by Rick Combs
The 4 gospels prepare Israel for the Tribulation, second coming, and the Millennial Reign. This is done through Jesus’ preaching, teaching, the display of miracles, and the forming of the 12 disciples. Following the event of the cross, the disciples now apostles prepare Israel to navigate through the events of Joel 2-3 which began at Pentecost. We have recorded epistles from Peter, John, and Jude which are instructions to Israel to get them through the Tribulation and prepare them for the Second Coming. 2 & 3 John are specific instructions concerning the Millennium.
During this time of history, there will be two people groups on the earth: the Jews and the Gentiles. Today, there are three people groups: the Jews, Gentiles, and the Body of Christ.
Before believing Israel can enter the Kingdom, they must first go through the purging and cleansing of Jacob’s Trouble which is the Great Tribulation. This will separate the wheat from the chaff (Matthew 3:12). Half the population will die (Revelation 6:8 & 9:15-18) and torments will occur to unbelievers for 5 months (Revelation 9:4-10) as a warning for the world not to follow the Antichrist.
The method of killing used by the Antichrist is beheading. Persecution will be severe.
Believing Israel goes to the lost sheep of the house of Israel preaching and doing the works of the Lord until Jesus’ second coming (Matthew 10:5-6, 23).
At the end of the seven-year tribulation period, Jesus comes back to the earth and destroys the Antichrist, the false prophet, and the multitude of their armies (Revelation 19:11-21). He will conquer them swiftly and completely as the sword of the Word of God comes out of His mouth.
Then, Satan is cast into a bottomless pit and chained (Revelation 20:2-3).
New Capitol: Jesus establishes Mount Zion on earth (Psalm 48:1-2).
“For the first 1,000 years, saved Israel rules the earth with Christ as a kingdom of priests to the Gentiles (Revelation 20:4-6). The Mosaic Law will be enforced as the law of the land. This will not be a democratic government. The Lord Jesus Christ will be the only High King.
New Government: Jesus brings believing Israel into their land (John 10:2-4; Isaiah 40:11; Psalm 23:6), where they rule as kings and priests with the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 5:10). The 12 apostles are over the 12 tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28), and David is a prince (Ezekiel 34:23-24) with the Lord Jesus Christ as King of kings (Revelation 17:14; 19:16). Believing Gentiles in Israel’s program are part of this (Matthew 25:31-46). The 12 tribes rule over the Gentiles (Deuteronomy 32:8; Revelation 2:26-27; Daniel 7:27) as kings and represent them to God as priests.
The earth will be divided into 12 regions: one apostle per region. In the millennial kingdom, Israel’s job is to be “a kingdom of priests” to all other nations to reconcile the earth back to God (Exodus 19: 5-6). As such, they go out to the nations.”
New Authority: Jesus rules the earth with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:8-12). Israel will go out to teach the law to the Gentiles (Isaiah 2:2-3; Matthew 23:2-3, 28:19-20). Unsaved Gentiles are under the Mosaic Law. Some are killed for not obeying the Lord (Isaiah 65:20) because some will be rebellious.
New Culture: As a kingdom of priests for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6; II Peter 3:8), Israel will take the Gentiles with them to go to Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:20-23). There, they learn the law (Isaiah 2:2-4), celebrate holy days (Isaiah 66:23), and see what happens to unbelievers who are rebellious (Isaiah 66:24) as a warning. Jesus rules with a “rod of iron”.
New Covenant: The earth will be “full of the knowledge of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:9) as the gentiles are learning the law. The Jews of Israel will be resurrected to their new bodies under the new covenant. Therefore, they will be given new hearts and a new spirit that will cause them to obey the Law perfectly (Jeremiah 31:31-33, Ezekiel 36:24-28). These are the ones who teach the nations the Law and the Covenant.
At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan is loosed from his prison and deceives many people, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. His purpose is to get as many gentiles as possible to follow him, rather than the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan’s army is quickly destroyed by fire from heaven (Revelation 20:7-10).
Final Judgment: The Great White Throne Judgment takes place in which all unbelievers from all dispensations are resurrected, judged according to their works, and thrown into the lake of fire to be tormented for eternity (Revelation 20:11-15), because “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Thus, the extreme importance for Israel to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom during their dispensation, and for the body of Christ to proclaim the gospel of Grace during our dispensation today.
Beginning in Revelation 21 we have the New Heaven and the New Earth descending out of heaven which begins the “ages to come”. This is the glorious dwelling of God with man.