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/worrell'>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
"Happy are the meek: because they shall inherit the earth.
The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of the Kingdom all the stumbling-blocks, and those who do iniquity;
And Jesus said to them, "Verily I say to you, that ye who 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.
But Jesus, answering, said, "Ye know not what ye are asking. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They say to Him, "We are able." He saith to them, "My cup, indeed, ye shall drink; but to sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father."
For whosoever would save his soul shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his soul for My sake and the Gospel's, shall save it.
And, calling ten servants of his, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.'
And it came to pass, when he came back, having received the kingdom, that he commanded the servants to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they accomplished in business.
And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'
And he said also to this man, 'Be thou also over five cities.'
but those accounted worthy to obtain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage;
for I say to you, that I will in no wise drink, henceforth, of the product of the vine, until the Kingdom of God shall come."
I will no more speak much with you; for the Prince of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;
They, therefore, having come together, were asking Him, saying, "Lord, dost Thou at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not yours to know times or seasons, which the Father placed in His own authority; read more. but ye shall receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you, and ye shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and Samaria, and to the utmost limit of the earth."
Simeon declared how God first visited the gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name.
And, if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will make alive your mortal bodies through His Spirit dwelling in you.
For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are of no account in comparison with the glory about to be revealed for us. For the earnest longing of the creation is waiting for the revelation of the sons of God. read more. For the creation was made subject to vanity, not of choice, but by reason of Him Who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation is groaning and travailing in pain together until now; and, not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruit of the Spirit, even we ourselves are groaning within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
Now, if their trespass is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the gentiles, how much more their fulness?
For, if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what will the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
Have ye already become satisfied? Did ye already become rich? Did ye reign without us? I wish, at least, that ye 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 trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
in which ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience;
that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
When Christ, our Life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with Him be manifested in glory.
that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak.
if we endure, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
But, in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some, indeed, unto honor and some unto dishonor. If, therefore, one fully purify himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, serviceable to the Master, prepared for every good work.
For not to angels did He subject the future inhabited earth, of which we are speaking;
Consequently, there remains a sabbath-keeping for the people of God.
Consequently, there remains a sabbath-keeping for the people of God.
Thus Christ also glorified not Himself to become a high priest, but He Who spake to Him, "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee";
For, not as having followed after cunningly-devised stories, did we make known to you the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but as having been made spectators of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when such a voice was borne to Him from the Excellent Glory, "This is My Son, the Beloved, in Whom I took delight"; read more. and this voice we heard borne from Heaven, when we were with Him in the holy mount.
but the present heavens and the earth, by the same word, have been stored up for fire, being kept unto the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a rushing noise, and the elements, being intensely hot, shall be dissolved, and the earth and the works therein shall be burned up. Seeing, therefore, that all these things are thus to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conduct and godliness, read more. looking for, and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved; and the elements, being intensely hot, shall melt! But, according to His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness,
We know that we are of God, and the whole world is lying in the evil one.
and made us a kingdom, and priests to God and His Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
He that overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with Me in My throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with My Father in His throne.
and didst make them, to our God, a Kingdom and priests, and they reign on the earth."
and didst make them, to our God, a Kingdom and priests, and they reign on the earth."
For this reason are they before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in His Temple; and He Who sitteth on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.
And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in Heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world became our Lord's and His Christ's; and He will reign forever and ever."
Happy and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea is no more.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea is no more.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea is no more. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. read more. And I heard a great voice out of the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them, as their God. And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no more; neither mourning, nor crying, nor pain, shall be any more; because the first things passed away."
And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no more; neither mourning, nor crying, nor pain, shall be any more; because the first things passed away." And He Who sits upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He saith to me, "Write; because these words are faithful and true." read more. And He said to me, "It has come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give to him that thirsted of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcomes shall inherit these things; and I will be to him a God, and He will be to Me a son. But, for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the liars, their part shall be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death." And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls that were full of the seven last plagues, and spake with me, saying, "Come hither; I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down out of the Heaven from God,
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down out of the Heaven from God, having the glory of God; her radiance was like a stone most precious, as a jasper stone clear as crystal;
having the glory of God; her radiance was like a stone most precious, as a jasper stone clear as crystal; having a wall great and high; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel;
having a wall great and high; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons 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, having twelve foundations; and on them, twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
and the wall of the city, having twelve foundations; and on them, twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who was talking with me had as a measure a golden reed, that he might measure the city, and its gate, and its wall.
And he who was talking with me had as a measure a golden reed, that he might measure the city, and its gate, and its wall. And the city lies four-square, and its length is as great as the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs; and the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
And the city lies four-square, and its length is as great as the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs; and the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured its wall a hundred and forty-four cubits, a man's measure, that is, an angel's.
And he measured its wall a hundred and forty-four cubits, a man's measure, that is, an angel's. And the material of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like pure glass.
And the material of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like pure glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every manner of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;
The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every manner of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, hyacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.
the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, hyacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates, severally, was of one pearl; and the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass.
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates, severally, was of one pearl; and the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass. And I saw no temple in it; for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof.
And I saw no temple in it; for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof. And the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine upon it; for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
And the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine upon it; for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. And the nations will walk by its light; and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it.
And the nations will walk by its light; and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it.