Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 97

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Binding Of Satan. "And he laid hold on ... Satan, and bound him a thousand years." Rev. 20:2.

1. What text definitely brings the millennium to view?

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and _judgment was given unto them_: ... and _they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years_."

Rev. 20:4.

2. Whom does Paul say the saints are to judge?

"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? _Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?... Know ye not that we shall judge angels?_" 1 Cor.

6:1-3.

NOTE.-From these scriptures it is plain that the saints of all ages are to be engaged with Christ in a work of "judgment" during the millennium, or one thousand years.

3. What prophecy had Paul upon which to base his statement?

"I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and _judgment was given to the saints of the Most High_." Dan. 7:21, 22.

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Millennium.

The millennium is the closing period of G.o.d's great week of time-a great sabbath of rest to the earth and to the people of G.o.d.

It follows the close of the gospel age, and precedes the setting up of the everlasting kingdom of G.o.d on earth.

It comprehends what in the Scriptures is frequently spoken of as "the day of the Lord."

It is bounded at each end by a resurrection.

Its beginning is marked by the pouring out of the seven last plagues, the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of the righteous dead, the binding of Satan, and the translation of the saints to heaven; and its close, by the descent of the New Jerusalem, with Christ and the saints, from heaven, the resurrection of the wicked dead, the loosing of Satan, and the final destruction of the wicked.

During the one thousand years the earth lies desolate; Satan and his angels are confined here; and the saints, with Christ, sit in judgment on the wicked, preparatory to their final punishment.

The wicked dead are then raised; Satan is loosed for a little season, and he and the host of the wicked encompa.s.s the camp of the saints and the holy city, when fire comes down from G.o.d out of heaven and devours them. The earth is cleansed by the same fire that destroys the wicked, and, renewed, becomes the eternal abode of the saints.

The millennium is one of "the ages to come." Its close will mark the beginning of the new earth state.

4. How many resurrections are there to be?

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto _the resurrection of life_; and they that have done evil, unto _the resurrection of d.a.m.nation_." John 5:28, 29.

5. What cla.s.s only have part in the first resurrection?

"_Blessed and holy_ is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power." Rev. 20:6.

6. What will Christ do with the saints when He comes?

"I will come again, and _receive you unto Myself_; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3.

NOTE.-In other words, Christ will take them to heaven, there to live and reign with Him during the one thousand years.

7. Where did John, in vision, see the saints?

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great mult.i.tude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, _stood before the throne, and before the Lamb_, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." Rev. 7:9.

NOTE.-This scripture shows plainly that the righteous are all taken to heaven immediately after the first resurrection. This accords with the words of Christ in John 14:1-3, where He says, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and _receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also_." Peter desired to accompany Christ to those mansions; but Jesus answered, "Thou canst not follow Me now; _but thou shall follow Me afterwards_." John 13:36. This makes it clear that when Christ returns to earth to receive His people, He takes them to the Father's house in heaven.

8. What becomes of the living wicked when Christ comes?

"_As it was in the days of Noe_, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and _the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot_; ... the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and _destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed_." Luke 17:26-30.

9. What does the apostle Paul say concerning this?

"When they shall say, Peace and safety; _then sudden destruction cometh upon them_, ... and they shall not escape." 1 Thess. 5:3.

NOTE.-When Christ comes, the righteous will be delivered and taken to heaven, and all the living wicked will be suddenly destroyed, as they were at the time of the flood. For further proof see 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 6:14-17; 19:11-21; Jer. 25:30-33. There will be no general resurrection of the wicked until the end of the one thousand years. This will leave the earth desolate and without human inhabitant during this period.

10. What description does the prophet Jeremiah give of the earth during this time?

"I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was _without form, and void_; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, _there was no man_, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the _fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down_ at the presence of the Lord, and by His fierce anger." Jer.

4:23-26.

NOTE.-At the coming of Christ the earth is reduced to a chaotic state-to a ma.s.s of ruins. The heavens depart as a scroll when it is rolled together; mountains are moved out of their places; and the earth is left a dark, dreary, desolate waste. See Isa. 24:1-3; Rev. 6:14-17.

11. How does Isaiah speak of the wicked at this time?

"It shall come to pa.s.s in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and _shall be shut up in prison_, and after many days shall they be visited." Isa. 24:21, 22.

12. How long is Satan to be imprisoned on this earth?

"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." Rev. 20:1-3.