John 1:41

41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).

The Meaning of Messiah

Messiah in Hebrew means the Anointed One. Similarly, the term Christ is a Greek word which is an verbal adjective coming from a verb meaning to anoint. The Biblical tradition of appointment to the office of priesthood and kingship is to pour oil on the head of the appointee. In this case, the Messiah was anointed not by oil but by the Spirit of God and John the Baptist served as the forerunner and witness to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah (Mark 1:9-11). Jesus is the anointed to take both the eternal offices of High Priest (Hebrew 6:20) (see the article Jesus the High Priest) and King according to the Covenant declared by God to king David (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Isaiah 9:7). This covenant is based on the original Covenant declared to Abraham who is called the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4-5, 7). We now know that the Messiah is the king whose throne will last forever and it is not only the physical descendants of Abraham are the subjects of God's kingdom, but all who are in Christ Jesus will also inherit the blessings of God (Galatians 3:29). Likewise, Jesus says that He is the shepherd of both the Jews and the Gentiles (John 10:16).

Mark 1:9-11

9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Hebrew 6:20

where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

2 Samuel 7:12-13

12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

Isaiah 9:7

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Genesis 17:4-5, 7

4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram ; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

Galatians 3:29

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

John 10:16

I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

The First Coming of the Messiah

The first coming of the Messiah was the beautiful story of Christmas when Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census was taken of the entire Roman Empire. Joseph, being a descendant of David, and his fiancee Mary who was expecting a child went to his own town Bethlehem to register because it is the town of David. The child virgin Mary carried in her womb was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and therefore was called the Son of God as told by the angel and was given the name Jesus (Luke 1:35, Isaiah 7:14). Jesus would rule on the throne of David forever (Luke 1:32-33).

The first coming of the Messiah was the beautiful story of Christmas when Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census was taken of the entire Roman Empire. Joseph, being a descendant of David, and his fiancee Mary who was expecting a child went to his own town Bethlehem to register because it is the town of David. The child virgin Mary carried in her womb was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and therefore was called the Son of God as told by the angel and was given the name Jesus (Luke 1:35, Isaiah 7:14). Jesus would rule on the throne of David forever (Luke 1:32-33).

Luke 1:32-33,35

32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Isaiah 7:14

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 17:14, 17

14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Isaiah 55:10-11

10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Luke 4:18-19

18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Isaiah 61:1,2a

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2a to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor ...

The Temporary Cutting Off of the Messiah

Some people think it is hard to accept the fact that Jesus is the Messiah because He came to the world as a humble person. They thought that the Messiah would come as a noble or king with great political power and certainly not a humble carpenter's son (Matthew 13:55). They fail to realize that God's first priority in His plan was not to establish political and military power on earth and overthrew the earthly nations. In fact, when Jesus presented Himself in public as the Messiah in Jerusalem during His last week of His earthly ministry, He did not even ride on a horse but a young donkey. It was not that Jesus could not afford to get a horse so that He got a donkey instead. The event was deliberately planned and foretold by God (Zechariah 9:9) and the Messiah was presented as a humble and gentle king. After entering Jerusalem, the Messiah was cut off according to the timing of God as foretold in the book of Daniel (Daniel 9:26 see also: The Seventy Weeks of the Book of Daniel). Surely God could take over the reign of the world from all nations if He wanted to. But God's kingdom is not of the kind of kingdoms we see in the world which consist of imperfect kings, rulers or leaders leading imperfect subjects. World history testifies the imperfections of earthly kingdoms leading to numerous tragedies and sufferings throughout all ages. Although national and international laws and orders were created, struggles, conflicts, wars, injustices, oppressions, violence and crimes are the constant companions in the world. God's solution to the problems is first to eradicate these imperfections called sins in people and save people from the bondage and destruction of sins. In fact, people who are to be the citizens of the Kingdom of God must first realize he or she is sinful and ask God for mercy and forgiveness and trust in Jesus Christ as the savior and Lord such that the Holy Spirit Will come in the believer's life to cleanse him or her within. The Holy Spirit will do the renewal work such that he or she may become a new person pleasing to God qualified to be a citizen of God's Kingdom (John 3:3). However, God is righteous and just and the penalty of sins already committed must be settled. If mankind have to settle the punishment of sins themselves, no one will survive because the wages of sin is death. In order to bring mankind mercy and the grace of forgiveness and blessings of God, the Messiah who has no sin took the punishments for all who trust in Him. The Messiah suffered and died in order to pay for the wages of sin of all mankind such that sinners who believe in the Messiah will be forgiven. In other words, salvation from sin is given to all by God as a gift who trust in Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:5;1 John 3:5; Romans 6:23).

Matthew 13:55

55"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?

Zechariah 9:9

9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Daniel 9:26

26 After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing.

John 3:3

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. "

Isaiah 53:5

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

1 John 3:5

But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Apart from the salvation of sinners, the sufferings and sacrifice of the Messiah have some great lessons that God wants us all who are in Christ Jesus to learn. By our old nature, we tend to think and act like the world. Therefore we tend to be prideful, selfish, while desiring to be served, and unforgiving. It is not so in the Kingdom of God. The one who is great is humble and the one who rules is like a servant (Luke 22:26). This oxymoronic principle, foreign to our old nature and observations and experience in the world, is exactly the principle in God's kingdom practiced and taught by the Messiah (Matthew 11:29; Mark 10:45). At the night the Messiah was about to be arrested, trialled and crucified, He took off His outer clothing, wrapped a towel around His waist and washed the feet of the disciples one by one (John 13:4-5). Then, Jesus said that He did this as an example for the disciples to follow and they should wash one another's feet (John 13:14-15).

Moreover, the redemptive love of the Messiah also teaches us one important lesson to the citizens of the Kingdom of God that is the willingness to forgive one another knowing that one has been shown the mercy of forgiveness by God. Again, this is a principle contrary to the old sinful nature that the Messiah wants all His redeemed to learn from Him (Matthew 18:35). Therefore, hatred, revenge, malice have no place in the kingdom of God and have to be substituted with brotherly love (1 John 2:9). In fact, Jesus taught that the children of God should love and pray for their enemies who may not know the Lord yet (Matthew 5:44-45).

1 John 2:9

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.

Matthew 5:44-45

44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Luke 22:26

26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.

Matthew 11:29

29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mark 10:45

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

John 13:4-5

4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

John 13:14-15

14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Matthew 18:35

35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

The Second Coming of the Messiah

It seems to be difficult to conceive that God is so loving and full of mercy and grace will someday execute judgment on the whole world. However, the Messiah has told us a parable in Matthew 21:33-41 that helps us to understand that the judgment of God is right and just. The parable was about a landowner who planted a vineyard and constructed a winepress and other facilities in it. He rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. When the harvest time came, the owner sent his servants to the tenants to collect some fruit as rent. The servants were either beaten and killed. The owner then sent other servants to the tenants but the servants were treated the same way time and time again. Lastly, the owner sent his son to them thinking that they may respect his son. However, the tenants thought among themselves that if they killed the son who was the heir, they could take over his inheritance. The parable teaches that God is the owner of all things because the universe, the earth, the sun, water, plants, animals, air and even our lives are created by Him. Therefore, we are living on the provision of God at all times. It is perfectly right for God the creator and owner of all things to ask us to acknowledge Him and live according to His words which are full of wisdom and are like the guiding light for our lives. When mankind became spiritually blind and cannot and will not acknowledge and live according to His words because of the chronic and destructive spiritual disease called sin, God sent His only Son, the Messiah, to save us from sin and open our spiritual eyes and heal our spiritual sickness. And the work God requires us to do in order to receive God's grace is to believe in the one He sent (John 6:29). What does it mean to believe in Jesus? To believe in Jesus means to repent from sins and accept the gift of salvation that God gives us through Jesus Christ who suffered and died in order to pay for the penalty of our sins that God justly demands. Then the Holy Spirit will come in a believer's life to make the believer a new person. There will be struggles between the sinful old nature and the Holy Spirit. But, a true believer of Jesus Christ will not give in to a sinful lifestyle but rather led by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:24-25). Before believing in Jesus, the believer would ignore God and follow the world, but now the believer will seek and follow the guidance of Jesus Christ (John 10:4, Matthew 7:21). Moreover, believers respect and honor the lordship of the Messiah and with the gifts and help of the Holy Spirit bear fruits in terms of characters and accomplishments for the glory of God (Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 2:10). In the parable, the farmers are the unbelievers who reject the grace and patience of God. The servants in the parable were the prophets sent to Israel but were mistreated and killed in the Old Testament time by the unrepentant sinners who hated the messages and the messengers. Finally, the Son of God was sent to Israel during the Roman Empire era but was rejected and crucified by the religious leaders and many people at that time.

John 6:29

Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

Galatians 5:24-25

24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

John 10:4

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Matthew 7:21

21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Galatians 5:22-23

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Ephesians 2:10

10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Galatians 5:24-25

24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Although the Messiah was rejected and crucified, it does not mean the end of God's plan of salvation and His kingdom. As God foretold in Psalm 118, the stone the builders rejects has become the capstone (Matthew 21:42). After the dead and resurrection of the Messiah, the good news of salvation spread out from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and then the rest of the world. Churches were established and many believers receive the salvation grace of God. The resurrected Christ became the head of the church and the true believers are the Holy Nation that bears witness and fruits in this dark world for the glory of God (Matthew 21:43, 1 Peter 2:9). However, there are always non-believers who do not repent and reject the good news of salvation. Some non-believers are even antagonistic to the gospel and deny that Jesus is the Messiah (John 2:22, John 1:7). The epitome is the appearance of a powerful world leader in the future foretold in the scriptures called the lawless person, man of sin, son of perdition, the beast with the number 666 or the Antichrist who will be very boastful and deified himself (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13:18). A powerful false prophet will also appear and collaborate and support the Antichrist. With the powerful control of the political system, delusion of false religious system, signs and wonders, people who do not love the truth and reject the Messiah will certainly fall prey into this world system and perish (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). At this dark period of time, many saints will be murdered under the false religious system (Revelation 17:5-6). Then the Antichrist will seize power all to himself and destroy the false religious system (Revelation 17:16) and demand total control of the world and worship by people for himself (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). This will happen according to God's will (Revelation 17:17). The Antichrist will raise war against the Messiah but will be utterly destroyed (Revelation 17:14; Matthew 21:44). The battle is called the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). Armageddon is the Hebrew name for Mount Megiddo which is 60 miles North of Jerusalem. The battle will take place on the nearby plains. This is a battle of super nature between Satan, the people subject to the control of evil forces on one side against the Messiah. The Messiah who will come down from heaven to earth with power and glory to fight and win this battle and establish the Millennium Kingdom on earth (Revelation 19:19-21, 20:14-16).

Matthew 21:42

42Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: " 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

Matthew 21:43

43"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

1 Peter 2:9

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

John 2:22

Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.

John 1:7

Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Revelation 13:13

13And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

3Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Revelation 17:5-6

5This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

Revelation 17:16

16The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

Revelation 17:17

17For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled.

Revelation 17:14

14They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."

Matthew 21:44

44He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."

Revelation 16:16

16Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

Revelation 19:19-21

19Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Revelation 20:14-16

14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

The Millennium Kingdom

After the Armageddon battle, the Antichrist and the false prophet collaborating with him will be captured and thrown into the lake of fire as their judgment immediately. God will also bind Satan and establish a new kingdom on earth that lasts a thousand years (Revelation 20:2-3) which is commonly called the Millennium kingdom. The Messiah Himself will reign the world with the throne established in Jerusalem (Daniel 7:13-14, Zechariah 8:3). How wonderful will the world be when it is under the reign of the Messiah who is the almighty, perfectly wise, faithful, righteous, full of mercy and justice (Isaiah 9:6-7). All people will live in peace under the reign of the Messiah and without the influence of Satan who is bounded. Even wild animals today will become peaceful and tame and carnivores will become herbivores in the Millennium Kingdom (Isaiah 11:6-7).

Revelation 20:2-3

2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

Daniel 7:13-14

13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Zechariah 8:3

3 This is what the LORD says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain."

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 11:6-7

6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

The Scripture also teaches that the Messiah will not rule alone but with the saints who come down from heaven to earth along with Him and the martyrs who are the witnesses of Jesus Christ and are killed for refusal to bear the mark of the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation. The saints who come down from heaven consist of the resurrected Old Testament saints, resurrected Christians, and Christians who are alive and taken up to heaven during the rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17, Daniel 12:2). The Great Tribulation is the last 3 and a half years right before the commencement of the Millennium Kingdom (Daniel 12:1, Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 9:27). During the Great Tribulation, a specific group of Christian martyrs are mentioned who died for their faith in Jesus Christ when they witness the gospel (Revelation 20:4). During the great tribulation, most of the world population will die. Only one third of Israel (Zechariah 13:8) together with the survivors in different nations who are determined to be the followers of Christ may enter the Millennium Kingdom. The Messiah Himself will serve as the judge (Matthew 25:31-32).

Theologians call this view of Millennium Kingdom discussed so far the Premillennialism. There are two other views about the Millennium Kingdom, namely Postmillennialism and Amillennialism. According to Postmillennialism, the one thousand years in which Satan is bounded is only a symbolic indefinite length of time. The reign of Christ is the reign in believers heart. The righteousness and spiritual prosperity happens with the spread of the gospel and eventually the whole world will become better because the church will Christianize the whole world. This golden age will end with the return of the Messiah. In other words, the Messiah will return after the establishment of the Millennium Kingdom, therefore, this view is called Postmillennialism. On the other hand, according to Amillennialism there is no literal Millennium Kingdom with the Messiah ruling on earth for 1,000 years. Instead, Amillennialism proposes that the church on earth today is the Millennial Kingdom with Christ ruling in heaven. The common problem of both views is that the interpretation of the Scripture is non-literal but dependent on subjective interpretation of the written words assuming that they have symbolic meanings which can be quite arbitrary. May I extract the following passage from the Wycliffe Bible Commentary which supports a literal reading and interpretation of the Scripture about the prophecy of Millennium Kingdom:

"There is a famous statement on this passage in Alford's New Testament for English Readers that has been quoted in many subsequent volumes, but I feel compelled to quote it once again: 'It will have been long ago anticipated by the readers of this Commentary, that I cannot consent to distort words from their readers of this Commentary, that I cannot consent to distort words from their plain sense and chronological place in the prophecy, on account of any considerations of difficulty, or any risk of abuses which the doctrine of the millennium may bring with it. Those who lived next to the Apostles, and the whole Church for 300 years, understood them in the plain literal sense: and it is a strange sight in these days to see expositors who are among the first in reverence of antiquity, complacently casting aside the most cogent instance of consensus which primitive antiquity presents. As regards the text itself, no legitimate treatment of it will extort what is known as the spiritual interpretation now in fashion.'"

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Daniel 12:2

2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

Daniel 12:1

"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

Matthew 27:52-53

52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Jeremiah 30:7

7 How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.

Daniel 9:27

27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.

Revelation 20:4

4I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Zechariah 13:8

8 In the whole land," declares the LORD, "two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it.

Matthew 25:31-32

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

The Great White Throne Judgment

After the Millennium Kingdom, Satan will be released temporarily who will deceive people of nations in the world again. Many will fall into temptation of the devil and attempt to destroy the people of God. But, God will destroy them quickly (Revelation 20:7-9). These people are born during the Millennium Kingdom but are non-believers and rebellious against the Messiah. It is inconceivable that they will be rebellious against the Messiah who is a ruler among them and enjoy so much blessings in the Millennium Kingdom. I cannot explain how this can happen and how the human heart works. But, I can refer to the example of Judas who was one of the chosen twelve disciples and was closely associated with Jesus during Jesus' earthly ministry, seeing and listening to what Jesus said and did, but would betray Jesus for thirty silver coins. Judas had even been warned by Jesus about his temptation but he chose to listen to the temptation of the devil. How about the devil who knows about God and His power and will haven been imprisoned by God for a thousand year, but yet will remain unchanged and continue to tempt and mislead rebellious people against the Almighty. This serves as a warning of the corruption and danger of not listening and obeying God's word which is the truth and the guiding light of our path. When people ignore or reject the word of God, they tend to be self-seeking by selfish and sinful nature rather than seeking God who is love and righteous. Therefore they easily fall prey into temptation and follow evil and the result is judgment and destruction (Romans 2:8).

Revelation 20:7-9

7When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.

Romans 2:8

But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Then the great white throne on which the Messiah sits will appear. When this happens, the old heaven and earth will pass away and a new heaven and new earth will come (Revelation 20:11; 2 Peter 3:10-13). At this point, all dead people will stand before the great white throne for judgment according to the things they have done as recorded. People whose names have not been written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). Death and Hades will also be thrown into the lake of fire where they belong together. This will bring the end of sin, sufferings and death in the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 20:14, Revelation 21:4) and God will be dwelling with men forever (Revelation 21:3).

Revelation 20:11

11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.

2 Peter 3:10-13

10But 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 in it will be laid bare. 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as 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. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

Revelation 20:15

15If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:14

14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

Revelation 21:4

4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Revelation 21:3

3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

Revelation 21:27

27Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Revelation 20:14

14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

We should understand that the book of life is more relevantly called the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 21:27) because the people whose names are in the book of life may escape God's judgment not because they are good and righteous before God by their own merits but purely by the grace and atonement of the Messiah who became the sacrificial lamb for all who trust in Him (Isaiah 53:4-6). This salvation grace is not something we deserve or we can earn by our efforts but is given to all sinners who believe in Jesus out of God's love and mercy. Jesus Christ is still inviting us to receive His grace freely to be forgiven and become a new creation (John 7:37-39, Revelation 21:6-7) such that believers may be declared righteous before God (Romans 1:17) and become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). With the provision of God, the believers will be able to overcome the world which is full of sins, temptations and difficulties and live a holy life by faith in Jesus Christ that pleases God (1 John 5:5). We should not underemphasize the power and schemes of the devil in this world for it is real but invisible. By our own flesh and blood, we have no match against the devil. Only with the full armor of God we can be victorious (Ephesians 6:13).

Isaiah 53:4-6

4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

John 7:37-39

37On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Revelation 21:6-7

6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

2 Corinthians 5:17

17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Timothy 1:9

9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

Romans 1:17

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

1 John 5:5

5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Ephesians 6:13

13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.