Our English word millennium comes from the Latin word mille, meaning "thousand." The words "thousand years" are used six times in Revelation 20 to define the duration of Christ’s kingdom on earth prior to the destruction of the old heavens and the old earth. Therefore, the term millennium kingdom refers to the thousand year reign of Christ that will commence at the end of the tribulation period, and will precede eternity.

I. CHRIST WILL ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH.

1. One of the most prominent features of the second coming of Christ mentioned in the prophetic Scriptures is the prediction that our Lord will return to judge the earth (Ps.2:9; Isa.9:6,7; Zech.14:9; Matt.19:28; 24:29 – 25:46; Luke 12:37,45-47; Acts 1:6,7; II Thess.1:7-9; 2:8; Rev.2:27; 19:11-21).
2. The second coming of Christ not only brings judgment upon the wicked, but it is an event which brings deliverance to the saved, particularly the remnant of believing Jews (Zech.14:1-4; Matt.24:22; Rom.11:26,27).
3. Both the Old and the New Testament teach that Christ will re-establish the Davidic kingdom (Amos 9:11; Luke 1:31-33).
4. Satan will be bound for the entire thousand years (Rev.20:1-3,7). Amillennialists teach that Satan was "bound at the cross" but this contradicts the Bible (cf. Acts 5:3; I Cor.7:5; II Cor.4:3,4; 11:14; 12:7; I Thess.2:18; II Thess.2:8,9; I Tim.1:20; I Peter 5:8; I John 3:8,10; Rev.12:9-17; 13:4).

II. MAJOR FEATURES OF THE KINGDOM.

1. The land of Israel will be restored. This will include:

• an abundance of rain (Isa.30:23)
• the desert will blossom as the rose (Isa.35)
• People will live much longer (Isa.65:20)
• peace and prosperity (Isa.65:21-25), even in the animal kingdom (Isa.65:25; 11:6-8)
• only the serpent will remain cursed (Isa.65:25; cf. Gen.3:14,15).

2. The people of Israel will be restored. This will include:

• the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord (Isa.11:9; Hab.2:14)
• people will no longer hate the Jews (Isa.65:18,19; Zech.8:23)
• prayers will be answered immediately (Isa.65:24)
• Jews will be "the Ministers of our God" (Isa.61:6)
• the Jews will declare God’s glory among the Gentiles (Isa.66:19,20)
• God will make a new covenant with Israel (Jer.31:31-37)
• the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh (Joel 2:28,29; Ezek.36:25-28).

3. The temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt (Ezek.40-46; cf. Isa.56:7; 66:20-23; Jer.33:18; Zech.14:16-21).
4. The Mount of Olives will be split in two (Zech.14:4). This will provide a route of escape for those caught up in the battle of Armageddon (Zech.14:5). It will also allow for "living waters" to flow out from Jerusalem, "half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea" (Zech.14:8; cf. Ezek.47:1-12; Rev.22:1,2). These living waters will bring life and fruitfulness to the land as well as to the Dead Sea ("former sea" – Zech.14:8; cf. Ezek.47:8-12).

III. THE NEW JERUSALEM.

1. The new Jerusalem is the eternal home of all resurrected and translated saints (Heb.11:10-16; 12:22-24; Rev.21:2,10-27).
2. The new Jerusalem is in existence during the millennium and will be located above the earth and not on it (Rev.3:12; 21:2,10).
3. The Bible teaches that there is some participation of the resurrected saints in the government of the millennium (Ezek.37:24; Matt.19:28; I Cor.6:2; II Tim.2:12; Rev.5:10; 20:6).
4. Objections to the co-mingling of resurrected with non-resurrected beings are unjustified (cf. Matt.27:52,53; 28:9; John 21:12-14).
5. The new Jerusalem will be breathtakingly beautiful (Rev.21:10-27), perhaps shaped like a cube. "The glory of light streaming through this crystal-clear prism, will break up into a poly-chromed rainbow of breath-taking beauty" (J. Vernon McGee, Reveling Through Revelation).