The Return of the King -- Part 6
- L Rshaw
- May 2, 2020
- 14 min read
Updated: Jun 23, 2022
“In that day the enmity of man, and the enmity of beasts, yea, the enmity of all flesh, shall cease” (D&C 101:26; Isa. 11:6–9)
Below is a breakdown of what this series, "The Return of the King" has covered thus far if you want to go back to review any topics. This blog post will be discussing what will happen immediately following the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, a period of a thousand years of peace known as "The Millennium". Note that the world does not end at the Second Coming and that the day of judgment will come after the Millennium.
**NOTE: If you wish to get in contact with missionaries of the Church to learn more, you can do so at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/missionary-visit
Part 1: God's Plan of Happiness, We lived with God, why we need a Savior (The Fall of Adam and Eve), an opposition in all things, agency
Part 2: The Last Days/ The Last Dispensation, prophets and modern-day revelation
Part 3: Ancient Prophecies of the Second Coming
Part 4.1: Joseph Smith's First Vision, The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon, the Angel Moroni
Part 4.2: The Restoration of Priesthood Keys, the Spirit of Elijah, More Visions
Part 5: Events before the Second Coming, the New Jerusalem, the Gathering of Israel
Click to Navigate (Table of Contents):
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As has thus been the case, this discussion will not be exclusive and I again remind you that I acknowledge that I am not an authority on the subject material. As such, I will strive to refrain from esoteric doctrine. Nevertheless, I warn you that this will be a much deeper topic than I would recommend as a first read if you are not familiar with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. My regular "Works and Wonders" posts are a better place for novices to gain familiarity with Church teachings.. Remember that the first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ unto repentance. Please don't get lost in the technicalities of the topic of the Second Coming. Have faith in Jesus Christ, keep His commandments, repent, be baptized into His Church, and keep your covenants. These are the things that matter most.
APOCALYPSE
We've discussed the need for opposition in all things in order to know joy (See "The Return of the King --- Part 1"). There are scriptural instances of occasional darkness preceding spiritual enlightenment (Alma 36; Moses 1; JSH 1:15-17). When Christ was crucified, there were great and terrible occurrences upon the face of the land such as earthquakes, perpetual darkness, and storms, both in Jerusalem (Matt. 27:45,50-21) as well as in the Americas as recorded in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (3 Nephi 8). The unrepentant persecuters were destroyed but the righteous and faithful were spared. Shortly afterwards, when the darkness and destruction had passed, Christ showed himself as a resurrected being to the righteous who were spared and blessed many of them (3 Nephi 11; Luke 24:15; John 20:16-17; 21:14). I believe that this account is an archetype of what we may expect before Christ's Second Coming in some future day among other so-called "Signs of the Times". Although the world will be in commotion, we will rejoice to remember that the righteous will be blessed thereafter and that the end of the world is not yet, rather the end of worldliness is en-route.
When you hear the word "Apocalypse" you may think of the book in the New Testament called, "The Book of Revelations" or "The Revelation of St. John the Divine". I of course speak of the writings of the Apostle John the Beloved while he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos. John's writings were also prophesied of by the prophet Nephi in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (1 Nephi 14:18-27). Sometimes called, "The Apocalypse", it appropriately comes from a Greek word meaning revealed or uncovered, not destruction like so many people associate with it. I assume you already have some general familiarity with the book so I'll refer you here if you want to read it. The book offers a panoramic view of events through the ages—of Apostasy, Restoration, Judgment, and Millennium. Although there will be temporary wars and turmoil in the last days, many wondrous things will happen, particularly during what's called "The Millennium"; modern-day revelation through living prophets has provided much more information than one can find in ancient scripture alone. Ancient scripture and modern revelation are both valuable and give us a greater trove of knowledge when put together.
The Second Coming will be a great thing for the righteous but a dreadful thing for the wicked, as such it is sometimes called, "The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord" (Mal. 4:5). "Every corruptible thing...that dwells upon all the face of the earth, shall be consumed; and also that of element shall melt with fervent heat; and all things shall become new..." (D&C 101:24-25). The wicked will be burned (Mal. 4:1; Matt. 16: 25-30, 38-40; D&C 133:64) and the earth will be "sanctified" (D&C 77:12). The righteous, however, will be saved; many more than 144,000 as some religions believe. We do not believe in a few destined to be saved rather He will save all who turn to Him in faith and repent; that is the central consistent message of truth throughout ALL scripture.
"And whosoever will hearken unto my words and repenteth and is baptized, the same shall be saved. Search the prophets, for many there be that testify of these things." (3 Nephi 23:5)
It's worth reiterating that at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the unrepentant wicked individuals will be "burned" and only righteous individuals will be left on the Earth during the Millennium. This is not exclusive to any religious denomination. All good people who are willing to obey Christ will remain, and this includes all types of people, not only members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints but this includes Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Atheists, Agnostics, and so forth.
CHRIST WILL VISIT JERUSALEM
As mentioned previously in "The Return of the King --- Part 5", when Christ comes again, He will come to the New Jerusalem first. But at some point He will also appear in the Old Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives or Mount Olivet (which is described to be the place where Christ ascended into heaven in Acts 1:9-12). Said the Lord through modern revelation of the day He visits Jerusalem again:
"And then shall the Lord set his foot upon this mount, and it shall [split in half], and the earth shall tremble, and reel to and fro, and the heavens also shall shake... and they that have watched for iniquity shall be hewn down and cast into the fire.
And then shall the Jews look upon me and say: What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet? Then shall they know that I am the Lord; for I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God.
And then shall they weep because of their iniquities; then shall they lament because they persecuted their king. And then shall the heathen nations be redeemed and they that knew no law shall have part in the first resurrection; and it shall be tolerable for them." (D&C 45:50-54)
Thus, not only the Gentiles, but even the Jews will come to recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Jesus was born a Jew and His earthly ministry was to take the gospel to the Jews and not the Gentiles (Mark 7:26-29). But the Jews rejected His gospel and crucified Him. Following His resurrection and ascension into heaven, the remaining Apostles and other missionaries of the Church were commanded to no longer take the gospel to the Jews who'd rejected it but to take the gospel to the Gentiles, which they did from the Book of Acts and thereon. This is what is meant by the scriptures when they say, "The last shall be first, and the first last" (Matt. 19:30; 20:16; Luke 13:30; Ether 13:12). The Jews were the first and then the Gentiles. And now the gospel is preached to the Gentiles until the day that the Jews come to accept Jesus Christ at the Second Coming.
When Jesus Christ returns again, He will reign personally as King over the whole earth for a thousand years which is why we call it, "The Millennium" or "The Great Millennium" (Rev. 20:4; D&C 29:11; Article of Faith 10). All people in all nations and all tongues will know Him.
Christ will further instruct His people, a great time of revelation or apocalypse per se. Whereas we currently "see through a glass, darkly" (1 Cor. 13:12), when Christ comes again he shall reveal ALL THINGS! In a modern revelation to Joseph Smith in 1833, the Lord says as much:
"Yea, verily I say unto you, in that day when the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all things—Things which have passed, and hidden things which no man knew, things of the earth, by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereof ---- Things most precious, things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven." (D&C 101:32-34)
PEACE ON EARTH
Following the destruction of the wicked at the arrival of Jesus Christ, the Millennium --- the next thousand years --- will be a time of righteousness and peace on the earth. During the Millennium, there will be no war. People will live in peace and harmony together. Things that have been used for war will be turned to useful purposes. “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isa. 2:4; 11:6–7; D&C 101:26). “In that day the enmity of man, and the enmity of beasts, yea, the enmity of all flesh, shall cease” (D&C 101:26; Isa. 11:6–9). This includes animals as well as people, "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord" (Isa. 65:25). One of Christ's names is the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6-7), and lasting peace comes through Him.
CHRIST WILL REIGN OVER THE EARTH & LEAD HIS KINGDOM
We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's kingdom upon the Earth. When we talk of Christ reigning as King over the whole earth (Rev. 11:15), we mean it literally. President John Taylor taught: “The Lord will be king over all the earth, and all mankind literally under his sovereignty, and every nation under the heavens will have to acknowledge his authority, and bow to his scepter. Those who serve him in righteousness will have communications with God, and with Jesus; will have the ministering of angels, and will know the past, the present, and the future; and other people, who may not yield full obedience to his laws, nor be fully instructed in his covenants, will, nevertheless, have to yield full obedience to his government. For it will be the reign of God upon the earth, and he will enforce his laws, and command that obedience from the nations of the world which is legitimately his right.” The present governments of the world are imperfect largely because they are lead by imperfect beings. However, the government of Christ will be a perfect organization because Jesus Christ will head it and oversee it. And I imagine that the righteous who will consequently remain on Earth at that time will operate better than they do now because they will be rid of contention and corruption.
SATAN BOUND AND RIGHTEOUSNESS ABOUNDS
Satan will be “bound, that he shall have no place in the hearts of the children of men” and "shall not have power to tempt any man" (D&C 45:55; Rev. 20:1–3; 1 Nephi 22:26). And this will be because of the righteousness of the people.
During the Millennium, all people on the earth will be good and just, but many will not have received the fullness of the gospel, that is to say that they not yet members of the kingdom of God --- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They will include all those who have lived virtuous lives, who have been honest in their dealings with their fellow man and have endeavored to do good to the best of their understanding shall remain. That is to say that not only members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but all good people will be around after the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Consequently, members of the Church will still participate in missionary work even after Jesus Christ has come again and all see Him and know Him.
The Millennium is not the end of Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness. There will still be more to do in preparation of the Judgment Day and the hereafter that comes at the end of the thousand years of peace. The Millennium will come to an end. But in the meantime, the activities that will occur during those thousand years will largely be the same work of salvation that is now performed: to give every soul past and present the opportunity to accept the gospel and enter into covenants with God.
TEMPLE WORK & MISSIONARY WORK ACCELERATED
There will be two great works for members of the Church during the Millennium: 1) Temple Work and 2) Missionary Work. People will still have their agency, and for a time many will be free to continue with their religions and ideas (See "The Return of the King --- Part 1"). Eventually everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is the Savior (Mos. 16:1; 27:31; D&C 88:104). Eventually there will be no need to teach others the first principles of the gospel because “they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord.” (Jer. 31:34)
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will also participate in temple work during the Millennium. They will continue to build temples and receive ordinances in behalf of their kindred dead (See "Redeeming the Dead"). Guided by revelation, they will prepare records of their ancestors all the way back to Adam and Eve. This is an enormous feat!
Performing ordinances for the dead allows all of God's children to have the opportunity to make covenants that they didn't have the opportunity to make in life (John 3:5-6; 1 Cor. 15:29; D&C 128); God is a just and merciful God and it would be unjust for so few people to have the opportunity to hear and receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Covenants are essential for eternal life which is why family history work and temples are particularly important to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (See also "Eternal Life" As He Is"). As mentioned in "The Return of the King --- Part 4.2", the priesthood keys needed to perform these temple ordinances were restored by the Old Testament prophet Elijah in this last dispensation (See also "The Return of the King --- Part 2"). Therefore, our bold but sincere claim that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true Church and the only one through which we may receive eternal life. (See "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism")
LIFE GOES ON
Life's activities will continue in much the same way as it always has except righteously. Education, travel, industry, agriculture, and construction will continue, perhaps even more than ever. Children will continue to be born. Furthermore, children of the righteous will grow up without sin (D&C 45:58) because Satan will be bound and there will be no temptation to sin. But what of death?
A TRANSITION DIFFERENT FROM DEATH
During the Millennium, there will be no death as we now know it. "In that day an infant shall not die until he is old; and his life shall be as the age of a tree" (D&C 101:30); the Old Testament prophet Isaiah taught that the age of a tree would mean people in the Millennium would live to be about a hundred years old (Isa. 65: 20-23). Children shall grow up until they become old (D&C 63:51); however, old men shall "die" but they "shall not sleep in the dust, but they shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and shall be caught up, and his rest shall be glorious" (D&C 101:31), most likely an experience similar to the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). Not much is known about this transition from mortality to immortality during the Millennium other than it will be rather instantaneous like blink an eye. The reason for this "twinkling of an eye" physical change might not seem obvious at first, but it makes sense once you realize that during the Millennium, the righteous shall be resurrected from the grave and be perfect immortal beings already.
THE FIRST OF TWO RESURRECTIONS
All those who have ever died in Earth's history will be resurrected (John 5:25-26; 1 Cor. 15:22). But not everyone will be resurrected at the same time. Those who were righteous in their actions will be resurrected first in what is often called, "The First Resurrection" (Mos.15: 21-24, Alma 40:16). The First Resurrection will occur during the Millennium.
"And the graves of the saints shall be opened and they shall come forth and stand on the right hand of the Land, when he shall stand upon Mount Zion, and upon the holy city, the New Jerusalem". And these shall include the prophets of past dispensations: "Enoch... Noah... Moses... and from Moses to Elijah, and from Elijah to John, who were with Christ in his resurrection, and the holy apostles, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, shall be in the presence of the Lamb." (D&C 133:54-56)
Now that is not to assume that the resurrected brings, or "changed" beings will always dwell on the Earth; surely those resurrected beings who restored priesthood keys do not presently reside on Earth. Rather, Joseph Smith said that immortal beings will frequently visit the earth and that these resurrected beings will help with the government and other work. The prophet Joseph Fielding Smith taught that resurrected beings will help us correct the mistakes we have made in doing research concerning our dead ancestors and that they will also help us find the information we need to complete our records. This will inevitably greatly assist temple work.
Note that I will talk more about "Second Resurrection" in my next post. (See "The Return of the King --- The Final Part")
THE EARTH RENEWED
There will be physical changes to the Earth. THIS CALLS BACK TO THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE! Remember, the Savior was chosen from before the world was to redeem the world from the inevitable yet needful "Fall of Adam and Eve" (See "The Return of the King --- Part 1"). In the time that they partook of the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, not only did Adam and Eve have physical changes that made them mortal and susceptible to pain and disease, but the entire Earth "fell" from it's perfect state. The ground was "cursed" and brought forth thorns and thistles (Gen. 3:17-18). At some future time, the Earth will be redeemed from the Fall and will be restored to it's original Eden-like state. In other words, "THE EARTH SHALL BE RENEWED" to it's paradisaical glory (See Article of Faith 10). "[Christ] shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries, and the islands shall become one land; and the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided" (D&C 133:22-24). "And an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the greet deep...and in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land" (vs. 27, 29).
Note that I will talk about the final state of the Earth in my next post.
IN CONCLUSION
The Millennium will be incredible! And I reaffirm that I don't know everything and have not mentioned all the things that will happen. I know some people who believe that many who now live will live to see the Millennium in their lifetime. You can only hope. I can think of no better time in human history than that time that is to come with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. We have much to hope for and look forward to with Christ's Second Coming, and this because of the knowledge from modern-day revelation through living prophets. No wonder those who don't know of modern-revelation only think of the Second Coming as something to be feared.
In my next post, I will conclude my thoughts with the things that will happen after the Millennium which includes further discussion about the resurrection, the Judgment Day, and the eternities.
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