The Bible tells us of six things that will happen during the Millennial Reign of Christ.
- The Son will rule.
- Satan will be removed.
- The Saints will reign.
- Satan will return.
- Society will revolt.
- then Sinners and saints will be resurrected for the final judgment.
In this post we’ll cover the first three things the Bible tells us will take place during the Millennium.
1. The Son will rule. Revelation 19:11-14
In Rev 19 Jesus is descending from heaven with the armies of heaven to make war. We will be in the number following Jesus to earth at this time (1 Thess 3:13 says that when Jesus comes again he will do so with all his saints). We are following Jesus to earth to overthrow the current government so that Jesus can set up a new one. Isaiah 9:6 promises that one day the government be upon the shoulders of God’s promised Savior. This is fulfilled at the second coming after the battle of Armageddon. At this battle the armies of Jesus overthrow the armies of Satan. After Jesus triumphs over Satan, the Tribulation period ends and the Millennium begins. So during the Millennial Reign, the Son [Jesus] will rule as leader over the new government, that will be marked by righteousness.
But not only will the Son rule…
2. Satan will be removed. Revelation 20:1-3
Rev 20 tells us that after the armies of Jesus defeat the armies of Satan, Satan becomes a prisoner of war. During the Millennium Satan is locked in a place called “the Abyss.” The highest security prison we have is super maximum security, but God has one higher than that and it’s called the Abyss. In Luke 8 Jesus casts a bunch of demons out of the man know as Legion and in v.31 we read how “…they begged [Jesus] that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.” The abyss is the place where God detains Satan and his demons when needed. 2 Co 4:4 refers to Satan as the god of this age. But only this age! In the age to come Jesus will rule and Satan will be removed for the duration of the Millenium.
But not only will Satan be removed…
3. The Saints will reign. Revelation 20:4
The apostle John writes in Rev 20:4, “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them…And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Who are “they?” That’s us! The apostle Paul asks this question to the Christians at Corinth “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” (1 Corinthians 6:2). That’s a reference to the saints ruling with Jesus during his Millennial Reign.
When Jesus becomes the supreme ruler over the new government he sets up, we (believers) will be the police, the judges, the law makers and the supreme court. We will help Jesus enforce righteousness on the earth. This is because there will still be sinners, and therefore sin, on the earth during the Millennium. You see, Satan is not the source of sin. Our fallen nature is the source of sin. James 1:14 says “…each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” That is, by the desires of our sinful nature. Just because Satan is detained in the Abyss, doesn’t mean mankind’s sinful nature dissolves away with Satan. Sin will be restrained on the earth because righteousness will be enforced with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15) but it won’t be eradicated. So the saints will reign with Jesus and will help enforce righteousness.
In my next post we’ll cover the next three things the Bible tells us about the Millennium so be sure to check back tomorrow for part two!