Isaiah 2:1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Swords and spears were the two most common weapons of war at that time. In our day it seems foolish. Swords became plowshares and spears pruning hooks. These were used in mowing or reaping. There is a day coming when weapons of war will not be needed. In Joel 3 it’s the opposite. Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. There will be a world wide blood shed. Isaiah speaks of a time without war and refers to the millennium, literally 1,000 years of the reign of Christ on this earth. It’s a prelude of what is to come. Revelation 20:6 tells us about it: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
There are three major views on the millennium. One is called post millennium; these believe through the preaching of the gospel the world will embrace Christianity and Christ will be invited to reign. Another is called Amillennium; they say there is no 1,000 year reign. They believe the Lord set up his kingdom when he was here the first time; for them this has happened. The third is Pre-millennium, and it teaches Jesus will return just prior to the millennium and reign over the earth. Then he will set up his kingdom on earth. This is our belief.
I want to share some things about the millennium. (a) It will be a time of peace. War will be unknown–no conflicts, no dollars for defense. I’m all for defense, else the US would be wiped out. We have many enemies out there. Our best defense is the Lord. The Bible tells us that the nation who forgets God is in trouble. Help us, Lord. We’ve seen many wars in the US. Many lives were lost in the Civil War. WWI, WWII, Korean, Viet Nam, Desert Storm. There is a golden age to come with no war. (b) It will be a time of holiness. (c) Nature will be returned to its harmony. Adam and Eve were in a perfect place, a paradise. Nothing was wrong. They sinned and paradise was lost. They were even driven out lest they ate of the tree of life and live forever in a fallen state without hope. What was destroyed in Genesis by Adam and Eve will be restored. No more sorrow, sickness or heartache. This perfect tranquility is only possible when Christ reigns. (d) No corruption. No drug trafficking, no immorality of any kind. No need for doctors or nurses. We’ll have divine healing in its truest sense. These days if I did get up with nothing wrong with my body, I’d go to the doctor to find out why. But if I go by way of the grave I will meet you in the air in a glorified body. No more pain or sickness. (e) There will be safety and protection. Now we’re fearful of being out at night. I see kids playing almost in the street with no one around. That scares me. They could easily run out in front of a car or be kidnapped. In the millennium there will be no fear of attack. No violence at all. (f) There will be labor. No idleness or laziness in the millennium. It will be the perfect economy system supported by labor within that system. I don’t mind work. The Bible tells us that if a man doesn’t work, he doesn’t eat. In the perfect system there will be no want. (g) There will be unified language. Language was confused at the Tower of Babel. One day we’ll all understand each other again. No interpreters will be needed. (h) There will be unified worship. Today we’re burdened by denominations. Some will tell you if you don’t believe what they do you are lost. One days these tags will be removed. Everyone will be unified. (i) There will be perfect instruction. I’m amazed at the number of beliefs. Every cult says they believe the Bible is true. Everyone can’t be right. I try to dig into God’s Word, but I know I’ve missed the mark at times on what things mean. If I’m wrong it will not change what God thinks or how he does things. (j) It will be a time of joy, fullness of joy. It will be the distinctive mark of the age. Now we get up one morning feeling very joyful and a few days later there has been a complete turn around. We float on the clouds one day and then we feel beat down. There is a place of joy forever, never to be sad again. And in spite of all this I’ve just said, the best is yet to come. This will be a little taste of heaven on earth.
Now I want to tell you about the citizens of the millennium. No unsaved will be there. During this time millions of babies will be born. Even in the envelope and environment of the millennium some will rebel. How could they be reared up in that then reject and rebel against God? There is still time today to put your trust in God. This is the getting ready place. Eternity awaits after this life. It’s foolish not to do it.
Aaron Burr was the third Vice President of the US. During his college years he heard Jonathan Edwards preach. He went to talk to a professor about turning to God and was advised not to make an emotional decision. Later on he came to kill a man in a duel. Many years later someone asked him to meet a friend of his. When asked who, the man said Jesus. Mr. Burr told him that 60 years ago he had told God if he left him alone, he’d leave him alone. Then he said God kept his end. If the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart, don’t put it off. Don’t end up like Aaron Burr. You may say no today thinking you can say yes another time, but God may not come your way again.
Get ready. The millennium will be a wonderful time. And the best is still yet to come.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 