Aug 26 2008
The Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ
When Jesus Christ returns to earth He will initiate “the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets” (Acts 3:21, NRSV). Those prophets consistently assured ancient Israel and Judah that a righteous King would restore God’s Kingdom to earth.
The prophets reveal the exact spot to which the Messiah, God’s anointed King, will return: “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east” Zechariah 14:4). Starting with Jerusalem as His capital city, He will expand His reign to the world (verses 9).
Once God’s Kingdom is established in Jerusalem among the people of Israel, Christ will ask representatives of all nations to come to Jerusalem to learn about His laws. He will summon them to Jerusalem to attend God’s Feast of Tabernacles. “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (verse 16).
Not all nations will immediately cooperate. Remember, Satan had organized these same nations to fight Christ at His return. They will not quickly accept Him even after Satan is bound. Therefore Christ will “judge between the nations, and rebuke many people . . .” (Isaiah 2:4). Early in Christ’s reign, strong measures still will be necessary to convince most nations that He intends to enforce the laws of God.
How will He make this clear, especially to nations who obstinately refuse to attend the Feast of Tabernacles? His means of communicating His message to them will be straightforward. He will simply demonstrate His control over the natural forces of earth. “And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain” (Zechariah 14:17).
The nations will quickly learn that their existence depends on God’s blessing. Good weather and bountiful crops are blessings from God. From this time forward only nations that obey God will reap those blessings. All others will not. Such a system will serve as a convincing argument. In time, all nations will respond.
This vision of the millennial reign of Christ is not an illusion but a promise of reality. Jesus Christ will return to earth to spiritually transform its people and establish utopia, a paradise on earth. The combination of removing Satan’s influence, giving humanity God’s Spirit and teaching the world the laws and ways of God will produce 1,000 years of peace and a society blessed beyond its wildest dreams.
