The (Coming) Millennium
A chapter extract from an excellent little booklet entitled 'The Coming Saviour and The World's Crisis' by a Scottish lay preacher and former City Missions' Superintendent.
The Millennium!
by William H. Shanks
(a chapter extracted from 'The Coming Saviour and the World's Crisis')
 Well may we write this word in capital letters, for what a multitude of thoughts and feelings does it convey to the hearts and minds of all who know, love, and believe the Word of God. The word, in itself, as such, does not appear in our English Bible but its meaning is there all right, as plain as daylight. If the reader will look up Revelation chapter 20, he or she will find that it is mentioned no less than 6 times in that chapter. I refer of course to the words "a thousand years," or " the thousand years.''
Our Lord Jesus Christ, at His coming, (and having taken, overcome, judged, and punished the Antichrist together with the false prophet who are cast into the lake of fire for all eternity) will then proceed to deal with Satan himself; and one of His mighty angels will be commissioned and given a key and a chain to bind the Devil and consign him to the bottomless pit for a period of a thousand years.
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"It is during this thousand years that our blessed Lord and Saviour will be in command and control..." |
It is during this thousand years that our blessed Lord and Saviour will be in command and control, and this wonderful period of time is what we believers or Christians call and refer to as the Millennium. And it follows that during this period Satan will be a bound captive; restrained and prevented from tempting and seducing men to sin.
Think of it – a thousand years; who could guarantee this length of time but our God alone? Some would have us believe that the sun is cooling off, others say that there may be a collision of planets and the earth be destroyed, others again think that the whole earth will be destroyed by a hydrogen or nuclear bomb: but we believe God, and He is the everlasting, and He has promised that His saints shall live and reign with Him a 1000 years, Praise His Holy Name, He is the Lord of time and the Lord of Eternity. Yes! It seems too good to be true, we can trust Him to fulfil His word – He cannot fail.
Doubtless, all the details of our Saviour's works and administration during these blessed years of our Lord's rule and reign have not been revealed in the Scriptures, but much at any rate has been declared, and what is good and sufficient for us to know. It is quite obvious that it is going to be a great and glorious and blessed time; more especially for the redeemed people of God, through His Son our Saviour and Lord.
Tremendous events will be happening on the earth prior to our Lord's appearing (hence the title of this book " The Coming Saviour,'' and the World's Crisis) for it will most certainly be the greatest crisis of all time affecting the destinies of every individual soul for time and for eternity.
Having dealt with the Antichrist, or beast, that wicked one and son of perdition; and also his colleague the false prophet, who have fulfilled their time and now out of the way for all eternity. And not only they, but all who followed and worshipped them and received his mark upon them, (for all who received the mark of the beast seal their eternal doom).
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"He will rule and reign together with His redeemed people, both Jews and Gentiles..." |
Satan, now a captive in the bottomless pit, and though a fallen angel and spirit, cannot possibly release himself, (for with God all things are possible). He will be released later. Our blessed Lord and Saviour, King of kings, and Lord of Lords, who, is also Israel's Messiah, will Himself usher in His own Millennial Kingdom. He will rule and reign together with His redeemed people, both Jews and Gentiles (see Rev. 20:4). We believe that it will be a great and wonderful time during the years of the Millennium. Our Lord will be the Righteous Dictator, such as the earth has never had or ever will have. His judgements are just, and He alone can say, "I, the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right".
We might now consider some features of His millennial reign (and only a few) as we cannot go into full detail in a volume like this. (Others have taken in hand to do this, I have read a number myself on this wonderful subject.) We just want to emphasise the fact of the King who is coming, and of His Kingdom that He will establish. He has declared: "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else, I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess. . . and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory."
The foregoing passage states the reason why we think so much of our Saviour, Lord, and Redeemer. He is the Divine God-man and the King Eternal and we delight to honour Him, glorify Him, worship and adore Him. and blessed are all that put their trust in Him. So His own arm will rule for Him and during these blessed years of the millennium it will be abundantly clear that He is indeed the Almighty, the All-wise, and the All Good, whose rule and reign will be marked by wisdom, power, justice, love, peace, righteousness, holiness and truth. I do believe the rule of Satan and the powers of darkness are drawing to a close, though the darkness, sin, and evil, are increasing in intensity, and this is just what we anticipate, now, in these days.
It is quite clear that during the millennial period the nations then living will enjoy a state of peace and righteousness, for the tempter and the deceiver is a captive. We see the Lord reigning with His saints and those who v/ere slain by the Beast resurrected and living again with their Redeemer. I believe that I too, whether in body or spirit, (or both) , will share fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ and then life will be really and truly worth loving when Our Saviour is in full command and authority, and evil and sin suppressed and subdued. The people living then, and no doubt there will be many, (for the Lord is the Lord of Hosts on earth as well as in Heaven) and Lord of all, angels, devils, and men, and every creature under the sun.
The nations then will be able truly to say " Peace in our time," a statesman once said this I remember, but alas, it was rudely shattered. Yes,'' Peace at last," when the Prince of Peace is on the throne on earth as He is now in Heaven.
That our Lord Jesus will really be on this earth seems clear from the Scripture itself, see Revelation chapter 20 and verses 8 and 9 where we behold a tremendous scene at the end of the Millennium.
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"During the years of the Millennium we shall find many ancient prophecies fulfilled..." |
It was said, and generally believed, that the first Great War of 1914–18 would be "a war to end wars" but no, we've have seen many wars since and right up to the time of me writing this book. But I have good reason to believe that this war that we read about in Revelation from verse 7 to 10 will be the war to end war, without doubt, and the victor in that fearful battle will be a foregone conclusion, our Lord God Almighty, for He will consume His enemies with divine fire.
During the years of the Millennium we shall find many ancient prophecies fulfilled, and promises too that God has made concerning Israel also the Gentiles to save, bless, and prosper and not one word shall fail for He is the covenant keeping God and His word will come to pass.
The whole millennial period of a thousand years is but the beginning, and just a foretaste of His wonderful Kingdom to follow, and you can read all about this for yourself in the last two chapters of the Bible, Revelation 21 and 22.
Our Saviour, at His coming, and just before the Millennium begins, will judge and make war against all His enemies both human and spiritual, the apostle John tells us, that in righteousness He doth judge and make war. It is certain that all the ungodly wicked, and rebellious sinners, who are incensed against Him at His glorious appearing, will be judged, and justly punished, indeed, the Word of God declares that there is to be a great judgement feast, it is called " The Supper of the great God," all the fowls of Heaven are called upon and commanded to come and gather themselves together to eat the flesh of all who are slain by the fiery sword proceeding out of our Lord's mouth.
So there will be no peace, nor can there be any true universal peace, and righteousness, until all the wicked and ungodly are out of the way. also that wicked one called the Antichrist, and, the false prophet, and the Devil himself chained and restrained by God's almighty power.
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"So we can anticipate with full assurance a time of just and wise administration, and able government, such as the world has never known..." |
We cannot tell the time when these stupendous events will take place, but it seems to me as I look around this troubled world today, that the time is drawing near, and at the doors, for these things to be fulfilled, I would hesitate to make any predictions, or give dates, as some have foolishly presumed to do, but at any rate, we are coming to the close of 6000 years of the world's history, and who knows if the millennial age might not begin around the approaching end of this century, and the 7th thousand years following may be the earth's sabbath of rest, – this is only a suggestion, however, our Lord said, " Watch therefore; for you know not what hour your Lord doth come," and again," therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh."
The Lord has been graciously pleased to give us signs whereby we may know that the time is near, and it is for us to live accordingly in this present evil world – soberly and righteously. His rule and reign will be characterised by His own righteous laws and doctrines that He taught while He was here upon earth during the days of His flesh.
So we can anticipate with full assurance a time of just and wise administration, and able government, such as the world has never known, He is the unchanging One, and blessed are all they that put their trust in Him. As one said of old " For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth."
From a booklet entitled:
The Coming Saviour and the World's Crisis
by William H. Shanks
Lay preacher, and formerly Superintendent in East Wemyss, Edinburgh City and Perth City Missions.
Footnote: At the time of writing (unknown) the author was living at an address in Perth (Scotland). If anyone has further information on Mr. Shanks it would be most gratefully received. Thank you. |
William H. Shanks, 24/07/2013
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