One Thousand Years
January 18, 2017
Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and whosoever had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4
I thought this verse was especially appropriate for today, since it is my 1,000th post on this blog. All glory be to God--may He make use of my very humble offering in whatever way He chooses, to accomplish His good purpose, according to His perfect plan, which will never fail. Hallelujah! (Highest praise to God.)
Heavenly Father, We know that to you a thousand years is as a day--that you exist outside of time and this dimension to which we're confined during our earthly lifetimes. Many of us believe that what you taught us in Genesis about the six days of creation was meant to be combined with Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8 to arrive at 6,000 years before the beginning of Christ's millennial reign of peace, for He is our Sabbath rest and you rested from creation on the seventh day. That being the case, we are eagerly anticipating His return as we get closer to 2,000 years since the arrival of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (the final two "days" before the "Sabbath"?) We reject date-setting and fear mongering, but we do recognize the signs of the times and that inspires us to get ready, to be found faithfully waiting and watching as your word instructs us to do. Please help us to know and do your will, to put your kingdom first in everything we do, say and think, and to be steadfast, selfless, tireless and trustworthy like Jesus even if His return may appear at some point to be delayed, as His parables cautioned us. In His glorious, worthy and mighty name, Amen.
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. Matthew 25:5
Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:1-18
