By Revd Dr. Idowu Ibitoye
The word millennium means one thousand years, the term came from Revelation 20:4-5 where the scripture affirmed that some certain people shall reign with Christ a thousand years and the rest of the dead will not come to life until the thousand years were ended. Revelation 20:2-3 had earlier intimated us that the devil shall be bound for a thousand years in the bottomless pit, and during this period the
saints shall reign with Christ before the last judgement.
Millennium will occur after the time of tribulation of the 70th week, Christ will return to earth, to establish a millennium kingdom. When Christ shall return, all believers who had been transformed during rapture and the resurrected saints shall reign with Christ on earth for one thousand years. During this time, Christ will be physically present on earth in his resurrected body and He will reign as King over the entire universe. Jesus shall reign in perfect righteousness and there shall be peace and tranquility throughout the globe.
Furthermore, Satan will gather all his rebellious people for battle against Christ, but they shall be greatly defeated by Christ, and at the end they will stand before Christ for their final judgement. It is to be noted that there are many interpretations to this passage of millennium (i.e Rev. 20:4-5). Such as: pre-millennium, post-millennium, and a millennium. This should not cause division among the Bible readers because each of the views affirmed that Christ will return, defeat Satan and reign forever. Every believer should prepare to reign eternally with Him whenever he returns.
The final judgement
The scripture taught us that there will be final judgement for both believers and unbelievers, when everyone will stand before the judgement seat of Christ in resurrected bodies and hear the final proclamation of every man’ eternal destiny (Rev. 20:11-15). The final judgement is when God will reward righteousness and punish unrighteousness.
The final judgement will occur after the millennium, and after this one thousand years Satan shall be loosed from the bottomless pit, to deceive the nations, “when the thousand years are over Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive nations in the four corners of the earth Gog and magog to gather them for battle, in number they are like the sand on the seashore” Rev. 20:28. Gog and magog, symbolize the nations of the world as they band together for a final battle against God, (cf Ezek. 38-39). And God shall decisively defeats Satan in this final rebellion (Rev. 20:9-10). And after this the great white throne judgement shall follow, “then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it…” Rev. 20:11.
The nature and character of God’s final judgement
a) Jesus Christ will be the judge – God in His sovereignty shall judge the universe through His son that is God the son. Apostle Paul admonished, and said “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead…” II Tim. 4:1. Several other Biblical passages attested that Christ shall judge the universe. “He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead” Acts. 10:42. Also, In John 5:27; “And he has given Him authority to judge because He is the son of man” (cf Matt. 25:31-33).
b) Unbelievers shall be judged – On that great day when Christ shall judge the world unbelievers will stand before Christ for their judgement (Rom. 2:5-7; Rev. 20:12). This judgement shall be based according to the deeds of everyone while on earth (Rev. 20:12, 13). Every wrongs and evil deeds shall be brought to remembrance and every careless word uttered shall be brought under judgement, (Matt. 12:36). “For God will bring every deed into judgement including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” Eccl. 12:14. On the day of judgement every hidden and secret things shall be brought into limelight and judged, (Rom. 2:16; Lk. 12:2-3).
c) All believers will be judged- Every believer will also stand before Christ to receive their judgement, “we shall all stand before the judgement seat of God… Each of us shall give account of himself to God” Rom. 14:10-12, Furthermore, “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” II Cor. 5:10. On that great day, Christ shall separate the sheep from goats and reward everyone according to his deeds (Matt. 25:31-46). For believers the day of judgement is not a day of condemnation, it is important to note that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). The day of judgement to believers is a day of reward, while unbelievers shall be punished (cf Rev. 11:18). The level of reward to believers will be in various degrees, which God Himself will determine and give to everyone according to their tasks while on earth.
d) Angels will also be judged- The fallen angels shall be judged. The angels who fell and became evil spirits and demons. “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgement …” II Pet. 2:4. Also scripture affirmed that “The angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home – these He has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgement on the great day” Jude 6.
e) Believers will assist in the work of judgement – it is noteworthy to mention that God in his sovereignty and supremacy shall grant opportunity to the saints to participate in the task of the judgement, “do you not know that the saints will judge the world… Do you not know that we will judge angels? …” I Cor. 6:2-3. This is a great privilege extended to believers by God, and Christians should always prepare themselves for this great day of reckoning, when they will be opportuned to participate in heavenly judicial process. The requirement is to be born again, being regenerated and mindful of holiness of life at all times.
