Millennial kingdom:
who will be its' occupants?

QUESTION:

Who will occupy the Millennial Kingdom? Will the people taken in rapture come back to take part in millennial kingdom?

Zavier

ANSWER:

Zavier:

Great question. In fact, I don’t know where to start or stop. To keep the answer short, I will give a general description of the Millennial Kingdom, unfold a general timeline of future events, and then explain who will populate the earth during the time you question. And, I must qualify: this is the Premillennial Dispensational view point. By your question, I assume that is what you are asking for. I will also give you a lot of verses to look up.

The Millennial Kingdom

First, let’s look at the nature of the Millennial Kingdom. This unique future time in history will be a literal rule of God on earth (Isaiah 11:9-14; 42:4; Jeremiah 23:3-6; Daniel 2:35-45; Zechariah 14:1-9). Jesus Christ will rule as King (Isaiah 11:3-5; Luke 1:32, 33). The nature of this rule will be that it is over the entire earth (Psalm 2:6-9; Daniel 2:35; 7:14). The rule will absolute in authority and power (Psalm 2:9; 72:9-11; Isaiah 11:4). It will be marked by righteousness, justice and peace (Isaiah 11:3-5; Psalm 2:10-12; 72:7; Isaiah 2:4). 

Israel will have a special prominent place in that world government (Isaiah 9:6, 7; 33:17, 22; 44:6; Jeremiah 23:5; Micah 2:13; 4:7; Daniel 4:3; 7:14, 22, 27; Romans 11:26, 27).

This Kingdom is characterized by a 1,000 time span in which Christ will rule as King from the world capital, Jerusalem (Revelation 19:16; Zechariah 14:9; Isaiah 2:3). The Abrahamic, Davidic and the New Covenant will be fulfilled during that time (Genesis 12:2, 3; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:6). Satan and his demons will be bound and placed in hell (Revelation 20:1-3). 

There will be utopia in nature. The curse will be removed from nature, violent destruction by storms, and extreme heat and cold will be gone. Much of world geography will be renovated. Tremendous crops will grow, violence will be removed in the animal world, and meat eaters will turn to grass. Children will play with lions and (formerly) poisonous snakes (Romans 8:21-23; Isaiah 49:10; Zechariah 14:4, 10; Revelation 16; Joel 2:22-26; Isaiah 32:13-15; 65:25; 11:6-8; Isaiah 2:1-4; 11:1-16).

There will be utopia in the physical realm. Sickness, disease, deformity will be gone, or at least greatly reduced, and people living long ages even up to the 1,000 years will be normal (Isaiah 33:24; 35:5, 6; 65:20, 23). Death evidently will be ended at the end of the Millennial Kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).

There will be utopia in the social and political realm. International hostilities will cease (Zephaniah 3:9, 10; Isaiah 19:18-25). Wars and violence will end (Isaiah 2:4). There will be a tremendous increase in knowledge, perfect justice, and perfect justice will prevail (Isaiah 23; 11:4, 9; 42:3, 4).

The timeline

It might be good to review the sequence of future events. Of course, we are talking about a future affair, and we don’t know when that event will happen (Acts 6, 7). Actually, we don’t even know the exact sequence on a time line. However, the Bible gives us a fairly good big picture. The next huge event is the second coming of Jesus Christ to earth. This momentous occasion will unfold in a series of events. Let’s start from where we are today.

Presently, we are in what is known as the Church Age. The Church started on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 1:8-11; 2:1-47. The next event on the horizon will be the Rapture. This refers to the bodily resurrection of Christians who have died during the Church Age. They, along with believers who are living on earth at that time, will be taken up into the air to be with Christ. This could happen at any time. 

Believers are given glorified bodies, and then taken to heaven. This occasion is known as Christ coming in the clouds “for” His saints. In heaven will be the judgment seat of Christ for believers and their works, and the marriage feast of the Lamb (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 19:1-10). Chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians gives great detail of the resurrection.

Meanwhile, trouble is breaking loose down on earth: the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:15-22). The Tribulation begins with a peace treaty with the Antichrist and Israel. Peace will prevail for three and a half years. The monstrous Antichrist will then break his treaty, persecute Israel and demand the worship of the world (Daniel 9:27; Revelation 13:1ff.). 

Some teach that the Rapture of the church will happen mid way through the Tribulation, while others hold the church will be raptured at the end of the Tribulation. 

During the Tribulation the gospel will be preached to the entire world (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 14:6). Great signs and wonders will occur (Matthew 24:5-12). Multitudes will reject the ruthless oppression of the powerful Antichrist and be saved (Revelation 7:9).

At the end of the Tribulation, the Old Testament saints and Tribulation martyrs are resurrected and rewarded (Daniel 12:1, 2, 13; Revelation 20:4; 11:18). This is when Christ will come in great power and glory “with” His saints and angels to judge the world (Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

During this last phase of the Tribulation, the judgment of the nations will occur, and both those Jews and Gentiles who are deemed saved will be the first humans to enter and populate the Millennial Kingdom (Matthew 25:31-46). 

The Millennium Kingdom will begin with Christ, the Messiah, who will rule personally on earth on the throne of David in the capital city of Jerusalem. Israel will experience those national blessings promised in the Old Testament, and have a central position in Christ’s rule of the world. Satan will be bound during this period. Those with resurrected, glorified bodies will rule with Christ on earth (Revelation 20:7-10). 

Following the Millennial Kingdom, Satan will be released with his hordes for a short while for a final revolt against God. He will be judged and cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10). Then, the final resurrection and judgment will occur (Revelation 20:10-15). The unsaved will be resurrected, given their final sentence, and cast into the lake of fire with Satan and his demons. The last event will the new heaven and earth with the heavenly Jerusalem. This is the eternal state as has been revealed to us (Revelation 21ff.).

Well, Zavier, this is a very short description of the Messianic Kingdom and a brief timeline of future event. Now, let me switch gears and try to answer your question and identify who will be there during the Millennial Kingdom. Actually, I have already acknowledged most.

Millennial citizens

There will Christ. He will rule the world from Jerusalem with a special place given to the nation of Israel who will have been purged and purified during the Tribulation. There will be those believers in their glorified bodies who will reign on earth with Christ. There will be those believers who are alive at the start of the Millennial Kingdom who will enter with their physical bodies (Jeremiah 30:20; 31:29; Ezekiel 47:22; Zechariah 10:8). They will still have their sin natures, and will continue to populate the world. Some will sin. Some will die. Some will live the 1,000 years.

Resurrected believers will have positions of responsibility in the Millennium as a reward (Matthew 19:28; Luke 19:12-27). Nobles and governors will reign under Christ, as He is the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings (Revelation 19:16). Lesser authorities will also help govern (Luke 19:12-28). Government, court systems, commerce, and religion will still be necessary (Revelation 20:4, 6).

Zavier, this is a very long answer to your very short question. But, there is more…much more that could be said. Consequently, I guess this is a short answer. I hope it gives you a greater taste for the area of biblical prophecy. Over 25% of the Bible deals with prophetic themes. It is a thrilling subject. Here I covered just a huge birds-eye-view of the nature of the Millennium, a general timeline of future events, and the actual citizens who will populate the earth during that time.

All the best, and God bless.

Dr. Willis Newman