NEW TESTAMENT PROPHECIES AWAITING FULFILMENT 5
NEW TESTAMENT PROPHECIES AWAITING FULFILMENT 5
Another New Testament prophecy awaiting fulfilment in the Millennium is that which predicts the restitution of all things (CP Ac 3:21). The restitution of all things means that in the millennial reign of Christ all things in God's original purpose for His creation will be completely restored to what God intended them to be before Adam fell. The earth will be delivered from the curse under which it now exists because of Adam's sin. It will be restored to normal fertility and productivity. There will be no more famines - fruitful seasons will be without interruptions. Waste places will be restored to usefulness; deserts will blossom again (CP Gen 3:17-18 with Rev 22:3 and Isa 4:1-2; 30:23-25; 32:15; 35:1-2, 7; 41:17-19; 43:19-20; 49:8-11; 51:3; 55:12-13; 61: 4-5; Eze 34:23-31; 36:8-12, 29-30, 33-38; 47:1-12; Joel 2:18-19, 21-27; 3:18; Amos 9:11-15; Zech 8:12; 14:8). There will be no more sorrow or mourning, neither tears. No one will ever die again. There will be no more crying or pain, nor will anyone hunger again. Neither will sun nor heat ever affect anyone again (CP Rev 7:16-17; 21:3-5). There will be no more sin and sickness in the earth (CP Isa 33:20-24). The natural people living on earth will be healed by the Tree of Life (CP Rev 22:2). There will be no more poverty - material blessings will fill the earth; every one will prosper (CP Isa 60:5-17; 62:8-9; 65:21-23; Mic 4:4; Zech 3:10). World wide peace will prevail in the earth (CP Isa 2:1-4; 9:6-7; 11:10; 19:23; 26:12; 32:18; 54:14; 57:19; 60:18; 66:12; Mic 4:1-3; Zech 14:9-11). Formerly wild animals will be tame - children will play with once highly venomous snakes (CP Isa 11:6-9; Eze 34:25, 28). Animals will no longer attack and kill human beings, nor each other (CP Isa 65:25).
Next we will examine prophecies awaiting fulfilment after the Millennium. The first of these is John's prophecy foretelling Satan being loosed after being bound in chains in the bottomless pit during the thousand years of the Millennium, and his final rebellion, defeat, and doom (CP Rev 20:7-10). The fulfilment of this prophecy will also fulfil Paul's prophecy predicting Satan's doom (CP Ro 16:20). The next prophecy in this section which will be examined here predicts the second resurrection - the resurrection of the wicked dead (CP Rev 20:4-6). V 5 here teaches that the wicked dead will be resurrected after the thousand years reign of Christ with the saints from the first resurrection. They will be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire at the Great White Throne Judgement (CP Rev 20:11-15; 21:8). The Lake of Fire will be the final destination of the wicked - a place of eternal torment for everyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life (CP Mt 8:11-12; 13:41-43, 50; 18:8-9; 25:41-46; Mk 9:42-50; 12:38-40; Lu 3:16-17; 12:4-5; Rev 14:9-11; 19:20; 20:1-10, 15; 21:7-8 see also Isa 66:22-24).
The Great White Throne Judgement is prophesied in one form or another right throughout the New Testament (CP Mt 3:10; 7:21-23; 10:15, 26-28; 11:20-24; 12:36-37, 41-42; 15:13; Mk 4:22; 6:11; Lu 3:9, 17; 6:24-26; 8:16-18; 10:10-15; 11:31-32; 12:4-5, 10; 13:3, 5, 23-30; 20:46-47; Jn 12:48; Ac 17:31; 1Cor 3:17; 4:5; 6:9-10; Ga 5:19-21; 6:7-8; Col 3:25; He 6:4-6; 10:26-29; 1Pe 4:7; 2Pe 2:9, 20-22; 3:7; Rev 20: 11-15). In the fulfilment of the Great White Throne Judgement prophecy, prophecies predicting that there will be degrees of punishment for the wicked, will also be fulfilled (CP Mt 10:13-15; 11:20-24; 12:41-42; 16:27; Mk 6:11; Lu 10:10-15; 11:31-32; 12:47-48; 20:46-47; He 10:29; Jas 3:1; Rev 2:18-23). Just as there will be degrees of rewards in Heaven for the saints (CP 1Cor 3:13-15), so there will be degrees of punishment in the Lake of Fire for the wicked. Contemporaneous with the fulfilment of the Great White Throne Judgement prophecy, the prophecy predicting the renovation of Heaven and earth will also be fulfilled (CP 2Pe 3:7, 10-13 with Rev 20:11; 21:1). In the context of 2Pe 3:7, 10-13, it means that Heaven and earth will be loosed from their present corrupt state into a new state purified by fire and made new as to character (CP Psa 102:25-26; Isa 65:17; 66:22 with Ro 8:21-23; He 1:10-12; 12:25-27).
Another prophecy awaiting fulfilment after the Millennium is that which predicts that at the end of Christ's millennial reign, when all the enemies of God have been defeated - even death - and cast into the lake of Fire at the Great White Throne Judgement, Christ will hand the Kingdom over to God (CP 1Cor 15:24-28, 55; Rev 20:14). Together Christ and God will reign over the Kingdom in the New Earth for all eternity (CP Dan 7:13-14; Rev 21:1-3, 22-23; 22:3-5). In the fulfilment of this prophecy, others predicting the Eternal Kingdom of Christ will also be fulfilled (CP Rev 11:15 with Psa 45:6; 146:10, Isa 9:6-7; Dan 7:27; Mic 4:7; Lu 1:31-33; He 1:8). Another prophecy, which predicts the saints being made eternal kings and priests, will also be fulfilled at this time (CP Rev 1:6; 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5 with Dan 7:18, 27).
In this last section of the study now we will examine prophecies awaiting fulfilment after the Great White Throne Judgement, in the New Earth. The first of these will be the prophecy which predicts New Jerusalem as both God and Christ's seat of government in the New Earth (CP Rev 21:1-3, 9-27 with He 10:16; 13:14). New Jerusalem will be the home of all the saints of God - Old Testament and New Testament alike - from Abel to the very last soul saved in the Tribulation (CP Rev 21:24-27 with Jn 14:1-3; He 11:1-2, 13-16; 12:22-23; Rev 3:12 also Isa 2:1-4; Mic 4:1-4). It should be noted here that New Jerusalem is a literal city, twelve thousand furlongs - fifteen hundred miles - long, wide, and high, with a wall measuring a hundred and forty four cubits - over two hundred feet, or sixty five metres - high, surrounding it. The city is made of pure gold, which is transparent like clear glass, and the street of the city is the same. The city has twelve gates, each one a pearl. There will be no temple as an object of worship in the city - God and Jesus will be the objects of worship. The city will have no need of the sun and moon. It will be illuminated by the radiating glory of God and Jesus will be its light. This will also fulfil Rev 22:5 (CP 22:5). The city gates of New Jerusalem will never be shut, because it will always be perfectly secure; there will never be any darkness there. It will be the capital of God in the New Earth throughout eternity, and the eternal home of all the saints of God, from Abel to the very last soul saved in the Tribulation. They will all live in New Jerusalem forever (CP Rev 21:9-27). Rev 22:4 will also be fulfilled at this time (CP 22:4).
The next New Testament prophecy awaiting fulfilment in the New Earth which we will examine here, is that which predicts that Christ will make the saints pillars in the temple of God in the New Earth; that He will write the name of God upon them; the name of the City of God, New Jerusalem; and His own new name. The temple of God will be built by Christ to fulfil this prophecy, which will also fulfil the prophecy by Zechariah in the Old Testament (CP Rev 3:11-12 with Zech 6:12-13). Next, we are given a prophetic insight of the River of Water of Life proceeding from the Throne of God and of Christ in New Jerusalem, and the Tree of Life growing in the middle of the street, and on either side of the river which Christ promises the saints to give them to eat of (CP Rev 2:7; 22:1-2, 14). The River of Water of Life is not called that because it will be the medium of life, but because it will bring life to everything along its course. This was also prophesied by Ezekiel and Zechariah in the Old Testament (CP 22:2 with Eze 47:9-12; Zech 14:8). The River of Water of Life flowing from God's throne was also prophesied by King David (CP Psa 47:4). Clearly this is a literal river. It is not symbolic of the blessings of God, or the continual flow of eternal life, as some teach.
The Tree of Life is also literal. It will bear twelve kinds of fruit - a different fruit for each month of the year - and will be such a prolific bearer the fruit will never be all used up. This also was prophesied by Ezekiel (CP Rev 22:2 with Eze 47:7, 12). The fruit will be for both the redeemed of God who will live in New Jerusalem, and the natural people who will live in the New Earth (CP rev 2:7; 22:2, 14). The leaves of the tree will be for the preservation of life of the natural people. It should be noted here that the New Earth will be inhabited throughout eternity by natural people, which will also fulfil that part of John's prophecy in Rev 22:2 where he refers to them as the nations (CP V 2 with Isa 2:1-3; 66:22-23; Dan 7:13-14, 27; Mic 4:1-5; Zech 14:16; Mt 25:31-40, 46b; Rev 11:15). Every one of those scriptures is a prophecy. They will all be fulfilled in the New Earth. Another New Testament prophecy awaiting fulfilment in the New Earth which we will examine here is by Paul, who predicts that the church will continue eternally along with eternal generations of natural people throughout the ages to come (CP Eph 3:21). The church will be an eternal witness in the New Earth to God's unmatched grace (CP Ro 11:36).
This study is now complete. In bringing it to a close it should be noted that the study is not exhaustive. There are still other New Testament prophecies awaiting fulfilment in the ages to come, but those included here are the most prominent, and will suffice for the purpose of this teaching.
These Studies by Br Val Boyle may be downloaded and freely distributed but not sold for profit.