Faithful Saints Ruling with Jesus in the Millennial Kingdom
I. THE FAITHFUL SAINTS WILL BE WITH JESUS AS HE RETURNS TO EARTH
A. My primary premise in this teaching is that only a small percent of the redeemed from history will rule with the Lord in
the Millennial Kingdom. Review: the Millennium speaks of a 1,000 year period in which Jesus rules all the nations on earth
(Revelation 20:4-6; 19:15-16). At this time the Kingdom of God will be manifest worldwide affecting every sphere of life
(political, social, agricultural, economic, spiritual, etc.) This period of blessing is initiated by Jesus' coming to establish a
1000-year period of righteousness, prosperity, and unprecedented blessing for the earth (Isaiah 2:1-4; 9:6-9; 11:1-16;
51:1-8; 60-62; 65:17-25; Psalm 2:6-12; 110:1-7; Matthew 5:5; 6:10; 17:11; 19:28; Acts 1:6; 3:21). At this time, all the kings
of the earth will be born again and will worship Jesus (Psalm 72:11; 102:15; 138:4; 148:11; Isaiah 60:10-11, 62:2;
Revelation 12:5; 15:4; 21:24).
B. Review: Jesus will wage open war against the Antichrist and the wicked kings of the earth at the end of the Great
Tribulation. In Rev. 19:11-16, John describes Jesus and the saints participating together in the decisive events that bring
history as we know it to a conclusion and establish God’s new order of life for the age-to-come. John highlighted Jesus
and the saints defeating the enemies of God in the Battle for Jerusalem to end the Armageddon campaign.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has
made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine
linen is the righteous acts of the saints…11 Behold, a white horse. And He (Jesus) who sat on him was called
Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war…14 The armies in heaven, clothed in fine
linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with
it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name
written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:7-16)
C. After this battle, Jesus will do many historically important things that include replacing all the governments of the earth
with righteous leaders (Matthew 25:31-32).
D. The new government will consist of two groups of people. First, those with resurrected bodies who are the faithful
from all redemptive history. These people will have the greatest measure of authority. Second, those with natural bodies
who will be the recently converted survivors of the Great Tribulation. These will function under the authority of those with
resurrected bodies.
E. Jesus will be the King over all the other kings in the Millennium (Revelation 19:16). In other words, Jesus will govern
a worldwide Kingdom from Jerusalem in partnership with two sets of kings: the Millennial kings with non-resurrected bodies,
and the resurrected kings (saints). Together they will establish a biblically based, social order that affects every sphere of life.
5 Jesus…the ruler over the kings of the earth (Millennial kings). To Him who loved us…6 and has made us
(resurrected saints) kings and priests to His God and Father. (Revelation 1:5-6)
F. The saints with resurrected bodies who are counted worthy (considered faithful) during their life on earth will be made
kings in the age-to-come (Revelation 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5; Matthew 19:28; 20:21-23; 25:23; Luke 19:17-19;
22:29-30; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; 2 Timothy 2:12; Romans 8:17).
26 He who overcomes…I will give power over nations, 27 he shall rule them… (Revelation 2:26-27)
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My Throne… (Revelation 3:21)
4 They (saints) shall see His (God’s) face… 5 They shall reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:4-5)
27 The kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the saints… (Daniel 7:27)
G. The two functions most emphasized for the saints are: priests and kings (Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:6).
5 To Him who loved us…6 and made us kings and priests to His God and Father. (Revelation 1:5-6)
10 Have made us kings and priests to our God…we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection…they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and
shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)
H. As priests, the saints will worship, intercede and communicate the knowledge of God to others i.e., non-resurrected
people on the Millennial earth and saints and angels in the New Jerusalem.
I. As kings, the saints will reign (rule) with judicial responsibility and authority. This role involves authority to evaluate the
past (judging) and to determine action plans for the future for the people and areas that they are over. The ruling saints
will appoint people into positions in the infrastructure that are within their sphere of Kingdom responsibility. This will include
training and managing the people who are appointed. The saints will judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:2).
2 Do you not know 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 Corinthians 6:2-3)
28 Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration (re-birth of the earth beginning in
Millennium), when the Son of Man sits on the Throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on
twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. " (Matthew 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. (Luke 22:29-30)
23 His Lord said, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make
you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' (Matthew 25:23)
17 He said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten
cities.' 18 And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.' 19 Likewise he said to him,
'You also be over five cities.' (Luke 19:17-19)
1 A King (Jesus) will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice. (Isaiah 32:1)
II. MANY ARE CALLED BUT ONLY A FEW ARE CHOSEN TO RULE WITH JESUS
A. The primary premise is that only a small percent of the redeemed from history will rule with the Lord in Millennial
Kingdom. Jesus reveals an important principle of how He evaluates and chooses people. This principle is applied in
different ways, including the process of our salvation as well as the way the saints are rewarded.
14 For many are called (invited), but few are chosen (commissioned to reign) (Matthew 22:14).
B. Many people are called or invited to inherit great things, from salvation to their reward after salvation. However,
only a few are chosen or esteemed by God as responsive enough to receive the blessing that they are being offered by
God. This applies to receiving salvation as well as to our rewards after salvation is received. In this teaching, we are
focusing on being chosen or esteemed by God as faithful or worthy to be commissioned to rule with Jesus when He returns.
C. Only a few will have a sufficient maturity in faithfulness to share in the Millennial government. Let the words “many”
and “few” resound in our being knowing how important they are. Our lives must be evaluated as having been proven in
meekness and faithfulness (follow through) in our quest to be obedient under the varied pressures of opportunity,
temptation and resistance.
D. All the saints through redemptive history are not considered faithful. Out of an estimated 2-3 billion saints through
history (this includes 1 billion in the coming revival), only a few or a small percent are counted as faithful.
E. The spiritual culture of the Western Church falsely assumes that the majority are faithful and thus encourages less
commitment. Zealous Christianity is seen as too extreme and unnecessary.
F. At the Battle for Jerusalem, Jesus will be known as Faithful and True because of His decisions during His life on earth.
The faithfulness of the saints with Him will be demonstrated in the garments that they wear. These garments will reflect the
decisions of the saints during their life.
11 I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in
righteousness He judges and makes war…14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,
followed Him on white horses. (Revelation 19:11-14)
8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts
of the saints. (Revelation 19:8)
G. Jesus will wage war against the Antichrist and his 10-nation confederation at the end of the Great Tribulation. Jesus,
the “Faithful One” will invite only those who were faithful on the earth to participate in government during the decisive events
that will end natural history. Jesus’ faithful disciples will participate both in the final great battle and also in the significant
historical events that will follow in establishing God’s new order on the Millennial earth.
14 These (10 kings) will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them…and those who are
with Him are called, chosen, and faithful. (Revelation 17:14)
H. Only overcomers who walked in faithfulness will rule in the Millennium. The only ones chosen or commissioned are the
faithful who are proven and consistent in meek obedience under the varied pressures of opportunity, temptation, and
resistance.
I. Enoch prophesied of ten thousands and not tens of millions.
14 Enoch…prophesied…saying, "Behold, the Lord comes (to establish His government on earth) with ten
thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict (a judicial or governmental act) all who
are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds…and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have
spoken against Him." (Jude 14-15)
J. When referring to the rich young ruler, Jesus revealed that many who are “first” in prominence, gifting and privilege
along with putting themselves first in their lives in this age will be “last” in the Millennium (Matthew 19:21-30). He revealed
that some of those who are last in prominence, skill and privilege and who put themselves last will be first in prominence in
the Millennium.
27 Peter said, "We have left all and followed You. What shall we have?" 28 Jesus said, "Assuredly I say to
you, that in the regeneration (Millennium), when the Son of Man sits on the Throne of His glory, you who
have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. 29 Everyone who has left
houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall
receive a hundredfold...30 But many (majority) who are first (prominence, gifting, etc.) will be last, and the
last first. (Matthew 19:27-30)
K. Being faithful with a few things leads to being rewarded with government over many things
14 For the kingdom…is like a Man traveling to a far country, who called his servants and delivered his goods to
them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one...19 After a long time the Lord came
and settled accounts with them. 20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents,
saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents…' 21 "His lord said, 'Well
done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
Enter into the joy of your Lord.' (Matthew 25:14-21)
L. We have each received talents or abilities from God. Those who value them invest time and energy to multiply them.
Our most valuable talents are the components of our inner man, including our mind and emotions. We must seek to
multiply righteousness, peace and joy in them. God also measures the quality (not the size) of our impact on others by
how much righteousness, peace and joy that we helped to multiply in their walk with God.
17 The kingdom of God is…righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)
M. Our rewards in eternity greatly differ from one another. There are stars that are over 100 times larger than our sun.
The largest star known is the Pistol Star, which has a mass about 100-150 times that of the Sun, and is about 10 million
times brighter.
41 There is one glory of the sun…and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in
glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:41-42)
N. Our war with lust is difficult as we discard its “proud and sinful baggage” that we may enter the narrow gate as the
only way to experience the Kingdom. Only a few persevere in their struggle against lust. We must not limit the narrow gate
and the difficult way to only refer to being born again. The gate to “life in the Spirit” leads to a difficult way or lifestyle as a
disciple of Jesus.
14 Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way…to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:14)
O. It is necessary to be found faithful in pursuing 100-fold obedience if we are to receive the maximum blessing of
what God has offered or invited each one of us from our obedience in this life. Faithfulness is determined in the simple
areas of our life including making a covenant with our eyes (Psalm 101:3; Job 31:1), bridling our speech (James 3:2;
Ephesians 4:29-5:4), managing our time (Ephesians 5:15-16) and money to increase the Kingdom (beyond personal
comfort and honor) (1 Timothy 6:8; Matthew 6:19-21) as we engage in communing prayer with the Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14).
III. LIVING FOR THE AGE-TO-COME
A. Premise: our calling in the age to come is far more important than our circumstances now. Our calling then is
determined by the growth of our heart now. Paul understood that the persecution that caused his outward man to perish
also gave occasion for his inward man to be renewed (grow in meekness). He saw the affliction of persecution and
obedience as that which worked for the benefit of his main calling (Millennium) which he considered an eternal weight of glory.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being
renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory (includes ruling in the Millennium), 18 while we do not look at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen….for the thing which are not seen are eternal.
(2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
B. God requires faithfulness for those chosen as stewards with great responsibility in the Kingdom.
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is
required in stewards that one be found faithful…9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last,
as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
10 We are fools for Christ's sake…we are weak…we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger
and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own
hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been
made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. (1 Corinthians 4:1-15)
C. The Lord counted Paul worthy or faithful. Do not let another voice settle this issue in your life.
12 I thank Christ Jesus…who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful… (1 Timothy 1:12)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel… (1 Thessalonians 2:4)
D. Paul was aware of the chance of being disqualified because of unfaithfulness in physical desires.
27 I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest...I... become disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:27)
E. Jesus spoke of being worthy or fit for service or government in God’s kingdom.
62 Jesus said, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for (ruling in government) the
kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)
62 No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom (NIV)
F. Paul prayed that the Thessalonians would receive strength to walk in a way that they would be counted faithful so that
they might fulfill all the good pleasure of God’s call on their lives. Our entrance into heaven is a free gift that was very costly to
Jesus. Our position of government is based on our response of faithfulness to Jesus which is costly to the believer.
10 When He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints... Therefore we pray always for you that God
would count you worthy (faithful) of this calling, and fulfill all (fullness of our calling in the Millennium) the
good pleasure of His goodness… (2 Thessalonians 1:10-11)
G. Being worthy is not related forgiveness, but to one’s standing in glory in the eternal Kingdom.
1 Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who
appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more
glory than Moses…5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those
things which would be spoken afterward, (Hebrews 3:1-5)
H. Only those who endure temptation by resisting it will be approved or counted worthy to receive the crown of authority
that is an expression of choosing righteousness in temptation.
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life
which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)
8 There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord…will give to me on that Day, and not to me
only but to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)
I. While in prison, Paul pressed in to finish faithfully that he might attain to all that he was called.
10 That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed
to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already
attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also
laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal
for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:10-14)
6 The time of my departure is at hand…8 There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but to all who have loved His appearing.
(2 Timothy 4:6-8)