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

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>For the discussion, here’s a survey of Freepers back in 2006, asking them how they think it’ll all end.<<<

Thank you very much.

Philip

[CynicalBear]

And now we are in the 1000 year reign which has lasted near 2000 years!

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>The core of the earth may remain, but it's surface will be totally consumed with fire. Jesus will create the New Heavens and the New Earth (Rev 21:1), where there will be no more death. Generations will no longer "come and go" as you claim.<<<

I forgot to mention this one, jimmyray.

"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Eph 3:21 KJV)

Does that sound like the Church is going to go flying away any time soon? Recall that Paul never considered the Church an afterthought:

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" (Eph 5:25 KJV)

Also note that Christ's kingdom is not a temporary kingdom:

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 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. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." (Isa 9:6-7 KJV)

Philip

[dartuser]

Phil believes the second coming of Jesus Christ is time past. He believes it happened in 70AD.

Yeah, I got that ...

But I think he does allow for a second Second Coming in the future.

[Alamo-Girl]

You’re quite welcome!

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>Are you at that point in your understanding that you consider yourself qualified to direct them?<<<

You answered my question, so I will answer yours. I have been studying the bible for almost four decades, since I was saved in the 1970’s. So, I believe I am, as least, as qualified, or nearly as qualified, as anyone else on this forum.

Philip

[mdmathis6]

No 100 lb hail stones, no super earthquakes flattening all the mountains, no islands vanishing, no historic recording of 2 supernatural witnesses that for 3.5 years defy the Satanically super empowered beast and his world wide control system, no system of marking denoting who could buy or sell. These things have not happened yet...nor has the third temple been rebuilt.

You twist scripture...even the parts which are clearly understood and need no high powered “intepretations” of symbolic imagery. You build your house on sand not on the rock of scripture!

[dartuser]

That kingdom has existed since (at least) the days of John the Baptist:

Absolutely false ...

Daniel 2 ...
35 "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

You have much of Daniel 2 correct ... but you missed some of the most important points that are devastating to your position.

First: All crushed and became like chaff, then the wind carried them away ... WAIT FOR IT >>> WAIT FOR IT ...

... so that not a trace of them was found.

The Roman empire was in existence in the days of John the Baptist ... kaboom ...

Since not a trace was found ... there will be no vestiges of the Gentile kingdoms that Daniel predicted before the coming kingdom. Then the stone became a great mountain and it filled ... WAIT FOR IT >>> WAIT FOR IT ... the whole earth.

Since the four kingdoms in Daniel were earthly kingdoms ... and the wind blew the dust away ... then the stone became a mountain (you would do well to understand why God chose the mountain imagery here to speak to Nebuchadnezzar) ... it is apparent that the kingdom of God and these Gentile earthly kingdoms will not co-exist.

Repeat: The kingdom of God will not co-exist with any other earthly kingdom.

I'll post an article with the massive OT background for the kingdom soon ... many believe that Rev 20 is the basis for the millennial reign of Christ ... in fact, the OT is packed with passages describing this reign.

[who knows what evil?]

Wonder if anyone has changed their mind since 2006? I haven’t. :-)

[mdmathis6]

Actually it is the 21st century King James Version I quoted from...

Job says in the latter day he sees his REDEEMER standing upon the Earth. His assertion that he will see it in his flesh, though his current flesh would be subject to decay speaks of his resurrection in to a new body. Whatever issue you have with Revelation and your stated opinion that it doesn’t support Christ’s direct 1000 year reign upon the Earth, must also be squared with Job’s assertion that he sees his redeemer, Jesus Christ, standing upon the Earth(IN THE LATTER DAY); beholding Him, as Job does, in a newly resurrected body!

The verse again...from the 21st cent. KJV:Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth;

26 and though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God,

27 whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed within me.

In plain English then...Job gets resurrected and beholds his redeemer, God in flesh, Jesus Christ STANDING UPON THE EARTH in the LATTER DAY! Juxtapose Job 19 with Revelation 20...and much of what Revelation 20 as well as a lot of other passages in the Bible that speak of our resurrection should immediately come into focus....like an autofocus camera suddenly snapping Mount Zion into view!

[PhilipFreneau]

>>No 100 lb hail stones, no super earthquakes flattening all the mountains, no islands vanishing, no historic recording of 2 supernatural witnesses that for 3.5 years defy the Satanically super empowered beast and his world wide control system, no system of marking denoting who could buy or sell. These things have not happened yet...nor has the third temple been rebuilt.<<<

LOL! Don't forget these passages:

"The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up." (Rev 8:7 KJV)

There goes all our livestock and other grass eaters, and everything that feeds on them.

"And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed." (Rev 8:8-9 KJV)

Be certain you move far inland before that happens. A great mountain falling into the sea would cause an unbelievable, world-wide tidal wave.

"And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter." (Rev 8:10-11 KJV)

How could anyone survive a star hitting the earth? How could the earth survive? The earth would be obliterated like the planet in the old Star Wars movie.

Recall that all you need is faith as a grain of mustard seed and you can say unto a mountain:

"… Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matt 17:20.)

You haven't seen anyone move any mountains lately, have you? Therefore, using your "literal" interpretive method, I would be forced to assume that no one on earth has any faith.

This is one of the verses you mentioned from the Revelation:

"And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great." (Revelation 16:21)

There was a Jewish priest and historian named Flavius Josephus, who was captured by the Roman armies early in the Jewish-Roman war; and he was allowed to stay with the army leadership during the war. As an eyewitness to many events, he has become one of the most read historians for information from that era. Now read this from Josephus in reference to the Roman siege of Jerusalem and compare it to the verse above:

"The [catapult] engines, that all the [Roman] legions had ready prepared for them, were admirably contrived; but still more extraordinary ones belonged to the tenth legion: those that threw darts and those that threw stones were more forcible and larger than the rest, by which they not only repelled the excursions of the Jews, but drove those away that were upon the walls also. Now the stones that were cast were of the weight of a talent, and were carried two furlongs [1/4 mile] and further. The blow they gave was no way to be sustained, not only by those that stood first in the way, but by those that were beyond them for a great space." [War of Jews V:6:3]

Is that a coincidence, or what?

By the way, there is absolutely no evidence of a rebuilt third temple in the bible.

Philip

[Georgia Girl 2]

Yes I think you have pretty much laid it out. Very good.

[Iscool]

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by him.
John 3:18 He that believeth in him is not judged. But he that doth not believe, is already judged : because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:19 And this is the judgment : because the light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light : for their works were evil.
John 3:20 For every one that doth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be reproved.
John 3:21 But he that doth truth, cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, because they are done in God.

So much for "Faith Alone" and "Once Saved Always Saved" both unless you make an exception to your own rule of reading verses in context.

First, you have to know what you are reading...

There is absolutely nothing in there about doing works for salvation...What it simply says is that if you turn to Jesus, you will be counseled, corrected, instructed (reproved) in the ways to believe and act like a Christian...

And that is the only judgment for a Christian...

[Lee N. Field]

OK, time to weight in.

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.

I've been in and out for a while, not paying a great deal of attention. Your position, if I understand it correctly, is that "the first resurrection" was a physical resurrection at 70AD (more or less).

I find this "quirky" for several reasons.

1. What Paul speaks of is a resurrection of the dead in Christ, followed immediately by a catching up of the living. The first might go unnoticed, but no one noticed the second? Unlikely. And how does the church continue?
2. It makes the same kind of division I have seen from the dispensationalists. Two sets of Christians (first and second resurrection), with different fates, and thus different promises. They may be OK with that. I am not.
3. Paul doesn't say those of the first resurrection aren't coming back to earth. What he does say, elsewhere, is that we are now while we are living out or lives in this age we are also "seated in heavenly places". Which I think is also the sense we see in Rev. 20.

I'll point you to a couple articles I have found helpful: The First Resurrection and The Covenant of the Seventieth Week, both by the late Meredith Kline.

In the first the author examines the interaction and parallelism of the first and second deaths and resurrections in Rev. 20. The second examines the structure of history laid down in Daniel's seventy sevens prophecy.

They're not long or especially difficult, and are worth your time to work through.

[Rashputin]

Blah, blah, blah.

More drivel. As always, never, ever, read something in it's entirety. Always try to take a single verse here and there and if at all possible don't even acknowledge there is a context. That's standard Protestant "hide from the Truth" practice and has been ever since Luther threw out part of the Bible he didn't have any way around with his lame excuse for his own lack of desire to live a Christian life.

I notice you ignore the fact that verse 21 clearly states "come to the light that their works be made manifest". That's the part you most want to avoid.

Yawn.

Have another go at bobing and weaving if you like, but you absolutely CANNOT take that entire passage together and come to the conclusion you're selling to the gullible and ignorant.

have a nice day

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>Actually it is the 21st century King James Version I quoted from... Job says in the latter day he sees his REDEEMER standing upon the Earth. His assertion that he will see it in his flesh, though his current flesh would be subject to decay speaks of his resurrection in to a new body. <<<

That is an interesting passage in Job, I must admit. Have you looked at the other translations on that passage? For example, this is the King James Version:

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." (Job 19:25-27 KJV)

And this is American Standard:

"But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, And at last he will stand up upon the earth: And after my skin, [even] this [body], is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God; Whom I, even I, shall see, on my side, And mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. My heart is consumed within me." (Job 19:25-27 ASV)

I can assure you that one of those translations is wrong. LOL! This is the passage with Strong's numbers for the Greek:

"For I know <3045> [that] my redeemer <1350> liveth <2416>, and [that] he shall stand <6965> at the latter <314> [day] upon the earth <6083>. And [though] after <310> my skin <5785> [worms] destroy <5362> this [body], yet in my flesh <1320> shall I see <2372> God <433>. Whom I shall see <2372> for myself, and mine eyes <5869> shall behold <7200>, and not another <2114>; [though] my reins <3629> be consumed <3615> within <2436> me." (Job 19:25-27 Strongs)

Notice the words that were inserted (those in square brackets) by the Translators. That should help explain why the two translations above have completely opposite meanings.

>>>Whatever issue you have with Revelation and your stated opinion that it doesn’t support Christ’s direct 1000 year reign upon the Earth…<<<

The Revelation never says that Christ reigns for 1000 years on earth, and you cannot show me where it says that. It simply does not say it, anywhere.

>>>…must also be squared with Job’s assertion that he sees his redeemer, Jesus Christ, standing upon the Earth(IN THE LATTER DAY); beholding Him, as Job does, in a newly resurrected body!<<<

How does that square with this by Paul and Peter?

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." (1 Cor 15:50 KJV)

"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:" (1 Pet 1:24 KJV)

Was the Holy Ghost trying to trick us? And when were the latter days? This is Paul:

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;" (Heb 1:1-2 KJV)

>>>In plain English then...Job gets resurrected and beholds his redeemer, God in flesh, Jesus Christ STANDING UPON THE EARTH in the LATTER DAY! Juxtapose Job 19 with Revelation 20...and much of what Revelation 20 as well as a lot of other passages in the Bible that speak of our resurrection should immediately come into focus....like an autofocus camera suddenly snapping Mount Zion into view!<<<

Well, I have already mentioned that passage by Job. This is mount Zion:

"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)

As you can see, mount Sion is the location of the Church. You can find it in the old testament here:

"But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Mic 4:1-2; also Isaiah 2:2-4 KJV)

John wrote of the Church this way:

"And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God," (Rev 21:10 KJV)

"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." (Rev 21:2-3 KJV)

"And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it." (Rev 21:24 KJV)

Philip

[redleghunter]

I was elaborating on your comments. You mentioned meeting the Lord in the air but seemed to indicate what came next is unknown. Revelation 19 gives us an indicator we feast with Him and then muster with Him and follow Him on His second coming.

[RoosterRedux]

Humble too.;-)

[redleghunter]

Your post is frankly out of context with subject of the thread. Not enough Pope Francis apologetics articles for you today?

[redleghunter]

Sure, show the disciples who believed the second coming as a past event. We have loads of post apostolic writers and none of them give even a hint of the second coming of Christ as a past event.