Conditions Existing Within The Millennium. YTCK (Matthew Chapter 6)

I. Conditions Existing Within The Millennium. YTCK (Matthew Chapter 6).

II. Introduction.

A. In first century Israel the command, “repent for the kingdom of God is at heaven” was chanted by John The Baptist (Mt 3:2), Yeshua (Mt 4:17), and the Disciples (Mt 10:7).  The order was to go only to the people of Israel (Mt 5-6). As was stated in the previous article, the purpose for the offer of the kingdom was for the salvation of the nation of Israel. In today’s world, Christians offer the following words, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved”( Acts 16:31), which is for personal salvation.

B. As Christians, we don’t preach the “Gospel of the Kingdom” (Mt 24:14), which will be preached by the 144,000 Jewish evangelists (Rev 7:1-8) during the Tribulation. Believers in Christ tell of the Gospel of the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua (1 Cor 15:1-8).  We don’t come under Torah law or the sermon on the mount. Louis Sperry Chafer, who was the founder of Dallas Theological Seminary, said that if there is confusion as to whether any verses in the Sermon On The Mount relate to Christians, the epistles will clarify such matters. Consider: We don’t offer animal sacrifices (Lev 1:5). We don’t stone people (Lev 20:27). We don’t travel two miles for anyone, as a requirement (Mt 5:41). We are not required to loan something to another person, and not expect it back from them (Mt 5:42). We do not pray for the kingdom to come (Mt 6:10). We pray for people to come to belief in Christ (Jn 3:16), and for Him to return in the rapture to take His believers back to Heaven with him (Jn 14:2-3, 6; 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-17; Tit 2:13).  We don’t preach the words (Mt 6:33; “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”). Instead, we preach Christ and Him Crucified (Acts 2:36; 1 Cor 2:2;  which is to be preached to unbelieving Jews and Gentiles). 

C. In the Gospel of Matthew, the offer of the kingdom was made to Israel; the stipulation was that they would appoint over them the king that Yahweh would chose (Deu 17:15). In Mt 3:2, John said, “the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John didn’t didn’t say that the Kingdom is “here.” By using the words “at hand,” John was stating that the Kingdom “is near,” with the requirement for Jews to receive the Kingdom, as stated in Deu 17:15. It is important to remember that the promise of the Kingdom is an unconditional covenant between God and Israel, as is described in 2 Samuel 7:8-16. To this day, the Covenant of the Kingdom remains, literal, earthly, unconditional and unfulfilled.

D. No one is in the Kingdom now; that will not happen until the time that Yeshua returns to earth from Heaven, with His believers (Jew and Gentile) and angels following him after the Tribulation (Zech 14:5, 9;  Mt 24:29-30; Rev 19:11-16). 

E. The Gospel of John states the requirement for an individual to enter the Kingdom (Jn 3:3, “unless one is “born again” he cannot see the kingdom of God,” which is personal salvation. Personal salvation comes only through belief in Yeshua (John 3:16;  20:31). In the Gospel of Matthew, the word “believe,” is provided only eight times, with none of them being in the context of belief in Yeshua for individual salvation, or for entry into the kingdom. In the Gospel of John, there are 81 belief verses, with all of them relating to belief in Christ as Savior. Once we have been born again, we can not be unborn, which means that our personal salvation is secure in Christ.

F. Much Scripture is devoted to stating the untold blessing and glory poured out upon earth through the beneficence of the Lord Yeshua in the kingdom. Many of these have been alluded to previously, but an outline of the conditions on the earth, as follows, will show the “greatness of the kingdom” (Dan. 7:27).

III. Conditions Existing Within The Millennium. 

A. Peace. The cessation of war through the unification of the kingdoms of the world under the reign of Christ, together with the resultant economic prosperity, since nations need not devote vast proportions of their expenditure on munitions, is a major theme of the prophets. National and individual peace is the fruit of Messiah’s reign (Isa. 2:4; 9:4-7; 11:6-9; 32:17-18; 33:5-6; 54:13; 55:12; 60:18; 65:25; 66:12; Ezek. 28:26; 34:25, 28; Hos. 2:18; Mic. 4:2-3; Zech. 9:10).. 

B. Joy. The fulness of joy will be a distinctive mark of the age (Isa. 9:3-4; 12:3-6; 14:7-8; 25:8-9; 30:29; 42:1, 10-12; 52: 9; 60:15; 61:7, 10; 65:18-19; 66:10-14; Jer. 30:18- 19; 31:13-14; Zeph. 3:14-17; Zech. 8:18-19; 10:6-7). 

C. Holiness. The theocratic kingdom will be a holy kingdom, in which holiness is manifested through the King and the King’s subjects. The land will be holy, the city holy, the temple holy, and the subjects holy unto the Lord (Isa. 1:26-27; 4:3-4; 29:18-23; 31:6-7; 35:8-9; 52:1; 60:21; 61:10; Jer. 31:23; Ezek. 36:24-31; 37:23-24; 43:7-12; 45:1; Joel 3:21; Zeph. 3:11, 13; Zech. 8:3; 13:1-2; 14:20-21). 

D. Glory. The kingdom will be a glorious kingdom, in which the glory of God will find full manifestation (Isa. 24:23; 4:2; 35:2; 40:5; 60:1-9). 

E. Comfort. The King will personally minister to every need, so that there will be the fulness of comfort in that day (Isa. 12:1-2; 29:22-23; 30:26; 40:1-2; 49:13; 51:3; 61:3-7; 66: 13-14; Jer. 31:23-25; Zeph. 3:18-20; Zech. 9:11-12; Rev. 21:4). 

F. Justice. There will be the administration of perfect justice to every individual (Isa. 9:7; 11:5; 32:16; 42:1-4; 65:21-23; Jer. 23:5; 31:23; 31:29-30). 

G. Full knowledge. The ministry of the King will bring the subjects of His kingdom into full knowledge. Doubtless there will be an unparalleled teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. (Isa. 11:1-2, 9; 41:19-20; 54:13; Hab. 2:14). 

H. Instruction. This knowledge will come about through the instruction that issues from the King (Isa. 2:2-3; 12:3-6; 25:9; 29:17-24; 30:20-21; 32:3-4; 49:10; 52:8; Jer. 3:14-15; 23: 1-4; Mic. 4:2). 

I. The removal of the curse. The original curse placed upon creation (Gen. 3:17-19) will be greatly lessened, and totally removed in the following Eternal State, so that there will be abundant productivity to the earth. Animal creation will be changed so as to lose its venom and ferocity. (Isa. 11:6-9; 35:9; 65:25). The Battle of Gog and Magog (Rev 20:7-9) shows the result of the curse not being totally removed. 

J. Sickness removed. The ministry of the King as a healer will be seen throughout the age, so that sickness and even death, except as a penal measure in dealing with overt sin, will be removed (Isa. 33:24; Jer. 30:17; Ezek. 34:16).

K. Healing of the deformed. Accompanying this ministry will be the healing of all deformity at the inception of the millennium (Isa. 29:17-19; 35:3-6; 61:1-2; Jer. 31:8; Mic. 4:6-7; Zeph. 3:19). 

L. Protection. There will be a supernatural work of preservation of life in the millennial age through the King (Isa. 41: 8-14; 62:8-9; Jer. 32:27; 23:6; Ezek. 34:27; Joel 3:16-17; Amos 9:15; Zech. 8:14-15; 9:8; 14:10-11). 

M. Freedom from oppression. There will be no social, political or religious oppression in that day (Isa. 14:3-6; 42:6-7; 49:8-9; Zech. 9:11-12)

N. No immaturity. The suggestion seems to be that there will not be the tragedies of feeble-mindedness nor of dwarfed bodies in that day (Isa. 65:20). Longevity will be restored.

O. Reproduction by the living peoples. The living saints who go into the millennium in their natural bodies will beget children throughout the age. The earth’s population will soar. These born in the age will not be born without a sin nature, so salvation will be required (Jer. 30:20; 31:29; Ezek. 47:22; Zech. 10:8). 

P. Labor. The period will not be characterized by idleness, but there will be a perfect economic system, in which the needs of men are abundantly provided for by labor in that system, under the guidance of the King. There will be a fully developed industrialized society, providing for the needs of the King’s subjects (Isa 62:8-9; 65:21- 23; Jer. 31:5; Ezek. 48:18-19). Agriculture as well as manufacturing will provide employment. 

Q. Economic prosperity. The perfect labor situation will produce economic abundance, so that there will be no want (Isa. 4:1; 35:1-2, 7; 30:23-25; 62:8-9; 65:21-23; Jer. 31:5, 12; Ezek. 34:26; Mic. 4:1, 4; Zech. 8:11-12; 9:16-17; Ezek. 36:29-30; Joel 2:21- 27; Amos 9:13-14). 

R. Increase of light. There will be an increase of solar and lunar light in the age. This increased light probably is a major cause in the increased productivity of the earth (Isa. 4:5; 30:26; 60:19-20; Zech. 2:5).. 

S. Unified language. The language barriers will be removed so that there can be free social intercourse (Zeph. 3:9). 

T. Unified Worship. All of the world will unite in the worship of God and God’s Messiah (Isa. 45:23; 52:1, 7-10; 66:17-23; Zech. 13:2; 14:16; 8:23; 9:7; Zeph. 3:9; Mal. 1:11; Rev. 5:9-14). 

U. The manifest presence of God. God’s presence will be fully recognized, and fellowship with God will be experienced to an unprecedented degree (Ezek. 37:27-28; Zech. 2:2, 10-13; Rev. 21:3). 

V. The fulness of the Spirit. Divine presence and enablement will be the experience of all who are in subjection to the authority of the King (Isa. 32:13-15; 41:1; 44:3; 59:19, 21; 61:1; Ezek. 36:26-27; 37:14; 39:29; Joel 2:28-29; Ezek. 11:19-20). 

W. The perpetuity of the millennial state. That which characterizes the millennial age is not viewed as temporary, but eternal (Joel 3:20; Amos 9:15; Ezek. 37:26-28; Isa. 51:6-8; 55:3, 13; 56:5; 60:19-20; 61:8; Jer. 32:40; Ezek. 16:60; 43:7-9; Dan. 9:24; Hos. 2:19-23). The wide diversity of the realms in which the blessings of the King’s presence is felt is thus clearly seen.   

IV. Overview. Matthew Chapter 6. The Life Of Faith In The Kingdom. 

A. In the first verse, the Revised Version has substituted the word “righteousness” for “alms,” “a reading approved of, almost unanimously, by the great editors and critics.”. This is a statement of a new motive for conduct. The application of the principle laid down in verse Mat 6:1 to the subject of alms follows. The secret alms is known to God, who sees in secret. A subject of the King no longer desirous of the applause of his fellow men quietly and secretly helps the needy, and the deed is recognized by God, and is recompensed by Him. 

B. Here the same principle is applied to prayer. Prayer is the soul dealing with God, and when one prays in order to attract the attention of men it is blasphemy. The prayer given as an example is perfect. The first three petitions move wholly in the realm of the divine purpose. Man (the Jews of first century Israel) must seek first the Kingdom of God; the second three voice their probationary needs. The whole prayer is social. The singular pronoun is absent. The Jews were to enter the presence of the Father, and then pray as one of the great family. 

C. The true reason for fasting is in the opportunity it affords for a clearer vision of God, which should ever manifest itself in new gladness of face. 

D. The King (Yeshua) warns His people against laying up for themselves earthly treasures. The Master does not say it is wrong to possess earthly treasure. He does say it is wrong to lay it up for self. We are to hold it as stewards. 

E. The next saying gives a great principle of life. The emphasis in verse Mat 6:24 should be on the word “serve.” That word marks the true relationship existing between Mammon and the man who is given over to it. The man imagines he is compelling Mammon to serve him. As a matter of fact, he is serving Mammon, and the service precludes the possibility of his serving God. “Therefore,” that is to say, all that follows is based on the principles of the foregoing statement. Anxiety concerning the things of life is slavery to those things, and it is wrong and futile. There is a subject for anxiety, and that is declared in the words, “seek the Kingdom,” “serve God.” The warning is against worry, not work.