The `Millennium' is bounded on each side by an invading army, led either by the Beast or deceived by Satan,

either gathered against `Him that sat on the horse' or `against the beloved city and camp of the saints' and both end

in fire, being destroyed as were the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha. If only a handful of rebels were discovered at

the close of the thousand years, it would cause us to question the idea of universal peace or righteousness, but this is

no `handful'. The number is said to be `as the sand of the sea', nothing but the overriding desire to hold to a

personal pre-conception could ever lead a child of God to belittle this description.

From the blessing of Abraham in Genesis 22:17 to Hosea 1:10 this figure is used consistently:

`Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be MEASURED nor

NUMBERED' (Hos. 1:10).

This unnumbered host with antichristian intent go `up on the breadth of the earth' and even though this should be

limited to the `land' of Palestine the implication is obviously the same as in Isaiah 8:8 and Habakkuk 1:8 where the

overwhelming nature of the invasion is thereby depicted.

No rhapsody, no poetic phrase, no private interpretation, no wishful thinking can alter the fact, that the

`Millennial Reign' ends, as it began with a terrible rebellion. The Millennium is not the FIRST of a new series, but

the LAST of an old one, in which man has been tested under different forms of government, and in every case been

found wanting. This Millennial kingdom is the LAST OF DELEGATED authority. David may have reigned on earth as

vice-regent, the twelve apostles may have sat on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel, the overcomers

may have reigned as priests of God and of Christ, but all in vain. Christ must put down ALL authority, whether good

or bad, and reign alone and supreme if ever the goal of the ages is to be reached.

We turn our attention for the moment to a series of features that characterise the Millennium, this closing period

of man's probation.

1.

The restraining of Satan.

2.

The restraining of transgression.

3.

The sealing up of sin.

4.

The rule of a rod of iron.

5.

The willing obedience of Israel.

6.

The feigned obedience of many of the nations.

The final weeks of the seventy weeks of Daniel 9 immediately precede the thousand year reign, and carry into that

period the blessings indicated in verse 24. The first thing that will be accomplished when the Seventy Weeks attain

their goal is said to be `to finish the transgression' (Dan. 9:24). This translation, however, leaves much to be

explained. Will transgression be `finished' in the sense that it is so completely accounted for by Atonement and

Forgiveness, that it will never again raise its head? (Heb. kalah). Will transgression be `finished' in the sense of the

Hebrew word shalam? The answer is no, the Hebrew word being kala, which though it resembles the Hebrew

kalah must not be confounded with it. Kala is translated as follows :

Forbid 1, keep 1, keep back 1, refrain 2, retain 1, shut up 4, withhold 2, be stayed 2, be restrained 2, be stayed 1,

and finish 1.

This is not mere opinion, but evidence and evidence which cannot be neglected or denied without spiritual disaster. Be

it noted, that the only reference in the A.V. that contains the translation `finish' is Daniel 9:24, which the margin

corrects by saying `or restrain'. The word is used of the imprisonment of Zedekiah and of Jeremiah and the noun

forms kele, and beth kele are translated `prison'. Daniel 9 does not teach us that when that prophecy is fulfilled

transgression will be `finished', it will be RESTRAINED or IMPRISONED. This will be also the condition of Satan

through the Millennial Kingdom, he will be `bound' for a thousand years, but he will by no means be `finished'. In

like manner, sins will be SEALED UP, as the margin indicates against the reading `to make an end of sins'. The

Hebrew word chatham is translated as follows :