Judgment, the Millennium & God's Kingdom

Answer: It seems strange to many of us that anyone would refuse to repent, knowing that it would mean destruction in the lake of fire. Yet this is what the Scriptures indicate. God, of course, doesn't do things without a reason, including having a lake of fire. For those of us who respond to God and His instructions, repentance is our obvious choice when we learn we have sinned. Not everyone, however, thinks like this. God gives everyone free moral agency—the opportunity to choose whether to respond to Him or not—and because of this freedom to choose, some will choose to disobey. The story of Satan himself helps us understand this concept.

In the beginning Satan was created a perfect spirit being with free moral agency. He could choose to obey or disobey God. Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 indicate that he became filled with pride and tried to overthrow God. He led a third of the angels in rebellion against God (Revelation 12:4). The Bible reveals no apology or repentance by Satan or the rebelling angels for this act. They would not and apparently, eventually, could not admit that they were at fault. How did they reach this condition?

Romans 1 explains that people who repeatedly reject God, as Satan and his demons did, eventually come to have warped minds incapable of sound judgment. Verse 21 explains that when people aren't thankful and don't honor God, their thinking process becomes unsound. Verse 28 adds that because "they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting." If people don't respect God, He doesn't force them to obey. In the process, however, these people's minds become warped.

The obvious lesson for us is that we must be careful to respond to our consciences when we realize we have done something wrong. We must be thankful and honor God so we don't become like Satan and his demons. If we are responsive to God, He will reward us with the opportunity to live forever in His coming Kingdom.

Answer: The Bible tells us that those who respond to God during this age will be rulers in the coming Kingdom of God (Revelation 1:6; 2:26). Of course there will be many additional jobs for those living during the 1,000 years after Christ returns. Some of the jobs will be in the field of agriculture (Amos 9:13). Others will be involved in reclaiming wealth from the sea (Isaiah 60:5), turning war implements into productive tools (Isaiah 2:4) and rebuilding (Isaiah 58:12).

Additionally, Isaiah 65:17-22 (a time period beyond the Millennium), indicates that people will be building houses and planting vineyards. Verse 22 says that God's elect (those who respond to Him) will "long enjoy the work of their hands." Being productive, through work, is obviously something we hope to continue doing long into the future.

Answer: Sadly, some people get so despondent that they conclude that taking their own lives would be a relief. Of course, there are many reasons a person may come to the decision to commit suicide—none of which would be justified in the eyes of God. God says that murdering a human being is a sin, even if it is taking one's own life (Exodus 20:13).

It is true that many people (and young people in particular) who make such decisions are consumed with loneliness, despair and rejection. Some are suffering from mental health problems that can add to the emotional burdens they are bearing. In many cases, they perceive they are trapped in their circumstances and simply cannot change them or "get out."

We live in a world that is ruled by Satan the devil (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2). He influences the attitudes and actions of all that he can. His goal is to supplant God's great plan of salvation. He will do so any way he can. If Satan cannot get people to destroy each other, he will encourage them to destroy themselves. Satan takes advantage of the limitations of the human mind and attitudes that we have. So, a person in a seemingly hopeless and despondent state can be affected by the influence of Satan to consider alternatives (such as taking one's life) that God would never approve of.

Yet God is a God of mercy. If people make such a horrible and needless mistake, God can forgive them, but only after the resurrection and their realization that taking their own life was a needless and wrong thing to have done.

God's desire is for us to change, to overcome, and realize the benefits of living His way. That may seem very tough sometimes in a world that is going the opposite direction. However, it is possible, and God promises us we will reap what we sow. If we are striving to serve God and live His way of life, God will bless us in so many ways. God's Word and His plan can give us many reasons to live. God's way ultimately gives us the hope of the future that should make us want to live. God wants us to deeply respect and appreciate the sanctity of life—since He is the giver of life itself and human life is a precursor of eternal life.

As for what happens after one dies, there are many opinions but only one biblical answer. The Bible says those who die go to their graves until they are resurrected (John 5:28, 29; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16). If you would like to learn more about this subject, we recommend you read our free booklet, Heaven & Hell: What Does the Bible Really Teach? which can be read online or downloaded at http://www.ucg.org/booklets/HL/.

Answer: The belief that God has already predetermined our lives and our rewards or punishments is a mistaken understanding of the subject of predestination.

Regarding predestination, Ephesians 1:5 tells us that God "predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself." Speaking of Christ, verse 11 says, "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will." Romans 8:29-30 adds, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

In reading these scriptures, there are two ways we can understand predestination. One way is to assume that God has everyone's life already planned out and that He already knows what we are going to do. Another way to understand predestination is from the perspective that God planned the purpose for human beings in the beginning (to become His sons and daughters), although He doesn't know what each of us will do. Let's consider a few additional scriptures to see which way we should understand these passages.

In Genesis 4 we read of God talking with Cain, who was upset that his offering was not accepted. God told him, "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." If God had already predetermined what Cain would do, it would have been pointless to give Cain the advice to "rule over" sin. God gave Cain this advice and then allowed him to make his own decision.

This is free moral agency—the opportunity God gives us to make choices regarding what we will do. In Deuteronomy 30:19, God encouraged the ancient Israelites to "choose life"—that is, choose His way of life so they could receive blessings. Again, if God already knew what choice they would make, this encouragement would have been pointless.

In accordance with these passages (and many more throughout the Bible), we realize that God wants us to choose and live His way of life, but He doesn't know in advance what each of us will do.

Answer: This thousand-year reign of Christ, also called the Millennium, offers people who have not known Christ or His true expectations an opportunity to respond to Him. It is important to note that this is not a second chance. It will be the first and only chance for these people. The Bible teaches that everyone will have an opportunity to come to God (2 Peter 3:9). 

For those called today, the firstfruits, the opportunity (judgment) is now (1 Peter 4:17). Others will have this opportunity during the Millennium.

As for those who are alive at the start of the Millennium, these people are ones who will have lived through the cataclysmic events of the return of Jesus Christ—called the "day of the Lord" in the Bible. Their physical lives will continue as the Kingdom of God is established here on earth (Revelation 5:10).

As to what the life span of human beings during the Millennium will be, the Bible doesn't explicitly say. It probably will be at least as long as people live today, and perhaps longer (see Zechariah 8:4). People will have children (verse 5). One important change in human life during this time, however, will be the interaction of the spirit world with human beings.

During the Millennium, Satan will be bound (Revelation 20:1-2) and the firstfruits, God's people who will have been changed into spirit at Christ's return (1 Corinthians 15:52), will be actively teaching people God's ways.

Commenting on this time, Isaiah 30:20-21 says: "And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left."

Satan's constant influence to cause people to sin, which is part of this present evil world, will be replaced by spirit beings who will help guide people into godly paths.

Because of this positive teaching and guidance by spirit beings and the fact that God's law will be going out to all the earth from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3), it seems that people living in the Millennium will know about this period of time and that this is their opportunity to respond to God.

Answer: While this question is a simple one, a biblical answer is a bit complicated because the rapture as commonly understood is not biblical. Many people today have been mistakenly taught that there will be a secret rapture of the saints a few years before Jesus returns with them to earth. But Jesus said that when He returns it will be a very public event that all the inhabitants of the earth will see. Everyone will hear the great sound of a trumpet as He gathers together His elect from all over the earth (Matthew 24:30-31).

John also said that when Christ returns every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7). Paul says that at the time of this great trumpet blast the dead in Christ will be resurrected and the saints who are alive will be changed to spirit instantaneously (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The Scriptures also explain that spirit beings do not get married or have children. As Luke 20:35 explains, they "neither marry nor are given in marriage." So there will not be babies born to people who are changed into spirit.

Within God's plan, however, there will be people left alive who will not be changed into spirit when Jesus returns. These people will live as physical human beings, capable of having children as they learn God's way of life.

If you wish to study more about the subjects of God's plan for humanity,the resurrection and what happens at death, read or request our booklets, What Is Your Destiny? and What Happens After Death?.

Answer:The Bible reveals that one of the purposes for God bringing sons and daughters into His family is so they might rule as kings and priests on the earth when Jesus returns to establish the Kingdom of God (Revelation 1:6; 5:10).

When Jesus returns to earth, the saints (that is, all true Christians, whether they have died or are still living) will rise in the air to meet Christ. As 1 Thessalonians 4:17 explains: "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."

Too know where we will be for the 1,000 years between the first and second resurrections (see Revelation 20:5-6), we need to know where Christ will be during this time. When Jesus returns, He will descend to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem to fight against the nations that will oppose His leadership (Zechariah 14:1-4).

Jesus and the risen saints following Him will defeat these armies. Projecting ahead to this time in vision, voices in heaven say, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ" (Revelation 11:15).

After defeating the armies gathered against Him, Jesus will take over the physical kingdoms of this world and His saints will then begin ruling over the nations here on earth. As Revelation 5:10, cited above, makes clear, the saints will be "a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth" (NRSV).

Christ likewise earlier stated, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). Christians do not go to dwell in heaven when Christ returns; they will be on earth, ruling over the Kingdom of God.