The Millennial Kingdom

The Nature of the Millennium

Amillennialists claim that the promises of the kingdom are fulfilled by the church in the present age. Premillennialists believe Christ will establish an earthly kingdom upon His return at the end of the tribulation period.

Those who speak of the kingdom of God in the present do so on the basis of the rule of God in the lives of believers. Since the essence of Christ’s kingdom is His rule and reign, many premillennialists have emphasized the kingdom of God in the sense of God’s present rule over His followers.

It is certainly true that as Christ becomes Lord of the life of an individual, Christ’s authority and dominion is manifested over the very people who will enjoy the kingdom. The kingdom may be said to exist presently in that a portion of the people who shall inherit the kingdom are alive today.

This may be true but this is something short of the biblical concept of the kingdom of God. Precisely speaking, the kingdom of God refers to the prophesied and coming kingdom on earth.

The Length of the Millennium

Six times in Revelation 20:2-7 the length of the millennium is stated to be 1,000 years. Without solid evidence, one cannot reject the literal time of 1,000 years. As seen earlier, this compelling evidence does not exist.

The Government of the Millennium

1.         The Nature of Government

            The government in the millennium will be a theocracy with the Lord Jesus ruling

            personally over all mankind (Daniel 7:14). There will be complete and perfect justice

            (Isaiah 11:4; 65:20).

            The city of Jerusalem will be the seat of government, exalted and glorified

            (Isaiah 2:3; 24:23; Zechariah 14:10).

2.         The Rulers in the Government

            The parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11-27) indicates that those who were faithful in

            serving the Lord will be given authority. Resurrected saints will reign with Christ

            (Matthew 19:28; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 5:10; 20:6).

            The apostles will have authority over the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). King

            David will apparently hold an important place in the kingdom

            (Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 37:24-25).

3.         The Citizens of the Government

            The citizens will be those who survive the tribulation and enter the kingdom in earthly

            bodies. At the outset of the millennium, all the people of the earth will be redeemed. As

            time goes on there will be children born of those who survived the tribulation. Many of

            these descendants will grow up to oppose the Lord, climaxing in the rebellion at the

            end of the millennium (Revelation 20:7-9).

Life in the Millennium

1.         Righteousness

            The Lord will reign in righteousness and will judge righteously

            (Isaiah 11:4-5; 16:5; 32:1). As Israel is regathered in the promised land, Zion will be

            the city of righteousness (Isaiah 1:26) and the righteous shall be satisfied

            (Matthew 5:6).

2.         Peace

            As a result of righteousness, the millennium will be peaceful. Enemies of Israel will be

            at peace with the nation (Isaiah 19:23-25; Zechariah 8:4-5) and the whole earth will

            dwell in peace (Isaiah 2:4).

3.         Restoration

            The human life span of those with earthly bodies will increase (Isaiah 65:20-23),

            sickness and deformities will be healed (Isaiah 29:17-19; 33:24).

            The present earth itself will also experience restoration as its decay will be reversed

            and the geography of the earth will be changed

            (Isaiah 2:2; Ezekiel 47-48; Zechariah 14:4-10; Romans 8:19-23).

            Social problems such as poverty will be solved (Psalm 72:12-13). The earth will enjoy

            improved productivity as even the deserts and wilderness will become useful

            (Isaiah 35:1-7; Amos 9:13-14; Zechariah 14:8).

            The curse upon the earth due to the fall of man will be reversed, though perhaps not

            completely overcome until death is conquered at the end of the millennium.

4.         Worship

            The knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth (Isaiah 2:2-3). There will be a millennial

            temple, different from prior temples, where animal sacrifices will be offered as

            memorials to the death of Christ

            (Ezekiel 40-46; Isaiah 56:7; 66:20-23; Jeremiah 33:17-18; Malachi 3:3-4). The

            feasts of Passover and Tabernacles will be resumed

            (Ezekiel 45:18-25; Zechariah 14:16-21).

            It is in the millennium when the New Covenant will be ultimately fulfilled, as all will know

            the Lord (Ezekiel 36:25-32; Jeremiah 31:31-34).

Events following in the Millennium

1.         Satan to be released (Revelation 20:7)

2.         Satan shall deceive the nations (Revelation 20:8)

3.         Armies will attack Jerusalem (Revelation 20:9)

4.         The armies will be destroyed by fire (Revelation 20:9)

5.         Satan shall be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10)

6.         Evil angels shall be judged (1 Corinthians 6:3)

7.         The unsaved will be bodily resurrected and judged by God before His great white

            throne (Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:11-14)