The 1000 Years
The 1000 Year Reign
With all the excitement of the coming of the new
millennium and all the religious implications placed
upon it by many, it becomes important that Christians
understand exactly what the one thousand year reign of
Christ really is. There are many various beliefs
concerning the 1000 year period of time and the second
coming of Christ Most of these beliefs are drawn from
teachings of Revelation chapter 20:6 which says, "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." Many
interpret the
visions of this chapter as literal and believe there
will be a literal reign of Christ in the city of
Jerusalem following a 7 year period of great
tribulation. There are so many different variations of
these teachings that is would be almost impossible to
accurately define the Premillennial theories. I invite
you to examine the Scriptures with me and determine
exactly what is meant by the 1000 year reign of Christ.
The Pattern
As we have done in each of the previous lessons, it is extremely important that we interpret this passage according to the pattern established by God. As you study through this lesson, I hope that you will refer back to the drawing at the top of this page.
The First Resurrection
Since Rev. 20:6 says that we will reign with Christ
after the first resurrection, then we must first
determine the meaning of the "first resurrection."
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was the first person
raised from the dead never to die again. Speaking of
Jesus, Col 1:18 says, "And he is the head of the body,
the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from
the dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence." Also Col 1:15 speaking of Christ says,
"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
of every creature:" God raised Jesus from the dead and
made him to be the head over all things. Eph 1:22
states, "And hath put all things under his feet, and
gave him to be the head over all things to the church."
So, from this we understand that the "first
resurrection" was the resurrection of our Lord.
Having a part in the First Resurrection
In Rev. 20:6 we find this statement: "Blessed and holy
is he that hath part in the first resurrection" The
question which must be answered is: How do we have a
part in the first resurrection? Rom 8:29 says, "For
whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be
the firstborn among many brethren." Jesus was the
firstborn of many brethren. This statement tells us
that Jesus will have many brethren who will also be
resurrected. Now we must determine exactly when this
takes place. Eph 2:1 says, "And you hath he quickened,
who were dead in trespasses and sins." Also, Eph 2:5
states, "Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ." Thayer's
definition of "quickened" is "to make one alive
together." To make alive is to resurrect. When we are
resurrected from the grave of sin, we are made alive
in Christ. Our first resurrection is a spiritual
resurrection from the grave of sin. So, we have a part
in the first resurrection (Christ's) when we are
resurrected from sin. John 5:24 says, "Verily, verily,
I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth
on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall
not come into condemnation; but is passed from death
unto life." We pass from death to life (resurrected)
when we are obedient to the word of God. This is how
we have a part in the resurrection of our Lord.
Reign with Him 1000 Years
Now Rev. 20:6 says that those who have a part in the
first resurrection "shall reign with him a thousand
years." Since our first resurrection is a spiritual
resurrection by being obedient to God's word, then we
are now in the period of time known as 1000 years. The
1000 years is a symbolic period of time representing
the time between Christ's death on the cross and his
second coming. It is this present Christian
dispensation. When anyone is resurrected from the
grave of sin, they reign with Christ during the 1000
years.
Reign on the Earth
Our reign with Christ is on this earth, but it is not
for a literal 1000 years after Christ comes again.
Christians are spiritually reigning with Christ today.
Rev 5:10 says, "And hast made us unto our God kings
and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." This
is exactly what Rev. 20:6 says. "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."
Priests of God
Christians are priests of God today. We have moved
from the darkness of sin and into the glorious light
of Jesus Christ which is found inside the church.
Col 1:13 says, "Who hath delivered us from the power
of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom
of his dear Son." When we obey the will of God, we
become members of His kingdom. Rev 1:6 states, "and
He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God
and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion
forever and ever." (NAS) We are members of God's
kingdom today which is the church of Christ
1 Pet 2:5 says, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built
up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up
spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ." When we have a part in the resurrection of
Christ, we become priests of God and we reign with him
on this earth.
Following the Pattern
If you will look at the drawing at the top of this
page, you will see that interpretation of Rev. 20:6
follows precisely the pattern established by God. The
children of Israel were saved from the bondage of
slavery in Egypt by crossing the Red Sea. Our Red Sea
is the blood of Christ. That saves us from the bondage
of sin. When we are resurrected from the grave of sin,
we have taken part in the first resurrection. We have
crossed over from a life of sin to a spiritual kingdom
established by God where our sins are forgiven. The
children of Israel traveled in the wilderness 40 years
and God took care of all their needs. They were
nourished on manna. The figurative parallel of
Israel's 40 years in the wilderness is the symbolic
1000 year period of time in which Christians reign
with Christ.
Every Christian Follows the Pattern
Every child of God also follows this pattern
established by God. How do we follow this pattern?
Rom 6:3-5 says, "Know ye not, that so many of us as
were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into
his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism
into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the
dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life. For if we have been
planted together in the likeness of his death, we
shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."
Baptism is the act of obedience to God which moves us
from a life of sin into the kingdom of God where our
sins are forgiven. We follow the pattern. The children
of Israel went down into the Red Sea and moved from a
life of physical slavery to a life of freedom. Christ
died, was buried and rose again to deliver those who
obey him from the bondage of sin. We follow that same
pattern as we go down into the waters of baptism. This
is a likeness of the death of Christ. We are raised
out of that water which is a likeness of His
resurrection. By doing this we have obeyed the
command of God and are cleansed from our sins. Please
study the following drawing.
This drawing illustrates what every person must do who
desires to be obedient to God. When we are raised
from the waters of baptism, we reign with Christ
during the figurative 1000 years.
Second Death hath no Power
Rev. 20:6 also says, "on such the second death hath
no power." The second death is defined in
Rev 21:8 as "the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone." The second death is hell. Those who are
obedient to God and follow the pattern established by
Him will not be hurt by the second death which is
hell. They will follow the pattern into their heavenly
promised land where they will dwell with God
eternally. God's plan to redeem man is quite simple
and easy to follow. Let us all make sure that we have
followed the pattern established by God in order to
avoid eternal destruction in hell. If you have any
questions concerning this pattern, please feel free
to email me or contact the nearest Church of Christ.
Email: H&H Publishing
