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THE REWARD OF THE FAITHFUL
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There are fantastic phrases and sentences in the Bible which talk about our rewarded destiny in the Kingdom of
God. Jesus, the Christ is coming back and He Is bringing the government of His Father, the kingdom of God to
earth. A kingdom that represents God’s government. The government of God is coming out of the unseen realm
of heaven, where it currently exists, and is coming back to planet earth.
He is going to resurrect His called out ones from all ages, from ancient times up, raise them out of their
graves, grant them eternal life, and give them roles of rulership, dominion with Him. We too are going to reign
with Christ here on the earth, as assistants to Him. Not that He needs assistance, but He wants to share His
Fathers kingdom with us.
He is giving us the same blessings that He received from His Father, which is eternal life, power, and
glory, along with spiritual rulership. The Bible talks about our rulership for the future over and over again. The
Bible means what it says. We’re going to sit down with God at His throne of authority, judging angels and
judging the citizens of this world. The power to rule is the Biblical truth of the matter.
The world is waiting apprehensively for the arrival of God’s new millennium. This should be an exciting
period of time for us as we anticipate the beginning of a new and unusual thousand-year just ahead. Some people
wonder if this new millennium will bring in what the Bible recognizes as the golden age of human history, the
thousand-year millennial reign of Jesus Christ.
This respected kingdom will be ushered in when Jesus Christ returns in what the theologians call His
second advent. This is the event most people have in mind when they talk about the second coming or return
of Christ.
This is when sin and Satan are judged and righteousness is established. Christ's thousand-year reign is
preceded by the tribulation and battle of Armageddon. We read of that in the book of revealing, Revelation
19:17-21. There it shows us a picture of what happens to those who had the mark of the beast. Prior to this
Armageddon event, Jesus the Christ had consummated His marriage, because His bride had made herself ready.
The church, those called and recognized as representing the bride of Christ, was seen preparing herself
for her Bridegroom, by putting on her wedding garments, fine linen bright and clean. “Let us be glad and rejoice,
and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her
was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of
saints” (Rev 19: 7 - 8).
When the marriage of the Lamb comes, Christ's bride is going to be ready. He will see to that. We, the
called temple of God, will be wearing wedding garments that are called, "the righteous acts of the saints," that
we just read in Rev 19, verse 8.
The reason only our righteous acts will make it into the millennium is that the stubble in our lives was
burned off at the judgment seat of Christ, which occurred before the wedding. “For other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall
be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he
has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he
himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which
temple you are” (1 Cor 3:11-17).
Christ's bride will be glorious and perfect in every detail. Rev 19: verse 9, introduces us to the Lambs
marriage supper. “And he saith unto me, write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper
[reception] of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God.”
This marriage supper will be like a wedding reception that we know today. It is basically a party, a
celebration of people gathering together to congratulate the newlyweds and celebrate their union, Jesus, the Christ
and His bride at this time, are now at - one - ment, they are joined by marriage together as one. Their marriage
supper will be a real party! A real reception! I say that because this party bash is going to take place when Christ
and His bride return to earth from their wedding ceremony! Notice Luke 12: “Let your loins be girded about,
and your lights burning; and you yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when He will return from
the wedding; that when He cometh and knocks, they may open unto Him immediately. [Isn’t that what Christ
said to the Laodician church in Rev 3:20]. Luke 12 continues this thought, “Blessed are those servants, whom
the Lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them
to sit down to eat, [sit down for the wedding Supper] and will come forth and serve them” (Luke 12:35-37).
We will find more guest at the blast of the 7th trumpet. “The second woe is past; and, behold, the third
woe cometh quickly. And the seventh angel sounded; [ the trumpet ] and there were great voices in heaven,
saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our God, and of His Son, Christ; and He shall
reign for ever and ever. We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and was, and art to come; because
You have taken to You Your great power, and have reigned. And the nations were angry, and Your wrath is
come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should give reward unto Your servants
the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Your name, small and great; and should destroy them which
destroy the earth” (Rev 11:14-15, 17-18).
With that knowledge lets read a few more verses from the book of Revelation 11 to find added guest
and where they came from. Revelation 11:3-4 speaks of the two witnesses and the two churches that came
through the tribulation. “And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two
hundred and threescore days, [tribulation period] clothed in sackcloth [humility]. These are the two olive trees,
and the two candlesticks [churches] standing before the God of the earth.”
Revelation 1:20, identify the lampstands as churches. These churches are considered the remnant
churches in Rev 12:17, that kept “the commandments of God and had the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Now notice
Revelation 12, that first speaks of those who go to a place of safety, then those called the remnant, that go to help
the two witnesses. “And the dragon was wroth with the woman [God’s church], and went to make war with the
remnant of her seed, which keep the Commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation
12:17).
We will find more of the wedding supper guest in Revelation 7, where John writes about the 144,000
Israelites and the great multitude, who came out of the tribulation and now have on white robes. “After these
things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and
tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their
hands. “Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they
come from? and I said to him, sir, you know so he said to me, these are the ones who come out of the great
tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7: 9, 13-14).
The millennial reception will bring that time to an end and usher in eternity. Eternity is measured not
by 1000 years, but for ever and ever.
Let's find out more about this unique period called the millennial kingdom, ruled over by the unique being
of all time and eternity, Jesus, the Christ.
Why did God ordain and decree in His eternal plan that there would be a thousand-year period on earth
that His Son, Jesus, the Christ, would rule with absolute, sovereign control and perfect righteousness? One
reason is to vindicate Christ, and two is to vindicate God's plan of salvation.
Jesus was rejected by the nation Israel and Judah when He came the first time to be their King. This time
He will rule His kingdom with Jerusalem as His capital. Remember the magi asked in Jerusalem, "where is He
who has been born king of the Jews?" (Matt. 2:2).
In the millennium He will finally claim His throne and receive all the glory that is His due. The millennial
kingdom will prove the wisdom of God's original plan for mankind. He created man to rule the earth in His
behalf. Notice a couple verses. We are told in the Psalm 8.5; and in Hebrews 2.7. “For you have made him a
little lower than the angels, and has crowned him with glory and honour” (Ps 8:5). “You made him a little lower
than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of Your hands”
(Heb.2:7).
In response to the conflict in heaven when Satan and one-third of the angels rebelled and were booted
out of heaven, God wanted to demonstrate His glory to those angels. How? By fashioning human being creatures
inferior to those angels, so He use human beings to rule the earth while they are overcoming their sins, caused
by the angel Lucifer [Satan] and his demons. This will also happen in the millennium, the “new world” just
ahead.
Note, the writer of Hebrews said, angles will be ruled by Christ and His redeemed people. “For unto the
angels has He not put in subjection the world to come, where of we speak” (Heb 2:5). This goes all the way back
to Genesis verses 1 and -2, when God took the chaos of the original creation, and recreated it.
God put man in the garden of Eden with the command to subdue it and rule over the earth. God explained
to Adam, “I have created this world for you to rule."(Gen 1:26). But we now know Satan snuck in and ruined
the renovation.
Genesis 3, tell us Adam and Eve sinned, and in so doing handed the rulership over to Satan. This prince
and power of the air, Satan, took over the earth, and creation has been on a steady decline ever since. But God
made a promise in Genesis 3:15, that the seed of the woman, Jesus Christ, was going to come and destroy the
serpent. Meaning: Jesus would overthrow Satan's, overthrow of Adam and Eve in the garden. So the spiritual
battle lines were drawn and the rest of the Bible is the unfolding story of the coming of the seed, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ = [God] = became man, who defeated Satan in fulfillment of “God the Fathers” promise.
God made the statement in Heb 2: 8, that He has "put all things in subjection under His feet," that is the feet of
mankind, that verse ends by saying, “but now we see not yet all things put under him.” In other words, the
creation has not yet been restored to man's rule, all though we can see traces of man's former dominance in the
fear that some animals have of humans. But if you run into a lion, you better run, because that lion will have no
respect for you. Lions are not subjected to man today, although God originally made them that way.
With earth's coming golden age called the millennium, mankind will realize his original destiny and
purpose to rule, because of the person and work of the man, Jesus, the Christ. We will rule and reign with Christ
for a thousand years. “Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has
no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Rev 20:6).
God demonstrates to the angels what He can do with mankind, a lesser creation, when mankind operates
according to His will and His word.
Lets process a little more of Christ's millennial reign. The Apostle John said, “I saw heaven opened: and
behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called faithful and true: and in righteousness He judges and
wages war. And His eyes are a flame of fire. And upon His head are many Diadems; and He has a name written
upon Him which no one knows except Himself. And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name
is called the Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were
following Him on white horses" (Rev. 19:11-14). This will be quite a sight. Jesus Christ will ride out of heaven
to inaugurate His kingdom and begin the wedding reception. We will be with Him, because no bridegroom goes
to His reception without His bride. “And He saith unto me, write, blessed are they which are called unto the
marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God” (Rev 19:9).
But in order to usher in His thousand-year rule, Jesus Christ must deal with His enemies. So His first task
will be judgment. That's the purpose of the army following Him. According to verses 15 and 16, “From His
mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations;
and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, The Almighty.
And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, 'King of kings, and Lord of lords." Jesus Christ is
coming back from His throne in heaven to rid Himself of all opposition as He sets up His throne on earth.
The earth has just gone through the seven-year period known as the great tribulation and God is ready
to conclude this portion of His judgment, in preparation for His millennial reign. Jesus described His return in
Matthew 24:27, where He said, “Just as the lightning comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall
the coming of the Son of man be." Then he continued in verse 29 -30, “Immediately after the tribulation of
those days the sun will be darkened. And the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from the sky, and
the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in the sky, and then
all the tribes of the earth will mourn.”
This is the return we just read about in Revelation 19. The whole world will see Jesus Christ returning
in glory. It will be like a lightning strike that gains worldwide attention. Christ's return to establish His reign is
going to be a climactic event.
The great battle in which Jesus Christ eliminates His enemies prior to His kingdom on earth, is called the
battle of Armageddon, which followed Satan and his tribulation. This battle take place in the huge valley of
Megiddo in the land of Israel, west of the Jordan River, at the end of God’s great wrath.
The enemies of Christ will join behind the antichrist and the false prophet to go to battle against Christ
as He rides out of heaven with His bride and resurrected saints. “And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and
he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven,come and gather yourselves
together unto the supper of the great God; that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the
flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and
bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together
to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army. And the beast was taken, and with him the
false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the
beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with
brimstone” (Rev. 19:17-20).
The antichrist and the false prophet are judged at this point and thrown into the lake of fire. Then their
armies will perish in a great slaughter. Satan’s armies of the earth will be wiped out.
If the bride and saints are coming back with Christ and a good portion of the earth's population is wiped
out at Armageddon, who will be left on earth to populate the millennial kingdom? It will be populated by people
yet to be called, those who suffered and came through the great tribulation. They somehow survived and are now
brought into the millennium.
In Revelation 1:7, Jesus said that when He returns every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him.
This is a reference to the whole house of Israel and the house of Judah. At Jesus' coming to establish His
kingdom, the remnant of the house of Israel that survives the tribulation will see Him and realize He is their
Messiah whom the nation rejected and who was crucified. Zechariah says the nation will weep and mourn over
the rejections of its Messiah. “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the
spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as
one mourns for his only son, and grieve for him as one grieves for a firstborn” (Zech. 12:10). Zachariah is
presenting the house of Israel’s future as it might have been. Yet, how different would have been the history of
Israel if the people had accepted the gift of God’s sacrificed Son.
When Christ comes again, the truth of who He is will be revealed to the whole world! When we talk
about Christ eliminating His enemies, you may have notice that we did not mention very much about the greatest
enemy of all – Satan. Satan will be dealt with separately because God has a special judgment awaiting him for
the duration of the millennium. John wrote, ‘And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil,
and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal
upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that
he must be loosed a little season” (Rev 20:1-3).
The reason the millennium will be a golden age is that the devil will be put out of commission for the
entire millennium time. Our enemy who has been tempting and corrupting the human race since Genesis 3 will
not have access to the nations for one thousand years. There will be no deception from Satan the devil in Christ's
kingdom.
This is the process of Christ's millennial reign. He will come with His bride and saints. He will win the
battle of Armageddon and judge the antichrist and false prophet. And He will resurrect the tribulation martyrs
and usher in His kingdom.
What will Jesus Christ's millennial kingdom look like? How will it function, since He is the unique being
in all of eternity and in all of history? We would expect His kingdom to be unlike any others!
Let's describe some of the elements so we can better understand this golden age of which you and I will
be a part. The first thing we need to understand is that Christ's kingdom will be a theocracy, literally the "rule
of God." No democracy here, no voting for your favorite candidate, no majority to carry the day. Jesus Christ
will rule “with a rod of iron,” as it says in Revelation. “And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it
He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treads the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Rev 19: 15).
His authority will be absolute. If you want a Biblical picture of Christ Jesus' reign, look at Daniel 7:
13-14, which describes the one who will have total dominion. “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like
the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the ancient of days, [The Father] and they brought
Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations,
and languages, should serve Him: His Dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His
kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
And the prophet Zechariah says, “The Lord will be king over all the earth: in that day the Lord will be
the only one" (Zec 14: 9). Everyone will conform to Christ's will during this age.
Let’s clarify something here. The millennial kingdom will not be a perfect age because there will still
be unconverted human beings living on earth. People will still possess their human nature that we will be
working with. In other words, you and I will be teachers of perfection because we will have been changed and
judged to receive our rewards, and given our new spiritual bodies.
The millennium people will have children and grandchildren and great grandchildren because
human life will continue. There will be no crime or anything like that when Jesus Christ sits on His
throne. To put it in today's terms He will not take any guff from anybody. Any attempted rebellion will
be dealt with instantly. The earth will finally function the way it is supposed to function.
Our rulership in the millennium will extend to all the universe that now lies dead. We should all
pray that one day Christ will apply to our portfolio, Matt 25:21, “His Lord said to him, 'well done, good
and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter
into the joy of your Lord.” ☜
James Russell