The Millennial Kingdom: A Sneak Peek into the Future
On this page, we dive into an intriguing topic that combines prophecy, religion, and a dash of mystery—the Millennial Kingdom.
Have you ever wondered what the future holds according to the Bible?
What is the Millennial Kingdom?
The Millennial Kingdom, also called the Messianic Kingdom, refers to the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christon on Earth, a time of unparalleled peace, justice and restoration.
This reign is a literal fulfillment of biblical prophecies, specifically mentioned in the Book of Revelation and other passages throughout the Bible.
Whilst researching, I was constantly aware that the Bible is not always clear when it is talking about the Millennial Kingdom and when it’s talking about Eternity.
Isaiah 65:17-25 is particularly tricky because it bounces between the two.
Verse 17 describes a new heavens and a new earth in Eternity but verses 18 – 25 are talking about the Millennial Kingdom.
Who will live in the Millennial Kingdom?
During the Millennial Reign, Christ will rule on earth, and there will be a period of peace where the world will see a glimpse of heaven on earth. During this time, those who had died in Christ will be resurrected and live with Him, while those who did not accept Christ will not take part in this period.
How do we know who will live in the Millennial Kingdom?
I’ve put two scriptures here (below), but there are lots more if you care to research this question. The second one, in Isaiah 35, is a contentious one. There is disagreement about whether it refers to The Millennial Kingdom or Eternity.
Because this passage uses the term “Zion“, I feel strongly about it belonging here, as an example, because I understand it is referring to a period of restoration and blessing on earth, with the healing of the land and the people taking place during that specific era.
Mount Zion is a much-disputed geographical area that the Bible tells us will be restored and inhabited by the Lord. Psalms 2:6 tells us it is a mountain.
- “And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They 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 a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.” Revelation 20: 4-5.
- “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 35:8-10.
Will there be death in the Millennial Kingom?
One discerning sentence is this one, in Isaiah 65:20. “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.”
So yes, whilst longevity will be restored, and people will live to 100 years old and still be considered “a mere child“; people will die during Christ’s reign on Earth in the Millennial Kingdom.
We know it’s not Eternity that Isaiah is talking about because in Eternity there will be no death. That is found here, in Revelation 21.4. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.” Yeah, I’m a bit bummed about the sea too!
1 Corinthains 15:25-26 says it nicely: “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
The last enemy is death and that will be obliterated in Eternity!
5 Features of the Millennial Kingdom
- Satan’s Binding: During the millennial reign, an angel will bind Satan and confine him in the Abyss, preventing him from deceiving the nations. Revelation 20:1-3.
- Rule with Christ: Those who participate in the first resurrection, described as those who did not worship the beast or receive its mark, will come to life and reign with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4-6).
- Peace and Justice: The Millennial Kingdom is often described as a time of unparalleled peace and justice. “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” Isaiah 2:4. A harmonious peace will envelop the earth, bringing respite from strife and conflict. Under Jesus’ direct rule, conflicts will cease, and righteousness will prevail.
- Spiritual Awakening: The outpouring of the Holy Spirit will bring about a remarkable spiritual revival. Hearts will be transformed, and a deep, intimate connection with God will be experienced by all. The knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.
- Earthly Restoration: The Millennial Kingdom promises a remarkable renewal of the earth itself. Nature will flourish, and the scars of environmental degradation will be healed. It will be a time of profound harmony between humanity and the natural world.
Millennial Kingdom is one step closer to the culmination of God’s plan for the world.
