Psalm 118 v 8

In Revelation 20 the millennial reign of Christ is mentioned six times:

"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

"And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgement was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

"But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison" (Rev. 20:1-7).

When the Lord Jesus comes back to earth it will be as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will set up a government for the whole world with Jerusalem as capital:

"Then the seventh angel sounded. And there were loud voices in heaven, saying: The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Rev. 11:15).

In a major end-time prophecy Daniel likened Christ's Second Coming to a great rock which will smite the kingdoms of the world, grind them to powder, then become a great mountain filling the whole earth as He reigns in their place (Dan. 2:34-35, 44-45). Zechariah says: "And the Lord shall be King over all the earth" (Zech. 14:9). The same promise about His reigning as King on earth was made to Mary before the birth of Jesus:

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David" (Lk. 1:31-32).

The throne of David is not in heaven but on earth. Jesus does not now reign in a spiritual sense from the throne of David as this throne has, since the Babylonian captivity, been temporarily in suspension. Christ will restore this throne at His Second Coming and then reign from it:

"After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen down. I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up, so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things" (Acts 15:16-17).

The elders in heaven (the glorified church) know that they will return with Jesus to the earth and will reign here with Him in His kingdom. They explicitly say:

"You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth" (Rev. 5:9-10; also see 2 Tim. 2:12).

It is therefore clearly evident that the events of Revelation coincide with a strong proclamation of the Kingship of Christ:

"Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren… has been cast down… he knows that he has a short time" (Rev. 12:10, 12).

When Jesus, our High Priest who now intercedes for us at the throne of the Father, returns to earth, the power and influence of Satan here will be broken and the kingdom of Christ established. The Devil will then no longer be the ruler and god of this present evil world (Jn. 14:30; 2 Cor. 4:4; Gal. 1:4; 1 Jn. 5:19), but Christ as "king will reign in righteousness" as "Ruler in Israel", and "have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth" (Is. 32:1; Mic. 5:2; Ps. 72:8).

A further proof that the millennial reign is not in heaven is that in this dispensation there will still be inherent carnality and disorderliness among the nations, which will necessitate that they be ruled with a strong hand. Although the Devil will be bound and prohibited from deceiving the nations to commit rebellious deeds, they will still have a fallen nature that needs to be disciplined. In Revelation 12:5 and 19:15 it is plainly stated that Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron. About this kingdom He said to His faithful servants:

"Hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations – He shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the potter’s vessels shall be broken to pieces – as I also have received from My Father" (Rev. 2:25-27, quoting Ps. 2:9).

The Lord (Yahweh) declares in Psalm 2:6: "I have set My King on my holy hill of Zion." During the Messianic reign the throne of the Lord Jesus in Jerusalem will represent heavenly rule and therefore be a centre of divine wisdom, power, authority and righteousness. Isaiah says:

"Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say: Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (Is. 2:2-4; also see Is. 24:23 and Zech. 8:22).

A situation such as this, in which no wars are waged, no military training is done and no weapons are manufactured, has never ever before prevailed on earth. It can only apply to a future reign of peace. Since the Devil will be bound during the thousand year reign of Christ he will be unable to deceive the nations, and there will be neither violence nor warfare. Other forms of sin will also vanish and the whole world will recognise and practise the Christian religion exclusively. Even the animal creation will benefit and predation will cease:

"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Is. 11:9).

Jerusalem will spontaneously be recognised by all peoples as world capital, and no hostility or political tension will prevail between individual nations:

"At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem; no more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts" (Jer. 3:17).

Laxity will be the only form of misconduct that will occur as some nations will neglect their duties to serve the Lord as they should. It will still be a matter of "the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak" (Mt. 26:41). Their neglect will give rise to rebukes from the King and punitive measures:

"And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain" (Zech. 14:16-17).

During this time there will be an unsaved remnant of the nations on earth who will be mortal people of flesh and blood. Due to their sinful nature they will still have to be saved to truly belong to the Lord Jesus. According to Zechariah 14:16-17 they will survive the great tribulation and the battle of Armageddon. Although they did not receive the number of the Antichrist they also do not belong to Christ until they have received Him as their Saviour. To evangelise these nations will be the task of the Jewish evangelists of Israel who will also be mortal but saved people. They will gather a harvest for the kingdom of God among all nations:

"Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit" (Is. 27:6).

The doctrine of the two resurrections is also clearly related to the millennium. Only those who have part in the first resurrection (Lk. 14:14; 1 Thes. 4:16), including those saved during the tribulation period, will rule with Christ. We should exert ourselves to be quite sure we have been saved and truly born-again so as to qualify for the first resurrection:

"Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years" (Rev. 20:6).

The rest of the dead are the unsaved multitude of all centuries, and they will not be resurrected until the thousand years have ended (Rev. 20:5). They will then appear before the great white throne to be judged and condemned to the eternal lake of fire.

Characteristics of the millennial reign

Remembering the words of the prayer the Lord Jesus taught us, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven", the following are the most important characteristics of the future reign of peace on earth:

• God will rule on earth through His King of kings, Jesus Christ. A theocratic world government will, therefore, be established (Lk. 1:31-33; Rev. 19:15; Dan. 7:13-14).
• The throne of Christ will be in Jerusalem and the restored Israel will be the hub of the world (Ps. 2:6-12; Zech. 8:22; Is. 2:2-3; 24:23; 33:17, 20-22; Dan. 7:27). His government will be characterised by righteousness and equity (Is. 1:26-27; 32:1-2, 16-17; Jer. 23:5-6).
• Israel's capital, Jerusalem, "the city of our God", "the city of the great King", will be the centre of worship for the whole world and all nations will converge there to worship God through Christ the King of kings (Ps. 48; Zech. 14:16-20; Is. 66:18-23).
• The saved remnant of Israel will rejoice in the Lord and evangelise the entire world (Is 12:3-6; 27:6; 40:9; 51:11). They will make the world fruitful (Is. 27:6) and God will be honoured (Is. 28:5; Zech. 8:20-23).
• Satan will be securely bound so that he cannot deceive the nations (Rev. 20:1-4).
• Peace will prevail everywhere upon earth. The nations will no longer engage in war or in military training (Is. 2:4; 9:7; Mic. 5:4-5; Hos. 2:18).
• The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Is. 11:9-10; Hab. 2:14).
• There will be no disease (Mal. 4:2; Is. 33:24).
• People will live healthily and actively to a great age – like the antediluvians. A 100-year-old person will be regarded as a child (Is. 65:20-23).
• Nature will greatly benefit since the curse of Genesis 3:17-19 will be lifted and the whole of creation, which since then has been groaning, will be set free from the bondage of corruption into glorious liberty (Rom. 8:19-22; Is. 55:12-13; Joel 3:18).
• An agricultural or horticultural way of life is indicated and the earth will produce food so prolifically that planting the next crop will take place before the previous one has been fully harvested! (Mic. 4:3-4; Amos 9:13-15; Is. 65:21-23; Ps. 65:9-13).
• Harmony will also prevail in the animal kingdom. The lion will lie down with the lamb and eat straw like an ox because the Lord will make a new covenant with the animals that will change the physiology and aggressive nature of the carnivorous predators into the physiology and gentle nature of the herbivores (Is. 11:6-9; 65:25; Hos. 2:18).

Israel’s position in the Messianic era

Israel’s position during the coming Messianic era is frequently described in the Old Testament where it is specifically related to the day of the Lord. It will be a time of blessing, abundance, joy in the Lord and peace on earth. Israel will fulfil its potential as a people of God and be a nation through whom He will bless the whole earth. Paul says of them:

"Now if their fall is riches for the world… how much more their fullness! …if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?" (Rom. 11:12, 15).

Through Israel’s fall, by rejecting and crucifying the Messiah, the message of reconciliation between man and God was offered to the Gentiles. What a tremendous blessing that is to us! How much more will Israel be a blessing to the world in the Messianic age when they will proclaim the praises of the Messiah among all nations. This will be the long-delayed, but grand consummation of this unique nation's destiny and calling as the chosen people of God. The following are examples of promises about Israel’s restoration and glory in the coming Messianic era:

"Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying: Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you" (Zech. 8:23).

"And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will thresh, from the channel of the River [Euphrates] to the Brook of Egypt; and you will be gathered one by one, O you children of Israel" (Is. 27:12).

"For there shall be a day when the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim: Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God. For thus says the Lord: Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say: O Lord, save Your people, the remnant of Israel! …Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah – …this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those day, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (Jer. 31:6-7, 31, 33).

"They shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him" (Mal. 3:17).

"On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does this thing… I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them… I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them, says the Lord your God" (Amos 9:11-12, 14-15).

"In the day when your walls are to be built, in that day the decree shall go far and wide" (Mic. 7:11).

"Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that the city shall be built for the Lord from the tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate… It shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore forever" (Jer. 31:38, 40).

"Behold, I will bring it [the city] health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. And I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will rebuild those places as at the first. I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honour before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it" (Jer. 33:6-9).

"You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth" (Is. 62:6-7).

"Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah: In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; He [the Messiah] shall execute judgement and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jer. 33:14-16).

"So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy" (Joel 3:17).

"In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in" (Is. 26:1-2).

"In that day the Lord of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people" (Is. 28:5).

"And in that day you will say: Praise the Lord, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted… Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!" (Is. 12:4, 6).

"Those who come He shall cause to take root in Jacob; Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit" (Is. 27:6).

"An in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse" [referring to the Messiah] "who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious" (Is. 11:10).

"For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord" (Zeph. 3:9).

"Then He will give the rain for your seed with which you sow the ground, and bread of the increase of the earth; it will be fat and plentiful. In that day your cattle will feed in large pastures… There will be on every high mountain and on every high hill rivers and streams of waters" (Is. 30: 23, 25).

These and many other blessings will be characteristic of the millennium when the Messiah will reign from the throne of David in Jerusalem. His glorified church will rule with Him and righteousness and equity will prevail on earth (Is. 32:1; Ps. 98:9; Is. 11:4). Israel will play a leading part in world affairs and will be God’s special representative among the nations.