A THOUSAND YEARS

Hi.  My name's Susan and I'm a Serial Self Slackcutter.

That's right. I'm fond of thinking "Well, I wouldn't have responded that way if I hadn't been so tired."  Or..."When I spend time with that person, I'm more prone to gossip and criticize."

It's easier to think circumstances (or others) are the problem.  That's a LOT easier than seeing things as God sees them.  He says NONE are righteous and ALL have hearts that are desperately wicked.  That's why when we come to Revelation 20 and read about the Millennium Kingdom, we understand how God's pure justice is put on display.

When Christ returns to earth for His thousand-year reign, there will be beauty from ashes as the Creator destroys His creation and remakes the earth.  There we will enjoy utopian conditions in "Garden of Eden" splendor.  Animals will revert to their "pre-fall" nature as the lion lays down with the lamb.  Scripture says Jesus will rule there with a rod of iron.  His rule is not out of harshness, but rather kindness as He enforces the law to insure the world's long-sought peace and harmony and security.

Know what else?  Satan will be bound.  Our nemesis loses his permission slip to roam the earth seeking those he might devour.  The time for his evil influencing is done.  There won't be "the devil made me do it" in the Millennium.

In fact, when that trumpet sounds, a believer's life will no longer have to make time for the daily routines that compete with our devotion to God.  Our sole focus from then on will be the King's business.

Here are the three groups of people who get to go into Christ's Millennial Kingdom:

1.  There are believers raptured at the end of the church age 

 who return with Christ to fight @Armageddon in their glorified bodies.

2.  There are believers (both Jew and Gentile) who died before Pentecost...

plus believers who will die during the Tribulation.  These believers will be 

resurrected and transformed into immortals after Armageddon.

3.  There are believers (both Jew and Gentile) 

who are "natural men" and survivors of both the Tribulation and Armageddon, 

and judged righteous.  This category is different 

from the other two because they still have mortal bodies 

and will grow, mature, marry, procreate, age and die (Isaiah 65:20-25).

Have you heard people say when we get to Paradise we will just sit around strumming harps?  How strange they would say such a thing and assume God has no purpose for us!

In our present age, the Bible calls the church a priesthood of believers.  Our service to God and men will go seamlessly into the new kingdom.  Satisfaction from being His ambassadors will only swell into more satisfaction.

In the new kingdom, we are said to be co-heirs with Christ, and will rule with Him.  How amazing that we are to judge the angels and the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28)!  We will have our hands full as we share Christ, resolve disputes, and mentor new believers.  Remember survivors will be in a ragged recovery mode after all that has happened on the earth, so there will be much opportunity for service.

NOW is the time for preparation.  As we follow Him as faithful stewards of the tasks He assigns, we gain more opportunity and reward in the kingdom to come.

So how does God show His pure justice during the Millennium?

We see that it's not unfavorable circumstances or the devil's influences that make men's neck stiff.  It is our rebellious hearts which call for God's judgment.

Revelation 20 says when Satan is unbound, he gathers up all the rebellious souls who refuse to bend the knee and their number will be as many as sand on the seashore.

Then God brings destruction by calling down fire from heaven on the rebels.  Nothing tainted with sin will be allowed in the new heaven and earth.  Almighty God throws Satan into the Lake of Fire for eternity that he may not deceive God's people anymore.

GOD'S PLAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT HE WOULD BE AT HOME WITH HIS PEOPLE IN A WORLD WITHOUT SIN.  So He protects His people, destroys evil, and exalts His Son.

All men deserve the Lake of Fire, but Jesus' provision for sin cancels the wages of sin for those who call on His name.

Today I'm rather consumed with decorating details for a house under construction.  One day those "things" will burn.  Lord, help me live with the end in mind!

THE BRIDEGROOM

So how in the world is a wedding connected to Christ's return for His church?  Well, I'm glad you asked...

In our BSF study, we just finished Revelation 19 and there were such wonderful insights from the lecture and notes, and pictures from our site which are on this blog.

We know from parables and from Jesus' words about Himself that He is the Bridegroom while the Church is the bride.

The Bible was written by Jews for Jews and while it may not resonate with us unless we are familiar with Jewish tradition, the symbolism would have jumped off the page for first century Jews.

For instance, remember when people came to John the Baptist and asked him if he were the Messiah?  John replied he was not the bridegroom, but "the one who has the bride is the bridegroom".  Then John goes on to describe himself as a "friend of the bridegroom" (like the best man).  There are many other references using marriage language.  Remember Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana?  The woman at the well?  The virgins with lamps?  All these correlate.

To get started, let's go back to the ancient Jewish wedding tradition and see that there were three stages to getting married.  There was betrothal, presentation, and consummation.  Each part of the process is below, and then in blue, how that correlates to Jesus' return.

BETROTHAL
All authority rests with the boy's father to choose a bride for his son.  He pays a "bride price/dowry" to her parents, and then the bride may say "yes" or "no".

If she agrees to accept the contract, they drink wine or grape juice from a cup.  That means she has accepted the offer and put the relationship into a legally binding agreement.  If she does not accept the cup, the betrothal is broken and the father must find another spouse for his son.

During the period after the betrothal (which might last a year or two) the groom builds a room onto his father's house to prepare for his bride.  At this point the betrothal may only be broken by a divorce.

In the fulfillment of this prenuptial symbolism, Jesus the Bridegroom left His home (heaven) and came to earth to purchase His bride with His blood.  

When Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure back to heaven, He said He was going away to His Father's house to prepare a place for us (His bride, the Church).  He said that in His Father's house there were many rooms...and He will return for His bride so that where He is, we might also be.  Our communion wine is the cup that the Church takes in agreement.

PRESENTATION
The bridegroom's father is in charge of the timetable for when the groom will return to get his bride.  Not even the bridegroom knows when that will happen.  It is said that when the bridegroom and his attendants arrive, it is surprising much like a thief in the night.  That is why the bride is to remain ready.  The groom's arrival is announced with a shout, "Behold, the bridegroom comes!"

It has been over 2,000 years since Jesus went back to heaven, but He will return for His bride, the Church.  No one but God the Father knows when that will be, not even God the Son.  

Meanwhile believers are to remain faithful and ready and clothed in righteous deeds that Jesus provides.  The Lord Jesus will return with an angelic escort that is preceded by a shout, "Behold, the Bridegroom comes!"

When the father gave permission to go get the bride, a joyous processional led by the bridegroom and his attendants took the bride and her attendants to a feast and the ceremony.

When the Bridegroom returns for His bride, we will be taken to the Father's house (heaven) and enjoy the marriage supper of the Lamb. 

CONSUMMATION
After all the process, the couple retires to the wedding chamber and remain in hiding for seven days.

After Jesus receives His bride into the bridal chamber in heaven, there He hides her away during the tribulation on the earth.

John Piper said "King Jesus came into the world to take a wife, not a harem.  And not for sex...but to give her pleasures that make sex taste like cardboard.  He paid for her with his life.  And He is now at work by His Spirit and by His Word purifying and beautifying her for Himself and for her joy."

After the seven day period, the groom comes out of the bridal chamber, bringing his bride with him as a witness to everyone, marking the wedding as official.  Jesus will come out of the bridal chamber (heaven) and bring His bride with Him to Planet Earth as a witness to everyone as we begin the Millennial Kingdom.

The apostle John described heaven's rejoicing that he heard in Revelation 19: "Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a vast throng like the roar of many waters and like loud crashes of thunder.  They were shouting 'Hallelujah!  For the Lord our God, the All-Powerful, reigns!  Let us rejoice and exult and give Him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.  She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints).  Then the angel said to me, 'Write the following: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet at the wedding celebration of the Lamb!'  He also said to me, 'These are the true words of God!' "

What an amazing love story of how God loves His people!  The Bible began with marriage in a garden with Adam and Eve, and will end with the marriage of Christ and His church. We thank the Lord for His good plan which has been in place since the foundation of the world...that He would bring us to dwell with Him there where there will be no hindrances to love.  Hallelujah!