Understanding the Kingdom & the Resurrection
It is remarkable how intertwined Biblical truths are. To fully understand one opens the door to better understanding of another truth found in His word. This is true concerning the truth about the resurrection and the nature of the kingdom Jesus promised to establish. There is no way the idea of a future millennial reign of Jesus in Jerusalem where He will establish the kingdom can be possible when one looks at what the Bible says about the resurrection.
What will the resurrection be like?
The truth about the resurrection. Read the following words of Jesus and consider carefully what is taught. “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29). Look at what Jesus says. First, notice that He speaks of “all who are in the grave” (both those who have done good and who will receive life in the resurrection, and those who have done evil who will face a resurrection of condemnation). The subject under discussion is every dead person.
He then says that all of these will “hear His voice and come forth.” There is no way to misunderstand these words. Now, notice that all of this will happen in the same hour. There is no room in this verse for there to be a 1,000 years between the resurrection of the righteous and the resurrection of the unrighteous. It will happen for all of them at the same time. They will all hear, will all come forth, and will all be judged.
The truth about the reign of Jesus at the resurrection. Hear the words from God’s Holy Spirit. “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death” (1 Cor. 15:24-26). Consider the truths taught in these words. Jesus must reign until death, the last enemy, is destroyed. At that point, Jesus will end His reign and give the kingdom to God. The text says that this coming will mark “the end.” When death is destroyed Jesus will cease His reign.
The truth about the resurrection and the kingdom. Now combine these truths. Jesus affirmed that in the same hour everyone will be raised, both the good and the evil. The only conclusion is that at this point death will be destroyed. When the righteous are raised at His coming so will the unrighteous. At this time, Jesus will not begin His reign but will end His reign. These truths clearly show how mistaken men are who believe in the 1,000-year reign in Jerusalem. Read these words and thank God for the consistency of eternal truth!