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During the thousand-year reign of Christ, what will life be like for those who are alive?

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During the thousand-year reign of Christ, what will life be like for those who are alive?

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This thousand-year reign of Christ, also called the Millennium, offers people who have not known Christ or His true expectations an opportunity to respond to Him. It is important to note that this is not a second chance. It will be the first and only chance for these people. The Bible teaches that everyone will have an opportunity to come to God (2 Peter 3:9). 

For those called today, the firstfruits, the opportunity (judgment) is now (1 Peter 4:17). Others will have this opportunity during the Millennium.

As for those who are alive at the start of the Millennium, these people are ones who will have lived through the cataclysmic events of the return of Jesus Christ—called the "day of the Lord" in the Bible. Their physical lives will continue as the Kingdom of God is established here on earth (Revelation 5:10).

As to what the life span of human beings during the Millennium will be, the Bible doesn't explicitly say. It probably will be at least as long as people live today, and perhaps longer (see Zechariah 8:4). People will have children (verse 5). One important change in human life during this time, however, will be the interaction of the spirit world with human beings.

During the Millennium, Satan will be bound (Revelation 20:1-2) and the firstfruits, God's people who will have been changed into spirit at Christ's return (1 Corinthians 15:52), will be actively teaching people God's ways.

Commenting on this time, Isaiah 30:20-21 says: "And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left."

Satan's constant influence to cause people to sin, which is part of this present evil world, will be replaced by spirit beings who will help guide people into godly paths.

Because of this positive teaching and guidance by spirit beings and the fact that God's law will be going out to all the earth from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3), it seems that people living in the Millennium will know about this period of time and that this is their opportunity to respond to God.

Doctrinal Beliefs Kingdom of God

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Comments

  • maywakim@yahoo.com.au
    May Wakim

    I’d like to know why there will be no water (oceans etc) in the new world. Also, I’d like clarification on who will be living in the millenium. If us Christ followers die before then will we be resurrected to live with Christ as well or do we still Rest In Peace for a thousand years before the second resurrection ?
    I’d love straight forward answers to these questions

  • maywakim@yahoo.com.au
    May Wakim

    I’d like to know why there will be no water (oceans etc) in the new world. Also, I’d like clarification on who will be living in the millenium. If us Christ followers die before then will we be resurrected to live with Christ as well or do we still Rest In Peace for a thousand years before the second resurrection ?
    I’d love straight forward answers to these questions

  • Hosanna
    Enoch

    1. Waters like oceans will be there. Son of Man, Jesus, shall come back on this normal earth we live in to reign. He'll not eliminate any natural features created by God. In heaven where we will be after the thousand years is where Revelation 21:1 says "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more." NOW NOTICE that the verse counts from "heaven", "earth", then later says " and the sea". For example if we say Ken destroyed his house, and the parking was no more, for he had bought a new house. It means the new house has it's own parking. Therefore in "and the sea was no more" it means as the first heaven and earth had passed away, so the first oceans and seas too. We are not told specifically that new earth wont have water bodies.

    2. Who'll be living in the millennium? The few who'll have survived the 7-year tribulation, and those Christians who'll have been ruptured before the tribulations and will have come back (Revelation 19:11-14) with Jesus. Even if we die now, at the twinkle of an eye we'll resurrect and join the Jesus in the air( 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

  • MosesAngell
    Moses Angell

    The term "sea"('s) refers to the people. people have been refferenced as sea's in other scriptures of revelation and other books too. Just observe the following :
    At Revelation 17:1, 15 the “waters” on which Babylon the Great “sits” are said to mean “peoples and crowds and nations and tongues.” Isaiah further prophesied to God’s “woman” Zion: “Because to you the wealthiness of the sea will direct itself; the very resources of the nations will come to you.” (Isa 59:20; 60:1, 5) This seems to mean the turning of many persons from among the multitudes of earth toward God’s symbolic “woman.”

    Daniel described four “beasts” that came up “out of the sea” and revealed these to be symbolic of political kings or kingdoms. (Da 7:2, 3, 17, 23) Similarly, John spoke of a “wild beast ascending out of the sea,” that is, out of that vast portion of mankind that is estranged from God; and his mention, in symbolic language, of diadems and a throne again links the idea of a political organization with this beast out of “the sea.” (Re 13:1, 2) He also saw in vision the time when there would be “a new heaven and a new earth” and when “the sea,” that is, the turbulent masses of people ...continued

  • MosesAngell
    Moses Angell

    The term "sea"('s) refers to the people. people have been refferenced as sea's in other scriptures of revelation and other books too. Just observe the following :
    At Revelation 17:1, 15 the “waters” on which Babylon the Great “sits” are said to mean “peoples and crowds and nations and tongues.” Isaiah further prophesied to God’s “woman” Zion: “Because to you the wealthiness of the sea will direct itself; the very resources of the nations will come to you.” (Isa 59:20; 60:1, 5) This seems to mean the turning of many persons from among the multitudes of earth toward God’s symbolic “woman.”

    Daniel described four “beasts” that came up “out of the sea” and revealed these to be symbolic of political kings or kingdoms. (Da 7:2, 3, 17, 23) Similarly, John spoke of a “wild beast ascending out of the sea,” that is, out of that vast portion of mankind that is estranged from God; and his mention, in symbolic language, of diadems and a throne again links the idea of a political organization with this beast out of “the sea.” (Re 13:1, 2) He also saw in vision the time when there would be “a new heaven and a new earth” and when “the sea,” that is, the turbulent masses of people ...continued

  • Avenue
    Steven Graf

    Beyond Today has done a wonderful service to allow us bible students a chance to share ideas. Much of what you read in the bible is symbolic of another verse written elsewhere or needs to be property interpreted by another verse to unlock its veiled meaning. This is especially commonplace when it comes to biblical numbers. I am convince that the 1000 year Millennium is such a verse. Let's first examine the verse when it says they shall reign as priests with God. Now one must understand that during what times of the year do the priest reign? They reign during the Sabbath days and during God's Feast days. That is when their duties require them to reign or lead. So now we must look to Leviticus 23 and see how many Feasts days and sabbaths you have in a given year. First you have 52 weekly Sabbaths, then 7 yearly holy days, plus 5 days between the first and last day of Unleavened bread and 6 between the first and last day of The Feast of Tabernacles. So lets count them shall we? 52+7+6+5 = 70 holy days per year. 70 times 1000 totals 70,000 days. Not one day is wasted as far as being a non holy day. So actually the Millennium is 70,000 days total, up to year 6000 of the Hebrew calendar.

  • Nordcha
    NORDIA DIXON

    Hi Steven,
    Thank you for your post.
    I came across this post during a search about the mellenium. I have great interest in your respond here and want to get more insight from you.

    I gather from your respond we are currently living in the mellenium. Is this correct?
    For clarification, another way of asking: Christ's mellenium is not from the Hebrew calendar mellenium but this one we are in now is the mellenium---ending at year of the Hebrew calender. Correct?

    Alot would make sense to me if the mellenium ends at year 6000 of the Hebrew calendar. But what I can't seem to calculate into this mellenium is the physical resurrection of the righteous dead.

    Please help point me to where I should look for the time and space for the physical raising of the righteous dead----to meet Christ. This raising of the righteous dead event would have taken place at the start of the Hebrew calendar mellenium compared to the bible.
    Thanks again.

  • bernardbourque
    Bernard Bourque

    You have missed it... the kingdom of heaven now is the kingdom of the earth...Millennial reign & Kingdom of Christ Revelation 11:15...all the occupants of Heaven are now on Earth, which is the kingdom of heaven, until the thousand years is over and the new heavens and earth is created 2 pet 3:10-13 ,Rev.21-22

  • United Church of God
    United Church of God
    Hi, You stated that Revelation 20 indicates that the righteous are in heaven; there is no mention that the righteous are in heaven, or rule from heaven. “Heaven” is used in Revelation 20 twice: “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand” (Revelation 20:1). “They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them” (Revelation 20:9). Neither verse references the saints ruling in heaven. One scripture defines where the righteous kings and priests will rule. Jesus Christ will return to the earth to set up the kingdom of God here, “And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10). Who the teachers are during the 1,000 years of the millennial reign can be found in Revelation 20:4, “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” This righteous and faithful group in the first resurrection will reign with Christ as the Kingdom of God is established, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6). The people that physically survive until the return of Jesus Christ will be the ones that the resurrected saints rule. We also read that the rest of the dead did not live again until after the 1,000 years (Revelation 20:5). This refers to all people who have ever lived and not understood the truth of God and Jesus Christ. Your last thought concerned the ability of God to confine Satan in an abyss. Never limit the power of God (Isaiah 55:8-9). God will bind Satan for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-2). That time of binding means that Satan and every demon will not have the ability to harm those on the earth with their deception; this is specifically part of God’s plan (Revelation 20:3).
  • nchronister
    nchronister
    So in light of this teaching, please explain the verse in Rev 20 that states that the Righteous are in Heaven and reign with Messiah for a 1000 years... 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power.... It goes on to say, that when Satan is loosed (after the 1000 yrs), he will deceive the nations to battle assembling a GREAT ARMY (the number of whom is as of the sand of the sea) to take the beloved city and he and they are destroyed by fire from heaven. So, who are those we are teaching during that 1000 years, and where does it say that we will do so on the earth. The Bible says that at Messiah's 2nd coming, he calls the dead out of the graves and translates the living righteous and destroys those who did not believe. Isaiah 11:4 , 2 Thess 1:7-10.. others.. How is Satan bound for the 1000 years? Exactly how can the god of this present evil world, be bound... is he (and his demons) cast into some spirit realm so that the people on the earth (and who are they since it tells us that the rest of the dead live not again till the 1000 years are expired) can learn about God? I just don't understand your teaching on this and what I read in the Word of God does not match up with what you say.

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