Millennium: The Millennium is the conclusion to this age marking its culmination and the foretaste of eternity in the New Jerusalem to come (Rev. 21:1-2). Those thousand years will be the grand finale on this side of eternity when Christ will fulfill all of God’s promises to the patriarchs.[1] Jesus proves the Father to be the great Covenant Keeper who keeps His every word.[2] The ultimate expression of those promises will be seen in the new creation (Rev. 21:3-7). The Millennium is the appetizer before the main course, the first movement of a symphony, the penultimate prior to the ultimate. It is the forerunner who heralds the excellence of the world to come.

Deception and Reign: The Millennium commences with the deceiver being chained and locked up (Rev. 20:3). No longer will his lies sway the nations. But in the present age, Satan’s influence is as widespread as air in our atmosphere (Eph. 2:2).[3] There is protection only in the Savior who is Himself the truth (Jn. 14:6; Eph. 6:10) who alone can dispel every lie, who delivers from Satan’s schemes all who trust and follow Him. With this archenemy confined in the kingdom age, Jesus firmly establishes His throne (Rev. 20:4). There, our elder brother shares with us all His blessings, even His position of royalty! We who are co-heirs with Him (Rom. 8:17) shall be like Him—priests who reign (1 Pet. 2:9).[4] As He lives, so shall we (Jn. 14:19; Rom. 6:8); and as He reigns, so shall we “reign with Him” also (Rev. 20:6). Hallelujah, what a Savior!

[1] The great nation (Gen. 12:2), the restoration of Israel and land (Jere. 31:38; Ezek. 36:24, 28; 37:21-22, 25; Amos 9:15; Zech. 14:10-11), the Messiah’s reign of peace and justice (Is. 2:4; 9:6-7; Jere. 23:5; Ezek. 37:24; Mic. 4:3), Israel’s prosperity (Ezek. 36:30; Amos 9:13-14), a renewed creation (Is. 11:6-9; 65:25), and a restored temple and sacrifice system (Ezek. 37:26-28; 43:4-5, 18-27; 46:3-7; Zech. 14:17-21).

[2] Cf. Deut. 7:9; Neh. 1:5; Ps. 105:8-10; 1 Kings 8:23; Luke 1:54-55, 68-73; Rom. 11:29; 2 Cor. 1:20; Heb. 10:23.

[3] Cf. John 8:44; 2 Cor. 4:3-4; Eph. 2:1-3; 2 Tim. 2:23-26; 1 John 5:18-20; Rev. 12:9.

[4] We “will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him” (Rev. 20:6).