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Real Life in the Millennium By Cecil E. Maranville God has given wonderful promises of a world of peace and prosperity. But does the Bible teach that the Millennium will provide a life of ease, a life without challenges? Does Bible prophecy show us that people will be prevented from taking any action that would disturb the harmony of a world under God's government? Since God's purpose requires people to grow in godly character, and since character requires freedom of choice, perhaps the reality of this wonderful world will include a few surprises.
he treasured prophecy of Isaiah 11:6-9 provides us with a welcome vision of the world to come. Illustrated by the symbolism of today's natural enemies in the animal kingdom living together in peace, the millennial mosaic painted by these verses stands in stark contrast to the evil world in which we live.
What will assure this wonderful peace? Jesus Christ will administer His Father's government, with the help of His saints. Another major prophecy adds some troubling images, and raises some questions, though. Moving ahead in time to just after the Millennium, we know that there will be a colossal war. Revelation 20:7-9 tells of a rebellion against God's government so large as to defy the imagination. Instigated by the recently released Satan, vast numbers of citizens of God's peaceful Kingdom will draw together with the intent to make war on Jerusalem. How can such a dichotomy exist? What does it tell us about the world between the time Christ returns and the time of this war? Simply put, establishing a perfect government doesn't translate into a world of obedient citizens. Not a "locked-down" environment The only way for God to make the world free of any hurtful or destructive action would be to exercise complete control, much like the level of control parents of a tiny baby must exercise to ensure its safety and well-being. The prophecy of Isaiah 30:20-21 has been offered as an indication that there will be a high degree of control. This prophecy has been explained as foretelling the work of spirit teachers, who make their voice and/or presence known at critical times to ensure that the way of God is followed.
Does the prophecy of Isaiah 11 mean that there will be no sin in the world to come? Does the prophecy of Isaiah 30 show that all sin will be prevented? The prophecy that we've already seen of a post-millennial war indicates that not all sin will be stopped. Let's look into this prophecy of spirit teachers, taking care to read it for what it says and not reading anything into it. First, we should be aware of the fact that translators differ on the Hebrew words for "your teachers." Some have, "your Teacher" in both places where the words are used in Isaiah 30:20. Obviously, they interpret this to be a reference to God Himself. Even if the original intention is to refer to God as the Teacher, we realize that He delegates that responsibility to those who will serve with Christ as kings and priests in the coming Kingdom (Revelation 5:10). People will welcome their teachers But is this a prophecy of enforcement? Isaiah 30:20 says: "Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore." What does this mean? Commentaries explain that Israel and Judah often persecuted the representatives God sent to them. Time and again, they were forced "into a corner," as it were, by people who were unwilling to hear or respond to what God's servants had to say. Righteous teachers were persecuted. Even God stopped teaching those who closed their ears and hearts to His words.
Let's step back a moment and ask what God's purpose will be during the Millennium. Is it only to bring peace to the world? If that were His purpose, then it would be appropriate to have a highly controlled society -- one in which there is no allowance for people making wrong choices. But God's purpose then will be the same as it is today, "bringing many sons to glory" (Hebrews 2:10). The essence of conversion is a principle that remains constant so long as there are humans: repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of God's Holy Spirit and remaining faithful in the Christian way of life against resistance. Without Satan (Revelation 20:1-3), what resistance will there be in the world to come? Undoubtedly, his influence will remain for many generations. After it is finally purged, perhaps human nature itself will provide enough resistance for people to develop godly character. Conversion must be possible Considering the environment that must exist in order to make conversion possible, the analogy of parents with a small baby isn't workable. That is, it's inappropriate to think in terms of God's government controlling its citizens to the extent that parents would control babies. A different family analogy might be more illustrative. Parents of preteens and teens control their children's environment, set parameters and communicate expectations of behavior. At the same time, the children are allowed -- even encouraged -- to make their own choices. In the process of learning to make right choices, they will make some wrong ones. If this is an appropriate illustration of the way life will be in the Millennium, it means that people will be allowed to sin.
But the Bible doesn't envision a world in which righteousness will be forced upon its citizens, for the end result would not be genuine conversion or salvation. A world that allows true conversion would include the freedom to make wrong decisions, which frankly could include some hurtful and destructive deeds. Clearly, like a good parent, God will not allow the hurtfulness or destructiveness to be so great as to make salvation impossible. Like a good teacher, He (and His spirit sons and daughters) will be excellent disciplinarians. The objective will be to optimize people choosing and remaining faithful to God's way of life. But it can't mean that people will be forced against their will to do what they should do. Christ revealed much about life in the Kingdom The Kingdom parables give us some insight into how God will manage the Millennium. Look at Matthew 18:21-35, which is a lesson in forgiveness. Here, Christ said, "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like..." Will people treat other people unjustly? Will people need to have patience, tolerance and forgiveness in overlooking the wrongs they suffer from others? Matthew 20:1-16 is the parable of the workers in the vineyard who dispute with the owner [God] about what they perceive to be His unfair treatment. This is prefaced with, "The kingdom of heaven is like..." Would there be such attitude problems in the Millennium? Matthew 22:1-14, the parable of the wedding feast, addresses attitude problems too. Christ also prefaced this with "The kingdom of heaven is like..." If indeed these parables indicate life during the Millennium, its citizens will need to be taught what sin is, how to seek repentance, godly skills of getting along with other people and how to love and worship God. These topics are all part of the gospel. "People problems" during the Kingdom These references imply that there will be character problems, even sin, in the Kingdom. What sin might be allowed? How severe a sin would be tolerated? There are far-reaching repercussions from sin, for it would bring with it varying degrees of pain and problems.
God's purpose goes far beyond creating a clean and peaceful world. An analogy might help us understand more clearly. "This building is going up too fast!" declared inspectors about a hotel under construction in one American city. Contractors were completing sections of the project so quickly that officials feared quality could not be assured. It takes time to construct a quality building. In Ephesians 2:19-22, we are provided with the analogy that the Church is the building of God. The entire building will be constructed upon and be consistent with the way the foundation was built. God is building His Church, His spiritual building, on His own schedule, one which will ensure the quality He desires. Symbolism consistent with Old Testament prophecies Look at two Kingdom parables in Matthew 13:31-33. How long will it take for the mustard plant to grow to maturity? How long will it take for the yeast to cause the whole mixture to rise? Both are symbolic statements of the growth of God's spiritual house, also called His family or His Kingdom. These symbols repeat the theme used in Daniel 2:34-35 about the stone that is cut out without hands, which strikes the great image on its feet and then grows to become a mountain that fills the entire earth. All three symbols could indicate a process of time during which the Kingdom is established over all people.
Every individual, whenever he or she lives, needs to come to conversion (Mark 10:13-15). It is impossible for "rich men" to enter the Kingdom of God (by relying on their riches); the supernatural calling and power from God is needed (Mark 10:23-27). Does this imply that the Millennium will be just like this present world? Not at all! The difference between this present world and the Millennium is that conversion will become possible for all -- but not easy for any. Salvation is not easy. Repentance is not easy. Seeing and turning from human nature is not easy. Every person will need to be taught, counseled and encouraged in his own lifetime, including those who live hundreds of years after the second coming of Christ. The gospel is preached first; the calling follows; conversion then ensues. What follows conversion? Will the people of the Millennium be healthy and wealthy, without a care in the world? To turn the old joke around, we would err if we imagine that everyone will ride in a limousine to school -- downhill both ways! When poor immigrants made their way to the wealth and opportunity of North America in the 1950s, they came with a near universal dream: They did not want their children to struggle in poverty as they had. Typically, they worked extremely hard and many came to enjoy the wealth of which they had dreamed. True to their hopes, many provided a life of ease for their children. The result was not always good. Not having to work for their wealth, many of their children were unable to really appreciate it. While they did not have to worry about meeting the needs of life, their inner character was soft. We can be sure that God will not spoil His children, even though He will give them many wonderful blessings through life in His Kingdom. God's "building codes"
Conversion cannot be accomplished in a single moment. Time is required for the process to be completed. It is through the passing of time and spiritual teaching coupled with the experience of life, that faith is added. Faith is absolutely necessary (Hebrews 11:6). Faith flourishes when people do not know how or when God will help them, according to Hebrews 11:1. Faith flourishes when people need to endure, that is, to wait a while for deliverance from their struggles, reveals Hebrews 12:1-2. People converted during the Millennium will be built on the same foundation as the rest of God's building, with the same spiritual character. "Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered," we are told in Hebrews 5:8. So also, those who are converted in the Kingdom will need circumstances of life that stir them to seek God's help to endure. God's "building codes" include conversion, faith and endurance. Considering what the Millennium will be like should reinforce in us that the training we are now receiving -- in conversion, in faith and in endurance -- is precisely the training we need to prepare us to teach throughout the coming millennial rule of Christ. Recommended reading God's plan involves changing humans -- converting them -- to become like Jesus Christ. Conversion is necessary now, and will be in the world to come. What does the Bible mean when it talks about repentance and conversion? Our booklet looks at this subject in detail. Copyright 2005 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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