The Book of Job is considered by many conservative Bible scholars to be one of the oldest in the Bible! Based on his longevity, the man just might have lived as far back as the days of Abraham! Around 2,000 BC, amazing! I’d say it was written (Job) certainly before Moses lived, there being no mention of the “Decalogue” (10 Commandments) or the “Law of God,” not specifically! Not in all of Job’s 42 Chapters!
And yet here is where we begin with our discussion of the “Millennium!” Based on something Job said one day, in the midst of his agony and suffering.
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” Job 19:25-27, a personal testimony.
What a statement of faith, these words!
Job’s “Redeemer” (the very same word as Boaz’s being Ruth’s Kinsman-Redeemer) is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And though Jesus would not be born (physically, in Bethlehem, of the Virgin Mary) for another twenty centuries … He was (according to Job) already alive! (This is call the doctrine of the “Eternal Sonship of the Lord.” Jesus is God the Second Person!)
Then Job avers that his Redeemer would “stand at the latter day upon the earth.” To me Job is a hero of the faith, one of the most godly men to every have lived!
I do not believe this is a reference to Jesus’ first coming to this planet. When Jesus died on Calvary for our sins. (One reason: Job is already acknowledging the Lord as “Redeemer!” In his mind the “Blood” has already been shed! Through the “eye” of miraculous Bile Prophecy!)
I believe this is a view of Jesus’ Second Coming to earth! Zechariah chapter 14 style: “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof ….”
When Jesus rides back to earth from Heaven, interrupting the Battle of Armageddon, Revelation 19 style: “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
Job also believes he himself will be alive (again) when this envisioned event literally occurs! “In my flesh I shall see God,” Jesus being God of course! (Thus Job clearly believes in the resurrection of the dead!)
And naturally, this Text today is a direct allusion to the coming Kingdom Rule of Jesus, His Thousand Year Reign on earth, the “Millennium!”
(By the way, I personally suspect that the Old Testament has more references to the Second Coming of Jesus than it has to the first coming of Jesus!)
I wonder today if we could turn Job’s affirmation into a prayer? “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.”
Petitioning God like this: “O living Saviour, my dear Lord Jesus Christ, come … come soon! Hasten the day when Thy Feet shall stand again upon this earth! And may we fulfill Thy Will for our lives, ruling and reigning with Thee as kings and priests!”
I forgot, “in Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Before you disagree, read Revelation 5:10, addressed directly to Jesus: “And Thou hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Job … and the Millennium!
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