"GLAD TIDINGS" FROM THE APOCALYPSE

The Glorious Millennial Reign

Chapters 20 to 22 of the book of Revelation contains the Scriptural basis for hope in the Millennium. This is the only part of the Bible that actually mentions a thousand-year period that will be the prelude to an eternity of happiness in heaven and on earth. The churches of Christendom have rejected the Millennial hope. Since church dogma has it that the righteous go to heaven and the wicked to hell, it has no place for a paradise earth. The model prayer, which asks that God's "will be done on earth as it is in heaven," has lost all meaning for most members of Christendom's churches. (Matthew 6:10, New International Version) But that is not true of Jehovah's Witnesses. They firmly believe that Jehovah God did not make the earth "for nothing," but "to be inhabited." (Isaiah 45:12, 18) Thus, ancient prophecy, the model prayer and the apocalyptic hope of the Millennium all agree. During this Thousand Year Reign, Christ will see to it that Jehovah's will be done on earth, even as it is done in heaven.

The term "thousand years" occurs six times in the first seven verses of Revelation, chapter 20. Noteworthy is the fact that it is used four times with the definite article "the," showing that it refers to a literal millennium, not just to an unspecified long period of time, as many of Christendom's commentators would have us believe. What will take place during the Millennium? First, Satan is neutralized for the entire period. (Revelation 20:1-3; compare Hebrews 2:14) What good news that is!

Since "power of judging" is given to those who "rule as kings with him [Christ] for the thousand years," this period is, in fact, a thousand-year "day" of judgment. (Revelation 20:4, 6; compare Acts 17:31; 2 Peter 3:8) The dead will be resurrected and, together with the survivors of "the great tribulation," will be judged equitably according to their deeds, or actions, during that tie. (Revelation 20:12, 13) At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released briefly in order to submit mankind to a final test after which he, his demons and any rebels on earth who follow him will be destroyed forever. (Revelation 20:7-10) Humans who pass the test will have their names written indelibly in "the book of life" and will be ushered into an eternity of happy life,serving and worshiping Jehovah on a paradise earth. -Revelation 20:14;, 15; Psalm 37:9,29; Isaiah 66:22, 23.

Such are the glad tidings set forth in the Apocalypse. They are not empty manmade promises. The apostle John wrote: "The One seated on the throne said: 'Look! I am making all things new.' Also, he says 'Write, because these words are faithful and true.' " (Revelation 21:5) What must we do to share in the fulfillment of these glad tidings? The book of Revelation contains much counsel for those who want to please God. Following such counsel will bring us boundless happiness, now and forever, as the next blog will show.

Next time: BE HAPPY READERS OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Watchtower, 1999