The Millennial Kingdom refers to the thousand-year reign of Christ described in Revelation 20:1-6. During this time, Jesus Christ will rule the world from Jerusalem in fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies. The Bible indicates that there will be different groups occupying the Millennial Kingdom:
1. Resurrected Saints
Believers who were part of the first resurrection will occupy the Millennial Kingdom in their resurrected bodies (Revelation 20:4-6). This includes Old Testament saints, New Testament saints, and those who come to faith during the Tribulation period. These believers will rule and reign with Christ for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Corinthians 6:2).
The resurrected saints will be given authority over the nations and will serve as administrators, rulers, and teachers under Christ’s authority (Luke 19:11-27; Revelation 2:26-27). They will be like kings and priests, reigning on the earth (Revelation 5:10).
2. Survivors of the Tribulation
Those who survived the Tribulation and enter the Millennial Kingdom in their natural bodies will repopulate the earth (Isaiah 65:20-23). These believers experienced the horrific judgments of the Tribulation, but came to faith sometime during this 7-year period. They will enter the Millennial Kingdom and populate the earthly kingdom as it expands.
The survivors of the Tribulation will live long lives, rebuild civilization, raise families, plant vineyards, and enjoy the blessings of Christ’s reign (Isaiah 65:20-25). They will submit to the authority of the resurrected saints who reign over them.
3. Old Testament Saints
Believers from the Old Testament era will be resurrected after Christ’s Second Coming and occupy the Millennial Kingdom (Daniel 12:2; Isaiah 26:19). This includes Abraham, David, Sarah, Deborah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and other Old Testament saints. They will live in the land promised to them by God and their descendants.
The book of Hebrews commends the faith of Old Testament saints like Abraham and Moses, stating “these all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar” (Hebrews 11:13). The Millennial Kingdom will be the fulfillment of those promises.
4. The Church
The resurrected church, made up of all believers in the Church age from Acts until the Rapture, will occupy the Millennial Kingdom in their glorified bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). This includes the apostles, early church believers, and all those who came to faith from the time of Christ until the Rapture.
The church will likely have governmental authority to rule and shepherd the nations, carrying out the will of God under Christ’s supreme authority (Luke 19:17-19; Revelation 2:26-27). Believers will be rewarded according to their faithfulness in this life.
5. Children Born in the Millennium
With the survivors of the Tribulation repopulating the earth, there will be married couples giving birth to children during the Millennial Kingdom. These children will be born in the earthly kingdom ruled by Christ. They will not inherit their parent’s unresurrected bodies, but they are sinners in need of salvation (Isaiah 65:20; Zechariah 8:5).
Many of these children will put their faith in Christ, but there will also be rebellion against King Jesus (Revelation 20:7-10). Sinful human nature will resurface at the end of the 1,000 years, showing that perfect environment and governance cannot change the sinful human heart.
6. Other Speculations
Some speculate that angels may occupy the Millennial Kingdom and possibly assume positions of governance under Christ. Angels are shown to be involved at various points in Revelation leading up to the millennial kingdom (Revelation 7:1-2, Revelation 14:6-7). However, the Bible does not specifically say angels will occupy roles of governance in the Kingdom.
Another speculation is that saved Gentiles from the Old Testament era may be resurrected to occupy the Kingdom. For example, some suggest Job, Jethro, or Melchizedek could be resurrected. However, Scripture does not specifically identify Gentiles from the Old Testament being resurrected, other than those who showed faith in the true God.
In summary, the clear groups occupying the Millennial Kingdom will be the resurrected saints, including Old Testament, New Testament, and Tribulation saints. Along with resurrected believers, those who survived the Tribulation and their offspring will inhabit the millennial kingdom. The role of angels is debatable. But without a doubt, King Jesus will rule over all inhabitants of the Millennial Kingdom.
After the thousand years, Satan is released to deceive the nations once more (Revelation 20:7-10). Those who rebel with Satan are swiftly judged. Then the old earth and heaven pass away and the New Jerusalem descends to the new earth (Revelation 21-22). Eternity future unfolds as the saints dwell with God forever, while the unrighteous are judged and cast into the lake of fire.
The Millennial Kingdom provides partial fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel and offers mankind a glimpse of life under the righteous rule of Jesus Christ. Yet even in a perfect environment, the human heart resists total surrender to the Lord. The Millennial Kingdom shows that ultimately, God must intervene and evil must be permanently removed for there to be everlasting peace, justice and righteousness.