Difference between revisions of "Millennium"

Revision as of 16:45, 1 August 2006

In the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the millennium is a “thousand year period of peace that will begin when Christ returns to reign personally on the earth (see LDS Guide to the Scriptures and Article of Faith 10).”

When will the Millennium begin?

The terrors of the night are vanishing away. Where there was fear and ignorance and superstition, now there is love and light and pure religion. Fear has become courage; ignorance is transformed into wisdom; superstition and tradition are replaced by the light and truth of heaven. Soon the wolves of wickedness will no longer howl and the jackals of sin no longer snivel and snipe at the ongoing kingdom, and the great millennial day will be upon us (Bruce R. McConkie, “The Morning Breaks; the Shadows Flee,” Ensign, May 1978, 12).

The millennium will begin at the time of Christ’s Second Coming. When Christ returns a resurrection will occur. All those who have been righteous will have their bodies and spirits made whole again. These righteous will help Christ rule and lead His Church. Just after the beginning of the Millennium a second group of righteous individuals will be resurrected. These people were not as righteous as those in the first group but will still have the opportunity to participate in Christ’s millennial reign.

Who will be on the Earth during the Milliennium?

The wicked of the earth will be destroyed in pestilence, disease, and war before Christ comes again. Only good, just, and righteous people will remain on the earth. This does not mean that all will be members of the LDS faith. The Prophet Brigham Young taught that there would be many on the earth that were good men and women but had not yet learned of the gospel. Those who have passed away and have been resurrected will be able to visit the earth and will help build up the kingdom. The City of Enoch will return to the earth and play an important role.

What will life be like during the Millennium?

• There will be no war (see Isa. 2:4, 2 Ne. 12:4, Micah 4:3).
• The earth will be changed so that it is again like it was at the time of the Garden of Eden (see Ezek. 36: 35).
• Satan will have no power over the people and righteousness, love of neighbor, and peace will reign (see 1 Ne. 22: 26).
• People will continue to have children and parents will have the joy of watching their children grow up in righteousness (see D&C 45: 58).
• People will continue to live, but when they get old they will not suffer death, they will be automatically changed from having a mortal body to having an immortal body (see D&C 63: 51).
• The members of the Church will be engaged in performing temple work for the living and the dead. Resurrected beings (those who have passed away) will be able to help the living find names and correct any mistakes that may have been made.
• Through temple work all of the earthly family will be linked from generation to generation all the way back to Adam.
• Members will also be busy teaching the gospel. Everyone will have the opportunity to hear it and choose for themselves whether or not they will accept it.
• Christ will rule over the Church and the government in perfection.
• There will be two capital cities: Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem in North America.
• Every living creature will live in peace, including animals.
• There will be no disease.
• There will be an increase of understanding and knowledge.
• People will continue to marry, have families, plant food, harvest crops, and build houses. They will help each other to build Zion, "the pure in heart," and there will be no poor among them.

What will happen at the end of the Millennium?

Satan will be loosed for a short time and some people will believe him and follow him. There will be a final battle between Satan and his followers and Christ and his followers. Satan will lose the battle and be defeated forever. The final judgment will then be given to all who have ever lived on the earth.