The coming 1000-year reign of Jesus on the earth is just around the corner. Some bible scholars and certain theological systems spiritualize or render the 1000 years as figurative and not literal. The verses in Revelation describing this time period are quite direct and require a literal hermeneutic IMO. An objective hermeneutic requires a literal rendering when there is nothing in the text indicating that it should be read as metaphor, symbolic, figurative, or otherwise. (See the article “Hermeneutics” linked below on the eschatontrails.com main website). Here are the references from the book of Revelation:
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished…..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 worshipped 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. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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. Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison…..” (Revelation 20:1-6)
This millennium is the time when our king Jesus assumes His throne in Jerusalem, Israel, the capitol of the earth. This is the reign that He instructed His disciples to go out and preach to the masses. This is the blessed time period written about by the Old Testament prophets when Messiah comes to rule. This is the time when the Government of this entire world will be masterminded by Christ. We, as redeemed Christians, will be part of His government, ruling and reigning with Him in our new glorified immortal bodies. During this time, we will participate in a perfect government run from a perfect kingship.
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be on His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 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 will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
When I look around us at the sad state of affairs our human run governments of this world have gotten us into, I think you’ll agree with me in longing and praying for this “kingdom to come and be on the earth as it is in heaven”. Much prophecy has yet to be fulfilled before the kingdom arrives, but, rest assured, it will all happen in a compressed and rather short time period. I’m sure you know from other articles on this website that I believe we are already in the beginning of birth pangs Jesus taught about which will lead up to Daniel’s seventieth week; a period of seven years followed by Jesus’ return.
We have a glorious future indeed!
Maranatha, Jim