Millennium Superworld
Chapter 8: Millennial Life and Health
The promise is, “As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord” (Num. 14:21). During the Millennium, the glory of the Lord will be everywhere—and everywhere increasing.
One definition of glory is beauty. the beautifying of ramshackle cities and desecrated landscapes will be a glorious project of the millenarians. All through the thousand years the project will go on, and the earth will increase in beauty. It will be beauty beyond the fondest expectation.
Outstanding everywhere will be the beauty of holiness, for “thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified” (Isa. 60:21).
But for the glory of the Lord and for the enjoyment of all, God has promised there will be physical beauty as well.
Everyone knows how to add to the beauty of the world: Do away with smoke, smog, and gas fumes, and replace them with the fragrance of blossoms, pine and sweet spice. Remove all slums and dilapidated structures; remove the inglorious telephone poles and power lines and replace them with better systems; lay out more parks, gardens, and perfect country settings.
Urban renewal projects in our day have transformed many a dark corner even now. So it will be in all corners of the earth. Millennium youth (everyone under one hundred years of age!—Isa. 65:20) will be able to find plenty of useful employment for their creative minds and expanding energies. First will be the task of clearing away the immoral, the decadent, everything that does not harmonize with God’s Millennial-life blueprint. All the old slums, club houses, casinos, saloons, taverns, dance halls, night clubs, porn shops, and all dens of lust and iniquity will be reduced to rubble and be carried off. Not even a trace of their filth will remain to defile the new populace. Then will begin the construction of the new and beautiful. It will be a glorious work!
Imagine something you call beautiful now, the most beautiful creation you can conceive of—Millennium beauties will surpass it!
Again we go to the prophet Isaiah for a picture of the beautiful scenes that shall be:
“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon”—the Prophet used imagery the people of his time could comprehend as a point of beginning; these were the most beautiful sights Isaiah had ever seen. But all this, said Isaiah, would be only the beginning of the reality, for “they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God” (Isa. 35:1-2).
The prophet’s prediction is a glorious contrast to what has been known on earth for centuries. Gone is the fearsome landscape of desolation. All nature breaks out in new life and beauty. The air is crystal clear, sweet with the scent of flowers. The fields are bright with blossom and every common bush is beautiful. It is a garden full of delights in the midst of which will live the people of God.
Hear the Prophet as he describes more of the natural and spiritual beauties of the new age: “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein” (Isaiah 35:8).
Greatly enriching the beauty of the Millennium will be the glorious immortal beings, shining with the resplendent beauty of their new divine life. Isaiah pictures them, the “ransomed of the Lord” traveling the high road of Zion and singing their hearts out for joy as they travel. It is a new age. The sun has risen, and the shadows, sorrow and sighing of the old world have fled forever.
“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isa. 35:10).
Who would not like to be one of them!
Hark! the voice eternal; robed in majesty; Calling into being earth, its land and sea; | |
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Hark! in countless numbers all the angel throng Hail the earth’s creation with one burst of song. | |
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Bright the world and glorious, calm both earth and sea, Noble in its grandeur, silent in its peace; | |
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Then He made earth’s mortals, giving life to all; Offering them salvation, those who heed His call. | |
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Long the nations waited, through the troubled night, Looking, longing, yearning, for the promised light. | |
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Prophets saw the morning breaking far away, Minstrels sang the splendor of that opening day. | |
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Brightly dawned the Advent of the new-born King, Joyously the watchers heard the angels sing. | |
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Teaching, healing, Jesus walked amid the strife, Then came cruel death—and resurrection life. | |
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Lo! again He cometh, robed in clouds of light, As the Judge eternal, armed with power and might. | |
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Nations to his footstool gathered then shall be; Earth shall yield her treasures, and her dead, the sea. | |
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Jesus! Lord and master, Prophet, Priest, and King, To thy feet, triumphant, hallowed praise we bring. | |
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Thine the pain and weeping, Thine the victory; Power, and praise, and honor, be, O Lord, to Thee. |