Millennium Superworld
Chapter 6: Millennial Government
The typical government today has three branches: legislative (to make the laws); executive (to apply/ enforce the laws), and judicial (to interpret the laws). In Christ’s new government there will be no legislative branch, because the laws will have been made in advance. Actually, they will be dictated from above. Just as the Lord’s messenger delivered the laws for the nation of Israel to Moses on Mount Sinai, so the laws for Christ’s new government will be pre-made. For this new government will be no experiment; it will be according to God’s “eternal purpose” (Eph. 3:11), all aspects of it having been tried and proven a thousand million times in the past. And there will be no modifying of the laws to accommodate human deviance or human objection.
Christ’s kingdom will be everywhere absolute and holding full authority. The book of Revelation describes the government as rule “with a rod of iron” (Rev. 2:27). But it will be law for the good of all, never cruel, never unkind; never oppressive, unfair or unjust. Will there be questions of policy, standards, or rights? All of these issues, like the laws themselves, will have been established in advance. Jesus will need no opinion polls. No more You decide what is right for you, but you obey.
This is where the executive branch of the government will take over, enforcing the laws for the good of all. What will happen when one disobeys? He will “hear a voice behind [him] saying, This is the way, walk in it” (Isa. 30:21, NIV). Will those in authority ever make mistakes, or execute a law for selfish interest? No, the prophet Isaiah declares that the officers will all be officers of peace and exactors of righteousness (Isa. 60:17-18). The principle proclaimed in ancient Israel (though not always practiced) will now be exercised fully: “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God” (2 Sam. 23:3).
The law will be severe, but along with severity will come a full measure of personal concern and solicitude. The Divine promise is: “before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isa. 65:24). Or as the passage has been paraphrased: “I will answer them before they even call to me, while they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer” (TLB). What all-sufficient providence!
What does the Bible reveal about the judicial branch of this government? Will one’s fellow citizens be asked to decide whether an offender is innocent or guilty on the basis of unproven and unprovable testimonies? No such uncertain decisions will be needed, for just as Jesus could read the hearts of His fellowmen when He was on earth the first time (John 2:24), so Christ’s co-rulers will be able to read the heart. They will know—not surmise or guess, but know—who is innocent and who is guilty. The effect upon the system of justice will be immediate, for when the thoughts and intents of the heart cannot be concealed, no evil can grow under cover. For the first time in history there will be no successful underworld of evil. Nor will there be any evil act performed openly. Wherever sin is manifest, it will be immediately put down. No open transgression will be allowed. No law will be abused, nor will any faction be allowed to interpret a law for selfish ends. The result, “Thou shalt not see evil any more” (Zeph. 3:15).
Can we even faintly imagine the result of such a system of justice? When sentence against an evil work is executed speedily, there soon will be no crime or cruelty, no man-against-man. In addition, no family strife will be tolerated, no inequity, no gambling or bribery or taking of unjust gain; no drug trafficking, no alcoholism, no child abuse, or spouse abuse or elder abuse; no manufacturing to satisfy man’s vanity or selfish pleasures. How can this be? Because the “devil,” sin and all sinners, will be “bound,” restricted, confined inside the hearts that are still evil (Rev. 20:2; Jer. 17:9); he will not be able to go about spreading evil and mischief any more.