Dispensation of the Kingdom Second Coming of Christ to Second Death
(Acts 1:6-7, Rev 20, Isa 9:6-7, Isa 11:4-9, Zech 14:4-11, Jer 23:5-8, ...)
During our study of the dispensations, we have not looked in detail at the Great Tribulation. This almost could be seen as a dispensation in itself except that no new revelation is dispensed. Instead, it is a time in which God continues His dealings with Israel and they again become the focus. We will leave the study of the Great Tribulation to another time, instead, we will turn our attention to the Kingdom, the physical rule of Christ on earth commencing with His second coming (not to be confused with the rapture of the church). It is this second coming which is prophesied about numerous times in the Old Testament and it is this coming which the Lord Himself speaks of in detail in Matthew 24-25. (See separate message on the Second Coming of Christ).
Steward:
The Lord Jesus Christ (Isa 9:6-7, Rev 19:15).
Man's Responsibility:
Character of DispensationTo submit to the reign of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Israel will again be the focus and the head of the nations. They will again observe the law and celebrate the feasts, not for their sins but by way of celebration, remembrance and example as they are governed by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords himself. The second coming (revelation) of Christ starts the thousand year reign. (Rev. 20:4,5,7). During this thousand years the throne of David will be established (2 Sam 7:16; Matt 19:28; Acts 2:30). Justice will fill the earth (Jer. 23:5,6), peace will prevail (Isa. 9:6,7), and the Abrahamic, Davidic, and Palestinian Covenants will be fulfilled. The government shall be upon Christ's shoulders.
In short:
Surely in this perfect environment with all knowledge, prior experience and direct physical access to the Lord himself, we will be able to show that we are really inherently good and that it is really all Satan's fault.A perfect government (Isa 9:7) The immediate glorious presence of Christ (Rev 19:13-14, 20:4, Zech 8:8) Universal knowledge of God (Jer 31:31-34, Isa 11:9) Satan rendered inactive (Rev 20:3) The knowledge of prior dispensations!
The Failure:
At the beginning of the thousand year reign, Satan will be chained and thrown into the bottomless pit. Even with Satan bound and Christ on His Throne, man will continue to sin against God during this period and will still be subject to sin's penalty, death (Isa. 65:20).
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 (Rev. 20:7-9).
Man shows that he is inherently evil because as soon as he is given an opportunity, as soon as Satan calls, even with the prior thousand years of harmony, prosperity and divine government, man rebels.
The Judgment
At the end of the Millennial Kingdom, all of the unsaved of all the ages will stand before the Great White Throne of God. They will be condemned to spend eternity in the lake of fire (Rev 20:11-15). Note: The SAVED will NOT be judged at the Great White Throne of God.
Grace and Salvation:
The great Day of the Lord comes to a close as the heavens and the earth are consumed with fire as God prepares to carry out His eternal purpose (2 Peter 3:10; Eph. 1:10). In the following dispensation, the dispensation of the fullness of times, all those throughout all prior dispensations who believed God and to whom their faith was counted for righteousness, will participate in God's eternal purposes.
(1 Cor 2:9-10, Ephes 1:10-12)
What can we learn from this dispensation?
We can learn that inspite of the popular myth that Satan is to blame for our evil ways, even when he is rendered powerless, we are still evil (Jer 17:9). Even with the Lord Himself ruling over the whole earth, with complete harmony and equity, we are inherently evil and at the first opportunity will rebel against God.
We also learn finally that God is truly just and His assessment of us is right. If God is just and His assessment right, then His declaration must be believed. We can have no more excuses before the Almighty's throne! With seven great tests of our free will, He has once and for all demonstrated His righteousness, holiness and glory, and our depravity, helplessness and hopelessness, and utter need to submit to His authority. (Romans 11:33-36)