The Beginnings of the Millennium
To find the credibility for many of the following statements one would have to read the paper named "The Day of Atonement". The principle thought to give attention when considering the very beginnings of the millennium is to understand and acknowledge the Biblical definition of the term atonement (H3722). It has nothing to do with the sacrifice of Jesus in any way. It has nothing to do with the salvation (resulting in eternal life) that may be given to a person. The word atonement is used 102 times in the Old Testament and in every occasion, except one, it is in reference to a pardon. The one exception is that this word is used to describe the pitch used to cover Noah’s ark.
Gen 6:14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch (H3722) it within and without with pitch (H3722).
H3722 A primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel: - appease, make (an) atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, to pitch, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile (-liation).
The principle use is applied to the covering of sin as a result of, or through a sin or trespass offering to God. The book of Hebrews makes the difference plain.
Heb 1:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
The millennium will begin with all of Israel's sins "covered" over. Not taken away but pardoned. When we compare this truth to what actually occurs when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we can see that it is a very serious thing to place Jesus in the same category of the animal sin offerings. This is done when Jesus is called an atonement.
An element that reveals the fact that the Day of Atonement has nothing to do with the salvation which is provided by the sacrifice of Jesus is the fact that the goat used for Israel's sins is a mature "shaggy" goat.
Lev 16:5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids (H8163) of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
H8163 From H8175; shaggy; as noun, a he goat; by analogy a faun: - devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr.
In Exodus 12:5 we are clearly shown the type of animal that is used for the Passover. "Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep or from the goats":
The next thing of importance is to understand when, in God's plan, the Day of Atonement occurs and how it will be fulfilled. There are some verses that help us with that question. Remember that the Day of Atonement follows the resurrection of the saints and marriage of the Bride. It then occurs just prior to the Feast of Tabernacles.
Zep 1:7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. [this is very important information]
Joe 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision : for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
Rev 16:16 And he gathered them (armies) together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (the actual valley of decision)
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant (G3062 -remaining ones) were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
The sacrifice of the shaggy goat and the bullock foreshadow the demise of the beast and false prophet. The prophetic "sacrifice" of the armies that are spoken of in Zep 1:7, as far as I can tell, are not foreseen in the Day of Atonement as recorded in Leviticus 16. See also the "sacrifices" of Jer 46:10, Isa 34:6 and Eze 39:17. Yet the original sacrifices spoken of in Leviticus 16 will have specific future fulfillments for the end time Day of Atonement. Israel will begin the millennium with a clean slate. Israel maintains that cleanliness through the establishment of the millennial temple and the animal sacrifices. Remember that those sacrifices do not involve the "salvation" of the Israelites. There may be others that require purification, but I don't think there would be a question that the Israelites who will officiate at the temple will have the need to be purified. It is most likely that there will be no one who has been baptized, hands laid on them and have kept the commandments of God and look forward to the promised future salvation that comes through Jesus, except, more than likely, the group that the five "virgins" represent who were left. Refer to "The Church Prior to the Resurrection" paper included in Other Subjects. But Israel will receive a national atonement, a "covering" for their sins.
Because of all of the circumstances that are involved with the end of the age the remnant of Israel will have the full knowledge of God's power and love for His people. Most of the time that the Bible speaks of a remnant it is in reference to Israel. They will have a humility that they have never had prior to the end time events. Our fasting on the Day of Atonement reflects the humility that Israel will posses at that time. This introduces our next element that begins the millennium.
The people that return to occupy Jerusalem and Israel will be a very special group. More than likely they are Israelites who have truly loved the God of the Bible as they could understand it, but have been led astray by Satan and his demons. They lacked the fullness of the awesome knowledge that resides in its pages. They would naturally come from the so called "lost ten tribes" of Israel.
In the 31/2 years of their dispersion they, more than likely, would have knowledge of the messages of the two witnesses who would have preached the truth of the Bible. These people are called time after time the "remnant".
Eze 6:8 Yet will I leave a remnant H3498, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.
Jer 31:8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
Jer 31:9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Jer 31:10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
Zep 3:13 The remnant H7604 of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
The next truth is that the Jesus will live with the people, for the first time, from the beginning of the millennium. The chapters of Ezekiel 40 to 48 are all about the reoccupation of Israel, at the beginning of the millennium. The specifics of the temple and its related instructions and the distribution of the land are included. The final words of chapter 48 say it all. Ezekiel 48:35 "It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there." Rev 21:3 --"and he will dwell with them" --.
Isaiah speaks of the Gentile nations that survive the end time tribulations.
Isa 66:18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
Isa 66:19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those (Israelites) that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
Isa 66:20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.
We are aware that Satan will be restrained at this time having no influence for 1000 years.
Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
The 16th chapter of Leviticus gives the details for the Day of Atonement. No other annual Holy Day begins to provide that level of information for its day. That chapter also provides the outline for the fulfillment of that Holy Day. Every annual Holy Day has a fulfillment that gives us an understanding of the way God is accomplishing the creation of his family. The paper "The Day of Atonement" speaks of the fulfillment for that day from its beginning to its end.
Finely, every Jubilee occurs on a Day of Atonement. What could be more appropriate than the true and lasting freedom provided for Israel will begin with a year of Jubilee.