The Millenium

[Malachi]

Revelation 20: 1-9 KJV
1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT THE MILLENIUM AND RELATED EVENTS
1. Is the Millenium (1,000 year reign of Christ on earth) literal or figurative?
When God wants draw attention to a truth, he repeats it several times. In the space of seven verses the phrase "thousand years" (Gk chilia ete) is repeated six times so that no one will remain unconvinced that this is a literal period of time -- 1,000 years.

2. What is the first requirement for the Millenium to exist?
It is clear from verses 1-3 that Satan must be bound and confined in the bottomless pit for that entire period, after which he will again be loosed a little season.

3. Why is it necessary for Satan to be "locked up"?
As long as Satan is on the loose, he does everything in his power to (1) damn the souls of men by deceiving the nations and (2) frustrate the plans and purposes of God. God allows him a measure of freedom for His own reasons, and at present Satan is definitely on the loose. Follow the ugly crimes of the Jihadists throughout the world (as just one example).

4. What happens after Satan is confined to the bottomless pit?
(a) Thrones are set up for judgment. These thrones are for (a) Christ Himself, (b) the 12 apostles ruling over the 12 tribes of Israel, and (c) David as king-regent over Israel, under the King of kings Himself.
(b) Christ rules and reigns upon this earth. This by definition means that all sin and evil has already been eradicated through God's severe judgments during the Day of the LORD (the Great Tribulation), and there is absolute universal peace and righteousness, which even extends to the animal kingdom. Christ has redeemed and restored Israel, and Israel and all the nations on the earth are righteous during that 1,000 year period.
(c) All the saints -- who are "king-priests" -- reign with Christ over the earth.
(d) All the saints who were martyred by the Antichrist are resurrected and reign with Christ also.
(e) "The rest of the dead" are the unsaved dead who will be resurrected for the Great White Throne judgment.

These are the essential elements of a literal thousand year Millenium WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN ABSOLUTE CONTROL OF THIS EARTH. There are numerous Scriptures to support all that is included in this period. Those who fail to study absolutely every book of the Bible will remain unaware of the details.

 

[iLOVE]

"No longer will babies die when only a few days old. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life. No longer will people be considered old at one hundred! Only the cursed will die that young!" Isaiah 65:20 NLT

If you want a biblical picture of Jesus' reign, look at Daniel 7:13-14, which describes the One who will have total dominion. And the prophet Zechariah says, "Ihe Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one" (Zechariah 14:9). Everyone will conform to Christ's will during this age.


Let me clarify something here. The millennial kingdom will not be a perfect age because there are still non-resurrected human beings living on earth -- people still possessing the sinful nature, in other words. You and I will be perfect because we will have been raptured and judged for rewards and given our new bodies. And only righteous people will be brought into the kingdom. But these people will have children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, because human life will continue. And these descendants will not all follow in the spiritual footsteps of their ancestors.

In other words, sinners will be born and grow up during the Millennium. This is why the Bible says Jesus will rule with an iron rod. This rod is a picture of judgment. What it means is that no rebellion will be tolerated during Christ's reign. The only possible rebellion will be internal, in a person's heart. There will be no allowance for external rebellion.

So there will be no crime or anything like that when Jesus Christ sits on His throne. To put it in today's terms, He will not take any stuff from anybody. Any attempted rebellion will be dealt with instantly. The earth will finally function the way it is supposed to function.

 

[iLOVE]

Pastor Dr.Tony Evans speaks out on heaven and hell. A must read!

I want to look at an interesting concept with you. It has to do with the statement in Revelation 22:2 that the leaves of the tree of life are for "the healing of the nations."

Revelation 21:4 NKJV says this, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” If heaven is a perfect place and we have resurrected, glorified spiritual bodies, why do we need a tree that produces healing? Why the need for a tree that produces life when we already have eternal life?

A possible answer lies in Revelation 21:24-26, in the description of the new Jerusalem. "The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.... Its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nation into it."

John is talking about a group of people who have access to the heavenly Jerusalem, but don't live there. He says kings and others come and go from the city bringing their glory into it.

In order to have kings, there have to be kingdoms for them to rule. John says there are people living outside the new Jerusalem who visit the city and bring their homage to God, the way pilgrims in our day might visit Mecca. Who are these people, and why do the need the healing leaves of the tree of life?

There is only one group of people left on earth to go into eternity in their physical bodies - those who were true to Jesus Christ and served Him during His millennial kingdom. They go into eternity after the Millennium with physical glorified bodies, not spiritual glorified bodies like we will have, because they did not experience death and resurrection.

To put in another way, these people will go into eternity with bodies like Adam and Eve had at their creation before they were flawed by sin. Their perfect physical bodies will be maintained through a special provision from God.

The bible indicates that the new, renovated earth will be occupied in eternity. This group from the Millennium will fill the earth because they will still be able to procreate. These people will make up the nations who aging the universe.

 

[iLOVE]

Five heavenly crowns mentioned in the New Testament; The Imperishable Crown – (1 Corinthians 9:24-25), The Crown of Rejoicing – (1 Thessalonians 2:19), (Revelation 21:4)., The Crown of Righteousness – (2 Timothy 4:8), The Crown of Glory – (1 Peter 5:4), and The Crown of Life – (Revelation 2:10), (James 1:12)

Being awarded any one of these crowns will be an honor beyond anything we can imagine. Let's go for them!!! Do not be disqualified. If you are not dead, God's not done with you! It's time to get serious! No more excuses!

"Christians who are overcomers in God's Kingdom now are in store for special blessings in God's Kingdom later."

Another way of saying all of this is that all Christians are heirs of God (they are assured of eternal life and a place in the kingdom of heaven), but not all Christians will “inherit” the kingdom from Him (and receive positions of authority in that kingdom).

 

[Malachi]

Being awarded any one of these crowns will be an honor beyond anything we can imagine. Let's go for them!!! Do not be disqualified. If you are not dead, God's not done with you! It's time to get serious! No more excuses!

iLOVE,
Thanks for filling in the details about the Millenium in these additional posts and bringing those crowns to the attention of all. They certainly enter into the picture. Those Christians who serve the Lord faithfully and diligently on earth will certainly receive royal duties to be fulfilled under Christ in the Millenium and for eternity.

 

[iLOVE]

Five heavenly crowns mentioned in the New Testament; The Imperishable Crown – (1 Corinthians 9:24-25), The Crown of Rejoicing – (1 Thessalonians 2:19), (Revelation 21:4)., The Crown of Righteousness – (2 Timothy 4:8), The Crown of Glory – (1 Peter 5:4), and The Crown of Life – (Revelation 2:10), (James 1:12)

Being awarded any one of these crowns will be an honor beyond anything we can imagine. Let's go for them!!! Do not be disqualified. If you are not dead, God's not done with you! It's time to get serious! No more excuses!

"Christians who are overcomers in God's Kingdom now are in store for special blessings in God's Kingdom later."

Another way of saying all of this is that all Christians are heirs of God (they are assured of eternal life and a place in the kingdom of heaven), but not all Christians will “inherit” the kingdom from Him (and receive positions of authority in that kingdom).

Tony Evans, in his book What a Way to Live, says: “There are Christians who have been set free from spiritual bondage, but who will never enjoy the full rights and privileges they could have inherited in the coming kingdom. That’s because these benefits accrue to believers based on their faithfulness to Christ here on earth.”9
In other words, “inheritance from the Lord” (co-reigning with Him) is earned; whereas, “sonship” is not.

 

[Kathi]

Only believers will enter the 1000 year Millennium kingdom.They will be humans and quite different from those who went to heaven in the rapture 7 years earlier.

 

[iLOVE]

Tony Evans, in his book What a Way to Live, says: “There are Christians who have been set free from spiritual bondage, but who will never enjoy the full rights and privileges they could have inherited in the coming kingdom. That’s because these benefits accrue to believers based on their faithfulness to Christ here on earth.”9
In other words, “inheritance from the Lord” (co-reigning with Him) is earned; whereas, “sonship” is not.

He who receives God’s Spirit (through Jesus Christ) enters the kingdom; but he who partakes of Christ’s Life and over-comes the world, the flesh and the devil will inherit that kingdom. Thus, the Millennial Kingdom will be inhabited by born-again Christians, but ruled over by faithful and obedient overcoming Christians.

 

[Kathi]

He who receives God’s Spirit (through Jesus Christ) enters the kingdom; but he who partakes of Christ’s Life and over-comes the world, the flesh and the devil will inherit that kingdom.11 Thus, the Millennial Kingdom will be inhabited by born-again Christians, but ruled over by faithful and obedient overcoming Christians.

At the end of the tribulation there will be a separation of believers and unbelievers.There will be a handful of believers who will survive the 7 year tribulation.The believers will enter the 1000 year Millennium and the unbelievers will be waiting to enter hell.The Great White Throne judgment for the unbelievers is not until after the 1000 year Millennium is finished.

 

[iLOVE]

At the end of the tribulation there will be a separation of believers and unbelievers.There will be a handful of believers who will survive the 7 year tribulation.The believers will enter the 1000 year Millennium and the unbelievers will be waiting to enter hell.The Great White Throne judgment for the unbelievers is not until after the 1000 year Millennium is finished.

Huge Difference Between Entering & Inheriting the Kingdom for Christians. It’s the prize for being an overcomer and for making choices to live Christ’s Life.

Five heavenly crowns mentioned in the New Testament; The Imperishable Crown – (1 Corinthians 9:24-25), The Crown of Rejoicing – (1 Thessalonians 2:19), (Revelation 21:4)., The Crown of Righteousness – (2 Timothy 4:8), The Crown of Glory – (1 Peter 5:4), and The Crown of Life – (Revelation 2:10), (James 1:12)

 

[Malachi]

There will be a handful of believers who will survive the 7 year tribulation

Kathi,
This will be a believing "remnant" of Israel (Rev 12:6) who wil survive. Others believers ("tribulation saints") will be martyred by the Beast (Rev 12:17; 13:7,15) but resurrected at the beginning of the Millenium (Rev 20:4).

 

[Kathi]

Kathi,
This will be a believing "remnant" of Israel (Rev 12:6) who wil survive. Others believers ("tribulation saints") will be martyred by the Beast (Rev 12:17; 13:7,15) but resurrected at the beginning of the Millenium (Rev 20:4).

Is that the 144,000?The tribulation saints will be resurrected at the beginning of the Millenium? Hmmmm..I will check on that.

Yep,that is what I understand.The only ones who will be getting their resurrected bodies at the Millennium are the trib Saints.

 

[reba]

Mat 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
Mat 12:23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
Mat 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

 

[Malachi]

Is that the 144,000?.

1. The 144,000 redeemed Jews -- "redeemed fro the earth" -- will be in Heaven (Rev 14:1-5).
2. The believing remnant of Israel will be on earth, sheltered in the wilderness from the wrath of Satan (Rev 12:6,17).
3. The tribulation saints (Gentiles) will be martyred by the Beast for refusing to take his mark (Rev 13:15).

 

[Kathi]

1. The 144,000 redeemed Jews -- "redeemed fro the earth" -- will be in Heaven (Rev 14:1-5).
2. The believing remnant of Israel will be on earth, sheltered in the wilderness from the wrath of Satan (Rev 12:6,17).
3. The tribulation saints (Gentiles) will be martyred by the Beast for refusing to take his mark (Rev 13:15).

Got it.Thanks for the info.

 

[Malachi]

Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

That's right. But not applicable to the Millenium as yet.

The Kingdom of God, which is the rule of Christ within every believer ("the Kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU"), was established when people began to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ even while He was on earth. The three wise men from the east (probably the first to believe on Christ) came to worship the King of the Jews, therefore "the Kingdom of God within you" began at His birth. The Roman centurion who said "Truly, this was the Son of God" at the Cross also worshiped the King and had the Kingdom of God within him. The thief on the cross entered that Kingdom that very day.

At present the Lord Jesus Christ is not only seated on His throne at the right hand of the Father, but He is also enthroned in every believer's heart. That is what Christ meant by "The Kingdom of God is within you".

But the Father has said to Him "Sit thou at my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool" (Heb 1:13;10:13). This will happen during the Great Tribulation (the Day of the LORD), when all God's enemies will be crushed by Christ with the word of His mouth (Rev 19:15). Only after that will He set up His Kingdom upon the earth for one thousand years (Rev 20:4,6). At that time there will be absolute peace and righteousness on earth (Isa 11:1-16), with Satan and all his evil spirits in the bottomless pit (Rev 20:1-3), and all the ungodly destroyed during the Day of the Lord judgments (Rev 19:17-21).

 

[Gregg]

4. What happens after Satan is confined to the bottomless pit?
(a) Thrones are set up for judgment. These thrones are for (a) Christ Himself, (b) the 12 apostles ruling over the 12 tribes of Israel, and (c) David as king-regent over Israel, under the King of kings Himself.
(b) Christ rules and reigns upon this earth. This by definition means that all sin and evil has already been eradicated through God's severe judgments during the Day of the LORD (the Great Tribulation), and there is absolute universal peace and righteousness, which even extends to the animal kingdom. Christ has redeemed and restored Israel, and Israel and all the nations on the earth are righteous during that 1,000 year period.
(c) All the saints -- who are "king-priests" -- reign with Christ over the earth.
(d) All the saints who were martyred by the Antichrist are resurrected and reign with Christ also.
(e) "The rest of the dead" are the unsaved dead who will be resurrected for the Great White Throne judgment.

I have a couple of questions regarding your points above:

(a) You list Christ, the 12 Apostles, and David as ruling under the King of kings

1. Who are those who overcome and sit with Christ on His throne (Rev 3:21)? Should these be included in your list among the apostles and David?
2. Which 12 Apostles?
3. What Scripture identifies David as ruling in the millennium? I can not find it if it is there.

a. And might that reference refer to David's seed (singular) being Christ, and not David himself?​

(b) Is death [physical and/or spiritual] eradicated during the millennium?

1. Where in Scripture do you see that sin is eradicated during the millennium? I do not see it.

a. Will men sin [or be capable of sinning] during the millennium?​

2. Where in Scripture do you see that evil is eradicated during the millennium? I do not see it.

a.Will men do [or be capable of doing] evil during the millennium?​

 

[Gregg]

Kathi,
This will be a believing "remnant" of Israel (Rev 12:6) who wil survive. Others believers ("tribulation saints") will be martyred by the Beast (Rev 12:17; 13:7,15) but resurrected at the beginning of the Millenium (Rev 20:4).

If only a remnant of Israel will survive, then who are the nations referred to here: "not deceive the nations [Gk. ethnos: foriegn, non-jewish]" (Rev 20:3), "the nations" (Rev 20:8), "the nations" (Rev 21:24), and "the healing of the nations" (Rev 22:2)?

Wouldn't those verses indicate that gentiles, or men among the 'ethnos' will also enter into the millennium? I think so.

 

[Malachi]

(a) You list Christ, the 12 Apostles, and David as ruling under the King of kings

1. Who are those who overcome and sit with Christ on His throne (Rev 3:21)? Should these be included in your list among the apostles and David? [/quote]
All the saints -- who are "king-priests" -- reign with Christ over the earth. This is listed. Those are the overcomers.
2. Which 12 Apostles?
The eleven and Paul.
3. What Scripture identifies David as ruling in the millennium? I can not find it if it is there.
Several. See Ezek 34:23,24; 37:24

a. And might that reference refer to David's seed (singular) being Christ, and not David himself?
Christ says "I the LORD will be their God" (Ezek 34:24)​

(b) Is death [physical and/or spiritual] eradicated during the millennium? Yes

1. Where in Scripture do you see that sin is eradicated during the millennium? I do not see it. I have not said anything about sin being eradicated. But there is no indication that sin and evil will manifest themselves.
a. Will men sin [or be capable of sinning] during the millennium?
There is no indication of this in prophecy.
2. Where in Scripture do you see that evil is eradicated during the millennium? I do not see it. See Ezek 34:25-31; 37:21-28.
a.Will men do [or be capable of doing] evil during the millennium?
No. See Ezek 40:25-29.​

 

[Malachi]

Wouldn't those verses indicate that gentiles, or men among the 'ethnos' will also enter into the millennium? I think so.

Yes. There will definitely be redeemed Gentile nations on earth during the Millenium and for eternity (when the new heavens and the new earth are a reality). The details are not there but their existence is clearly in Scripture.