<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

Post Falls SDA Church

Willard Santee

The Coming Millennium

Father, right now I just want to thank you for the privilege we have of studying your word.

As we reflect back on a subject that most of us here have heard before, I pray that through reflecting on these passages of Scripture and on these pictures that we'll see on the PowerPoint today, I pray that Father, we might recommit our lives anew to You, to determine by Your grace to be on Your side when the end of this old world comes.

This morning I'd like to share with you a topic called Revelations Mysterious 1000 Years unsealed.

As I mentioned in the prayer, many of us know about this subject, but there's so much to it, it's good for us just to refresh our mind a little bit and take a look at it once again.

If we were to go back to the 1920s, There was a young woman, I understand, by the name of Rose, from New York City, who was living what we would say today in the fast lane.

Her whole life seemed to revolve around parties and the nightlife.

And then at 21, Rose was struck down by encephalitis lethargica, or what we would call today a sleeping sickness.

After some time, she seemed to awake, but She was not able to move.

The doctor said that this was a catatonia which should go away in about a week, but it didn't.

In fact, 3 months passed by and then 3 years.

Rose remained fixed in this strange condition.

She seemed to be in a comatose state, not really awake and really not asleep.

She developed symptoms of Parkinson's disease and was eventually committed to an institution.

For 48 years, Rose either laid in bed or sat in a wheelchair.

Oliver Sacks administered a newly developed drug and Rose awakened from her dream world and entered the world of reality.

Over the next few days, her eyes continued to brighten and she actually felt bursts of energy.

To them, this was a great awakening and that's exactly what they called it, the awakening drug, if you please.

And a future awaited her, which was death.

But beloved, there's another awakening that's coming.

And it's so amazing that it's actually hard for us at times to believe it.

But the Scriptures describe this awakening.

Only this time, when we will awake, or those who have preceded us in death will awake, they and us will never, never go to sleep again.

Because this time, we will not be living in time, we will be living in eternity.

Jesus describes this incredible event in these words.

He says, Do not marvel at this, For the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation or damnation, as 1 of the other translations says and you can read that in John chapter 5 verses 28 and 29 how many resurrections did we just read about there did you catch it 2 right good for you what are they called Just to reflect on the resurrection of life and the resurrection of damnation or condemnation.

I think you know which 1 you want to be in, right?

The Bible doesn't tell us exactly when these 2 resurrections will take place, but it does tell us that there are specifically 2, and we want to focus on those today.

Every 1 of us, beloved, will either be in 1 of those 2 resurrections.

We'll either be in the resurrection of life, or in the resurrection of condemnation.

Now the first resurrection, which we call the resurrection of life, will take place when Jesus comes.

At Jesus coming, men and women, boys and girls who have been sleeping in Jesus, in other words, they have died, will be awakened.

They'll come forth from their graves never to go to sleep again.

And when they are resurrected, they'll come out of their tombs to see the glory of God and the very face of Jesus Himself, their personal Savior.

That'll be an incredible, incredible time.

Today, however, you and I might recognize a Christian woman as the 1 you see there on the screen.

A woman that's dying with incurable cancer.

Man has done everything he can to save her, but like in so many of our friends and acquaintances, she suffers and eventually dies.

According to God's Word, if this gal has given her life to the Lord Jesus Christ, has accepted Him as her personal Savior from sin, the next thing she will see is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And as a believer in Him, she will awaken as the children, I mentioned a moment ago, to see Him face to face.

For the Bible says the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God.

And the dead in Christ will what will rise first not second they will rise first you read that in first Thessalonians chapter 4 and verse 16 as Christians when we close our eyes in the sleep of death, the very next thing we will experience is our resurrection and the coming of Jesus.

In other words, what I'm saying, beloved, is death should not be feared by the Christian, any more than simply going to bed tonight.

And some of us are already looking forward to that event.

Some of us have had a long week and we're looking forward to a little rest with God tonight.

If our lives have been committed to Jesus, and we've trusted Him for our salvation, He will not forget where we have died.

He'll not forget where we've been buried or where we've been laid to rest, and I'm so appreciative of that.

Nor will Jesus forget those who have not died.

Notice how the Bible continues with these words.

Then we who are alive when Jesus comes and remain shall be caught up together with them who are resurrected from the grave and that first resurrection will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

In other words, the living saints, along with their friends who are now alive because they've just been resurrected, will be taken up into heaven together.

And thus the Bible says, we shall always be or forever be with the Lord.

1st Thessalonians 4 verse 17 when Jesus comes again there will only be 2 classes of people the saved and the lost that's right Those who are saved are taken to heaven and those who are destroyed are destroyed by the brightness of Jesus coming.

According to the Bible there is no second chance in spite of what some may be telling us today.

When Jesus comes beloved we're either on 1 side or the other.

There is no seven-year time period to get ready.

That's why the Bible tells us blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.

Can you imagine what that's going to be like?

That first resurrection when Jesus returns in the clouds of heaven.

Little babies will be placed in their mother's arms once again.

As I reflect on that, I think of my mother who lost her little daughter, the very first of her children at 3 years of age.

And I look at it, I don't know how God's going to work all this out, but now I'm older than she was, is, or was, or has been.

But when little Havilah comes forth from the grave because her mama believed in Jesus and her daddy believed in Jesus and they were teaching her to believe in Jesus, I believe that little Havila will be resurrected and placed back in my mama's arms again and I will be there by God's grace to see my little sister who's older than I am, but never had the privilege of growing up.

It'll just be a thrill, beloved, no matter how it happens and how God allows it to happen.

Age won't be a factor then, but I'll have my sister for the first time in my life by God's grace.

Husbands and wives separated by death will be reunited again.

Children and their friends will be together again, once again as buddies and as girlfriends.

Together they will all be caught up to meet God in the sky.

The resurrection of the righteous, or those who believe in Jesus, will be an incredible reunion beyond our wildest dreams.

So in review, when Jesus returns, there are only 2 classes.

1 group is resurrected from their graves and along with the living saints are given immortal bodies and the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

These are caught up together into the heavens to meet with Jesus and all of his angels.

The other group are those who cry out for the rocks and the mountains to follow them.

These all die in the glory of Jesus' second coming.

The second coming is the greatest hope you and I have, beloved, in our future.

It takes away all the fear regarding the future.

It takes away all of the anxiety and the stress and the worry that so many people have today because of economy, because of all the problems that they seem to be faced with.

As a Christian we have faith and trust in God.

Back to Menu

The Coming Millennium

Transcript

Sponsor

Recorded

Related

Christ and the Heavenly Sanctuary

04 The Day the Devil Dies

1h 4m

We Believe

We Believe - Who is God? Part 1

52m

Don’t Waste Eternity

50m

Unlock Revelation

3. The War Behind All Wars

1h

Unlocking the Mysteries of the Sanctuary

20 The Judgment Continued Phase 2

50m

Burying the Canoe

56m

Which Way, America?

18 Modern-Day Prophets

58m

The DNA of a Disciple

41m

Jesus on Prophecy

09 Revelation’s 1,000 Years and Hell

1h 3m

Unlocking the Mysteries of the Sanctuary

21 The Final Phase of the Judgment

49m

Studies in the Book of Revelation

Revelation 16

46m

Restoration 2006: Prepare Me

Virtuous Valentine: The Love of Your Life

36m

Sound Doctrine