Don Stewart :: If There Will Be a Future Millennium on the Earth, Then Will the Holy Spirit Work during That Time?

If There Will Be a Future Millennium on the Earth, Then Will the Holy Spirit Work during That Time?

The Holy Spirit: How He Works – Question 20

There is a difference among Bible-believing Christians as to the existence of a future one thousand-year period on the earth known as the Millennium. Some feel it will literally occur here on the earth in the future after Jesus Christ returns. Others believe the thousand-year period will occur before He returns.

Still others think the period of one thousand years is only symbolic of a long period of time and see no literal rule of Christ upon the earth before the eternal state begins. Each of these perspectives are held by people who have the highest regard for the Bible and its divine inspiration.

We will look at the various arguments for each perspective in a course that we will offer: The Bible and the Future.

The One Thousand Year Reign of Christ

If we assume, for sake of argument, that such a period will occur, then what will be the role of the Holy Spirit? The millennial reign of Christ will last for one thousand years. Premillennialists believe that it will occur after His Second Coming to the earth. During this time peace will rule. Questions arise: How will the Holy Spirit function during this period? Will there still be the need for people to be converted?

The Holy Spirit Will Indwell Certain People at the Beginning of the Millennium

When the Millennium begins, all those who enter into it will be believers. Both Jews and Gentiles who have survived the Great Tribulation with faith in Christ will enter this period.

In other words, they will have the Holy Spirit indwelling them. We can make the following observations.

There Will Be a Judgment on Gentiles

Jesus talked about this judgment of the Gentiles when He returns to the earth. Matthew records Him saying the following.

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All 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. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ (Matthew 25:31-34, 41 TNIV).

The Gentiles, or non-Jews, will be judged. Some will enter the kingdom while others will not.

There Will Be Judgment for the Jews

The prophet Zechariah spoke of the judgment of the Jews at this time. He wrote the following.

In the whole land, says the LORD, two-thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one-third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, “They are my people”; and they will say, “The LORD is our God” (Zechariah 13:8, 9 NRSV).

Those that survive these two judgments will enter the millennial period. Therefore all those who begin the Millennium are believers.

Children Will Be Born during This Time

However, children will be born during this period, and each of them will need to make a personal decision toward Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will be working in their lives to bring them into a relationship with God. Yet, despite the Holy Spirit’s work, there will be those who reject Christ. We read the following.

When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth–Gog and Magog–and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They 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 (Revelation 20:7-9 TNIV).

Therefore, we see the need for the Holy Spirit to work during the Millennium in the lives of unbelievers. Thus, He will be at work on this earth until the time in which it will exist no longer.

Summary – Question 20
If There Will Be a Future Millennium on the Earth, Then Will the Holy Spirit Work during That Time?

There is a difference among Christians as to whether the Bible teaches a future millennial rule of Jesus Christ upon the earth. There are good Bible-believing Christians who reject the idea of a future, literal 1,000-year period where Christ reigns as king over the earth. Those who hold such a perspective have the highest view of the divine inspiration of Scripture.

If the Bible teaches a future millennial rule of Christ upon the earth, then the Holy Spirit will still be at work. There will be those who enter this period in a human body; one which has not been glorified. Although everyone entering the Millennium will be a believer, there will be children born to them. These children that will be born during this period need to be converted to Christ. Only the work of God the Holy Spirit can accomplish this.

Therefore, if there is a future Millennium, there will be the need for the Holy Spirit to work.