Is Christ’s 1,000-Year Reign on Earth Literal? Part 2
(April 7, 2025)
I realize that this blog is a very short medium to deal with such a large topic, but I believe that it is worth the effort to examine a few basic answers to our question: Is Christ’s 1,000-Year Reign on Earth Literal? Last week we discovered that the context strongly indicates that it is. We learned that the passage mentions the period of 1,000 years six times in verses 1-10. And we observed that Satan is locked away for this definite period of time before being released for a season.
Notice in verse 4 that this 1,000-year period doesn’t start until many saints have been martyred during the tribulation by the beast because they would not worship him or receive his mark. These precious believers are resurrected to reign with Christ during the 1,000 years. At this point in history, the beast has not appeared on the scene, he has not demanded the mark, and people have not been martyred because of not receiving it. Friends, the 1,000-year reign of Christ is still in the future!
Furthermore, during the 1,000-year reign of Christ (The millennium) Jesus Christ will conduct His reign from His physical presence in Jerusalem (Luke 1:32-33 and Zechariah 8:1-3). Jesus is not reigning in this way presently so we cannot be in the millennium.
Got Questions.Org puts it this way: “The Bible speaks of the conditions during the millennium as a perfect environment physically and spiritually. It will be a time of peace (Micah 4:2-4), joy (Isaiah 61:7, 10), and comfort (Isaiah 40:1-2).” This is NOT our world today. We are not in the millennium!
I hope that some of these thoughts comfort you in what you, as a believer, have to look forward to. Jesus Christ rules today for sure. Nothing is out of His control. However, Satan is being given permission to wreak havoc in the world right now. But his time is short. We are in the last days before the rapture of the Church. Keep looking up for our redemption draws nigh! The best is yet to come…