Does the Millennial reign of Christ happen on earth or in heaven?
Both the Old Covenant made with Israel at Sinai, and the New Covenant instigated by Jesus Christ, had as their basis the promise made to Abraham of an eternal inheritance on the earth in the land of Canaan. Abraham did not receive the promised inheritance in his lifetime, so the promise included resurrection from the dead to eternal life at some time in the future. Abraham was promised a ‘seed’ (singular) in whom all nations would be blessed.
- Genesis 13:17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.
- Acts 7:5 And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him.
- Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
We know that this seed was Jesus Christ.
- Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.
God also promised Abraham that he would make of him a great nation.
- Genesis 12:2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
This nation was Israel to whom God gave the land of Canaan, from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates.
Out of Israel God chose David to be their king. David was king; but the throne was God’s - the throne of the kingdom of God over Israel.
- 1 Chronicles 29:23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
God made a promise to David concerning his seed (singular).
- 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 "And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12 "He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.14 "And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever."’"
This ‘seed’ of both Abraham and David was Jesus Christ.
- Matthew 1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
Jesus will reign on the throne of David and restore the kingdom of Israel as the kingdom of God upon the earth. This kingdom will have no end.
- Luke 1:32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
Thus far there has been no mention of a kingdom in heaven. The kingdom is to be a kingdom upon the earth, which will be established forever.
It is described both as the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven but that doesn’t mean that it is a kingdom in heaven.
In addition to ruling over Israel, Jesus’ rule will extend over the whole of the earth.
- Isaiah 49:6 Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’"
- Psalm 2:1-12 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
- Isaiah 2:1-4 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’S house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.
This will be fulfilled in the 1000-year reign of Christ over the mortal population of the earth which begins with his return from heaven to raise and judge the dead.The faithful will be glorified with the divine nature and assist him in his reign.
- Revelation 20:6 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.
Those in Christ are counted as Abraham’s seed and heirs of the promise made to him of an eternal inheritance in the earth.
- Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
At the end of the millennial reign of Christ there will be a second resurrection and final judgment, following which all who live on will possess the divine nature. God will live with and in them forever.
- Revelation 21:3,4 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.".
This will be the fulfilment of God’s declared purpose with the earth:
- He created the earth to be inhabited. Isaiah 45:18
- He intends to fill the earth with his glory. Numbers 14:21
- God’s glory will be in the form of men and women raised to the divine nature and made equal to the angels, in whom, and with whom, God will live forever. 2 Peter 1:4; Luke 20:34-36
- No one goes to heaven but Jesus Christ, and his residence there is temporary. Acts 3:19,21
Paul describes what is to happen:
- 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
I hope you find this helpful.
God bless,
Glenn