The Christ in Prophecy Journal

The Inbox: Will Jesus Rule the Earth for a Thousand Years?

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Jesus wraps up the entire Bible in Revelation 22 with a promise, stating “Surely I am coming quickly!” He proclaims this not once, not twice, but three whole times, making the fact of His return to set up His Kingdom an ironclad pledge. But, you have to wonder, since it’s been 2,000 years already, did Jesus merely mean His return was symbolic, or will there be an actual, literal appearance one day?

Will Jesus rule the Earth for a thousand years?

Why the debate, this symbolic or literal return of Jesus to set up His kingdom? To answer that, let me introduce you to Cotton Mather, a Puritan Pastor from 18th Century New England.

Cotton explained that, in truth, the Kingdom of Christ was a three-fold kingdom, with the fourth yet to come. First, it’s a Spiritual Kingdom, wherein His word and grace rule over the consciences of men. At the same time, second, it’s a Providential Kingdom, wherein Jesus directs the affairs of this world. And third, it’s an Ecclesiastical Kingdom, where Jesus rules as the head over the Church. But then, Cotton explained that the Kingdom of Christ has a fourth aspect that still has yet to be instituted, a Davidic Kingdom where Jesus rules and reigns physically over all the earth.

It’s taking all four of those folds together that can trip people up, for they’ll recognize the first three, but often neglect the fourth — the Davidic Kingdom.

The Prophet Daniel told us that the Davidic Kingdom and human government would never coexist.

The Dream

Daniel 2 tells the story of the great King Nebuchadnezzar who awoke to a very disturbing dream. He dreamt of a massive statue with a head of gold, a chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, two legs made out of iron, and feet a mixture of iron and clay. Then a great stone, not cut by human hands, came crashing down out of the sky and smashed the statue, blasting it into dust, which then blew away. The stone grew into a mountain and filled the entire earth.

Daniel interpreted the king’s dream. He explained that the head was Nebuchadnezzar himself, and each metal down was a successive empire: Babylonian Empire, Medo-Persian Empire, Greek Empire, Roman Empire, Revived Roman Empire. The great smashing stone represented ‘…the God of heaven” who “will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed… it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms…’ (Daniel 2:44-45).

What Daniel describes — the story of Jesus’ return — can be found in Revelation 19-20.

The Length

Jesus rides with the armies of heaven down to the earth, conquers evil, and then sets up that Davidic Kingdom. Not once, or even twice, but six times in Revelation 20, we’re told that His kingdom will last a thousand years. And that number is where this kingdom gets its most recognized title — the Millennial Kingdom.

Millennium = Latin words mille (thousand) and annum (years).

The Conditions

The Bible is chock full of verses that explain how awesome it will be to live in the Millennial Kingdom. When we read the Bible for its plain sense meaning, it describes the following 12 points that define this kingdom.

  1. All the Jews first have to be regathered back into the land of Israel (Isaiah 11:11-12; 35:10; Zephaniah 3:17-20; Zechariah 9:14-17).
  2. The world must endure the horrors of God’s wrath during the Day of the Lord (Zephaniah 1:14-18; Zechariah 14:1-5; Ezekiel 28:26; Habakkuk 3:3-13; Haggai 2:6-7,22).
  3. Jesus has to return physically to conquer Satan (Zechariah 14:1-5; Revelation 19:11-21).
  4. The human world order has to be destroyed (Daniel 2:44-45; Haggai 2:22).
  5. The world must then be judged so only those saved will enter the Millennial Kingdom (Daniel 12:11-12; Isaiah 11:1-5,10; Matthew 25:31-46).
  6. Jesus will rule and reign as both king and priest from His Temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 2:44-45; Zechariah 14:9; Psalm 22:27-31; Isaiah 9:6-7; Ezek. 43:1-12; Isaiah 24:23; Joel 3:17; Zechariah 2:10).
  7. King David and the resurrected saints fill the leadership roles (Isaiah 32:1; Daniel 7:13-14,18,27; Revelation 2:26-27).
  8. The Jews will serve as an exalted priestly people (Isaiah 2:2-3, 49:22-23; 60-62; Jeremiah 3:17-18; Hosea 1:10-11; 2:14-20; 14:4-7; Micah 4:1-7; Zephaniah 3:20; Zechariah 8:23).
  9. All the world’s inhabitants will personally know Jesus and worship Him (Psalm 22:27-31; Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14; Zechariah 14:20-21; Malachi 1:11).
  10. War will cease to exist, animals won’t kill each other; it’ll be a world of peace and bounty (Isaiah 2:4; Hosea 2:18; Micah 4:3-4; Nahum 1:15; 2:2; Isaiah 11:1-10; 65:25).
  11. Lifespans will be counted in the hundreds of years (Isaiah 65:20-23; Isaiah 33:24; 35:5-6).
  12. Satan is bound in a pit for a thousand years and so can’t tempt anyone, that is until the very end when he is released to be permanently defeated (Revelation 20:1-10).

So, will Jesus rule the earth for a thousand years?

Most absolutely yes! Jesus will literally return to set up His literal throne over a literal kingdom that will last literally for a thousand years, and then on into eternity. For when that incredible time finally comes, another astounding prophecy will be fulfilled: “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9).

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Dr. Nathan E. Jones

As the Internet Evangelist at Lamb & Lion Ministries, Nathan reaches out to the over 4.5 billion people accessible over the Internet with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He also co-hosts the ministry's television program Christ in Prophecy and podcast The Truth Will Set You Free.

14 CommentsLeave a Comment

  • Nathan, nice job. When I first started following you I caught myself trying to catch you making mistake in the word and opinion, as far as I understand it? But the HOJY SPIRIT has moved me to lower my shield! Being a new CHRISTIAN, your tv program which I record every week, and this site put a shine on my armor that JESUS has provided for me! I came across a vet that has been having night terrors since his returned from the gulf war. Our government placed these demons upon him and many more of our men and women? I placed a prayer on all the Christian we sites I could find. Could your group add to this prayer chain for a healing?

  • Well done Nathan. As a long time Prophecy Partner and student of end time events I really enjoyed reading about the facts surrounding the Davidic kingdom. God bless you and Lamb & Lion Ministries!

  • Thanks for the updates on our times, and scriptures Nathan, we discuss them in bible class. One has to notice that our days on earth today seem to be like the Days of Noah were.

  • Nathan, what is your opinion about millennial sacrifices? I know this question arises from descriptions on the conditions here on the earth during this 1000 year rule from the book of Ezekiel.

    I have read some commentators who say this is not possible since Christ fulfilled all the OT sacrificial system requirements, where as others say the Jewish sacrificial system will be reconstituted as a memorial and to show the Jews and the world at that time the cost of sin.

    For myself I am not sure.

    • Zechariah 14 and the following verses from the major prophets tell about what the Millennial Temple will be like and the ceremonial sacrifices that will be held there. Scholars agree that since Jesus fulfilled the sacrifice needed for salvation, that the Feast of Tabernacles and animal sacrifices during that upcoming time will be for remembrance of what Jesus has done, rather like Communion, and for the purification rituals of the priests.

      Isa. 2:2-3; 60:7,13; 66:19-21; 56:6-7
      Jer. 33:15-18; 31:31-34; 32:38-40; 33:6-13; 50:5
      Ez. 37:26-28;40:38-43; 42:13; 42:18-27; 45:15-25; 46:2-15; 46:20-24

  • When I read that our lives will be measured by 100’ds ofyears, does that mean that there will be death in Heaven.

    • There will be no death in Heaven as all living there will be in our eternal, glorified bodies. Death will still be there during the Millennial Kingdom beforehand, but not in the numbers like it is today.

  • Can you explain how sin enters this millennial period, will the redeemed saints (us) be able to sin in this kingdom. Why do we have to start all over again, satan bound and then released again after 1000 years.
    So what purpose does the millennial kingdom serve. Wonder why we can’t skip it and enter into eternity?

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