Overview of the Millennial Kingdom: Heaven on Earth
I. THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM: JESUS’ 1,000-YEAR REIGN ON EARTH
A. This session will give an overview of the Millennium which is a 1,000-year period in which Jesus will rule the world in
righteousness. Millennium is from the Latin “mille” (a thousand).
4 I saw thrones, and they (saints) sat on them…They lived and reigned with Christ for 1000 years…6 They shall reign with
Him 1000 years. (Rev. 20:4-6)
B. At this time the kingdom of God will be openly manifest worldwide affecting every sphere of life (political, social,
agricultural, economic, spiritual, educational, law enforcement, family, media, arts, technology, athletics, environment,
social institutions, etc.).
C. The result will be a 1,000-year period of unprecedented blessing for the whole earth as Jesus establishes
righteousness and prosperity, and restores the agriculture, atmosphere, and animal life to some of the conditions that
were seen in the garden of Eden (Rev. 20:1-6; Isa. 2:1-4; 9:6-9; 11:1-16; 51:1-8; 60-62; 65:17-25; Ps. 2:6-12; 110:1-7;
Deut. 8; 28; Mt. 5:5; 6:10; 17:11; 19:28; 28:19; Acts 1:6; 3:21). This period of blessing will be initiated by Jesus' second
coming.
D. Jesus as King of kings will personally govern a worldwide kingdom from Jerusalem. He will do this in partnership
with resurrected saints (Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5; Mt. 19:28; 20:21-23; 25:23; Lk. 19:17-19; 22:29-30;
1 Cor. 6:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rom. 8:17).
17 Jerusalem shall be called the Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the
LORD, to Jerusalem. (Jer. 3:17)
E. The millennial kingdom is one of the major revelations of Scripture. Jesus’ core message was God’s kingdom was
being released in a new measure on earth. The NT makes it clear the kingdom is already here (in a limited expression),
but is not yet fully here until Jesus returns.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Mt. 6:10)
F. Daniel saw the heavenly coronation of Jesus as the eternal King over all the dominions of earth. The dominions of
the earth include every sphere of society.
13 One like the Son of Man (Jesus)…came to the Ancient of Days (Father)…14 To Him (Jesus) was given…a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him…27 His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions
shall serve Him. (Dan. 7:13-14, 27)
G. Jesus quoted Daniel 7:27 concerning His rule over all the nations and dominions of the earth.
31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory...then He will sit on the Throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered
before Him... (Mt. 25:31-32)
H. In the Millennium, all the kings of the earth will be saved and worship Jesus (Ps. 72:11; 102:15; 138:4; 148:11;
Isa. 62:2; Rev. 21:24) and base their national governments on God’s Word.
11 All kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him. (Ps. 72:11)
II. CENTERPIECE OF GOD’S PURPOSE: BRINGING HEAVEN AND EARTH TOGETHER
9 Having made known to us the mystery (hidden plan) of His will…10 that He might gather together in one ALL things in
Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. (Eph. 1:9-10)
A. The centerpiece of God’s eternal purpose is for Jesus to come back to establish His kingdom over all the earth as
He joins the heavenly and earthly realms together. God’s purpose has always been for His people to live together with
Him in this way forever. This is the interpretive key to understanding the end times. Without this foundational revelation,
confusion is inevitable.
3 Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them… (Rev. 21:3)
B. God created the universe in two distinct realms. Heaven speaks of the spiritual realm where God’s power and
presence is openly manifest. Earth speaks of the physical realm where human process, emotions and physical sensation
reach their fullest expression. Heaven is the place believers have gone for the last 2,000 years (the cross to the second
coming) as a “temporary holding pattern” before receiving a resurrected body. The saints do not need a resurrected
body in heaven to relate to its spiritual environment. Only as the spiritual and the physical realms come together can we
express the fullness of God’s personality and purposes or the fullness of God (Eph. 1:22-23; 3:19; 4:13; Col. 1:19-20;
2:9-10).
C. Ancient Greek philosophy (Platonism) viewed the spirit realm as good and the material realm as bad. This
philosophy continues in the Church today. It leads some to think wrongly about heaven on earth. If we do not think rightly
of heaven on earth, we end up not thinking of heaven at all.
D. In the Millennium, Jesus’ primary mandate is to prepare the earth for the Father’s coming by bringing the nations
to mature righteousness (1 Cor. 15:24-28). Righteousness will be substantial in the Millennium then perfect afterwards
on the new earth. The earth will be purged with fire at the end of the Millennium to fully prepare it for the Father
(2 Pet. 3:10-13; Rev. 20:11).
E. The end-time message is focused on Jesus preparing His people and the nations so that He might fully
established His kingdom on earth. Jesus is raising up a “millennial leadership team”.
III. THREE TYPES OF PEOPLE ARE ON EARTH WHEN JESUS APPEARS IN THE SKY
A. The redeemed will be raptured at the time of Jesus’ worldwide procession across the sky.
B. The reprobate who took the mark of the Beast will be judged and then killed (some executed). At this time, there
may be 1-3 billion of these people still alive. They will not just disappear.
C. The resisters are the unsaved survivors of the Tribulation who refused to worship the Antichrist. These resisters
will stand against evil governments without regard to having faith in God. For example, in World War II, the French
Resistance fought the Nazis. Scripture refers to “those who are left”. They can be saved then populate the millennial
earth (Isa. 4:3; 10:20; 11:11; 49:6; 65:8; 66:19; Jer. 31:2; Ezek. 20:38-42; 36:36; Amos 9:9-10; Joel 2:32; Zech. 12:14;
13:8; 14:16).
IV. GET THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE ABOUT MILLENNIUM
A. Jesus will rule the earth with the natural human processes not suspended, yet significantly enhanced by the
supernatural dimension of the Spirit.
B. As Gentile believers, our most natural paradigm is to think of worshiping Jesus as God in the supernatural
conditions of heaven. We emphasize Jesus’ deity as the Son of God. Whereas, the Jewish paradigm, speaks of reigning
with the Messianic King as a man in the natural conditions of the earth. They emphasize the Messiah’s humanity as the
Son of David. The full truth is only seen when these two paradigms are brought together.
V. HEAVENLY JERUSALEM AND EARTHLY JERUSALEM BROUGHT TOGETHER
A. When the New Jerusalem comes to earth, then heaven is literally on earth. Heaven and earth come together as
the New Jerusalem descends to the millennial Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is the place where resurrected saints will
live. The earth will continue forever (Ps. 37:29; 78:69; 104:5; 105:10-11; 125:1-2; 1 Chr. 23:25; 28:8; Isa. 60:21;
Ezek. 37:25; Joel 3:20).
12 The New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. (Rev. 3:12)
B. The New Jerusalem will descend to a place above millennial Jerusalem (temple on Mt. Zion) creating a vast
“governmental complex”. It will be the governmental center of heaven and earth referred to as Jesus’ throne of glory
(Mt. 19:28; 25:31).
C. There are four reasons the New Jerusalem is close to millennial Jerusalem, yet not on the earth. First, millennial
Jerusalem is about 10 square miles or 4,500 rods X 4,500 rods (a rod is approx. 10.5 feet; Ezek. 48:30-35; 45:6;
48:15-19). The New Jerusalem is 1,380 miles (Rev. 21:16), thus, it is far too large for the area Ezekiel prophesied as the
size of millennial Jerusalem (10 miles). Most believe the unit of measure is rods (10.5 feet) not cubits. The NKJV adds the
word cubits in italics to designate it is not in the original text. Second, the kings of the earth actually come into the New
Jerusalem during the Millennium (Rev. 21:24-26). Third, the leaves are for the healing of the millennial nations (Rev. 22:2),
therefore, people on the millennial earth must have access to these healing leaves that are in the New Jerusalem
(Rev. 22:2). Fourth, angels guard the entry to the New Jerusalem to keep sinners out as in Gen. 3:22-24 (Rev. 21:12).
VI. THE NATURAL PROCESSES OF LIFE WILL CONTINUE ON EARTH FOR 1,000 YEARS
A. Jesus will rule the millennial earth that has both natural and supernatural dimensions. The length of life will be
restored to what it was in Noah’s time. Those who live to be only 100 will be thought to have lived a short life. It will be
common for people to live to be 500 years old.
20 No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; for the child shall
die 100 years old, but the sinner being 100 years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22…For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people…25 The
wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox… (Isa. 65:20-25)
B. Animosity between animals with each other and with humans will be removed (Rom. 8:20-21).
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb…the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead
them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the
ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole…9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the
earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Isa. 11:6-9)
C. The natural processes of life will continue in establishing the infrastructure for every sphere of life in every city and
village throughout the earth. This infrastructure will include replacing the governmental leaders from the Antichrist’s
worldwide government with new people at every level of public life in every city. This infrastructure will include life support
systems (food, water, electricity), building projects (buildings, highways, bridges, etc.), economic systems (currencies,
banking, investments, etc.), spiritual life (worship centers, Bible schools, etc.), education (from elementary to university
levels), law enforcement; agriculture (equipment, distribution), media and arts, technology, environment, social
institutions, etc.
D. Jesus’ government will progressively spread to all nations (Isa. 9:7). It will take 1,000 years to for righteousness to
progressively spread, mature and be tested in every area of every nation.
VII. THE SAINTS WILL RULE WITH JESUS AS KINGS AND PRIESTS
A. The two functions most emphasized for the saints are priests and kings (Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6).
10 Have made us kings and priests to our God…we shall reign on the earth. (Rev. 5:10)
B. As priests, resurrected saints will worship, intercede and communicate the knowledge of God to others (non-
resurrected people on the millennial earth plus the saints in the New Jerusalem). The primary government of the millennial
earth will come forth from continual intercession.
C. As kings, resurrected saints will evaluate the past, determine future action plans and appoint people who serve
in the infrastructure under their authority. This will include training and managing the people they appoint. Our personality
will come forth in the decisions we make.
2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? …the world will be judged by you 3 Do you not know that we shall
judge (evaluate) angels? (1 Cor. 6:2-3)
28 In the regeneration (millennium), when the Son of Man sits on the Throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will
sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. (Mt. 19:28)
29 I bestow upon you a kingdom…30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging
the twelve tribes of Israel. (Lk. 22:29-30)
17 He said to him, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.”
(Lk. 19:17)
VIII. JESUS WILL BE THE KING OVER ALL OTHER KINGS IN THE MILLENNIUM
16 He has...a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev. 19:16)
A. In the Millennium, all the kings of the earth will be saved, worship Jesus and base their national governments on
the Scripture (Ps. 72:11; 102:15; 138:4; 148:11; Isa. 62:2; Rev. 21:24).
11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him. (Ps. 72:11)
B. Jesus will rule a worldwide kingdom in partnership with two types of kings: kings of the earth (non-resurrected
bodies) and resurrected kings (saints with resurrected bodies). Together they will establish a godly social order that will
transform every sphere of life in the Millennium.
5 Jesus Christ, the faithful witness…ruler over the kings of the earth (non-resurrected bodies). To Him who loved us…
6 and made us (resurrected saints) kings and priests to God. (Rev. 1:5-6)
C. Jesus reigns now at God’s right hand over the kings of the earth. Currently, His leadership over the kings of the
earth is restrained. However, in the Millennium it will be fully manifest.
D. Saints with resurrected bodies will be made kings and/or rulers over different spheres of life (Mt. 19:28; 20:21-23;
25:23; Lk. 19:17-19; 22:29-30; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rom. 8:17).
10 Have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth. (Rev. 5:10)
IX. THE RESURRECTED SAINTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KINGS OF THE EARTH
A. Jesus will establish infrastructure in partnership with resurrected saints who oversee those with non-resurrected
bodies. The saints (resurrected) will have a dynamic role in training “resisters” (with non-resurrected bodies) who become
born again after Jesus’ return to earth.
B. The necessary infrastructure to govern each sphere of life will gradually increase in capacity, quality and size as
the leaders grow in wisdom and skill development.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to
order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will
perform this. (Isa. 9:7)
C. The saints as well as leaders with non-resurrected bodies will need to learn and then apply what they learned.
Jesus with His saints will be involved in training the non-resurrected leaders of the nations in God’s ways. As wisdom is
gained and applied, society will progressively improve. Together they will establish training institutions that all nations may
systematically learn Jesus’ ways (political, economic, spiritual, educational, agricultural, family, media, technology, etc.).
3 Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the House of the God of
Jacob; He (Jesus) will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." Out of Zion shall go forth the law…the word of
the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isa. 2:3)
D. Those who reign with Jesus will be involved in this process of healing the millennial nations.
2 Tree of life...the leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the nations. (Rev. 22:2)
E. The resurrected saints in partnership with the kings of the earth will work together to fully restore the cities of the
earth that are destroyed in the Tribulation. The saints will oversee what is rebuilt by labor (Isa. 62:8-9; 65:21-23;
Jer. 31:5; Ezek. 48:18-19).
36 Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted
what was desolate. (Ezek. 36:36)
4 They shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the
desolations of many generations. (Isa. 61:4)
F. The resurrected saints in partnership with the leaders of earth will bring the gospel to those needing salvation.
The lost will not be instantly and automatically converted at the moment of the second coming, neither will the children
born in the Millennium. It will take time and effort to convert individuals and then to disciple nations.
18 I will gather all nations…and they shall come and see My glory 19...Among them who escape I will send to the nations…
who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. 20 Then they shall
bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations…says the LORD. (Isa. 66:18-20)
G. The resurrected saints with the kings of the earth will work together to re-establish businesses to generate
financial resources (Isa. 60:1-14). Israel will be prosperous in the Millennium (Isa. 4:1; 35:1-2; 30:23-25; 62:8-9; 60:1-14;
65:21-23).
H. The saints will oversee the work necessary to restore God’s order to the agriculture, atmosphere, and animal life
(Rev. 20:1-6; Isa. 2:1-4; 9:6-9; 11:1-16; 51:1-8; 60-62; 65:17-25; Ps. 2:6-12; 110:1-7; Deut. 8; 28; Mt. 5:5; 6:10; 17:11;
19:28; 28:19; Acts 1:6; 3:21).
I. The saints will oversee the work required to restore justice over all spheres of life (Isa. 9:7; 11:3-5; 10:22; 28:17;
32:16; 42:1-4). They will oversee the establishing of judges and governors (Jer. 30:21; Isa. 24:23, 32:1; Ezek. 45:8-9;
Mt. 19:28; Lk 22:30; Lk. 19:12-28). They will oversee the establishment of a world government under Jesus (Zech. 14:9;
Ezek. 37:13-28, Rev. 19:16).
1 A King (Jesus) will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice. (Isa. 32:1)
8 My princes (in the Millennium) shall no more oppress My people… (Ezek. 45:8)
J. In the millennial Kingdom, sin will occur by those with non-resurrected bodies and thus sin will be punished. Sin and
even false prophets will continue in the Millennium. They will be punished (Ps. 2:9, 72:9-11; Isa. 11:4; 66:20, 24;
Zech. 13:2-4; 14:16-19).
3 It shall come to pass that if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother… will say to him, 'You shall not live,
because you have spoken lies in the name of the LORD.' (Zech. 13:3)