Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: End Times Preview
Chapter 2: Sheep and Nations
Chapter 3: Loose Threads of Doctrine
Chapter 4: Return of the King
Chapter 5: The Millennial Life
Chapter 6: The New Creation

Chapter 3: Loose Threads of Doctrine

In the Bible, there are several lines of thought that seem disconnected from the teachings of mainstream churches. Some of these “loose threads” are often explained away with assumptions or incomplete ideas that never fully tie them into a cohesive narrative. In this chapter, I will show how these outliers actually weave seamlessly into the larger tapestry—and in doing so, they reinforce everything we’ve already seen.

The key lies in recognizing the two distinct forms of humanity that will coexist in the ages to come: glorified saints and unglorified mortals—believers and unbelievers. Humanity 1.0, ruled by Humanity 2.0, throughout the Millennium and beyond. The first will be last, and the last will be first. The humble believers will one day rule over the not-so-humble nonbelievers. The meek inherit the Earth. 

Two Millennial Judgments

As we saw in chapter 2, the sheep and goats are separated at the beginning of the Millennium (Matthew 25). That judgment is the first of the two that are shown to occur in the Millennium. It is to decide who gets to stay and who has to go. For the sheep, it is recovery through God’s grace; for the goats it is deserved punishment through God’s righteousness. 

As we saw, the decision as to who stays and who goes is based on their performance, behavior, or what you might call “works”. It has everything to do with being a loving and caring individual. And it is individual (personal). They are not broken up according to which nation or ethnicity or religion they are from. 

This means that a Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist has just as much of a chance at the reprieve as anyone else. Even the Jews, who are largely adamantly anti-Jesus, can live on in His kingdom based on their treatment of others (namely, saints). But these are NOT given grace based on their denial of Christ. He apparently can handle the rejection. He’s that secure in His identity. 

But the Bible shows us another judgment—the final judgment—that comes at the end of the Millennium. Some call it the “White Throne”, or “Bema Seat” judgment. It is a judgment that does not allow room for repentance like most other judgments. (See Revelation 20:11-15 below).

Did you know that God has two kinds of judgment that are given to three kinds of recipients? Here’s how it breaks down: One kind of judgment is temporary, and the other is eternal. Those are the two kinds of judgment. The recipients can be either an individual, a group of people, or the whole world at once. The Flood of Noah’s day was one against the whole world at once (maybe the only one). The Israelites’ neighbors invading and killing them is a group judgment (that happened a lot). The individual judgment is the most serious. The Flood was temporary. The judgments against the Jews and others were temporary. Most of those were to help them repent (turn from their evil ways). And while a judgment against you personally might be temporary too, the final judgment is quite personal and also quite eternal. If you are sent to the Lake of Fire, there is no hope of repentance anymore. 

Temporary Wrath	Eternal Wrath
✔ Individuals	Individuals                  ✔
✔ Groups or Nations	Groups or Nations      ✖
✔ The Entire World	The Entire World       ✖

Now, I have a hope (not dogma) that some of those who are in the second (final) judgment will have the opportunity to repent, instead of going off to the Lake of Fire. After all, those who are being judged in the final judgment are resurrected from hell to stand before the Judge (Jesus). Did you know that? Did you know that those in hell are brought out of it for the final judgment? And if they automatically go straight to the Lake of Fire, what’s the point of a hearing, judgment, or trial? That seems pointless. 

Revelation 20:¹¹ And I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from His presence, but they found no place to hide. ¹² I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. ¹⁴ Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. (NLT)

Notice that when this final judgment happens, it is personal for each person being judged. Notice too that the Earth is no more. Some versions say Earth and heavens. Personally, I call them the Physical Realm and the Spirit Realm. However you slice it, heaven and Earth disappear at this time. They are no more. (See verse 14 above and Revelation 21:1.)

“Wait!” you might say, “Heaven is forever!” Well, yes and no. The spirit realm that we have now and the physical realm will be destroyed, but wherever Jesus lives is the real “heaven”, yes? And you might be thinking that hell is forever too. Nope. It goes away too (see Revelation 21:1). But the Lake of Fire is where the final punishment is meted out, not hell. Hell is just a place of holding until the judgment. It’s not anywhere you’d want to be and it’s no doubt very lonely, scary, and horrible. But my hope is that it will work to cause people to have a change of heart—to repent. And while repentance and faith are required for sainthood, maybe repentance alone will be good enough for entry into the nations. Remember, faith is for saints who do not get judged (John 3:18). 

Again, this is a hope of mine, not a hard and fast doctrine or dogma. The dogma is that heaven and Earth as they are now will be replaced by a new and better heaven and Earth. And since hell is in the same spirit realm as heaven, it goes too. Revelation 20 expressly says so. 

So all of those people who have been in hell this whole time (about a thousand years more to go) are going to be judged and either sent to the New Earth (the new heaven) or the Lake of Fire (the final torment). Now, I have simplified my beliefs on this and will have more to say in the final chapter about the new heavens. For instance, the Lake of Fire might be located on the New Earth, not separate from it. I’ll show my justification later for that assertion. 

For now, the big takeaway is that there are two judgments in the Millennium: one at the start and one at the end. The purpose of the first is to see who lives on into the Millennium. And whatever comes out of the second determines who will live in the New Earth or die the “second death”. 

Hell and Lake of Fire

Let me just unwrap this thing about hell versus the Lake of Fire a bit more. I admit that this is one of those confusing things taught in scripture that not many folks clearly grasp. 

When we read about hell, we get a lot of imagery. There are more verses about hell than the Lake of Fire (or burning sulfur). And indeed, some verses seem to point to hell’s fire being unquenchable. 

Hell Is Not the Lake of Fire

One of the more persistent misunderstandings in Christian doctrine is the belief that Hell and the Lake of Fire are the same. They are not. The Bible makes a careful distinction between these two realities—both in their purpose and duration—and a study of the original languages confirms it.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for the realm of the dead is Sheol (שְׁאוֹל). This term is used broadly to refer to the grave, the underworld, or the abode of departed souls. It is neither heaven nor the final place of punishment. Instead, it is portrayed as a realm (that I call the Spirit Realm) where the dead await their final fate in a temporary state, without a physical body. For example, David writes in Psalm 16:10, “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.” Similarly, Ecclesiastes 9:10 refers to Sheol as a place where there is no earthly activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

In the New Testament, we encounter three different Greek terms that clarify the temporary and eternal aspects of postmortem (after death) judgment.

First is Hades (ᾅδης), the Greek counterpart to Sheol. Like Sheol, Hades is a temporary holding place for the souls of the dead. It is not the final judgment. Jesus refers to it in Luke 16:23, describing a rich man in torment “in Hades,” awaiting his final judgment. Most importantly, Revelation 20:13–14 declares that “Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them,” and then both Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This event clearly demonstrates that Hades is not eternal. It is emptied, judged, and then destroyed.

The second Greek term is Gehenna (γέεννα), which Jesus frequently uses to describe the final destination of the wicked. Gehenna is based on the Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem—a place associated with fire, burning refuse, and child sacrifice. In the New Testament, it symbolizes eternal punishment. Jesus warns in Matthew 10:28, “Fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna,” and Mark 9:43 speaks of Gehenna as the place “where the fire is not quenched.” Unfortunately, many modern English Bibles translate this as “hell”. Unlike Hades, Gehenna points forward to the eternal judgment—closely corresponding to what Revelation calls the Lake of Fire.

A third and less common term is Tartarus (τάρταρος), found only once in the New Testament. Second Peter 2:4 tells us that “God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into Tartarus and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment.” This realm is distinct from human hell; it is a temporary prison for fallen angels, specifically those that raped or seduced (bred with) women, where they await their final sentence. Like Hades, Tartarus is not eternal—it is a holding place for beings who will one day stand before the great white throne.

Finally, the Lake of Fire (λίμνη τοῦ πυρός), described in Revelation, is the true final “Hell”—the place of everlasting punishment prepared for Satan, his angels, and all who reject God’s salvation. Unlike Sheol, Hades, or Tartarus, the Lake of Fire is eternal and irreversible. Revelation 20:10 tells us that the devil will be “thrown into the Lake of Fire and sulfur, and will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Just a few verses later, we read: “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire… And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire” (Rev. 20:14–15). This is called the second death, and it is final.

So to summarize: Sheol (Heb.) and Hades (Gk.) refer to the temporary realm of the dead (spirit realm); Tartarus is a temporary holding place for rebellious angels; Gehenna is Jesus’ term for eternal punishment, and the Lake of Fire is that final place of judgment. Even Hell (Hades) itself is destroyed—cast into the Lake of Fire—proving that it is not the final judgment. Only the Lake of Fire is described as eternal, unquenchable, and inescapable.

This distinction not only clarifies confusing terminology but also reinforces the seriousness of the second resurrection and the final judgment. The Bible is precise. So should we be. And without having true faith in Christ, your soul is in grave danger, but might still have a chance based on the grace of God and how you treated others (my personal hope). 

If this has confused you, don’t feel bad. Many of the greatest saints in the world have missed this distinction for centuries. And it hasn’t really been made all that clear in scripture either. But hopefully you can now see the difference. Sometimes, you just have to get into the original languages and see the overarching context of it all through the whole Word of God. See how important diligent Bible study is? Always consider the context and frequently consult a concordance or interlinear Bible. 

Sin and Suffering

“If the Millennium is ‘heaven on Earth’, then why is there sin and suffering there?” 

Good question, I’m glad I asked it for you. 

Many believers assume that once Jesus returns, all sin and sorrow will instantly disappear. But that’s not what the Bible teaches. The Millennium is not the final state of things—it is a dress rehearsal for the New Heavens and New Earth. During His thousand-year reign, Christ rules the world from Jerusalem, but not all who live under His authority are glorified. Alongside the resurrected righteous—the glorified saints—will be mortal humans: the “sheep” who survived the judgment of the nations and entered the Kingdom in their natural bodies, along with their offspring who are born later.

These mortals, though living in a world of divine justice and under the visible reign of Christ, will still possess a fallen nature. The sin problem hasn’t been eliminated—it’s only restrained. This is why Jesus rules the nations with an iron rod or scepter (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27; 19:15). No level of force or discipline will be needed for glorified saints, who are incapable of sin, but it will be necessary for the mortal population still subject to temptation and rebellion.

Sin will not be allowed to flourish during the Millennium, but it will still exist. So will the consequences of sin—especially for those who resist or reject Christ’s authority. Suffering, though far less than in the present world, will not be completely absent. There will be no war or demonic attacks, which goes a long way in helping people remain calm and peaceful. But this is not yet the time when God wipes away every tear—that comes after the Millennium, in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:4).

The presence of sin and suffering in the Millennium is not a contradiction; it is a sign that the Kingdom is perhaps more than we have assumed. It reminds us that the final redemption of all things awaits the last judgment and the arrival of the New Heavens and New Earth.

Works Versus Faith for Salvation

For centuries, believers have debated the issue of works versus faith for salvation. Some verses make it sound like works are required, while others clearly say they are not. In the Old Testament, it can seem like everything depends on performance. But when you read Paul, he’s adamant: salvation is by grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8–9). Then James comes along and says, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:17), and some people try to pit him against Paul, as if they’re contradicting each other.

But they’re not. Paul and James are in perfect agreement. Paul teaches that salvation is by faith alone—but not by a faith that stays alone. James simply points out that if you don’t show any fruit after your conversion, maybe you weren’t really converted to begin with. Works don’t earn salvation, but they verify it.

Still, there are passages in Scripture where works seem to carry eternal weight. When Jesus describes the judgment of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25:31–46, it’s all about behavior—feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, clothing the naked. On the other hand, when He speaks to Nicodemus in John 3, it’s all about belief: “Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Paul echoes this relentlessly: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Some of the confusion around works and salvation comes from Old Testament passages that appear to link righteousness—and even life itself—to obedience and behavior. For example, Leviticus 18:5, Deuteronomy 30:15–16, and Ezekiel 18:21–22 speak of life or blessing coming through keeping God’s commandments. Psalms 15:1–2 and Proverbs 11:4 seem to tie access to God or deliverance from judgment to righteous conduct. Even Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 and Micah 6:6–8 describe the whole duty of man in terms of doing justice and obeying commands. Taken together, these verses can make it seem like salvation was once performance-based—but in reality, they reveal that outward obedience was always meant to reflect an inward faith. That distinction becomes clear in the New Testament, especially when Paul quotes some of these same verses to show how the law leads us to grace. Remember, Abraham’s covenant with God was through faith. Then the Law of Moses came later to show our need for faith. 

So what’s going on here?

Here’s the key: there are two kinds of people who will avoid the Lake of Fire. First, there are the glorified saints—those who are saved by faith in Christ and born again into a new creation. But second, there are those who are not glorified, yet still welcomed into the earthly Kingdom because of how they treated others—the “sheep” from the judgment of the nations. That’s not the same as salvation as the saints know it, but neither is it damnation. It’s entry into the Millennial Kingdom, not eternal life in a glorified body.

But let me be clear: I don’t recommend trying to “get in” that way. The stakes are too high. No one is good enough to guarantee it (Isaiah 64:6 still stands). And no matter how it plays out, it’s still the mercy and grace of Christ that makes either outcome possible.

So yes, technically, works can keep someone from condemnation—but only in a limited way and only into the Kingdom as a fallen mortal. They will not give you the inheritance of the saints, the resurrection life, or the opportunity to rule and reign with Christ. That comes only by faith.

Rebellion in the Millennium

One of the “loose threads” in the Bible that always bothered me was the rebellion that takes place when Satan is released at the end of the thousand years. Why would anyone rebel—especially after a thousand years of perfect rule under Christ? For a long time, I had the same assumption many Christians do: that only saints will be in the Millennium. If that’s what you’ve believed too, keep reading.

Here’s the key passage:

Revelation 20:⁷ When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. ⁸ He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. ⁹ And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them.

Some expositors argue that this is the same “Gog and Magog” from Ezekiel 38-39. But that misses the point entirely. The Revelation reference is not saying it’s the same battle—it’s using the phrase symbolically, evoking the scale and setting of the Ezekiel war. In fact, the similarities are meant to underscore that this is the final rebellion of the next age, the Millennial age—not a repeat of Armageddon (the last battle of this age). The earlier war will have happened a thousand years prior. If nothing else, consider this: The Antichrist, Gog in Ezekiel, is already in the Lake of Fire by this point (Revelation 19:20). He’s not coming back. 

But for me, that wasn’t the real problem. What used to baffle me was the very existence of a rebellion at all. Who are these people rising up against Jesus? How can they be deceived? I mean, if only saints are present in the Millennium—and we are glorified, perfected, and united with Christ—then how could any of us fall for Satan’s lies?

Well, that’s the point. We won’t. The glorified saints aren’t the ones being deceived. We’re ruling and reigning with Christ—we’ve been sealed, perfected, and joined to Him forever. The rebels are someone else.

And by now, the answer should be clear: the rebellion comes from among the mortal nations—the descendants of the sheep who survived the judgment at Christ’s return (Matthew 25:31–46). These are the ones who entered the Kingdom in their natural bodies. And in fact, some of those original sheep may still be alive at the end of the thousand years. How? Because they’ve had access to the Water of Life and the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:1–2), which are for the healing and longevity of the nations. We’ll explore those later, but for now, it’s enough to recognize that long life and ongoing mortal generations are part of the Millennial structure.

So this rebellion isn’t a failure of Christ’s reign—it’s the final exposure of the human heart. Even in a world ruled by perfect righteousness, given enough time, sinful humanity will still choose its own way. And God allows this final rebellion to draw the line one last time before the new creation begins.

No Marriage for Resurrected Souls

Mark 12:25 “For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.” (NLT)

Matthew 22:30 “For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage but will be like the angels in heaven.” (NLT)

Luke 20:³⁴ Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth. ³⁵ But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. ³⁶ And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.” (NLT)

See how these parallel verses are discussing those who were resurrected? That doesn’t apply to the sheep, now does it. And who are the ones who are resurrected? The saints. 

So, in these verses, we are clearly reading about the saints and that the saints will no longer be married. Pretty clear? 

I used to think this was pretty cut-and-dried, myself. No married saints in the Millennium. Got it. But then I ran into Ezekiel’s prophecies about the Millennium. 

Here is Ezekiel sharing about the priests who are serving in the Millennial Temple. 

Ezekiel 44:²⁰ “They must neither shave their heads nor let their hair grow too long. Instead, they must trim it regularly. ²¹ The priests must not drink wine before entering the inner courtyard. ²² They may choose their wives only from among the virgins of Israel or the widows of the priests. They may not marry other widows or divorced women. ²³ They will teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is common, what is ceremonially clean and unclean.” (NLT) 

I have to be honest. With my mindset of only saints being in the Millennium, this blew my mind right out my ears! Why are there priests? We’ll get to that next. Why are there sacrifices? We’ll get to that in a minute. But why are they dying? Why are they getting married? And why are some people getting divorced? (???) 

Well, when the Sheep to Nations doctrine came into view with clarity, all of those problems quickly melted away forever. 

Obviously, the priests are not saints. Saints don’t marry. Saints don’t die. Saints don’t serve in the temple, dealing with sacrifices. Saints are done with religion. 

What this DOES show me, quite clearly now, is that the Zadok line of priests in the Millennium are not saints and they are actually of the nations—mortals who either had no faith in Christ at the beginning of the thousand years or their descendants. These priests are not saved by their faith in the cross of Christ for the atonement of their sins. It’s just that simple. 

Millennial Sacrifices

This one tripped me up for years. If Jesus is the final, perfect sacrifice for sins—and He is—then why in the world do we see sacrifices happening in the Millennium? Isn’t that not only unnecessary, but even borderline blasphemous?

Let’s look at the text.

Ezekiel 43:¹⁸ Then he said to me, “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: These will be the regulations for the burning of offerings and the sprinkling of blood when the altar is built. ¹⁹ At that time, the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok, who minister before me, are to be given a young bull for a sin offering, says the Sovereign Lord. ²⁰ You will take some of its blood and smear it on the four horns of the altar, the four corners of the upper ledge, and the curb that runs around that ledge. This will cleanse and make atonement for the altar. (NLT)

Wait—a sin offering? That’s not symbolic language. That’s a literal animal being sacrificed to make atonement in a physical temple during the reign of Christ.

Let me be clear: Jesus is the only way to eternal salvation. His blood paid for sins—past, present, and future. That’s not up for debate. So, if these sacrifices aren’t for eternal salvation, then what are they for?

They are for punishment, not salvation. Think of them as the equivalent of going to court and paying a fine. You’re not losing your citizenship—but you are being held accountable. The price, in this case, isn’t money or jail time—it’s flesh and blood. Not yours, thankfully, but that of a substitute animal. That’s exactly what these sacrifices are: real, enforceable penalties in a world where righteousness is taken seriously.

And make no mistake—these sacrifices are not for glorified saints. Saints don’t sin, and saints don’t need to offer anything. These are for mortals: the unglorified sheep and their offspring who made it through the judgment of the nations. These people are still subject to temptation, failure, and disobedience. That’s why they still need priests. That’s why there’s a temple. That’s why the iron rod is still in use. 

And here’s something that really struck me: These sacrifices may also be God’s response to all those people—throughout history and into the future—who insisted on coming to Him through religion instead of relationship. It’s as if He says, “You wanted ritual? You wanted sacrifice instead of grace? Fine. Here it is. And now it will last forever.” That system you clung to? It’s back—but it’s no longer optional, and it’s no longer symbolic. It’s law.

Even in the Old Testament, sacrifices were never the actual means of eternal salvation. They were always about obedience, covenant, and cleansing. They pointed to a deeper need and a better sacrifice—Christ. In the Millennium, they still do. But now they point backward to what He already accomplished. It’s not a new system—it’s a physical, inescapable reminder of what rejecting grace actually costs.

So yes, there are sacrifices in the Millennium. But they’re not about getting saved—they’re about dealing with sin in a world where the King reigns in righteousness and won’t tolerate rebellion. I hope this helps. 

Death in the Millennium

Let me begin with a confession: I don’t know exactly what happens to mortals in the Millennium when they die. Scripture doesn’t tell us plainly, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise. Do they go to hell? Straight to the Lake of Fire? Possibly—but whatever happens, it’s immediate, not eventual. What I can say is that glorified saints will not experience death ever again. But for mortals in the Millennial Kingdom, death is still a reality. They did not die before the Millennium began. They were not resurrected. They were not glorified. 

We already saw in Revelation 20:9 that at the end of the Millennium, fire comes down from heaven and consumes a vast number of rebels. That’s death—clear and final.

So yes, death still exists during the Millennium. Just like sacrifices. Just like sin, judgment, and even rebellion. It’s a time of peace, justice, and righteousness—but it’s still not the final state. It’s not yet the New Creation.

We simply let the Word speak. Death remains a fact of life in the Millennium—but not for the saints. We’ve already passed from death to life. Forever.

Children in the Millennium

By now, this probably doesn’t even need to be addressed, but I’ll skim over it anyway. Are there children in the Millennium? Yes. Will they grow up to be glorified saints? No. Will they live for hundreds of years? Most likely—maybe even indefinitely. How? Because they’ll have access to the Water of Life and the fruit from the Tree of Life to sustain their mortal flesh.

If they need healing, they can use the leaves of the Tree in very practical, physical ways. I tend to think of it naturally—like making a tea, or applying a poultice (a medicinal wrap) to speed recovery. Bruised knee, broken arm, concussion? Use a poultice to help it heal. Make a soup or steep the leaves into a tea. Drink life-giving water. And if something worse happens—say a fatal fall or major injury? A glorified saint can take care of that. God’s got it covered.

Need for Water and Tree of Life

And this brings us to these amazing elements of life: The Water of Life and the Tree of Life. I won’t belabor it much, I’ll just show who gets it and why. 

The Bible opens with the Tree of Life, and it ends with it too. That’s not just poetic—it’s intentional. In the first chapter of God’s great saga of humanity, Adam and Eve were blocked from the tree. Why? Because if they had eaten from it after the Fall, they would have lived forever in their sin. That would’ve created a world full of rebellious long-lived people—and made salvation impossible. So God drove them out of the garden and placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree (Genesis 3:22–24). That was mercy.

But in the final chapter, things come full circle. The Tree of Life returns—this time not as something forbidden, but as something freely offered. The descendants of Adam are welcomed back to it—not all of them glorified saints, but mortals too. This tree is not allegoric or symbolic; it’s real healing for real bodies. A physical reality.

The prophet Ezekiel saw this ahead of time. He described a river flowing from the Temple in Jerusalem, with fruit trees growing on either side:

Ezekiel 47:12 “Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.” (NLT)

That river, Ezekiel says, flows all the way to the Dead Sea and brings it back to life (Ezekiel 47:8–9). It’s a picture of total restoration—even the cursed places are healed.

John picks up that same imagery in Revelation about the New Earth:

Revelation 22:1–2 “Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit… The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.” (NLT)

These trees are not symbolic. They’re literal. Their fruit is real, and their leaves serve a real purpose: healing. Who needs healing in the New Creation? Not saints. Glorified people don’t get sick. But mortals—the sheep and their descendants—will still have mortal flesh. They won’t age like we do now, and they might never die at all, but their bodies will still need care and sustenance. And this is how God provides it.

The Water of Life and the Tree of Life are for life support in the ages to come. Not life support like a machine—but divine, Edenic nourishment to keep mortal humanity thriving forever. And yes, glorified saints can partake too—not because they need it, but because it’s freely given.

From Genesis to Revelation, this tree tells a story: what was lost through sin is restored through grace. The Tree of Life is not just part of Eden. It’s part of the Kingdom to come—offered not just to saints, but to nations. To mortals. To mankind.

Genesis 2:9 The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 3:22–24 “What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden… After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Ezekiel 47:8–9 Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows.”

Ezekiel 47:12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall… The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.

Revelation 2:7 “To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.”

Revelation 22:1–2 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life… The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

National Identities

One of the more beautiful and often-overlooked truths of the coming ages is that national identities are not erased in the Kingdom—they are celebrated. God doesn’t flatten the cultures of the world into one generic people. He restores each of them, purifies them, and then receives their unique glory as worship.

In both the Millennium and the New Earth, the nations are still present. The prophets saw it, and John affirms it clearly:

• “All the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there.” (Revelation 21:26–27, NLT)
• “All the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:4, NLT)
• “The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory.” (Revelation 21:24, NLT)
• “From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 66:23, NIV)

This tells us that ethnicities, cultures, languages, and styles are not discarded in the Kingdom—they are redeemed. And each will glorify God in its own beautiful, distinct way. The peoples of Earth will bring their best—art, style, honor, language, creativity, and cultural excellence—into the Holy City. Different accents, different customs, different garments, all gathered at the feet of the Lamb.

You can almost imagine the parades of color and celebration moving through the gates—bright garments, banners flying, dancing feet and lifted hands. Music and singing echo through the streets in every tongue. Every tribe, language, and nation finds its fulfillment—not in uniformity, but in harmony. The cultures of the world don’t compete; they complete. All of them expressing the glory of God in diverse, dazzling ways.

These are not empty rituals. This is joy-filled, living worship—the kind that comes from peoples who’ve been fully healed, fully known, and finally home.

The 144,000

And speaking of song and celebration, look at the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and 14. 

Revelation 14:¹ Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. ² And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of mighty ocean waves or the rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together.

³ This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. ⁴ They have kept themselves as pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb. ⁵ They have told no lies; they are without blame. (NLT)

These are not saints. They are mortals—144,000 men, twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, as listed in Revelation 7. They are faithful, pure, and dedicated. But they are not glorified. Their place is unique, and their role is distinct.

Revelation 7:¹ Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so they did not blow on the earth or the sea, or even on any tree. ² And I saw another angel coming up from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. And he shouted to those four angels, who had been given power to harm land and sea, ³ “Wait! Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of His servants.” (NLT)

If they were saints, they would already be marked and sealed by the Holy Spirit. The glorified don’t need a visible sign—spiritual beings like angels can clearly see who belongs to Christ by His Spirit. They can see Him upon them. But these 144,000 require something more outward and visible. They need to be distinguished during a time of global judgment. This seal is for the angels to know: these are God’s protected ones—do not touch.

And it’s pretty clear—these are very special mortals. They represent a holy remnant of Israel, the preeminent nation in the Kingdom of Christ. As the natural branches, Israel will be exalted once again during the Millennium and beyond. The 144,000 stand as a firstfruit offering from the tribes—pure, loyal, undefiled, and honored. They follow the Lamb with total devotion, and they sing a new song that no one else is allowed to learn. That’s quite a distinction.

So while the saints rule and reign in glorified bodies, and the nations bring their splendor into the Holy City, these 144,000 remain a visible testimony of faithful Israel—a nation reborn, redeemed, and restored under its rightful King.

Eternal Punishment and God’s Grace

Isaiah 65:20 describes a time on the new earth when “no longer will babies die when only a few days old… Only the cursed will die that young” (NLT). This reveals that even in the new creation, death will still occur—just not prematurely or for the righteous. This nuance challenges the popular view that death will be completely eradicated everywhere in the final state.

Revelation 21 and 22 give us vivid descriptions of the New Jerusalem, the holy city, with no tears, pain, or death (Revelation 21:4, 22:3). This promises a place of ultimate joy and perfect communion with God. However, the presence of gates and walls around the city suggests a boundary, implying not everyone will be inside. Outside the city are those labeled as “dogs, sorcerers, the sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:15). These individuals are part of the New Earth, yet excluded from the city’s holiness and fullness. And just because they are outside, does not mean they are walking around and living a regular life. They might be confined in fire.

Isaiah 66:24 describes a place where “their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched,” a vivid image of ongoing torment that is visible to those who dwell on the New Earth. This strongly suggests that the Lake of Fire, the final place of eternal punishment, exists in view of the new creation—not separate from it.

This division speaks volumes about God’s grace and justice. Grace is for those within the city walls, those saved and glorified. Life outside the walls will not be a nightmarish hellscape but a world still governed by God’s goodness—a utopia, in a sense. Prayers will still be answered, and God’s presence will still sustain life. But some, because of heinous crimes or rebellion, will dwell outside the city in a state of torment or hardship, visible to all. This includes murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, and other unrepentant sinners—those whom Paul explicitly excludes from the kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9–10).

While Scripture clearly reveals the existence of the Lake of Fire and its role as the final place of eternal punishment for the unrepentant, it does not explicitly state where it is located. Some passages, such as Isaiah 66:24 and Revelation 22:15, suggest it may be visible from the New Earth, implying proximity rather than separation into another realm. Taking these verses at face value challenges us to reconsider traditional views and wrestle with this difficult reality. If anyone has a better reconciliation or understanding, I’m genuinely open to hearing it.

Mercy for Some

She caresses her bulging torso, as if to stroke the growing child within. With tears running down her dust-covered face, she deeply fears for her child’s future. Her hijab has soaked up more tears and dirt than it can bear—unrecognizable from its usual pristine condition before the darkness came. She has spent the last seven years in a fog of despair, uncertainty, and fear-filled bunkers. Dumbfounded that she allowed herself to become pregnant in such times, her guilt rises in remembrance of the night she comforted her now-deceased husband—the moment that led to this condition.

She is defeated. Defeated by the enemy’s relentless push to form the world into his own twisted vision for humanity. Not at all what she was promised. And yet, she bought into it. Who didn’t?

And now, here she is—alive. Alone. Heavy with life in a world that seemed designed for death.

Then something shifts. She doesn’t know how to explain it. The wind doesn’t change. The sky doesn’t split open. But suddenly, everything feels… still.

And in the thick stillness, a whisper—not to her ears, but to her spirit. The atmosphere of the dirty bunker is suddenly filled with love, peace, and comfort.

“I see you,” says the kind and firm male voice in her head. “I see your son. I want him to live a long and happy life, in freedom and joy.”

The voice is not thunder. It doesn’t shake the ground. But it shakes her very soul.

“I want him to run in open fields. To laugh. To grow tall in peace. I am building My Kingdom now—and I want him in it.”

She rises to her knees, trembling. Not in fear—but in something else. Something forgotten. Something sacred. Hope.

And in her spirit, she knows: this is not her death—it is her rescue. She knows that the Creator is lovingly telling her that He wants her child to live in His kingdom, as a free person in a loving and peaceful world—the very thing that all mothers want for their children.

Her rescue is mercy. But not everyone receives it. Some are pulled into judgment, while some, like her and her child, are welcomed into peace. And that’s where we go next—The Lord’s Kingdom. 

Chapter 3 Discussion and Reflection

Questions: 

1. How many judgments are in the Millennium?
2. Who rebels in the Millennium?
   • Saints
   • Nations
3. Why are there sacrifices in the Millennium?
   • For salvation
   • For punishment
   • There aren’t any

Answers:

1 . Two—The separation of the sheep and goats at the beginning; the final judgment at the end.

2.  The Nations—Glorified saints are perfect and cannot sin against Jesus. 

3.  For punishment due to sin. It has nothing to do with salvation for sainthood. That time has passed by then. 

Reflection: What loose thread of doctrine explanation answered questions for you? 

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