“If you died right now where would you spend eternity?”

Wow what a question that is!? Christians ask that question in efforts to get people saved, but the truth is… We don’t understand eternity ourselves.
Sure, Christians recognize the words heaven & hell.. but do we understand what they will be like or where they will be? We don’t have much recognition of the tribulation, millennial kingdom, the judgement seat of Christ, the great white throne judgement…
So what happens after you die? The Bible tells us. It’s time we take a look.
In this 2nd week of the series Pastor Chris Fluitt takes a look at the 1000 year Millennial Reign of Christ & the Rapture Reward. He gives a detailed description of the Millennial Kingdom. He gives answers for what Jesus, people, the raptured will do in that coming Kingdom. There is a Rapture Reward for those who are ready for the coming of the Lord. You will want this reward!

Are we watching, waiting, longing for the return of the savior Jesus Christ?

Afterlife 2 – Millennial Kingdom Reign & Rapture Reward from Redemption Church on Vimeo.

Afterlife 2 Rapture Reward Millennial Kingdom

Sermon notes by Chris Fluitt

Redemption Church Plano Tx

Verse 1
There is coming a day when no heartache shall come
No more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye
All is peace forever more on that happy golden shore
What a day, glorious day that will be
Chorus
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see
And I look upon His face the one who saved me by His grace
When He takes me by the hand and leads me through the promise land
What a day glorious day that will be
Verse 2
There’ll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear
No more sickness, no more pain, no more parting over there
And forever I will be with the one who died for me
What a day glorious day that will be

AFTERLIFE TITLE
Welcome back for the 2^nd week of the afterlife series. My name is Chris Fluitt. I am blessed to be the lead pastor here at Redemption Church. A spirit-filled Church in the great city of Plano, Tx.
Last week we talked about the Rapture & the Tribulation. Quick review.

Jesus is coming back. No one knows the day or the hour but he will return.
Jesus will return and catch away His bride. He is coming for a bride that is ready and prepared for him. Christians traditionally call this event the rapture (even though that word is not found in scripture the truth that Jesus will return is!)
Jesus will catch away the dead and the living.
There will be a tribulation. The tribulation is a 7 year period designed to make an un-prepared bride ready through test and hardship. The tribulation is meant for Israel… but if you miss the rapture then the tribulation is meant for you.
We need to be READY for the coming of the Jesus. We need to be watching, waiting, longing for the return of the King.

Today we are going to talk about the Rapture Reward & the Millennial Kingdom.
The Afterlife is a lot more than just Heaven & Hell
Scripture clearly tells us that before we enter into eternity in Heaven or Hell, the world will go through a 1000 year reign of Christ on Earth.
Just as Christians disagree on when the Rapture will occur (Pre-trib, Mid-trib, Post-trib) Christians also have some disagreement over when the Millennium Reign will occur.
I am not going to be covering the different views of millennialism today. Please do not be offended if I present a different view that what you hold. I am more than happy to discuss views
Afterlife Timeline 2
Jesus returns with his angels & saints. (1 Thess 3:13, Jude 14, Zechariah 14:5)
Jesus conquers! We are told in Revelation 19 that the Anti-Christ/the beast & the False Prophet are captured thrown into the lake of fire. The rest of the armies who were gathered together to destroy Israel where destroyed by a sword that proceeds from the mouth of Jesus. The sword represents the Truth. The truth, the Word of God always defeats the enemy.
This ends the tribulation. Here is what the beginning of the Millennial Reign of Christ looks like.
Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.(NIV)
Revelation 20:2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.(NIV)
Revelation 20:3 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.(NIV)
Satan on a chain. Satan bound. Satan sealed away in an unescapable prison called the abyss.
Afterlife Timeline 2
Satan is called the god of this world in 2 Cor 4:4
The true GOD OF THIS WORLD JESUS CHRIST has come to Earth. He has chained up the fraud, Lucifer, and chained him up in the abyss. This is what happens at the start of the Millennial Reign.

I want you notice that Christ came to earth to fight the battle of Armageddon.. never does it say that Jesus ascends back to heaven.

Let’s describe the Millennial Reign further.
Christ will reign over the earth for 1000 years during the millennial reign. This happens before heaven & hell. This reign happens after the rapture & tribulation. (Some have a different viewpoint on when the millennium reign starts)
1000 years?
Where do we get this 1000 years from? Is this literal or symbolic?
In Revelation 20 where it describes events in the Millennial Reign (which millennium means 1000 years) in the 1^st 7 verses of the chapter it mentions 1000 years 6 times. Your bible doesn’t repeat things unless it is really important info. The repeating of 1000 years leads me to think it will literally be 1000 years.
Also we believe that Satan will literally be chained. We believe that Satan is literally to be sealed in the abyss. We believe Jesus will literally rule and reign.

Jesus in the Millennium
What will Jesus be doing?
Jesus will Be Reigning. The Lord Jesus Christ will sit on the throne of David (Isaiah 9:6-7). He will rule the world in power, righteousness and glory. His reign will usher in a time of peace and prosperity like nothing the world has ever experienced. His reign will finally bring justice and holiness to the world.
Jesus will Be Ruling. The Bible tells us that Jesus will “rule the world with a scepter/rod of iron.” (Revelation 19:15) Like a shepherd, Jesus will guide the entire population of the world.
Jesus will Be Receiving. In the Millennial kingdom, He will receive the glory He has always deserved. All people from every nation will come and bow at His feet and worship the King of Glory! Instead of cursing His name, men will worship Him and shout His praises! What a day that will be!
The world has never had a ruler like this. All human rulers are controlled by their lusts for power, for wealth and for self-glory. Jesus, on the other hand, will reign in perfect righteousness. He is the ruler we have always looked for!
Isaiah 40:5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”(NIV)
Moses was not able to look upon the Glory of God.. But in the Millennial Reign all will see His Glory!
Romans 14:11 It is written: “`As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, `every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'”(NIV)
People in the Millennium
There will be people in the new Millennium. These are people that made it through the tribulation period. They will continue to live. They will populate the earth.

There will be pro-creation. Children will be born. There will be death, but people will live longer. Isaiah 65:20
There won’t be sickness, disease or anyone born with deformity. (Isaiah 29:17-19; 35:3-6 & 33:24; Jeremiah 30:17; 33:6)
God will remove the curse placed upon the earth at the fall of man (Genesis 3:17-19) During the millennium there will be an increase in the productivity of the earth, and it will cause animals the loose their ferocity and venom. (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25)
There will be world-wide peace. There will be no war. (Isaiah 2:4, 9:6-7)
There will be free will. There will be disagreements among people, but Jesus who sits on the throne of David will judge and keep peace. (Isaiah 2:4)
There will be labor, and no laziness, or welfare. All needs will be provided for by the labor of men under direction of the king. Isaih 62:8-9; 65:21-23; Jeremiah 31:5)
No one will steal your stuff! (Isaiah 65:22-23)
There will be no oppression. no more racism. social, political, economic or religious oppression. (Isaiah 14:3-6; 42:6-7; 49:8-9; Zechariah 9:11-12.) THERE WILL BE NO IRS!
Unified Language – All language barriers will be removed. (Zephaniah 3:9)
Unified Worship – The entire world will worship the one true God! (Isaiah 45:23; 66:17-23; Zephaniah 3:9; Zechariah 14:16; 8:23; Malachi 1:11)
Fellowship with God will be experienced in an unprecedented degree. There will be access to Jesus. Not only can you see Him face to face, but also everyone will have direct communication with Jesus from wherever they are in the world.
Isaiah 65:24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.(NIV)
This is pretty exciting right!? We don’t go straight to heaven. There is a Millennial Reign coming and we can see some of the attributes of Heaven in this 1000 year reign of Christ. Christ is showing off His Kingdom!

Revelation 20:4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge…
Who are “THOSE?”

There are other people in the Millennium Reign.
The Raptured in the Millennium
Last week we talked about the Rapture – the catching away of the prepared bride of Christ. Those that have been raptured from Earth will return to Earth in the Millennium Reign. Those that have been raptured have it BETTER than everyone else in the 1000 year reign.
You will want to receive the Rapture Reward
If you are raptured you will be spared the wrath of the great tribulation! (unless you have the post tribulation rapture view…) Being rescued from that is reward enough! Sign me up! …but there is so much more reward coming.
The raptured will receive crowns from Jesus. The one who wore a crown of thorns will bestow us an Incorruptible Crown (1 Corinthians 9:25). A crown that won’t tarnish or ruin. A crown that can’t be taken from you.
Scripture goes on to describe…
The Crown of Life (James 1:12, Revelation 2:10). Given for enduring trials and overcoming temptation. (Some call this the Martyr’s Crown)
The Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8). This crown is a reward given for faithfulness to use our gifts and opportunities in the service of the Lord and for loving His appearing.
The Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4). A reward promised to Elders for faithfulness in the discharge of their responsibilities in shepherding the people.
The Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). Paul speaks that people we have effected for Jesus Christ become our reward and glory in the afterlife. (Some call this the soul winner’s crown)
Those that a raptured will be given crowns that declares their status with Jesus.
In Revelation 4 we see people casting their crowns at the feet of Jesus in worship. Even though we have received these rewards for our works, we fully admit that we are saved by His grace alone.
Crowns are cool but there is more…
Rapture Reward
We are invited to rule and reign with Jesus Christ in the Millennial Reign. Let’s review the promises given to those who are in the 7 churches of Revelation 2 & 3. These are the ones who are victorious overcomers.

(Ephesus) To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life.
(Smyrna) The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
(Pergamum) To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
(Thyatira) To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter..
(Sardis) The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.
(Philadelphia) The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.
(Laodicia) To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne

Those that are raptured will sit in the throne with Jesus. They will rule with an Iron scepter. There is prophecy of the Messiah ruling with an Iron scepter but this reveals that Jesus will allow us to rule over nations with His iron scepter. The raptured are saved from the 2^nd death/hell. The raptured will be fixtures in God’s dwelling, the temple. They will always be in His presence.

The names of the raptured are written in the book of life.
They will have a NEW NAME from God!
God’s NEW NAME will be written on them!

People in Millennium Reign will still experience death. But not the raptured. They have victory over death and have the right to the tree of life.

We will be given glorified bodies. Jesus when he rose from the dead was able to walk through walls and disappear and reappear… The raptured will not be bound by the physical.
The Raptured will judge angels… Say What!?
Psalm 8:5 says that mankind was made lower than angels. Angels are better than you…
But here is a promise to those that are victorious in the rapture…
1 Corinthians 6:2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?(NIV)
1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!(NIV)
The Bible tells us that we are going to become like Jesus when we see Him. (1 John 3:2)
The reward for those in the rapture is great. Make up in your mind that you want to be ready when Jesus comes.

Why the rapture & why the Millennial Reign? Because… God has so much more to show us.
God gave us Jesus. This gift revealed more about God that we had ever known. The Angel said “You shall call His name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins..” That was the last time God revealed a name…
In the Millennial Reign God is going to reveal a new name. God is going to reveal more that we know about Him now.

Do you think that you know everything there is to know about God? Think again!

There are some scriptures you love to quote that won’t be fulfilled until the Millennial Reign.
Isaiah 9:6 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.(NIV)
Isaiah 9:7 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.(NIV)
Matthew 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.(NIV)

You can let God’s Kingdom come now. You can let Him rule in Peace now.
It’s time we let Him rule & reign.
We are about to open these altars.. but first there is something important to share.
Afterlife Timeline 2

At the end of the 1000 years Satan is released.. He deceives enough people to create an army. He marches the army to surround Jerusalem. It is there that Satan’s army is devoured by fire from heaven. Satan then joins his anti-christ & false prophet in the lake of fire. This is the end of Satan! (Revelation 20)
Jesus wins. Do you want Him to win in your life today?
millennial kingdom reign