I will not be surprised if the Millennium presents one of the greatest periods of evangelism the Cause of Christ has ever seen!
Multitudes being born, the devil being restrained, Jesus ruling the whole world from Jerusalem, and this glorious invitation being extended … “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7
We already know that everyone born during the Millennium will NOT wholeheartedly submit to Jesus’ Reign, to His Standard of Righteousness. Because … by Millennium’s end, when Satan is released from confinement, an uprising will occur. Here’s John’s view of the event, written from the Isle of Patmos two thousand years ago … “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city (Jerusalem): and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10
Wow!
Thus conversely … we can believe that while multitudes clearly resist Jesus (Who has never FORCED anyone to believe on His Name) … many others will believe on His Name!
His purpose for coming to earth the first time will not vary greatly from His purpose for coming the second time! Which was/is … “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
Hence our Text today, this global invitation … “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7, certainly a valid, general truth for our age, but a specific truth during the Millennium. If a Passage’s “context” matters any! (Isaiah 55 is Millennial to the Core!)
Joel 3:14 … “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” Not directly applicable to the Millennium, I think, but representative of the world-wide offer of salvation (what a glorious appeal) Jesus extends when He returns to earth.
If at the Second Coming … a whole Nation (Israel) will be born (born-again) in a day … no telling what might happen to the Gentiles as well!
“Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” Isaiah 66:8
Isaiah 49:22 encourages me along this line … “Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.”
Wow!
Evangelism during the Millennium?
To this extent … “For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:9
We Bible literalists see a bright (because of Jesus) future for planet earth! Ultimately will come, based on dozens and dozens of Bible prophecies … the thousand-year Kingdom Rule of Christ.
Where Jesus goes … souls will be saved!
After all, He has been certainly lifted up (the Cross of Calvary) … so the rest of John 12:32 will be fulfilled too. “And I (Jesus speaking), if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
Yes, “drawing all men,” a magnetism culminated during the Millennium. That’s where I theologically stand anyway …
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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