The Millennial
Kingdom of Christ
                                                                       By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                       August 12, 2019
     "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."                                   Revelation 20:4
Introduction
     Over the past ten years, by God's GRACE, I have been enabled to write Bible Studies on nearly every subject in God's Word.  In those studies I repeatedly referred to the coming glorious Millennial  Kingdom of Christ.  Yet I have never wrote a study on just that particular subject.  
     Now a reader has requested that I write on the subject of the Millennial reign of Christ.  After prayer and heartsearching, I have decided to honor that request.  Certainly, I want God's people to know about the glorious future the Lord God has prepared for all true believers, in "the ages to come," Ephesians 2:4-7.  
Defining the Millennium   
    In the numerical system of mankind, a thousand year period of time is referred to as a "millennium."  This is why the Kingdom of Christ is often referred to simply as "the Millennium.   As our text Scripture indicates, that period of time will be when Christ Jesus shall literally, bodily, and visibly reign upon the earth.  His reign will follow the end of the Tribulation Period and the Battle of Armageddon.  Since His reign will begin [Isaiah 9:7] with the one thousand year period following the end of the Tribulation, many of God's people, and prophecy teachers, simply refer to the reign of Christ as "the Millennium."  However, our readers should notice that the word, "millennium" is never found anywhere in the Scriptures.  Rather, the inspired Word always refers to the Lord's Kingdom as "the kingdom of Christ," or as "a thousand years."  This is not by coincidence.  Rather God had a purpose for the Lord's future kingdom  being a thousand years.
The Great Millennial Sabbath  
     That purpose is best understood when we think about the cration week in Genesis 1 - 2.  
   Almighty God created the earth and everything in it in one week of six days, as described in Genesis 1.  God then rested on the seventh day, establishing the seventh day as a Sabbath Day of rest, both at that time and also for all eternity, Exodus 31:16-17.
     Likewise, in working out His great Plan of the Ages, God's work of redemption for fallen mankind,  is being carried out in six days of one thousand years to each day, 2 Peter 3:8.  
     We might Scripturally say, that we who are living today, are living on Friday evening of God's Great Week, very near the end of this great week of six one thousand year days.  The Lord God is right now preparing to bring this six thousand year week to a close by His return to the earth to vanquish every enemy, bring an end to sin upon the earth, and to give to redeemed mankind a 1,000 year Sabbath of Rest.   Oh glory to God!  Praise the Lord!  
     This truth is verified over and over by the inspired Word.  See Isaiah 11:10, 14:7,  55:12-13; Jeremiah 30:10,.
The Government of the Kingdom
     The inspired Word clearly states TWICE that when Christ returns to the earth, at the end of the Tribulation Period, He will bring all of His "saints" with Him [all who have been saved during the Dispensation of Grace],  Zechariah 14:5; 1 Thess. 3:13.   Now what would be the purpose in this?  
     Those readers who really want to appreciate this truth should carefully study The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30, and the Parable of the Pounds in Luke 19:11-27.  Carefully notice that in both of these parables, the Lord is  dealing ONLY with His own servants; only those who are true believers, having been saved by the Grace of God, Matthew 25:14; Luke 19:13.  
     Also study the BEMA judgment of the believer's works, as set forth in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 and 2 Corinthians 5:10.  This is important, for in both of the parables, it is the faithfulness of the believer, or the lack of it, for which the believer is being rewarded.  Read this for yourself, and let this truth soak in.
     Dear readers, the flaw or weakness in every human government which has ever existed  throughout human history has been it's government.  Unbelieving, fallen mankind cannot govern a nation without ultimately becoming corrupt. When the government then becomes saturated with corruption, the people will finally rebell,  and the nation will collapse.  This has happened over and over again throughout human history.  This happens regardless of the political form of government which is in power in a nation.  Unbelieving, fallen, mankind is by their very nature sinful, and their "sin nature" will invaribly come forth when they are given a powerful position in the governing  of a nation.   Those readers who don't want to believe this, need to take a close look at our American government right now!  
      This is why the Lord is bringing "all His saints" back with Him when He returns to set up His Kingdom on the earth.  Every true believer saved during this present dispensation, will receive a "glorified" body at the time of the resurrection and rapture.  Read it for yourself in Philippians 3:20-21, 1 John 3:1-2, and 1 Corinthians 15:49.   Our new body, like the body of the Lord Himself, will be "incorruptible," 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.  In other words, it will be impossible for us to sin, or even be tempted to sin.  Glory to God!  Hallelujah!  
     Now why will the Lord do this, and why will we then return back to earth with Him, when He comes to establish His kingdom on the earth?  I'm so glad you ask!  
     Both  of  the parables; the Talents and the Pounds, clearly state that the rewards of the faithful servants of the Lord, will be to "rule over ten cities;" five cities; many things" etc.  When the Lord returns to establish His kingdom on earth, He is bringing His own "incorruptible" government with Him.    Faithful believers, including those living today, are going to serve in the government of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His Kingdom.  Glory to God!  Praise the Lord!  Hallelujah!  
     This truth is confirmed by the inspired song of the "24 elders" in Revelation 5:8-10.  Don't fail to notice the last words of their song.  Glory!  
     In other words, Christ Jesus is bringing His government back with Him when He returns to the earth to set up His Kingdom.  Dear reader, if you are a faithful true believer, then this includes YOU.  All faithful true believers will rule and reign with Christ in His Kingdom.  Glory to God!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  
The Authority of Christ  
     Our readers should keep in mind that Christ came as, and still occupies the postion of, the second "Adam," 1 Corinthians 15: 45:49.  The first Adam did not take heed to God's Word, and allowed Satan and SIN to come into the Garden, in the body of the serpent.  
      The Lord Jesus Christ, as the second Adam, does take heed to God's Word, and WILL NOT allow sin to be brought into His Kingdom by anyone, in any form.  The Lord's Kingdom will be a kingdom of total "rightousness and peace."  
     Satan, of course, will not be present during the one thousand years of the Kingdom, for he will be "chained" in the "bottomless pit," Revelation 20:1-3.  So Satan's influence will not motivate anyone to sin.  Plus, during the course of the Kingdom of Christ, the "sin nature" inherited from Adam [Romans 5:12] will be totally removed from every redeemed person.  
     Nevertheless, every man, including the redeemed, will still possess a free will, as mankind was created in the image and likeness of God, and God chose to create man with a free will, even like Himself.  So the "possibility" of some person exercising their free will, like the "anointed cherub" once exercised his, will be possible.  
     However, the inspired Word states quite plainly that the Lord Jesus will rule with "a rod of iron," Revelation 12:5; 19:15.  Dear readers, "a rod of iron" is inflexible.  It doesn't break or bend.  So Christ Jesus will not be tolerant of even the slightest SIN in His Kingdom,.   
     But the Lord Jesus will not be alone in His hatred for sin in His Kingdom.  Every  glorified saint He has chosen to  rule and reign with Him, will likewise rule with "a rod of iron,"  Revelation 2:26-27.  This means that anyone who even considers "stepping out of line" during the Millennial Kingdom, will be dealt with instantly and harshly.
      This will guarantee that in all of "the ages to come," there will never be a repeat of the fall of man.  The Kingdom of Christ will eternally be a kingdom of "righteousness and peace."  This is just one of the many blessings we who are true believers have to look forward to "for ever and ever."   Praise the Lord!
No More Death
     This is a good place to insert the truth of Revelation 21:4, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."  
     The Lord Jesus Himself said, ".....I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live," John 11:25.   
     The resurrection of true belieivers takes place preceding the Tribulation period, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  
     The resurrection of the saints who were martyred during thee Tribulation takes place at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom, so that they too can rule and reign with Christ "a thousand years," Revelation 20:4.    
     Dear readers, there is no record in God's Word of anyone ever dying in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Since He will be ruling and reigning over the whole earth during the great one thousand year Sabbath, then why should anyone die?  I can't help but feel that during that thousand years, God's redeemed people will have no funerals to attend,  and no pain nor sorrow to bear; no weeping over the loss of loved ones and dear friends,.  As Rev. 21:4 says, "...no more death...."      
     The City From Which Christ Shall Reign
    The Lord Jesus Christ will reign over the entire earth from His throne in Jerusalem, Ezekiel 43:7.  There is indeed a reason why this city has come to be called, "The city of God."   
     The prophecies are  quite clear that the Millennial Temple will be rebuilt in the city of Jerusalem.  See Ezekiel, chapters 40 - 48..  
     The Millennial Temple WILL NOT be built on what is commonly referred to today as  the  "Temple Mount."  Rather, Mount Zion, just to the north of the old city of David, is today a flat plateau of several hundred acres.  Regardless of what the unbelieving Jews today claim, Mount Zion was the location of the Temple which King Solomon built, following the preparations made by his father, King David.  And Mount Zion will be the location of the Millennial Temple.  
     The inspired Word clearly prophecies that, at or following the end of the Tribulation, all the land from Geba, north of Jerusalem, to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will be "lifted up" above all of the surrounding hills and present day mountains, Zechariah 14:10-11.   This will be done in preparation for the building of the Millennial Temple.  On that large "plain" the glorious Temple of the Lord, described in Ezekiel 40 - 48, will be built. Mount Zion will likely become the highest mountain on earth, with the glorious Temple of the Lord sitting on the top of i.,  A "highway" will be built up the side of the mountain, on which the redeemed can go up to worship the Lord, Isaiah 35:8-10; 62:10-12.      
     In my entire 85 years of life, I have never had the blessing of going to Israel, but I am going someday, and that day is not far off, Zechariah 14:16-19.  Dear reader, please meet me there!   
     When the Temple is completed, the Lord Jesus Christ will enter the Temple, and sit down on the mercy throne, and begin His reign over the whole earth, and all of redeemed mankind left on the earth.
      Notice that I said, "begin His reign."  Why?  Because, even though other events will occur at the end of the thousand years, as record in Revelation 20:7-15, the reign of Christ will never end, Isaiah 9:6-7.   
     "And He said unto me, Son of man, the place of My throne, and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and My holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places," Ezekiel 43:7.  
The Laws of the Kingdom
     Our readers who have seriously studied the Law given to Moses for the nation and people of Israel, will surely have noticed that many of the laws given were to be observed by the Israelites throughout  "their generations for ever."  Yet even today, there is only a minority of the religious Jews who observe those laws.  Israel, as a people, is just as much in apostasy, as those today who "profess" to be Christians.  But all of this is going to CHANGE!  
      "Redeemed" Israel will live under the Laws God gave to them by the hands of Moses.  And there will be no deviation from the observance of those laws.  
      I highly suspect, that while the Gentile peoples are not, and have never been, under the laws given to Israel, that in the Kingdom of Christ, we Gentile believers MAY be required to observe some of those laws.  Most certainly we will be required to respect them.  
      Through the observance of the righteous laws God gave to Israel [Deuteronomy 4:8], all of redeemed mankind will be blessed.
The Effects of a Kingdom of Righteousness
     As already stated, there will finally be true and lasting, "peace on earth, good will towards men," Luke 2:14.  
     The inspired poetic Word of God clearly states,
     "For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands,
     Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off," Isaiah 55:12-13.  
     Again, "But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace," Psalm 37:11.  
     Yet again, read Isaiah 35, the whole chapter.  
Conclusion
     Dear readers, I could go on and on sharing what the inspired Word has to say about the coming glorious Millennial Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Much more could be said about it, but what I have pointed out should make every true believer eager to see the model prayer fulfilled, "...Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:9-13.
     The glorious Millennial Kingdom is a part of "the blessed hope" of every true believer.  Will the reader be a part of this glorious Kingdom of Christ to come?  Acts 16:30-31.  
     May the Lord God add His blessings to this study is my prayer.  
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     My personal contact information:
POSTAL.....Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla,MO 65401
EMAIL.......francismriley34@gmail.com
PHONE.....573-202-6493
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