Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Monday, August 03, 2009 12:38:05 PM
The doctrine of millennial reign is given for the comfort of the Church just as the doctrine of the binding of Satan. While the churches are under the protection of Christ here on earth, the departed saints are alive and reigning with Christ in heaven, waiting for the consummation and the redemption of their bodies at the end of the age.
The Saints Reign with Christ 1000 Years
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. [Revelation 20:4-6]
The perspective here is from heaven where the souls of the Christian martyrs and those who are faithful to the Lamb are gathered together after their physical death. These are the ones who live and reign with Christ for a 1000 years. The first resurrection applies to them alone. The unbelieving dead do not take part in the first resurrection because they do not live again until the millennium is finished.
Why are those who take part in the first resurrection called blessed and holy? Over these the second death has no power; there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus for He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of God.
What does it matter if the millennium is now or some time yet to come? Wrong views of the kingdom have consequences. Truth matters because all truth is given for our sanctification. Herein is the Gospel of the Kingdom…
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” [John 5:24-29].