The Millennial Kingdom refers to the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on earth as described in Revelation 20:1-6. This period will begin after the tribulation and second coming of Christ. Here is an overview of key aspects of the Millennial Kingdom dispensation:
Christ Will Physically Reign on Earth
During the Millennial Kingdom, Jesus Christ will return to earth and reign as King from Jerusalem. Bible passages that describe Christ reigning on earth include:
- Isaiah 24:23 – “Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, for the LORD of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders.”
- Zechariah 14:9 – “And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one.”
- Luke 1:32-33 – “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Christ’s reign will start in Jerusalem, but extend over the whole earth (Zechariah 9:10, Psalm 72:8). He will rule with perfect justice and righteousness (Isaiah 11:3-5).
Satan Will Be Bound
At the start of the Millennial Kingdom, Satan will be bound and sealed in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years:
Revelation 20:1-3 – “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended.”
With Satan bound, his influence on earth will be removed. This allows Jesus Christ to rule in righteousness and peace.
There Will Be Peace on Earth
The Millennial Kingdom will be marked by righteousness, justice, and peace throughout the world. With Christ reigning, there will be no more war or violence:
- Isaiah 2:4 – “He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
- Isaiah 32:17-18 – “And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”
- Micah 4:3 – “He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
Israel Will Be Restored
God will restore Israel to a place of blessing and prosperity. Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel contain many passages about Israel’s restoration:
- Jeremiah 30:3 – “For behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the LORD, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.”
- Ezekiel 37:21-22 – “Then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel.”
The temple will be rebuilt (Ezekiel 40-48) and Jesus Christ will reign from Jerusalem over the restored nation of Israel.
Believers Will Reign With Christ
Not only will Jesus reign during the Millennial Kingdom, but believers will reign with Him:
- 2 Timothy 2:12 – “If we endure, we will also reign with him.”
- Revelation 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”
Believers will be given authority over portions of Christ’s kingdom (Luke 19:11-27). We will reign over the nations with Christ, fulfilling the commission originally given to Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:28).
Lifespans Will Be Extended
People born during the Millennial Kingdom will live much longer than we do today. Lifespans will be similar to before the flood:
- Isaiah 65:20 – “No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.”
Increased lifespans may be due to changed atmospheric and environmental conditions on earth or even physiological changes to mankind.
The Earth Will Be Restored
Creation will be restored to an Eden-like state during the Millennial Kingdom. The curse on the ground from man’s sin (Genesis 3:17) will be partially lifted:
- Isaiah 11:6-9 – “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”
- Isaiah 35:1-2 – “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.”
- Amos 9:13 – “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.”
Deserts will bloom, wild animals will be tame, and fruitfulness will increase in wild and domestic plants. However, the earth will not be returned to a perfect state until after the Millennial Kingdom in the eternal state.
Not All Will Follow Christ
Despite the peaceful conditions on earth, not all will worship Christ. As the end of the millennium approaches, Satan is released and deceives many people into rebelling against Jesus’ rule (Revelation 20:7-10). This demonstrates that when given the choice, many people will still choose sin and self over submitting to Christ. Only the eternal state will permanently remove all sin and rebellion.
Sacrificial System and Feast Days Reinstituted
The temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt and the system of sacrifices and offerings will be reestablished according to the Mosaic Law. However, these will serve as a memorial, not as atonement for sin (Ezekiel 40-46):
- Isaiah 56:7 – “These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
- Jeremiah 33:18 – “And the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever.”
- Ezekiel 45:17 – “It shall be the prince’s duty to furnish the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the new moons, and the Sabbaths, all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel: he shall provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings, to make atonement on behalf of the house of Israel.”
The Feast of Tabernacles and Sabbath day will also be reinstated as days of worship (Zechariah 14:16-19).
Unfulfilled Promises to Israel Fulfilled
Many prophecies given to Israel will find ultimate fulfillment during this time. Some of these include:
- Promise of a descendant of David ruling forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
- Promise of a New Covenant with Israel (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
- Israel living securely in the land (Ezekiel 34:25-31)
- All Israel being regathered to their land (Isaiah 11:11-12)
All unfulfilled promises related to Israel’s blessing, restoration, and prominence will be fulfilled as Jesus reigns as their Messiah.
Gentiles Will Worship God
Not only will Israel be central during this time, but Gentiles from the nations will also worship the Lord and come to Jerusalem to worship (Zechariah 8:20-23, 14:16-19). The inclusion of Gentiles in God’s kingdom was promised to Abraham from the beginning (Genesis 12:3).
Righteousness and Justice Will Prevail
The Millennial Kingdom will be marked by righteousness, justice, and holiness. The Sermon on the Mount will become the law of the world as the knowledge of the Lord spreads across the earth (Isaiah 11:9, Habakkuk 2:14). Judges will rule with perfect discernment and fairness (Isaiah 11:2-4). There will be no injustice or corruption in society or government.
Natural Relations Will Exist
The Millennial Kingdom will see a return to normal life in many ways. People will: plant vineyards and eat the fruit (Isaiah 65:21-23), bear children (Isaiah 65:23, Jeremiah 30:20), build houses and inhabit them (Isaiah 65:21), enjoy long life (Isaiah 65:20). There will still be pain in childbirth (Isaiah 65:23), death (Isaiah 65:20), and work (Amos 9:14), but life will be much better due to Christ’s reign.
The Glory of God Will Fill the Earth
During this time, the glory of God will fill the earth in a special way. The manifestation of His glory in the temple (Ezekiel 43:1-5), the physical rule of Jesus Christ on earth (Isaiah 24:23), and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29) will result in an unprecedented time of experiencing God’s glory.
A Final Rebellion Will Occur
At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be briefly released and will deceive the nations into a final rebellion against Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:7-9). However, God will intervene and instantly judge this final rebellion (Revelation 20:9-10). The Millennial Kingdom will close with the final destruction of Satan and all remaining sinners (Revelation 20:10).
The Millennial Kingdom Concludes
Following the Millennial Kingdom described in Revelation 20:1-10, two additional events close earth’s history. First, Satan’s final rebellion will be immediately judged by God who destroys the devil, his angels and all remaining sinners with fire from heaven (Revelation 20:7-10). Next, the Great White Throne Judgment will occur where all the unrighteous dead are resurrected to face their final judgment before being thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
After these closing judgments, Revelation 21-22 describes the arrival of the eternal state. This is where God creates a new heavens and new earth and the New Jerusalem descends from heaven to be the eternal dwelling place of the righteous. The Millennial Kingdom prepares the way for this eternal reign of God.
Key Points About the Millennial Kingdom
Here are some key points about the coming thousand-year dispensation known as the Millennial Kingdom:
- It’s 1,000 years long and follows Christ’s second coming
- Jesus Christ will reign on earth from Jerusalem
- Satan will be bound and his influence removed
- Peace, righteousness and justice will prevail worldwide
- God will regather and restore Israel as a nation
- Believers will reign with Christ over the nations
- Lifespans will be extended as in pre-flood times
- The earth will be restored to an Eden-like state
- Rebelliousness and sin will still exist despite idyllic conditions
- Sacrifices and offerings will continue but not for atonement of sin
- Unfulfilled Old Testament promises to Israel will be fulfilled
- The glory of God will fill the earth as never before
The Millennial Kingdom will be the final fulfilment of God’s covenants and promises to Israel. It will also be a time of unprecedented righteousness, peace, prosperity, and God’s glory on earth. At its completion, the stage will be set for the eternal state.