The Millennial and Eternal Kingdoms

The Bible indicates that there will be two kingdoms on earth in the future, one following the other. The first kingdom will last 1,000 years and is therefore referred to as the "Millennial Kingdom" (from mil one thousand, and annus, year). The second kingdom is referred to by the author as the "Everlasting Kingdom." In the Millennial Kingdom, Yehoshua Christ will rule as King after he fights and wins the battle of Armageddon at the close of the Tribulation (Rev. 19). The Everlasting Kingdom will begin after the close of the Millennial Kingdom when the Devil and his demons are destroyed and the Final Judgment has taken place (Rev. 21). The sequential order of these two kingdoms is apparent through a reading of Revelation 19-22. Following is a brief summary of the events recorded in these chapters.

At the end of the seven-year Tribulation· period, Yehoshua Christ, followed by his armies, rides a white horse down out of heaven to fight the battle of Armageddon. He wins the battle and conquers the earth (Rev. 19). After the battle, the Devil is "chained" and the "First Resurrection" occurs (Rev. 20). The First Resurrection includes the following people: a) believers, saved individuals, who lived in Old Testament times and died before the Day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2; and b) believers, saved individuals, who lived and died during the seven-year period of the Tribulation. The people in both these categories are brought back to life and reign with Christ for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:4-7) together with the previously caught up Christians. After the 1,000-year reign of Christ, the Devil is loosed from his "chains" and gathers another army to fight against Yahweh's people. This time, instead of Christ fighting and winning the battle, the Devil's army is destroyed by fire from heaven (Rev. 20:7-10). Following the victory, the Second Resurrection and the Final Judgment take place. After the Final Judgment, Yahweh sets up the Kingdom that will last forever, the Everlasting Kingdom.

Throughout the Bible there are prophecies concerning both kingdoms, but Yahweh does not label the prophecies as "Millennial Kingdom" or "Everlasting Kingdom." The only way to determine which kingdom is the subject of the prophecy is by studying the prophecy in detail, keeping in mind that the Bible cannot contradict itself. For example, some prophecies concerning a future kingdom refer to a temple (Ezek. 40-48), while other prophecies concerning a future kingdom indicate that there will not be a temple (Rev. 21:22). In regard to the Temple, it is relatively easy because Revelation 21, which indicates there will not be a temple, is describing a kingdom that exists after the 1,000-year reign of Christ. The only kingdom after the 1,000-year reign of Christ is the Everlasting Kingdom. So, the prophecy in Revelation 21 applies to the Everlasting Kingdom. Ezekiel's prophecy, which describes the Temple in great detail, applies to the Millennial Kingdom.

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