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PART 4: THE KINGDOM ENVIRONMENT By Norman Manzon
Part 1: Introduction Part 3: The Two Foundational Realities
INTRODUCTION The Messianic Kingdom is part of an extended series of studies in support of the We Believe statement of The Association of Messianic Congregations. Much groundwork for this present study has been laid in the three prior studies of the series, links to which are located below the title above. It might be good for the reader to review them so that the present study might be more fully understood in its historical and other contexts. For an even firmer foundation, the following studies might likewise be reviewed: The Destinies of the Dead, The Rapture, The Great Tribulation and The Second Coming of the Lord. Much of what has been examined in these studies will be touched on here, but not treated as fully as before. It is worth stating again that it is extremely important to realize that the prophesied Kingdom is a literal, earthly Kingdom in which Yeshua will reign bodily as king over Israel and the world. A polemic in support of this is presented in section IV of The Messianic Kingdom - Part 1: Introduction. Also as previously mentioned, a compilation of the Bible's passages concerning the Kingdom would constitute a book. It must therefore be recognized that what is herein presented is, of necessity, a much abbreviated outline and summary. Before we begin, credit must be given where credit is due. The works of a platoon of scholars have supported my research for this and other end time studies, but I must cite the works of Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum in particular, especially The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events. Footsteps is an 800-page easy read considered by many to be the clearest and most convincing exposition of end time prophesies available. It has served as an invaluable resource in my personal studies over the years and in my composition of this and other end time studies, and I cannot close this paragraph without thanking Dr. Fruchtenbaum for the tens of thousands of hours that he has dedicated to study and production of the body of works that he has which, on a broader scope, has enabled me to get a stronger grasp of the broader body of biblical truth. Having said all of that, I hasten to add that I have not played the part of the talking parrot, but have regularly and laboriously followed the path of the "noble-minded" Bereans of Acts 17:11, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so, and have composed my studies accordingly. As in previous Kingdom studies, we will begin with a restatement of those declarations in the AMC's We Believe statement that have relevance to the Kingdom; AMC STATEMENT: KINGDOM EXCERPTS [1]
What will be the spiritual condition of our planet during the Millennium? What will be the determining factors? A. THE PRESENCE OF YESHUA AND THE SPIRIT Above all other factors, the overall spiritual condition of the Kingdom will be determined by the reign of Messiah Yeshua over the world and by the superabundant presence of the Spirit. The reality of these factors was addressed in Part 3: The Two Foundational Realities. B. THE CONFINEMENT OF SATAN AND HIS DEMONS In stark contrast to the overwhelming presence and spiritual influence of the Son of God and the Spirit of God is the confinement of Satan and his demons, rendering their destructive, tormenting and deceptive influences null and void. Satan himself will be bound in the Abyss (Revelation 20:2-3), and his demons will be confined to two locations on earth, addressed below. To sum up thus far, the powerful influence of Satan will be eliminated while the far more powerful influences of Yeshua and the Spirit will be released. C. THE NON-DIVINE PERSONS IN THE KINGDOM 1. The Groups
in General Those in glorified bodies will be in a state of confirmed creaturely holiness: The sin nature will have been purged from their spirits, they will think only holy thoughts, perform only holy acts, and be absolutely incapable of sinning. Those in mortal bodies, though saved, will retain their sin natures, will be able to sin, and will parent mortal children who themselves will have sin natures and be able to sin (Isaiah 11:8, 65:20; Zechariah 14:17-19; Revelation 20:7-9), which explains why it will be necessary for the Lord to rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 12:5 and 19:15, based on Psalm 2:9). [2] On the basis of such passages as 2 Peter 3:9 (The Lord is . . . not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance), and the fact that He will have applied that principle to every mortal since Adam, we can be sure that all unsaved mortals in the Kingdom will likewise be given the opportunity to either receive the Lord and be saved, or to reject Him and be eternally condemned. 2. The
Jews
"They will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD. Ezekiel also declares the salvation of Israel, and adds that they will walk in holiness:
All Jews in the Kingdom will be saved from the least of them to the greatest of them, and every one of them will walk in holiness. 3. The
Gentiles
D. THE ABSENCE OF INSTITUTIONALIZED Although unbelief and sin will reside in the hearts of many, no false religion or philosophy will be allowed to become institutionalized. The Lord destroyed the false church and the worship of Antichrist during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 17:16, 19:20-21), and we can be sure that He will never allow a glimmer of such to arise again, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9). E. THE ABSENCE OF IDOLATRY AND OCCULT PRACTICES Not only will the institutionalization of false religions and philosophies be disallowed, but idolatry and occultism will be disallowed, as well.
The government in the Kingdom will not be a democracy. It will be a monarchy, and an absolute one, at that. (This says nothing about what may or may not be the ideal form of government in any of today's political entities.) The God-Man will be its Head, making it a theocracy, a government in which God is recognized as the supreme civil ruler. (God, of course, has always been absolute Ruler over everything. He had absolute authority over Israel in the days of the kings, but He was not recognized as the supreme civil ruler: the kings were.) B. GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES AND POSITIONS There will be a chain of governmental command over the whole earth. 1. Participants in the First Resurrection: Priests of God and Messiah
All saints of all previous ages who had heretofore been resurrected will reign with Messiah in some capacity for the duration of the Millennium. This group is comprised of all Old and New Testament saints, both Jewish and Gentile, the two Tribulation witnesses and all martyred Tribulation saints. Surely, Enoch and Elijah, who had never seen death but had been drawn up directly into Heaven, will reign, as well. Most of the following authorities, including Yeshua, are part of the first resurrection group.
2.
Yeshua HaMashiach: King of the World Zechariah 14:9: And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one. Revelation 11:15: The Kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah; and He will reign forever and ever. In Revelation 19:16, He is entitled King of kings, which is a Hebrew way of saying "the greatest of all kings." [5] (John, the author, was a Jew). The passage also reveals Him as King of kings in another sense, as the divine King taking dominion over all of earth's mortal kings. Other passages are Psalm 2:6-8, 72:1-19; Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1-10, 16:15; Jeremiah 33:14-17; Revelation 12:7, 19:15. 3.
Yeshua HaMashiach: King of Israel
4. David: King
of Israel
which means, "David, King of Israel, lives, lives, and continues to live!" According to Wikipedia, the song's origin is rabbinic and expresses the hope of the coming Messiah, born of David's line. [6] Nevertheless, it is true that literal David will reign over Israel along with Messiah, Son of David. Surely it will be a joyous occasion when saved Israel in the Millennium will see their resurrected King David reigning over Israel from his glorious throne. He will obviously reign as king under King Messiah. Jeremiah 30:9: But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.
If there is any doubt as to whether David may be taken as a symbol of Messiah the Son of David (Matthew 1:1, 21:9, et al), identifying the Speaker in the verse clears it up. In verses 11-22, the Speaker declares that He will search for His sheep; seek them out; care for His sheep; feed His sheep; lead them to rest; bring back the scattered; bind and strengthen the sick. In John 10:7-18, Yeshua identified Himself as the good Shepherd Who lays down His life for the sheep, and the Gospels portray how He carried out all that the good shepherd was prophesied to do in Ezekiel 34. Then, in verse 24, the Speaker, Yeshua, the one we have identified as King over Israel, declares that he will set a second person, My servant David, to be prince among them: Two separate people.
Again to distinguish between the LORD their God and David their king: Two chapters later, in 5:15, Hosea identifies the LORD whom they will seek as the One who has left earth and and will return: Yeshua.
In the passages cited, David is referred to variously as king and prince. He will be king over Israel, but in relation to Yeshua, Israel's Arch-King, he will be a prince.
5. The Twelve Apostles: Over the Twelve Tribes of Israel
The regeneration in the Matthew passage refers to that period during which earth will have been renewed, namely, the Millennium. Though today it is impossible to know with absolute certainty which tribe any Jew belongs to, it will be made clear in the Kingdom; and a territory will be set aside for each tribe over which one of the apostles will rule under David, king over all Israel. Twelve apostles? Judas, the son of perdition, was never saved - so who will be the twelfth apostle: Matthias (Acts 1:26)? Paul? Someone else? We will find out for certain in the Kingdom.
6. Princes,
Judges and Counselors: In Israel The princes in Ezekiel 45:8 appear to be the twelve apostles, each of whom will rule over a tribe: My princes shall no longer oppress My people, but they shall give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes. As a whole, though, the three designations will likely include others, as well.
7.
Zerubbabel: Like a Signet Ring
A signet ring was worn by kings and others in high authority to impress their seal in wax. The Lord was pleased with Zerubbabel and promised him a position of high authority on that day, meaning, in the Kingdom. What position he will hold and over whom he will hold it is not stated. 8.
Israel: Over the Gentile Nations
Israel will rule over her former oppressors and will also take individuals from among them as male servants and female servants . . . as an inheritance in the land of the LORD, namely, Israel.
In verse 11, Gentile kings will led in procession to bring tribute to Israel. Note, in particular, verses 12 and 16: For the nation and the Kingdom which will not serve you will perish, and the nations will be utterly ruined. . . . You will also suck the milk of nations and suck the breast of kings. Though the following passage does not apply directly because it is contingent upon obedience to the Mosaic Law, which was rendered inoperative at the cross, [7] yet it sums up very nicely what the Lord will bring about upon Israel's future obedience to the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 11:17-20, 36:24-28; Zechariah 13:1; Romans 11:25-27, et al).
9. The Church and the Tribulation Martyrs: Over the Gentiles
Two groups are mentioned: those to whom judgment was given and those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus. As to the identity of the first group, consider what Paul said to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 6:2-3: 2. Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? . . . . 3. Do you not know that we will judge angels? Those to whom judgment was given refers to the church. As to when the church will judge angels will be taken up in a future Shofar, but Revelation 20:6 shows that the saints will judge the world during the Millennium. This is stated again in 2 Timothy 2:12: If we endure, we will also reign with Him. As to the identity of the second group, those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus refers to the Tribulation martyrs. As concerns both groups, they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. A great many from both groups, if not all, will rule over the Gentile nations, as will be made clear immediately.
10. Kings:
Over the Gentile Nations In the context of the Millennium as a whole, a great many of these kings, if not all, will be Gentiles. We know this because there will be rebels among them, and every Jew in the Kingdom will be serving the Lord in holiness (Ezekiel 36:27). Another conclusion that can be drawn is that Israel, the church and the Tribulation saints, all being true servants of the Lord, will be placed in authority over the kings of the Gentile nations. Thus far we have seen that Israel, the church and the Tribulation martyrs will rule over the Gentiles. How these groups will interrelate in their mutual rulership remains to be seen. XIII. CIVIL LAW IN THE KINGDOM There will be civil laws and judgments that must be obeyed. There will also be laws relating to Millennial Temple worship, which will be addressed in our next Shofar; but for now, we'll establish the fact that there will be civil laws.
Micah 4:1-2 reads exactly the same, except where Isaiah says, For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem, Micah says, For from Zion will go forth the law, even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3. And He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations. The law that will go forth from Zion will include both Temple law and civil law. The declaration, He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations shows that many of the civil judgments rendered by Yeshua will be on an international scale. All of His judgments will carry the force of law; and, when necessary and called for, He will enforce them with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27, 12:5, 19:15). He will likewise render judgments concerning the poor: But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; and He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked (Isaiah 11:4). Inasmuch as there will be civil laws and judgments proceeding from Yeshua, there must certainly be the same proceeding from David, the apostles, and those serving under them. XIV. LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE KINGDOM Earth's present condition bears the scars and devastations of sin on every hand: in extremes in weather, earthquakes, lava flows and tsunamis, in crop damage due to locusts and other infestations, in the injuriousness of mankind on personal and international levels, in the destruction and poisoning of the environment by careless humanity, and in the countless illnesses, diseases and injuries that afflict the human race and all living things. However, in the renewed earth under the personal stewardship of King Yeshua, none of these conditions will prevail nor even be remembered: For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind (Isaiah 65:17). The following passages are a few among the many that reveal living conditions in the Kingdom:
Many Kingdom passages describing a bountiful earth and copacetic social conditions are actually specific to Israel. For example, the Arabah in Isaiah 35:1,6, often translated desert, is the name of a desert area south of the Dead Sea; Carmel and Sharon in verse 2 are places in Israel; the mountain of the house of the LORD in Isaiah 2:2 is Mt. Zion in Jerusalem, a literal mountain on which the Millennial temple will be built. However, although such blessings will exist in Israel, there are plenty of indications that similar conditions will exist throughout the earth, not counting areas of localized judgments. To begin with, the entire earth will have been renovated (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13); similarly, the blessings of peace, security and prosperity described in the Micah passage are in the context of many nations (verse 2), and the reason given in the Isaiah 11 passage for the docility of animals is in the context of the earth (verse 9). Areas that were formerly deserts will be bountiful botanical gardens (Isaiah 35:1). Yahveh Tsid-KE-nu, Jehovah Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6), will teach the nations to walk in His paths (Micah 2:2). As such, they will normally resolve their differences peacefully between themselves; but when necessary, the Lord will personally resolve their disputes. If any choose to rebel against His judgment, with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked (Isaiah 11:4) when necessary so that armed conflict will be a thing of the past. He will likewise bring justice to the poor and afflicted. No longer will some be basking in a surfeit of luxury while others suffer in poverty and want. The Lord will see to it that each person will enjoy a comfortable, bountiful, beautiful, secure place in which to dwell: Each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid (Micah 4:4). [8] He will also heal all physical maladies: 5. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 6. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. (Isaiah 35:5-6) Isaiah 35:5-6 is specific to Jews that will recently have been ransomed at the end of the Tribulation and be returning to Israel (verse 8), yet it is hard to imagine that such healing and health will not be the condition of all the ransomed in the Kingdom. Due to the abundance of nutritious food, a healthy environment and greatly improved human relationships, the overall health of the human race will greatly exceed what it is today as evidenced by the fact that one who does not reach the age of one hundred will be thought accursed (Isaiah 65:20. But how is it that there will be the poor and physically afflicted in the Kingdom to begin with? Those who enter in glorified bodies will have been lifted to the pinnacle and epitome of human health and vitality and will be living on a plane far above such physical needs as food and sleep. But those who "walk into" the Kingdom from the Great Tribulation will be in their natural, mortal bodies and will have endured the great devastations of that terrible time, as well as persecutions, being either Jewish, or being Gentiles who withstood the dictates of Antichrist and offered succor to the persecuted Jews (Matthew 25:31-45). Surely, many from both groups will be in poverty and poor health when they enter, and surely, it seems, the passages of healing and prosperity will apply to them all, not just the Jews. Furthermore, they will bear descendants who will likewise be in their natural bodies; but the passages that speak of the bountifulness of the earth and of economic well being seem to declare that, as with war, hunger and want will be a thing of the past as a general rule. (There will be national and familial judgments: Droughts, plagues and fire from Heaven are mentioned [Isaiah 60:12; Zechariah 14:16-19; Revelation 20:9].) Isaiah 65:20 tells us that there will also be death in the Kingdom, at least for unbelievers, who will die at the latest at the age of a hundred. Isaiah 11:4 also shows that there will be death by capital punishment. Isaiah 65:20 also declares that there will be no infant mortality and implies that believers will live far beyond a hundred, possibly not dying at all. XV. IMPERFECTIONS IN THE KINGDOM The Kingdom will be a paradise compared to our present state, but it will not be a pre-Fall edenic paradise. Certain of the aspects of the Adamic curse will be eliminated (such as the violence of animals) and others mitigated (such as the devastations of the planet's geography), but it will not be totally devoid of the curse or of judgment for sin.
Please note that the following have reference only to those in their natural bodies:
Though these sin-based phenomena will be present in the Kingdom, yet, the overall level of holiness and quality of life will be breathtakingly closer to perfection than they are in our present age. Absolute perfection must await the Eternal Ages beyond the Millennium. ~ In our next Shofar, we will focus on Israel in the Kingdom and on Kingdom worship. Shalom, 1. The entire We Believe statement of the Association of Messianic Congregations may be found at http://www.messianicassociation.org/believe.htm. 2. Here is an interesting contrast: Whereas Adam and Eve succumbed to sin via the Devil's temptation before they had the sin nature, those in the Kingdom in natural bodies will have the sin nature; and though the Devil and his demons will be bound and cannot tempt, they will be tempted of their own sin nature to sin, and will sin. 3. Assyria is now "primarily Iraq and parts of Syria." Fruchtenbaum, Dr. Arnold G. The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events. San Antonio: Ariel Ministries, 1982. P. 498. 4. Asherim are idols of the false goddess Asherah. 5. Fruchtenbaum, Dr. Arnold G. Biblical Lovemaking: A Study of the Song of Solomon. San Antonio: Ariel Ministries, 1983. P. 1. 6. "David Melech Yisrael." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, n.d. Web. 30Nov.2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Melech_Yisrael>. 7. See The Abolition of the Law in Shofar 31. 8. The phrase under his vine and under his fig tree is not to be taken literally, though it may be the actual case for many. It is an idiom for personal prosperity. In 2 Kings 18:31, the Assyrian general Rabshakeh shouted to the people of Judah,
9. Also, see "Esau" in The Satanic and Human Aspects of Antisemitism in Shofar 28. Babylon
Babylon will burn throughout the Millennium. (Forever and similar translations in Scripture often mean until the end of a person's life or until the end of an era. See different translations of 1 Samuel 1:22. Also Exodus 21:6; Psalm 89:1; Proverbs 5:19.) It will be a place where no earthly creature can exist. What, then, will be the nature of the creatures that will dwell there?
Just as the creatures that will inhabit Edom throughout the Millennium will actually be demons in the form of earthly creatures, the same will be true of Babylon. Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum Dr. Fruchtenbaum's publications
are available at
Ariel Ministries in
various formats, Also, Premillennialism in the Old Testament, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum: http://www.ldolphin.org/otpremill.html (27/10/2012). Norman Manzon Cooper, Simmons, Wales Simmons, Thomas P. "Chapter 42 - The Millennium." Providence Baptist Ministries. http://www.pbministries.org/Theology/Simmons/chapter42.htm. Wales, Ronald E. "The 1,000 Year Messianic Kingdom called The Millennium | Biblical Future Events." http://www.biblicalfutureevents.com/5-1000-year-messianic-kingdom-called-millennium.
More of Norm's studies may be accessed at
www.BibleStudyProject.org. |
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Dahveed, melech Yisrael, chai, chai,
vekayam!
