MILLENNIAL TRANSFORMATION. In Jerusalem, the Antichrist “takes his seat in the temple, displaying himself as being God” (2 Thess. 2:4). But he will rule the world for only 42 months. Then he thinks he gains the final victory by killing his last two opponents, the two witnesses.
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But while the people are celebrating their death, the two witnesses rise up to heaven before their eyes. (Rev. 11:2-12). An earthquake causes one-tenth of Jerusalem to fall and 7000 people to die. Then “the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven” (verse 13). Many of them know that the time has come for Christ’s return to earth!
The Antichrist will rally his armies at Armageddon against Him. But Christ and His armies from heaven will easily defeat them (Rev. 19:11-21). Then they will proceed to Jerusalem, where many are gleefully awaiting Him.
“And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears?” (Mal. 3:1-2).
Any church, or person, who has experienced the presence of the glory of God, will tell you that they could not stand in the glory for very long at all.
For instance, when the first temple was finished, even the priests could not stand the glory. “It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord” (1 Kings 8:10-11).
Refiner’s fire
So when Christ suddenly comes to His temple, “He is like a refiner’s fire & like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a smelter & purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.” (Mal. 3:2-3).
Notice that He purifies the Levites who handle the holy things of the temple. Jeremiah 33:20-21 says that the priesthood of the Levites will endure as long as day and night endure. Day and night will not end until after the Millennium. Then the sun disappears, and God becomes the light for the whole new earth.
So Christ does not yet purify all the Jews, only the Levites. “Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years” (Mal. 3:4).
Here we see one of the most controversial features of the Millennium. We see offerings in the temple like offerings made in the “former years” including animal sacrifices. Why, after Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross? For answers, see Millennial Temple Sacrifices—Why, after the Cross?
In short, unbelievers will make blood sacrifices because they remain under the law. What a privilege for unbelievers to go as far as the altar, to sacrifice in such a place of glory! But they will also see believers go beyond the altar to the glory-filled temple itself.
Glory cloud over Jerusalem
Believers who converted after the Rapture will be able to go as far as they can stand the glory, But glorified believers, who were raptured and who returned to earth with Christ, will have glorified bodies and will be able to endure more glory, and approach closer to the presence of Christ.
In fact, not only the temple, but all of Jerusalem will be shining with His glory. Because “the Lord will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy” (Isa. 4:5).
In other words, a glory cloud will cover all of Jerusalem. And God will gather the nations to experience that glory cloud.
Survivors declare His glory to the nations
For “’the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory. I will set a sign among them and will send survivors from them to the nations… that have neither heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they will declare My glory among the nations… I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,’ says the Lord” (Isa. 66:18-21).
A lot is happening in that passage. Survivors will live in nations that still haven’t recovered from the ruins of the Tribulation. Many of them will come to Jerusalem and see His glory. Some will be so transformed by His glory that God will keep them there as priests and Levites.
Other survivors who come to Jerusalem will be so overwhelmed by His glory that they won’t stay. Instead, they will say, “Here I am, send me” (Isa. 6:8)
Christ will send them back to the nations that they came from, to declare His glory. Then they will prepare those nations to receive glorified, raptured believers as kings to rule them. And as judges to settle their disputes. And as priests to introduce them to more glory.
This is how we will reign with Christ.
See 16 min. video for much more about this topic, and how in this life we can become the good and faithful servants who will be rewarded with special roles in the Millennium.
Or sign up for our 5-video course “Kings, Judges, Priests: Training for Reigning with Christ”
ETG articles related to millennial transformation:
Glory Cloud Covers Millennial Temple & Jerusalem
Millennial Temple Sacrifices -Why, after the Cross?
How Believers Will Rule Earth with Christ-Pt.1
God’s Green New Deal vs Sanders-AOC Green New Deal
BPN articles related to millennial transformation:
God’s Kingdom Guarantees or Socialist Guarantees?
Keyword: millennial transformation
