Where is the millennium? Part 1

Isaiah Chapter 11:1-16 (ASV)

1And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.2And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah.3And his delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears;4but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.5And righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.6And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.7And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder`s den.9They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.10And it shall come to pass in that day, that the root of Jesse, that standeth for an ensign of the peoples, unto him shall the nations seek; and his resting-place shall be glorious.11And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, that shall remain, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.12And he will set up an ensign for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.13The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and they that vex Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.14And they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines on the west; together shall they despoil the children of the east: they shall put forth their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.15And Jehovah will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his scorching wind will he wave his hand over the River, and will smite it into seven streams, and cause men to march over dryshod.16And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, that shall remain, from Assyria; like as there was for Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

The above passage is one of the texts used to support a earthly millennium as we see a time of peace described between animals, animal and man and the knowledge of Jehovah covering the earth. We see the gathering of the remnant of Jehovah's people together and that Jehoshua will be set up as an ensign i.e. a banner, standard, something lifted up and a signal for the nations. We see the reconciliation of Israel as well. There will be a highway for the remnant to Mount Zion.

This passage prophesies of the Messiah's baptism which endowed with the fullness of His Father Jehovah's Spirit. The resulting effect of Jehoshua receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit is judging with righteousness and equity. This was a hallmark of Jehoshua's ministry during his time on earth. Those in the earthly millennium camp will say this passage refers to Jehoshua judging during the millennium.

Of course, the Messiah's righteousness judgment and equity will be apparent during the millennium but where is the millennium? Jehoshua is judging as we speak in the most holy place as the records of the dead and then the living come up the antitypical day of atonement. Jehoshua's judgment is righteous as He was tempted in all points like us and can sympathize with our frailties yet He also knows that we can overcome like He did being that He was on the flesh.

Does this time of peace between man and animal and mankind with each other prove that there will be a 1,000 year utopia on earth?

Isaiah 65:17-25 (ASV)

17For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.18But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.19And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and there shall be heard in her no more the voice of weeping and the voice of crying.20There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed.21And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.22They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.23They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for calamity; for they are the seed of the blessed of Jehovah, and their offspring with them.24And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent`s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith Jehovah.

In verse 25, we see the same language as used in Isaiah 11:6 and this does not refer to a millennium but rather the actual new heaven and new earth. Isaiah 65 is clear regarding this and there is no confusion. The new earth and new heaven come after not during the millennium. Remember, the millennium is described in Revelation 20 and the new heaven and new earth is described a chapter later in Revelation 21 which comes about as a result of the conclusion of the millennium. They are not one and the same, the millennium precedes the new heaven and new earth. Isaiah 11 and Isaiah 65 are clearly speaking of how the environment will be for man and animal during the new heaven and new earth not an earthly millennium.

In order to believe in an earthly millennium you have to believe that there will be two renewals of the earth, one after the second advent of the Messiah and another after the final rebellion at the end of the millennium. However, no where in scripture does it speak of two renewals of the earth. Scripture attests to only one renewal of the earth and that is actually at the conclusion of the millennium. This gives us a strong that possibly the millennium is not on earth but somewhere else. What is the state of the earth after the second coming of Jehoshua. Let's go to Isaiah 24 to see:

Isaiah Chapter 24:1-23 (ASV)

1Behold, Jehovah maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.2And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him.3The earth shall be utterly emptied, and utterly laid waste; for Jehovah hath spoken this word.4The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the lofty people of the earth do languish.5The earth also is polluted under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.6Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are found guilty: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.7The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merry-hearted do sigh.8The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.9They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.

10The waste city is broken down; every house is shut up, that no man may come in.11There is a crying in the streets because of the wine; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.12In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.13For thus shall it be in the midst of the earth among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive-tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.14These shall lift up their voice, they shall shout; for the majesty of Jehovah they cry aloud from the sea.15Wherefore glorify ye Jehovah in the east, even the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel, in the isles of the sea.16From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs: Glory to the righteous. But I said, I pine away, I pine away, woe is me! the treacherous have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.17Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.18And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.19The earth is utterly broken, the earth is rent asunder, the earth is shaken violently.20The earth shall stagger like a drunken man, and shall sway to and fro like a hammock; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fall, and not rise again.21And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will punish the host of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.22And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison; and after many days shall they be visited.23Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Jehovah of hosts will reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his elders shall be glory.

Isaiah 24 provides a vivid description of judgments in the last days and the resulting effects thereof. Verse1 makes it clear that Jehovah will make the earth empty and waste. In verse 6, the few men left are the 144,000 who were translated to glory. This eliminates the teaching there will be a great multitude who will be translated at the second advent of our Jehovah. Jehoshua Himself said it will be as the days of Noah (8 people were saved). Even if the 144,000 is a symbolic number the number of men and women alive at the second advent who have the seal of Jehovah will be few especially in comparison to the rest of the world.

“When the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)

Pretty sobering words from the Son of God.

Verse 3, again Jehovah declares that the earth will be utterly emptied after He judges the earth with plagues of destruction.

Verse 19, the state of the earth after the plagues will be one where the elements are dissolved and the earth will be utterly broken down. The bible is clear that renewal of the earth doesn't happen until after the millennium. The earth will be  uninhabitable after Jehovah burns it with fire and everything is dissolved, and it is utterly broken down (mountains, hills ,cities). This is why the text says that the earth will be utterly emptied. The inhabitants of the earth at the time of the Messiah's return will be burned with fire and dissolved along with the elements thereof.  Many will die prior to the Messiah's advent due to the plagues.

Verse 22 describes what happens to the law transgressors after the Messiah's advent. They are shut up in the prison i.e. the pit.

The hebrew word for pit is "bowr" and means "a pit hole, cistern, fountain, dungeon, pit, well."

They are prisoners? How can this be if they have just been destroyed? We know that the dead are unconscious after death so they are shut up in the pit i.e. prison of this desolated earth which is described as an abyss when it is without form and void. The description of the earth prior to the work of creation is described as an abyss. After it's destruction at the hands of Jehoshua, the earth will once again bean abyss and without form and void (utterly broken down and emptied and dissolved). The dead bodies of the transgressors destroyed at the time of recompense will not be buried but will be strewn from one end of the earth to the other (verse 1).

After the advent of Jehoshua, the earth will be as one big prison for a period of time. Satan will even be chained to it b ya set of circumstances. The same goes for the wicked who were destroyed during the plagues and burned at the Messiah's return (verse 6). Verse 7 of Revelation 20 reveals that Satan will be loosed out of his prison. The bible teaches that this earth will be as a prison for a period of time in between the second advent and the new heaven and new earth. The prison that Satan is in, prior to being loosed, is the earth. This is the same prison for those destroyed during the plagues and burned at the second advent of our Jehovah. The earth after the second advent is one big prison and one big pit. The prisoners of earth will be visited after a number of days, how many days is the question. The answer is simple, a thousand years as that is what the bible teaches regarding the time period between the second advent and the the second resurrection which is also called the second death in which the wicked will be cast into the lake of fire.

The prisoners will be visited as a result of their resurrection as they will be conscious again. Satan will gather them and deceive them once more for final desperate battle against Jehovah.

How will there be few men left if the earth itself will be utterly emptied and broken down and dissolved? Because the remnant will be translated after the dead in Messiah rise from the graves and they all meet each other in the air to make their ascent to Heavenly Jerusalem. It won't be until the resurrection and translation happens that the final judgement of the earth and the inhabitants thereof takes place (1st Thessalonians 5:9). The 144,000 escape the dissolving of the elements of the earth which include the law transgressors as they also are burned and destroyed.

However, we also see in verse 22, that the prisoners (law transgressors who were destroyed at the second advent) will be revisited after a number of days, how will this be if they were killed during the plagues and the burning of the earth? This is what is called the second resurrection which is also called the second death (Revelation 20:6).

The bible does not teach that there are unbelieving mortals who survive the outpouring of Jehovah's wrath to dwell in a earthly millennium ruled by the Messiah. Infact, Jehoshua says plainly that one must be born again to see the kingdom of Jehovah.

John 3:3 (KJV)

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV)

 [9]Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10]Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. [11]And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Is not the millennium part of the kingdom of Jehovah? So why would end time unbelievers be allowed to enter the millennial Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah?

The bible teaches that by the time Jehoshua returns that all those on earth either have the seal of Jehovah or the mark of the beast. There is no third neutral party.

Revelation 13:16-17 (KJV)

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

All whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life will receive the mark of the beast. This because all who receive this mark, will worship the beast.

The bible teaches that ALL who dwell upon the earth will worship the beast whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life. Do you see here what the bible says? There is no neutrality in the last days, you either worship Jehovah or worship the Papal beast!

Revelation 13:8K (KJV)

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The teaching of an earthly millennium depends on the teaching that there will be unconverted survivors of the outpouring of Jehovah's wrath, when His Son returns, and that these survivors will live on in the earthly millennial Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah. Afterall, the Saints aren't going to reign and rule over each other so there has to be mortals that survive the utter destruction of the earth in order for this earthly millennium to be tenable.

The problem with this theory is that as a result, it unintentionally teaches that one receive the mark of the beast and still be given a second chance in the millennium. Does the bible teach this?

Revelation 14:9-11 (KJV)

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

See, when we compare scripture with scripture the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. The bible without any confusion teaches that ALL who are not written in the Lamb's book of life will worship the beast and receive his mark. There is no neutral group of people in the last days. The bible also clearly teaches that these people who worship the beast and take his mark will be no given absolutely no second chances and instead suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. These people will drink the full cup of Jehovah's wrath. This is in harmony with Isaiah 24 in that the earth will be utterly emptied of the inhabitants thereof as they are destroyed by the judgements and plagues and burned with fire at the Messiah's advent. Only a few men will be left which are the 144,000.