THE MILLENNIUM

J. Dwight Pentecost, (Things to Come, p. 507), gives an excellent summary of the important place of Israel in the millennium in the following statement:

"Israel will become the subject of the King's reign (Isa. 9:6-7; 33:17, 22; 44:6; Jer. 23:5; Mic. 2:13; 4:7; Dan. 4:3; 7:14, 22, 27).

In order to be subjects, Israel, first, will have been converted and restored to the land, as has already been shown.

Second, Israel will be reunited as a nation (Jer 3:18; 33:14; Ezek. 20:40; 37:15-22; 39:25; Hos. 1:11).

Third, the nation will again be related to Jehovah by marriage (Isa. 54:1-17; 62:2-5; Hos. 2:14-23).

Fourth, she will be exalted above the Gentiles (Isa. 14:1-2; 49:22-23; 60:14-17; 61:6-7).

Fifth, Israel will be made righteous (Isa. 1:25; 2:4; 44:22-24; 45:17-25; 48:17: 55:7; 57:18-19; 63:16; Jer. 31:11; 33:8; 50:20, 34; Ezek. 36:25-26; Hos. 14:4; Joel 3:21; Mic. 7:18-19; Zech. 13:9; Mal. 3:2-3).

Sixth, the nation will become God's witnesses during the millennium (Isa. 44:8, 21; 61:6; 66:21; Jer. 16:19-21; Mic. 5:7; Zeph. 3:20; Zech 4:1-7; 4:11-14; 8:23).

Seventh, Israel will be beautified to bring glory to Jehovah (Isa. 62:3; Jer. 32:41; Hos. 14:5-6; Zeph. 3:16-17; Zech. 9:16-17)."

John Walvoord states, (THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM, Zondervan Publishing, Grand Rapids, Mich, 1971):

"The lesser role of Gentiles in the millennium is the subject of many Old Testament Scriptures such as the following: Isaiah 2:4; 11:12; 16:1-5; 18:1-7; 19:16-25; 23:18: 42:1; 45:14; 49:6, 22; 59:6-8; 60:1-14; 61:8-9; 62:2; 66:18-19; Jeremiah 3:17; 16:19-21; 49:6; 49:39; Ezekiel 38:23; Amos 9:12; Micah 7:16-17; Zepheniah 2:11; 3:9; Zechariah 8:20-22; 9:10; 10:11-12; 14:16-19. [Ibid, p. 508]

Outstanding in these Scriptures is the fact that, first, the Gentiles will share many of the spiritual and economic blessings of the millennial reign of Christ. Second, they will, however, occupy a subordinate role to Israel (Isa 14:1-2; 49:22-23; 61:5-9). Third, as indicated previously, only Gentiles who are declared righteous by the King will be allowed entrance into the millennial kingdom at its beginning."

[Isa 2:2-4]:

(v. 2) "In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains;

(v. 3) Many peoples [i.e., many types of peoples which inevitably must include Gentile nations, foreigners and not Jews, cp. Ex 21:8] will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. 

[Note that this is what a Gentile would say not a Jew]. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.' The Law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

(v. 4) He will judge between the nations [Notice: more than one nation] and will settle disputes for many peoples [Notice: more than one type of people, i.e., race].

They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."

[This condition of peace has not yet occurred yet so is yet future and speaks of our LORD's millennial kingdom rule]

[Dan 7:14]:

"He [the Messiah, Jesus Christ, (v. 13)] was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom [comprised of all peoples, nations and men of every language] is one that will never be destroyed."

[Zech 2:10-11]:

(v. 10) " 'Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,' declares the LORD [speaking of His millennial kingdom rule].

(v. 11) Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become My people [in the sense of being believers and in His will]. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty [God the Father] has sent Me [the Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ] to you."

[Zech 8:20-23]:

(v. 20) "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Many peoples [i.e., foreigners, non-Jews, cp. Ex 21:8, same word, (Strong #5971) which is translated as strange nation or foreigner, i.e., non-Jews] and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come [speaking of our Lord's millennial kingdom rule],

(v. 21) and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, 'Let us go at once to entreat the LORD and seek the LORD Almighty. I myself am going.'

[Note that this has not happened yet so is yet future and speaking of the millennial rule]

(v. 22) And many peoples [Strongs #5971, non-Jews, i.e., Gentiles, foreigners] and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty and to entreat Him.

(v. 23) This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.' "

[So all Jews will be highly respected by Gentile peoples of all nations as God's mortal human representatives of God on earth during our LORD's millennial rule]

[Zech 14:16-19]:

(v. 16) "Then the survivors from all the nations [after our LORD's judgment of the nations, (Mt 25)] that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

(v. 17) If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.

(v. 18) If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain.

(v. 19) This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles."

And during the Millennium Jews will be reunited into one nation:

[Jer 3:18]:

"In those days the house of Judah will join the house of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your forefathers as an inheritance."

MORTALS WILL LIVE IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM

[Ps 72:1-19]:

PS 72:1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.

PS 72:2 He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.

PS 72:3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.

PS 72:4 He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.

PS 72:5 He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.

PS 72:6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.

PS 72:7 In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.

PS 72:8 He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

PS 72:9 The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust.

PS 72:10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts.

PS 72:11 All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.

PS 72:12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.

PS 72:13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.

PS 72:14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.

PS 72:15 Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.

PS 72:16 Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field.

PS 72:17 May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.

PS 72:18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.

PS 72:19 Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen."

[Isa 11:1-9]:

ISA 11:1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

ISA 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD--

ISA 11:3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;

ISA 11:4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

ISA 11:5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

ISA 11:6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.

ISA 11:7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

ISA 11:8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.

ISA 11:9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea."

[Micah 4:1-8]:

MIC 4:1 "In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.

MIC 4:2 Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

MIC 4:3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

MIC 4:4 Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.

MIC 4:5 All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

MIC 4:6 "In that day," declares the LORD, "I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief.

MIC 4:7 I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.

MIC 4:8 As for you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem."

[Zech 14:16-21]:

(v. 16) "Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

(v. 17) If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.

(v. 18) If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

(v. 19) This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

(v. 14:20) On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD's house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar.

(v. 21) Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty."