Life in the Millennium: The Sad Side

Unfortunately, life in the Millennium will also have a sad side. Hard to believe, but there will be many born who grow up and refuse to put their faith in their King. They will think Him cruel because they can’t do as they please.

A thousand years is a long time, but it is still a finite time. It will one day come to an end. It will be both exciting and solemn. Exciting because even better things await. Also, somber, because Satan will be released into the world again (Rv 20:7-8).

When Satan is released, he will likely be headquartered back in Babylon (Mi 5:5-6), back where his initial plan for world domination began with Nimrod (Gn 10:8-12, 11:1-9). Over time, it will look like he is becoming very successful. He will accumulate hundreds of thousands of individuals from all the nations (Rv 20:8). As he does today, Satan once again appeals to mankind’s vanity and human nature, and they believe a lie (Ro 1:25). Satan takes their pride and seals it with his own.

It is possible that this phase of Satan’s recruitment will go on for several years, due to the number of recruits he finally manages to obtain. More than likely, he will go to many of the towns throughout the world and tell lies, or likely twisted half-truths, against the Messiah. This continues until, as scriptures state, the number following Satan could no longer be numbered (Rv 20:8).

However, the King will not be entirely complacent, and true to His character, will make a final plea to all those who follow Satan. The King sends out leaders throughout the nations to rally His people to evangelize and to take back as much territory as possible (Mi 5:5-15). They find the Messiah’s name is a force unequal to any weapon. No one will be able stand against it; however, each person still holds the key to their own heart. Not resisting and surrendering are two different things. Control of Satan’s homeland, Assyria, will be taken (Mi 5:6). It is likely that some of this effort will be fruitful, but in the end, this culminates with Satan gathering many thousands of his people to march against Jerusalem and attempt to take the city (Mi 5:6; Rv 20:9). They march against Jerusalem thinking they can overtake the city, but in one swoop they are gone: fire comes down from the sky and destroys them all (Rv 20:9). God kills them, but their pride had already consumed them long before. Pride started it all (Is 14:13) and pride will end it all (Rv 20:9). Satan is cast into the lake of fire (Rv 20:10).

It is no wonder that scripture states Christ will wipe away every tear (Rv 21:4). All these people who have remained faithful to Christ have gone through a lot of heartache. Many tears will be shed, and many hearts will be broken due to loved ones turning their backs to their beloved King. However, heartache will soon turn to ultimate joy.

One further solemn duty must be performed. This is known as the Great White Throne judgment (Rv 20:11). Everyone, from the dawn of time, who never placed their faith in the Messiah, the Promised One, Jesus Christ, the Eternal King, are brought before Him. Where this takes place is a mystery because even the earth and sky cannot stand before a holy God (Rv 20:11). Books are opened as well as the Book of Life (Rv 20:12). It seems, because they did not trust in Christ as the Hope for their future and the payment he made for their sins, each person is judged by their deeds as recorded in these books. Yet, the final element is whether their name is recorded in the Book of Life. If not in the Book of Life, they will pass into the Lake of Fire and be forever where Satan was cast. Since their alliance was with him in this life, they will be with him forever in the next. There is nothing from this passage in Revelation which indicates any were not sentenced to an eternity in the Lake of Fire. If their names were in the Book of Life, they would have been part of the first resurrection (Rv 20:5-6). Here, it seems the Book of Life was opened to prove they were unworthy to enter eternity with Christ.

So, the final reward for pride is revealed. Pride caused Satan to fall from a very special place where he was before God always – a place of great honor (Ek 28:14). However, pride caused him to feel he could become just like God (Is 14:14). This was a very great defiance as God has declared Himself holy (Lv 11:44; 1Pt 1:15), that is, he is unique and there is none like him. Lucifer, disagreed, fell, and became the Adversary, Satan, the devil. Now he is forever separated from the very one he was created to be before.

We today, still have the opportunity to change our destiny. Which will you choose? The choice is yours. Choose wisely. You’ll be glad you did, and you’ll walk into the arms of love which will never let you go – neither in this life or the next.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens