Liberty University

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

ONE THOUSAND YEAR MILLENIAL REIGN

A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR

GEORGE CARROWAY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT

OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR BIBLE 450

BY

SUSAN C. RICHARDSON

5/14/2011

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THE KINGDOM OF GOD

This work will seek to examine the various views of the Millennial Kingdom, the literal

teachings of its nature, government, inhabitants, and relationship to the ancient prophecies

concerning Israel. A correct view of the Kingdom is, in this writer’s opinion, very significant

because no other doctrine has had such a profound effect on the Christian mindset concerning the

continuing role of Israel in prophecy. Many have thought to spiritualize the teachings of the

Book of the Revelation 1and have unwittingly chosen to call into question the very nature of

God. To deny the doctrine of a literal physical one-thousand year reign of Christ on the earth is

to deny the faithfulness of God by rejecting the unconditional covenant made to Abraham in

Genesis 12:1-3. Larkin states that “It is to be regretted that the word ‘Millennium’ ever

supplanted the Biblical word ‘Kingdom,’ for it is this period that Christ taught His Disciples to

pray for in the petition—‘Thy Kingdom Come’.” 2

Historically, there are three main views of future prophetical events centered on the text

of Revelation 20. They include the Pre-Millennial, the A millennial, and the Post-Millennial

view. The Pre-Millennial view states that the Church will be raptured prior to the tribulation

prophesied in Daniel 9, Joel 2, Matthew 24 and Revelation 6.3 This view is closely tied to the

1Allan McQuarrie. A Brief Overview of the Main 4 Views of Future Events. April 10, 2010. http://allanmcquarrie.com/?p=79 (accessed May 01, 2011).

2 Clarence Larkin. The Book of Revelation: A Study of the Last Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture. (Mansfield Centre: Martino, 1919), 180.

3 Tim LaHaye, and Ed Hindson.,ed. The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy. (Eugene: Harvest House, 2004).p. 233

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Dispensational view of God’s sovereign plan for Israel and the Church. Both views share belief

in:

The literal fulfillment of Old Testament promises to Israel,

Belief that the unconditional, eternal covenants made with national Israel (Abrahamic,

Davidic, and New) must be fulfilled literally with national Israel,

A distinct future for national Israel,

The church is distinct from Israel,

Multiple senses of the “seed of Abraham”,

A philosophy of history that emphasizes both the spiritual and physical aspects of God’s

covenants.4

Those holding to the A millennial view find no earthly kingdom in the Old or New

Testament passages. Arguments for this interpretation include:

The millennium only appears in Revelation 20:1-6.

The defeat of Satan in Revelation 20 is the same defeat of Satan that occurred on the

Cross; therefore we are now in the Kingdom. (Matthew 12:28,29; Luke 10:18)

The binding of Satan that he “should deceive the nations no more” (Rev.20:3) occurred at

Pentecost when the gospel went out to all nations.

In verse 4 of Revelation 20 the “souls” and “new life” described has occurred in Heaven

throughout the church age.

The phrase “first resurrection” refers to our physical death on earth and our going to a

spiritual Heaven.

Scripture only teaches one general resurrection. (John 5:28,29; Acts 24:15; Daniel 12;2)

4 Michael J Vlach,. Dispensationalism: Essential Beliefs and Common Myths. (Castaic: Theological Studies Press, 2008).6

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There is no purpose for a 1000 year period after the return of Christ.5

A millenniallism views Israel as a type of the Church and uses allegory as a means of

interpretation. According to Showers with the Friends of Israel Ministry, the teachings of

Augustine (A.D. 354–425) became very influential in the fourth century. He was strongly

influenced by both Ambrose of Milan, a church leader who argued that the Jewish people were

irrevocably perverse and not worthy of any good thought, and Origen’s use of allegory to

interpret Scripture. Augustine used allegory to formulate the system we today call A

millennialism6. Some of the implications of this belief include:

•The Jewish people as a nation have no place in God’s future plan, and Israel has no future as a

nation.

•There is no Tribulation or Millennial Kingdom. In fact, such prophecies become problematic,

which is why Replacement theologians want to see Israel not as a physical nation but as the

church.

•The church begins with Abraham in Genesis 12, not at Pentecost in Acts 2. Old Testament

Israel (not physical Israel, but only those who put their faith in God) are defined as the church.7

The third view, that of Post-Millennialism has faded since its inception and is not

considered in many commentaries. This view became popular about the time of the

Enlightenment and carried with it the idea that a progressive “Christianization” of the world

would take place with the world community becoming better and better until Christ would return

and set up heaven on earth. The coming of the World Wars and the rise of greater world conflicts

5 McQuarrie, A Brief Overview of the Main 4 Views of Future Events6 James A. Showers, "Replacement Theology part1." Israel My Glory, Vol. 68, No. 3, April 2009:

7 Vlach, 6

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caused a decline in acceptance of this view.8 As Walvood states, “There is certainly no evidence,

nineteen hundred years after Christ, that the kingdom of God has conquered the entire world.”9

To assess the teachings of the Millennial Kingdom we must honestly choose whether we

believe in the providential place of Israel in the eternal plan of God. Only Pre-Millennialism

clearly sees a distinctive future for ethnic Israel as a nation.

Pentecost points out that God’s kingdom program takes up a large portion of the

scriptures and should be subject only to inductive study of the Word of God and not examined

through the teachings of men.10 When one looks at the context of the passage of Revelation 20

one sees the establishment of the thousand year reign of Christ ushered in by the Lord Himself.

This immediately follows the seven year Tribulation Period, also known as Daniel’s Seventieth

Week (Dan 9) that is concluded in Revelation 19. This time of tribulation judgment is

graphically portrayed in Ezekiel 38-39. In Revelation 19: 20-21 and 20:1-2 we see Christ

victorious over all the wicked forces on earth. Isaiah 63:3-6 describes the horrible wrath and

carnage that is pictured as the trampling of a winepress. Christ is described as having his clothing

dipped in blood (Rev 19:13). At this time the Beast and False Prophet are cast into the lake of

fire and Satan is imprisoned. The Lord then speaks through Ezekiel beginning in 39:25 and says

there will be a time after His judgment when He will have mercy on Israel and will pour out His

Spirit upon them. Also at this time, Christ has all the people still alive from all nations gathered

before Him. He does not allow the wicked to enter the kingdom He is establishing on earth (Matt

25:31-46).11

8 E.G. Dobson, et al. (King James Bible Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1999.) p. 1822

9 Walvoord, John F. Daniel The Key to Prophetic Revelation. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971.) p. 75

10 Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958.) p.427-28

11 Salem Kirban,Salem Kirban Reference Bible KJV. (Chattanooga: AMG, 1979.) p. 306

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Among all the activities taking place at that great final battle known as Armageddon,

Christ will come down from heaven and will stand upon the Mount of Olives. He will return in

glory to claim the place which was denied Him at his first coming.12 Zachariah 14:4 tells us that

when this happens that the mount will be split in two from the east to the west creating a great

valley. Half of the mountain will move to the north and half to the south.13 Christ will walk down

to and right through the Eastern Gate and into the Temple area (Ezekiel 44:1-3). The millennial

temple described in Ezekiel 40-48 will be in Jerusalem and the sacrificial system will be

reinstituted.14 From the Mount of Olives will flow the river depicted in Ezekiel 47:1-12 that has

ends in both the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea, giving it life. The land of Palestine will be

restored to its former fertility, “a land flowing with milk and honey.”15Jerusalem will become the

Holy City never again to be destroyed (Zach 14:10-11).16 Along with the geographic changes to

the land when the Kingdom is established there will be a time of peace, no wars will occur (Isa

2:4, 11:6-9). Happiness will abound (Isa 33:24, 65:20), long life and health will characterize this

era (Isa 33:25, 65:20).This will also be an unequalled time of prosperity (Isa 35:1-2) and there

will be joy in labor(Isa 65:21-22).17 Hindson calls this time a golden era of peace and prosperity

with the Messiah ruling on earth which is described in Isaiah 2:2-4. 18

12 Robert Anderson, The Coming Prince. (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1954.) p. 162

13 Ibid. p.307

14 Clarence Larkin.p.187

15 Ibid.p.189

16 Tim LaHaye, and Ed Hindson. ed. p. 236

17 Salem Kirban. p.313

18 Edward Hindson. The Book of Revelation: Unlocking the Future. (Canada: AMG, 2002.) p. 200

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When Christ assumes His role as king, Revelation 19:15 tells that He will rule with a rod

of iron. This will be a rule of righteousness. Satan is bound and sin will not be tolerated.

Pentecost aptly calls this a theocratic kingdom when universal sovereignty is acknowledged (1

Cor 15:24). He also lists several reasons for the necessity of this kingdom. The first in this list is

to preserve the integrity of the character of God.19 Even though this kingdom is a theocracy there

are others who will sit upon thrones and pronounce judgment. Revelation 20: 4-6 speaks of this.

“They” who sat upon the thrones refers to the Church, the Bride of Christ. This is a fulfillment of

1 Corinthians 6:2, “Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world?” 20

Another group found in Revelation 6:9-11 spoken of as reigning are those who have

come out of the Great Tribulation. These have refused to worship the Beast and have been

beheaded because of their faith in Christ. These are called souls in verse 9 of chapter 6 and also

in 20:4. It is stated that they are under the altar. These people will also rule and reign with Christ

but Kirban feels that in light of 20:5-6 these shall reign in their new resurrected bodies not as

disembodied spirits.21 Greene believes that since John first sees the souls, and in the same verse

(Rev 20:4), “they lived” the resurrection takes place immediately after the marriage supper of the

Lamb and just before the beginning of the Millennium. In verse 20:6 it is stated that the rest of

the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. The “resurrection of the just” is

mentioned in Luke 14:13-14, and “the resurrection of life” is differentiated from the

“resurrection unto damnation” in John 5:29. This passage also disproves the doctrine of a general

resurrection and judgment. 22 Verse 6 tells of the condition and character of those who experience

19 Pentecost, Dwight. p. 433

20 Greene, Oliver B. The Revelation. (Greenville: The Gospel Hour, 1963.) p. 486

21 Salem Kirban. p.310

22 Oliver B. Greene. p. 486-87

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the first resurrection. They are called blessed and holy. These are the kings and priests spoken of

in 1 Peter 2:5 whose offices are combined as Christ’s are (Zech 6:13).23

A large portion of the Old Testament prophecies concern the restoration of the nation of

Israel to the land since the covenant promises could not be fulfilled apart from this regathering.

In preparation for the events that will restore the land, the nation will experience conversion

because no unsaved person will enter the Kingdom. In this way, all true Israel will be able to

experience the fulfillment of the covenants through the Messiah’s reign. Zachariah speaks of a

third part that God will cause to pass through the refiner’s fire (Zach 13:9).24 This remnant is

those saints still living when Christ returns in glory. Israel and those who befriend her will be in

their natural bodies for one thousand years, and there will be millions born who have not known

temptation because Satan will be in the pit throughout this reign.25

Scripture also teaches that to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant a universal blessing must be

realized. Gentiles will participate in the Millennium as promised in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel,

and many others of the Minor Prophets. Pentecost points out that this participation is indeed

promised in scripture. He also says that the Gentiles will be Israel’s servants during that age (Isa

14:1-2, 49:22-23, 60:14). The nations which had authority over Israel in ages past will find

themselves in subjection in the Kingdom. The Gentiles as well as the Jew will be subject to the

Messiah (Isa 42:1, 49:6; Obad 21; Zech 8:22-23). 26 The subjection of all inhabitance to the

Messiah will not mean that the children born to these Tribulation saints will automatically

23 E.G. Dobson, et al., p. 1823

24 Dwight Pentecost. p. 505-507

25 Oliver B. Greene. p.494

26 Dwight Pentecost.p.508

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receive Christ. They must individually decide. At the close of the Millennium they are allowed

this choice.

For the first time the land promised to Abraham will be realized through the Kingdom

(Gen 15:18-21). It will be the particular inheritance of Israel (Ezek 36:8). The land will be

greatly enlarged and the topography will be altered (Isa 26:15; 33:10-11). At the second coming

a great fertile plane will be formed (Zech 14:4) and this will allow the river to flow from the

Holy City of Jerusalem toward both the Mediterranean and Dead Seas. (Ezek 47:1-12). There

will be renewed fertility and production. Instead of a desert there shall be abundant rainfall (Isa

30:23-25). The land will be cleansed from the ravages of the Tribulation and be reconstructed

(Amos 9:14-15) with the possession being redistributed among the twelve tribes of Israel.27

Christ will reign as the sovereign over the whole earth with those of the first resurrection. Almost

all the prophetic promises have been fulfilled. The covenants are complete. At the end of the one

thousand years the last battle will transpire with Satan being released. He will deceive millions

whom he gathers from the “Four Quarters of the Earth” to do battle (Rev 20:8-9). God will have

tested man in each of the seven Dispensations, Innocence, Conscience, Self Government, Family

Headship, Law and Grace. During this Millennial Dispensation just as the others before it man

fails the test declaring himself to be hopelessly, incurably a sinner outside of the redemption of

Christ.28

Bibliography

Anderson, Robert. The Coming Prince. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1954.

27 Ibid. p. 509-10

28 Clarence Larkin.p.191-92

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Dobson, E.G., C. L. Feinberg, E.E. Hindson, W.M. Kroll, and H. L. Wilmington. King James Bible Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1999.

Greene, Oliver B. The Revelation. Greenville: The Gospel Hour, 1963.

Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry's Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Corp., 1961.

Hindson, Edward. The Book of Revelation: Unlocking the Future. Canada: AMG, 2002.

Kirban, Salem. Salem Kirban Reference Bible KJV. Chattanooga: AMG, 1979.

LaHaye, Tim, and Ed Hindson. The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy. Eugene: Harvest House, 2004.

Larkin, Clarence. The Book of Revelation: A Study of the Last Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture. Mansfield Centre: Martino, 1919.

McQuarrie, Allan. A Brief Overview of the Main 4 Views of Future Events. April 10, 2010. http://allanmcquarrie.com/?p=79 (accessed May 01, 2011).

Pentecost, Dwight. Things to Come. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958.

-------------. Thy Kingdom Come. Wheaton: Victory Books,1990

Showers, James A. "Replacement Theology part1." Israel My Glory, Vol. 68, No. 3, April 2009: 20-23.

Vlach, Michael J. Dispensationalism: Essential Beliefs and Common Myths. Castaic: Theological Studies Press, 2008.

Walvoord, John F. Daniel The Key to Prophetic Revelation. Chicago: Moody Press, 1971.