Inoffensive Faith

In an effort to break down their cultural differences, the captives were given Babylonian names, and since the Babylonians did not follow the Jewish law, they had no hesitation about eating things the Jews were forbidden to eat, such as pork, certain kinds of fish, or other unclean animals.  Determined not to break God’s commands, Daniel requested permission to eat a diet where they didn’t have to worry about accidentally eating meats God had forbidden the Jews to eat.   

 

Because of Daniel’s respectful and undemanding attitude, he request was taken seriously by those in charge, although they were hesitant to grant it, fearing it would not provide all the needed nutrients, as Daniel 1:9-10 tells us.  “Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.  And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.”

 

When his request was denied, Daniel requested to be allowed to try the diet for just ten days.  This would give enough time for deficiencies to begin to show up, while not lasting long enough for them to become too serious.  He neither gave up hope, nor did he become demanding and rebellious, as we see in Daniel 1:11-14.  “Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.  Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.”

 

It was a reasonable request, presented in a respectful manner by a person who had consistently been respectful, and to reject it out of hand would be capricious.  They were given permission to make the test.  Because the results of the est were favorable, they were allowed to continue with a largely vegetarian diet, with most of the protein coming from beans, nuts, and grains, as we see in Daniel 1:15-16.  “And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.  Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.”

 

It is important to understand Daniel and his friends were not vegetarians or vegans.  They were simply avoiding the meat because they did not want to accidentally eat things God had forbidden for Jews.  As a result, God honored their decision, giving them special intellectual abilities, according to Daniel 1:17-20.  “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.  Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.  And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.  And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.”

The intellectual capabilities were not the result of eating the proper diet, but were the result of God blessing their obedience.  Many today get caught up in eating a vegetarian diet or not eating certain kinds of meat, ignoring what God said in Genesis 9:3.  “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”  Like circumcision, the prohibitions on certain meats was a sign of their covenant with God, and does not apply to other people. 

 

I Timothy 4:1-5 makes it clear that those who set dietary standards as part of being a Christian are no longer living by faith, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”  As Romans 14:23 tells us, “…whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”  The motivation behind our actions are often more important than the actions themselves.

 

Daniel has set us an important example.  As Christians, we ought not try to impose our standards on the world or get upset when they do things that are not right.  That does not mean we let down our standards, but that we follow God’s leadership and allow him to accomplish his plan.  There is no indication that God was upset with the others for not taking the same position Daniel took, but he was pleased that Daniel chose to not eat the king’s food.  Romans 14:22 instructs, “Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.”

 

God blessed Daniel in other ways, as well as his intellectual blessings.  Seventy years after he went into captivity, he was still actively prophesying, as Daniel 1:21 points out.  “And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.”

Living By Faith

Throughout history, there have been times when Christians struggled as result of government policies.  Sometimes those policies have been adopted with the obvious intention of destroying the church, while other times they are adopted without thought for some other purpose.  Today, we are going through some trying times again, with some states and jurisdictions forbidding any public worship services, and others limiting the number who are allowed to attend.  As a result, Christians are faced with situations modern American Christians have never faced.  Many of those situations closely resemble the prophecies of the period shortly before Christ’s return.  How should we respond to them?

 

The northern kingdom of Israel had been conquered and destroyed by the Assyrians, but because they followed God, the nation of Judah had remained independent.  Gradually, the nation of Judah had drifted away from God as well, even though they had a few kings who tried to prevent it from happening.  The book of Habakkuk was written Just before the Chaldean people led by Nebuchadnezzar established the Babylonian Empire, during the reign of Josiah. 

 

Josiah was one of the best kings Judah ever had, doing everything he could to turn the people back to following God completely.  While the people enthusiastically went along with his reforms, their underlying attitudes had not changed and Habakkuk warned them that God was going to use the Babylonian empire to punish them for not following him.  It was with this in mind that Habakkuk 2:1-4 was written.  “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”  There was nothing they could do to prevent the events Habakkuk was predicting.  He was to write them down so people could understand they were from God.  Those who were living in pride would do what they though was best, but those who trusted God would obey his commands regardless of what was going on around them. 

 

Almost five hundred years before, in Proverbs 3:5-8, Solomon had advised, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”  No matter how smart or well educated we may be, we don’t know everything.  If we depend on our own intellect and abilities, sooner or later we are going to get ourselves into trouble.  Because God is all powerful, and all knowing, he can guide us in the best way, and overcome any problem we might face.  By following his leadership, we can be sure of the outcome, even though things may seem pretty bad for a while, as Romans 8:28 tells us.  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

 

If we are going to please God, we are going to have trust God and do as he said.  Hebrews 11:6 warns, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  When we do things our own way, we often find ourselves interfering with what God has planned.  Unfortunately, when things don’t seem to be going the way we think they should, we may find ourselves trying to hedge our bets and doing it the way we think is best.  Hebrews 10:38 warns that this will not please God.  “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” 

 

No matter how bad things may seem, we need to keep following Gods direction.  In Revelation 2:10. Jesus said, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”  We are to be obedient to him even if it results in imprisonment or death.  In this series, we will be looking at how this applies to us in this present situation. 

 

The Importance of Prophecy of the End Times

In this study of prophecy, we have looked at a lot of thing that God said would happen.   Some have already happened, while others have not.   Revelation 22:6-7 tells us God described these things so that we would know what was going on when they happened.  “And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”  Just understanding what is going on makes it far easier to stay faithful to God and obey his command.  As Paul told the people in I Thessalonians 4:13-18, these prophecies should be a source of comfort, rather than of fear.   

Following God’s command, in Revelation 1:19, John wrote the things he had seen, describing the way things are, and what will happen in the future.  Impressed by the knowledge and wisdom of the angel who showed him all these things, John bowed down to him in sign of respect, according to Revelation 22:8-9.  “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”  The angel forbid him to bow down to him, insisting such respect was to be given only to God.  Though he was an angel, he was only a servant of God and a brother to John and others who serve God. 

Jesus said much the same thing, stressing that we are brothers in Christ and should not use special titles to set one above another, in Matthew 23:8-10.  “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.  And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.”  Words like pastor, bishop, deacon, evangelist, or doctor, describe one’s job and are not to be used as titles in the church.    When used as titles, they distort the relationship between Christians.  Those who seem least important in the church are frequently more important than those who are most visible, as Paul explained in I Corinthians 12:22-25.  “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.  For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”  The janitor may not seem as important as the pastor, but if no one cleans the church, people won’t keep coming regardless how good the pastor is. 

The Lord then told John not seal up the prophecy, but to make it available, in Revelation 22:10-12.  “And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”  Just as the people in Noah’s day ignored his warnings, and the Egyptians ignored Moses’ warnings, ungodly people today will ignore the warnings about what is to happen, while those who believe God will listen and obey. 

Those who believe and obey will have a place in the New Earth, while those who do not will be cast into the Lake of Fire, as Revelation 22:14-15 reminds us.  “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

The angel was sent by the Lord to tell about these things.  The Holy Spirit and the church are here on earth today to try to bring people to Christ, and anyone who comes will be saved and have a part in that new Jerusalem, according to Revelation 22:16-17.  “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

Contrary to what many believe, the messages in Revelation are very important.  Revelation 22:18-19 warn, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”  Literally, Jesus said anyone who adds to or goes beyond what the prophecies say will have to suffer through the plagues that are listed, even though he believes.  Unlike the promise to the church at Philadelphia in Revelation 3:19, they will not be kept from these things.   

Those who dismiss parts or all the prophecies as impossible, or irrelevant are essentially denying God’s authority and power, and have rejected Christ.  Because their names are not written in the Book of Life, they will be cast into the Lake of Fire.  We need to take God’s words exactly as written if we want the most benefit from them.  Rather than trying to prevent these things from happening, we should be looking forward to them, knowing the Lord will take care of us regardless what is happening, as Revelation 22:20-21 tells us.  “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

The Eternal Kingdom

The first twenty three verses of Revelation 21 give physical description of the New Jerusalem.  The city is the capital of God’s kingdom, and Revelation 21:24-27 describe the attitudes and atmosphere of the city.  “And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.  And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.  And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.”

The various countries around the world are united in and proud to be a part of God’s kingdom, instead of constantly jockeying to get ahead as we see in every world alliance throughout history.  Unlike human governments, the doors are open to everyone around the clock, and since those with evil attitudes have been consigned to the Lake of Fire, along with Satan, only those who have placed their faith in Christ will be in the New Earth.  For eternity it will be like it was during the millennium of Christ kingdom, when as Isaiah 1:9 says, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

While the entire city will be beautiful, even the decorative aspects are for the benefit of the people, as we see in Revelation 22:1-5.  “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

The river of the water of life flows down the main street, and is available to everyone in the city.  Along both sides of the river, on the main street are rows of the tree of life, where they are accessible to everyone.  They have different fruit every month of the year, and the leaves are effective medication for every health problem.  God the father and Jesus Christ personally meet with the people every day.  Because they are eternal there will be no political competition with different political figures trying to gain influence.  People in the present world have never seen anything like it, but it is surely going to happen, as Revelation 22:6 makes very clear.  “And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.”

God’s eternal kingdom on the New Earth will complete the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah 9:6-7.  “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

New Jerusalem

While we are told little about the New Heaven and the New Earth, we are given a much more detailed physical description of the city New Jerusalem.  Revelation 21:9-14 describes John’s initial impression.  “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”

From a distance the City looked like an enormous fortress or castle, but was far more beautiful than any man made castle, made of polished stone.  As they approached the city, he saw the gates were made of pearls with three to each side, and a sign bearing the name of one of the tribes of Israel at each gate.  The foundation stones of the wall were marked with the names of the twelve apostles.   When they arrived, John observed details he had not been able to see from a distance.   First he describes the size in Revelation 21:15-17.  “And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.  And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.”

The city is twelve thousand furlongs square and of the same height. Since a furlong is about one eighth of a mile this makes the city about one thousand five hundred miles on each side.   If located in the United States, it would cover an area almost half the size of the United states, reaching from Boston to Key Largo Florida, and extending west to Lincoln Nebraska.  It will be almost three thousand times as tall as the highest building on earth and six times as high as the international space station.  To support the weight, the walls will be two hundred sixteen feet thick at the base.  It is one gigantic fortress. 

Next, John describes the materials the city is built of, in revelation 21:18-21.  “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.  And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”

The walls are built of dense highly polished jasper stone, and everything is overlaid with the purest gold.  The footings or foundations of the wall are decorated with various precious and semi-precious stones, much like a public building might use slabs of marble to cover the concrete footings in a basement.   With only one gate every five hundred miles, the gates must be huge, but each one is made out of a single pearl.  Like the rest of the city, the streets are paved with the purest gold.  That our rarest and most valuable items are used as building materials emphasizes how poor and worthless our present wealth is. 

On this present earth, such a city would not be possible.  The weight of the walls would dislocate the various tectonic plates causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.  In our present world, people often need oxygen to survive at the tops of our tallest mountains and no one survive without it at the space station, yet the city is six times that tall.  As we said earlier, clearly the New Earth is different than the present one.  Because of God’s presence, there will be no need for a temple to worship him, as Revelation 21:22-23 tells us.  “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”   I assume that if the sun and the moon still shine, because of the light of God and of Christ, they will be like turning on the yard lights on a sunny day.  They will not even be noticed. 

A New Heaven And A New Earth

For a thousand years, mankind will live in world the way God intended it to be.  When they choose to follow Satan instead, God will judge them for their individual choices, and all who have rejected him will be sentenced to the Lake of Fire.  Those who have believed in him, whose names have been written in the Book of life will have been changed so they can inherit the kingdom of heaven as described in I Corinthians 15:50-53.  “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

Mankind’s sin has corrupted the entire world, causing many changes, as described in Genesis 3, and as a result, Genesis 6:11 tells us, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.”  Initially, there was no death, but as a result of man’s sin death came upon all men. God had intended for all animals to be vegetarian, but after death came into the world, some began to kill others.  Some animals became carnivorous, killing other animals and eating their flesh while others became scavengers, eating whatever they left.  Death became a fact of life for every living thing, and the entire earth suffered as a result, as Romans 8:21-22 tells us.  “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”

Because he loves mankind, God did not utterly destroy them, giving them thousands of years to choose whether to follow him or not, but one day he will judge them for their choices.  When he finishes, he will also destroy the world that has been corrupted, replacing it with a new one, as described in II Peter 3:9-13.  “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

Revelation 21:1 starts with that new world.  “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” It will be much different than the world we know.   Today three quarters of the earth is covered by water which helps to moderate and regulate temperature and weather around the world.  When temperatures rise above about forty degrees, more water evaporates, cooling the water and the resulting clouds reduce the amount of sunlight hitting the earth, helping to lower the temperature.  When the temperature falls below about forty degrees, evaporation is greatly reduced, and the water absorbs the heat, warming the air above it and limiting how cold it will get.  These effects are critical for the survival of life as we know it.  Current climate change models overlook the role water plays in regulating temperatures.  Apparently regulating temperatures will not be an issue in the new heaven and earth. 

No other descriptions of the new earth, or the new heaven themselves are given in scripture, but is is a place where God will feel comfortable.  He will create a new city called new Jerusalem. And dwell there with those who love him, according to Revelation 21:2-7.  “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

The creation of the new heaven and new earth will eliminate all the corruption and wickedness of the world today.  God will interact personally with his people, supplying their needs for ever.  All those who have rejected him, rebelling against his authority and refusing to trust him will be cast into the Lake of fire as Revelation 21:8 describes.  “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”  They will have no contact with that new world, but will be surrounded by the ones who have corrupted this world.   

The Judgement of Mankind

After the defeat of the global army, the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be cast into the Lake of Fire.  Satan will be imprisoned for a thousand years, and Christ will set up his earthly kingdom.  Those who have followed him and obeyed his laws will hold the positions of authority in this earthly kingdom, as described in Revelation 20:4.  “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” 

This is the period Isaiah 2:2-4 describes.  “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”  Joel 3:9-13 and Micah 4:1-4 also describe this period. 

Isaiah 11:4-9 gives some other details about this thousand year period.  “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

I Thessalonians 4:16-17 describes the resurrection of the believers.  “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”  they are the ones mentioned in the first reaping in Revelation 14:14-16.  “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.”

This resurrection is only for those who believe in Christ, as Revelation 20:5-6 explains.  “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”   For a thousand years, they will live on this earth, with no disease, no crime, no wars, and no reason for fear.  For those who have believed, this will be a time of rejoicing, and they will never have to worry about being judged unworthy.   

Those who have survived the Tribulation and the global war will have experienced what it is like to have God in control of life and escape all the problems of our present life.  At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released for a short time, to give those survivors an opportunity to choose whether they would prefer God or Satan as their ruler, as Revelation 20:7-10 describes.  “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

People naturally tend to prefer evil over good, and even a thousand years of perfect peace will not change their natural tendencies.  Clearly, there will be a deliberate choice to follow Satan.  As Hebrews 6:4-6 tells us, there will be no reason for God to give them any more chances.  “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”  

The only thing God can do is judge and punish those who have rejected his laws and principles.  Revelation 20:11-15 describes that Judgement.  “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

God has a record of everything a person has ever done, down to the smallest detail.  Jesus said they will be judged on the very words they said, in Matthew 12:36-37.  “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”  No matter how good or how bad they may have been, if their names are not written in the book of Life, they will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever.  Philippians 4:1-3 makes it very clear those who serve God have their names written in the book of life.  “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.  I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.  And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” 

John 14:6 tells us, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  There is no other way into heaven but through faith in Jesus Christ.  Matthew 7:21-23 warns, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  Without faith in Christ, their good works will not save them.