DAY 1 - JOY TO THE WORLD From a long time ago, man has longed for a golden age where there would come a time of peace and prosperity. Such a time will directly follow the Great Tribulation, when Jesus Christ will return to earth to set up a 1000 year long paradise on earth. Almost everyone knows the lyrics to Isaac Watt's famous hymn, "Joy to the World," but few people realize it fits conditions during the Millennium better than it does His first advent at Christmas. Consider again these familiar words: Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing. Joy to the world! The Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow; Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and gace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love. Only at the Millennium will these beautiful words find their complete fulfillment. Only during the Millennium will we be able not only to sing their truth but to witness it firsthand.
DAY 2 - WHY A MILLENNIUM There are at least four reasons why Christ must come back to earth to reign personally over the kingdoms of the world. First, a literal Millennium is needed to reward the people of God. Scores of promises are scattered throughout both testaments, guaranteeing that God's people will receive bountiful rewards for faithful service. Second, a literal Millennium is needed to answer the dsiciples's prayer recorded in Luke 11 and Matthew 6. When they prayed, "Your Kingdom come," they were requesting that the long-awaited kingdom would be established. During the Millennium, their prayers will be finally and decisively answered. Third, a literal Millennium is needed to redeem creation. Genesis 3 describes the horrors of a world cursed by God because of sin, while Romans 8 describes a coming time when that curse will be lifted. The Millennium is the only period in history where such a lifting of the curse can be found. Fourth, a literal Millennium is needed to re-emphasize man's depravity and the necessity of Christ's death on the cross. The Millennium will answer once and for all the age-old question of whether man's sin stems from environment or heritage. The Millennium will feature 1000 years of unbroken peace and prosperity, in which Christ will rule from Jerusalem with an iron rod. Yet at the end of that age of bliss, Satan will be loosed for a short time to demonstrate that the heart of man is indeed black with sin and that even in a perfect environment, unredeemed men will turn against God and rebel. The Millennium is proof positive that Christ's death is essential for mankind's salvation.
DAY 3 - WHAT IS THE MILLENNIUM LIKE? There are at least five outstanding characteristics of the Millennium. First, it will be a time of unprecedented peace. There will be no war. Kingdoms will be unified. Even the animal kingdom will be at peace (Micah 4:2-3; Isaiah 11:6-9) Second, it will be a time of rampant prosperity. All want will be eliminated. Unparalleled prosperity will characterize all parts of the globe (Isaiah 35) Third, it will be a time of great purity. Sin will be kep in check, and disobedience will be switfly dealt with. Christ's kingdom will be a holy kingdom (Is 11:9, 25:9, 66:23, Zechariah 13:2) Fourth, it will be a time of perpetual health. A man who dies at the age of 100 will be thought accursed! It appears that the extraordinary life-spans that characterized the race before the Flood will reappear (Is 65:20) Fifth, it will be a time of personal joy. The Millennium will be an exhilarating era of happiness, contentment and joy. It will be the answer to many ancient and anguished prayers
DAY 4/5 - REVERSAL IN THE KINGDOM The flip side of Jesus first coming will be revealed in the Millennium. He entered this world in swaddling clothes; He will reign then in majestic purple. He came the first time as a weary traveler; He will return as the untiring God. Once He had nowhere to lay His head; then He will be revealed as the heir of all things. Once He was rejected by tiny Israel; then He will be accepted by all nations. Once He was a lowly Savior acquainted with grief; then He will be the mighty God annointment with the oil of gladness. Once He was smitten with a reed; then He will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Once wicked soldiers bowed the knee in mockery; then every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Once He received a crown of thorns; then He will wear a crown of gold. Once He delivered up His spirit; then He will be alive forevermore. Once He was laid in a tomb; then He will sit on a throne. King of Kings and Lord of Lords! That's Jesus! And in the Millennium, that fact will be impossible to mistake. Once Jesus was described as what this song is saying. Away in a manger, asleep on the bed The little Lord Jesus lay down his sweat head The stars in the sky looked down where he laid The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay Then, Jesus will come for second time as described in Rev 1: 12-20, "…There was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blaxing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven starts, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. … I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."