The Millennial Reign

TEXT: Revelation 20:1-10; Isaiah 35:1-10

OBJECTIVE

The students will be able to tell that the Millennial Reign will take place immediately after the Tribulation, how long it will last, and what life will be like for the saints during this time.

REFERENCE INFORMATION

Millennium is the Latin word for a “thousand years.” It is used in Revelation 20:1-15 where a certain period of a thousand years is mentioned six times. It is conjectured that this period may be the Sabbath following the six thousand years of man’s history.

During the Millennium, peace and prosperity will reign. Satan will be bound and can no longer deceive and torment mankind. All of God’s creation will be delivered from the bondage of corruption. Romans 8:22 says, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” The Millennium will be a time of rest for God’s children. It will be a period of blessedness for all the earth. The fact that the saints will reign with Christ during this time is predicted several times. See Matthew 19:28; 1 Corinthians 6:2; Revelation 3:21; 5:10.

Magog (region of Gog) is a country of undetermined location, generally described as in a northerly direction from Palestine. Gog, in the Bible dictionary, means “mountain,” and Magog appears as a country or people of which Gog was the prince. These are representative of the nations that are to war against the Kingdom of God under the leadership of Satan.

QUESTIONS

Have you ever considered what life would be like if . . .
— every mother really wanted and truly loved her children?
— every father loved his wife as himself and enjoyed his role as the moral leader and character example for his family?
— every child loved, revered, and obeyed his parents?
— every businessman was satisfied with a fair profit?
— you could walk the streets of any of our large cities at night in safety?
— you could always leave the keys in your car, and your house unlocked?
— every judge was incorruptible and supernaturally wise?
— death was a rarity instead of an overwhelming, daily occurrence?
— the leader of every country was a direct appointee of Jesus Christ?
Would you be surprised to learn that the Bible declares that there will soon be 1000 years during which the world will be in such a condition?

1. What three events must immediately precede Christ’s rule on earth? See Revelation 19:14,20-21; 20:1-3.
   
   Response: Christ’s return to earth with His saints and the armies of Heaven. The destruction of the wicked, the Beast and the false prophet at Armageddon. The confinement of Satan to the bottomless pit for a thousand years. Use this question to briefly review last Sunday’s lesson and to establish that the Millennial Reign, when Satan is confined for a thousand years, occurs immediately following the Battle of Armageddon.
   
2. According to Philippians 3:20-21, the returning saints will have a glorious spiritual body like Christ’s after He had risen from the dead. What are some attributes of Christ’s glorified body? See John 20:19-29.
   
   Response: Discuss with your class what some attributes of His glorified body would be. He could go through walls, and yet His body could be felt. He had the power to vanish and appear at will. He was recognizable. See also Luke 24:41-43, which indicates that He could eat.
   
3. What city will be the capital of the whole earth during the Millennium (Micah 4:2)? What is the one requirement of all people living on the earth during this time? See Zechariah 14:16-19.
   
   Response: The capital city will be Jerusalem. The one requirement is that all the people living on the earth during this time are to visit the Temple in Jerusalem in order to worship the King. Ask what importance Christ as King seemed to place on worship. Zechariah 14:16-19 reveals that in this time if they do not go to Jerusalem, God will send a plague as punishment. Is worship any less important now?
   
4. How will the people who remain on earth be governed during the Millennium? See Revelation 11:15; 1 Corinthians 6:2.
   
   Response: Christ will be King and, together with Him, His saints will judge the earth. They will have been awarded cities to rule, based on faithful service while living here on earth. Use Luke 19:16-19 as a supporting Scripture.
   
5. During this time, what will happen to the deserts of the earth and what will happen to vegetation? See Isaiah 35:6-7; 41:18; 55:12-13.
   
   Response: Water will appear, and the deserts will blossom abundantly. Thorns and briars will be replaced by trees. Discuss how this shows that the curse on the ground, given in Genesis 3:17-18, has been lifted. The discussion should not only include the remarkable change that water makes when it appears on a desert, but it should also bring out the even more remarkable change that occurs when an individual comes into contact with the “Living Water.”
   
6. How will animal life be changed? See Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25; Ezekiel 34:25.
   
   Response: Help your students to see what a change will be made in animal nature when God makes a covenant with the beasts of the field! The lion will be as tame as a kitten and will eat straw like the cattle. A little child will be able to lead these formerly wild animals around. The poisonous venom of the serpent will be gone, so that even a baby will be safe anywhere. All animals will dwell together in peace. They will even feed together!
   
7. How will length of life and health for the people with natural bodies be affected? See Isaiah 65:20.
   
   Response: Apparently the life span will be greatly extended during the time Satan is bound. “For the child shall die an hundred years old” (Isaiah 65:20). From this verse we understand that at one hundred years of age one will still be considered young—a mere child. This passage of Scripture also shows the possibility of death during the Millennium to those who live through the Tribulation or are born during this period. However, long life will be the rule to those who serve the Lord. Their life shall be long like the life of a tree. Some trees live for more than a thousand years. It is quite likely that many people shall live through the entire period of the Millennium. Of course, we know that those who come back with Christ with glorified, immortal bodies shall live forever. The world will be free from disease except as a punishment for sin.
   
8. From any newspaper, clip a news item concerning something which could not happen during the Millennium. Bring the clipping to class.
   
   Response: Allow time for students to share what they have found, using their clippings to establish in terms of our daily lives how remarkably different the Millennial period will be.
   
9. What events bring the Millennial Reign to a close?
   
   Response: Satan is loosed, nations are deceived, and the devil is defeated by God at the Battle of Gog and Magog. The devil is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the Beast and false prophet are. Discuss with your students how the nations will be deceived by the devil and will take up arms against Christ, even after a thousand years of peace. The followers of Satan will be devoured by fire that will come down from God out of Heaven, soon to be resurrected to face the last judgment.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

Have the students make a list of things that won’t be on the earth during the Millennium. Example: war, famine, fear of animals, robbers.

Take pictures of lions, thistles, weeds, bugs, flowers, trees, and beautiful things. Or, instead of pictures, take some bugs in a jar, a stuffed lion or bear, toy snake, a branch from a rose bush, etc. Discuss how the world will be different during the Millennial Reign.

Divide class into two teams. Be prepared with paper and pencil for each student. In five minutes’ time, see which team can cover most completely the changes to be experienced on earth during the Millennium. (The earth itself: no desert, blights or diseased vegetation, insect pests. Its godly inhabitants: no disease, sickness, crippling, blindness. Government: no need for armies, navies, munitions factories or stockpiles; only righteous laws and judgment; only one world capital—Jerusalem. Animal and plant life: no wild or carnivorous animals; no thorns, thistles, weeds, or poisonous plants.)

Bring eye glasses, hearing aid, crutches, cane, etc. Ask students to consider how many people, perhaps even in their own families, need to use one or more of these aids. Then imagine the joy and gratitude of those who no longer need to depend on these helps.