THE MILLENNIAL
REIGN
Most of us have rarely or barely
heard reference to the Millennial Reign.
If we did, it was so brief that we barely caught it, didn’t really
understand what it was, what is meant by it or when it happens.
If you’re like me, you grew up
hearing and thinking: the trumpet is going to sound, we’ll be raptured out to
be with Jesus, we’ll stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, some will be
cast into hell while others will be welcomed into Heaven. And time shall be no more.
So, is there a Millennial Reign? If so, what is it and when does it take
place?
I do not claim to have all the
answers contained within this study. There
are more Scriptures references than what is mentioned within this brief study,
but I’m sharing what I’ve learned to the best of my limited understanding.
THE MILLENNIAL REIGN – 7th
DISPENSATION
When God created, He was revealing
His plan for the ages to come.
For 6 days, God worked. Then, on the 7th day He rested. Although God created the earth in 6 days, He
was revealing that each of those days represented a dispensation of time.
Remember, 2 Peter 3:8 states…
…one day
is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
These dispensations represent how God would deal with man
regarding salvation.
FIRST DISPENSATION: INNOCENCE
Man, woman, and animals dwelt
together in peace with mankind having
dominion over the animals and
garden. They had no knowledge of evil
until the serpent tempted them to
disobey God. From then on, innocence
was
lost.
SECOND DISPENSATION: CONSCIENCE
This dispensation began when
they were driven from the Garden of Eden.
They now knew right from wrong
and were given a conscious to either
listen to or ignore, too often choosing
to ignore.
THIRD DISPENSATION: HUMAN GOVERNMENT
Wickedness and evil had been
wiped out in the flood. Man still had a
conscious and now became
responsible for governing one another. Had
men’s spirits been actively controlled
by God’s Spirit, man would have
righteously ruled the world. But the sin
nature prevented that. We see
that it
didn’t take long after exiting the Ark for
sin to begin to rear its ugly
head once again through Noah’s son. This
dispensation ended at the
Tower of Babel.
FOURTH DISPENSATION: PROMISE or ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
This time period goes from
Abraham to Moses and ends with their refusal
to enter Canaan out of fear. Thus, they wandered for 40 years in the
wilderness.
FIFTH DISPENSATION: LAW
This time period spans from Moses
to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The
time of Law ended on the Day of
Pentecost when the Church was birthed
and Salvation became obtainable
through the New Birth experience as
taught by Peter in Acts 2:38.
SIXTH DISPENSATION: GRACE or MESSIANIC PERIOD
This is the time frame from the Birth of the
Church until the end of
Armageddon. We are currently in
that dispensation which is wrapping up
quickly.
SEVENTH DISPENSATION: MILLENNIAL REIGN
This is the time when satan
will be bound and Jesus Christ will rule the
earth. We will rule and reign with Him
during this time period.
WHERE DOES THE TERM ‘MILLENNIAL
REIGN’ COME FROM?
REVELATION {20:1} And I saw an
angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great
chain in his hand. {20:2} And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent,
which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, {20:3}
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him,
that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should
be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
**This is after the return of
Christ where He gathers His Saints at the Battle of Armageddon. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we
which are alive and remain will be caught up to join them….
1
THESSALONIANS 4
13 – But
I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 – For
if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep
in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 – For
this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and
remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 – 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:
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.
18 –
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
It’s comforting to know that if
we make it to meet Jesus in the air or we die because we would not deny His
name, then from then on we will forever be with the Lord!
At the end of Armageddon, the
Beast, the False Prophet, and all who took his Mark will be cast into the Lake
of Fire.
Rev 19:20
And the beast was taken,
and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him,
with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast,
and them that worshipped his image.
These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Notice the false prophet worked
miracles that deceived people that had received the mark of the beast. Deception is rampant. This is why we warn to guard your hearts and
minds and stay prayed up and alert spiritually.
After they are cast into the Lake
of Fire, an angel having the keys to the bottomless pit will bind satan for
1000 years so that he can not deceive the nations during that time.
REVELATION {20:4} 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.
**All who were martyred for the
cause of Christ and would not deny His name by worshipping the beast or taking
his mark will live and reign with Christ during this thousand years.
{20:5} But the rest of the
dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This
[is] the first resurrection.
**Scripturally we see the first
resurrection is for the dead in Christ.
All others will remain in the grave until the end of the
Millennial Reign.
{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.
**Those that have part in the
first resurrection will not have to worry about death or hell ever again. THEY MADE IT!
Hallelujah!
For 1000 years, no one will have
to worry about the devil deceiving people or stirring up strife.
THINGS WE KNOW SCRIPTURALLY ABOUT
THE MILLENNIAL REIGN
*satan will be bound 1000
years – Rev 20:1-3
*Christ will Reign – Zech 14:9
And the
LORD shall be king over all the earth:
in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
Rev 11:15
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven,
saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord,
and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
*Health and joy will be restored
Isaiah
33:24
And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick:
the people that dwell therein [shall be] forgiven [their] iniquity
Isaiah
35:5-6
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
{35:6} Then shall the lame [man] leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb
sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
{35:7} And the parched ground shall become a pool,
and the thirsty land springs of water:
in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, [shall be] grass with reeds and
rushes. {35:8} And an highway shall be there, and a way,
and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it;
but it [shall be] for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err
[therein. {35:9} No lion {{in the sense of violence}} shall be there,
nor [any] ravenous beast shall go up thereon,
it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk [there: ]
{35:10} And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion
with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and
gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
*Human Life will be extended –
Isaiah
65:20
There shall be no more thence an infant of days,
nor an old man that hath not filled his days:
for the child shall die an hundred years old;
but the sinner [being] an hundred years old shall be accursed.
**It sounds like people will still choose to sin despite the
devil being bound
**It also sounds like there will still be death & funerals during this
time???
I do not clearly understand this since the second death will have no power on
those who were part of the first resurrection – Rev 20:6. Perhaps this is referring to those who choose
to sin during this time? ))
Zech 8:1-7
{8:1} Again the word of the LORD of hosts came [to me,] saying, {8:2} Thus
saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was
jealous for her with great fury. {8:3} Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto
Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a
city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. {8:4}
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in
the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very
age. {8:5} And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing
in the streets thereof. {8:6} Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous
in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be
marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts. {8:7} Thus saith the LORD of
hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west
country; {8:8} And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of
Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and
in righteousness.
*There will be peace and justice -
Zech 14:11
And [men] shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction;
but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
Isaiah 2:2-4
And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the LORD’S
house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted
above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. {2:3} And many people
shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the
house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk
in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD
from Jerusalem. {2:4} And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke
many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their
spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
Micah 4:1-7
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. {4:2} 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. {4:3} And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong
nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and
their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war any more. {4:4} But they shall sit
every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make [them]
afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken [it.] {4:5} For all
people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name
of the LORD our God for ever and ever. {4:6} In that day, saith the LORD, will
I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her
that I have afflicted; {4:7} And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her
that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in
mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
*There will be one language
Zephaniah
3
{3:8} Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up
to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather the nations, that I may
assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce
anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. ((*Referring
to Armageddon*)) {3:9} For then will I turn to the people a pure language,
that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one
consent.
{3:10} From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, [even] the daughter of
my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. {3:11} In that day shalt thou not be
ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then
I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and
thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. {3:12} I will also
leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust
in the name of the LORD. {3:13} The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity,
nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for
they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.
*The nature of animals will be
changed….
ISAIAH 11:6
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion
and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
{11:7} And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down
together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
{11:8} And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp (Cobra),
and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ (viper’s) den.
{11:9} They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain:
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover
the sea.
ISAIAH 65:25
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock:
and dust [shall be] the serpent’s meat.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
ISAIAH 35:9
No lion {{in the sense of violence}} shall be there, nor [any] ravenous beast
shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk
[there: ]
* Everyone will go up to worship the Lord Jesus Christ in
Jerusalem.
There will be punishment on the nations that refuse, so this reveals there will
still be free choice but the devil will not be here to blame it on.
Zech 14:16-21
And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left of all the nations
which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship
the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
{14:17} And it shall be, [that] whoso will not come up of [all] the families of
the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts,
even upon them shall be no rain.
{14:18} And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that [have] no
[rain;] there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen
that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
{14:19} This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all
nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
{14:20}
In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses,
HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD;
and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
{14:21} Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be
holiness unto the LORD of hosts:
and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein:
and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite
in the house of the LORD of hosts.
THEN TOWARD THE END OF THE 1,000 YEARS
REVELATION {20:7} And when the
thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Satan will gather the nations to
the BATTLE OF GOG AND MAGOG
{20:8} And shall go out to
deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog,
to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the
sea.
{20:9} 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.
THIS BATTLE IS OVER QUICKLY! THE 1,000 YEARS ARE
COMPLETED!
THE DEVIL IS BOUND AND CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE…
{20:10} And the devil that
deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and
the false prophet [are,] and shall be tormented day and night for ever and
ever.
GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
{20:11} And I saw a great white
throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled
away; and there was found no place for them.
{20:12} And I saw the dead,
small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another
book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged
out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
{20:13} And the sea gave up
the dead which were in it; and death and hell (Hades, place of
departed souls) delivered up the dead which were in them: and they
were judged every man according to their works.
{20:14} And death and hell
were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
{20:15} And whosoever was not
found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH
{21:1} And I saw a new heaven and
a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there
was no more sea.
{21:2} And I John saw the holy
city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband.
{21:3} 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.
NO MORE TEARS, DEATH, SORROW, CRYING
OR PAIN
{21:4} And God shall wipe away
all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow,
nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are
passed away.
{21:5} And he that sat upon the
throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write:
for these words are true and faithful.
{21:6} And he said unto me, It
is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto
him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
{21:7} He that overcometh
shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
{21:8} But the fearful, and
unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and
sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the
lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
THE LAMB’S WIFE – NEW JERUSALEM
{21:9} And there came unto me one
of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues,
and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s
wife.
{21:10} 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,
{21:11} Having the glory of God:
and her light [was] like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone,
clear as crystal;
{21:12} And had a wall great and high,
[and] had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written
thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
{21:13} On the east three gates;
on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three
gates.
{21:14} And the wall of the city
had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the
Lamb.
{21:15} And he that talked with
me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall
thereof.
{21:16} And the city lieth
foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city
with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the
height of it are equal.
{21:17} And he measured the wall
thereof, an hundred [and] forty [and] four cubits, [according to] the measure
of a man, that is, of the angel.
{21:18} And the building of the
wall of it was [of] jasper: and the city [was] pure gold, like unto clear
glass.
{21:19} And the foundations of
the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The
first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony;
the fourth, an emerald; {21:20} The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the
seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a
chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
{21:21} And the twelve gates
[were] twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of
the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
{21:22} And I saw no temple
therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
{21:23} And the city had no need
of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did
lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.
{21:24} 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.
{21:25} And the gates of it shall
not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
{21:26} And they shall bring the
glory and honour of the nations into it.
{21:27} And there shall in no
wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh
abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book
of life.
{22:1} And he shewed me a pure
river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God
and of the Lamb.
{22:2} In the midst of the street
of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which
bare twelve [manner] of fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the
leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations.
{22:3} And there shall be no more
curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants
shall serve him:
{22:4} And they shall see his
face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads. {22:5} And there shall be no
night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord
God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
{22:6} And he said unto me, These
sayings [are] faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his
angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
{22:7} Behold, I come quickly:
blessed is he that keepeth (watch, observe) the sayings of the prophecy of this
book.
