This will be a short study on the Messiah's millennial Kingdom. While most American churches teach that the millennium is future, historically believers in the Son of God have believed it to be during the new covenant church age.
Revelation 20:4
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jehoshua, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Messiah a thousand years"
What most don't realize is that the millennial reign of the Son of God is different than his eternal Kingdom. Most denominations teach that Jehoshua only reigns on the Davidic throne for a thousand years and that his Davidic Kingdom will be for that long. However, scripture says that Jehoshua reigns on the throne of David forever and of his Kingdom there will be no end (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Understanding the nature of the millennial reign of the Messiah is important in terms of understanding our daily function as believers and the overall nature of the church.
The word "thousand" comes from the greek word "chilioi" (5507) and means "plural of uncertain affinity, thousand, a thousand".
The above definition of the word "chilioi" denotes a plurality of thousand meaning that Revelation 20:4 could also be rendered "thousands" as in more than one thousand. This shows us that the millennial reign of Messiah is actually more than a thousand years and at least two thousand years in duration to the word "chilioi" being plural. This is important to know because it supports the position that the millennial reign of Messiah last the duration of the new covenant church age or at least last through most of it until the devil is loosed for a little season.
Let's see if the features of the millennial reign mentioned in verse 4 of Revelation 20 can apply to us in the new covenant church age. The saints are seen sitting on thrones and judging. Is this taking place now or is it only in the future? Let's let Paul the apostle answer this for us:
1 Corinthians 6:1-4
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church?
Even though we will judge the world at the last day we are also to judge now. Our judgement now is to judge the matters concerning the church (1 Corinthians 5). This judgement is not just for those in leadership positions but as Paul says those who are least in the church. Paul rebukes the church for taking matters between brethren to outsiders instead of judging the matters themselves.
Matthew 16:19
"I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven"
Although Jehoshua said this directly to Peter and the rest of the apostles it also applies to the saints in general:
Matthew 18:18-19
18 Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.
Jehoshua repeats what he told Peter about binding and loosing but now applies it to any two of us. The keys of the Kingdom is what Jehoshua calls the key of David:
Revelation 3:7
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth"
The key of David is the key that opens and shuts the Kingdom of David. To have the key of David is to have charge of the government of the Davidic Kingdom (Isaiah 22:22).
While Jehoshua is the ultimate holder of this key he also bestows it's privileges to his church.
Luke 22:29-30
29 and I appoint unto you a kingdom, even as my Father appointed unto me, 30 that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
While many American churches teach this is all future, Jehoshua clearly worded this as happening then and there. The overall testimony of the new testament abundantly proves that the Kingdom of Jehoshua was already a present reality in the first century. The eating and drinking at Jehoshua's table in his kingdom likely refers to the eucharist meal.
While the 12 tribes of Israel (the church) are judged at the coming of Jehoshua (for rewards), the testimony of scripture shows that the 12 apostles sat on Bishop seats (bishoprick) judging and ruling over the new covenant Israel (the church, Davidic kingdom) during the apostolic era. See Acts chapter 15 for an example of this. The 12 apostles were the first fruits of all the Kingdom responsibilities and blessings, however we are also recipients of these (John 17:20-21).
Another feature of the millennial reign of Messiah is that the saints reign with him. To prove that this is already happening we have to show from scripture that the saints are kings and queens already during the new covenant church age. We also have to show that Jehoshua is already King with a throne and a kingdom. Remember, the futurists all posit these features as part of a future millennium after Messiah returns. However, if we can show from scripture that these things were a present reality during the apostolic era then it will prove that the millennial reign of Messiah is indeed during the new covenant church age.
This is where the futurist doctrine falls apart as scripture is crystal clear that Jehoshua fulfilled the Davidic covenant at His ascension into heaven. Also, the saints were made kings and priests by Messiah's shed blood on the cross not a future millennium post second advent.
Acts 2:29-31, Acts 13:32-35, Romans 1:4 and Hebrews 1 are texts that prove abundantly that Jehoshua fulfilled the Davidic covenant and sat upon the throne of David upon his ascension into heaven. Paul speaks of the Kingdom of God's Son as a first century reality in Colossians 1:
12 giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; 13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
Paul is making a clear statement that the Kingdom of the Son of God was already in effect back in 60-62 AD, which is when this epistle was written. The inheritance of the saints is to be partakers of the Kingdom of God's only begotten Son. Paul says we have already been translated into this Kingdom. This is a past tense occurrence. This shows that Kingdom of Jehoshua had already been Inaugurated by the time Paul wrote this.
Revelation 1:9
"I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jehoshua Messiah, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jehoshua Messiah"
John the beloved apostle also spoke of the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah as a first century reality. He says that the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah is sealed by tribulation and patience, which John says he partakes in already with his brethren.
So far we have seen that we are called to judge matters concerning the church and that we have been given the keys to the Kingdom of David to do so. Also, we read that the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah was already a reality during the apostolic era. I also listed an abundance of scriptures showing that the Son of God fulfilled the Davidic covenant at his ascension into heaven thereby sitting on the throne of David.
Here are some passages that show that the saints are already reigning as kings and queens with Messiah.
Romans 5:17
"For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jehoshua Messiah"
The one that death reigned in was Adam. Adam was a son of God and was given a dominion mandate over the earth. We, by faith in the death and resurrection of Messiah, reign in this life. We reign through Jehoshua Messiah. Jehoshua is the new Adam and has been given dominion over Jehovah's creation (Colossians 1:15). His resurrection and ascension brought him to the throne of Jehovah God where he received a Kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14). This shows us that we reign with Messiah in this present age.
Let's go to two passages in Ephesians that affirm that we do reign now with Messiah:
Ephesians 1:3
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jehoshua Messiah, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Messiah"
The heavenly places refers to the holy of holies in the sanctuary in heaven. The holy of holies is where Jehovah God dwells. Jehoshua is on Jehovah's right hand on the throne of David (Psalm 110:1). What spiritual blessings does Jehoshua have in the holy of holies?
Zechariah 6:12-13
12 and speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Jehovah; 13 even he shall build the temple of Jehovah; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
Jehoshua is the Branch of David and Zechariah prophesied that he would be a priest upon his throne. We know that Jehoshua is the Davidic King and Melchizedek High Priest. Zechariah says that the counsel of peace would be between the dual offices of King and Priest of the future Davidic Messiah. These are the spiritual blessings that Jehoshua has in the holy of holies. Paul says that we have every spiritual blessing that the Messiah has in the heavenly sanctuary. Obviously, Paul is stating that we have the blessings of Kingship and Priesthood bestowed upon us from God the Father.
Ephesians 2:6 reemphasizes this concept:
"and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Messiah Jehoshua"
Paul says, that upon our conversion, we are raised up to sit with Messiah in the heavenly places (holy of holies). Jehoshua sits on the throne of David functioning both as King and High Priest. Paul says that we sit with him showing that we partake of the Davidic covenant and Melchizedek priesthood, which are the two offices that he administers from his throne.
Many churches posit us as not reigning as kings and priests until a future millennium and even then some say it's only for Jews of the flesh. However, scripture has a different testimony:
Revelation 1:5-6
5 and from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood; 6 and he made us [to be] a kingdom, [to be] priests unto his God and Father; to him [be] the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Jehoshua by way of shedding his blood made us kings and priests. John says this as a past tense occurrence and that Jehoshua shedding his blood was the event that made us kings and priests. The Revelation was given to John in the first century. The futurist doctrine that we are kings and priests until after Jehoshua comes back is patently false.
John reiterates this again in Revelation chapter 5:
9 And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood [men] of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, 10 and madest them [to be] unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth.
It is confirmed here in Revelation 5 that it was Jehoshua shedding his blood that made us, unto His God and Father, kings and priests. Again, this is something that is stated in the past tense. Nothing here about being made kings and priests in a future millennial period. Notice that in verse 10 John says that they (those purchased by Jehoshua's blood) reign (present tense) upon the earth. This undoubtedly proves that we, as the saints, reign now on the earth with the Messiah as clearly stated by John. This fits perfectly with Revelation 20:4 in that the saints reigned with Messiah a thousand (plural) years.
1 Peter 2:9
"But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God`s] own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light"
Peter identifies new covenant saints as a royal (king) priesthood i.e. kings and priests. These verses show that indeed we already reign with Messiah in this present age and this reign of the saints with Messiah has been going on for 2,000 years.
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