S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The Millennium (also known as the Millennial Kingdom) is the 1,000-year reign of Jesus after the Tribulation and before all the people of the world are sent to either heaven or hell. Jesus will rei...

Login or Sign Up to view the rest of this answer.

July 01 2013 • 17 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Judy Jentz Supporter Christian, Lay Person Who Studys God's Living Word

I have contradictory commentary to this 1000 year reign of Christ. My church does not believe on this nor do we believe in the rapture. So I have been doing some research to be better able to explain it.

This is long but I am going to post it and the link:

The 1000 Year Reign of Christ?

Richard Anthony

Did you know that the phrase "1000 Year Reign of Christ" does not appear anywhere in scripture? Nor the word "millenium"? Does this surprise you? Notice in the above title, we did not spell out the word "thousand," but used "1000" instead. This is because numbers are fictions in numerical form and have no substance. And the "1000 year reign of Christ" is also a fiction according to Scripture, which has has no substance. It is born and bred from the doctrines of man, not from the Holy Scripture.
The "thousand year reign" appears nowhere in the sixty-six books, 1,189 chapters, 31,173 verses of the Bible except in this one passage where it occurs six times in six consecutive verses (Revelation 20:3-8). It is not solid study to build an entire system of beliefs about the end of the age and the status of the kingdom on such a highly symbolic passage. More especially when that interpretation conflicts with other plain passages of scripture.

Revelation 20:3-8 is the only passage in the entire scriptures that the so-called premillinialists have as the basis for the "1000 year reign." What endless variations of concocted fables have resulted! Clearly it does not contain the detail that they attribute to it.

First, it should be pointed out that scripture does not speak of "the thousand year reign of Christ." Revelation 20:4 says, "...and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God,...and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." It's not Christ that reigns 1000 years, but those who were killed for God's sake that reign with Christ 1000 years. 

To illustrate, consider the phrase, "John Doe reigned with the king for one year." Does this mean the king reigned for only one year? No, it does not. The king could reign for many years, but the point is not how long the king reigned but how long John reigned with the king. The king isn't the subject, it is speaking about how long John reigns with him. Likewise, Revelation 20:4 is not about how long Jesus will reign, but how long others will reign with Jesus. There's a big difference.

There are some things not mentioned in Revelation 20. 

•First, it does not mention the second coming of Christ. 
•Second, it does not mention a reign on earth. 
•Third, this passage does not mention a bodily resurrection. 
•Fourth, it does not mention Christ on earth. 
•And fifth, it does not mention us, it says "they" lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

Who are the "they" that lived and reigned with Christ? The souls of them that had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus. In an earlier chapter of this same book of Revelations, in Chapter 6:9-11, the picture is of the souls of martyrs who had been slain for the word of God under an altar crying for vengeance. Here the martyrs are on thrones, God's inevitable judgment has come. The victory came in the spirit world (not the physical), and God assured their victory. This passage only speaks of the "dead" reigning with Christ, this passage does not speak about those who are "alive" reigning with Christ.

The passage also mentions the first resurrection, which is in contrast with the second death. The point is not that the righteous is raised a thousand years before the wicked, for a physical reign on earth, but that the cause of Christ for which the martyrs died is triumphant. Evil is not forever on the throne. God has overcome.

This passage says nothing about Jesus coming to this earth and establishing a worldly kingdom at Jerusalem -- those that so teach are duty-bound to prove their doctrines with scripture, not just their imaginations.

Revelation 20:4

December 22 2013 • 17 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Cindy Jennings Supporter Disciple

I think the question was, "what is the purpose of the 1000 year reign?"

I was taught a long time ago that Christ comes back and establishes a perfect society in a perfect environment. No reason for rebellion of any sort, right? However, by the end of that time, the sin natures of some men take over and they DO rebel, at which time the earth and heavens are destroyed.

The point of the 1000-year reign is that in proves, once and for all, the sinfulness of man, that given the perfect environment and peace for which they all strive today in the hope of creating the utopia of a perfect world, even that won't stop their sinful natures. 

The secular world continues to think it can fix the problems of the earth and men and it never will.

December 22 2014 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Anthony Clinton Supporter Teacher in China

I believe in a millennial reign of Christ on earth, but as for its time frame I think many religious scholars have got it wrong. 

Isa 11:1-9 has absolutely no connection to a future millennium because the time frame is shown by the context to relate to the era of the beginning of the Gospel presented to the Gentiles. Isa 11:10 proves that this time will be the same time as the apostle Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles was happening. That scripture is quoted by Paul in Romans 15:12: Jesus was establishing His reign over the Gentiles and they were coming to Him in that era not some future event after Christ’s return. 

That means the often quoted scriptures about the animals and wild beasts that were deadly to man must be symbolic. For example, Paul before his salvation was a ferocious lion and when converted he became harmless and dwelt safely with the lambs. Such conversions can be adequately illustrated by those scriptures in Isaiah 11:7-9. The result is they will do harm to nobody in God’s holy mountain, the Church. 

What is very important when teaching about the Millennial Reign of Christ is that it must happen before the return of Christ! The return of Christ is called “the last day”, “End of the World”, and coinciding with the return of Christ is judgment day. We can see this in such scriptures as Matt 24:29-31. In this passage it speaks of Christ and the resurrection of the “righteous dead” being gathered on the last day, at the end of the world. This gathering is also mentioned in Matt 13:37-43, and please note the Harvest(resurrection day) is not a pre-tribulation Rapture but the end of the world and judgment day. 

So then, my point here is that there cannot be a millennium here on earth because the earth and universe are all gone and judgment day has already passed. So, how can you have this 1000 year reign when the earth is gone? We have further proof that the 1000 year reign cannot be after the return of Christ from 1 Cor 15:20-28, 2 Peter 3, again showing that there will be no 1000 year reign after the return of Christ. 

We must conclude then that this reign is something other than what many religious scholars have portrayed it to be. We have clear evidence that Jeremiah 31:33 is in fact not talking about some future event related only to Israel in a millennium, but in actual fact, it was fulfilled in the New and better Covenant as the rebirth experience. That Scripture, Jeremiah 31:33, is quoted in context with the explanation of the new covenant and the voiding of the Old Covenant in Hebrews 8:7-13, and so the 1000 year reign cannot be what we have been led to believe it was for these many years.

So then we come to the purpose of this 1000 year reign. Knowing that it cannot be an event that will take place after the resurrection and the rapture, we must conclude that this 1000 year reign is not a literal rule of Christ on Earth but a spiritual one, and by that I mean it relates to the Kingdom established in His Church and the world. The Millennial reign does, however, include Israel as a nation and the things that have been happening to Israel as a nation are clearly seen in Scripture. Israel was assembled and restored as a nation 1948, this can be seen in Isaiah 11:11, and in Revelation 12:4-6, we see the “woman(Israel)” giving birth to “a boy(Christ)” who would rule the world with a rod of Iron. The woman fled into the wilderness and is being nourished by God. This can be none other than Israel in its present state and I believe before the time it shall finally possess the complete Promised Land. Note that the woman (National Israel) was being persecuted by the world and there was given her “two wings of a great Eagle to fly into the wilderness, HER PLACE, (the Holy Land) where she is nourished” Is not America that great Eagle that bears Israel on her wings and where she is safely nourished until the right time for her to enter into all the Land of Promise and emerge as a Powerful world Figure?

August 27 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

RICK PORTER Supporter Chaplain [ Truckers Chapel ]-- Undeserving Child of God

Let us look around Rev 20 for some context. Revelation 19 gives us glimpse of God's judgement beginning.We have in verses 1-5 God's worship in Hallelujahs, then in 6-10, we see a glimpse of The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Verses 11-16 then after the Marriage Supper start talkin about The Rider on white horse, called Faithful and True, and is addressed as The Word of God. Who is that? It is The Lord Jesus. Now He is coming to Rule with a rod of iron. He subdues the nations, King of Kings, Lord of Lords.

Now Revelation 20 begins immediately with Satan and all his names being chained for a thousand years in the Abyss.No more out of him till 1,000 years up. Verses 4-6 then talks of those beheaded as witnesses of Jesus who refused to worship Beast, and take his mark, Reigned with Christ for a THOUSAND Years.Verses 7-10 talks of Satan being loosed, deceiving again and making war. Very quickly He is defeated with Heavenly fire, and this time thrown into the Lake of Fire, Where The Beast and False Prophet are Already, defeated at end of The Great Tribulation.

Then Great White Throne of Judgement,all whose names not in Book of Life thrown into Lake of Fire.

Revelation 21 follows about all new, and New Jerusalem, the City.Verse 27 only those in Lambs Book of Life will be there.

Now, is all this Literal or Allegory, if not Literal then how can we know anything is Literal or Allegory. 

Just follow the sequence and it Contextually makes sense, 1.- Marriage of Lamb in Heaven, Jesus and His Bride, The Church. 2.-Jesus declared King of Kings, departing heaven and defeating Beast and his armies. 3.- Jesus as King ruling with a iron rod. 4.- Satan bound, how many years, 1000.5.- Satan loosed, wars again, defeated again for the Final eternal time, thrown into Lake of Fire, where Beast or Antichrist already. 6.- Judgement for those in Death and Hell, they condemned to Lake of Fire. 7.- Conclusion New Heavens and Earth, New Jerusalem.

Revelation 22. Come Lord Jesus, Maranatha,

May 21 2017 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Kenneth Heck Supporter

Perhaps the best answer to this question is in Matt 22:44 "The LORD said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Christ must reign until all the enemies of God are defeated. He doesn't necessarily reign on earth at that time, since reigning over both heaven and earth from his Father's throne is accomplished more efficiently from heaven. At the end, Satan will be cast forever into the lake of fire, before the great white throne judgment.

The time of the Christian dispensation is three days, or about 3,000 years.
Christ himself said (Luke 13:32) " Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected." The third day refers to the 1,000 year reign. 

Another foreshadowing of the three thousand years is found in the Israelite tabernacle in the wilderness. After the bronze altar (signifying Moses) and the sea of water (Elijah down to John the Baptist) we come to the door of the holy place (signifying Christ, since he is the door) and the two compartments within, the first twice as long as the second. The physical separation between compartments stands for the second coming of Christ, and the second compartment, the most holy place, represents the thousand year reign of Christ.

January 16 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

James Kraft Supporter 74 year old retired pipeline worker

It will be the kingdom of God on earth. The lion will lie down with the lamb, and children will put there hands in cobras dens and not be bit. 

Some of us will rule and reign with Him. Those who are faithful over a little during he age of grace, will be given rule over more in the Kingdom of God on earth. Jesus Lords prayer was about the Kingdom that is to come. We have already been forgiven all trespasses. 

Colossians 2:13 And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.

June 16 2018 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Here are just a few of the characteristics of the millennium, "a thousand years" (Rev 20:2). Because the Latin equivalent for these words is "millennium," this time period is called the millennium.

1. The millennium will be a golden age on earth (It is the time when Christ will reign on this earth--Isaiah 2:3 especially but see below; Dan. 7:14; Zech. 14:9).

Isaiah 2:2-4 pp Micah 4:1-3 The OT looks forward to a period of universal peace and prosperity on earth. Both pre- and postmillennialists see this as a reference to Jesus Christ's future earthly reign. See also Isaiah 11:6-9; Isaiah 51:4-5; Isaiah 65:25

It will be God's future earthly reign when peace will be universal (Isa. 2:4; Zechariah 14:9 See also Daniel 2:44; Zephaniah 3:11; Zechariah 14:16-21)

and the productivity of the earth will be greatly increased (Isa 35:1-2).

2.. Satan is bound and thus will not be free to work. See especially Revelation 20:2 but also its context,

Revelation 20:1-3 “the Abyss” is the subterranean place of confinement for Satan and evil spirits. See also Luke 8:31 pp Matthew 8:29 pp Mark 5:7.

At the conclusion of the time, Satan will be released to try one last time to overthrow Christ but without success (he will then be finally overthrown.

Revelation 20:7-10 esp. Rev 20:7-9. See also Ezekiel 38:1-4,15-16,18-22; Ezekiel 39:2-5; Zechariah 14:2; Romans 16:20)

May 20 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

DeWayne Benson Supporter

This Latin 'Millennium' as noted by the first response, is the result of a 'language expert' named Jerome, the secretary of Pope Damasus in 382, commissioning, a Vulgate bible.

Jerome having no apparent Greek Math Theorem ability, took the Greek alpha numeric 'Choili' based upon the root 'Chili' meaning 10x 3rd power (plural Thousands), and the Greek word 'Etee' for Years, and composed a Latin Catholic 'Millennium', found no where but a Latin Vulgate Catholic bible.

This error is predominate and focus of considerable interpretation (plural) errors, taken from Revelation 20:1-7, which in English translation would be spoken as '(plural) 'Thousand's (of) Years'.

Of the two events within this Rev-20 composite 'Thousands', a Christian scholar would be well aware saints that endure with Christ would not end in (one thousand years), as some apparently believe, these first born again/alive again saints reign with Christ for (all) eternity.

See if you can find a serious error in my scripture study thesis in this matter at >>> http://rtpricetag2.com/Millennium.html PS, what ends of this Latin 'Millennium' is Satan in the abyss, not Saints reign with Christ.

December 26 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Kevin Honeycutt Supporter Servant of Jesus Christ

You have to go outside of the Bible to get the "1,000 year reign", it was not taught in the Bible. Jesus will meet us in the air, 
1 Thessalonians 4:17
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD."

Jesus has already established his Kingdom and it is here already,

Luke 17:21 KJV 
"Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

The people that teach this, teach that Jesus is coming to take a throne, Jesus is already on His throne at the right had of the Father,

1 Peter 3:22 - 
"Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him."

Hebrews 10:12 - But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;


Luke 22:69,
"Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God"


They say Jesus is coming to take David's throne. The throne was always God's, it never belonged to David and God never wanted an earthly king, he was already King, Jesus returned the throne where it always belonged.

Hosea 13:11 
"I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath."

I pray this helps!

April 29 2019 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report