Millennium Superworld
Chapter 9: Millennial Peace
The Millennium will bring more than one kind of prosperity, but first let’s think about physical prosperity.
Our modern world has prospered beyond the imaginings of our grandparents.
Modern prosperity is measured in present-day terms—good salary, good business, many friends, fine and comfortable homes, a rising stock market, a successful career. It is not presumptuous to use our imagination a little and think about the prosperity of the age that is coming, for the apostle Paul wrote that God will reward His own with blessings beyond all that we are able to imagine (1 Cor. 2:9, NEB): “Things beyond our seeing, things beyond our hearing, things beyond our imagining, all [are] prepared by God for those who love him.”
During the Millennium, the co-rulers with Christ will enjoy the greatest of blessings in a new and immortal life. But there will be billions of the populace who will know prosperity in a different way. Doubtless many of these will, at least part-time, be engaged in the age-old art of agriculture—growing fruits, vegetables and landscape gardening (by millennium methods).
The Bible pictures millennial prosperity in terms of this art, known and practiced for so many centuries against numerous hindrances. Here are three outstanding prophecies of Scripture:
Ezekiel 36:30, “I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field”; or as translated in modern language: “I will give you huge harvests from your fruit trees and fields, and never again…[shall there be] famines” (TLB).
Ezekiel 34:26-27, “And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord.”
This prophecy is especially meaningful as phrased in modern language: “I will make my people and their home…a blessing. There shall be showers of blessing. Their fruit trees and fields will yield bumper crops and everyone will live in safety.”
Isaiah adds more prophecy: “Even the wilderness and desert will rejoice in those days; the desert will blossom with flowers. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the Lebanon mountains, as lovely as Mount Carmel’s pastures and Sharon’s meadows; for the Lord will display his glory there, the excellency of our God…Springs will burst forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert” (Isa. 35:1-2, 6, TLB).
Prosperity everywhere! Never again will any one fear shortages. There will be billions of fertile acres for eager cultivators. no more blight, no more devouring worms, insects or pests—for there will be nothing “to hurt nor destroy” (Isa. 11:9).
Other factors will contribute to greater and surer productivity. The stabilizing and control of earth’s climate will multiply and enhance the quality and increase the quantity of production. There will be no more droughts, no floods, no damaging winds, no destructive frosts, no raging forest fires, no hurricanes and no earthquakes. Millennium inhabitants will know how to control all these, with the help of their immortal instructors. As a result, the success of their ventures will be guaranteed in advance; “They shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them” is the promise (Isa. 65:21).
Even Jesus, during His earthly ministry, was able to control the elements. He could say to the raging tempest, “Peace, be still.” And He promised that His disciples would do greater works than He did (John 14:12).
Unaided humanity could never bring about world prosperity. but the power of God in the trust of immortals will find no earthly problem beyond immediate and complete solution.