Today’s Lesson will merely give one example of the Millennium as it is set forth in the massive Old Testament Book of Psalms. Other Psalms will follow in our series of studies on this critically important (but often neglected) area of Bible Prophecy, the future Thousand Year Reign of Jesus here on this earth.

We’re going to notice Psalm 46, part of it anyway. This is the Chapter that begins: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” And then the Psalmist continues with resolve: “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; even though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” Psalm 46:1-3, linking “practicality” with “prophecy!”

(I’ve had Pastors imply to me that preaching “Prophecy” is not helpful, not practical. “Preach against sin,” they admonish! And indeed the anti-sin idea is true, but we are also charged to preach the whole “Word of God,” which is heavily loaded with Prophecy!)

Besides, Bible Prophecy is no fruitless area of study! As 1 John 3:2 proves: “We know that, when he (Jesus) shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself.” The hope of Jesus’ Return (prophecy) aids (propels, motivates) a Christian to live more purely, more godly (practicality)!

Wow!

But Psalm 46 now progresses in worship … “The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” (Verses 6 and 7)

The “heathen” here are the non-Jewish nations of the world, lost and reprobate souls! Sounds like Psalm 2, another prophetic Poem! “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed (His Messiah).”

“Kingdoms moved?” (Psalm 46:6) This literally happens when Jesus comes again … every nation on earth will be affected! Revelation 11:15 (Millennial too) agrees: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD are become the kingdoms of our LORD, and of his CHRIST; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

Amen, that’s Kingdom “movement,” all right!

Then, Psalm 46 observes, “The Lord is with us!” Saved Israel during the Millennium, with Jesus actually in their presence, in Jerusalem, on this earth!

But there’s more … Millennial to the Core … “Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Verses 8-11 of Psalm 46!

“Wars to cease?”

Isaiah, millennially speaking, has it: “And he (Jesus) 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.” Worldwide peace, Isaiah 2:4! (Micah 4:3 also quotes Isaiah’s beautiful word picture!)

“I (Jesus) will be exalted IN THE EARTH!” Not just in Heaven, but “the earth” too, Psalm 46:10, the Chapter’s penultimate (next-to-last) verse.

Then finally redeemed Israel worships, exults: “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Read “Selah” here as a strong “Hallelujah!”

“WITH US,” but not just poetically!

Nor metaphorically or spiritually or typically!

LITERALLY!

Jesus on earth, with every nation bowing to Him!

Ruling among His people (Israel), and finally bringing … “Peace on earth, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)

The Millennium … in Psalm 46!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

How about that, the Bible … the most amazing Book on earth (and in Heaven, where it is settled forever, Psalm 119:89!

Yes!

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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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We’re going to study Bible Prophecy for a while, the Lord willing. Particularly the coming “thousand year” rule of Christ on earth! Hence, our term “millennium.” It’s Latin, blending two words, “thousand” (spelled by the Romans “mille”) and the noun “year” (spelled “annum”) into one expression.

I suppose our biggest problem today (in this morning’s lesson, anyway) is the fact that our word (“millennium”) actually does not occur in the King James Bible!

But its equivalent certainly does, six times in one chapter in fact! I’m going to share with you that Text now …

I’ve capitalized our key word(s) … “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a THOUSAND YEARS, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the THOUSAND YEARS should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a THOUSAND YEARS. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the THOUSAND YEARS were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 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. 7 And when the THOUSAND YEARS are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 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. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 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 20:1-10, clearly six times, “thousand years!”

Admittedly our elongated Text does not give a lot of specifics about those “thousand years,” but this much is for sure … “And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Jesus is King during this time, quoting verse 4 above.

Now, to the question asked in the Lesson title … “Is the Millennium a literal or a figurative Bible expression?”

I say LITERAL, without hesitation!

In fact, anytime the Bible is discussing numbers, I take them at face value. Jesus began His Ministry when He was 30 years old! How do we know that? Bible numbers … “And Jesus himself began to be about THIRTY years of age (at His Baptism), being as was supposed the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli ….” Luke 3:23, no one tries to “reinterpret” that number, Jesus’ age.

The last half of the horrible Tribulation Period to yet try this earth lasts 3 1/2 years! Again, how do we know? Revelation 11:2, in part: “And the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” That’s 3 1/2 years, all right, if taken literally!

Dozens upon dozens of other examples could be cited.

So when I read about a future “thousand year” Reign of Christ upon the earth … about the Millennium … I am persuaded that it means 1,000 specific years, just like John wrote.

Not only that, there are countless other allusions and assertions about the Millennium in Scripture, even if not using the exact words “thousand years.”

And some of those will be the subject of our meditations over the next few days, maybe even weeks!

Bible Prophecy, yes!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, the word “millennium” does appear repeatedly in the Latin Vulgate, in Revelation 20.

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Counting today’s remarks, we have enjoyed a total of 81 Lessons from the Book of Acts! Something from every chapter, of course. And from some chapters, multiple meditations.

And all of these Articles are archived (saved) here for you, should you enjoy going back and reading them again.

I am so grateful for the ministry of Luke in the life of Paul. In fact, this “beloved physician” (Paul’s term of endearment for Luke, quoted from Colossians 4:14) stayed with Paul right up to the end of his life!

“For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. ONLY LUKE IS WITH ME.” 2 Timothy 4:10-11, among Paul’s last words!

In all Luke’s writings, I cannot recall a single time when the man painted Paul in “bad light!” He was a true friend!

What happened after the Book of Acts … to Paul?

We believe he was somehow, eventually released from Roman “house arrest.” Travelled yet again, preaching the Word, only to be rearrested several years later.

At which time Paul then was put to death by a crazed Roman Emperor, probably Nero.

But Luke did not choose to tell us that. He just leaves Paul in Rome “preaching and teaching!” Quoting Acts 28:31, the Book’s very last verse! Somehow I like that a lot …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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If Luke intended to write a biography of the Apostle Paul, he certainly stopped short of his goal!

Looks like rather than biography, Luke is penning us “history” instead. A Record of the Work of the God the Holy Spirit in the early years of the infant (first century) Church.

Amen!

I say that because of the cryptic ending of our Subject of study for months now, our analysis of the book of Acts.

We don’t even know how Paul’s “trial” developed! Or even if he faced Caesar, the Emperor to whom he had appealed for justice. Acts is silent on these issues!

Here’s the final (divinely inspired) Sentence or two … “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” Acts 28:30-31

Are questions popping into your mind, as they are in mine?

Why the “two year” delay? So atypical for Rome!

Where did Paul get the money to rent that house?

How did all these people know of Paul’s presence in Rome? Who drew the crowds?

And what, specifically, did Paul preach and teach during that time. I wish there was a Pauline “Epistle from a Roman Dwelling” that we could read and study!

And isn’t it amazing, “no man forbidding him,” God surely brought Paul into “favor” with some highly place Roman officials!

Then Luke succinctly adds: “The End.”

Thank God for the New Testament’s 14 Letters from Paul’s own hand!

They complete what Luke began!

This sort of makes me want to study my Bible all day long!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Actually Scripture has a lot of open-ended Material! The Parable of the Prodigal Son, for example. (Did the older brother ever make things right?) The Book of Jonah, too. (Did the Prophet pout for years and years?) What about the story of Demas as well? (Did he ever repent? Could he, like John Mark, have rededicated himself to the Lord?)

And this too … the trajectory of your life, Christian friend? And mine? Will we be “faithful” unto death? So far, we all are open ended stories!

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