There are many reasons you don't want to miss the Kingdom Age. It is a millennium where all humans, from every tribe, ethnicity, and nation, will live in peace, security, and joy on planet Earth. It will be a renewed and revitalized earth similar to the Garden of Eden. But the most important reason would be the alternative. If you are living on earth during the Seven-Year Tribulation you will have missed:
the rapture of the Church where Jesus removes all believers so they will not incur the wrath of God,
the glory of God and His redemption of those who are lost and perishing in sin,
you are destined to be separated from God forever and tossed into an eternal punishment,
you will have missed God's loving kindness to His creation through His Son Jesus Christ, and
you have, literally and un-equivalently, chosen eternal death over eternal life by rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior sent by God to save all who believe from sin and death.
Everyone desires to live in harmony, with peace, security, and love, free from wars, bigotry, and hatred. So, what's the issue? There are two challenges. First, one must acknowledge their sins, recognize their inability to save oneself, and accept the need for a Savior, which can be offensive to human pride. Second, the belief that Jesus Christ is the "one and only" true Savior who can forgive sins and grant eternal life is considered ludicrous by a secular and godless world, as well as by religions that advocate multiple paths to God. As the Bible states, the idea of Jesus being the sole path to salvation is seen as "foolishness" to the Gentile and a "stumbling block" to the Jew.
Who Enters the Kingdom Age
The Millennial Kingdom is the future reign of Jesus Christ on earth as He sits on David’s throne in Jerusalem. It is also known as the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ. Everyone who enters that kingdom will be redeemed by God and therefore righteous. The redeemed believer in Jesus the Jewish Messiah will walk in the Kingdom. They have been ransomed by the Lord and everlasting joy and gladness will be upon their heads. No unbeliever will enter the Kingdom Age.
Among the redeemed, two distinct groups will emerge: those endowed with glorified immortal bodies and those possessing natural, earthly bodies. Three categories of individuals will be granted glorified immortal bodies: firstly, the Church, encompassing all born-again believers, whether living or deceased, at the time of Christ's Second Coming; secondly, the Tribulation martyrs, those who lost their lives during the Tribulation for their faith in Jesus; and thirdly, the departed believers of the Old Testament.
Two groups of people will enter the Kingdom Age in mortal bodies: first, those who survive the Tribulation without martyrdom and believe in Jesus; second, the faithful remnant of Israel who, during the Tribulation, will accept Jesus, the Messiah they had once rejected. Thus, there are five distinct types of individuals who will enter the Kingdom Age.
Here’s who will occupy the millennial kingdom:
"A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it. No lion will be there, nor will any vicious beast go up on it; these will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away" (Isaiah 35:8–10).
Within the redeemed, two distinct groups will emerge those endowed with glorified physical bodies and those retaining natural, earthly bodies.
Glorified Bodies
Those who occupy the millennial kingdom with glorified bodies can be divided into three subgroups, the Church, Tribulation Martyrs, and Old Testament Saints.
The Church
The Church consists of those whose bodies were either resurrected or transformed at the rapture. Believers from the Church Age will be caught up, translated, and transformed into glorious resurrection bodies. This event occurs before Daniel's 70th week, also called the Seven-Year Tribulation or the Time of Jacob's Trouble, which pertains to Israel's future. These born-again believers will return in glory with Christ at His Second Coming to Earth and will reign and rule with Jesus in the Kingdom Age.
"And He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:6).
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).
All believers in Jesus constitute the Church. Both the living and those who have died in Christ will be resurrected to immortality. The bodies of believers who are alive at the time of Christ's summoning of His Church during the rapture will be transformed into immortal bodies.
" For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ, all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming" (1 Corinthians 15:21–23).
"Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:51–53).
The Church constitutes the Bride of Christ. Jesus is presently preparing dwelling places for His Bride.
"In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3).
Jesus will rapture His bride, which is the church, and prepare her for their wedding feast.
"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this, we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).
Church Age believers will rule over and judge the world, with Christ, in the Kingdom.
"Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?" (1 Corinthians 6:1-3).
Tribulation Martyrs
Tribulation Martyrs, also known as Tribulation Saints, are those who are resurrected after Christ's return to Earth. These individuals, who lived during the Seven-Year Tribulation and believed in Jesus Christ, were martyred for their faith, often through beheading, under the reign of the Anti-Christ.
"Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4–6).
Deceased Old Testament Believers
The Kingdom is one where all who have faith in God and Jesus will be welcomed. The substance of faith that is to be believed evolves and strengthens throughout the various dispensations.
Believers from the Old Testament era, starting with Adam and continuing until the advent of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, marking the beginning of the Church Age, are resurrected into immortal glory to partake in the Kingdom Age. This resurrection will occur at the beginning of the kingdom age. The initiation will occur with the Second Coming of Christ in glory to the earth. At this time, the righteous will be resurrected to immortal life. The unrighteous will be resurrected later to experience disgrace and eternal contempt.
"Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2).
The dead will live and shout for joy.
"Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is as the dew of the dawn, and the earth will give birth to the departed spirits" (Isaiah 26:19).
King David will be resurrected to serve as Prince alongside the Messiah in Co-Regency.
"My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd, and they will walk in My ordinances and keep My statutes and observe them. They will live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons and their sons’ sons, forever; and David My servant will be their prince forever" (Ezekiel 37:24-25).
"Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king, and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days" (Hosea 3:5).
The deceased faithful of Israel will be resurrected, symbolizing both a collective and individual renewal.
"Therefore, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. I will put My Spirit within you, and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord" (Ezekiel 37:12-14).
The resurrected saints of all times will participate in the management of the government in their Glorified bodies.
"Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4-6).
Earthly Bodies
Those who occupy the kingdom with earthly bodies have survived the tribulation and can be subdivided into two groups: believing Gentiles and believing Jews.
Believing Gentiles
Survivors of the tribulation who have faith in Jesus Christ would be called believing Gentiles. When Jesus returns to this earth the righteous mortals will be left alive to inherit, to walk into the Kingdom as mortals. The wicked unbelievers will be purged out and excluded from the Kingdom at the Sheep and Goat judgment (Matthew 25:31-46).
The following describes the second coming of Jesus Christ.
"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11–16).
According to the preceding Scripture, the Second Coming is distinct from the rapture where Christ catches up all believers in the air. There is no mention in Revelation 19—20 of any kind of rapture event. This implies that saints who are on earth when Christ returns will remain on earth to enter the millennial kingdom in their natural bodies.
Believers Are the Sheep
All survivors of the Tribulation period among all the nations (Gentiles) of the world will stand in judgment before King Jesus on His throne in Jerusalem. Those who have treated His brothers well especially the Jews, and possibly this includes Gentiles who came to faith during the Tribulation, will be left alive to inherit eternal life and the Kingdom.
"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. ... Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:31–34).
Believers Are Wheat
In the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, Jesus said, "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear" (Matthew 13:36-43).
Believing Jews
Redeemed Israel are all Jews that believe during the Tribulation in their Messiah, who now they recognize as Jesus Christ whom they have slain. They will enter into the Kingdom Age where all of God's promises to Abraham will be fulfilled.
"I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn" (Zechariah 12:10).
" For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is My covenant with them when I take away their sins. From the standpoint of the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you, they also may now be shown mercy. For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all" (Romans 11:25–32),
One of God's promises to the Jewish people is the land promise. All these Jews will live and rule over this land. It will include parts of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordon,
No Unbelievers Will Enter the Kingdom
Because of Christ’s judgment at the end of the Tribulation, no unbelievers will enter the Kingdom Age. The wicked unbelievers will be purged out and excluded from the Kingdom at the Sheep and Goat judgment (Matthew 25:31-46).
Goats Are Unbelievers
The goats are living unbelieving Gentiles who don't believe in Jesus and didn't treat the Jews and believing Gentiles well during the Tribulation.
"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:31–46).
Part of Jesus’ setting up the kingdom will be His judgment of the sheep and the goats. The “sheep” are the righteous Gentiles, who showed their faith by their good works toward God’s people; the “goats” are the unrighteous Gentiles, who failed to aid God’s children. Christ will cast the unrighteous into the lake of fire for eternal punishment.
Rebell Unbelievers Are Destroyed
Also, when Jesus returns to earth to set up His Kingdom, all who are alive at that time, who have rebelled against Him, actively or passively (unbelief), will be destroyed. Active rebels, fighting against Him at His return, will be summarily destroyed. These would be the armies who have invaded Jerusalem when Jesus returns to the Mount of Olives.
"In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. ... Now this will be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth. It will come about in that day that a great panic from the Lord will fall on them, and they will seize one another’s hand, and the hand of one will be lifted against the hand of another"(Zechariah 14:4, 12-13).
Along with these earthy armies assembled against Jesus; the demonic heavenly armies will be destroyed by the sword which came from the mouth of Jesus.
"And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth, and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh" (Revelation 19:19-21).
Tares Are Unbelievers
Also, at the 2nd Coming Jesus' angels will gather all the living unbelievers and throw them into the furnace of fire.
Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear" (Matthew 13:36-43).
Unbelieving Jews
Jesus will enter into judgment with all Jewish people alive at His return. He will purge out all the rebel unbelievers. God will restore Israel to her land in the Kingdom Age. Then He will reign as King over Israel and all the earth!
“As I live,” declares the Lord God, “surely with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be king over you. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out; and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” declares the Lord God. “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant, and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus, you will know that I am the Lord" (Ezekiel 20:33-38).
In summary, no unbelievers, Jew or Gentile, will enter the millennial kingdom. These wicked unbelievers will have been purged out and excluded from entering the Kingdom Age. Because of these judgments, and because all Israel will believe at that time, no unbeliever will enter the millennial kingdom. The Kingdom Age is a time of peace, glory, and righteousness before the final judgment of the wicked.
The Seventh Dispensation: Kingdom Age
The seventh dispensation will be the Kingdom Age lasting 1,000 years as Christ rules on earth. This Kingdom will fulfill the prophecy to the Jewish nation that Christ will return and be their King. The only people allowed to enter the Kingdom are the born-again believers from the Age of Grace, righteous survivors of the seven years of Tribulation, and the resurrected Old Testament saints. No unsaved person is allowed access to this Kingdom. Satan is bound for 1,000 years.
The Millennial Kingdom will be a time characterized by the following:
righteous reign of Jesus on the throne of King David (Isaiah 11:1-5),
by peace (Isaiah 11:6-7; Micah 4:3),
justice (Isaiah 11:3-4), unity (Isaiah 11:10),
abundance (Isaiah 35:1-2),
healing (Isaiah 35:5-6),
righteousness (Isaiah 35:8),
joy (Isaiah 55:12),
the physical presence of Christ (Isaiah 16:5),
and animal natures changed (Isaiah 11:6-8).
Human life will be extended (Isaiah 65:20.
Satan will be bound in the Abyss during this period (Revelation 20:1-3).
Jerusalem will be the headquarters where Jesus will sit on the throne as King (Isaiah 2:2-4), Jerimiah 7:25, Zechariah 8:3-8).
The resurrected saints of all times will participate in the management of the government (Revelation 20:4-6).
The Messiah Jesus Christ will be the benevolent dictator ruling the world during this Kingdom age. Thus, fulfilling God's promise to the Jewish Nation.
"For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this" (Isaiah 9:6-7).
The six (6) recognizable patterns of the age of God's Kingdom.
Stewards: The resurrected Old Testament saints, the glorified Church, and survivors of the Tribulation and their descendants
The Period: From the Second Coming of Jesus Christ until the final Satanic rebellion, a period of one thousand years
Responsibility: To be obedient, remain undefiled, and worship the Lord Jesus (Isaiah 11:3-5; Zechariah 14:9)
Failure: After Satan is loosed from the Abyss, sinful man rebels one more time (Revelation 20:7-9)
Judgment: Fire from God; the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:9-15)
Grace: Jesus Christ restores creation and rules righteously in Israel, with all saints assisting (Matthew 25:31-46): Revelation 20-22; Isaiah 11:1-5).
Major Characteristics of the Kingdom Age
ONE: Satan Bound 1,000 Years
Satan will be bound in the Abyss during the Kingdom Age so that he will not deceive the nations.
"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time"(Revelation 20:1-3).
TWO: The Righteous Reign of Jesus
The Son of Man, Jesus, is endowed by God the Father with a Kingdom, glory, and dominion over all nations that will endure eternally. It shall never perish or be annihilated. It will be a kingdom of perfect righteousness and Justice. Jesus will reign through the power of the Holy Spirit.
“I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days (God in Heaven) and was presented before Him. And to Him (Jesus) was given dominion, Glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13-14).
He will delight in fulfilling God's plan. He will not be deceived and will uphold justice and fairness for the poor. The wicked will be put to death merely by His verbal command. Jesus will be righteous and faithful in everything He does.
"Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear, But with righteousness, and He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; and He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips, He will slay the wicked. Also, righteousness will be the belt about His loins, and faithfulness the belt about His waist" (Isiah 11:1-5).
God, the Lord Jesus, will be King over All.
"And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one" (Zachariah 14:9).
All nations will live in righteousness and praise of Jesus.
"For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations" (Isaiah 61:11).
The physical presence of Christ will come in lovingkindness, and He will judge faithfully, righteously, and with justice.
"A throne will even be established in lovingkindness, and a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David; Moreover, he will seek justice and be prompt in righteousness}" (Isaiah 16:5),
Those who occupy the millennial kingdom will be from “many nations,” but the knowledge of the Lord Jesus will be universal.
“The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).
King David will be the shepherd and prince among all of Israel and Jesus will be their God.
“Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord (Jesus), will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken" (Ezekiel 34:23-24).
THREE: The Kingdom Age is Everlasting, Enduring, and Uninterrupted
This eternal Kingdom and divine reign from our triune God of Heaven will come temporally onto the earth. Its arrival destroys all preceding defective human kingdoms or governments and will never be replaced or interrupted.
"And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. Just as you saw that a stone was broken off from the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king (Jesus) what will take place in the future; so, the dream is certain, and its interpretation is trustworthy” (Daniel 2:44-45).
The Son of Man (Jesus the Jewish Messiah) will be given a worldwide kingdom that endures uninterrupted and will never end. The initial phase of the kingdom of Jesus upon the earth will last 1,000 years. After the 7-year tribulation and at the beginning of the millennium Satan is bound in the abyss for 1,000 years.
"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he took hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time" (Revelation 20:1-3).
Then the Tribulation Saints who didn't worship Satan and were beheaded were resurrected as priests and will with Jesus.
"Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands, and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years" (Revelation 20:1-6).
The Kingdom Age starts with a 1,000-year reign and continues after the rebellion of Satan, the White Throne Judgment, the old world being destroyed, and the creation of a new heaven and earth that will last for eternity. Therefore, after the millennium this kingdom will transition, without interruption or mitigation, into an Eternal Kingdom.
"And to Him was given dominion, honor, and a kingdom, so that all the peoples, nations, and populations of all languages might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away, and His kingdom will not be destroyed"(Daniel 7:14).
The Holy people of God will be transformed into Christ's glorious body and will rule all nations eternally.
"Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the empires will serve and obey Him" (Daniel 7:27).
"Who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself" (Philippians 3:21).
FOUR: The Kingdom Age Will Be International, Spiritual, and Unified in Worshiping God
Those who occupy the millennial kingdom will see the nation of Israel exalted to its fullest glory. All will be restored spiritually and physically:
"In that day,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame my remnant, those driven away a strong nation’" (Micah 4:6–7).
There will be a worldwide acknowledgment of Jesus as King, Lawgiver, and Judge. Jesus will reign from Jerusalem as it is elevated above all nations. He saves the faithful remnant of Israel and brings them back into their promised land.
"Thus says the Lord, ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’ Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of age. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.’ Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?’ declares the Lord of hosts. Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west; and I will bring them back and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness" (Zachariah 8:3-6).
Many gentile people from all over the earth will pilgrimage to the Temple on Mount Zion to worship and learn firsthand from Jesus. He will be the Sole Justice of the International Supreme Court and will render binding verdicts upon the nations and peoples of all the earth.
"The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem (God's Universal Reign). Now it will come about that in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord Will be established as the chief of the mountains and will be raised above the hills, and all the nations will stream to it. 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; so that He may teach us about His ways, and that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go out from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He will judge between the nations and will mediate for many peoples, and they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not lift up a sword against nation, and never again will they learn war" (Isaiah 2:1-4).
"Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of armies, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths" (Zechariah 14:16)
There will be worldwide worship of Jesus. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will swear allegiance to Him. The name of Jesus means "Yahweh is Salvation". During this time all mankind will come to Jerusalem to worship Jesus.
"I (Yahweh) have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance" (Isaiah 45:23).
"For this reason, also God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name, which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Philippians 2:9-10).
During the millennial kingdom, people from many nations will worship the Lord in Jerusalem, and the knowledge of Jesus will be universal.
"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14).
Many nations will come and say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways and that we may walk in His paths.” For from Zion will go forth the law, even the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (Micah 4:2).
Jesus through His death has purchased for God men from every people grouping, tribe, and tongue in the world.
And they *sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10)
FIVE: The Third Temple
Kingdom worship will take place in the Third Temple in Jerusalem. Ezekial 40-48 describes its function and specifications. Its perimeter is about a mile on each side. This is roughly the size of the city of Jerusalem. The temple will issue forth water which will grow deeper and wider, running east, which will fill the dead sea, turning it into an inland sea of fresh water and fish (Ezekial 47). Along the river will grow hyper-productive trees, bearing fruit and whose leaves are therapeutic for healing.
"And by the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing” (Ezekial 47:12).
SIX: A Kingdom Marked by Holiness
As we have seen the evil influences of Satan will be completely gone. Therefore, holiness prevails. Jerusalem the capital city will be holy.
"Awake, awake, clothe yourself in your strength, Zion; clothe yourself with your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city; For the uncircumcised and the unclean will no longer come into you" (Isaiah 52:1).
The temple area and all of Mount Zion will be a Holy Mountain.
"The Lord says this: ‘I will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord of armies will be called the Holy Mountain" (Zechariah 8:3).
The whole area on the Temple Mount shall be most Holy.
And He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. This is the law of the house: its entire area on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house" (Ezekial 43:7, 12).
A holy allotment of land in Israel will be dedicated solely to the Lord.
"Now when you divide the land by lot for inheritance, you shall offer an allotment to the Lord, a holy portion of the land; the length shall be a length of twenty-five thousand cubits, and the width shall be twenty thousand. It shall be holy within its entire surrounding boundary" (Ezekial 45:1).
Israel will now become a holy people because a remnant of the Jewish people will repent for executing their promised Messiah (Jesus). They will mourn bitterly for whom they have pierced.
“And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of pleading, so that they will look at Me whom they pierced; and they will mourn for Him, like one mourning for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn" (Zechariah 12:10).
idols, false prophets, and demon spirits will be removed from the land.
“In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity. It will come about in that day,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered, and I will also remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land" (Zechariah 13:1-2).
SEVEN: Nature Will Be Altered
It will be a kingdom where nature will be fundamentally and radically changed. The curse on the earth will be removed and paradise will be regained. There will be peace and amity in the animal kingdom and between man and animals. Peace and harmony between animals and man will be attributed to the universal knowledge of Jesus (Yahweh).
"And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little boy will lead them. Also, the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, or the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:6-9).
"The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain,” says the Lord" (Isaiah 65:25).
There will be far greater light from the sun and the moon.
"On every lofty mountain and on every high hill there will be streams running with water on the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, on the day the Lord binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted" (Isaiah 30:25-26).
There will be dramatic change around and in Jerusalem. Life-giving waters will flow year-round from Jerusalem into the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Finally, there will be peace and security in Jerusalem. Jesus will be King over all the earth, animals, man, and nations.
"In that day there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. For it will be a unique day which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at evening time there will be light. And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter. And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one. All the land will be changed into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem, but Jerusalem will rise and remain on its site from Benjamin’s Gate as far as the place of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses. People will live in it, and there will no longer be a curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security" (Zechariah 14:6-11).
EIGHT: It Will Be A Kingdom of Economic Prosperity
Nature's transformation will be marked by the manifest glory of Yahweh (Jesus). The wilderness and the desert will burst into abundant bloom. Every enhancement in nature will bring immense joy, and the God of Israel will receive glory.
"The wilderness and the desert will be glad, and the Arabah will rejoice and blossom; like the crocus, it will blossom profusely and rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God" (Isaiah 35:1-2).
An abundance of rain, pastures for livestock, feed for livestock, and water will be present. Increased light leads to increased productivity. This economic prosperity and productivity stem from Yahweh's (Jesus) spiritual healing of Israel.
"Then He will give you rain for the seed which you will sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the ground, and it will be rich and plenteous; on that day your livestock will graze in a roomy pasture. Also, the oxen and the donkeys which work the ground will eat salted fodder, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. On every lofty mountain and on every high hill there will be streams running with water on the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, on the day the Lord binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted"(Isaiah 30:23-26).
The wealth of the Gentile Nations will be brought into Jerusalem. This wealth will help to make the temple a gloriously beautiful sanctuary. This will help Israel to know that God, the Mighty One of Jacob, is her Savior and Redeemer.
"Your gates will be open continually, they will not be closed day or night, so that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in procession. For the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you will perish, and the nations will be utterly ruined. The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the juniper, the box tree and the cypress together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; and I shall make the place of My feet glorious" (Isaiah 60:11-13).
“You will also suck the milk of nations and suck the breast of kings; then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Instead of bronze I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver, and instead of wood, bronze, and instead of stones, iron. And I will make peace your administrators and righteousness your overseers" (Isaiah 60:16-17).
Spiritual cleansing will result in Israel's national prosperity. This prosperity will be linked to personal holiness. The desolate land will produce abundantly. The earth's nations (Gentiles) will know that God has done this for Israel.
"Thus says the Lord God, “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by. They will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate; I, the Lord, have spoken and will do it” (Ezekiel 36:33-36).
NINE: Kingdom of Peace and Security
There will be international, worldwide peace and security. Jesus will rule the entire world in peace and there will be no more war. Jesus will settle all international disputes. The art of war will be forgotten.
"And He will judge between the nations and will render decisions for many peoples, and they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war" (Isaiah 2:4).
The people of Israel will dwell in peace and security forever.
"For just as the new heavens and the new earth which I make will endure before Me,” declares the Lord, so your offspring and your name will endure" (Isaiah 66:22).
TEN: Kingdom of Physical Longevity and Healing
All people living during the Kingdom Age will live long lives blessed by Yahweh. Human life will be extended.
"No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred will be thought accursed" (Isaiah 65:20).
"Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the Arabah" (Isaiah 35:5-6).
"During the millennial kingdom, the saints in earthly, natural bodies will enjoy long lives" (Isaiah 65:20),
ELEVEN: Kingdom of Joy
Jesus will bring comfort and gladness to Zion instead of mourning and fainting.
Israel will experience everlasting joy.
"Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation, they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore, they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs" (Isaiah 61:7).
TWELVE: Worship and Consequences
It will be standard practice for those who occupy the millennial kingdom to travel to Jerusalem and worship the Lord in person.
“Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Micah 4:2).
Children born in the millennial kingdom will bear the same responsibility to place their faith in Christ as people from previous ages. However, some born in this era may choose disbelief. This is reflected in Scriptures that mention individuals dying under a curse.
"No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred will be thought accursed" (Isaiah 65:20).
This is why the Lord lays out consequences for nations that do not worship Him:
“If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain” (Zechariah 14:17).
THIRTEEN: Rebellion Led by Satan
After 1,000 years there will be a very brief rebellion led by Satan against Jesus who sits on the royal seat of David in the holy city, of Jerusalem. This rebellion is gentile, not Jewish. Satan is released for a short time (mikron chronon) meaning a brief, tiny, little, wee, small, or very brief period of time.
"Until the thousand years were completed; after these things, he must be released for a short time. "When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:7-10).
The Jews will dwell securely under the New Covenant and not one Jew will rebel.
“For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember” (Jeremiah 31:33-34).
FOURTEEN: Millennial Kingdom Ends with God's Final Judgment
"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).
"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them,
and they were judged, each one of them according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-14).
FIFTEEN: Old World is Destroyed by Fire.
"But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be discovered (burned up). Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:7, 10-13).
SIXTEEN: The Creation of the New Heaven and New Earth Will Begin
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life, without cost" (Revelation 21:1-6).
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