SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES 04-08-2019

RECAP OF OUR LAST STUDY “Serving one another in love”: Love is the basis of all Christian service. Sincere love will promote outreach to the world and unity in the Church. Love must be expressed in word and deed. Believers are to be diligent in business, spiritual service and domestic life. Every believer has something to offer: we all should seek opportunity to reach out to the needs of others in the fellowship. All acts of love will be divinely rewarded.

TODAY’S STUDY: LESSON 754: CHRIST’S MILLENNIAL REIGN MEMORY VERSE: …… “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”. Revelation 20:4 TEXT: Revelation 20:1-6; Isaiah 11:6-10; 65:25; Zechariah 14:9-20

INTRODUCTION God’s word teaches that Jesus Christ will come with ten thousands of His saints and reign a thousand years on earth (Jude 14,15). During this period, which will be after the Great Tribulation, Satan will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:2,3). Christ’s reign will be free from sin and Satan’s influence; it will be characterised by peace and blessing (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25). QUESTION 1: What is the meaning of Christ’s millennial reign?

PLACE OF CHRIST’S MILLENNIAL REIGN ON GOD’S TIME TABLE 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 24:21,22; Jude 14 The Rapture of the Church will usher in the Great Tribulation, which shall be a seven-year period of great suffering for sinners and careless Christians who missed the Rapture. At the end of this period, Jesus will come again with the Church to establish His government (Jude 14). The Antichrist will resist Christs’ coming but he will be defeated at the Battle of Armageddon, bound and imprisoned for a thousand years. QUESTION 2: Highlight the events that will lead to Christ’s millennial reign – 1 Thess 4:16-18; Matt 24:15, 21

DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST THEOCRATIC RULE Isaiah 9:6,7 Christ’s Millennial Reign will be a government under God’s control. It will be the fulfilment of the promise God gave David, that his throne shall have no end. The reign will feature divine mercy, goodness, truth, glory and righteousness; it will be void of sin and all forms of unrighteousness as Satan will be imprisoned. QUESTION 3: What is the form of government Christ will establish during His millennial reign? – Isaiah 9:7; 11:6-9

BLESSEDNESS OF CHRIST’S MILLENNIAL REIGN Jeremiah 30:17-19; Isaiah 65:26 The Millennial Reign will be the period of manifestation of Christ’s glory. Holiness will be manifested through the King and His subjects. It will be a time of comfort and justice for God’s people. Citizens of the kingdom will have full knowledge of God. The original curse placed upon creation will be removed so that there will be abundant productivity of the earth. Sickness become a thing of the past and there shall be preservation of life. QUESTION 4: Explain why everyone should strive to be part of Christ’s millennial kingdom – Isa 9:3.4, 1:26,27, 65:25; Gen 3:17-19

SUBJECTS OF CHRIST’S MILLENNIAL KINGDOM Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 17:1-7; Matthew 5:3; 25:34; Hebrews 9:28 The subjects of Christ millennial reign will be the redeemed souls from all over the world. The poor in spirit, watchful and prayerful will be accounted worthy to participate in the glorious kingdom. To reign with Him, you must be saved from sin, abide in Christ and serve Him till the end. QUESTION 5: How can a sinner and believer witness the millennial reign of Christ? – (a) John 1:12, 13; 3:3, 5. (b) Matt 5:8; 1 Cor 6:9, 10; Heb 12:14

CONCLUSION After the Great Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return to the earth with His saints and reign for one thousand years. This is the Millennial Reign. During this period, Satan will bound and cast into the bottomless pit. Devoid of Satan’s influence, Christ’s reign will be characterised by righteousness, peace and prosperity. To reign with Him, you must be saved from sin, abide in Christ and serve Him till the end.