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THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM Part 2: THE INHABITANTS OF THE KINGDOM By Norman Manzon
The Messianic Kingdom is part of an extended series of studies in support of the We Believe statement of The Association of Messianic Congregations. We will begin with a recapitulation of future events prior to the Kingdom. After that, we will review those portions of the Statement that have application to the Kingdom. Much of what will be quoted has been addressed already; and those aspects of what has been quoted that deal with future things have been covered most thoroughly in our last five studies, The Destinies of the Dead, The Rapture, The Great Tribulation, The Second Coming of the Lord and The Messianic Kingdom, Part 1: Introduction. Much groundwork for this present study has been laid in these studies, particularly in the last three. It is therefore suggested that the last three studies, especially, be studied or reviewed before proceeding, particularly The Messianic Kingdom, Part 1: Introduction, where, among other points, a strong polemic for belief in a future literal earthly Kingdom was presented. RECAPITULATION OF PRIOR FUTURE EVENTS In our Last Things series, we have thus far seen that every member of the body of Messiah, whether living or deceased, will be lifted from the earth and given a glorified body in an event called the Rapture. At some point after the Rapture, the Lord will bring judgment upon the earth during a seven-year period called The Great Tribulation, which will be followed by a brief transitional period before the commencement of the Kingdom. During the Tribulation and transitional period, the Lord will destroy every ungodly human institution, and all who will not repent will be killed. Multitudes from all over the world will repent in response to the preaching of 144,000 Israelites, and multitudes from among that multitude will be martyred. In mid-Tribulation, Antichrist will claim divinity, prohibit all Temple worship, and engage in a campaign to destroy every believer still alive, every Jew, and even the returned Lord Himself. His persecution of the Jews will continue almost until the end of the seven years by which time he will have succeeded in killing two-thirds of them. Those Jews whom the Lord will preserve alive will be those who had proven receptive to spiritual truth, and He will save them all. Upon Israel's reception of the Lord Yeshua as their Messiah, He will return to earth, destroy the army that Antichrist will have gathered from around the world to destroy the Jews, crush all satanic world power and mode of operation, and slay Antichrist. These events and others to be mentioned below will bring the Tribulation and the transitional period to a close, which will be followed immediately by the dawning of the Messianic Age or Millennium. The 75-Day Transitional Period That such a
period will exist, and that it will last for seventy-five days, may be shown thusly: In the middle of the week [literally, seven; seven years, the Great Tribulation period] he [the prince of verse 26, Antichrist] will break his treaty with the many [the majority in Israel], take over the temple by force, cause worship to cease, and persecute the Jews for one thousand two hundred and sixty days (Revelation 12:6) until he is slain at the Lord's Return (2 Thessalonians 2:8), which brings the Tribulation to a close. Based on thirty-day months, one thousand two hundred and sixty days is equal to three and a half years. Daniel 12:11-12: 11. From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12. How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! In mid-tribulation, Antichrist not only prohibits all Jewish Temple worship, but the wing of abominations (9:27) or the abomination of desolation (12:11) is set up. In the Old Testament, abomination is often used in reference to an idol (e.g., Deuteronomy 27:15). Now according to Daniel 12:11, the Abomination of Desolation will remain standing thirty days beyond the end of the Tribulation (1290 minus 1260), and 12. How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days, which must certainly refer to the commencement of the Kingdom Age. The Kingdom Age begins 1,335 days after the midpoint of the Tribulation, and the Tribulation ends 1,260 days after the midpoint. Thus, there is a transitional period of seventy-five days from the end of the Tribulation until the commencement of the Kingdom (1,335 minus 1,260). 2. Significant Events during the Transitional Period We have seen thus far that
during this transitional
period, three significant events will occur: Other significant events will
occur, as well. To place them all in a logical order, though not
necessary the actual order in which they will occur, they are: Having cleansed the earth of all satanic influence and human opposition and gathered together all who are His since Adam, the Lord will assume His earthly throne and thus mark the beginning of His Messianic or Millennial reign. Part 2: THE INHABITANTS OF THE KINGDOM Whereas important introductory material was address in The Messianic Kingdom, Part 1: Introduction, Part 2 will address the inhabitants of the Kingdom; and Part 3, in our next Shofar, key aspects of Kingdom life. Inasmuch as a compilation of the Bible's passages concerning the Kingdom would constitute a book, what is presented must be recognized as a much abbreviated outline and summary. AMC STATEMENT: KINGDOM EXCERPTS (1)
V. WHO WILL INHABIT THE KINGDOM? Scripture makes in plain that there will be human, animal and plant inhabitants, and we will address the possibility of holy angel inhabitant. There will be demons present on earth in two restricted areas, but we will deal with that in our next Shofar. The human inhabitants of the Kingdom may be categorized into three groups based on time periods:
1. God's People on Earth at Tribulation's Close God's people on earth at
Tribulation's close will be Yeshua Himself, the body of Messiah which
had returned with Him, the saved Jews and the sheep Gentiles.
c. The Jews Saved
During the Tribulation 2. Those Returned Alive to Earth During the Transitional Period
This group is comprised of those who will be resurrected and those
who will be returned to earth, body and soul, from Heaven. The bodies of
the resurrected will already be on earth in some form and will be
joined with their spirits, which are now in Heaven. Those who will be
returned to earth, body and soul, from Heaven are Enoch and Elijah, who
had been raptured in Old Testament times, and the two witnesses, who
will have been raptured in mid-Tribulation.
1) The Old Testament Saints Context indicates that His elect refers to Israelite saints. The Lord will send forth His angels to gather the bodies of deceased Israelites from the earth to join their spirits gathered from Heaven. Daniel 12:1-2 provides the timing. Daniel 12:1-2: 1. Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Your people, Daniel's people, are the Jews. After the time of distress, the Tribulation, those deceased Israelites worthy of everlasting life will be resurrected to dwell in the Kingdom. That they will remain on earth to dwell in the Kingdom is made plain by passages we are yet to look at. Those unworthy will be resurrected at the very end of the Millennium to face the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11).
b) The Old Testament
Gentile Saints
There are three groups, all of which include or are
comprised solely of Gentile saints, that Yeshua must have had in
mind when he said, many will
come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. An important thing to note is that the gathering must be from outside of Israel to Israel because Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, being Jews, will dwell in the Land. Numerous passages declare that all Jews in the Kingdom will dwell in the Land, e.g., Ezekiel 36:24-28:
2. The Body of Messiah 3. The Sheep Gentiles I cannot conceive of Yeshua not having any of the three groups in mind when He made the declaration; and for the Old Testament Gentile saints to enjoy the Kingdom, they must be resurrected prior to Kingdom; and Scripture does not indicate, nor is there any reason to believe that they will be resurrected during the grim time of the Great Tribulation. The only reasonable conclusion is that they will be resurrected during the transitional period at or about the same time as the Old Testament Israelite saints. Apart from the passage, another way of looking at it is this: The Old Testament Gentile saints will certainly need to be resurrected in time for the Eternal Ages that will follow the Kingdom, for flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:50), and no resurrection of any these groups is said to occur after the Millennium begins; and again, there is no reason to believe that they will be resurrected during the grim time of the Great Tribulation. The only reasonable conclusion is that they will be resurrected during the transitional period at or about the same time as the Old Testament Israelite saints.
c) The Martyred Tribulation Saints
b. Those Returned to Earth from Heaven 1)
Enoch and Elijah 2) The Two Witnesses 3. Those Born into the Kingdom As we will see further, some will enter the Kingdom with glorified bodies, and some with natural bodies; and according to Matthew 22:28-30, no one with a glorified body can bear children: For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. However, those who enter the kingdom with natural bodies will bear children who, like their parents, will have natural bodies; and they too will bear children. B. WILL HOLY ANGELS DWELL ON EARTH IN THE KINGDOM? Angels will return to earth with Yeshua and the body of Messiah (Matthew 25:31), an angel will bind Satan in the abyss for the duration of the Millennium (Revelation 20:1-3) and angels will gather all Old Testament Jewish believers to the Promised land (Daniel 12:1-2; Matthew 24:31; Mark 13:27); but will the angels remain on earth beyond these events? These passages and Hebrews 1:14 may be indicators, as well as the fact that the angels worship Him (Hebrews 1:6); but I have searched in vain for a passage that states plainly that they will. I must therefore conclude that Scripture simply does not say. Such passages as Isaiah 65:25a and Micah 4:4 show that there will be animals and plants in the Kingdom: Isaiah 65:25a: The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent's food. Micah 4:4: Each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. VI. THE NATURES OF KINGDOM INHABITANTS A. THE BODILY NATURES OF KINGDOM INHABITANTS 1. The Bodily Natures of People in the Kingdom
a. The
Surviving Saved Mortals of the Tribulation
c. Those
Resurrected During the Transitional Period Daniel 12:1-2: 1. Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life: The passage refers specifically to the bodies of the deceased faithful in Daniel's day. Not only will their spirits experience eternal life, but their bodies will awaken to everlasting life. If these saints will arise in their natural bodies, which would die again, it could not be said that their bodies will awaken to everlasting life. The passage must certainly refer to resurrection in glorified bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:23 speaks of Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming. Messiah is the first fruits of those who will receive their glorified bodies. These will include all the righteous who will be resurrected during the transitional period, namely, the Old Testament saints and the martyred Tribulation saints. From these passages we can conclude that not only will those who return from Heaven possess glorified bodies, but also all of the righteous who will be resurrected during the transitional period will have glorified bodies, as well. 2. The Bodily Natures of Animals and Plants in the Kingdom Isaiah 65:25a: The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent's food. Micah 4:4: Each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. If lions will be eating straw, there must of necessity be modifications in the bodies of at least some animals: Perhaps lions will have flat teeth, which are common to herbivores today, and modified digestive systems; also of some plants as well, such as the presently flesh-eating Venus flytrap. In addition, the thorns on at least some plants are thought to be modified or unopened leaves. If all plants and animals will be benign in the Kingdom, then perhaps what are now thorns will open to become beautiful leaves, evidencing the lifting of the thorns and thistles aspect of the Adamic curse (Genesis 3:18). Even so, we can assume that plant and animal bodies and structures will be natural and not glorified as Scripture simply does not say that they will be glorified. Further, the serpent must of necessity have a natural body as the Isaiah passage declares that the curse of Genesis 3:14 will still be residing upon it. B. THE SPIRITUAL NATURES OF KINGDOM INHABITANTS 1. The Spiritual Natures of Those with Glorified Bodies All those in their glorified bodies will have been healed of their sin natures, leaving natures that are pure, holy, undefiled and incapable of sinning, a condition which theologians refer to as "confirmed creaturely holiness." The garments of the body of Messiah will be purified at the Rapture (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; Revelation 3:5,18; 4:4; 19:7-8, 21:9-11), and we can assume that all others in glorified, immortal bodies receive a comparable purification at the time of their glorification. Death is the result of sin; and if their bodies will not die, then the sin nature cannot reside within them. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22). 2. The Spiritual Natures of Those with Natural Bodies Those with natural bodies will not have gone through a spiritual cleansing process as those with glorified bodies, and they will retain their sin natures. There will be sin in the Kingdom (Isaiah 65:20; Zechariah 14:17-19; Revelation 20:7-9), and it certainly cannot come from those in their glorified bodies. It can only come from those in their natural bodies. 3. The Nature of Plants and Animals Scripture does not speak of animals or plants having a sin nature, but it is obvious that sin has perverted them. Carnivores devour other animals and humans, males engage in fights for females, and such plants as the Venus flytrap devour insects. However, their natures will be changed for the Millennium. Isaiah 11:6-8: 6. And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. 7. Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. Isaiah 65:25a: The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent's food. At the time of the renovation of the earth for the Kingdom, the behaviors of animals and of at least some plants will be changed. Animals will not devour or harm one another or harm even a little child. Further, if the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den, then it follows that the Lord will not allow any poisons that animals or plants may retain to harm anyone. More likely, animals and plants that are now poisonous will be purged of poisons. *
* 1. The entire We Believe statement of the Association of Messianic Congregations may be found at http://www.messianicassociation.org/believe.htm. 2. For the nature of glorified bodies, see 1 Corinthians 15:36-50.
By Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum* * All of Dr. Fruchtenbaum's publications are available at Ariel Ministries in various formats, many for free listening and reading.
By Dr. David L. Cooper
By Norman Manzon
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