“This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:5-6 NLT).
During His earthly ministry, Jesus’ disciples once approached Him with a request: “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). The following verses provide us with Jesus’ response to that question…
“So He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one” (Luke 11:2-4).
The global conditions that accompany the millennial reign of Christ will reflect an answer to that prayer. God’s will shall be done during that period and the national people groups that continue into that era will experience what it means to live in a world that functions under His benevolent oversight. In short, this will be the world as it should have been.
While it may seem difficult to contemplate today, let’s consider a world where truthfulness, righteousness, and godliness are the normal state of affairs. Imagine a realm where every form of entertainment honored God. Think of how it would be to live in a world where governments, businesses, and individuals truly worked for everyone’s mutual benefit.
How would it feel to live in an environment where no one had to lock their belongings? How would life be if our occupations were a pleasure, and our work efforts brought genuine satisfaction? Picture a social media environment where every interaction is truthful, supportive, and affirming, while newscasts had no robberies, wars, or natural disasters to report. These “what if” scenarios offer a glimpse into the characteristics that will define the millennial reign of Christ.
Unfortunately, we’ll soon discover that the devil’s corresponding prison sentence did little to rehabilitate him…
“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea” (Revelation 20:7-8).
We’ll consider the ramifications of those actions next.