The Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ

 

 

Central Thought: Those who allow the Lord to reign in their lives now will reign with Him during the millennium.

 

Hymn: “There is a Land that is Fairer than Day”

Text: Revelation 20:1-15

 

 

The word millennium is derived from two Latin words, ‘mille’ – meaning a thousand and ‘annus’ – meaning year. Millennium therefore means a thousand years and the millennial reign of the LORD Jesus Christ refers to the period of one thousand years when the LORD will reign physically over all the nations of the earth with His headquarters in Jerusalem.

The millennial reign will be preceded by some vents revealed in the Scripture. These events include the rapture, the great tribulation, the judgement of the believers for rewards, the marriage super of the Lamb, etc.

The hope of every Christian is to be with the LORD and to reign with Him in millennial splendor. When a Christian is going through trial, part of their sustaining joy emanates from the confidence in the promise of the LORD that He is coming back again to rule on the earth for a thousand years with His saints.

However, to be able to reign with the Lord during the millennium, the Christian should have lived consistently for the Lord on the earth in righteousness and holiness.

 

 

Lesson Objectives:

1. To explain the meaning of millennium and the millennial reign of Christ.
2. To highlight some of the events that will precede the millennial reign of Christ.
3. To know the purpose of the millennial reign of Christ.
4. To understand what will characterize the millennium.
5. To know that the saints will reign with Christ during the millennium.

 

1. What does the ‘millennium’ and the ‘millennial reign of Christ’ mean?

The word millennium as earlier stated is derived from two Latin words: ‘mille’, meaning a thousand years, and ‘annus’ meaning year. Millennium therefore means a thousand years.  The millennial reign of Christ refers to the period of one thousand years when the LORD will physically rule and reign over the nations of the earth with His headquarters established in Jerusalem.  In Scripture this period is also variously referred to as the dispensation of the fullness of the times.  Ephesians 1:10; the day of the Lord, Isaiah 2:11, 19:21; Ezekiel 39:22.  The world age to come, Matthew 12:32, Mark 10:30.  The regeneration, Matthew 19:28.  The times of the restitution of all things, Acts 3:20-21, and the Kingdom of His Dear Son, Colossians 1:13; 2 Peter 1:11.

The millennium will be between the Second Advent and the New Heaven and New Earth. The millennial reign will be literal and earthly, Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 2:44-45.  The reign will be a world-wide theocratic government.  All the raptured saints will join the LORD in this reign as they will return with the LORD at the Second Advent.

 

2. What are some of the events that will precede the millennial reign of Christ?

The scriptures reveal that certain events will precede the millennium. Some of these events include the rapture, the great tribulation on the earth, the marriage supper of the Lamb, the judgment of the saints for rewards and the advent of the LORD with His saints to begin the millennial reign.  A brief summary of what some of the events entail is given below.

-The Rapture. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

The rapture is the act of the transporting of the saints by God to heaven. At the rapture the LORD Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and the dead in Christ shall rise first and those saints who are alive will be caught up, transported, with the resurrected saints to meet the LORD in the air.

-The Great Tribulation. Matthew 24:21

After the rapture, the inhabitants of the earth will go through a great tribulation period of seven years during which the anti-christ will rule over the earth. As revealed in scriptures it will b e a time of untold hardship and suffering for people on earth especially those who will refuse the mark of the beast and will not want to have anything to do with the anti-christ.

-The Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Revelation 19:7-9

It is not clearly stated in scripture when exactly this will take place. However, the fact of its occurrence is clearly revealed in the scriptures.  The LORD when He instituted the LORD’s supper, stated that, ‘But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom”, Matthew 26:29.  Some Bible scholars believe that the marriage Supper of the Lamb will take place in heaven after the rapture where all the raptured saints will be the guests.

–The Judgment of Believers’ works. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.

This will occur between the rapture and the Second Advent, Luke 14:14. It will take place in heaven, Romans 14:10 and the basis will be the works done on earth by believers, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.

-The Second Advent. 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8; Matthew 24:29-31

This will immediately precede the millennial reign of the LORD Jesus. Many Bible prophecies point to the Second Advent.  “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these saying Behold the LORD cometh with ten thousands of His saints”, Jude 14.  At the Second Advent, the LORD will establish His kingdom on earth and rule for a thousand years, the millennium.

 

3. What is the purpose of the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus?

The Bible reveals several reasons why God has ordained these one thousand years of reign by His only begotten Son on the earth. God’s purpose in establishing the millennium includes:

-To put down rebellion on earth. During the millennial reign, all traces of the rebellion by Lucifer an Adam will be put away.  God will be in all and the earth will witness a peaceful reign, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:10.

-To vindicate and avenge Christ and the saints.

-To exalt the saints of all ages to a kingly and priestly position according to their works, Romans 8:17-21.

-To judge the nations in righteousness, Matthew 25:31-46; Isaiah 2:2-4, 11:1-11.

-To restore a righteous and an eternal government on earth as originally planned, Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1-9.

-To restore all things as they were before sin entered into the world, Acts 3:20-21; Isaiah 66:22-24; 2 Peter 3:10-13.

However, the millennium will be followed by one shorter period of rebellion. Then the final destruction of all rebels will take place, leaving the saints in charge of the eternal perfect earth, Revelation 20:1-10, 21:1-22.

 

4. What will characterize the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ?

The scriptures reveal many things concerning the millennial reign of the LORD. First and foremost, the LORD Jesus will be the Head of all the nations of the earth.  The millennial reign will be a worldwide theocratic government headed by the LORD Jesus.  Jerusalem will be His capital.  Every knee will definitely bow before Him and every tongue will confess that He is LORD.  The resurrected saints will reign with the LORD during the millennium.  While the apostles will rule over one tribe each in Israel, Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:30, all the saints will have part in ruling as priests and kings in different parts of the earth.  There will be civil and religious laws for all nations.  Isaiah 2:2-4, 9:6-7, and all the nations will be required to send representatives to Jerusalem once a year to acknowledge Christ, Zechariah 14:16-21, Isaiah2:1-4.  A universal knowledge of the LORD will be manifest during this period.

Also during the millennium satan will be bound, Revelation 29:1-10.  It does appear that the primary source of temptation will be restricted.  Love and righteousness will prevail, Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:5, 32:1, 65:17-25.  However, the test for man will be to obey Christ, the resurrected saints and the laws, Psalm 2, Revelation 2:26-27, 5:10, 11: 15, 20:1-10.

The millennial reign will also be a reign of peace. There will be universal peace, Isaiah 2:4, 9:6-7; Micah 4:3-4.  The earth will not be desolate during the millennium, Isaiah 2:2-4; Zechariah 14:16-21; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.

Also during the millennium, there will be a universal knowledge of the LORD, Isaiah 11:9; Zachariah 8:22-23, and the glory of God will be continually manifest, Isaiah 4:4-6, Ezekiel 43:1-5. Universal prosperity too will become a reality, Isaiah 65:20-25; Micah 4:4-5.

Thus it is clear from scriptures that the millennial reign of Christ will be one of peace and abundant blessings for all who will be privileged to witness the millennium.

 

5. What will be the role of the saints during the millennium?

In his vision, Apostle John saw people siting upon thrones and these people were given the power to judge. These are the saints who will reign with the LORD in the millennium.  The group will be made up of all the resurrected saints and those who will be alive when the LORD comes to rapture His saints.  They will act as priests and kings in the different nations of the earth.  The LORD Himself while on earth gave an indication as to the fact that saints will rule over the nations in the parable of the talents, Luke 19:12-22.

God also gave Apostle Paul the revelation that saints will judge the world, 2 Corinthians 6:2. Believers will sit as judges over the nations of the earth.  This should bring joy to the believer today.  We must bear in mind that only believers who overcome will reign with the LORD in glory.  We should therefore serve Him in faithfulness, with dedication and great commitment.

 

Daily Living Application:

The millennium is a period of one thousand years during which the LORD Jesus Christ will reign over all the nations of the earth. It will be a peaceful reign.  The sorrows, griefs, confusion, political and economic upheavals of this present world will not be experienced in the millennium.

The saints of the LORD will share in the ruler-ship of the earth. It will be a great honor and privilege for the Christian, the saints, to be made priests and kings in the millennium.  The millennial reign of Christ is well spoken of in the scriptures.  Though it is futuristic, like all scriptures, it will however be fulfilled.  Presently every Christian must live for the LORD in holiness and righteousness with a great sense of commitment and dedication.  We must allow the LORD reign in our lives in this present world as it is clear from the scriptures that only those who allow the LORD reign in their lives now will reign with Him during the millennium.

 

Memory Verse:

Revelation 20:6– “Blessed 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.”