The thousand-year reign of Jesus (Confused!)

[missy]

I used to think that when Jesus returned to judge the living and the dead, that upon His return the earth and everything besides God and Heaven --and all those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life --would be destroyed. I just assumed that everything would be over and done with in a sense... but I am a bit confused... apparently there will be a thousand-year reign of Jesus and during that time Satan will be locked up. And then He will be released for a time and then eventually he will be burned in the Lake of Fire? But wait, I am confused... if Jesus will be down on earth again (during the reign) then what about all the people who have already gone to Heaven? Will they still be in Heaven? I just don't get it, and I don't get why Jesus wants to reign for a thousand years on earth and then destroy satan... or do I have it all wrong? Can someone please explain to me what happens after Jesus returns?! Not based on what your particular denomination believes in, but based on the Scriptures... thank you.

[Eli Brayley]

Hi Missy, those are great questions.

It its true that the Scriptures do teach a thousand year reign of Christ after He returns the second time to earth. Jesus is returning to earth, to the Mount of Olives specifically (Zechariah 14:4, Acts 1:9-12), to save His covenant people, the Jews, from total annihilation, and to gather the saints to Himself to rule and reign. The throne of Christ's Kingdom will be in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1-4, 24:23, 27:13, Jeremiah 3:17, Joel 3:14-21, Micah 4:1-4, Zechariah 8:1-8, 14:16-17). Christ isn't coming back to earth for nothing, to come and go away again, or to destroy the earth. He is coming back to rule the nations (Revelation 19:15), and this has been the Church's hope since the very beginning.

Some ask, "Does not Scripture seem to indicate that the earth will be destroyed in 2 Peter 3:7?" It may seem to indicate that, but the whole of Scripture does not agree with such an interpretation. Actually, right before in 2 Peter 3:6 it reminds us that the earth perished in the days of Noah (see also Genesis 6:13). Well, we know that the earth wasn't annihilated in those days, and Peter is comparing the two. Therefore, it is the same idea, that when Christ returns the earth will undergo a destruction of fire much like the destruction of water, but it will not be annihilated, as the rest of Scripture indicates.

Why the millennial reign? Let me list at least three reasons:

1) God's covenant promise - the promise that Israel would dwell in the land in righteousness has never yet been fulfilled and must be fulfilled because God will not break His word. God will prove that He CAN do it (see Numbers 14:15-21).

2) Public vindication and acknowledgment by the nations that the Lord is God - Christ's return and reign in Jerusalem will cause all men everywhere to bow the knee confess that the Lord God is Israel is the Lord indeed.

3) To confirm to all the original and universal sin of man - because after the thousand year reign, when everything on earth is perfect and holy and good, men will again rebel against God, proving yet again and once for all that it is not environmental conditions that make men sin, but the evil heart of pride and rebellion that make men sin. "Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Romans 3:4)

Of course, there are more, but these I believe are among the most important. God's glory truly necessitates a public demonstration on earth before the eyes of all people. One day it will not longer be a mystery. The whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

Hope this gives you helpful thought, Missy.
God bless,
-Eli

[Eli Brayley]

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Here is just one Scripture that can be used to answer your question. It tells us that the dead in Christ will rise when Jesus returns at His second coming. There are many Scriptures that can be sited which show that when Christ returns to earth He is coming with all the armies of heaven, with His saints and angels. Notice in this passage it says that those who have died in Christ He will bring with Him. It then explains how this will happen: they will rise from the dead and meet Him [as He is coming to earth] in the air. It is implied that from there they will come with Him to earth. "And so shall we ever be with the Lord." This just means: Wherever the Lord is, there we will be also. Christ will reign on earth, and there shall all the saints be also - with Him.