The Thousand Year Reign of Christ on Earth: Is it Biblical?

Mar 14, 2014 | PhilipFreneau

[PhilipFreneau]

The Thousand Year Reign of Christ on Earth: Is it Biblical?

This is the passage in question:

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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." (Rev 20:4-6 KJV)

There are two events noticeably absent from the passage:

1) There is no mention of a reign on earth of any kind.

2) There is no time limit placed on Christ's reign: it only states that those who are resurrected reign with Christ for "1000 years."

The first item should be apparent from some of Jesus' last words on earth:

"My kingdom is not of this world…" (John 18:36 KJV).

… and from some of his first words after his ascension, where he is speaking from his throne:

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Rev 3:21 KJV)

But there are numerous other indicators, for example:

"The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all." (Ps 103:19 KJV)

"The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven…" (Ps 11:4 KJV)

"Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?" (Isa 66:1 KJV)

"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:" (Heb 9:24 KJV)

"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." (Heb 10:12-13 KJV)

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

Many of those same items also explain the second item: that Christ reigns forever. But there are many more:

"Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever… " (Isa 9:7 KJV)

"Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah." (Ps 89:4 KJV)

"His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven." (Ps 89:29 KJV)

"His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah." (Ps 89:36-37 KJV)

"The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever." (Pro 29:14 KJV)

So, it should be apparent that Christ reigns forever from his throne in heaven. But what is the disposition of those resurrected during the first resurrection? Paul explains it this way:

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Th 4:16-18 KJV)

According to Paul, those of the first resurrection are not coming back to earth. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that if there is a limited "1000 year reign" by Christ and his saints on this earth, they will reign from heaven, and not from earthly thrones and/or habitats.

I believe the more logical conclusion is that Christ reigns over the earth from his throne in heaven, forever; and those of the first resurrection reign with him, as servants and priests, either forever (they are with Him forever,) or until their services are no longer needed (for example, until Satan is defeated.)

Philip

[Secret Agent Man]

it is.

the saints come back to rule and reign for 1000 years. the world is a mess and needs order. it will take time. during this time there will be mortal and immortal people. people will be able to accept Christ as savior and lord. nations will bring tributes to Christ who reigns from Jerusalem.

even with all this some will not believe. satan is loosed at the end of this period and is able to deceive the unbelievers at this time to try to overthrow God, and they will fail.

[stars & stripes forever]

If it is in the Book, it is biblical.

[Boogieman]

"There are two events noticeably absent from the passage:

1) There is no mention of a reign on earth of any kind."

Well, if you conveniently end your quote in verse 6, you can make that statement, but if you include the next few verses, you cannot:

"7When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves."

(Rev 20:7-9)

Satan gathers the nations from the four corner of the earth, and they march across the earth to get to Jerusalem, where God's people (spoken of in verses 4-6) are.

[the_Watchman]

You quotation of Rev 20 is a bit short to provide context:

20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to othe bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. 4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Re 20:1–10). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The viewpoint of the author beginning in verse 1 does seem to be the earth. The next shift in viewpoint to heaven is in verse 11. Thus, it is not a stretch to believe that the millennial reign itself is on earth. The issue at hand is how literal these symbols can be taken.

I lean heavily toward the millennial position. Dr. Micheal Heiser has some excellent youtube videos on eschatology. He points out that the verses I have cited above are the primary support for a doctrine of a millennial reign of Christ on earth. So if you don't see it here, then you probably aren't going to see it.

[the_Watchman]

I hope nobody in my church finds out that I am in agreement with the Boogieman!

[RoosterRedux]

and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands

And who is it who beheads unbelievers? This seems to point in a certain direction at this time in history.

[Boogieman]

Regarding Christ’s throne being in Heaven, you are correct that it is there, as many verses attest. However, none of those verses say that Christ must remain in Heaven for all time. The preceding chapter of Revelation actually depicts Christ, as the rider of the white horse, descending from heaven when he defeats the beast and false prophet:

“11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”a He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords.

17And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”

19Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.”

(Rev 19:11-21)

So, the answer to the apparent problem is simple: Christ is ruling from Heaven now, but at the end of days, He will return to destroy His enemies, and then the 1000 year reign begins.

[plain talk]

There are two events noticeably absent from the passage: 1) There is no mention of a reign on earth of any kind. 2) There is no time limit placed on Christ's reign: it only states that those who are resurrected reign with Christ for "1000 years."

True but the use of the terms "living" and "1000 years" is interesting. Heaven transcends space and time. Angels exist in heaven but there is not a notion in scripture of angels living for a period of time and then dying. So the use of "living" and "1000 years" seems to imply this occurred on Earth.

[Boogieman]

“According to Paul, those of the first resurrection are not coming back to earth.”

No, the verse does not actually say that. It says we will be caught up into the air to meet the Lord (who is descending from Heaven, just as Revelation details), and that we shall always be with the Lord. If the Lord is already not in Heaven when we meet Him, but descending to the earth, then why should we assume that we would go straight to Heaven and stay there for all time? That would contradict the verse you quoted, since Christ isn’t in Heaven at that moment, so we would have to leave Him in order to get there.

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>No, the verse does not actually say that. It says we will be caught up into the air to meet the Lord (who is descending from Heaven, just as Revelation details), and that we shall always be with the Lord.<<<

I recommend you read it again. It is clear from that passage that those of the first resurrection never return to earth. There is also nothing else in the New Testament that supports them, or Christ, returning to earth.

Philip

[PhilipFreneau]

>>So the use of "living" and "1000 years" seems to imply this occurred on Earth.<<<

Jesus said:

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51 KJV)

Do they live forever on earth, heaven, …, where?

Philip

[Salvation]

**and that we shall always be with the Lord.<<<**

So what happens to the goats?

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>Well, if you conveniently end your quote in verse 6, you can make that statement, but if you include the next few verses, you cannot:<<<

I would have included those verses if they had anything to do with the first resurrection or the 1000 year reign with Christ.

>>>
(Rev 20:7-9) Satan gathers the nations from the four corner of the earth, and they march across the earth to get to Jerusalem, where God's people (spoken of in verses 4-6) are.<<<

It doesn't say Jerusalem. That is a misnomer, invented out of thin air. What the verse actually says is:

"And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them."

The "breadth of the earth" means the entire earth, according to a dictionary. The camp of the saints is on heavenly mount Sion, as follows:

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Eph 2:19-22 KJV)

The "chief cornerstone" mentioned in that passage was laid on mount Sion, as follows:

"Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." (Ps 2:6 KJV)

"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste." (Isa 28:16 KJV)

"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." (1 Pet 2:6 KJV)

The "beloved city" is the Church, the new Jerusalem, which is also on mount Sion:

"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant ..." (Heb 12:22-24 KJV)

You are partly correct in that Satan is coming after God's people; but they are in the Church, not in Jerusalem.

Philip

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>I lean heavily toward the millennial position. Dr. Micheal Heiser has some excellent youtube videos on eschatology. He points out that the verses I have cited above are the primary support for a doctrine of a millennial reign of Christ on earth. So if you don’t see it here, then you probably aren’t going to see it.<<<

If it is not in the scripture, I probably won’t see it.

Philip

[Salvation]

It’s 2014 AD

What about the other thousand years?

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>And who is it who beheads unbelievers? This seems to point in a certain direction at this time in history.<<<

Nero beheaded a few, including Paul. Peter was hung upside down on a cross, also my Nero. Nero continued his war against the Saints for 3 1/2 years (forty and two months,) until he committed suicide to prevent his own trial and execution.

I believe James was also beheaded, but my knowledge of his disposition is incomplete.

The word “beheaded” could also be symbolic for “silenced.” The entire book is loaded with symbolism. Recall that Nero supposedly banished John to Patmos, which would have silenced him.

Philip

[SeaHawkFan]

Not all scripture is meant to be taken literally. Here is an example:

Psalm 50:10
New International Version (NIV)
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.

It does not mean God owns the cattle on exactly one thousand hill. It means he owns all of creation.

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.<<<

It never says they come to earth; it only implies that they “fight” those on earth. Recall that Christ used the Roman armies to carry out his judgement on Jerusalem and Israel. He also used the armies of Babylon to carry out his judgement in the old testament; as well as the Assyrian armies against Egypt.

>>>So, the answer to the apparent problem is simple: Christ is ruling from Heaven now, but at the end of days, He will return to destroy His enemies, and then the 1000 year reign begins.<<<

I understand what you are implying, but I cannot find that in the scripture. If it was true, there should be multiple references. Even the “Sword” doesn’t fit: it comes out of the Lord’s mouth. All we have is this symbolic passage from the Revelation, which has generated about a zillion and one different interpretations, and it is still early.

Philip

[sasportas]

The rule by Christ and his saints on earth after the 2nd coming is presupposed in the Bible. In the book of Daniel, we see it prophesied in such passages as the following: Daniel 2 pictures a succession of earthly kingdoms, the last one crushed by a stone from heaven, after which it becomes a great “mountain” (“mountain” is prophetic scripture signifies a kingdom, or world empire) filling the whole earth. The “stone” from heaven crushing the last kingdom, the kingdom of antichrist, is the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ -

Dan. 2:35, the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

Daniel 7 also pictures a succession of earthly kingdoms, the last one cast down and repossessed by the saints of the most High. The last earthly kingdom, that of the “beast” or the antichrist, is taken over by the saints.

Dan. 7:18, But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

Dan. 7:22, Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Dan. 7:27, And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High

In Rev. 20, that those of the first resurrection are the ones who rule on earth with Christ should be presupposed by Bible believers - such passages as these above from Daniel, for example. It is only those influenced by some variation of philosophic Gnosticism that see otherwise.