The
Mediatorial Kingdom will be inaugurated by supernatural events
It
must be admitted that at this point that the details of this divine undertaking
are so numerous and packed so tightly into such a short space of time that it
is impossible to list them all and give adequate description. Therefore, some
of the outstanding features will be discussed. And I bring five to your
attention.
1. In
preparation for this event a throne is unveiled in heaven. Both Daniel the
prophet and the Apostle John make reference to this throne (Dan. 7:9-14; Rev.
4-5). The description is intended to point to arrangements in heaven for
administration in the earth. Seated upon the throne is the Ancient of Days
arrayed in garments of white like the light. Myriads of angelic servants are
present to discharge the decrees that issue from the throne. Round about the
throne were twenty-four thrones of lesser authority, but vitally associated
with the central throne. These are occupied by elders representing the risen and
glorified Church (Acts 20:17, 28). The sharp color of redness like the sardine
stone depicts penal judgment. And the lightning’s and thundering’s issuing from
the throne refers to the law of God from Mount Sinai now to be vindicated in
the earth.
There
are books present at this throne, and they are now opened. This can only mean
that a careful record has been kept of all the details relating to mankind. But
there is one book in the hands of Him who sits on the throne. It is a
seven-sealed book, indicating that it is an official document. Many believe
this book is the title deed to the earth (Jer. 32:6-15). Only the owner and
redeemer of the property therein described has the right and authority to tear
away the seals and take possession of the property. One is found who qualifies
for this function. It is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lamb of God, who
has prevailed to open the book. At that moment when He steps to the throne and
takes that book in firm grasp, the most dramatic moment of the future will be
experienced. From within the throne, and in ever-widening circles, until it
includes all creation, spontaneous praise breaks out. It is that moment when
the Lord of Heaven Who also is the King of the Earth takes to Himself His right
an authority to enter upon that reign in the earth which has been projected from
all eternity.
2. The
outstanding feature of this throne is the penal judgments that issue from it.
The King of the North with his allies, invading the land long since promised to
the children of Israel, will suffer complete annihilation on the mountains of
Israel at the hands of God (Ezek. 38:21 to 39:6). Israel, herself, will not escape.
For her rebellion persisting into the end of the age, there will come upon them
the time of Jacob's trouble (Jer. 30:7). The Gentile nations that have long
persisted in the sins of pride and false religion, and have vented their
disdain upon God's chosen people will at last be brought to judgment. The Lord
will come out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their
iniquity (Isa. 26:21). When at last a coalition of nations under the leadership
of Antichrist converge on the city of Jerusalem to deliver the final blow to
the existence of this nation, "Then
shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in
the day of battle" (Zech. 14:3).
This
will issue in the Battle of Armageddon. The heavens will cleave asunder, and
One riding a white charge will descend the meadows of heaven to the center of
conflict about the city of Jerusalem. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of
decision (Joel 3:14), perhaps to the number of four hundred million or more.
God has permitted the wrath of man to gather them here for the final
confrontation with heaven. In the valley of Jehoshaphat the Lord will sit to
judge all the nations (Joel 3:12). There He will treat the wine press of the
fierceness and wrath of almighty God. With one sweep of that sword from His
mouth, His almighty word, He shall smite the nations and their leader, and he
shall come to his end, and none shall help him (Rev. 19:11-21; Dan. 11:45).
3. But an
essential element of the throne is the promotion of God's redemptive program.
About that throne is a rainbow, the predominating color of which is green (Rev.
4:3). From its inception that rainbow speaks of promise and hope. It develops
as the light breaks through the raindrops and is broken up into its constituent
colors and thrown on the dark background of the clouds. This description is to
assure the readers of the Book of Revelation that there will be salvation in
the midst of judgment. In fact, the greatest period of salvation in the history
of the world will take place under the most adverse conditions.
In
the midst of the dramatic and sensational picture of judgment that prevails,
this feature is lost to view. But it must not be forgotten that the revelatory
and redemptive program of God proceeds unabated through this period and on to
the end of the Mediatorial Kingdom. Inasmuch as the Church has been translated
to heaven, and only lost people remain on earth, it has puzzled many who will
preach the Gospel. But God never outlines a program that He cannot implement.
So before the great and terrible day of
the Lord, He will send Elijah (Matt. 4:5-6). In fact, He will send two witnesses
for this period whose ministry will doubtless be centered among Jews, though
Gentiles too will get the benefit of overflow (Rev. 11:3-12). During the first
three and one-half years of the seventieth week of Daniel they will reach at
least one company of Jews to the number of 144,000 (Rev. 7:1-8), perhaps other
companies also.
This
special company will in some way become the missionaries to the far-flung
borders of the earth so that the gospel will be preached in every nation (Matt.
24:14; Mark 13:10) A vast company of saved Gentiles will suffer martyrdom (Rev.
7:9-17), but another company, perhaps even greater, will be spared. These are
the sheep that enter the Kingdom at its inauguration along with saved Jews
(Matt. 25:34). Thus God makes provision for the population of His kingdom at
its outset.
4. Important
to the ushering in of the kingdom are the physical changes that will take place
in its domain. From the beginning God has been fashioning the earth for the
eternal habitation of His Son. That which was once without form and void, that is, yet unable to habitat man, and
covered with water and darkness (Gen. 1:2), He molded in six days into shape
for the habitation of mankind (Isa. 45:18). During the millenniums since,
judgments have fallen upon the earth which made it necessary for God to
intervene in such a way as to provide those conditions answering to the needs
and comfort of mankind for his sojourn there. At this climactic point in this
history of the earth, he will do so again.
Universal
disturbances will run its course throughout the entire fabric of nature (Rev.
6:12-17), Great earthquakes will rearrange the surface of the earth (Rev. 6:12,
14; 8:5; 11:13, 19; 16:18-19). Physical phenomena of this kind will announce
the great day of Jehovah's wrath (Rev. 6:16-17). The bastions of tyranny will
be leveled to the earth (Rev. 11:13). The seat of Satanic government, as well
as the great cities of the earth, will be demolished (Rev. 16:18-19; 18:8-21).
The civilization of sinful and rebellious mankind will be removed from the
scene to make way for one designed to display the glory of God and minister to
the good of mankind.
It
appears that some unusual geological changes will occur in and about Jerusalem.
The Mount of Olives will cleave in the midst, creating a valley for waters to flow
east and west (Zech. 14:4-8). And Jerusalem itself may very well be raised up
as a plateau and enlarged so that there will be room for the building of the
millennial temple to accommodate all the nations of the world (Zech. 14:10-11).
The curse in many of its forms will be reduced, and in some cases, lifted.
5. The
actual arrival of the King will be marked by unmistakable supernatural
manifestation. Each one of the Synoptic Gospels give a rather elaborate
description of this event.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those
days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the
stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken: And
then the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in
the clouds of heaven with power and great glory . . . For as the lightning
cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the
coming of the Son of man be” (Matt. 24:29-30, 27).
It would appear that the blinding light
from the Lord will take a devastating toll on the hosts gathered about
Jerusalem.
“In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite
every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine
eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with
blindness . . . . And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite
alt the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume
away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume in their
holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth” (Zech. 12:4;
14:12).
The
final blow in the defeat of the Antichrist will be the effect of Christ's
coming on his position of authority over the nations. The apostle Paul declares
that this one "the Lord shall
consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of
his coming" (2 Thess. 2:8).
As
fire changes the shape and usefulness of material substance, the coming of
Christ will do to the Antichrist. By means of His almighty word, He will render
this villain helpless. The very effulgence that streams from the face of Christ
in volume and intensity will make abundantly clear to men under his control
that they have been the victims of the greatest deception ever practiced on
mankind. They will then desert him, thus rendering him inoperative, and none
shall help him (Dan. 11:45).
