1000 Year Rule of the Saints

In my book, The Second Coming of Christ & The Kingdom to Come, undisputed bible evidence was given to prove that Christ's second coming, to take the saints (144,000) to heaven, has already passed. This information is supported by Jesus' testimony in Matthew 24:34 (KJV) and also by what the apostles taught the people of their own generation concerning the end of the "old covenant world" and the return of Christ (1 Cor 10:11 KJV, 1 Cor 15:51-52, Hebrews 1:1-2, Hebrews 9:26, 1 John 2:18). The question at hand is: Where does the 1000 year reign of the saints fit in, in the whole equation?

Revelation 20:4 KJV And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

The answer can be found in the bible, when you fit all of the prophetic texts together correctly and keep them in their proper context. The first thing that must be understood is that not all believers are literal saints of God. In the apostle's days, a distinction was made in their writings between who were true saints and who were the faithful followers...

1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Further weight is added to the issue in the book of Revelation where the final number of the saints is given, along with symbolic characteristics and where the saints were derived from...

Revelation 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Revelation 14:3-5 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The book of Revelation also speaks of a time in the future when reward will be given to all the people throughout the generations, who belong to the family of God...

Revelation 11:18
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

When Jesus spoke about the redeeming of His saints from the earth, during His second coming (in Matthew Chapter 24...), He was referring to the GOD appointed saints (the 144000), not all believers all around the world. As mentioned in my book, it is written that the saints would receive the kingdom of heaven first, then later all believers will receive the kingdom when it is established down here on the earth.

At the beginning of Revelation 14 we see through a vision that was given to the apostle John, that the saints will be with Christ when He returns for the final time to set up the kingdom of heaven (New Jerusalem) down here on earth...

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
(see also Zecheriah 14:4-9 KJV)

The bible is also quite clear that it will be the saints that will judge the world, when Christ returns for the final judgment. So it is only reasonable to believe that the saints will be with Christ at His return...

1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

As shown before, it is written that the saints were to be taken during the apostles generation long and Revelation 20 points out that the saints were to rule with Christ for 1000 years. During that same 1000 year time period, Satan was bound for 1000 years, then later released for a short season to deceive the world...

Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Revelation 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

It is important to say that we cannot get caught up in man-made methods of time keeping (BC/AD, carbon dating ect...), to discern how much time has passed in bible prophecy and where we are in earth's history today. Man-made ideas and methods are prone to error, but any word that comes from God is error-free. One thing that is quite evident is that we are living in the time of Satan's final season of deception on the world.

If you allow yourself to believe Jesus' words concerning the generation that was to witness His second coming for the saints (Matthew 24:34), you will know that immediately following that generation the world fell into a period of what is called the dark ages. In this case, the historical account corresponds to what is written in the bible. After the saints were taken to heaven and Satan was bound by the Lord from having any influence on the earth, the world fell into a time period of an investigative judgment; so to say. During that time, the saints that were taken to heaven were able to see that sin was and still is very much entwined in human nature; even without Satan's influence. The final decision to destroyed everyone along with Satan, who did not and does not accept the cleansing power of Christ at the final judgment, was agreed on.

Over 1000 years have passed since the saints were taken to heaven and satan's banishment in the pit, so we are now living in the time period of Satan's final season of deception after his release. We don't know how long this season will last, but we do know that after this season of time is complete, Christ will set up the kingdom of heaven down here on the earth. Everything evil and all those who align themselves with Satan will be destroyed. After all is said and done, the earth will be made new and all of God's people will inherit the earth...

Psalms 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Zechariah 14:9 And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

While Jesus was still with His disciples, before His death on the cross, He made a statement to help us find greater understanding of the time and period that would follow that generation long ago. He told His disciples that the time was coming when no man could “work”...

John 9:4 I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

The “work” that Jesus was talking about was the literal working of miracles by the Holy Spirit. The “night” was referring to the age that followed that generation; which was called the dark ages. After Christ was taken up to heaven, and the apostles and believers received the Holy Spirit, they were still able to perform miracles for all people to see. But once the end of the “old covenant world” had come to pass, and the 144000 saints were taken up to heaven, this type of work was no longer able to be accomplished by men with or without the aid of the Holy Ghost.

Once again the book of Revelation confirms what was going on during this time period; silence in heaven. This time of silence began at the second coming and continues today...

Revelation 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

Yes, miracles happen today after prayer and intercession, but not in the same overt fashion that it did when Jesus and the apostles walked the earth. We have to be careful that we don't mistake the workings of miracles with the magical works of Satan. The final deceptive works of Satan is to set up counterfeits to everything that is pure and holy. In this final season of deception we have counterfeit doctrines in churches, with counterfeit versions of the bible, which lead to false versions of the gospel and false works; no matter how wonderful they may appear. This is no surprise because it has all been foretold of in the bible...

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Revelation 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

If we study the bible (KJV) for ourselves, nothing will take us by surprise. The Lord has not left us in the dark. Knowledge and understanding can be found in the bible if we seek it out and call upon the Holy Spirit. When Christ returns with the saints to judge the world, the saints will continue to rule with Him...

Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

During that time, the earth will be safe to dwell in. God's people will enjoy everything that the Lord will provide; just like it was in the garden of Eden. We will all walk in the presence of the Lord without the threat of evil.

Allow yourself to believe.