In this final
article of God’s sovereignty and prophecy, the capstone of the doctrine –
Christ’s millennial kingdom, is examined. In the previous article,
God’s sovereign decrees were examined in view of His divine attributes.
He sits on His throne in heaven and is in control not only because He is
all-powerful, but also because He is unchangeable. Note, however, that
our Lord Jesus Christ is not sitting on His earthly throne yet. His
kingdom rule is yet future and in it He will demonstrate His sovereignty
in several unique ways. There are two phases to the future kingdom. The
millennial kingdom on earth (Rev. 20:4-6), and the future eternal
kingdom (Rev. 22:5).
Sovereignty of God declared in the Fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant
The idea of sovereignty assumes a reign, a kingship, and authority over both a people and a land. All these items are part of the Abrahamic covenant that the Lord made with Abraham in Genesis (12:1-3; 13:14-18; 15:1-21; 17:1-27; 22:1-19; 26:23-25; 35:9-15). The Lord came to Abram and commanded him ‘leq-laqa’ literally, "go! to you," usually translated "get out!" from your land and from your family and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you (Gen. 12:1). This is a sovereign act of God as Abram left the land of his heritage. The Lord promises a great nation, many offspring, and a blessing. He promises that Abram will be a blessing to all the families of the earth, meaning all the "nations" of the earth, but those who curse him, they in turn would be cursed. This promise is not one that will ever go void, for if the Lord promises something He alone is powerful enough to see it through, and His promises are unchangeable and free! Though man is faithless, God is faithful. In Genesis chapter fifteen the promise is ratified, and formalized, as God performs the proper covenant sacrifice.
It is indeed a sovereign act of God that Abraham, a hundred years old, and Sarah ninety, give birth to an heir! That is what happened, and the sign of the covenant was the cutting of the foreskin of all the male children of their family on the eighth day. So circumcision was given as a sign of the covenant and is a demonstration of God’s sovereign power to keep the rightful offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob protected and separate, a unique people set apart for all time!
The Abrahamic covenant was past down to subsequent generations and has provided strength and comfort to the remnant. Additional details are given in later generations concerning a kingly rule to the nation’s greatest ruler David (cf 2 Sam. 7:11-17, 1 Chron. 17:10-15). In the Davidic covenant, Israel is promised the Messiah – the Anointed One, who will come from the seed of David (1 Chron. 17:11) and that His throne, house, and kingdom will be established forever (1 Chron. 17:12-14). It is this everlasting, unbroken throne, house, and kingdom rule that our Lord will administer in the earthly millennial kingdom, also known as the Messianic kingdom.
The Lord’s earthly kingship has not been fulfilled. In His first coming He came as a suffering servant and Prophet. He functions today as Priest performing intercession for us. But at His Second Coming, He will come as sovereign – the re-establishment of the Davidic throne, as He functions as a Melchizedekian priest/king in the millennial temple.
The Earthly Kingdom
Since the Davidic, Land, and New Covenants are involved in some of the last prophecies to be fulfilled in God’s plan of the ages, it is important to examine them as they find fulfillment in the earthly Messianic kingdom.
I. The State of Things in the Kingdom
1. Mankind
There will be two main groups of people in the millennium. Those who survive the Great Tribulation and enter in their earthly "perishable" bodies, and those in their "imperishable bodies." Most of mankind will be made complete in the millennium. That is, most of mankind will be resurrected or raptured and hence possess glorified bodies. Our Lord’s resurrection being the "first-fruits" of the resurrection as He possess a physical glorified body right now (first-fruits – 1 Cor. 1:20; physical – Jn. 20:27; glorified – 1 Cor. 15:42-44). Hence, most of mankind will collectively possess resurrected, glorified bodies in the millennium. Those who are "in Christ," namely, all dead Christians will be resurrected before the Great Tribulation (1 Thes. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:23), then there will be the Tribulation Saints (Rev. 20:4-6), and finally, the Old Testament Saints (Dan. 12:1-2).
Those who are called saints are all collectively grouped in a set called the "first resurrection" (Rev. 20:5-6). Those who are not called saints are grouped into another set called the "second resurrection." This second set will not be resurrected until the end of the thousand years of the millennium (Rev. 20:4-5). Those in the second resurrection will face immediate judgment – condemned to spend eternity in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15)!
The two groups of the first set, those who are glorified and those who are not, will be together in the earthly millennium. The majority of mankind in the millennium will be glorified, and hence will not "be given to marriage." Those who still possess their material bodies will produce offspring, so there will be millennial babies born who will grow up in the millennium. It is within this last group – the millennial babies, that some will join with Satan’s final rebellion at the end of the millennium (Rev. 20:7-10).
2. The Land
Israel is promised again and again a return to the land. Not a return as in the past, characterized by rulers full of corruption, but a return seen as idealistic, a return to the land that contains a king who rules in righteousness. A return to the land where "you will be my people and I will be your God" (Gen. 17:8, Jer. 31:33; & etc)." The first reference to this phrase is in Genesis 17:8, the context being the Abrahamic covenant. Indeed, when the Lord speaks of His people Israel as being His people and He being their God, it will have its ultimate fulfillment, its ultimate completeness in the Messianic kingdom.
Though the topology of the land will be altered (Ezek. 47:1-12), Israel will inherit the land promised to Abraham (Gen. 15:18-21). The land that is mountainous today will be changed by God into a great fertile plain. A land truly flowing with milk and honey! The curse that came upon the whole earth at the fall (Gen. 3:17-19) will be removed (though not complete, as the river that purifies has a part of it that is not pure, not healing! – Ezek. 47:11).
The land covenant (Deu. 29:1-30:20) finds ultimate fulfillment in the millennium as the regathered nation is given the land according to each tribe (Ezek 48) as they finally live in peace in the land. The millennial temple will be established and dedicated as the return of the glory of Lord to the temple will find fulfillment (Ezek. 40-46). Jerusalem is set apart as the center of the kingdom rule (Jer. 3:17; 30:16-17; 31:6, 23; Ezek. 43:5-6; & etc). And the nations (Gentiles) will be established outside the land, but be required to come up to Jerusalem annually for the feast of Tabernacles (Zech. 14:18-19).
3. Israel
In the land, Israel will be exalted above the other nations (Isa. 14:1-2; 49:22-23; 60:14-17; 61:6-7). Israel will become God’s witness during the millennium (Isa. 44:8, 21; 61:6; 66:21). This promise is made complete only with the destruction of the surrounding nations which profited at Israel’s expense and treated God’s beloved people, land and city harshly.
The term "I will be your God" will be fulfilled (Ezek. 43:7) and hence the New Covenant will find ultimate fulfillment as the Lord promised: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt" (Jer. 31:3-4). And He says, "I will give you [Israel] a new heart and put a new spirit within you…I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues" (Ezk. 36:26-27).
Finally, for Israel, the Lord preserves and restores Israel as He says, "I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake" (Ezek. 36:22). The Lord is faithful, holy and true. His promises will be kept! His name depends upon it!
4. Life
Life in the millennium will be greatly blessed. It will be characterized by, (1) peace; (2) joy; (3) holiness; (4) glory; (5) comfort; (6) justice; (7) healing; (8) knowledge; (9) abundance; (10) protection; (11) long life; (12) prosperity; (13) a unified language; (14) unified worship; (15) the fullness of the Spirit; and (16) orderly [1].
Satan will be bound (Rev. 20:1-3) and Christ will reign with a "rod of iron," that is, sin will be dealt with severely (Ps. 2:9; Isa. 11:1-5; Rev. 12:5; 19:5).
5. The Temple
The millennial temple will be established and dedicated as the return of the glory of Lord to the temple finds fulfillment (Ezek. 40-46). The Lord says "[T]his is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever" (Ezek. 43:7). The temple is given to "humiliate" or "put to shame" the past iniquities of Israel (Ezek. 43:10-11). The law of the Temple will be established – it [the temple] will be Holy (Ezek. 43:12)! There will be universal worship in the kingdom (Isa. 2:2-4; 11:9-10; Ezek. 20:40-41; 40:1-46; Zech. 14:16), and the institution of the feasts and animal sacrifices will be properly instituted as a memorial.
6. Government
The government will be a theocracy – rule by God. King Jesus will Himself rule from His earthly throne in a way that He had intended Israel to be ruled before she wanted to be ruled like the nations – with human kings (cf. 1 Sam. 8-9). The Lord will show Israel how He had intended to rule the nation, but they wanted to be ruled like the nations.
Another aspect of the theocratic rule is that the Lord will find fulfillment of His inheritance of all the nations (Ps. 2:7-8). This requires His rule over the nations as well not just Israel!
II. The Person of Christ in the Millennium
1. The Lord’s Anointed.
Israel is promised again and again a Messiah, a future "anointed one" in the line of David who would be Yahweh’s king and priest (1 Sam. 2:10,35; Ps. 2; 20:6; 28:8; 84:9; Dan. 9:25-26; Heb. 3:13). This Lord’s Anointed – the Messiah, will find fulfillment in the Messianic kingdom.
2. Judge
Israel was commanded to judge righteously but they did not. They played favors, the poor found no justice and the rich bought favor. The nations are also found to be unjust! In the millennium, however, the Lord Himself will be the Judge. Justice will be swift and perfect. Justice will not only return to the land of Israel, but to all the earth!
3. King
Israel had good kings and bad kings, but in general all the kings were failures. In the millennium, the Lord will resurrect David who will co-reign with the Lord, a fulfillment of the promise made to him (Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34 & 37; Hos. 3:5). But, the Lord Himself will reign as King a fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant (Ps. 2:1-9; Isa. 9:6-7; 11:1-2; 55:3,11; Jer. 23:5-8; 33:20-26; Ezek. 34:23-25; 37:23-24). He will demonstrate how a perfect sovereign King should reign. Where Israel’s princes oppressed Israel, the Lord will not oppress them (Ezek. 45:8).
It was the purpose of God’s creating man that man should rule over the earth. Adam gave up that right when sin entered the human race. Christ will not be King over Israel, but the whole earth! Christ will universally rule (Ps. 2:6-9; Dan. 7:14, 27; Ps. 72:8; Mic. 4:1-2; Zech. 9:10) [2]. He will rule absolute in authority and power (Ps. 2:9; 72:9-11; Isa. 11:4). No sin will go unpunished (Isa. 11:3-5; Ps. 2:10-12).
4. Teacher
As teacher, the Lord will perfectly teach from the Temple. Where the teachers of Israel have failed, relying on tradition (Matt. 15:1-9), and where the church failed in teaching false doctrines (1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; 2 John 7-8; Jude 16-19), our Lord will come to show mankind what perfect teaching is (Isa. 54:13).
6. Savior
All Israel will be saved! This is the great fulfillment of the New Covenant. Where, the Lord preserved a remnant in every generation, delivering the nation corporately in the past, He will save all the surviving Jews of the Great Tribulation. He will give them a new heart (Ezek. 36:26-27).
7. Father
Our God is said to be a father to both Israel and believers in general. In the millennium, God will be seen as our Father. The fulfillment of Isaiah 63:15-16 will be made complete, "Where are Your zeal and Your strength, the yearning of Your heart and Your mercies toward me? Are they restrained? Doubtless You are our Father."
The abstractness of the human fatherly relationship that God gave mankind will be revealed in its completeness in the millennium. Those who have been resurrected, or raptured will possess glorified bodies and not be given in marriage, but however, the concept of mother, father, son, and daughter, will find complete understanding in the millennium.
Conclusion
Our Lord demonstrates His sovereignty in His very being. The creator of all things, and keeper of all things, comes in the flesh, taking on the form of man. The infinite came to the finite in order to show mankind what a perfect obedient man was like and to undo what the first Adam did. To come into the world so that mankind could identify with God in a unique and very personal way. Our God is a personal God who cares for His creation and especially for mankind who was created in His image.
A perfectly holy God who requires righteousness must also come again in order to make a final accounting. To deal with the unrighteousness of rebellious mankind. His plan of the ages will be made complete in the new heavens and earth. Perfect holiness, rightness and love will be revealed as His glory covers all the earth! From a holy, righteous loving creation to a holy, righteous, loving new creation – all things will be made complete.
The sovereignty of God and prophecy in particular is a most comforting doctrine and when read provides comfort for the hurting, rest for the restless, peace in times of turmoil. Drs. LaHaye and Ice write, "Peter went on to call biblical prophecy ‘the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place’ (2 Pet. 1:10). Why can we place all our trust in God’s prophetic Word? Because, as Peter concludes, prophecy is not a matter of the human interpretation of historical events: ‘Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God’ (2 Pet. 1:20-21).
Dr. Lightner writes, "While some Bible expositors say God’s sovereignty is one of His attributes or perfections, it may be preferable to view His sovereignty as the truth about God’s person which makes all His perfections possible and out of which they function as He carries out His plan. When we describe God as sovereign, we mean He is in complete control of His world. He has a plan, and He is implementing that plan. He is at the helm of the ship of all creation and life [3].
Finally, Dr. Benware writes of the sovereignty of God, "In a world that seems so chaotic and so completely in the grip of wickedness, we need to remember that our God sovereignly controls it all. The prophet Isaiah declared that the powerful Creator of this world is not at all impressed with the supposedly great power of men and nations (Isa. 40:12-26). In fact, he asserts that God regards them as dust on the scales, as a drop from a bucket, as nothing and meaningless. Our God is the king of the universe who reigns both now and in the future (Ps. 2:1-12). Though Satan is called the ‘god of this world,’ he does not dictate what happens on this planet but remains unquestionably under the sovereign authority of the Lord God (Matt. 28:19-20; Rev. 1:18). The prophetic word proclaims the power and sovereignty of God reminds us that His purposes for the future will indeed come to pass. Neither people nor demons can thwart the plans of God Almighty. This great truth brings insight and comfort to the believer living in this hostile word [4]."
[1] This list adopted from J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958), p. 487-490.
[2] John Walvoord, The Millennial Kingdom (Grand Rapids:Zondervan, 1959), p.301.
[3] Robert Lightner in Mal Couch, gen. ed., A Bible Handbook to Revelation (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2001), p. 96.
[4] Paul Benware, Understanding End Times Prophecy (Chicago:Moody Press, 1995), p. 12.
Sovereignty of God declared in the Fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant
The idea of sovereignty assumes a reign, a kingship, and authority over both a people and a land. All these items are part of the Abrahamic covenant that the Lord made with Abraham in Genesis (12:1-3; 13:14-18; 15:1-21; 17:1-27; 22:1-19; 26:23-25; 35:9-15). The Lord came to Abram and commanded him ‘leq-laqa’ literally, "go! to you," usually translated "get out!" from your land and from your family and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you (Gen. 12:1). This is a sovereign act of God as Abram left the land of his heritage. The Lord promises a great nation, many offspring, and a blessing. He promises that Abram will be a blessing to all the families of the earth, meaning all the "nations" of the earth, but those who curse him, they in turn would be cursed. This promise is not one that will ever go void, for if the Lord promises something He alone is powerful enough to see it through, and His promises are unchangeable and free! Though man is faithless, God is faithful. In Genesis chapter fifteen the promise is ratified, and formalized, as God performs the proper covenant sacrifice.
It is indeed a sovereign act of God that Abraham, a hundred years old, and Sarah ninety, give birth to an heir! That is what happened, and the sign of the covenant was the cutting of the foreskin of all the male children of their family on the eighth day. So circumcision was given as a sign of the covenant and is a demonstration of God’s sovereign power to keep the rightful offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob protected and separate, a unique people set apart for all time!
The Abrahamic covenant was past down to subsequent generations and has provided strength and comfort to the remnant. Additional details are given in later generations concerning a kingly rule to the nation’s greatest ruler David (cf 2 Sam. 7:11-17, 1 Chron. 17:10-15). In the Davidic covenant, Israel is promised the Messiah – the Anointed One, who will come from the seed of David (1 Chron. 17:11) and that His throne, house, and kingdom will be established forever (1 Chron. 17:12-14). It is this everlasting, unbroken throne, house, and kingdom rule that our Lord will administer in the earthly millennial kingdom, also known as the Messianic kingdom.
The Lord’s earthly kingship has not been fulfilled. In His first coming He came as a suffering servant and Prophet. He functions today as Priest performing intercession for us. But at His Second Coming, He will come as sovereign – the re-establishment of the Davidic throne, as He functions as a Melchizedekian priest/king in the millennial temple.
The Earthly Kingdom
Since the Davidic, Land, and New Covenants are involved in some of the last prophecies to be fulfilled in God’s plan of the ages, it is important to examine them as they find fulfillment in the earthly Messianic kingdom.
I. The State of Things in the Kingdom
1. Mankind
There will be two main groups of people in the millennium. Those who survive the Great Tribulation and enter in their earthly "perishable" bodies, and those in their "imperishable bodies." Most of mankind will be made complete in the millennium. That is, most of mankind will be resurrected or raptured and hence possess glorified bodies. Our Lord’s resurrection being the "first-fruits" of the resurrection as He possess a physical glorified body right now (first-fruits – 1 Cor. 1:20; physical – Jn. 20:27; glorified – 1 Cor. 15:42-44). Hence, most of mankind will collectively possess resurrected, glorified bodies in the millennium. Those who are "in Christ," namely, all dead Christians will be resurrected before the Great Tribulation (1 Thes. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:23), then there will be the Tribulation Saints (Rev. 20:4-6), and finally, the Old Testament Saints (Dan. 12:1-2).
Those who are called saints are all collectively grouped in a set called the "first resurrection" (Rev. 20:5-6). Those who are not called saints are grouped into another set called the "second resurrection." This second set will not be resurrected until the end of the thousand years of the millennium (Rev. 20:4-5). Those in the second resurrection will face immediate judgment – condemned to spend eternity in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15)!
The two groups of the first set, those who are glorified and those who are not, will be together in the earthly millennium. The majority of mankind in the millennium will be glorified, and hence will not "be given to marriage." Those who still possess their material bodies will produce offspring, so there will be millennial babies born who will grow up in the millennium. It is within this last group – the millennial babies, that some will join with Satan’s final rebellion at the end of the millennium (Rev. 20:7-10).
2. The Land
Israel is promised again and again a return to the land. Not a return as in the past, characterized by rulers full of corruption, but a return seen as idealistic, a return to the land that contains a king who rules in righteousness. A return to the land where "you will be my people and I will be your God" (Gen. 17:8, Jer. 31:33; & etc)." The first reference to this phrase is in Genesis 17:8, the context being the Abrahamic covenant. Indeed, when the Lord speaks of His people Israel as being His people and He being their God, it will have its ultimate fulfillment, its ultimate completeness in the Messianic kingdom.
Though the topology of the land will be altered (Ezek. 47:1-12), Israel will inherit the land promised to Abraham (Gen. 15:18-21). The land that is mountainous today will be changed by God into a great fertile plain. A land truly flowing with milk and honey! The curse that came upon the whole earth at the fall (Gen. 3:17-19) will be removed (though not complete, as the river that purifies has a part of it that is not pure, not healing! – Ezek. 47:11).
The land covenant (Deu. 29:1-30:20) finds ultimate fulfillment in the millennium as the regathered nation is given the land according to each tribe (Ezek 48) as they finally live in peace in the land. The millennial temple will be established and dedicated as the return of the glory of Lord to the temple will find fulfillment (Ezek. 40-46). Jerusalem is set apart as the center of the kingdom rule (Jer. 3:17; 30:16-17; 31:6, 23; Ezek. 43:5-6; & etc). And the nations (Gentiles) will be established outside the land, but be required to come up to Jerusalem annually for the feast of Tabernacles (Zech. 14:18-19).
3. Israel
In the land, Israel will be exalted above the other nations (Isa. 14:1-2; 49:22-23; 60:14-17; 61:6-7). Israel will become God’s witness during the millennium (Isa. 44:8, 21; 61:6; 66:21). This promise is made complete only with the destruction of the surrounding nations which profited at Israel’s expense and treated God’s beloved people, land and city harshly.
The term "I will be your God" will be fulfilled (Ezek. 43:7) and hence the New Covenant will find ultimate fulfillment as the Lord promised: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt" (Jer. 31:3-4). And He says, "I will give you [Israel] a new heart and put a new spirit within you…I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues" (Ezk. 36:26-27).
Finally, for Israel, the Lord preserves and restores Israel as He says, "I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake" (Ezek. 36:22). The Lord is faithful, holy and true. His promises will be kept! His name depends upon it!
4. Life
Life in the millennium will be greatly blessed. It will be characterized by, (1) peace; (2) joy; (3) holiness; (4) glory; (5) comfort; (6) justice; (7) healing; (8) knowledge; (9) abundance; (10) protection; (11) long life; (12) prosperity; (13) a unified language; (14) unified worship; (15) the fullness of the Spirit; and (16) orderly [1].
Satan will be bound (Rev. 20:1-3) and Christ will reign with a "rod of iron," that is, sin will be dealt with severely (Ps. 2:9; Isa. 11:1-5; Rev. 12:5; 19:5).
5. The Temple
The millennial temple will be established and dedicated as the return of the glory of Lord to the temple finds fulfillment (Ezek. 40-46). The Lord says "[T]his is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever" (Ezek. 43:7). The temple is given to "humiliate" or "put to shame" the past iniquities of Israel (Ezek. 43:10-11). The law of the Temple will be established – it [the temple] will be Holy (Ezek. 43:12)! There will be universal worship in the kingdom (Isa. 2:2-4; 11:9-10; Ezek. 20:40-41; 40:1-46; Zech. 14:16), and the institution of the feasts and animal sacrifices will be properly instituted as a memorial.
6. Government
The government will be a theocracy – rule by God. King Jesus will Himself rule from His earthly throne in a way that He had intended Israel to be ruled before she wanted to be ruled like the nations – with human kings (cf. 1 Sam. 8-9). The Lord will show Israel how He had intended to rule the nation, but they wanted to be ruled like the nations.
Another aspect of the theocratic rule is that the Lord will find fulfillment of His inheritance of all the nations (Ps. 2:7-8). This requires His rule over the nations as well not just Israel!
II. The Person of Christ in the Millennium
1. The Lord’s Anointed.
Israel is promised again and again a Messiah, a future "anointed one" in the line of David who would be Yahweh’s king and priest (1 Sam. 2:10,35; Ps. 2; 20:6; 28:8; 84:9; Dan. 9:25-26; Heb. 3:13). This Lord’s Anointed – the Messiah, will find fulfillment in the Messianic kingdom.
2. Judge
Israel was commanded to judge righteously but they did not. They played favors, the poor found no justice and the rich bought favor. The nations are also found to be unjust! In the millennium, however, the Lord Himself will be the Judge. Justice will be swift and perfect. Justice will not only return to the land of Israel, but to all the earth!
3. King
Israel had good kings and bad kings, but in general all the kings were failures. In the millennium, the Lord will resurrect David who will co-reign with the Lord, a fulfillment of the promise made to him (Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34 & 37; Hos. 3:5). But, the Lord Himself will reign as King a fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant (Ps. 2:1-9; Isa. 9:6-7; 11:1-2; 55:3,11; Jer. 23:5-8; 33:20-26; Ezek. 34:23-25; 37:23-24). He will demonstrate how a perfect sovereign King should reign. Where Israel’s princes oppressed Israel, the Lord will not oppress them (Ezek. 45:8).
It was the purpose of God’s creating man that man should rule over the earth. Adam gave up that right when sin entered the human race. Christ will not be King over Israel, but the whole earth! Christ will universally rule (Ps. 2:6-9; Dan. 7:14, 27; Ps. 72:8; Mic. 4:1-2; Zech. 9:10) [2]. He will rule absolute in authority and power (Ps. 2:9; 72:9-11; Isa. 11:4). No sin will go unpunished (Isa. 11:3-5; Ps. 2:10-12).
4. Teacher
As teacher, the Lord will perfectly teach from the Temple. Where the teachers of Israel have failed, relying on tradition (Matt. 15:1-9), and where the church failed in teaching false doctrines (1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; 2 John 7-8; Jude 16-19), our Lord will come to show mankind what perfect teaching is (Isa. 54:13).
6. Savior
All Israel will be saved! This is the great fulfillment of the New Covenant. Where, the Lord preserved a remnant in every generation, delivering the nation corporately in the past, He will save all the surviving Jews of the Great Tribulation. He will give them a new heart (Ezek. 36:26-27).
7. Father
Our God is said to be a father to both Israel and believers in general. In the millennium, God will be seen as our Father. The fulfillment of Isaiah 63:15-16 will be made complete, "Where are Your zeal and Your strength, the yearning of Your heart and Your mercies toward me? Are they restrained? Doubtless You are our Father."
The abstractness of the human fatherly relationship that God gave mankind will be revealed in its completeness in the millennium. Those who have been resurrected, or raptured will possess glorified bodies and not be given in marriage, but however, the concept of mother, father, son, and daughter, will find complete understanding in the millennium.
Conclusion
Our Lord demonstrates His sovereignty in His very being. The creator of all things, and keeper of all things, comes in the flesh, taking on the form of man. The infinite came to the finite in order to show mankind what a perfect obedient man was like and to undo what the first Adam did. To come into the world so that mankind could identify with God in a unique and very personal way. Our God is a personal God who cares for His creation and especially for mankind who was created in His image.
A perfectly holy God who requires righteousness must also come again in order to make a final accounting. To deal with the unrighteousness of rebellious mankind. His plan of the ages will be made complete in the new heavens and earth. Perfect holiness, rightness and love will be revealed as His glory covers all the earth! From a holy, righteous loving creation to a holy, righteous, loving new creation – all things will be made complete.
The sovereignty of God and prophecy in particular is a most comforting doctrine and when read provides comfort for the hurting, rest for the restless, peace in times of turmoil. Drs. LaHaye and Ice write, "Peter went on to call biblical prophecy ‘the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place’ (2 Pet. 1:10). Why can we place all our trust in God’s prophetic Word? Because, as Peter concludes, prophecy is not a matter of the human interpretation of historical events: ‘Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God’ (2 Pet. 1:20-21).
Dr. Lightner writes, "While some Bible expositors say God’s sovereignty is one of His attributes or perfections, it may be preferable to view His sovereignty as the truth about God’s person which makes all His perfections possible and out of which they function as He carries out His plan. When we describe God as sovereign, we mean He is in complete control of His world. He has a plan, and He is implementing that plan. He is at the helm of the ship of all creation and life [3].
Finally, Dr. Benware writes of the sovereignty of God, "In a world that seems so chaotic and so completely in the grip of wickedness, we need to remember that our God sovereignly controls it all. The prophet Isaiah declared that the powerful Creator of this world is not at all impressed with the supposedly great power of men and nations (Isa. 40:12-26). In fact, he asserts that God regards them as dust on the scales, as a drop from a bucket, as nothing and meaningless. Our God is the king of the universe who reigns both now and in the future (Ps. 2:1-12). Though Satan is called the ‘god of this world,’ he does not dictate what happens on this planet but remains unquestionably under the sovereign authority of the Lord God (Matt. 28:19-20; Rev. 1:18). The prophetic word proclaims the power and sovereignty of God reminds us that His purposes for the future will indeed come to pass. Neither people nor demons can thwart the plans of God Almighty. This great truth brings insight and comfort to the believer living in this hostile word [4]."
[1] This list adopted from J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958), p. 487-490.
[2] John Walvoord, The Millennial Kingdom (Grand Rapids:Zondervan, 1959), p.301.
[3] Robert Lightner in Mal Couch, gen. ed., A Bible Handbook to Revelation (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2001), p. 96.
[4] Paul Benware, Understanding End Times Prophecy (Chicago:Moody Press, 1995), p. 12.
