than they shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for there shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord of the waters cover the sea. We can hardly take that intently, and the whole earth is going to flourish in the says that the plowman shall overtake the reaper. The desert shall rejoice.

Isaiah says, and that will blossom like like the Rose margin her beautiful the world is going to be during the millennium.

We live in a beautiful world now and it's falling the beauty of a sunset.

The beauty of the see the mountains. We marvel at God's majesty and beauty, but this is a fallen world utterly awesome. This millennial kingdom is going to be when Christ rules will be a time when the physical creation will be restored to what it was prior to the fall.

This is our future as followers of Jesus Christ and you say what will happen after the thousand years to know this is going to get even better is going to be followed by the eternal state. We stand and read with me this great verse from Isaiah 3035 verse 10. Let's read it together and the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing everlasting joy shall be upon their heads, they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. You ask how will this world and would be invaded by aliens from another planet will there be a nuclear holocaust. Some dictator takeover eternally absolutely note here is the teaching of the Bible. One day, a righteous king of glory Savior, the King of Kings and Lord of lords.

He's going to come and he's going to institute his kingdom on power and light will be a kingdom of peace, a kingdom of justice and of righteousness. I asked her is a close do you know this can do this first coming. He comes as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

He comes to die for our sins. He was buried in the rose again and is alive and is presently stated that the father's right hand, awaiting the time when he shall come come with power and with might mean time he calls on you and me to do what receive them as their Savior to humble yourself and ask the living Christ who loves you and die for you to come into your heart and tape anticlines you and asks, as also the borrower before King Jesus, you say well I'm saved by God's grace is the king of your life that are aspects of your life which are not under his Lordship. This is what he calls on us voluntarily to do. He says seek first the kingdom of God. I am to see Kate enter enter love God with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength and to seek first his kingdom and all of these things in life that we worry and fret about God will take care of it and so we pray your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven