December 22, 2014 - A. V. Rauf
The Millennial Reign of Christ
The teaching of the Millennial reign of Christ is a teaching that has been seldom taught in the Body of Christ. I believe that now more than ever, the body of Christ needs to hear this message. I believe that the teaching on the 1,000 year reign of Christ and the coming kingdom is important for every Christian to know about.
This 1,000 year reign can be seen as a pre-cursor to the eternal reign of Jesus Christ. How many of you know that HE REIGNS FOREVER! There are yet many prophecies that Jesus Christ must fulfill regarding His rule and reign. If these prophecies were not to come to pass, then you might as well throw the entire Bible away!
The term Millennium is taken from two Latin words, “mille,” which means thousand, and “annum,” which means years. When these two words are combined, the word simply means one thousand years.
This will be a period of time in which Jesus Christ will reign on the earth for 1,000 years in fulfillment of many prophecies. During this reign, satan will be bound and sealed in the bottomless pit, so he will have no influence in the earth to deceive mankind.
At this time, Jesus Christ will rule the entire world, and he will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He will sit on the throne of King David, ruling over Israel.
Jesus first came to his people riding on a donkey. (See Zechariah 9:9 & Luke 19:29-44) Most kings in history, when they make an entry are usually riding on stallions or strong and swift horses. Yet the messiah came on a donkey and although the Jews hailed Him as King and threw palm branches at his feet, 3 days later they rejected him saying “Give us Barabbas!”
Although his first public introduction was on a donkey He returns riding on a horse according to Revelation 19:11.
Dwight Pentecost, in his book “Things to Come,” regarding the Millennium wrote:
“The Millennium will be the period of the full manifestation of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. There will be the manifestation of glory associated with the humanity of Christ. There will be the glory of a glorious dominion, in which Christ, by virtue of His obedience unto death, is given universal dominion to replace that dominion which Adam lost. There will be the glory of a glorious government, in which Christ, as David’s son, is given absolute power to govern. There will be the glory of a glorious inheritance, in which the land and the seed promised to Abraham are realized through Christ…”
John F. Walvoord, in his book, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” states:
“Advocates of this view hold that the Millennium is a period in which Christ will literally reign on earth as its supreme political leader (A TRUE THEOCRATIC GOVERNMENT!) and that the many promises of the Old Testament relating to a kingdom on earth in which Israel will be prominent and Gentiles will be blessed will have complete and literal fulfillment. Because the distinctive character of this Millennial reign of Christ is maintained in contrast to the present age, this view is sometimes designated as the Dispensational interpretation.”
As we are days removed from Christmas, many cards have the oft-quoted Scriptures Isaiah 9:6-7 picturing the birth of Jesus in a manger. Let’s again look at the Scriptures in eager anticipation for the day when it’s literal fulfillment will come to pass:
Isaiah 9:6-7—
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.