Ten Centuries Of Messiah's Rule

by L.R. Ross, Hartlepool, England | Category: Across The Bible Centuries | Dec 1988

In this last study of the "Centuries" series we look at the final phases of God's dealings with the inhabitants of this earth before ushering in the eternal state.

Messiah's feet will touch Olivet's summit. And the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth is revealed (2 Thes. 2:8). The day of reckoning, the great and terrible day of the Lord will be announced in judgement, as the Son of Man brings to nought His enemies by the manifestation of His presence (coming - see Joel 2:28-32). And the remnant of Israel will be gloriously delivered by Messiah's coming. Yet they will be troubled at His presence and will ask, "What are these wounds between Thine hands? Then He shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends" (Zech. 13:6 RVM). The spirit of grace and supplication poured out so richly upon the saved remnant will enable them to confess corporately, "He was wounded for our transgressions" (Isa. 53:5) and they will mourn every family apart (Zech. 12:12). The land will be purged and a fountain will be opened for sin and uncleanness to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It will be a day of great joy and gladness.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance" (Ps. 33:12).

The Millennial Temple - the Ultimate

Having removed from His kingdom "all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity" (Mat. 13:41), the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ will set up His Kingdom. For ten glorious centuries (Rev. 20:4-6) "a King shall reign in righteousness" (Isa. 32:1). He will dispense justice in His judgements, for with equity He will judge for the meek of the earth (Isa. 11:4). As typified in the life and experience of Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18) the Lord will function in the dual office of Priest and King. "He shall be a Priest upon His throne" (Zech. 6:13). In His priestly ministry He will preside over a united Israel, the hub of which is the glorious millennial temple. The Lord Himself is the Architect and Director in the building of the temple but the responsibility of

raising the edifice will be that of men (Zech. 6:12,13,15) according to divine principles in this and other dispensations (see 1 Cor. 3:10-11).

Bible students have long seen Ezekiel's description as a vision of the millennial temple. A priest by birth, Ezekiel was uniquely placed amongst the prophets to appreciate the fulness and splendour of the revelation regarding the future house of God. Other prophets wrote of it (Isa. 2:24; Zech. 14:16-21; Mal. 3:1-3) but none portrays with such consummate skill the magnificence of this majestic building as does Ezekiel. The form, furniture, feasts and functions of the temple are given in methodical detail (Ezek. 4047). Everything is measured according to the pattern (40:3). The area of old Jerusalem (the walled part) is six times the present temple area. The future temple complex will thus require a tableland of approximately four times that of the old city area. We conclude that the topography of the Middle East will be altered considerably by the Lord Jesus in that coming day of His glory (Zech. 14:4). The temple is elevated on the tops of the mountains (1sa. 2:2) and will thus be a focus of attraction for Israel and the Gentile nations throughout the world during the centuries of glorious and peaceful reign of Messiah. Against their former nature it would appear the Gentiles will flow up to Jerusalem to participate in the Festival of Tabernacles, to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts (Zech. 14:16-19). Some of these are descendants of the nations which attacked Jerusalem prior to Armageddon.

As to the furniture, the altar (which is prominent) is described as the table before the Lord and is set prominently before the house (41:22). The sacrifices in millennial times will be "in memoriam", reflective of the vicarious value of the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. A united and grateful Israel will have the Lord of Hosts in remembrance daily throughout the 1,000 years.

The sons of Zadok, duly consecrated, will serve as priests in that house filled with the glory of the Lord (Ezek. 43:7). "This is the place of My throne, and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever: and the house of Israel shall no more defile My holy Name". Israel "shall serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him" all their days. They will enjoy that eminence amongst the nations envisaged by Moses (Dent. 28:13) and attained to in some limited extent in the days of Solomon.

The Holy City

Jerusalem will be a unique city in that day: the seat of government of the King of kings whose sceptre will hold sway the world over. His greatness and Sonship will be acknowledged by both Israel and the nations (Luke 1:32). He will exercise dominion from sea to sea. No nation in its activities will be beyond His omnipresent surveillance. Intuitively, men will know the Lord; as with Israel so with the Gentiles (Heb. 8:11). Furthermore, there will be a direct link with heaven itself, angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. As legions of heavenly beings do Him service and acknowledge His right to reign, the visual impact on resurrected apostles and people alike will be impressive (John 1:51). "For not unto angels did He subject the world to come", but "Thou didst place all things in subjection under His feet" (Heb. 2:5,8). Whilst some of the nations may be reluctant to come to the set festivals others are attracted to this international capital city. "Many peoples shall... say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD... and He will teach us His ways", a centre for learning and instruction is Jerusalem, without peer throughout the earth (Isa. 2:3). So much so that it will be renamed Jehovah-Shammah "The LORD is there" (Ezek. 48:35).

Even the bells on the horses (an animal often associated with war) will proclaim the holiness of the city. All the pots in the temple and indeed in the city will be sanctified for use by the presence of the Lord. The Lord's house will be a house of prayer for all nations as Isaiah testifies. Those

strangers in covenant relationship with the God of Israel will bring their burnt offerings and such will be accepted (Isaiah 56:6,7). The vast courts of the millennial temple will ring with the voices of peoples in prayerful unison with the great Antitype, the Lord Himself. "They shall pray for Him continually" (Isa. 56:7; Ps. 72:15).

Healing Waters

Another unique feature of the Ezekiel temple is the cascade of water from the sanctuary (ch. 47) reminding us of the experience of Israel in the wilderness when water came forth from the Rock (Ex. 17). From a hidden aquifer the water will flow in blessing throughout the ten centuries towards the Arabah and the Salt Sea (Dead Sea), bringing healing in its wake. Marine life will abound and fish will be taken in areas which today are but desert; yet another example of the power and dominion of the Son of Man seated on the throne of His glory. "Thou madest Him to have dominion over ... the fish of the sea" (Ps. 8:68). Fruit trees also will be found on the banks of this waterway of life, yielding first-fruits every month; surely unique among the trees. The leaves too, containing active constituents, are a source of healing (Heb. teruphah medicine - Ezek. 47:12). This beautiful scene as projected by the prophet is a microcosm of the eternal state (see Rev. 22:1-5). Surely "creation soon shall join in one, to bless the sacred Name".

Peace and Plenty

The population of this world was quoted recently to have passed the five billion mark. World food production is sufficient to feed all adequately, yet parts of the world suffer from famine. Capricious weather patterns apart, the current situation is largely due to regional wars. During the golden ten centuries "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth" (Ps. 46:9). Peace and plenty will result from the governmental wisdom and zeal of the Prince of Peace, who will insulate the nations of the world from Satan's influence by binding him for 1,000 years in the abyss (Isa. 9:7; Rev. 20:1-3). Then the world will be cradled in the Righteous One (cf. 1 John 5:19). In the greatness of His power there will be abundance for all (Ps. 72: 1-17) for a liberated creation will once more be in harmony with its Creator (Rom. 8:20-21).

Thy Kingdom Come

And so the Lord will reign as God's representative before men, "for the LORD of Hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously" (Isa. 24:23). He is the supreme Ruler in the kingdom of God where the will of God is paramount and given effect to. This kingdom is defined for us in the disciples' prayer, "Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth" (Mat. 6:10). The will of God is unquestioned in heaven, even so should it be on earth midst a subject people. The kingdom of God has past, present and future expressions. In the past it was 3seen and vested in Israel when they pledged covenant obedience to God at mount Sinai (Ex. 24). They forfeited that kingdom through disobedience and spiritual neglect (Mat. 21:43). The kingdom passed to the "little Flock", those disciples, apostles and others who fully acknowledged the Lordship of Christ being obedient to "the Faith", the body of teaching once for all delivered to the saints which encapsulates divine principles in relation to the kingdom (Jude 3). In the present day it is vested in those, we believe, in churches of God who contend earnestly for the Faith, which clearly teaches that we can enjoy an inheritance (conditional upon obedience) in that kingdom (John 3:5; 1 Cor. 6:9).

In that future bright millennial day the nation of Israel will once more bring forth fruits worthy of the kingdom of God, "For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant" (Isa. 5:7). As a covenanted people their joy will be expressed in the commemorative sacrificial offerings. They will render thankful and unfeigned obedience in that glad day of certain serenity when the nations will learn war no more (Isa. 2:3-4; Jer. 31:31-34).

L.R. Ross, Hartlepool, England | Dec 1988
Across The Bible Centuries