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 5: The Millennial Life

A New Beginning

The first order of business is to decide who will remain and who must go. Jesus has all of the survivors of the apocalypse brought to Him in the land of Israel. 

All are clothed, fed, and healed of their injuries, if needed. Then they are assembled to face judgment by Jesus. This is the separation of the sheep and goats. He divides them, placing some on His right and some on His left.

Those on His right are permitted to stay. Those on His left are sent away. None of them knew what to expect before His decisions were made. Nearly all are surprised at their fate. But His judgment is fair. His ruling is just. 

The True “Post-Apocalyptic” World

All these years since writers and film makers have created this fictional genre, called “Post Apocalyptic”, they have had it all wrong. The true reality of life after the Great Tribulation and God’s Wrath will be heaven on Earth. Not a fictional form of Utopia, but a world of peace, family love, and no need for hope. Not that hope dies, but that it has been fulfilled—realized by all.

No more bloodshed. No more terror from unseen forces of evil. No more tyranny or oppression. 

God will be known, fully, so that faith is no longer a need. Religion will not be a matter of belief, but governance in a true theocracy. Jesus on the throne, ruling in righteousness, not with deceit or greed. And He will not rule from on high, where He is unseen. He will be in His temple in Jerusalem, here on the same earth we have now.

Construction Begins

Artisans, skilled in construction and brought from the four corners of the planet (and just bestowed pardon), are given instructions for how His city is to be laid out and built up. His new temple, larger than all the others combined, is also constructed on Jerusalem’s soil, with a new plateau formed to support it. 

All of Israel is laid out as foretold by His prophet, Ezekiel son of Buzi, a priest. He was beside the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians, when he felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him.

Land Division

Unfortunately for us, the measurements he uses for the temple and land are based solely on the human body, which is not uniform from man to man. His measure is based on a cubit, the length from one’s elbow to the tip of the longest finger. But he adds to it the breadth of a hand, which is from left to right as one looks at it with palm toward his face and fingers pointing up. 

A cubit on my own arm would be 18.5 inches. And the breadth of my own palm is 3.5 inches. So if we were to use Ezekiel’s cubit using my body, it would measure 22 inches in all. Some call this a “long cubit” (when adding the palm’s width to it).

For the sake of mapping simplicity, I will err on the side of grandeur and use a cubit of 2 feet (24 inches). This choice slightly enlarges the conventional scale but allows for clarity and ease of use while avoiding underestimation. Plus, most kings (upon whose measurements the cubit was usually based) were taller than average, and I’m quite average in size. 

The actual measurement Ezekiel received—defined only as “a cubit and a handbreadth” (Ezekiel 40:5)—is not anchored to any surviving physical standard. No known biblical or ancient Near Eastern cubit (such as the common 18”, the Egyptian 20.6”, or the Babylonian 19.8”) can be definitively tied to Ezekiel’s measurements by archaeology, history, or scripture. In short, not one conventional cubit can be proven—not one. Each convention used today to describe Ezekiel’s cubit is just as made up as my own. So don’t be too hard on me for making mine easy to work with. 

It’s important to note that Ezekiel’s land divisions differ significantly from all other biblical arrangements. Unlike the irregular tribal allotments found in Joshua or the administrative districts of the monarchy, Ezekiel’s layout presents parallel, horizontal bands assigned by tribe in a new configuration—distinct in geometry, tribe positioning, and temple-centric structure. This reflects a future, divine reordering under Messiah’s rule, not a return to any past system. So do not confuse my map shown below with other maps of other divisions. This millennial division from Ezekiel is its own and is different from the rest given elsewhere.

This map is intended for illustrative purposes only. It is not a cartographical blueprint, nor does it represent a precise measurement system that could be used in the field. Jesus will not ask where Gary is to get the true layout—even though I’ll be there. Then again, maybe He’ll decide He likes my scale, since it’s a bit bigger and a bit easier for the construction crews. (Just kidding.) Or maybe it will be based on the arm that was pierced for our transgressions—Jesus is 5’11”. (?)

With all of that disclosed, I still think that the map shown below is more accurate than just about anything found on the internet today (at least, that I have been able to find). Most are off wildly, with just a few being fairly close to the biblical description in Ezekiel. At least I have made a concerted effort to be true to Ezekiel’s visions as given, even if exact precision is not really possible for me with the tools at my disposal. 

With all of that in mind, take a look at how he describes the division of Israel in the Millennium.  I’ll start with a list of the tribes and their position from North down.

Here is a list of the land portions as given by Ezekiel:

1	Dan	Northernmost border
2	Asher
3	Naphtali
4	Manasseh	Joseph’s son
5	Ephraim	Joseph’s other son
6	Reuben
7	Judah	Just north of the holy portion
🕊️	Holy Portion	Includes the temple, city, Levites, and priests
8	Benjamin	Just south of holy portion
9	Simeon
10	Issachar
11	Zebulun
12	Gad	Southernmost border

The nation spans west to east from the Mediterranean Sea (called “the Great Sea”) to the eastern bank of the Jordan River (Ezekiel 47:13-21). 

The temple is centered on Jesus’ throne, which is placed on the historic place called Mount Zion, the City of David. (See Psalms 2:6, 9:11, 132:13-14, Isaiah 8:18, Joel 3:17, and Micah 4:7.) So on the map, I centered it on Zion and went outward, using Ezekiel’s vague measurements. 

The land measures about 123 miles from north to south (61.5 to the north or the south). Each portion shown is about 9.47 miles wide, including the Holy Portion in the middle. This is where His throne will sit in His new temple.

This map shows the exact location of Zion now. It’s where Herod’s Temple stood, across from the Mount of Olives and over Gihon Spring. Could the Gihon be the future source of the Water of Life? Only time will tell. The image below is showing the temple during Jesus’ first ministry (1st Advent).

The Millennial Temple

The temple will be about 6,000 feet per side (1.136 miles, 1828.8 meters), for an area of roughly 36 million square feet (1.29 sq mi, or about 3,344,509.44 sq meters). That’s one square mile. A nice size for a campus where people will gather in large numbers. 

This is much larger than the temple that Jesus and His disciples walked through (above). That was Herod’s temple (the second one made). The first (Solomon’s) was even smaller. 

Solomon’s Temple was perhaps 1 million sq. feet.

Herod’s was perhaps 2,689,600 sq. feet. 

The third temple has yet to be built and destroyed. It will not be standing when the Millennial temple, the fourth, is built. The third temple is just for show and a stage for End Times drama. God will not have His presence in it. He is in His saints now and forevermore. But the Millennial Temple will have Jesus in it. 

Here is a comparison of the sizes of the various temples and the tabernacle. This image is roughly to scale. 

Worship and Fellowship

I see the Millennial Temple as a place of fellowship and worship for the regular folks (nations). All around the outer court’s exterior walls (on the interior) are rooms for eating and gathering. Each of the four corners of the outer court has a kitchen for preparing festive meals. The rooms between the kitchens and the gates (on three sides) are for gathering and feasting. 

Angelic Security

Each of the six gates will be guarded by angels. They post themselves inside each gate on a raised curb for a position of elevated view to observe all who pass through. No one goes in or out without their knowledge and consent. 

Terraforming of the Earth

Before the temple is constructed, the land must be prepared for it. A large plateau will be built up so that the temple will sit above the surrounding terrain. (See Isaiah 2:2, Zechariah 14:10, Psalm 68:16, Ezekiel 20:40.) If you check the provided references, you will see that it is often referred to as a “mountain”. 

Speaking of mountains, during God’s wrath effected by Jesus, many mountains will fall and flatten out. Islands, which are mountains surrounded by water, will also sink. (See Revelation 6:14, Revelation 16:20, Micah 1:3–4, Nahum 1:5, Isaiah 40:4.) This is probably accomplished when the Mount of Olives is ripped in two on the 1,290^th day after the Great Tribulation begins, which is 30 days into God’s wrath. But this timing is not explicitly stated anywhere. It just seems very probable (as covered earlier) . 

Also probable is the possibility of Christ cleansing the earth. I see deserts being turned into forests, no more pollution or radiation, and no more earthquakes occurring. Only He can steady the tectonic plates of Earth.

Millennial Rule

In reading Revelation 20, we see that the devil is imprisoned to give relief to all mortals for a thousand years. But he will be released at the end of the Millennium. 

Revelation 20:¹ Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. ² He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. ³ The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.

⁴ Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (NLT)

As you just read, the saints are sitting on thrones and judging the nations during this period. This is one of those passages that shows how there will be those who are ruled (nations) and those who rule them (saints). And as we continue to read chapter 20, we see that the ones ruling are resurrected, which includes glorification.

Revelation 20: ⁵ This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) ⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years. (NLT) 

By “first resurrection”, John means the one before the Millennium begins (supported by Paul in 1 Thess. 4). And the second resurrection happens just before the final judgment at the end of the Millennium (keep reading). See how John puts this understanding forth for us:

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) 

Did you notice how death and the grave (hades) gave up their dead? These are souls kept in hell until this time. Verse 5 said that these are “the rest of the dead” that come back to life after the thousand years have ended. 

Notice that they are all judged according to what they have done (not by their faith or lack of it). This is the very same standard used in the first judgment at the start of the Millennium, called the separation of the Sheep and Goats. No one is judged who believes in Jesus. Clearly, all of these people are unbelievers. 

So to put this all together, we see that the first resurrection, that Paul teaches, occurs when Christ returns. Then Satan is imprisoned at the beginning of the Millennium and released at the end. Then, after the last rebellion, all who are not glorified are judged at the Final Judgment (the Bema Seat, or White Throne Judgment). 

Those who are resurrected at the return of Jesus are the saints, glorified. Those who are resurrected at the end are mortals who will remain mortal, forever. 

But notice and remember, there are mortals in the Millennium who are ruled by the glorified saints. It is these mortals who rebel after Satan is released. They are the offspring of the “Sheep” who were spared a thousand years before. 

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.

¹⁰ Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (NLT) 

See how the “beast”, antichrist, is already in the Lake of Fire before Satan? This is told in Revelation 19.

Revelation 19:¹⁹ Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. ([This is the battle of Armageddon]) ²⁰ And the beast ([antichrist]) was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. ²¹ Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.

When John says that the “beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake”, he means that they were resurrected—awake and aware of what’s happening and why. They were definitely killed at the Jezreel Valley, called Jehoshaphat by Joel (Joel 3) during the battle of Armageddon (See Ezekiel 39:4 “You and your army and your allies will all die on the mountains. I will feed you to the vultures and wild animals.” Also see 2 Thessalonians 2:8 “Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and destroy him by the splendor of His coming.” ). So don’t get confused by John saying they were “alive”. Like all dead people, they were fully aware of what was happening to them because they were raised for the moment. As you should know, the soul lives on when the body dies. And the soul has awareness and continuity. 

Two Forms of Humanity

One of the most interesting things about this time of Earth’s existence is how all of Adam’s children will be divided into two groups: mortal and immortal. 

As already discussed, the immortals are the saints who have been glorified before the Millennium begins. And the mortals are the survivors of the apocalypse and their progeny. But what does this look like? What will be the roles of both groups? It’s time to look into this. If you have never been taught this (quite likely), then this may seem strange to you. But it is our future reality. 

Saints

By now you have seen where the saints come from (humanity), and when they are made glorious (when Jesus returns). But what are they going to be doing on this planet while it is ruled by their Maker? Well, they will be ruling with Him. They will share His throne.

Revelation 3:²⁰ “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. ²¹ Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.”

This is far more than just “lap time”, like a child on daddy’s knee. This is sharing His authority to rule over the Earth. 

When we read the account of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, we read that He is looking forward to this time and how He will share His glory with His believers. And while He shares it in this age, He will see that we will take part in the fullness of His glory when glorified. That’s what glorified means. 

John 17:²² “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. ²³ I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. ²⁴ Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!” (NLT) 

We will do more than just see His glory—we will have it for our own as well. 

True Theocracy

This government, ruled by Christ and His glorified saints will be the world’s first and only true theocracy. A theocracy is a government ruled by divine beings—no church and state separation. 

These who share His throne are there by faith in Him, refined and proven before His millennial rule began. Once the positions are filled, no one else will join in their number. 

They will rule the nations (the mortals) with truth and mercy and perfect power. 

Psalm 89:¹⁴ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.

His throne is the throne of the saints. Will that not be wonderful for those who are ruled? A government that is true and gives pure justice, without corruption. How wonderful for those under this rule!

Humanity 2.0

This state of humanity who is ruling over the rest will be unlike we are now. Corruption will be impossible. 

I call this elevated state of mankind “humanity 2.0”, like an upgrade from the Manufacturer. Right now, we are all in humanity 1.0—mortal, fallen, corrupt. But glorification is the upgrade we have all been desiring, whether we have known what to call it or not. 

This upgrade is no small improvement. Yes, the glitches are all taken away. All the bad code is corrected. But the upgrade will include some major improvements in abilities and essence. We will be transformed into something never seen before (except in Jesus for a brief time before He left this physical realm). Yes, in the heavenly realm they have seen this kind of human, sitting on God’s glorious throne. But here on earth, for the rest of us, it is something entirely new. 

Imagine first responders and judges who don’t need to discover the truth, because they automatically know it fully (imputed knowledge in all things). Imagine bodies that cannot be destroyed by anything physical or spiritual (invincibility). Imagine the ability to move mountains (telekinesis). Imagine the ability to communicate without language in any form (telepathy). Imagine the ability to go anywhere with just a thought—by anywhere, I mean anywhere (teleportation). 

All of these abilities were either discussed by or modeled by Jesus when He was here before. Like showing up in a locked room. And don’t forget His promise that His followers will do the same things that He did—and even greater things. 

John 14:¹² “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” (NLT)

And if we have only now realized a few of these abilities in small measure, when we share in His nature, it will be on a whole new level. And what were His works? Don’t forget about the other amazing abilities:

• Speaking languages unknown to us
• Commanding demons
• Raising the dead
• Healing the sick
• Knowledge
• Prophecy

These are probably not all. They are just what has been shared in His Word to us. 

Yes, Humanity 2.0 will be a truly blessed condition to be in. I personally can’t wait. 

The Nations

Unfortunately, not all of humanity will experience this upgrade. There will be those who could not find the faith needed for that blessing. And it only comes through faith, not by deeds (works). 

But now let’s look at the lives of those who missed the opportunity for that higher plane. 

In Isaiah 65, we see what it will be like for them long after the Millennium is over. But since that time of a thousand years is like a “dress rehearsal” for the New Earth, we can still know what to expect life to be like in the that age. 

Isaiah 65:²⁰ “No longer will babies die when only a few days old.
    No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life.
No longer will people be considered old at one hundred!
    Only the cursed will die that young!
²¹ In those days people will live in the houses they build
    and eat the fruit of their own vineyards.
²² Unlike the past, invaders will not take their houses
    and confiscate their vineyards.
For my people will live as long as trees,
    and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains.
²³ They will not work in vain,
    and their children will not be doomed to misfortune.
For they are people blessed by the Lord,
    and their children, too, will be blessed.
²⁴ I will answer them before they even call to me.
    While they are still talking about their needs,
    I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (NLT) 

And these people are just as we are now—mortal.

Only those who allow corruption to rule them will die. They will not die young, so that they have plenty of time to repent (turn from their wicked thoughts and ways). They will be eating from the Tree of Life and drinking the Water of Life, which keeps their bodies fit and healthy and strong. This means that some will live indefinitely. 

No longer will nation fight against nation. War, hunger, strife, rampant crime, and pestilence will never be seen again. This is what we call “heaven”. And it will be on this Earth for as long as it lasts (until the final judgment). 

All forms of incarceration will likely be a thing of the past. Instead of being confined to a prison cell, those who break the law will be found out instantly and will have to immediately pay for their crimes. This allows for life to never be put on hold—which would not be good for the soul. No, this kind of justice is swift and honorable and humane—a very good way to live. 

The Final Rebellion

One aspect of the Millennium that absolutely helped me to understand this new doctrine is the rebellion shown in the book of Revelation. 

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. (NLT) 

When I read this before, thinking at the time that all people in the Millennium would be glorified, I knew that something was off in that mindset. I wondered, how could a perfect saint rebel against our Lord? It made no sense to me. So this was very important in the formation of this doctrine. 

Gog and Magog

Some Bible commentators say that this is the same Gog and Magog as in Ezekiel. Well, that does not hold water. There are several reasons why.

1. Gog is a human being. He is killed at the battle of Armageddon. This is shown clearly in many scriptures. 
2. Magog is a certain place. It is now called the Caucasus—a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. 
3. Since Gog is human, and mankind only gets one life to live, the Bible forbids him being at both Armageddon and millennial Israel. 
4. It is completely logical and in good literary style to use the previous massive rebellion as a type for the final rebellion. An analogy. 

Therefore, when John mentions Gog and Magog, it is just a symbolic harkening back to that previous battle to illustrate the magnitude and severity of it. That’s all. Any other explanation is, to me, nonsensical. 

Why Allow It?

While I’m not privy to God’s inner motives, I can only suggest a guess. 

When we look at the entirety of this earthly experience of living as humans, I see that we have been under a kind of test. The test is to see if we will accept God or reject God. Will we obey or disobey? Will we follow or go another way.

God created all people with their own will. We all have the ability to love or hate. We all get to choose our position, our attitude, our desires and worldview. This is an essential element to our essence. Without it, our “love” or “submission” would be as meaningless as that of a robot, controlled by its programming. 

So why allow this satanic influence at the end of a Utopian life on a world ruled directly by God? I think it is to have one final weeding out of those who need to be dismissed. 

When you think about it, before this time, man has always had the devil in his ear (from the very beginning). So the question needs to be answered as to how will man react without the influence of Satan. 

And whatever you may say about God’s methods, you must admit that He always covers the options. He always gives us enough rope to hang ourselves. He always makes it impossible for anyone to make excuses. This last rebellion will check all of the necessary boxes at the final judgment. 

It’s that final removal of the dross that floats to the top of the crucible, so to speak.

Effect on Animals

Another interesting aspect of the Millennium is how animals will no longer be killing, maiming, and devouring each other. And those who say that we are already in the millennial period should take note of this, since it is obviously not the current situation. 

As we saw a few pages back, Isaiah tells us that, “The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat hay like a cow.” If you have seen this throughout the world as the status quo, without exception, then you might have an argument that we are in a different age than our current age. But since it is definitely not happening, we can safely say that we are still in the age before the Millennium. 

Here is all of Isaiah chapter 11 for context. It is definitely in the Millennium.

Isaiah 11:¹ Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
    yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
² And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
³ He will delight in obeying the Lord.
    He will not judge by appearance
    nor make a decision based on hearsay.
⁴ He will give justice to the poor
    and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
    and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
⁵ He will wear righteousness like a belt
    and truth like an undergarment.

⁶ In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;
    the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,
    and a little child will lead them all.
⁷ The cow will graze near the bear.
    The cub and the calf will lie down together.
    The lion will eat hay like a cow.
⁸ The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
    Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
⁹ Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,
    for as the waters fill the sea,
    so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.

¹⁰ In that day the heir to David’s throne
    will be a banner of salvation to all the world.
The nations will rally to him,
    and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.
¹¹ In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time
    to bring back the remnant of his people—
those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt;
    in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam;
    in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands.
¹² He will raise a flag among the nations
    and assemble the exiles of Israel.
He will gather the scattered people of Judah
    from the ends of the earth.

¹³ Then at last the jealousy between Israel and Judah will end.
    They will not be rivals anymore.
¹⁴ They will join forces to swoop down on Philistia to the west.
    Together they will attack and plunder the nations to the east.
They will occupy the lands of Edom and Moab,
    and Ammon will obey them.
¹⁵ The Lord will make a dry path through the gulf of the Red Sea.
    He will wave his hand over the Euphrates River,
sending a mighty wind to divide it into seven streams
    so it can easily be crossed on foot.
¹⁶ He will make a highway for the remnant of his people,
    the remnant coming from Assyria,
just as he did for Israel long ago
    when they returned from Egypt. (NLT)

As you just read, all animals will live in harmony with each other and mankind. We know that it is in the millennial reign of Christ because that is when He brings all Jews to Israel to live together. 

God’s Actions—Not Man’s

Those who follow and teach the doctrine called “Post Millennialism” say that it is up to people to make the world a better place, and then (only then) Jesus will return to Earth. This is not supported by the Bible at all. In fact, all teaching from the Bible shows that it is God’s doing to restore the planet, not ours. 

I know that it all sounds very nice and gives people a goal to work for and all that. But no matter how inspirational it might be for some, no matter how nice of a sentiment it may put forth, it is not biblical at all. And so it should be rejected by the Church. 

In fact, the Church should indeed strive for making the world a better place to live in. We should work very hard toward peace and brotherly love. But let’s do so with the right mindset that is not caught up in false doctrine. 

Let us trust in Christ to do exactly what He promised, when and how and why He has said. Let His words and heart be true to guide our own. 

The Final Judgment

Once the last rebellion is squashed, the Lord will sit on His great white throne, called the Bema Seat. This is the last event of His Millennial reign. 

The thousand years have come to an end and the next age is about to begin. But first He must again separate the people into two groups: those whose names are in the Book of Life, and those who are destined for destruction. 

For this to happen, He must first raise the dead from the grave (sheol, or hades). This includes those who were kept in the confines of hell. 

These are “the rest of the dead”, who come to life in Revelation 20:5. They are brought before the Lamb to be judged for everything they did in their lives. 

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. (NLT)

Yes, heaven and Earth disappear. This broken planet will be no more after the Millennium. Neither will hell or even heaven continue to exist. Both will be gone forever.

Revelation 20:¹² 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. (NLT)

These standing before the throne for judgment are not saints. There is no judgment for those who believe (John 3:18).  So, in my mind, this is not even up for debate.

But what I want to know is if some who have been tormented by their life of sin and shame have repented sufficiently to be allowed to live in the New Earth that is about to be revealed. Now, maybe they were not in hell, maybe there was a different place for them in the spirit realm to await this time. I don’t know. 

But I do have a hope that some who are judged in this final judgment will be allowed to live on, under the rule of Him Who sits on the throne. They will not be saints, that number is filled. But maybe they will live as mortals, taking in the fruit from the Tree of Life and the Water of Life. These elements will sustain their mortal flesh indefinitely, as long as they do not allow their hearts to grow cold and their rebellion to rule them. If not, then these would not be said to be “of life”. 

And even if they retain their sin nature, they will be subjected to the iron-scepter rule of Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:²⁵ For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. ²⁶ And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) ²⁸ Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere. (NLT)

And so, when we step into the New Earth, this is how it will be. Whether glorified saints, faithful angels, or subdued human beings, all creation will be under His firm command. 

The Lake of Fire

I see much confusion about the Lake of Fire, or Lake of Burning Sulfur. It is not like hell. Hell has been eliminated from the creation (Revelation 20). It is an eternal condition, where the worm (or maggot) does not die and the fire is never quenched (Mark 9:48). 

This is called “hell” in some translations, but the actual word used by Jesus is “Gehenna”, which is not the same as the temporary hell of our age and the next. It is only for the final age, the eternal one. Gehenna is forever, hell is not. 

But where is Gehenna? 

To answer this question, we go to the very passage that Jesus was quoting when He said this in Mark 9:48—Isaiah 66:24.

Isaiah 66:²² “As surely as my new heavens and earth will remain,
    so will you always be my people,
with a name that will never disappear,”
    says the Lord.
²³ “All humanity will come to worship me
    from week to week
    and from month to month.
²⁴ And as they go out, they will see
    the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against me.
For the worms that devour them will never die,
    and the fire that burns them will never go out.
All who pass by
    will view them with utter horror.” (NLT)

This passage says to me that the place called Gehenna will be visible to those who are on the New Earth. The Jewish nation will continue to exist on this New Earth. The  New Jerusalem will exist on the New Earth. And Gehenna will exist on the New Earth.

So, where is the Lake of Burning Fire? It would seem to be on the New Earth, near the New Jerusalem, where people who have left the city can see those who are in torment there. Likely as a deterrent to ever go against the Mighty Lord and His Law. 

I know, this is not what you’ve been told your whole life in whatever church you attend. Me either. But when we let the Word of God speak, this is what we hear.

For whatever reason or chain of events, the mainstream understanding of man has taken the clear teaching of God and contorted it into something else. The simple teachings have been made complicated and the more detailed and even difficult ones have been over simplified. 

Most of the world has in their heads a binary, overly pixelated view of “heaven and hell”. They seem to see the eternal as either black or white, without any clue of the grey in between.  But when we take the full counsel of God as given in His Holy Word, we have the opportunity to see the whole picture. We can see that there are two kinds of people living in the eternal realm—not that they are all eternal, but that the realm is eternal. And as you have seen by now in this presentation, the two kinds of humanity are mortal and immortal. This goes on and on, after the Millennium, into the New Earth. 

Remember what we saw in Isaiah 65—only the cursed will die at the “young” age of 100. And here in Isaiah 66, we learn that those cursed ones will be visible to the others as they suffer in their torment. 

This is not easy to understand, I admit. It took me years to wrap my own head around it. But that is only because my head was already filled with false notions that are either overly simplistic or convoluted by the musings of men. But now, in the last days, the Lord is beginning to open our minds to the reality that we have not seen up until this time.   

When we read that there will be no more tears in the new creation, called “heaven”, we should pay attention to exactly where the tears never fall. As I search the scriptures and read this, I see that it is in the New Jerusalem, specifically, where the tears do not fall. Not, necessarily in the rest of the New Earth. 

When we look at the Tabernacle and the four Temples on this planet, we see the Holy of Holies, a special place where the Lord dwells. 

It is my belief that this Holy of Holies is realized in the New Jerusalem. In all of the Temples, the Holy of Holies is shaped in the form of a cube. It is as tall as it is square. Well, as we are about to see, this is the same shape of the New Jerusalem. And if the New Jerusalem is the final Holy of Holies, then it makes perfect sense that it will have no sorrow or pain. 

Matthew 5:¹⁸ I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 

Chapter 5 Discussion and Reflection

Questions:

1. What will the true post-apocalyptic world be like?
   • Horrific
   • Best time on Earth
2. Who is Gog?
   • A man or a symbol
   • Antichrist or someone else
3. What’s the difference between the Lake of Fire and hell? 
   • Which is eternal 
   • Which is temporary

Answers: 

1. Best time on Earth
2. A man; the antichrist
3. The Lake of Fire is eternal; hell is not

Reflection: Can a Muslim, Jew, or Hindu who does not believe in Jesus be in the Eternal Kingdom of God, if they are good to God’s people?  (See Matthew 25)

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