HOW LIFE WILL BE DURING THE MILLENNIUM
That is a question
that navigates the minds of many Christians, specially since the idea of an earthly
life for the saved during the thousand years reign of Jesus Christ on Earth, is
taught in conventional manner by many these days.
The idea of an
earthly presence of Jesus as King is itself disputed by most traditional
Christians, attributing this concept a symbolic meaning. That is not the issue
of discussion here, but what the Bible says about this period of human life,
specially for the saved, if this earthly kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ was
literal.
WHAT IS THE
MILLENIUM AND WHO WILL BE THERE
It is mentioned clearly
only in the book of Revelation, chapter 20.
These verses mention
the triumphal return of Jesus Christ as King, to govern the Earth ‘for a
thousand years’, in the company of the redeemed. To achieve this, the section
also mentions two resurrections. On called the ‘First Resurrection’, where those
who died in God’s grace will resurrect transformed into an immortal and
glorious state, together with the instant transformation into immortality and
glory of those who will be alive at the time of the return of Jesus. (1Corinthians
15:51-53; 1Thessalonians 4:15-17; Revelation 20:4-6).
There will be
also those who did not believed in Jesus but who did not follow the Beast
(Antichrist) to the battle against Lord Jesus, who will be kept alive on Earth
as a last chance for redemption, proving God to humanity, that each human has
time to repent while still is alive.
(Revelation 16:12-16,
19-21; 20:7-8).
WHAT LIFE
WILL BE LIKE DURING THIS TIME
Since unredeemed
humans will be in their natural state, it is understood that they will live normal
lives, and die in God’s grace at the end of their cicle, which will be no
different to the one now. They will work, trade, reproduce, have families and
live normally but in justice under Jesus’s protection. But there will be some
who will prove to be not fit for the everlasting kingdom of the Father, and
will be discontent with Jesus’s rule, and will either die and be condemned, or will
be alive by the end period of this realm, and follow Satan into his last fight against
Jesus, to finally suffer defeat and condemnation (Revelation 20:7-9).
The other lot
will be the saved.
The saved will
be conformed by those who had resurrected from death in a glorified state, from
the time of Adam until the Parousia of our Lord; and those who will be alive
and be glorified in an instant at the same time.
A SMALL
DETAIL
It has been
taught erroneously, that only those who died in the Great Tribulation will
reign with Christ, based on the second part of verse 4, where it says:
“Also, I
saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for
the word of God, and those who 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 for a thousand years.”
Revelation 20:4
However, the
word καὶ (and), placed
before the word τὰς ψυχὰς (the souls), creates a grammatical
bridge between the lot of those resurrected to judge, and those who suffered
martyrdom under the Beast (Revelation 20:4).
Having also the clear statement that all saved,
martyrs or not, will judge and reign with Jesus (Daniel 7:27; 1Corinthians
6:1-3; 2Timothy 2:12; 1Peter 2:9-10; Revelation 5:9-10; 22:5), we must conclude
that all redeemed, from Adam to the last one on Earth, will be resurrected as
Kings and Priests, in a glorious, eternal state, to rule and judge with Christ
at the time of the Millennium.
The saved will be all transformed into the glorious condition
they will exist for eternity. They will not be natural humans any more. They will
have no sexual desire, or need to eat or sleep, or live the life they lived while
they were in their natural existence. They will be glorified exalted beings of
light, in body and spirit, and thus will remain for eternity (1Thessalonians
4:17). They will rule the Millennial Earth each according to their merit, section
and task given; but will not participate of the everyday life of natural
humans.
END OF THE MILLENNIUM
After the Millennium is completed, Satan will be freed
again, and will head the last rebellion of men against God’s perfect sanctity
and justice, and they will be defeated. After which the Great Judgement will
come.
The unredeemed will resurrect in what is called the ‘Second
Resurrection’, to be judged by Lord Jesus and his Royal Priests, together with the
Angels.
Then this chapter of Creation will have been completed.
(Revelation 20:10-15)
Omar Flores.
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