Overcome // Week 15

The Future Kingdom: Time of Restoration

Millennial Kingdom and the New Heaven and Earth
Revelation 20-22
September 1, 2019, MVC
I. Introduction:
A. U Thant, former Secretary General of the United Nations met with a group of 67
scholars and statesmen addressing the issue of world peace. He asked them this:
What element is lacking so that with all our skill and all our knowledge we still
find ourselves in the dark valley of discord and enmity?
1. They never were able to come up with an answer to this question!
2. But the Scripture tells us what the missing element of world peace is; it is
Jesus and the setting up of His kingdom here on earth for 1,000 years. A
kingdom of peace, prosperity and righteousness which God promised His
people, actually covenanted with His people! A kingdom that will be set up
after Jesus returns!
• Turn to Revelation 20
II. Millennial Kingdom
A. Six times in these few verses, we are told it is going to be 1,000 years long, thus,
it is called the millennial kingdom also known as the Davidic kingdom, the
forever kingdom, with a forever king who reigns forever!
1. It is forever because it starts or is inaugurated with this kingdom here on
earth for 1000 years but it continued on forever in the new heaven and earth
forever and ever!
B. It starts with Satan being bound for 1,000 years so that he can no longer deceive
the nations. Read v1-3.
C. This kingdom will be populated at the start by every believer who was still alive
after the return of Jesus. Then the population will grow as they have children and
many of their children will not become believers in Jesus, so much so that v8 says
that by the end of the Millennium “the number of them will be like the sand of the
seashore!” who come to war against the capital city, Jerusalem where Jesus will
be reigning from. So both believers and unbelievers will populate it.
D. The government of this kingdom will be Jesus as king with His throne in the
capital Jerusalem (that we learn in the Old Testament) and those who will be
reigning with Him are resurrected believers, Old Testament and church believers,
and those who were martyred during the tribulation.
1. Simply everyone who will be part of the first resurrection – that is all saved
people of all time who have already died! The second resurrection is for all
lost people of all time.
2. Read 4a. In other words these are the people to whom God had committed
and promised them the authority to reign in the kingdom
a) Old Testament saints – Daniel 12: 2, 13
b) The church - the promises to the churches to reign with Jesus, which we
saw in the letters to the seven churches.
(1) Thyatira Revelation 2:26-27
(2) Laodicea Revelation 3:21
3. Believers who were martyred during the tribulation. Read. V4b-6
E. While we do not learn of the character of the kingdom in Revelation 20, we do
learn of it when we read God’s promises and the prophets in the Old Testament.
1. Encourage you to go to church website to download my notes as there is a lot
here and later in the message too that is too much to follow this quickly. I
reference the verses in those notes where I am getting this.
2. This kingdom will last forever and will crush all the other kingdoms and
bring them to an end (2 Samuel 7:12-19; Daniel 2:34-35, 44). Israel would
again possess their own land, the very land their fathers lived on, as one
nation, but this time forever (Ezekiel 37:22, 25). A time of security, justice,
peace and abundance. A time when there would be no more wars, people’s
lives will be as long as the life of a tree, their numbers would increase like a
flock. Diseases and infirmities will be healed – the blind will see, the lame
will walk, the deaf will hear, and the mute will speak (Isaiah 29:18; 35:3-6;
42:7). The waste places will be rebuilt, the wilderness and dessert will
blossom and the land will become like the Garden of Eden. Even wild
animals will become safe and not hurt anyone (Isaiah 2:4; 11:6-9; 35:1-
2; 65:20-23; Ezekiel 36:33-38).
3. The people themselves would be full of joy and praise, forgiven
and righteous, given a new heart and God’s Spirit will dwell within them and
fill them along with doing extraordinary works (Isaiah 61:3; Ezekiel 36:25-
27; Joel 2:28-29).
4. As for the nations, those that are left after their judgment, their wealth will be
taken for Israel (Zechariah 14:14) and they themselves will go to Jerusalem
to worship the Lord (Zechariah 14:16), seek the Lord’s favor and be taught
by Him regarding His ways. (Isaiah 2:3) They will want to be identified with
the Jews because they will know that God is with them. (Zechariah 8:20-23)
F. After this 1,000 years Satan will be let loose and will again deceive the nations
and lead them into a war where God will destroy them with fire from heaven, then
Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire to be tormented day and night forever.
Then the great white throne will take place, and our present heaven and earth will
be destroyed
• Then God will create a new heaven and new earth where He will dwell with His
people forever right here on a new earth.
III. New Heaven and New Earth
A. Yes, our future with God will be right here on earth, a new earth forever not on a
cloud up in the sky playing a harp. Read 21:1-3
B. “What” and who will not be in heaven.
1. What will not be - – death, mourning, crying, pain, (21:4) curse (22:3)
hunger, thirst, heat (7:16-17)
2. Who will not be - read – 21:8
3. The implications are huge here. Let me mention just a few –
a) No more funerals graveyards, or tearful goodbyes, no more emotional
pain and depression over rejection, separation, abuse or loss, no more
hospitals or cancer or deformities or diseases, no more migraine
headaches or need for pain killers and no more health insurance, no more
food pantries or food stamps, no more sin to affect people, their
relationships, their work or the earth. The earth will be fully productive
and beautiful.
b) That means we will never again suffer persecution, mocking or conflict
of beliefs or values with those who are unbelievers, nothing shameful,
vile, detestable, unpleasant will be there, no news reports telling us about
murders that happened in the big cities, we can walk the streets safely
and without fear, no more adultery, rape or sexual abuse, no more
demonic influence through witchcraft or drugs, you can trust anything
and everything that is said, there will be no shaky deals or
misrepresentations; and God will be the greatest love of everyone that is
there. No one will ever put anything or anyone above God and His will
for them. They will love Him with all their hearts, all their souls, all
their minds and strength, and they will love their neighbor as themselves.
C. What will we do? “Serve” him and reign with Him forever – Read 22:3,5
1. In Matthew 25, we learn that we will be assigned responsibilities in light of
our faithfulness to the responsibilities that we had here on earth.
2. In Luke 19, we learn that we will actually have authority over different cities
in the future dependent upon how faithfully we steward the money,
possessions and spiritual gifts that God has given to us here on earth.
D. Let’s take a quick look at what the New Jerusalem will be like. Read 9-11.
1. Walls and gates. Read v12
2. Foundation stones – Read v14
a) Interesting to note that even in the eternal state there is still a clear
distinction between Israel and the church imprinted into the city
3. Then he tells us the measurements of the city are 1500 miles in each length,
width and height. The walls are 72 yards high.
4. Listen to what the foundation stones will be adorned with – God is even
going to decorate the foundation stones! V19-20. Read
a) After service special treat – my friend Hans has a table with all 12 of the
gems that will adorn the foundation stones so you can see them!
b) This is a must see! Amazing the work and effort, he put into getting the
stones and in setting them up for us to see.
5. Listen to what the gates will be made of Read v21
a) Largest pearl to date found was 14 pounds and just over 9 inches
b) Each gate a single pearl that will take a big oyster or a supernatural act of
God!
6. There also will be no need for the temple or the sun and the moon to give
light. Read v22-24
E. Finally, we get a close up look of the throne and a river that comes out from it and
we see a tree of life! Listen to Rev 22:1-2
1. Fruit
a) Bears 12 different kinds of fruit
b) Yields its fruit every month (I thought there was no time in eternity?)
2. Leaves for the healing of the nations – Who are the nations? What do they
need healing for? Don’t ask me ask Josh he can tell you.
IV.Closing
A. Let’s celebrate this great future hope of ours! Josh