(This Sermon was preached at Trinity Bible Church on March 9, 2003. This sermon series is based upon a request to preach on Christ in the Old Testament. All Scripture references used in this sermon are based upon the NASB®, unless otherwise stated)
| This Sermon was written and submitted by: Joseph M. Willmouth, Pastor of Trinity Bible Church in Biloxi, Mississippi 39532. This contributed article is copyright protected, and the sole property of the contributing author. It may be freely copied and used provided the above credits are included. Document expiration: indefinite. |
Introduction: John Adams wrote, "Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other" (Stories of Preachers and Teachers). Throughout the history of man, many governments and kingdoms have attempted to bring peace and prosperity to their people. Some have succeeded somewhat, but most have failed. Communism is an example of how in idea it would bring utopia to mankind, but in practice it failed. Why has man failed to bring peace and prosperity to the world? The answer is quite simple, sin. An imperfect mankind can never bring about a perfect society. No matter how hard they try, it will fail because an imperfection can never produce perfection. Only a perfect Creator can do what an imperfect creation cannot do, and this is to bring about what the politicians can only dream about. When Christ returns to this earth to establish His kingdom, then will the world find true peace and prosperity that has alluded them throughout their history. Let's take a look at the daily life will be like in the Messiah's Kingdom.
Transition: Daily life in the Messiah's kingdom will be. . .
I. A Time Of Prosperity And Safety.
1. By God's blessings.
A. A time of abundant blessings.Transition: Not only will the Messiah bring blessings to His kingdom, but all their needs will be met. . .1) Isaiah 65:23a, "They shall not labor in vain. . ."B. A time of abundant prosperity.2) Ezekiel 34:25b, ". . .And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing."
1) Joel 2:21-27, "Do not fear, O land, rejoice and be glad, For the LORD has done great things. Do not fear, beasts of the field, For the pastures of the wilderness have turned green, For the tree has borne its fruit, The fig tree and the vine have yielded in full. So rejoice, O sons of Zion, And be glad in the LORD your God; For He has given you the early rain for your vindication. And He has poured down for you the rain, The early and latter rain as before. And the threshing floors will be full of grain, And the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil. Then I will make up to you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you. And you shall have plenty to eat and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; Then My people will never be put to shame. Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, And that I am the LORD your God And there is no other; And My people will never be put to shame."2) Amos 9:13-14, "'Behold, days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'When the plowman will overtake the reaper And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; When the mountains will drip sweet wine, And all the hills will be dissolved. Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, And they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them, They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit.'"
3) Ezekiel 34:26- 27, "And I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing. Also the tree of the field will yield its fruit, and the earth will yield its increase, and they will be secure on their land. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and have delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them."
2. By God's provision.
A. Poverty will be eliminated.Application: As we read these passages, we are reminded how fragile our present economy is, and how no matter how good the plans or intentions of man are, they cannot guarantee Jobs for all, and put an end to the homelessness. Even in the richest country in the world, America, we fall short of being able to do this. Politicians like to talk about being the answer to all of society's ill's, but in reality they never do. History is full of kingdoms who have prospered, but have failed. When the King of Kings, and Lord of Lord's return to this earth to rule and reign, He will bring prosperity and safety to the entire earth for the first time since the fall of man. There will be "food in every pot," a house for every family, and a job for every worker. Does this sound like a place that you would like to live? You can! Only a select few will enter the Messiah's kingdom, there will be no nonbelievers who will enter into the Millennial Kingdom when it begins - they will only face God's judgement.- Isaiah 65:21, "And they shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall also plant vineyards and eat their fruit."B. Labor will be fairly compensated.- Isaiah 65:22, "They shall not build, and another inhabit, They shall not plant, and another eat; For as the lifetime of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My chosen ones shall wear out the work of their hands."C. People will live in safety.1) Isaiah 65:23b, "They shall not labor in vain, Or bear children for calamity; For they are the offspring of those blessed by the LORD, And their descendants with them."D. People will rejoice.2) Ezekiel 34:25, "And I will make a covenant of peace with them and eliminate harmful beasts from the land, so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods."
- Jeremiah 31:4, "Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! Again you shall take up your tambourines, And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers."
Transition: Our daily life in the Messiah's Kingdom will also be. . .
II. A Time Of Restoration To Creation.
1. Environment restored.
A. Land restored.1) Battle fields will turn into fertile fields.- Isaiah 29:17, "Is it not yet just a little while Before Lebanon will be turned into a fertile field, And the fertile field will be considered as a forest?"2) Deserts will bloom.- Isaiah 35:1-2, "The wilderness and the desert will be glad, And the Arabah will rejoice and blossom; Like the crocus It will blossom profusely And rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, The majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, The majesty of our God."3) Abundant harvests.- Isaiah 30:23-24, "Then He will give you rain for the seed which you will sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the ground, and it will be rich and plenteous; on that day your livestock will graze in a roomy pasture. Also the oxen and the donkeys which work the ground will eat salted fodder, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork."
B. Weather restored.Transition: Christ won't stop with this, but will also restore the animal kingdom. . .1) Water will be plentiful.- Isaiah 30:23a, 25, "Then He will give you rain for the seed. . . And on every lofty mountain and on every high hill there will be streams running with water on the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall."2) An end of all droughts.- Isaiah 35:7, "And the scorched land will become a pool, And the thirsty ground springs of water; In the haunt of jackals, its resting place, Grass becomes reeds and rushes."
2. Animal life restored.
A. Their nature restored.Application: The Messiah's kingdom will be almost like the garden of Eden again. Fallen creation will be to some degree restored. We are reminded that creation was cursed because of Adam and Eve's sin, because imperfect man would not be capable of ruling over and using an prefect creation, so the earth was also affected by the fall; Genesis 3:17-19, "Then to Adam He said, 'Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you shall eat the plants of the field; By the sweat of your face You shall eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return." Even now creation is eagerly looking forward to the coming of the Lord (BC). The Apostle Paul describes creation presently suffering of the curse of sin and that it ". . .groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now" (Romans 8:22). But the Palmists describe creation rejoicing when it is restored to it's pre-fallen state Psalm 96:11-13, "Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains; Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy Before the LORD, for He is coming; For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, And the peoples in His faithfulness" (also see Psalm 98:7-9). Creation will once again be set free for the curse of sin and will share the blessings with man during the coming reign of the Messiah in the Millennial Kingdom.1) Isaiah 65:25a, c, "'The wolf and the lamb shall graze together. . .They shall do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain,' says the LORD."B. Their diet restored.2) Isaiah 11:6-9, "And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze; Their young will lie down together; And the lion will eat straw like the ox. And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea."
1) Isaiah 65:25b, ". . .and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent's food. . ."2) Isaiah 11:7a, "Also the cow and the bear will graze. . ."
3) Isaiah 30:24, "Also the oxen and the donkeys which work the ground will eat salted fodder [i.e., fermented silage, an animal delicacy], which has been winnowed with shovel and fork" (UCOT).
Transition: Finally daily life in the Messiah's Kingdom will be. . .
III. A Time Of Health.
1. Physical health.
A. Sickness and defects healed.Application: When Christ returns, He will indeed be the Great Physician for those who have survived the Tribulation Period, accept Christ as their Messiah, and enter into the Millennial Kingdom. While modern medicine has done some great things, it hasn't been able to live up to people's hopes and expectations. Often Doctors can only treat the symptoms of sickness, but Christ will treat the sickness and heal it totally. Doctors can give you a hearing aid or an artificial limb, but the Great Physician will restore your ear drum to like new condition, and totally restore your broken or missing limbs. Christ will do what modern man is incapable of doing, there will be no blind or speechless people when He returns. Man can only dream of long life, but God will give it. Job reminds of this truth that it has always been God who controls how long we will live; Job 14:5, "Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with Thee, And his limits Thou hast set so that he cannot pass." Never again will husbands and wives be childless when Christ rules and reigns, but the Creator will put right what man has made wrong through their sinfulness.1) Sick healed.B. Long life.- Isaiah 33:24, "And no resident will say, 'I am sick'; The people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity."2) Deaf will hear.A) Isaiah 29:18a, "And on that day the deaf shall hear words of a book. . ."3) Blind will see.B) Isaiah 35:5b, "And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped."
A) Isaiah 29:18b, ". . .And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see."4) Lame will walk.B) Isaiah 35:5a, "Then the eyes of the blind will be opened. . ."
- Isaiah 35:6a, "Then the lame will leap like a deer. . ."5) Mute will speak.- Isaiah 35:5b, ". . .And the tongue of the dumb will shout for joy. . ."1) Longevity restored.C. Fertility restored.A) Isaiah 65:20b, "No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, Or an old man who does not live out his days. . ."2) Youth extended.B) Isaiah 65:22b, ". . .For as the lifetime of a tree, so shall be the days of My people. . ."
- Isaiah 65:20c, ". . .For the youth will die at the age of one hundred And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred Shall be thought accursed."1) Increase of births.A) Isaiah 65:23, "They shall not labor in vain, Or bear children for calamity; For they are the offspring of those blessed by the LORD, And their descendants with them."2) Infant deaths eliminated.B) Ezekiel 47:22, "And it will come about that you shall divide it by lot for an inheritance among yourselves and among the aliens who stay in your midst, who bring forth sons in your midst. And they shall be to you as the native-born among the sons of Israel; they shall be allotted an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel."
- Isaiah 65:20a, "No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days. . ."
Transition: Not only will people's physical health be restored when Christ returns, but also their. . .
2. Mental health.
A. A time of joy.Application: When Christ returns, He will restore the peace of mind. Worry will be the thing of the past. Psychologists and counselors as we know them today will be unemployed. Locks on our doors will be a thing of the past. It will be a time of world peace, which will also bring a peace of mind. Christians have been given a foretaste of these things right now, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." But when Christ returns to this earth for the 2nd time, He will make it a reality for the whole world. Any problems that will arise will be dealt with quickly and justly, so as to maintain the joy, peace and praise of the kingdom. The people will be restored to their land, and God's promises will be fulfilled and they will rejoice.1) Affliction and sorrow will turn to joy.B. A time of learning.A) Isaiah 29:19, "The afflicted also shall increase their gladness in the LORD, And the needy of mankind shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel."2) Mourning will turn to praise.- The needy or poor who have suffered will have something to rejoice aboutB) Isaiah 35:10, "And the ransomed of the LORD will return, And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away."A) Isaiah 61:1-3, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives, And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."B) When the Messiah comes He will change believing Israelites' sadness to joy (BKC).
(1) In place of ashes, put on one's head as a sign of mourning (2Sam.13:19; Est.4:1; Dan.9:3), they will wear a crown.(2) Light olive oil, when applied to one's face and hair, would soothe him and brighten his spirits (Psa.23:5; 45:7; 104:15; Ecc.9:8; Matt.6:17; Heb.1:9), thus dispelling mourning.
(3) Another sign of joy is a bright garment (Ecc.9:7-8).
1) The ignorant will understand.C. A time without fear.- Isaiah 29:24a, "And those who err in mind will know the truth. . ."2) The complainers will take instruction.- Isaiah 29:24b, ". . .And those who criticize will accept instruction."1) He will encourage the exhausted.- Isaiah 35:3a, "Encourage the exhausted. . ."2) He will strengthen the weak.- Isaiah 35:3b, ". . .and strengthen the feeble."3) He will calm the anxious heart.- Isaiah 35:4, "Say to those with anxious heart, 'Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.'"4) He will establish peace.- Isaiah 32:15-18, "Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fertile field And the fertile field is considered as a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness will abide in the fertile field. And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places."
Truths To Ponder:
1. What man cannot do because of their sinfulness, Christ will do through
His perfection.
2. Only believers will enter into the Millennial Kingdom.
A. Old Testament believers, in resurrected, sinless bodies.3. While the Millennial Kingdom may be as close to going back to the garden of Eden, it will be nothing compared toB. Church age believers, in resurrected, sinless bodies.
C. And those who survived the Tribulation Period and accept Christ as their Messiah.
- Note: these individuals will have children and therefore sin will still be present.
A. The purpose of the Millennial Kingdom is to fulfill God's promises to the nation of Israel and will only last for 1000 years.B. If God will pour out these types of blessings during the Millennial Kingdom, then how much more will His blessings be for all those who go into eternity with Him?
Study References
BC - Be Comforted, Warren W. Wierbe,
Victor Books
BKC - Bible Knowledge Commentary,
John Walvoord & Roy Zuck, Victor Books
UCOT - Unger's Commentary on the Old
Testament, Merrill F. Unger, AMG Pulishers.