Qiyamah: The Day That Death Will Die, Lesson 9

Prophet Isa's Kingdom of Life

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Taurat, Shaya 11:6-8)

Have you ever been to the zoo? Various animals and birds from all over the world are placed in cages or behind fences so that people can come and see. But why are the cages and fences necessary? For the safety of the zoo-goers and for the safety of the animals. Imagine if the tigers were allowed to go into the cages where all the beautiful tropical birds live. What would you have? Soon, you would have tigers with full bellies, but no more birds.

Strange as it may seem, there was a time when a tiger could live side by side with a beautiful bird without trying to devour it. When Allah created the world, animals did not devour each other. All animals, even tigers and other now meat-eating beasts, ate vegetation only:

And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground--everything that has the breath of life in it--I give every green plant for food. (Taurat, Genesis 1:30)

Here Allah is saying that at first, even tigers were to eat vegetables and no meat. It appears that in the beginning there was no death anywhere on earth amongst men or animals. Something happened however, to cause animals to kill and devour one another. Something happened to bring death into the world for the first time. Sin came and brought death with it:

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin...(Holy Injil, Romans 5:12)

For the wages of sin is death...(Holy Injil, Romans 6:23)

When Adam (pbuh) sinned, he not only brought death upon himself. He started a chain reaction which brought death into the whole creation. As a result, today, sickness and death are seen everywhere amongst man and beast. However, when Prophet Isa Masih returns to earth, this will change. He will set up a very special kingdom. In his kingdom, animals will no longer devour one another:

The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox...(Taurat, Shaya 65:25)

The short life span which man and beast have today, will be greatly enhanced:

Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. (Taurat, Shaya 65:20)

Death will be rare. This scripture says that someone who dies at hundred years of age will be considered a youth. If that is true, then how many years of age will old people be? When death does come, it will primarily come as a result of wickedness, that is, rebellion against the authority of the king. Who is this king? Prophet 'Isa al-Masih, he is the king. The following description of his future coming shows how great will be his authority to deal with wickedness:

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of Allah. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of Allah Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Holy Injil, Revelation 19:11-16)

Prince of Peace

He will not be just a king among other kings. He will be the king over all other kings. His kingdom will be worldwide and full of peace and justice. The prophet Shaya (Isaiah) was given the following prophecy over 700 years before Prophet Isa was born:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Allah, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on Dawud's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Taurat, Shaya 9:6,7)

In the above scripture, the word "peace" is repeated twice. Everyone in the world wants peace today, but how can it be obtained? Over the years, hundreds of peace treaties have been made, but wars continue. It will take a very powerful but good leader to bring the kind of peace the world is seeking. That leader is Prophet Isa, the "Prince of Peace". When he reigns as king, peace will be everywhere in his kingdom. There will be peace between nations, peace between people, and peace in men's hearts.

One Thousand Years of Peace

There are various opinions about how long this kingdom of Prophet 'Isa al-Masih will be. The Holy Injil however, is the one heavenly book which actually states how long it will be. Six times in one section of Allah's Word, it speaks about a period of a "thousand years". This portion immediately follows one which describes the return of Prophet Isa to this earth in qiyamah:

And I saw an an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is Iblis, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Isa and because of the word of Allah. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with al-Masih a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will priests of Allah and of al-Masih and will reign with him for a thousand years.
When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth--Yujuj and Majuj--to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of Allah's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And Iblis, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Holy Injil, Revelation 20:1-10)

According to the holy Injil then, Prophet 'Isa al-Masih will reign for one thousand years. Several things are said here about the one thousand year period:

• Satan will be a prisoner during this time, unable to deceive the nations.
• followers of Prophet Isa will be raised from the dead and reign with him.
• unbelievers will be raised from the dead after the 1000 years.
• Satan will be released to deceive after the 1000 years.
• Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog) will attack Allah's people after the 1000 years.

Yajuj and Majuj Attack Isa 's Kingdom

You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people-all of them living without walls and without gates and bars. I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land." (Tauat, Dhul-kifl [Ezekiel] 38:11,12)

Imagine, a world at peace for 1000 years, with no war or strife. But then suddenly, a world war breaks out. What a shock it will be for the peace-loving people in Prophet Isa's kingdom to be attacked without warning. The event marking the end of the peaceful kingdom of Prophet Isa on earth will be the attack by Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog). Isa's capital city being Jerusalem, this will be the center of the attack. Yajuj, the ruler of the people of Majuj, will lead a coalition of nations against Jerusalem and surrounding area. These nations will come from every direction to make war on the followers of Prophet Isa. The 38th chapter of Prophet Dhul-kifl (Ezekiel)'s book names some of the nations which will be involved in this attack on Prophet Isa's kingdom:

Identifying the location of Majuj itself is difficult, although some have suggested Russia as a possibility. Even still, these present nations cannot be blamed for starting a war which will not happen for over a thousand years. Giving the names only shows that the enemies of Prophet Isa's kingdom will come from all directions to attack Jerusalem.

Fire from Heaven

Even though enemies surround Allah's people, no harm can come to them as long as Allah does not will it. The Lord will see from heaven, and utterly destroy Yajuj and Majuj:

When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth--Yajuj and Majuj--to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of Allah's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. (Holy Injil, Revelation 20:7-9)

I will summon a sword against Yajuj on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord. Every man's sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.
I will send fire on Majuj and on those who live in safety in the coastlands, and they will know that I am Allah. (Taurat, Dhul-kifl 38:21-22; 39:6)

The End or the Beginning?

The attack of Yajuj and Majuj seems to mark the end of Prophet 'Isa al-Masih's kingdom, not because Yajuj is victorious, but because Prophet Isa is:

Then will the end come, when he hands over the kingdom to Allah the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (Holy Injil, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26)

In one way, the end of Isa's kingdom marks the beginning of that which is best. The coming of the day when the "last enemy" will be destroyed--the coming of the day in which death will die!