When will Christ set up His final kingdom?

The 1000 Years

Christ will set up His final kingdom upon the earth after the 1000 years period of Revelation 20. This period begins at the second coming of Christ, when Jesus takes the righteous from this earth to heaven to live and reign with Him a thousand years. The apostle John wrote,

“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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection” (Revelation 20:4,5).

The events at the beginning of the 1000 years:

1. A destroying earthquake and hailstorm (Revelation 16:18–21)
2. The second coming of Jesus (Matthew 24:30, 31)
3. The dead saints resurrected (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
4. The saint given immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51–55)
5. The saints given glorified bodies (1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:20, 21)
6. All the saints caught up into the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
7. The living wicked destroyed by the breath of the Lord’s mouth (Isaiah 11:4)
8. The unsaved dead remain in their graves until the end of the 1000 years (Revelation 20:5)
9. Christ takes the saints to heaven (John 13:33, 36; 14:2, 3)
10. Satan bound (Revelation 20:1–3)

Christ’s Final Kingdom

At the close of the 1,000 years, the holy city, New Jerusalem, will come down from heaven to this earth. “I … saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. … And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men’ ” (Revelation 21:2, 3).

The New Jerusalem will settle where the mount of Olives now stands. All of the righteous people of all ages (Zechariah 14:5), the angels of heaven (Matthew 25:31), God the Father (Revelation 21:2, 3),
and God the Son (Matthew 25:31) will return to the earth with the holy city for Jesus’ special third coming.

In a final attempt the wicked will surround the holy city to capture it but God’s fire will come down and devour them. “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them” (Revelation 20:9). This fire purifies the earth and burns up all traces of sin and sinners (2 Peter 3:10). Finally, the fire will go out (Isaiah 47:14), leaving only ashes (Malachi 4:3).

Then, God will create His kingdom in the new earth. “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13; Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1). And the Lord will give the new earth to the righteous, and “God … will dwell with them, … and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Revelation 21:3). Perfect and happy humans will finally live forever in His kingdom here on earth.

Here are the events at the close of the 1000 years:

1. Third coming of Jesus with His saints (Zechariah 14:5).
2. Holy city settles on the Mount of Olives, which becomes a great plain (Zechariah 14:4, 10).
3. The Father, His angels, and all of the righteous come with Jesus (Revelation 21:1–3; Matthew 25:31; Zechariah 14:5).
4. The wicked dead are raised; Satan is loosed (Revelation 20:5, 7).
5. Satan deceives the entire world (Revelation 20:8).
6. The wicked surround the holy city (Revelation 20:9).
7. The wicked are destroyed by fire (Revelation 20:9).
8. New heavens and earth created (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1).
9. God’s people enjoy eternity with God on the new earth (Revelation 21:2–4).

In His service,
BibleAsk Team