The Millennium (Part 3)
The Government of the Millennium
The Type of Government
It will be a theocracy (the same type of government God used for Israel in Old Testament times), where Christ will personally and visibly reign.
He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed (Daniel 7:14).
Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron in accord with perfect righteousness and justice.
A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty (Revelation 19:15).
There will be perfect and complete justice for all, and sin will be immediately punished.
But he will judge the poor righteously and execute justice for the oppressed of the land. He will strike the land with a scepter from his mouth, and he will kill the wicked with a command from his lips (Isaiah 11:4).
In her, a nursing infant will no longer live only a few days, or an old man not live out his days. Indeed, the one who dies at a hundred years old will be mourned as a young man, and the one who misses a hundred years will be considered cursed (Isaiah 65:20).
The Center of Government
Jerusalem will be the center of government.
And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about his ways so that we may walk in his paths.” For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3). It will be a place of great glory (Isaiah 24:23).
It will be the site of the temple.
Next to the territory of Judah, from the east side to the west, will be the portion you donate to the Lord, 8⅓ miles wide, and as long as one of the tribal portions from the east side to the west. The sanctuary will be in the middle of it (Ezekiel 48:8).
It will be the joy of the whole earth.
The Lord is great and highly praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, rising splendidly, is the joy of the whole earth. Mount Zion—the summit of Zaphon—is the city of the great King (Psalm 48:1-2).
Jerusalem will never need to fear for her safety.
On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city. Salvation is established as walls and ramparts. Open the gates so a righteous nation can come in—one that remains faithful. You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you. Trust in the Lord forever, because in the Lord, the Lord himself, is an everlasting rock (Isaiah 26:1-4).
The Rulers in the Government
Christ will reign as absolute and supreme King of kings and Lord of lords, which will fulfill the promises made by God. David will be a regent with special responsibilities over the house of Israel. Several prophesies speak of David’s important place in the kingdom.
They will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them (Jeremiah 30:9).
My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow my ordinances, and keep my statutes and obey them. They will live in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your ancestors lived. They will live in it forever with their children and grandchildren, and my servant David will be their prince forever (Ezek. 37:24-25).
He will act as prince under the authority of Christ.
The twelve apostles will have places of authority and will judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).
I bestow on you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Luke 22:29-30).
Church-age believers and Tribulation martyrs will enjoy the unique privilege of reigning with Christ in the Millennium.
If we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us (2 Timothy 2:12).
To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne (Revelation 3:21).
You made them a kingdomand priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth (Revelation 5:10).
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6).
Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:5).
The Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-27) indicates that those who have proved their faithfulness will be given much authority.
The Subjects of the Government
The subjects will include:
- All those who have been resurrected, the righteous Old Testament, church-age, and martyred Tribulation saints.
- Believing Jews and Gentiles who have survived the Tribulation will enter in their earthly, natural bodies. They will repopulate the earth, age, and die.
Though there will be sin present, the righteous rule of Jesus Christ will sharply curtail it (Isaiah 65:20). Christ will judge those who disobey Him. He will “judge the living and the dead” (Hebrew 12:23; see 2 Timothy 4:1).
All adults will be believers at the beginning of the Millennium (Matthew 25:31-46; 13:24-31; 13:47-50). Not all children who are born and grow up in the Millennium will be true believers. Those who rebel against Him will be punished.
Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of Armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Shelters. Should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of Armies, rain will not fall on them. 18 And if the people of Egypt will not go up and enter, then rain will not fall on them; this will be the plague the Lord inflicts on the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Shelters. This will be the punishment of Egypt and all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Shelters (Zechariah 14:16-19).
Some will be put to death.
At the end of the Millennium, unbelievers who rebel with Satan against Jesus Christ will be judged by Christ
When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. They came up across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them (Revelation 20:7-9).
Christ’s rule over the earth will fulfill Psalm 2:8-9.
His government will be complete in its authority and power.
But he will judge the poor righteously and execute justice for the oppressed of the land. He will strike the land with a scepter from his mouth, and he will kill the wicked with a command from his lips (Isaiah 11:4).
His rule will provide complete righteousness and perfect justice.
The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:7).
“Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration— “when I will raise up a Righteous Branch for David. He will reign wisely as king and administer justice and righteousness in the land” (Jeremiah 23:5).
Israel will have a prominent place in the millennial kingdom. God’s New Covenant with Israel will be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom. The people of Israel will:
- Know God’s forgiveness. No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin” (Jeremiah 31:34).
- His Law will be instilled in their hearts. “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33).
- Be clean spiritually. I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:25-26).
- Be indwelt by the Holy Spirit (each believer). I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances (Ezekiel 36:27).
- Experience once again close fellowship with the Lord. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God (Ezekiel 36:28).
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Dr. Miguel J. Gonzalez is the Founder and President of Reasons for Faith International Ministries. He served as a pastor for ten years in Charlotte, NC and has taught in churches and conferences throughout the United States. He currently hosts the Time in the Word and Truth To Live By podcasts and writes at KnowingChristianity.blogspot.com.
Copyright © 2006–2021 by Miguel J. Gonzalez Th.D. and published by Reasons for Faith International Ministries, Inc. by permission. No part may be altered or edited in any way. Permission is granted to use in digital or printed form so long as it is circulated without charge, and in its entirety. This document may not be repackaged in any form for sale or resale. All reproductions must contain the copyright notice (i.e., Copyright © 2006-2021 Miguel J. Gonzalez Th.D.) and this Copyright/Limitations notice.
