Simply said, the Millennial Kingdom refers to the time when the Lord Jesus will reign over the earth for 1,000 years.  Let’s look at the scriptures that teach us about this time. 

Let’s begin by reading Revelation 19:11-16, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” 

Revelation 19 shows us the end of the seven-year Tribulation period.  We hear praise coming from heaven (verses 1-6), we see the marriage supper of the Lamb (verses 7-9), we witness the triumphant entry of the Lord Jesus upon the earth (verses 11-16), and we see the beast and the kings of the earth gather themselves together to war against the Lord in the battle of Armageddon where the Lord destroys these enemies.  Revelation 20:1-3 speaks of “that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan” being bound and cast into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years.

Revelation 20:4-6 tells us, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”  What a wondrous day!  What a wondrous sight!  The church age saints (the bride of Christ) and the martyrs who were killed during the Tribulation period will live and reign with the Lord Jesus during this one-thousand-year period. 

Let’s consider a few verses from the Old Testament to show the characteristics of this time as a fulfillment of the promises of the Lord to His earthly people, the Jews.

A TIME OF SERENITY – Micah 4:4, “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.”

A TIME OF PEACE – Isaiah 2:4, “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” 

A TIME OF RESTORATION OF THE PEOPLE AND THEIR LAND – Isaiah 35:5-7, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.”

There is no need to doubt that there will be a literal 1,000-year reign of the Lord Jesus on the earth.  So much more could be said about this time, but I think we have seen enough for us to realize the reality and the greatness of this time when our blessed savior shall reign upon the earth.  (CC)  (696.6)