The Literal Millennial Kingdom of YWHW

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In this article we will look at scripture to determine whether or not, Christ is to set up a literal kingdom on Earth following the Great Tribulation and the Wrath of God; or if as some believe, it is merely a figurative kingdom that already exists in the body of believers.

[Note: Although there are those that believe that the millennial reign of Christ will not begin until the church makes the world a better place (known as post-millenialism) we will not even credit this posit with a response; due to the lack of biblical evidence for such a doctrine.]

I feel that it would be prudent to lay out some focus points that we will try to answer in this paper.

Who can enter the kingdom
What will these citizens do in the kingdom
When will the kingdom be manifested
Where will the kingdom be located
Why the need for a literal kingdom

Who can enter the kingdom?

The Bible is very explicit about who will enter into the kingdom.

Mat 5:20 (KJV)-those whose righteousness is greater than the Pharisees.
Mat 7:21 (KJV)-those that do more than just call upon His name, those that do the will of Yahweh.
Mat 18:3 (KJV)-those that are converted and become like little children (born-again).
John 3:5 (KJV)-those that are born of water and of the spirit.
Acts 14:22 (KJV)-those that continue in the faith and go through much tribulation

It is interesting to note that the Greek word for enter is eiserchomai, which can also mean to arise!

1525. eiserchomai, ice-er'-khom-ahee; from G1519 and G2064; to enter (lit. or fig.):--X arise, come (in, into), enter in (-to), go in (through).Strong's

Using this definition, these verse point to a clearer understanding. Only those that meet these requirements will arise and enter into the kingdom of God. By arise here we must assume that the scriptures are referring to either the rapture or resurrection or both. Since those that arise in the rapture/

Resurrection will be given glorified bodies; we can now see the importance of doing the will of the Father.

These that arise with a glorified body will follow Christ wherever He goes and must be able to keep pace. These will be those that will rule and judge with Christ.

Rev 20:4-5 (KJV)

These are the same ones that Christ mentions in Rev. 3:21

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Here we see that the Tribulation Saints are given a role in ruling the Kingdom of YWHW. How does one rule over a figurative kingdom? And how does one rule and judge if all are rulers and judges? There must be a non-ruling class.

The other members of the kingdom will be those who remain that sent soldiers off to Har Meggido. They are the ones that scripture speaks of when it says that every knee shall bow...when Christ comes in victory over those forces. They will be mortal and remain in marriage and procreate, until the final judgement after the millennial reign. These are the ones that the Bible speaks of in Zec.14: 16-17. Verses 18-21 go on to explain that there will be curses and plagues on those that do not go up and worship the Lord during the Feast of Tabernacles.

There is an interesting aside that I think we should look at. There is a time between the Millennial Kingdom (henceforth MK) and the Great White Throne Judgement. This is the time that Anti-Christ is released from the Abyss.

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. (Rev 20:1-3 NIV)

It is necessary to note that no time frame is mentioned in referring to the release of Satan. The Greek word chronos (Strong’s G5550. chronos, khron'-os; of uncert. der.; a space of time (in gen., and thus prop. distinguished from G2540, which designates a fixed or special occasion; and from G165, which denotes a particular period) or interval; by extens. an individ. opportunity; by impl. delay:--+ years old, season, space, (X often-) time (-s), (a) while.) is used which doesn’t pertain to a specific time frame.

Where will the kingdom be located?

Where will this kingdom be located? We are told in

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

So the kingdom will be all of the new earth/new heaven, but the palace, the seat of power and the throne of Christ will be in the holy city, the New Jerusalem.