To set the stage for the Seven Wonders of the Millennial World, here is an excerpt from last week’s article considering that we are only 20 years into the 3rd Millennium, A.D. 2020.

Furthermore, this 3^rd Millennium is also considered by many Bible commentators/teachers (including me) to be the 7th Millennium of recorded time as relates to God’s plan for humanity. With this 7^th millennia soon to experience the beginning of a New World Order, but not the New Age that mankind currently wishes would occur. Certainly not the Age of Aquarius!

I’m speaking of the Millennial Reign of God’s Son, who is the Messiah … Jesus of Nazareth!

With this final epoch (that merges into Eternity—as described in Revelation Chapters 21-22) filled with awesome Wonders of the World never seen or experienced. All centered around one Person who will fashion these Wonders into the most wonderful thousand years imaginable. Essentially, there are seven of them. A case could be made that there are more than seven; however, any extras are aligned with one or more of these seven.

With his tremendous teaching, marvelous miracles, and phenomenal fulfillment of Messianic prophecies, Jesus transformed the ordinary into extraordinary and the natural into supernatural. And he did all this mostly in 3 ½ years of his approximate 33 years on this earth.

We can only imagine what he will do as King of all kings (physical wonders) and Lord of all lords (spiritual wonders) when he has 1,000 years—the Millennium!

The descriptive modified form (adjective) of Millennium is millennial.

Some synonyms of millennial: utopian, visionary, futuristic, idealistic, and optimistic.

Wonder of Wonders or Wonders of Wonder!

Wonder is one of only a comparatively few English words which can be used in four major grammatical forms … noun, verb, adjective, and adverb. From Webster’s Dictionary:

Wonder (noun): “A cause of astonishment or admiration; Marvel; Miracle … rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one’s experience.” But also, the flip side: “a feeling of doubt or uncertainty.”

Wonder (adjective): “exciting amazement or admiration. Effective or efficient far beyond anything previously known or anticipated.” Wonderful (most used adjective form): “Exciting wonder; Marvelous, Astonishing; unusually good; admirable…”

Wonder or Wondering (verb): “To be in a state of wonder; to feel surprise; to feel curiosity or doubt; to be curious…”

Wonderfully (adverb form): No definition given or needed. Except that which is understood: wonderfully modifies (enhances and emphasizes) the verb form of wonder or “to wonder.”

(Petra, Jordan, One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Might be the place to which many Israelis will escape during the Great Tribulation … Revelation 12:6)

Everything Jesus said and did was wonderful … full of wonder! Even when he overturned the money tables in the Temple and blasted the Pharisees for their hypocrisy (the blind leading the blind).

Example: While teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus saw and then immediately (miraculously) healed a woman who had been deformed—crippled, bent over—for 18 years.

“When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!’ Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God! But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. ‘There are six days of the week for working,’ he said to the crowd. ‘Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.’

“But the Lord replied, ‘You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?’

“This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did” (Luke 13:12-17, emphasis added).

Things on Planet Earth are going to be wonderful for those 1000 years … in preparation for the New Jerusalem and Eternity. With, however, what may be a little jolt to your hope chest of whatever perfections you have perceived of Christ’s Millennial Reign. Although the Millennium will be more of a utopia than ever before, it will not yet be a (pure) paradise on earth. Close, but not quite.

Conditions in the World Just Before The Millennium Begins

Even before Messiah Jesus conquers Antichrist and the False Prophet and then vanquishes their armies at Megiddo (Armageddon), the earth’s population will already be decimated. (See Eye of Prophecy article: Sequel to Stunning Catastrophes & Shocking Statistics of the Great Tribulation, posted 6-6-20).

Soon after Armageddon, believers in Messiah Jesus—for the first time in history—will outnumber unbelievers.

(The verse goes on to say: “…so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord”)

There also will be more than just a few who did not take the mark of Antichrist; but neither have they accepted Messiah Jesus as Savior. At this point, Jesus, himself will judge nations and certain individuals in those countries (separation of sheep and goats, Matthew 25:31-46), predicated primarily on how they treated the Jews.

Throughout the Millennium, people will still be born, live, and die … albeit with longevity increasing dramatically. Every person born will still need to be saved through believing in and receiving Christ as Personal Savior. Most, at first, will. However, gradually throughout the Millennium, unbelievers will begin to (once again) outnumber believers. This observation is based on what will be mankind’s final rebellion against God, even though Messiah Jesus himself will be present on earth.

We read this in the same chapter that gives us the duration of Messiah’s reign, Revelation 20.

After Satan is released from his imprisonment in the Abyss, “He will go out to deceive the nations… He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them” (Revelation 20:8-9).

That is why—despite the marvelous changes (wonders) that will take place during the Millennium and how much better things will be compared to what they have been down through the ages—Scripture tells us that during the 1000 years Messiah will be given “…the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots” (Psalm 2:8-9)

That will be a combination of Jesus’s victory at Armageddon, to then continue ruling with a firm hand throughout the Millennium.

And those of us (believers) with whom our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ graciously will share his inheritance, will also be given, “…authority over all the nations. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots (obviously meaning when necessary). They will have the same authority I received from my Father…” (Revelation 2:26-28, parenthesis mine).

The result: a global application of tough love!

Now for the Seven Millennium Wonders.

(1) Global Justice … Jesus as Mediator between Nations

“The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes…” (Isaiah 2:4a).

The scales of justice will be balanced like never. Individual and collective wrongs will be righted.

“…He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity” (Isaiah 9:7).

The firmness of Messiah’s reign will be blended beautifully and bountifully with fairness.

Historically, the most common dispute between ethnic groups and nations is over territory. It’s the stuff wars are made of. After Messiah Jesus crushes the armies of the world aligned against him at Armageddon, individuals and nations will fully acknowledge and appreciate his divine power and authority.

For that reason, nations will not just willingly, but eagerly submit their disputes to Christ. All the while, he will (continue to be) the Mediator between God and people … spiritually.

As with the passage cited earlier of the woman with a deformity, every time we read of Jesus healing someone they are healed instantly. Which is the most obvious reason they are classified as miracles. There is no surgery and/or no lengthy rehabilitation. I am convinced this will also be the case when Jesus settles disagreements between nations. Even the major issues will be settled rapidly, some with but a yes or no from Christ; though I am convinced he will allow both sides to present their views. He will be a (the) perfect mediator, arbiter, judge.

In that regard, Jesus will undoubtedly handle only the most difficult disputes. More routine cases will be delegated. Why? Because believers (those raptured and later the Tribulation saints) will reign with him a thousand years.

There’s a clear pattern for this in both the Old and New Testament:

“People from many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways and we will walk in his paths.’ For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3).

Right after that is the verse quoted earlier in this section, “The Lord will mediate between nations…”

Do you remember Moses’s father-in-law, Jethro’s advice to Moses and what Moses did about it?

“He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. These men were always available to solve the people’s common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves” (Exodus 18:25-26).

A similar principle comes from one of Jesus’s many parables, which I believe (in this parable) is more than just an analogy or illustration. Rather, it is a combination of rewards for believer’s faithfulness to the Lord here on earth plus the privilege of serving him during the Millennium.

In what is called the parable of the ten servants of which the setting is the Kingdom of God (the Millennium), the precedent is established: “The first servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’

“Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward’” (Luke 19:16-17).

In summary, this global justice will be practically perfect.

Why won’t it be perfect? Answer: For the very reason that there will (still) be disputes between peoples … human imperfection. The Millennium will not (yet) be a perfect world, but it will be a far better world than what people have known since … well, since the Garden of Eden.

*Note: In Old Testament passages that pertain to the end-times reign of the Lord, sometimes the passage refers directly to the Messiah and other times to “the Lord,” which is God the Father (God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). Nevertheless, God the Father will extend all power and authority to his Son during the Millennium (Kingdom of God) on earth. So, when we see, for example, “the Lord … will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness”; this will be done through God’s Son, Messiah Jesus.

In several other (Messianic) passages, it’s clear that the Messiah himself is acting.

Such as: “Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord… He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited…” (Isaiah 11:1-4).

(2) World Peace … Through Messiah Jesus, The Prince of Peace

“…They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. Everyone will live in peace and prosperity … for there is nothing to fear. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise!” (Micah 4:3-4).

The Lord’s promises are prophecies, and his prophecies are promises. Every prophecy is powerful. Every promise is precious and true. What he says he will do, he ALWAYS does. What he says will happen, ALWAYS happens.

Can you imagine … no more wars! Not even training for war. Also, no more weapons. For that matter, how can you prepare for war without weaponry?! Can you fathom how much money and material resources could be invested in all things peaceful and prosperous if there were no armed forces nor armaments!

Can you picture how many people would live longer lives because they did not die in some war somewhere on this planet. And it is not just the dead. Millions upon millions are displaced refugees, having lost their home and possessions … economic and emotional devastation.

So, for all practical purposes, 1000 years of peace is possible because of the Prince of Peace, a name that means much more than just its face value designation. It means someone who has the perfect character, proficient capability, powerful control, and prominent clout (authority) to establish global peace. To such an extent that “…The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end…The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Listen as the Apostle Paul tells us more about God’s splendid plan for humanity: “God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth” (Ephesians 1:9-10, italics for emphasis).

That plan is none other than: THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Here is an excerpt from Eye of Prophecy article, Kingdom of God (posted 1-17-15). In italics:

Jesus spoke often of the Kingdom of God; for example, comparing it to a mustard seed … the smallest of seeds that when planted grows into an enormous tree. Which is exactly what has happened to the body of Christ; an exponential growth down through the ages, to now consist of believers from virtually every nation and language on earth. It is the Kingdom of Heaven in the hearts and minds of those who have been redeemed by the shed blood of Christ. Next, will come the final physical Kingdom of God on this earth; at which time all people, all governments, all nations will be brought under the authority of God’s magnificent Son. He will rule the nations with firmness, but fairness.

Isn’t that what most people want? They want law, order, equality, safety, peace. And they want someone who has the kind of authority to realize those dreams, but also someone who is kind and considerate with that authority. One who truly cares about people and what’s best for them, who can rule and judge with impartiality and kindness. A truly wise and benevolent King whose attributes perfectly reflect who and what he is: Love, Truth, Justice, Mercy.

(3) Incredible Harmony in the Animal World

Continuing with the Messianic passage quoted earlier:

“In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm” (Isaiah 11:6-8).

(This will happen during the Millennium, but the passage combines the wolf and the lamb; lion and a calf)

This amazing condition of the Millennium will, indeed, be one of the Wonders to behold. As much or more so than peace between peoples, which will be disrupted periodically by national and international quarrels … but without war.

Here is an excerpt from Eye of Prophecy article: Messiah’s Millennial Reign … Incredible Changes on Earth (posted 12-30-17, which detailed only a couple of the Wonders listed in today’s article).

When the curse is cancelled at the glorious Second Coming of Christ, even the animals will undergo an extreme makeover. The full nature and extent of these internal (temperament) and external (perhaps fewer or no fangs in predators) changes remain to be seen. The Lord’s magnificent plan of redemption is not only for people who place their personal trust in the Redeemer, but also for the entire earth and all living things. Everything will come full circle back to the beginning … even better!

Have you watched the National Geographic or Smithsonian Channels, or the series called, Planet Earth, or other documentaries on wildlife? Have you seen the marvels of nature, but also the grisly sights of fierce animals seizing and killing their prey? Some of us realize that this is the way of things and has been for a long time. Others recoil in horror, wondering why it must be this way … what or who could possibly eliminate the existence of food chains.

Yes, even the animals will once again (innately) obey their creator.

Think about the possibilities.

A young boy will ask, “Dad, can I play with the tigers today?”

“Sure, son and be sure to give them some fresh hay when you’re done playing.”

A young girl will say, “Mom, I’m going to explore the cave where the snakes live.”

“Okay, honey, but be careful.”

“Mom, come on, you know what the Lord has done,” the little girl playfully chides.

“Of course,” Mom remembers as her eyes light up. “Have fun and put them back where you find them!”

(Go hippo-hopping during the Millennium!)

I then wrote in that article, I’ll be amazed but not surprised (there’s a difference), if my white horse (Revelation 19:14) speaks to me and says, “Just hold on, I’ll do the rest.”

(4) Amazing Longevity … Exceeding Even The Pre-Flood Length of Life

“When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech. After the birth of Lamech, Methuselah lived another 782 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died” (Genesis 5:25-27).

Noah was 600 years old when God’s first global judgment—the Great Flood—cleansed the earth because, “The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil” (Genesis 6:5). Noah, himself, lived another 350 years after the flood.

Among the geophysical differences the Great Flood made on human life; one result was a dramatic decrease in longevity. Although this decline took place over a long period (at least two thousand years), by the time of Moses the average life-expectancy had dropped to 70-80 years.

Even though Moses was 120 years old when he died, he said in the only Psalm attributed to him: “Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).

Well, folks, one of the splended features of the Millennium is that it will be pain and trouble (not all, but most) that will disappear … not the limited years people live because of the brevity of life as we now experience it.

Instead, years of life will increase substantially. Many will live as long (even longer) than Methuselah and Noah!

Because God causes all things to work together for the good of his people (Romans 8:28), I’m convinced that the devastation of some of the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments will not only punish those who refused to turn from evil during the Great Tribulation; they will also serve to purify the earth. To the point where climatological, geological, and biological conditions will once again be conducive for life spans not experienced since the beginning of time.

Listen to the true and living God announce another riveting description of the Millennium, that will get even better (as in perfect) when the 1000 years merges with Eternity:

“I will rejoice over Jerusalem and delight in my people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more. No longer will babies die when only a few days old. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life. No longer will people be considered old at one hundred! Only the cursed will die that young! … For my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains… For they are blessed by the Lord, and their children, too, will be blessed” (Isaiah 65:20-23).

Lifespans during the Millennium will vary, much as they do now. But proportionally they will be measured by centuries, not merely decades. As old as (some) trees. Think of the Olive trees in Israel and the Redwoods in California. A thousand years old … two thousand!

(1000-year old Olive trees)

There also will be a group of people on the earth whose life-expectancy is far beyond a mere 1000 years. As in … FOREVER. They will be those to whom people all over the world will look upon as extraordinary examples of what happens when someone believes and receives Messiah Jesus as Lord and Savior. They are none other than raptured believers whose bodies had been transfigured … immortal!

(5) Immortal Spiritual Bodies for Raptured Believers

“The Scriptures tell us, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living person.’ But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven… Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man” (I Corinthians 15:45-49).

Then the Apostle Paul made this stunning statement to reinforce what he had already wrote to the Thessalonians: “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We (believers in Christ) will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It (not the entire several-minute sequence of the Rapture events, but only the transformation itself) will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown … our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies” (I Corinthians 15:51-53, parenthesis mine).

The following is an excerpt from Eye of Prophecy article, Spiritual Bodies … A Contradiction of Terms? Part II (published 10-3-15):

By and large, Scripture doesn’t elaborate on the new glorified spiritual bodies that believers in Christ will possess when the dead in Christ are raised from the dead and those alive will also be transformed and immediately follow them. Suffice to say, our spiritual bodies will far exceed anything we could imagine. Neither, however, does the Bible leave us clueless.

There is a general overview and reliable supposition that we can make about our glorified bodies: They will be multi-dimensional. How many more dimensions than we currently have is unknown for now.

But here are a few of the distinguishing characteristics:

Physical Barriers Are No Problem

“…Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side…” (John 20:19-20). Jesus didn’t knock or break down the door. He was just there! Picture entering the famous Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico without going through or down the entrance shaft.

Time and Space Are No Barriers

Remember Jesus walking with the two men on the road to Emmaus, after his resurrection. He verbally took them through all the prophetic Scriptures that spoke of him as the Messiah, then agreed to go to their home to eat dinner with them. Jesus, “…took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them … And at that moment he disappeared!” (Luke 24:30-31).

One minute he was there and the next second, he was gone! Gone, as in abruptly vanishing. How long it took him to get to his next destination is not known. But a spiritual educated guess tells us it was fast, extremely fast. Perhaps we will be able to travel at the speed of sound, or light, or even thought.

Gravity Does Not Affect the Spiritual Body, Either in a Positive or Negative Way

“Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider (Jesus) was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses” (Revelation 19:11, 14).

During the final epic battle of Armageddon, believers will follow our Lord directly from heaven; with the obvious conclusion that it will be from the sky above to the earth below, all the while riding white horses. Included in all the glorious features our spiritual bodies will possess, gravity will have no power over us. Suspended animation? Any time or place we choose.

Flying fast or flying slow. Look out earth, away we go!

With these imperishable spiritual bodies, we believers will be like our Lord Jesus; able to do things above and beyond the ordinary … spiritually, mentally, and physically. (See Eye of Prophecy article: Superhuman Bodies for Believers / How & Why? Posted 12-14-19)

We will be able to freely move between earth and heaven during the Millennium; in preparation for our residency in the New Jerusalem after the Millennium gives way to Eternity.

(6) Reunion of Israel and Judah … Return of All Jews to Israel

Even before, but especially since Israel’s miraculous rebirth as a sovereign nation in 1948, millions of exiled (Diaspora) Jews have returned to the Promised Land. Millions more have been born there, with the current Jewish population in Israel at about 6.8 million. Yet there are another 8 million or so Jews still scattered throughout the world … most of those in the United States.

This ongoing remarkable return will accelerate during the Tribulation. Then at the outset of the Millennium, all Jews (including descendants of the so-called lost ten tribes that constituted the northern nation of Israel, with the southern nation called Judah) will be regathered to Israel.

“In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives (Israel of course) will be a glorious place. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to bring back the remnant of his people—those who remain in Assyria…and all the distant coastlands” (Isaiah 11:10-11. Parenthesis mine).

Jesus virtually said the same thing, adding that angels will do the gathering … towards the end of the Tribulation (see Matthew 24:31).

Isaiah continues: “He will raise a flag among the nations and assemble the exiles of Israel. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth. Then at last the jealousy between Israel (primarily Diaspora Jews of today’s world) and Judah (primarily Jews in Israel) will end. They will not be rivals anymore” (Isaiah 11:12-13, parenthesis mine).

See Eye of Prophecy article: The Jewish Dichotomy In and Outside Israel (6-30-18). Also, Peace Between Israel & Judah … Then World Peace! (posted 12-8-18) from which the following excerpt is taken:

In today’s Judaism (the world over), the ten northern tribes of Israel are exemplified primarily by Diaspora Jews (those living outside Israel)—mostly secular; if observant, many belonging to Reformed Judaism. They are the more liberal Jews as represented by (for example) democrats in the United States; or, within Israel—Zionist Union and Yesh Atid parties of Israel’s Knesset.

Whereas Judah is characterized more by observant Jews … predominantly conservative in their political, social, economic, and religious worldview. Represented, for example, by the Likud (30 of the 120 Knesset seats) and Shas coalitions. Proportionally, there are more observant Jews in Israel than in their Diaspora counterparts.

As indicated, these are broad generalizations. However, they track with Israel’s and Judah’s history and are parallel with contemporary times.

Yet, when it comes to the tens of thousands of Messianic Jews the world over, they are a cross-section of all Jews … no matter from which tribe they have descended. That’s the incredible power of God through Messiah Jesus to save his people—a prelude to salvation of all Jews (the remnant) when Christ returns to accomplish Israel’s final redemption and reunion—physically and spiritually.

Now for the 7^th Wonder of the Millennium World. It is the only one that is (like the Seven Wonders of the Ancient & Modern World) also a physical structure. The first two (Solomon’s Temple, then the Second Temple after King Herod’s improvements) could have qualified as one of the ancient wonders of the world. I am referring to:

(7) The Magnificent Third Jewish Temple

Ezekiel Chapters 40-47 meticulously describe a rebuilt Jewish Temple. Time/space in today’s article does not permit all the evidence to demonstrate that this Temple was not the one restored by those Jews who returned from their Babylonian captivity. Rather, it will be the Temple rebuilt during the (early part of) Tribulation period. And, most likely made even greater and grander after Messiah Jesus begins his Millennial reign.

(Depiction of Third Jewish Temple Complex)

The following is an excerpt from Eye of Prophecy Article, A Third Jewish Temple, Part II (posted 5-3-14), which among other things contrasts the river flowing from the Temple to the river depicted in the New Jerusalem.

When describing the rebuilt temple, Ezekiel says: “In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the alter on its south side” (Ezekiel 47:1). Notice that the stream (or river) flows from beneath the Temple door, but the river in the New Jerusalem flows from the throne of God.

Then later in this chapter, Ezekiel describes the length and directional flow of this river. Of particular interest is what he saw on both sides of the river: “When I returned, I was surprised by the sight of many trees growing on both sides of the river” (Ezekiel 47:7). Then later in this passage the man (pre-incarnate Christ) showing Ezekiel all of these things states: “Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing” (Verse 12).

Though there are similarities with the trees of the New Jerusalem (new crop each month and leaves for healing), there are some distinct differences.

In the New Jerusalem there are only two trees, one on each side of the river. And the river flowed down the center of the main street. In Ezekiel, there are (many) “fruit trees of all kinds (that) will grow…” *Note: The river trees of Ezekiel’s Temple will produce fruit for the people of the earth. The fruit of New Jerusalem’s trees will be for the saints who reside in that city.

…But the most compelling or convincing distinction of all (to demonstrate that these are different rivers and trees) is that the Temple river in Ezekiel flows to the Dead Sea and will make the Dead Sea waters fresh again, with an abundant supply of fish that, “…will fill the Dead Sea, just as they fill the Mediterranean” (Ezekiel 47:10). The Dead Sea will not be relocated to the New Jerusalem! It will remain as is in the holy land of Israel.

Plus, the fact that there is no Temple in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:22).

There is also a strong inference that the medicinal qualities of these trees will contribute to the mostly disease-free quality and quantity (length of life and increased global population) during the Millennium.

It’s highly possible, if not probable, that the river flowing from the Temple will be created near the end of the Great Tribulation when Messiah Jesus first returns to earth physically, with the immediate task at hand that of rescuing Jerusalem and all Israel from the armies of Antichrist.

“Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south” (Zechariah 14:3-5).

Then, Zechariah writes:

(The eastern sea is the Dead Sea; western sea, the Mediterranean)

Summary of the Seven Wonders of the Millennium

Global Justice … Jesus as Mediator between Nations

World Peace … Through Messiah Jesus, The Prince of Peace

Incredible Harmony in the Animal World

Amazing Longevity … Exceeding Even The Pre-Flood Length of Life

Immortal Spiritual Bodies for Raptured Believers

Reunion of Israel and Judah … Return of All Jews to Israel

The Magnificent Third Jewish Temple

Things to Ponder

Animal sacrifices will resume when the Temple is rebuilt. However, these sacrifices will not be for ongoing atonement. Reason: The New Covenant of Grace (made possible by Messiah Jesus’s once for all substitutionary sacrifice for sin and its penalty) has permanently replaced the Levitical sacrificial system. Instead, the sacrifices will be one of the many ways to honor the King of kings … Jesus of Nazareth and what he has done for humanity.

Moreover, the only Jewish Festival that will still be mandatory is the Feast of Shelters (Sukkot) which just recently ended on October 9^th, 2020. This feast celebrates the Lord’s provisions, protection, and presence (during His sojourn with the Israelites in the wilderness). And his physical presence in Jerusalem during the Millennium.

Immanuel … God with us! For a thousand years. Then, to infinity and beyond!

“In the end, the enemies of Jerusalem who survive the plague will go up to Jerusalem each year to worship the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Shelters” (Zechariah 14:16).

Concerning the sacrifices: “…All who come to worship will be free to use any of these pots to boil their sacrifices. And on that day there will no longer be traders in the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (like there were in the first two Temples)” (Zechariah 14:21, parenthesis mine).

Because of Jesus’s triumphant victory over sin and death—fully accomplished when he arose from the dead—he has power and authority to rule the nations … to do great and glorious things. Not the least of which will be his return to earth to jump-start the magnificent Millennium: “And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30).

As God the Son, that power and glory was his before the world began.

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and the authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together” (Colossians 1:15-17).

As alluded to earlier, the Millennium is not a time of (pure) perfection. More like partial perfection. Perfect begins soon after the Millennium when God will make all things new, including the heavens and the earth.

Nevertheless, until that time the Millennium will be an exceptional era of virtue, justice, and peace. Filled with wonderful Wonders!

(The New Jerusalem soon after the Millennium ends)

The 1000-year reign of Christ will be: Peace on earth, good will toward men.