Characteristics of the Millennium by WordExplain

Characteristics of the Millennium,

the 1000-Year Reign of Jesus Christ

upon Earth

by James T. Bartsch, WordExplain.com

Summary: The Millennial Kingdom will be (1) Long-lived, (2) Spiritual, (3) Holy, (4) Just, (5) Blessed, (6), Prosperous, (7) Peaceful, (8) Conducive to Longevity, (9) Glorious, (10) Israeli-centric, (11) Joyful, (12), Davidic, and (13) Accessed by Faith.

A. It Will Be a Long-Lived Kingdom

1. The Kingdom of the Messiah upon earth will last 1000 years. Revelation 20:1 - 6

a. Satan will be bound for 1000 years.

b. Believers in Jesus who had been beheaded during the Tribulation will be resurrected as priests and will reign with the Messiah 1000 years.

c. The six-fold reference to one thousand years gives rise to the term Millennium.

2. This Kingdom will transition into an Eternal Kingdom

a. The Kingdom from the God of heaven will destroy the preceding human kingdoms, but will itself endure forever. Daniel 2:44

b. The Son of Man will be given a world-wide kingdom that will never end. Daniel 7:14

c. The power and control of all kingdoms of secular man will be given to the holy people of the Most High, Who will rule all people eternally. Daniel 7:27

d. After a brief rebellion (Rev. 20:7-10), the dissolution of the existing universe (Rev. 20:11), and the final judgment (Rev. 20:11-15), God will dwell eternally with man, having created a New Universe in which all sin and its effects are removed (Revelation 21:1 - 4).

B. It Will Be an International Kingdom of Spirituality and Unified Worship of God

1. There will be world-wide acknowledgment of Yahweh as King, Law-Giver, and Judge. Isaiah 2:1 - 4

a. Mount Zion and the Temple on Mount Zion, the focal point of Israel’s capital city, Jerusalem, will be elevated in importance above all other capitals of all nations.

b. All nations will flock to the Temple on Mount Zion.

c. Many people from all over the globe will pilgrimage to the Temple on Mount Zion in order to learn firsthand from Yahweh His wisdom, the better to obey His precepts.

d. International law will originate from Mount Zion, and Yahweh will issue His pronouncements from Jerusalem.

e. Yahweh, as the Sole Justice of the International Supreme Court, will render binding verdicts upon the nations and peoples of all the earth.

2. There will be world-wide worship of Yahweh.

a. Every knee will bow to Yahweh, and every tongue will swear allegiance to Him.

1) As predicted about Yahweh. Isaiah 45:23

2) As predicted about Jesus. (The name Jesus means “Yahweh Is Salvation.”) Philippians 2:9 - 10

b. All nations will come to see Yahweh’s glory, and all mankind will bow down before Him. Isaiah 66:18 - 23

1) Yahweh will gather all nations and languages to come to Jerusalem to see His glory. This gathering includes, but is not limited to, the Battle of Armageddon and subsequent destruction of earth’s rebel armies there gathered (Isaiah 66:14-17, 24; Zech. 12:1-9; 14:1-3, 12-15; Rev. 16:13-16).

2) Jewish people will travel the world to declare Yahweh’s glory among the nations (Gentiles).

3) Converts among the nations (Gentiles) will help bring the believing Jewish Diaspora back to Israel.

4) All mankind will come to Jerusalem to worship Yahweh.

c. Rebels will be destroyed among all nations, and surviving penitents from among all peoples will be purified to call on Yahweh’s name and serve Him. Zephaniah 3:8 - 9

d. Yahweh’s name will be great among all nations around the globe. Malachi 1:11

3. Yahweh will rule the entire earth in a world-wide theocracy / monarchy: Zechariah 14:9

4. There will be world-wide worship of Yahweh, the King. Zechariah 14:16

5. Nations who do not worship Yahweh the King will suffer drought as punishment. Zechariah 14:16-19

6. Yahweh, the King, is none other than Jesus of Nazareth, who will sit on David’s throne in Jerusalem, whose reign over Israel and whose world-wide Kingdom will never end.

a. Luke 1:30 - 33

1) Mary’s son Jesus would be called “the Son of the Most High.”

2) God will give to him the throne of his ancestor, David.

3) Jesus will reign over Israel forever.

4) Jesus’ kingdom will never end.

b. All created beings in all the universe will bow the knee at Jesus’ name, which means Yahweh Is Salvation. Philippians 2:9 - 10

c. Jesus, through His death, has purchased for God men from every people grouping in the world. Revelation 5:9-10

C. It Will Be a Kingdom of Holiness.

1. Conditions in the Millennium will exist absent the deluding influence of Satan. Revelation 20:1 - 3

2. Jerusalem, the capital city, will be holy. Isaiah 52:1

3. The temple area will be holy.

a. All of Mount Zion will be a Holy Mountain. Zechariah 8:3

b. The whole area on top of the Temple Mount shall be most holy. Ezekiel 43:7-12

4. A holy allotment of land in Israel will be dedicated solely to the Lord. Ezekiel 45:1

5. The remnant of Israel will be a holy people.

a. Proud rebels will be removed from Israel. Zephaniah 3:11-13

b. Idols, (false) prophets and demonic spirits will be removed from the land. Zechariah 13:1-2

6. A remnant of Israel will repent for having executed her Messiah.

a. They will mourn bitterly over Him whom they pierced. Zechariah 12:10

b. Forgiveness will be granted. Zechariah 13:1

7. There will be a holiness even of items physical / secular: Zechariah 14:20-21

D. It Will Be a Kingdom of Justice and Righteousness

1. Isaiah 11:1-5

a. The Messiah will be completely empowered by the Holy Spirit.

b. He will delight in obeying God.

c. He will not be deceived by what he perceives through his senses.

d. He will uphold justice and fairness for the poor and afflicted of the earth.

e. He will put the wicked to death merely by verbal command.

f. He will be characterized by righteousness and faithfulness.

2. All nations will become righteous and will praise Adonai Elohim. Isaiah 61:11

E. It Will Be a Kingdom in Which Nature Will Be Altered, the Curse Removed.

1. There will be peace and amity in the animal kingdom and between man and animals.

a. Isaiah 11:6-9

b. Isaiah 65:25

1) There will be harmony and peace in the animal kingdom.

2) All animals (and presumably humans) will be vegetarian.

3) There will be harmony between man and all animals.

4) Peace and harmony in the animal world will be attributed to a universal knowledge of Yahweh.

2. There will be far greater light from the sun and the moon. Isaiah 30:25-26

3. There will be dramatic physical changes in and around Jerusalem. Zechariah 14:8 - 11

a. Life-giving water will flow year-round from Jerusalem into the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean.

b. Yahweh reign as sole King and Deity over all the earth.

c. The land south of Jerusalem will become a plain.

d. Jerusalem itself will be elevated.

e. The curse will be removed.

f. There will be peace and security in Jerusalem.

F. It Will Be a Kingdom of Economic Prosperity.

1. Isaiah 35:1-2

a. The wilderness and desert will blossom profusely.

b. Improvements in nature will be accompanied by great joy.

c. Improvements in nature will be accompanied by the visible glory of Yahweh.

2. Isaiah 30:23-26

a. There will be abundant rain.

b. There will be abundant pasture for livestock.

c. There will be abundant feed for livestock who work the ground.

d. There will be abundant water.

e. The condition of abundance will come to pass after a time of judgment.

f. Increased productivity will result from increased light.

g. Economic abundance is tied in with Yahweh’s spiritual healing of Israel.

3. The wealth of the nations will be brought into Jerusalem.

a. The wealth of the nations will make Yahweh’s temple a gloriously beautiful sanctuary. Isaiah 60:11-13

b. The wealth from the nations will help Israel to know that Yahweh, the Mighty One of Jacob, is her Savior and Redeemer. Isaiah 60:16-17

c. Israel, as the priests of God, will grow wealthy from the revenue brought in from the earth’s nations. Isaiah 61:6

4. Israel will have no commodity losses. Isaiah 62:8-9

a. Israel will never again have its commodities stolen by invaders.

b. Israelis will partake of their own harvest, praising Yahweh in the Temple.

5. Israel will never again experience the humiliation of famine. Ezekiel 36:29-30

6. Spiritual cleansing will result in national prosperity. Ezekiel 36:33-36

a. National prosperity will be linked to personal holiness.

b. Israel’s cities will be rebuilt, fortified, and inhabited.

c. Desolate land will produce abundantly.

d. The earth’s nations (Gentiles) will know that Yahweh has done this for Israel.

7. Israel will experience prodigious harvests in her own land. Amos 9:13-15

a. Those who plant the new crop will be stalled, waiting on those who harvest the old crop, so bountiful will the harvest me.

b. Israel’s Diaspora will return home!

c. Ruined cities will be rebuilt.

d. Private land will be fully utilized.

e. Never again will Israel be uprooted from its land.

8. Israel will experience agricultural bounty in a time of peace. Zechariah 8:11-12

9. Israel, Yahweh’s prized possession, will possess abundant grain and wine. Zechariah 9:16-17

G. It Will Be a Kingdom of Peace and Security.

1. There will be international peace.

a. Yahweh will rule and adjudicate the entire world in a regime of peace in which war will be abolished. Isaiah 2:4

1) Yahweh will settle international disputes.

2) Nations will transform all their military arsenal and war machines into agricultural implements.

3) No longer will there be wars and uprisings between nations.

4) Defense budgets and strategic planning will be totally eliminated!

b. The Messiah’s reign will be characterized by international peace, justice, and righteousness. Isaiah 9:6 - 7

1) A certain son would be born destined to be the Great King.

2) His essence would combine both humanity and Deity, for His names denote both.

3) His reign will be global and will be characterized by peace.

4) He will be a descendant of David and will sit on David’s throne.

5) His reign will be characterized by justice and righteousness.

6) His reign will last forever.

7) The zeal of Yahweh of Troops will accomplish this.

2. There will be peace in the land of Israel.

a. Israel never again will be delivered to enemy occupation and enslavement. Isaiah 62:8-9

b. Long-lived Israelis will never see their efforts confiscated by others. Isaiah 65:21-22

c. Jerusalem will finally be a city of safety. Zechariah 14:11

3. The Jewish Diaspora will return to the land of Israel and will settle there undisturbed.

a. Israel will be able to rebuild ancient cities and settle in them without interference from adjacent nations, the United Nations, or world opinion. Isaiah 61:4

b. Israel will return to the land and settle there, never to be uprooted again. Amos 9:14-15

4. The people of Israel will dwell in security forever. Isaiah 66:22

H. It Will Be a Kingdom of Physical Longevity. Isaiah 65:20-23

1. People will live so long that a death at age 100 will be viewed as a calamitous judgment from Yahweh!

2. The people of Israel will live in safety and security.

3. They will live as long as trees, blessed by Yahweh.

I. It Will Be a Kingdom of Glory.

1. Israel will be glorious in the Millennial Kingdom. Isaiah 60.

a. Israel's glorious, God-given light of righteousness in the Millennium will draw all nations to her. Isaiah 60:1-3

b. Believing Jews will be restored to Israel with wealth and glory in the Millennium for God's honor. Isaiah 60:4-9

c. The earth's nations will serve Israel in the Millennium, embracing Zion as the City of Yahweh. Isaiah 60:10-14

d. The wealthy, glorious, righteous international supremacy of Israel in the Millennium will overlap into the Eternal State. Isaiah 60:15-22

2. The earth’s nations will observe and praise Israel’s glory and righteousness. Isaiah 62:1-7

J. It Will Be a Kingdom of Global Israeli Supremacy and Honor.

1. The earth's nations will serve Israel in the Millennium, embracing Zion as the City of Yahweh. Isaiah 60:10-14

2. Foreigners will perform menial tasks for Israelis. Isaiah 61:5

3. Because Israel will live in righteousness before Yahweh, He will bless her so that she will experience honor and respect among the earth’s nations instead of humiliation and contempt. Isaiah 61:7-9

4. All mankind will come to bow down before Yahweh. Isaiah 66:23

K. It Will Be a Kingdom of Joy.

1. The wilderness and desert will blossom profusely and rejoice with shouts of joy. Isaiah 35:1-2

2. Previously forsaken and hated Israel will become a fountain of eternal pride and joy: Isaiah 60:15

3. The Messiah will be appointed to bring comfort and gladness to Zion instead of mourning and fainting. Isaiah 61:1-3; cf. Luke 4:14-21

4. Israel will experience everlasting joy. Isaiah 61:7

5. The joy of the Millennial Kingdom will transition into the joy of New Jerusalem in the New Heavens and Earth. Isaiah 65:17-19

6. Isaiah 66:10-14

a. Jerusalem will be a source of joy, gladness, and comfort for all who mourn for her.

b. Jerusalem (“Founded by [the God of] Peace” – see “Jerusalem,” Joe R. Baskin, Holman Bible Dictionary, and Hebrews 7:2), site of so many wars, will finally, in fact, be blessed with peace.

c. Jerusalem will be glorious, for the glory of the nations will be extended to her.

d. Jewish people will find enormous comfort in Jerusalem, and will be filled with gladness.

e. Yahweh will bless His servants and express indignation against His enemies.

L. It Will Be a Kingdom Ruled by a Descendant of David.

1. Yahweh promised David his house, kingdom, and throne would be established forever. 2 Samuel 7:12 - 16

2. Yahweh later renewed His promise He would install a Davidic monarch upon the throne in Israel.

a. Isaiah 9:6 - 7

1) A certain son would be born destined to be the Great King.

2) His essence would combine both humanity and Deity, for His names denote both.

3) His reign will be global and will be characterized by peace.

4) He will be a descendant of David and will sit on David’s throne.

5) His reign will be characterized by justice and righteousness.

6) His reign will last forever.

7) The zeal of Yahweh of Troops will accomplish this.

b. Isaiah 16:5

1) Yahweh would establish the throne of David in Zion out of loyal love to David.

2) This King would be characterized by faithfulness, justice, and righteousness.

3) This King would rule not only over Israel, but also over Moab (Isa. 16:1).

3. At a time when non-Davidic kings were ruling over the Northern ten tribes of Israel, Yahweh declared he would restore the Davidic monarchy to Israel. Amos 9:11

4. The only person sufficiently qualified to fulfill all the prophecies concerning that greatest of all Jewish kings is Jesus of Nazareth.

a. Jesus was born of a virgin, just as the Scriptures predicted.

1) Yahweh promised Davidic King Ahaz that a virgin would conceive and bear a son whose name would be called Immanuel, meaning “God With Us.” Isaiah 7:10-14

2) It was promised to a young virgin named Mary, a descendant of David, by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26-27) on behalf of God that her firstborn son would be conceived within her by the power of God without the aid of man, and that he would be the eternally-reigning Son of David to fulfill the ancient prophecies. Luke 1:32-35

3) Jesus was that child who was born of Mary. Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus, and she remained a virgin until after she had given birth to him. Matthew 1:18-25. She is, therefore, the virgin predicted by Isaiah, and her son Jesus is, therefore, the Messiah, the one Anointed by God to be King of Israel.

b. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the City of David, just as the Scriptures prophesied.

1) It is predicted that Israel’s greatest ruler would be born in Bethlehem, the city of David, and yet pre-exist before that from eternity past. Micah 5:2

2) Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the City of David. Luke 2:8 - 14

c. Jesus was born a descendant of David, just as the Scriptures predicted.

1) Yahweh promised David his house, kingdom, and throne would be established forever. He would have an eternal dynasty. 2 Samuel 7:12 - 16

a) David’s son Solomon would build the house (temple) for God that David desired to build.

b) Solomon’s throne would be established forever.

c) Solomon apparently would need to be chastised by God. (That turned out to be the case.)

d) God’s loyal love would never be taken away from Solomon as was the case with Saul.

e) David’s house (blood line) and kingdom (right to the throne) would endure forever before God.

f) David’s throne would be established into eternity.

2) Jesus was born a descendant of David, and so he has blood rights to the throne of David. Matthew 1:1-16; 9:27; 15:22; 20:30-31; 21:9, 15; Mark 10:47-48; Luke 18:38-39; Romans 1:3

3) Jesus’ legal guardian was Joseph, who was a descendant of David, and so Jesus has legal rights to the throne of David. Luke 1:26-27; 2:1-7; 3:23-37

d. God, through the angel Gabriel’s message to Mary, granted the authority to Jesus specifically to rule forever on David’s throne over the entire house of Jacob (the nation of Israel). Luke 1:32-35

a) Mary’s son would be great.

b) Mary’s son would also be called the Son of the Most High.

c) God would grant him authority to sit on David’s throne.

d) He would reign over the entire nation of Israel.

e) His kingdom would be eternal.

f) Since Mary was a virgin, God’s power by means of the Holy Spirit would cause her to conceive.

g) For that reason, the Messiah (Christ, the Anointed King) which would be born of Mary would be called the Son of God.

e. Jesus, through his resurrection, has triumphed over death. Matthew 28:1-10; Luke 24:1-7; John 20:1-20; Acts 1:1-11; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Colossians 1:15-18; Revelation 1:5; 1:17-18.

f. Jesus alone has sufficient power and authority to eliminate all of His and Israel’s adversaries. Psalm 2:4-12; Zechariah 12:1-9; Zechariah 14:1-4, 9, 12-13; Philippians 2:8-11; Revelation. 12:5; 19:11-21.

g. Jesus is repeatedly designated the Anointed One (Anglicized Hebrew, Messiah; Anglicized Greek, Christ). The phrase Jesus Christ occurs multitudinous times in the New Testament. A few examples: Matthew 1:18; Mark 1:1; John 1:17; 17:3; Acts 2:38; Romans 1:1-4; Galatians 1:1; 1 Peter 1:13; 2 Peter 1:16; Revelation 1:5.

h. Jesus has sole authority to judge all of mankind.

1) Jesus will judge all survivors of the Tribulation period based on their treatment of his brothers. Matthew 25:31-46

a) When Jesus returns to this earth in power and glory as the Son of Man (Messiah), He will sit on His throne.

b) All the earth’s nations (Gentiles) who have survived the Final Battle will appear before Him to be judged.

c) He will separate them as a flock, putting the sheep on His right hand, the goats on His left.

d) He will invite the sheep, the righteous, to participate in His Kingdom here on earth.

e) He will condemn the goats to eternal punishment.

f) The factor distinguishing the sheep and goats will be their treatment of Jesus’ brothers, probably both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Him during the Tribulation Period. To offer food, drink clothing, shelter, and comfort to believers during the Tribulation will be to take one’s life in his own hands, and will be evidence of faith in Jesus as the Messiah.

2) To Jesus alone has been given authority to judge all men.

a) John 5:21-29

i The Son, just as much as the Father, has the power to raise the dead and give life to whomever He chooses.

ii The Father has given to the Son the authority to judge all in order to accord the Son the same honor as the Father.

iii It is impossible to honor the Father if one does not also honor the Son.

iv The Father has given authority to judge all mankind to the Son because He is the Messiah – the Son of Man.

v All who hear Jesus’ word and believe in God Who sent Him will not be judged, but have passed from the realm of death to the realm of life.

vi The time is coming when all the dead will hear the voice of God’s Son and will come to life – those who have done good to the Resurrection of Life; those who have done evil to the Resurrection of Judgment.

b) Jesus has been appointed by God to judge both the living and the dead. Acts 10:42

c) God will judge the world in righteousness through His appointed man, Jesus. God has proven His intentions by raising Jesus from the dead. Acts 17:31

M. It Is a Kingdom in Which All Who Have Faith in God and Jesus Will Participate; And One From Which All Who Do Not Will Be Fearfully and Irrevocably Excluded.

1. Deceased Old Testament believers will be resurrected to participate in the Kingdom.

a. The righteous will be resurrected to life at this time. The unrighteous will be resurrected later to experience disgrace and eternal contempt. Daniel 12:2.

b. Israel’s dead will live and shout for joy. Isaiah 26:19

c. David will be resurrected to serve as Prince alongside the Messiah in a Co-Regency. Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:24-25; Hosea 3:5.

d. The deceased believers of Israel will be resurrected. (This portends both a national resurrection and an individual resurrection.) Ezekiel 37:12-14

2. Church Age believers will return with Christ to the earth as His Bride.

a. All Church Age believers in Jesus will be resurrected and the bodies of those believers alive at Christ’s return for His Church will be transformed into immortal bodies. The Church constitutes the Bride of Christ.

1) Jesus is presently preparing dwelling places for His Bride in the Father’s House. He will return to retrieve His Bride. John 14:2-3

2) Jesus will return to earth to retrieve His Bride, the Church, and prepare her for their Wedding Feast. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

3) Church Age believers will be granted immortal bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53

b. Having been fully prepared in heaven, the Church will return to the earth as the Bride of Christ for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Revelation 19:7-9

3. When Christ returns to earth to set up His Kingdom, all who have rebelled against Him, actively or passively, will be destroyed.

a. Active rebels, fighting against Him at His return, will be summarily destroyed.

1) Those troops who have invaded Jerusalem will be destroyed when Jesus returns to the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14:4, 12-13

2) The armies assembled against Jesus and His heavenly armies will be destroyed by Christ’s command. Revelation 19:19-21

b. When Jesus returns to this earth the righteous will be left alive to inherit the Kingdom. The wicked will be purged out and excluded from the Kingdom.

1) At the end of the age Jesus’ angels will gather all unbelievers and throw them into the furnace of fire. The righteous will inherit the Kingdom. Matthew 13:36-43

2) Jesus will enter into judgment with all Jewish people alive at His return. He will purge out all the rebels. Then He will reign as King over Israel. Ezekiel 20:33-38

3) All survivors of the Tribulation period among all the nations (Gentiles) of the world will stand in judgment before King Jesus on His throne. Those who have treated His brothers well (the righteous) will be left alive to inherit eternal life and the Kingdom. Those who have not treated His brothers well will be sent off to eternal punishment. Matthew 25:31-46

4. It is imperative that we enter Jesus’ Kingdom now before we die or before He returns in power, whichever comes first. There will be no second chances. Pre-registration is of critical importance. How does one enter Jesus’ Kingdom?

a. One must be humble enough to admit his own moral and spiritual bankruptcy before God. None of us is good enough to enter the Kingdom on our own because of our moral and spiritual shortcomings.

1) Jesus proclaimed that repentance was necessary to enter the Kingdom. Matthew 4:17

2) Jesus announced that both repentance and faith were necessary to enter the Kingdom. Mark 1:14-15

3) There is none who is righteous. Romans 3:10-12

4) All of us have sinned and fall short of the goodness that God is. Romans 3:23

b. We must understand that, in great love for us, God sent Jesus to die for each of us, to pay the death penalty necessary to atone for our sins.

1) Romans 5:8-10

2) 1 John 4:9-10

c. If we want to enter the Kingdom, we must be born again, born from above (the concepts are interchangeable) into God’s family by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. John 3:1-8

d. How are we born again, or born from above? By trusting in Jesus, God’s only provision for human sin. We cannot actively reject or passively ignore Jesus. We must actively receive Him.

1) All who receive Jesus are given the right to be born by the will of God into God’s family, becoming His children. John 1:11-13

2) All who trust in Jesus circumvent eternal destruction and possess eternal life. John 3:16-18

3) Jesus desires to enter our lives. If we open the door of our lives to Him, he will gladly enter. To each who allows Him entrance, He promises an intimate relationship, and He will grant him authority to help Him administer His Kingdom. Revelation 3:20-21

4) Jesus is coming quickly! I urge you, the reader, to prepare to enter His Kingdom! Revelation 22:12-16

5) I join the Holy Spirit and the Bride of Christ (the Church) in extending an invitation to you, the reader, to partake of the water of eternal life by trusting in Jesus. After you have done that, devote your life to serving the Great King! Revelation 22:17

Characteristics of the Millennium, the 1000-Year Reign of Jesus Christ upon the Earth
Prepared by James T. Bartsch
July, 2007, Updated February 13, 2022

Published Online by WordExplain

Email Contact: jbartsch@wordexplain.com