Ten Reflections on the Millennial Kingdom

Download PDF:
https://od.lk/f/MV8zNDM5MTQzMjFf
https://od.lk/fl/MV8xODI0MzMzNl8

Please share this website with all your friends and family members. Thank you, and God bless.

All the Bible verses quoted in this article are from the King James Version, unless otherwise noted.

According to the teaching of the Word of God, we belong to the Church of God and are to reign with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven. However, the Bible does not clearly explain how we will reign with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven. Nevertheless, we can understand that our reign in the Kingdom of Heaven is multifaceted, varying across different time frames. The culmination is the time frame of the Eternal Kingdom, when we will govern all of God’s creation, including the activities of angels, humans, and other living creatures, and the functioning of all objects, such as the countless stars and planets in the physical universe.

The Word of God teaches that the Kingdom of Heaven is manifested in three time frames:

• The first time frame, also known as the Church Age, is when the Kingdom of Heaven is manifested in the hearts of those who truly repent of their sins and accept Christ’s atoning death, wholeheartedly keeping the commandments of God: “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). At present, each of God’s people is governing themselves. Some are entrusted by the Lord with the authority to rule over their families and local Churches.

• The second time frame is the Millennial Kingdom, manifested on earth immediately after the End Times. At that point, heaven and earth will be restored to their original state as at the beginning of creation. The Lord Jesus Christ will reign as King, seated in Jerusalem, ruling over the whole world. During this time, some saints from before the Church Age and those who died for the Lord after the Church Age will reign with Christ on earth, while God’s people from the Church may possibly rule over the stars and planets in the universe.

• The third time frame is the Eternal Kingdom, manifested in the new heaven and new earth, immediately after the final judgment that follows the Millennial Kingdom. At that time, each of God’s people in the Church will reign with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven for all eternity.

In this article, we would like to share with you, brothers and sisters, a few reflections on the time frame of the Millennial Kingdom.

We want to make it clear that these are our personal reflections and understandings, based on certain details from the Word of God, and not doctrine found in the Bible. This is an interpretation of life matters drawn from the Word of God. Whether or not you, brothers and sisters, choose to accept what we share in this article has no impact on anyone’s salvation.

Our first reflection is about the citizens of the Millennial Kingdom. According to the prophecy of the Lord Jesus Christ, many will believe in the Gospel during the End Times. Among them, many will be killed by the government of the Antichrist when they refuse to renounce their faith. At the end of the End Times, Christ will descend on the Mount of Olives with the Church and the angels. Christ will destroy the forces of the Antichrist and those who worship him by the word from His mouth, described as a sharp sword (Revelation 19:11-21). Only those who believe in the Gospel and do not receive the mark of the Antichrist will survive on earth at the end of the End Times. Immediately after that, there will be a judgment for those who believed in the Gospel during the End Times, as prophesied by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46.

Thus, the first citizens of the Millennial Kingdom are those who believed in the Gospel, loved others as themselves, and survived the End Times. Their number could reach millions. In addition, the citizens of the Millennial Kingdom also include the people of God from the Church, who were either resurrected from the dead or had their physical bodies transformed and descended with Christ to earth. Furthermore, the citizens of the Millennial Kingdom also include all saints from before the Church Age who have been resurrected.

The physical bodies of God’s people who survive the End Times may not be transformed but will not suffer from aging or illness. They will still be able to marry and have children, and they will not die unless they commit sin. Perhaps, at the end of the Millennial Kingdom, their bodies will be transformed to enter the Eternal Kingdom. According to the Word of God, there will still be sin in the Millennial Kingdom, and those who sin will die at the age of 100:

“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.” (Isaiah 65:20)

At the end of the Millennial Kingdom, there will be countless people following Satan in rebellion against God. At that time, Christ will destroy all of them and annihilate the old heaven and the old earth to create a new heaven, a new earth, and the Eternal Kingdom.

Revelation 20:7-10

7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

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.

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.

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.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 peter 3:10)

“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.” (Revelation 20:11)

“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.” (Revelation 21:1)

We believe that the purpose of the Millennial Kingdom is for humanity to continue having children until the number of descendants predetermined by God for the Eternal Kingdom is fulfilled. Once entering the Eternal Kingdom, there will be no more marriage or childbirth.

Our second reflection is on those who will reign with Christ in the Millennial Kingdom. According to Revelation 20:4, those who believe in the Gospel during the End Times and are killed by the Antichrist will be resurrected and will reign with Christ during the Millennial Kingdom:

“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 Bible also mentions the event where King David will reign over the people of Israel:

“And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.” (Ezekiel 34:23-24)

“And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.” (Ezekiel 37:24-25).

Therefore, we can believe that some of the saints from the Old Testament will also be resurrected and reign with Christ over the Millennial Kingdom on earth.

God’s people in the Church will also reign with Christ during the Millennial Kingdom, but they may govern countless stars and planets in the universe that have been restored by God to their original state as at the beginning of creation. We do not truly know the condition of the stars and planets at the dawn of creation. However, the Bible informs us that the stars and planets in the universe are gifts from God to humanity:

“And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.” (Deuteronomy 4:19)

Based on God’s Word, we know that all of God’s creation was “very good” until the angels and humanity sinned.

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31)

Therefore, when heaven and earth are restored, it is certain that the stars and planets will return to the very good state they were in at the beginning, when they were created. They will be governed by humanity, as they are the inheritance that God has given to people.

Our third reflection is on the difference between those whose physical bodies have been resurrected or transformed and those whose physical bodies have not been transformed. We believe that those with untransformed physical bodies will be limited by physical laws and will not be able to leave the earth. In contrast, those whose physical bodies have been resurrected or transformed will not be constrained by physical laws. They will be able to move at the speed of thought from one place to another, from one planet to another, from the material world to the spiritual realm. Moving at the speed of thought means being instantly present wherever they desire.

Additionally, those with untransformed physical bodies will continue to live lives of marriage and childbirth, filling the earth, throughout the Millennial Kingdom. Those who have new physical bodies, while interacting with those without new bodies on earth, may also wear ordinary physical clothing. However, when they are in heaven or on stars and planets, they may not wear physical clothing, as their glory will cover their bodies.

Our fourth reflection is on the language used during the Millennial Kingdom. We believe that all human languages will be used, and everyone will be able to speak and understand all human languages. However, perhaps during worship services on festivals, new moon days, and Sabbaths, Hebrew will be used. This means that each nation will still be able to worship God in their own language. But in common worship gatherings, the first language given by God to humanity will be used, which we believe to be Hebrew.

Our fifth reflection is on God’s restoration of the stars and planets in the universe. Currently, according to scientists, all the planets that humanity has investigated show no signs of life. But could God have created a vast universe with countless dead planets? Certainly, something must have occurred that caused all of God’s creation, which was originally “very good,” to become less than good in its current state. What happened was the sin of some angels and humanity. The angels, who were given authority over the stars and planets, caused them to decay along with their sin. Similarly, the earth and everything on it were corrupted due to humanity’s sin. The Word of God teaches:

Romans 8:18-22

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Since the stars and planets were also given to humanity by God, they will be restored to their original state at the beginning of creation during the Millennial Kingdom. We look forward to visiting and reigning over a beautifully restored universe in the Millennial Kingdom.

Our sixth reflection is on the advancement of science and technology in the Millennial Kingdom. In just the past 120 years, humanity has progressed from having no electricity and no combustion engines to being able to send spacecraft far beyond the solar system, along with remarkable computing technology. We believe that, over the thousand years of Christ’s reign, advancements in science and technology could reach their absolute peak. Humanity will apply all physical and supernatural laws to accomplish what God has ordained for them.

Our seventh reflection concerns the dwelling places of God’s people in the Church during the Millennial Kingdom. The Word of God teaches:

“The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.” (Psalms 37:29)

Thus, in addition to dwelling in the holy city of Jerusalem in heaven, each of God’s people in the Church will be granted a portion of land on earth. We know that currently, land accounts for only 29% of the Earth’s surface, while the sea covers 71%. It is likely that when the earth is restored to its original state, the land will be more extensive than the sea. Each person may be given various plots of land across different territories. It is possible that many small nations will unite to form a larger nation. The main purpose of being given land might be for God’s people to enjoy living in various beautiful natural landscapes.

In the Eternal Kingdom, the earth will be significantly larger to accommodate the holy city of Jerusalem descending from heaven. According to Revelation 21:16, the holy city of Jerusalem is a cube, each side measuring 12,000 furlongs. Each furlong is equivalent to 185 meters. Therefore, each side of the city is equivalent to 2,220 km, including its height. The highest mountain on earth today is Mount Everest in the Himalayas, which is only 8,848 meters tall, less than 9 km. Yet, the city of Jerusalem from heaven will have a height of 2,220 km, implying that the size of the new earth will be immensely large. This exceeds our imagination.

Our eighth reflection is on the eating, digestion, and excretion of those with resurrected or transformed bodies. We believe that they will be able to eat and drink material food and beverages on Earth in the Millennium Kingdom as well as heavenly food and drink. However, their digestion and excretion might be transformed, meaning that it will not be like it is now; food and drink could dissolve within their bodies or some parts might evaporate from their bodies.

Our ninth reflection is on the work of God’s people in the Church during the Millennium Kingdom. As presented in our second reflection, we believe that during the Millennium Kingdom, God’s people from the Church will reign with Christ over the stars and planets that have been restored in the universe. There will be much to learn for everyone. And this governance might also be entrusted to the Church in the new heaven and new earth. We truly do not know what the material universe in the new heaven and new earth will be like, but it will certainly surpass the old heaven and old earth in every aspect. The Earth itself will be a hundred or even a thousand times larger than its current size, and the seas will no longer exist.

Our tenth reflection is on the sinfulness of humanity during the Millennium Kingdom. At that time, Satan and the sinful angels will be imprisoned, and they will no longer be present to tempt humanity; the world will be filled with the knowledge of The Self-Existing and Eternal One, as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9). In reality, no one will need to be taught by others about God:

“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34).

The first citizens of the Millennium Kingdom are those who truly fear God. However, as humanity continues to have children and they grow up, many of them will commit sins. It seems that Isaiah 65:20 implies that in the Millennium Kingdom, those who sin without repentance will not live beyond 100 years. It is likely that most sins will be committed in secret, with many being sins of homosexuality. At the end of the Millennium Kingdom, Satan will be released from the abyss, and he will deceive the nations on earth to rebel against Christ. What is perplexing is that after a thousand years of peaceful and happy living under Christ’s rule, there will still be countless people who rebel against Him. Revelation 20:8 states that the number of these rebels will be as numerous as the sand of the sea. This will also be humanity’s final rebellion. *God’s fire will come down from heaven and consume the rebels. Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire. The old heaven and earth will pass away. The final judgment will take place to judge all those whose names are not written in the Book of Life. Then, the new heaven and new earth will appear, and the holy city, New Jerusalem, will descend from heaven to earth. *God and the Lamb will dwell with humanity forever. There will be no more sin, no more tears, no more sorrow, no more pain, and no more death. Humanity will live forever in happiness with God.

Our hearts are eagerly awaiting the day when Christ returns, looking forward to experiencing the transformation of our physical bodies, anticipating life in the Millennium Kingdom, and finally, longing to experience life in the Eternal Kingdom. We give thanks to *God for His tremendous gift to humanity. May all His will be accomplished in His time. Amen!

May the Word of God sanctify us and empower us. May we all remain steadfast in faith and faithful to the Lord until the day of Christ’s coming. May the love, grace, and fellowship from the Triune God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, cover you all. Amen!

Timothy Christian Huynh
Priscilla Christian Huynh
08/05/2023

Note:

About Using “*God” and “holy spirit”

Wherever the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts of the Bible uses a definite article with a noun to denote GOD, we translate it into English as *God or “the God” to refer to God the Father. We understand that “God,” without a definite article, was used as a collective noun for all and any of the three Persons of the Godhead. And “God,” with a definite article, was used to refer to God the Father.

In the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, the term “holy spirit” (πνευματι αγιω) without the definite article “the” (το) is used to denote the power of God, which is given by God the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit” (το πνευματι το αγιω) is God, and “holy spirit” (πνευματι αγιω) is the power that comes from God.