Millennial Believers And Eternity

Q

I understand there will be mortal people living in the 1000 year reign of Christ that begins after the tribulation period. Some will be destroyed in a rebellion against Christ near the end of the millennium. Those left, of course are true believers. When the old heaven and earth are then destroyed to make way for the new heaven and earth, does the bible say anything specific about the apparent need for another rapture, or transfer to immortality for those mortal believers in order to survive the destruction of the “old” and to live in the “new”?

A

Very little is known about the relationship that Millennial believers will have with the Lord, and even less is known about eternity. We do know that theirs will be different from ours because no other group will ever enjoy the closeness we have with the Lord. Through the ages yet to come people will look at the Church and see the incomparable riches of God’s grace. (Ephes. 2:7) That means that nothing else will ever compare to the Church’s eternal destiny.

But we do get one little hint that some people born during the Millennium will be saved. Speaking of the Great White Throne judgment which will take place at the end of the Millennium, John wrote that the unbelieving dead from all ages would be judged at that time and the Book of Life will be opened (Rev. 20:11-14).

Then in Rev. 20:15 he wrote, “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Obviously the names of unbelievers are not written in the Book of Life, so why did John even mention it? Perhaps there will be Millennial believers present at that judgment as well and they are the ones whose names will be written in the Book of Life. If so they’ll be made immortal and welcomed into eternity as the others are thrown into the lake of fire.