Wow! The new millennium, a term we have heard so many times now, has finally arrived. The last year of this century, 1999, has been a year that will be remembered for many troubles! Not only has there been so many natural disasters, but there is a moral rot that has set in all over the world, but especially in the west, that has our society crumbling at its very foundation.

As current events have us rocking & reeling, fear is starting to grip the hearts of many and has many asking the questions; What will happen next? Where will the next shooting be? What problems will Y2K produce? Where will the next earthquake occur? Will I or my family be involved? What will the next scandal be, and who will be involved? A growing number of people are also asking the question: Is there any hope for this world? Will conditions improve during the new millennium? From God's perspective, the answer to this question is an emphatic, yes! But, the improved conditions the Lord has in mind for this earth hinge on the return of His dear Son! The Lord has never wanted man to hope in anything else.

As we start into the new millennium, the hope of Jesus' return is more probable than ever because Jesus, speaking of current events such as the ones we face today said, "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because, your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28 (NAS). So, why is the return of Jesus such a great hope? Answer: The Bible promises that when Jesus returns to this earth, things on earth will greatly improve! Let's examine some of these great promises.

Following Revelation 19 which describes the glorious return of Jesus Christ, Chapter 20 declares that Satan will be bound for 1,000 years. Can you imagine a world no longer influenced by Satan, a world that is no longer influenced by his dark, evil ways? One immediate blessing the world will realize with Satan bound is there will be no more war.

Think of a world that will no longer experience the horrors of war. Men and women will no longer lose their lives to an enemy's army simply because men want to rule over other men. No longer will the world live with the threat of nuclear holocaust or biological warfare. No longer will mothers be asked to send her sons and daughters off to war only to have them returned to her in a box with a sympathy letter. Speaking of that day, Isaiah the prophet wrote, "...and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Micah 4:3 KJV) These words are written on the cornerstone of the United Nations building in New York. When Jesus returns they will finally be realized. What a day it will be!

Politics of the world also will change drastically when Jesus returns! He will make Jerusalem the world's capitol and He will rule over the whole world. The prophet Zechariah declared, "And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one" (Zech. 14:9 NAS). The wisdom of Jesus will no longer be rejected, but embraced by the world's leaders. Speaking of this time, Micah wrote, "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established... And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off.." (Micah 4:1-3 KJV)

Man has tried many forms of government in history, but never a theocracy, which is God ruling over man. Scripture indicates that this is exactly what Jesus will establish when He returns. The days of corrupt politics and scandal will finally be over! The righteousness of God will govern supreme over man. Isaiah wrote, "And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear; But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth;" (Isa. 11:3-4 NAS). Think of it. Jesus will run a government that is fair, one that is free from scandal, bribery, unfair taxes, injustice, and inequities. Wow!

The Bible also indicates that when Jesus returns, the curse that this earth has been under since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, will be lifted. All the power in the universe will be released in blessing instead of cursing. The earth itself will begin to bloom and blossom so that even the desert will no longer be parched and dry. "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..." (Isa 35:1-2 KJV).

Longevity of life will return as in the days before the flood of Noah. "No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred shall be thought accursed." (Isa 65:20 NAS).

The animal kingdom will be redeemed. They will no longer be an enemies to man or to each other. The fear of man to animal and animal to man will be removed. "And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze; their young will lie down together; and the lion will eat straw like the ox. And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain,"... (Isa 11:6-9 NAS).

Two words are used six times in Revelation 20 describing this great time in which Jesus will rule when He returns. They are: "mille annum". They are translated "thousand years", or a millennium. In other words, Jesus will rule for a millennium when He returns. As man prepares to enter the new millennium, wouldn't it be great if Jesus would come and establish His!

Is there any hope for the new millennium? You bet there is! But that hope exists only for those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and saviour and believe in the future promises that rest in Him. A great time of distress is predicted in the Bible for those who refuse to do so. The Bible indicates that those who are not right with Him when He returns will be judged and only those in right standing will enter into His promises. If you are not right with Him today, you are gambling on borrowed time! Ask Him into your heart today. It will be the best preparation you can make for the new millennium.