LIFE ON EARTH DURING THE 1000-YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST

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The Bible gives us a remarkable glimpse of the future, particularly in the prophetic passages concerning the Millennial Reign of Christ. The 1000-year reign is a time of peace, justice, and restoration, and understanding it sheds light on God’s ultimate plan for humanity. Through the book of Revelation and other scriptural references, we can understand the order of events and what life on Earth will be like during this glorious time.

Before the Millennial Reign begins, several key events will take place:

The Battle of Armageddon: This 30-day conflict is where Christ returns to defeat the armies of the antichrist and establish His rule (Revelation 19:19-21). After this, there will be a 45-day period of cleansing and judgment of the nations.

The Earth’s Restoration: Following this battle, the Earth will undergo restoration to its pre-fall state. This is part of the regeneration process, reversing the curse that began in the Garden of Eden (Romans 8:19-21).

During the Millennial Reign, Earth will be restored to its original, pristine condition, similar to how it was in the Garden of Eden before Adam’s fall. Isaiah provides a vivid description of this new world:

Isaiah 11:6-9: Peace will reign, and even the animal kingdom will change, as carnivorous animals will become herbivores. Natural hostility between creatures will cease.

Isaiah 11:11: The Earth will still have seas, but by the time of the New Earth after the Millennium (Revelation 21:1), there will be no more sea.

Isaiah 65:17-25: A new heaven and a new Earth will eventually be created, marking the ultimate renewal of all things.

This restoration will be unparalleled:

Abundant Provision: The curse on the ground will be lifted, and the Earth will yield its produce in abundance (Isaiah 65:21-23).

Peace: There will be no more war, violence, or injustice (Isaiah 65:22-25).

Harmony: Humanity will live in harmony with nature, and all will know the Lord personally (Jeremiah 31:34, Habakkuk 2:14).

The Earth right now, is groaning under the weight of sin, will be fully restored as it awaits the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19-21). This time of renewal will be a taste of what God intended from the beginning.

After the Battle of Armageddon, three distinct groups of saved individuals will enter into the Millennial Kingdom:

1. The Bride of Christ: These are the raptured saints, those who are born again and possessed glorified bodies. They will reign with Christ and take part in judging both nations and angels (1 Corinthians 6:2-3, Revelation 3:21). The Bride is distinct from the foolish virgins, who miss out on their rewards but will still enter the Millennial Kingdom.

2. The Tribulation Saints: These are individuals who is purged through the tribulation period and were martyred for their belief. They are the foolish virgins of Matthew 25 who have not enough oil in them and missed the rapture. They will also be glorified and reign with Christ (Revelation 20:4).

3. The Sheep: These are natural people, the righteous survivors of the nations who did not take the mark of the beast. They are identified in the separation of the sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46). The sheep will repopulate the Earth during the Millennium.

At the start of the Millennial Reign, the Lord will separate the sheep (those with the seed of God) from the goats (the seed of the serpent). The goats, who have rejected Christ, will be cast into hell. This separation will set the stage for the new world order under Christ’s reign, where only the righteous will remain on Earth (Matthew 25:31-33).

The sheep will enter the Millennial Kingdom with natural bodies. Their experience will be radically different from life today:

They will not die young: Although death is not fully defeated until the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14), the lifespan of these individuals will be greatly extended. Isaiah 65:20 indicates that they will live for hundreds of years, similar to pre-flood lifespans, and those who die at 100 will be considered cursed.

They will not get sick: The curse of sickness and death will largely be removed for these natural-bodied humans (Isaiah 65:20-25). They will live in conditions similar to Adam and Eve, free from disease and suffering.

They will repopulate the Earth: As they reproduce, they will fill the Earth, but because their bodies are not glorified, their descendants will still have a fallen nature, capable of rebelling against God. This will result in the eventual rise of the goats once again toward the end of the Millennium (Revelation 20:8).

The Bride of Christ will reign with Christ during the Millennium. These saints, who have been glorified, will serve as judges over nations, helping to maintain righteousness and justice throughout the Earth. The Bride’s glorified body is imperishable, and they will partake in Christ’s rule, ensuring that the Earth remains a place of peace and holiness (Revelation 20:6).

The foolish virgins will also have glorified bodies and partake in the blessings of the Millennial Reign. However, they will not have the same responsibilities and rewards as the Bride, since they were not ready for the Rapture.

As the sheep repopulate the Earth, some of their offspring will be born with a rebellious, serpentine nature. These are referred to as goats, and though they will live under Christ’s rule, their hearts will remain unregenerate. By the end of the 1000 years, Satan will be released to deceive these goats, leading to one final rebellion known as the battle of Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:7-9). God will quickly defeat this rebellion, and the goats will be cast into the lake of fire.

The Millennial Reign of Christ is a time of great hope and restoration. It is the fulfillment of God’s promises to restore the Earth and bring peace and righteousness through His Son. The Bride will reign with Christ, the sheep will repopulate the Earth, and the knowledge of the Lord will cover the world like never before. As we await this future reign, we are reminded that our current life is a preparation for the glory to come.