Reference: Thousand Years
Fausets
The millennium. The period of Christ's coming reign with His saints over this earth, delivered from Satan's presence. As Satan and His kingdom in successive stages sink, Christ and His kingdom rise (Revelation 19-20). Satan, having been foiled in his last desperate attempt to overthrow Christ's kingdom by Antichrist or the beast, shall by the just law of necessary retributive consequence be bound immediately afterward and imprisoned in the bottomless pit a thousand years. (See ANTICHRIST.) On the same just principle they who have suffered for Christ, and not worshipped the Godopposed world power, shall come to life again and reign with Christ (2Ti 2:12), at His coming, a thousand years. Their resurrection is "the first resurrection." (See RESURRECTION.) "The rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years are finished: 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."
Ten, the "world number", raised to the third power, the "divine number", expresses the world pervaded by God. Possibly the "thousand" may extend much longer than the literal number. So also (Php 3:10.) Paul's ambition was to "attain the resurrection from out of the rest of the dead" (exanastasis). So our Lord declares (Lu 20:35), "they who shall be accounted worthy to obtain the resurrection from the dead cannot die any more, for they are equal unto the angels, and are children of God, being children of the resurrection." Again, to the apostles (Lu 22:18), "ye are they who have continued with Me in My temptations, and I appoint unto you a kingdom as My Father hath appointed unto Me, that ye may eat and drink with Me at My table, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Again (Mt 19:28), "ye that have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
Those "beheaded (virtually or actually, literally, hatcheted) for Jesus and for the word of God" stand first; then they" who have not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands," i.e. did not treat the world's riches, ambitions, and pleasures as their portion. Jesus implies, in reply to the request of Zebedee's two sons, that there are places of peculiar honour reserved by the Father for those who drink Christ's bitter cup (Mt 20:22-23). Thus, "whosoever shall lose his life for Christ's sake (in will or deed) shall save it" (Mr 8:35). Satan thought to destroy God's people by persecutions (just as previously to destroy Christ, Revelation 12); but the church is not destroyed from the earth, but raised to rule over it; Satan himself is shut up for a thousand years in the "abyss" (" bottomless pit"), preparatory to the "lake of fire," his final doom. As before, by Christ's ascension, he ceased to be accuser of the brethren in heaven, so during the millennium he ceases to be seducer and persecutor on earth.
As long as he rules in the darkness of the world we live in an atmosphere tainted with evil physical and spiritual (Eph 2:2). Christ's coming will purify the world (Mal 3:3). Sin will not wholly cease, for men shall be still in the flesh, and therefore death will come, but at long intervals, life being vastly prolonged as in the days of the patriarchs (Isa 65:20); but sin will not be that almost universal power that it is now. Satan will no longer seduce the flesh, nor be the "god" and "prince of this world" (Joh 14:30; 2Co 4:4), which now "lieth in the wicked one" (1Jo 5:19). The flesh, untempted from without, shall become more and more subject to the spirit. Christ with His saints, in transfigured bodies, will reign over men in the flesh. The millennial nations will be prepared for a higher state, as Adam would have been in paradise, had he never fallen (Re 21:1-24,26).
This will be the manifestation of "the world ("age", aion) to come" already set up invisibly in the saints in "this world" (Heb 2:5; 5:5). As each seventh year was Israel's year of remission, so of the world's seven thousands the seventh shall be its sabbatism (Heb 4:9, margin). Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Cyprian, expected an earthly millennial kingdom; not until millennial views carnally confounded the state of the transfigured king-priests with that of the subject nations in the flesh, and the church itself sought a present visible kingdom with Rome as its center, instead of hoping for it only when Christ shall come, was the doctrine abandoned by the church and apostasy set in. Earth, not becoming transfigured until after the millennium, shall not be, during it, the meet home for the transfigured saints; but from heaven they with Christ rule the earth, the comparatively free communion between the heavenly and earthly churches being typified by Christ's communion at short intervals with His disciples during the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension.
Old Testament prophecy everywhere anticipates Christ's kingdom at Jerusalem: Jer 3:17; Isa 4:3; 11:9; 35:8; 22/type/sawyer'>60:22,22; Ezekiel 37 to 48, etc., etc. He confirms His disciples' expectation of it, but corrects their impatience to know the time (Ac 1:6-8). The kingdom begins, not as the carnal Jews thought, from without, but from within, spiritually; then when Christ shall be manifested it shall be manifested outwardly (Col 3:4; 1Jo 3:2). The papacy blasphemously anticipates the visible headship which Christ shall then assume, "reigning as kings" without Christ (1Co 4:8).
When Christianity became a worldly power under Constantine, the future hope was weakened by joy over present success (Bengel); the church becoming a harlot ceased to be the bride going to meet her Bridegroom. The saints' future priesthood unto God and Christ "in His temple" (Re 1:6; 5:10; 7:15; 20:6) is the ground of their kingship toward men. Men will be willing subjects of the transfigured priest-kings whose power is the attraction that wins the heart, not counteracted by devil or beast. Church and state will be coextensive; and the church and the world no longer in mutual repulsion. The distinction between them shall cease, for the church will be co-extensive with the world. The veil shall be taken off Israel first, then off all people, and the kingdoms of this world shall be the kingdoms of Christ (Re 11:15; Isa 25:7). Christ's glorious appearing, the church's transfiguration, antichrist's destruction, and Satan's binding, will dispose the nations to embrace the gospel.
As a regeneration of elected individuals "taken out" from Jews and Gentiles (Ac 15:14) goes on now, so a regeneration of nations then. As the church begins at Christ's ascension, so the visible kingdom at His second advent. What the transfigured priest-kings shall be in heaven, that the Israelite priest-kings shall be on earth. A blessed chain of giving and receiving: God, Christ, the transfigured bride, i.e. the translated church, Israel, the world of nations. The outpouring of the Spirit on Israel (Zec 12:10) will usher in the new period of revelation, which has been silent so long as Israel, God's chosen mediator of revelations, and of establishing His manifested kingdom on earth, has been in the background. God from the first, in dividing to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of Adam, set their bounds "according to the number of the children, of Israel" (De 32:8). Now is the time of preaching; then shall be the time of liturgy of "the great congregation" (Ps 22:25; Ezekiel 40 to 48; Zec 14:16-21; Isa 2:3).
Art and music will be the handmaids to spiritual worship, instead of drawing off the soul to sensuousness. Society will be pervaded by the Spirit of Christ. Earthly and heavenly glories shall be united in the twofold election: elect Israel in the flesh shall stand at the head of the earthly nations; the elect spiritual church, in the heavenly kingdom, shall reign over both. These elections are for the good of those to whom they minister respectively; compare, as to Israel's mediating blessedness to the nations
See Verses Found in Dictionary
in Sawyer]
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
The Son of man will send his angels, and they shall collect out of his kingdom all offenses, and all that commit wickedness,
And Jesus said to them, I tell you truly, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, shall yourselves also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel;
But Jesus answered and said, You know not what you ask. Can you drink of the cup of which I am about to drink? They said to him, We can. He said to them; you shall drink indeed of my cup; but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but to those for whom it is prepared by my Father.
For whoever wishes to save his life, shall lose it; and whoever shall lose his life for my sake, and that of the good news, shall save it.
And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten minas [$163.30], and said to them, Use them in business till I come.
And he returned, having received the kingdom, and ordered those servants to be called to him to whom he had given the money, that he might know what each one had done.
And he said to him, Well, good servant; because you have been faithful in the least, have authority over ten cities.
And he said to him, Be you over five cities.
but those who are judged worthy to attain that life, and the resurrection of the dead, neither marry nor are married;
for I tell you that I will not drink of the product of the vine, till the kingdom of God has come.
I will not speak with you much more; for the ruler of this world comes and has nothing in me;
They therefore having come together asked him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel? And he said to them, It is not your [province] to know the times or seasons which the Father has appointed by his own authority; read more. but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Simeon has related how God first visited the gentiles to take a people for his name.
And if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised Christ from the dead shall make alive your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwells in you.
For I think that the sufferings of the present time are of no account in comparison with the glory to be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the revelation of the sons of God. read more. For the creation was subjected to a perishable condition, not willingly, but by him that subjected it, in hope that the same creation will be delivered from the servitude of destruction and [brought] into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. For we know that all the creation groans and is in pain till now; and not only it, but we ourselves also who have the first fruit of the Spirit, even ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
But if their fall is the riches of the world, and their diminution the riches of nations, how much more will their fullness be.
For if their falling away is the reconciling of the world, what will their recovery be but life from the dead?
You are already full, you are already enriched; you have reigned without us; and I would that you did reign, that we also might reign with you.
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead be raised, indestructible, and we shall be changed.
that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the participation of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,
when Christ your life shall be made manifest, then shall you also be made manifest in glory.
if we endure patiently we shall reign together; if we deny him he will deny us;
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but those also of wood and clay, and some for honor and some for dishonor; if therefore any one purifies himself from these [errors], he shall be a vessel for honor, sanctified, of good use to the master, prepared for every good work.
Therefore a sabbatism remains for the people of God.
Therefore a sabbatism remains for the people of God.
So also Christ did not put on himself the honor of being made a chief priest, but he that said to him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee;
For we did not follow skilfully constructed myths in making known to you the power and appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye witnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when this voice was brought to him from the magnificent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. read more. And this voice we heard brought from heaven when we were with him on the holy mount.
But the present heavens and the earth have been preserved by his word, being kept for fire, at the day of the judgment and destruction of wicked men.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, in which the heavens shall pass away with a crash, and the elements be melted with heat, and the earth and the works in it be consumed. All these things therefore being dissolved, what persons ought we to be in holy conduct and piety, read more. expecting and hastening the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being burnt up will be dissolved and the elements be melted with heat. But we, according to his promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness.
and made us a kingdom, priests to God even his Father, to him be the glory and the power forever; amen.
To him that conquers will I give to sit down with me on my throne, as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
and hast made them a kingdom and priests, and they shall reign on the earth.
and hast made them a kingdom and priests, and they shall reign on the earth.
Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sits on the throne will dwell among them.
AND the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, the kingdom of the world has become our Lord's and his Christ's, and he shall reign forever and ever.
Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection; on these the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and Christ, and reign with him a thousand years.
And I saw a new heaven and new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea was no more.
And I saw a new heaven and new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea was no more.
And I saw a new heaven and new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. read more. And I heard a loud voice from heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will tabernacle with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them, their God, and he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, nor shall lamentation nor crying nor pain be any more, for the former things have passed away.
and he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, nor shall lamentation nor crying nor pain be any more, for the former things have passed away. And he that sits on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said, Write that these words are faithful and true. read more. And he said to me, It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that thirsts of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that conquers shall inherit these things, and I will be to him a God and he shall be to me a son. But the fearful and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and fornicators and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death. And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the last seven plagues came, and spoke with me, saying, Come, I will show you the wife, the bride of the Lamb. And he bore me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
And he bore me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God; its luminary was like the most precious stone, like a crystalline jasper.
having the glory of God; its luminary was like the most precious stone, like a crystalline jasper. It had a great and high wall, it had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
It had a great and high wall, it had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. On the east were three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.
On the east were three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that spoke with me had a golden measuring rod, to measure the city and its gates and its wall.
And he that spoke with me had a golden measuring rod, to measure the city and its gates and its wall. And the city was square, and its length equal to its breadth. And he measured the city with the rod, twelve thousand stadia [1372 English miles]; and the length and breadth and height of it are equal.
And the city was square, and its length equal to its breadth. And he measured the city with the rod, twelve thousand stadia [1372 English miles]; and the length and breadth and height of it are equal. And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, which was of the angel.
And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, which was of the angel. And the building of its wall was jasper, and the city was of pure gold like clear glass.
And the building of its wall was jasper, and the city was of pure gold like clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone; the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone; the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardine stone, the seventh chrysolyte, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh hyacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardine stone, the seventh chrysolyte, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh hyacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each of the gates was of one pearl. And the street of the city was of pure gold, transparent as glass.
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each of the gates was of one pearl. And the street of the city was of pure gold, transparent as glass. And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty is its temple, and the Lamb.
And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty is its temple, and the Lamb. And the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to give a light to it; for the glory of God lights it, and its light the Lamb.
And the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to give a light to it; for the glory of God lights it, and its light the Lamb. And the nations shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory to it,
And the nations shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory to it,