Jesus has planned an exciting kingdom life for us, full of purpose, during the imminent Sabbath Millennium. As mentioned before, we will finally be able to utilize our gifts and talents to the full, for the purpose that they were given. We will brim with joy as we operate in that sweet spot for which we were created.

Now that we have agreed, in 2.2, that the scriptures  clearly spell out that we will rule and reign with Christ during the Sabbath Millennium, the next question arises: who will we be reigning over?

As per 1 Cor. 15:51, there are no Christ-followers left on earth after His second coming. All believers have all met Christ in the air. Only the unbelieving survivors of the final conflict appear to be left. It seems that many of the unrepentant will still be alive after the ‘tribulation’, the time of trouble. Will it be them that proceed into the new era, the new world, the seventh millennium as mortal beings? Probably, and this could make sense too, because the Sabbath Millennium is not heaven yet, but very much part of earthly history. Will we then be ruling with Christ over the remnant of antichrist era survivors? Most likely!

Revelation 1:6 declares that we will be”..kings and priests unto God..”(KJV). Who else will best reign as kings and priests with Jesus over fallen mankind for the final 1000 years? Sin will still taint human relationships. Some hearts will still become proud and rebellious. Existence for those born after the second coming will be as experienced by fallen, ‘normal’, sinful people. Law and order will be necessary. Ministry to fallen people will be required. The offspring following these first millennial parents will still tend to choose to go their own way. The big difference for them, in the millennium, would be the presence of Jesus. They will know who the Global King is, and the supernatural nature and administration of Jesus’ government. They may even encounter us as His assistants, as eternal resurrected beings, selected for governing with Jesus.

Life for us in the Millennium as eternal resurrected beings will be amazing. Executors and administrators of his domain, the world. This perhaps all sounds a bit much, maybe even too fantastic and far-fetched for all of us who are living now?

But read Rev 2:26,27 carefully, for a further glimpse:

“And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron;…

If the continents stay pretty much as they are now, there will still be a very large world during the millennium to administer. Courts of law, farming, distribution, transport, construction activities, housing and family needs will all need attention. Representatives from all nations will have to travel to Jerusalem regularly to bring honor to Jesus.

What a future to look forward to! What a privilege to be able to administer Jesus’ kingdom with love, wisdom and care! Every believer, right now, should be able to imagine an idealized version of their country and community. Every person should be able imagine an ideal version of their current work situation, no matter how good or bad it is. Then make the mind shift, an imagined leap into the millennium, where this all comes true. All the dreams of good outcomes for all become reality, without tragedy or tears. How awesome. The main difference will be experienced in our hearts… we will then be the cleansed, holy and pure servants that God desired.

Jesus prophesies: “Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. 5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner shall be your plowmen and your vine dressers.”

Isiah 61 paints a clear picture of the work that will be done during the millennium. Firstly the restoration of men’s hearts, then rebuilding and restoration of the cities ruined during the tribulation. Thereafter the establishment of normal life, commerce and farming.

Now remember also, that to children born in the millennium, that such a life will be experienced as a normal state of affairs. Many of the post-tribulation generations will now turn their hearts to Jesus under our ministry and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Even if their parents have taken the mark of the beast in the previous era and will suffer the consequences as is written, their children will learn from the mistakes of the parents. Very similar to the Joshua generation which followed the disobedient generation which perished in the desert.  But realistically, knowing our own current sinful hearts, this will probably still entail much ‘hard work’. To turn the hearts of these children and their parents to Jesus will be our main task. It may not be much easier to do so than it is at present. However, with Jesus in charge, in visible control, and through working with Him, we will be sharing the joy of each repentant heart.

Let’s read a bit more about what the scriptures say about us ruling and reigning with Christ. Revelation 20, 1 Cor.15 and 1 Thess. 4 (below), when read together, makes it is clear that there are six groups of people playing a role during the millennium:

• The Old Testament believers.(before Christ)
• The ‘beheaded saints’, those executed during the tribulation, who get a special mention.
• The ‘dead in Christ’
• The Christ-following survivors of the tribulation, those still alive who are ‘raptured’ with the resurrected ‘dead in Christ’ at the second coming.
• The regathered Israel. (discussed below)
• Other possible tribulation survivors.

The first two groups have been discussed in 2.2, “Who has part in this millennial kingdom”.  Let’s look again at groups three and four.

1Thes 4:16 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord”. 1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

In the passages in 1Cor.15 & 1Thess.4, Paul is addressing the questions of the early Christians about Jesus’ second coming. Note those that are ‘dead in Christ’ and those ‘still alive’ are mentioned separately. The word ‘incorruptible’ is applied to the ‘dead in Christ’ only. This may be a hint that there is some distinction between the two groups of believers, although there is no indication elsewhere in scripture that we will receive different bodies going into the millennium. What is clear is that we shall be “caught up together with them” and that both groups will always be with the Lord.

By incorruptible we may assume that Paul refers to our resurrection bodies. This is certain for the ‘dead in Christ’. Thus the ‘dead in Christ’, the saints that have died before the second coming will be given supernatural resurrection bodies. They will most probably, like Jesus after his resurrection, be able to appear and disappear at will in various places. So will the saints, who have survived the tribulation, receive resurrection bodies. The Israelites who have been supernaturally protected in the wilderness , however, may be the ones passing into the millennium in their natural state. Should they not be saved Christians at that stage, they will not have been raptured at the sixth seal. (read 7.3)

Some might still say that we may remain in heaven with our changed resurrection bodies, to be spectators of the final millennium. That it may be, after we have met Christ in the air, as per 1Thes 4:16, that we continue to be with the Father, be ‘with Christ’ in spirit and that Christ, being God and thus all-knowing and omnipresent, Himself descends to earth to rule for 1000 years. That is hard to even contemplate. After desiring to be with Him, shall we not experience the blessing of being in His presence on earth for 1000 years? Hence an interpretation of Rev 20 that places a limitation on those present that rule and reign with Christ seems to leave many questions. It thus seems reasonable that both groups will accompany Jesus into the millennium.

The Regathered Israel:

This is what is promised to those passing into the millennium in their mortal state: (at this stage all saints coming out of the tribulation are already in their supernatural resurrected bodies.)

Isaiah 65:18-25 says:

• {65:18} But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. {65:19} And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. {65:20} There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. {65:21} And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. {65:22} They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. {65:23} They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. {65:24} And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. {65:25} The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

It seems that the surviving Jews, who are still dispersed (in their mortal state) throughout the world at that stage, will join their countrymen as directed and allowed by the Lord.

{11:11} And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. {11:12} And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Isaiah 11:11-12{27:12}

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. {27:13} And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem. Is 27:12-13

{11:9} I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. {11:10} They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. {11:11} They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD. Zech 11-9-11

{10:6} And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them. {10:7} And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea,their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. {10:8} I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. {10:9} And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again. {10:10} I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them. {10:11} And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. {10:12} And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD. Hosea 10:6-12{52:10}

The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. {52:11} Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. {52:12} For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward. Isaiah 52:10-12{66:6}

A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompense to his enemies. {66:7} Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. {66:8} Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. {66:9} Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. Isaiah 66:6-9{11:14}

But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. {11:15} And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod Isaiah 11:14-15

{35:7} And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. {35:8} And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. {35:9} No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: {35:10} And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.Isaiah 37:7-10

{49:8} Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; {49:9} That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. {49:10} They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. {49:11} And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. {49:12} Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. Isaiah 49:8-12

{60:9} Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. {60:10} And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee. {60:11} Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. {60:12} For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. Isaiah 60:9-12

{66:19} And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. {66:20} And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. {66:21} And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD. {66:22} For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

{43:3} For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. {43:4} Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. {43:5} Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; {43:6} I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; {43:7} Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Isaiah 43:3-7

{39:27} When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; {39:28} Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. {39:29} Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. Ezek 39:27-29

{2:12} I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men. {2:13} The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them. Micah 2:12-13

{3:19} Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. {3:20} At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD. Zeph 3:19-20

Also see Jer 3:18, 30:10, 50:4-8, Is 51:14;61:1, Ezek 37:21, Hos 8:10, Joel 3:2-8, Mic 4:10, Zech 9:11-12, 14:2, Zeph 3:10 Ps 68:6, 79:10-11, 102:20, 146:7

The final group: Who is it that we will reign over and what may that be like?

Let’s look in more detail at who we will be reigning over. There are no saints left among the tribulation survivors, ALL saints have met Christ in the air. Israel has been regathered. Will it thus be that the survivors of the tribulation, those who avoided to take the mark of the beast and survived, who are allowed to pass into the millennium?

Zechariah 14:16-19 provides a clear answer about the millennial mortals:

“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.”

Is this an unfulfilled prophecy? Yes, of course. When in history have nations gone up annually to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, at the feast of tabernacles? Never! Imagine this in the current state of Israel… it’s inconceivable, even in Israel only a minority seem to worship biblically.  So Zechariah is clearly referring to the future, a battle where “all the nations which came against Jerusalem” are defeated. Where else is this battle prophesied? Remember Armageddon? Rev 16:14-16

“…..which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.  And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon”

At Armageddon, where the armies of the nations gather against Jerusalem, they are not only defeated but annihilated.

But there are survivors elsewhere. Who will these be, who are left over from these defeated nations? Most likely those who were converted to become believers through the witness of the 144 000, and possibly even some unsaved tribulation survivors, those left at their homes, who have somehow avoided taking his mark and lived through the wholesale destruction of Rev 16! (Clearly those who have taken the mark thus have made the ‘choice of no return’ will not be allowed to pass into the millennium)

Another explanation may be derived from Romans 11. Paul explains how the veil is lifted from the Jewish remnant. Because Jews are dispersed throughout the world, the ‘nations’ coming to Jerusalem may be the believing Jews destined to repopulate the world.

Groups five and six : summary.

Now let us summarize with regard to the regathered Jews and the unbelieving end-time tribulation survivors. Sin is clearly present in the Millennium. Sin enters the millennium through the survivors. If this were not so, this would leave no one in the kingdom that could possibly sin or die, or have children, as prophesied. All of these people and their descendants are thus subject to both sin and death in the millennial kingdom, even though Satan will be in chains and unable to influence them. Their sinful state causes them to sin. But they can still call upon the Lord and be saved.

However, at the end of the Millennium, those who have not repented and aligned themselves with Christ, those that are rebellious will be allowed to be deceived by Satan. The final Armageddon will be short and swift, leading up to the judgement for the rebellious and the New Jerusalem for the saints.

Of course there still remain many questions. The above are some possible scenarios. There will be other possibilities. However, God has shown that He is good, His plans are good, and we may be content with that.