Lesson 7: The Seventh Dispensation
Sing ye! Sing ye! In strings of holy joy, Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Eternal City of our God
The Kingdom Age
The seventh dispensation is a future event. It is considered the last dispensation. It occurs when the Son of God, Messiah Jesus, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, returns to Earth. At this time He will rule from Jerusalem over Israel and all of the nations for one thousand years of peace. What a time we, as believers, have to look forward to. For death is not our end. It is our beginning. And what a beginning our God has planned for us!
But, I must tell you that not all Christians believe in the Millennium. Some do not consider it an event at all, while others entertain the belief that it occurred in the distant past, or that we are living in that period right now. Let this not divide us. Belief in the Gospel, the death, burial, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only prerequisite for salvation. That is our key into eternity, not belief in the Millennium. However, that there will be a future Millennium is clearly defined in God's Word. It is, of course, accepted or rejected according to personal or denominationational exegesis (interpretation). One thing needs to be said in regards to this. Since the Millennium is a period of peace, with Jesus sitting on His throne in Jerusalem, it is quite obvious that we are not now living in that period. Nor has is passed, considering history's bout with war after war and pogram after pogram.
During the Millennium, God will administer the world and hand down His laws in a new and equitable way. Satan will have been bound in the Abyss for this time period (Revelation 20). A restoration of nature will begin and the life-span of humans living at that time will be increased. Earth will finally enjoy a time of peace. And finally, all of the promises that God made to the Jewish people through the apostles, the prophets, and the Messiah will literally and completely be fulfilled. My! What a time.
How do we know there will be a Millennium, a thousand year rule of Messiah on Earth? That is a question you should ask, because my personal belief in the Millennium should not be accepted without proof from God's Word. The Apostle John writes in Revelation:
"Then I saw an angel coming down from Heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the Abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years. When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the Earth" (Revelation 20).
And finally, since each dispensation ended in a judgment or destruction, after the Millennium, this universe is going to be destroyed. Then there will be the Day of Judgment. The Creator will make the New Heavens, the New Earth, and the New Jerusalem, where God and Messiah Yeshua will rule redeemed humanity forever, and forever, and forever throughout eternity. Blessed be God!
