Christ Would Reign on This Earth

1 Corinthians 15:24-25 (NET) Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

I was discussing with a beloved friend not long ago when I realized he was not acquainted with the fact that the Lord Jesus would reign over this earth for a thousand years with His Saints before this entire earth and the heavens are destroyed and replaced with new heavens and a new earth. He believed that the earth and the heavens and all who dwell in the earth who are not believers would be destroyed with the second coming of the Lord.

I had to show him from scripture (starting with Revelation 20-21) that the Lord would indeed rule over this earth for a thousand years before the new heavens and earth would replace it. Today’s Bible verse talks about the reign of Christ before the new heavens and a new earth in which there is righteousness (2 Pet 3:13). Psalm 2 talks about this reign that the kings of this earth would not be able to resist, even though they would try.

According to Revelation 20-21, the destruction of the heavens and this earth described in 2 Peter 3:10 would happen after the physical millennial reign of Christ over this earth. Every believer (whether great or small in the kingdom) would be a part of this. But not every believer would be part of this first resurrection and reign of Christ over this earth, because those who would partake therein are the first fruits; they are not those who simply escaped hell, but those who are chosen to reign because of their faithfulness to the cause of Christ during their stay in this body of flesh (see Rev 17:14). They are those at the highest level in God’s kingdom. Height and greatness in the kingdom is attained by faithfulness and obedience (see Matt 25:21).

One thing quite sure in scripture is that those who would be martyred for Christ would reign with Him in His millennial reign on this earth (see Rev 20:4). Those who suffered for/with Him in this present world would reign with Him in this present world for a millennium (2 Tim 2:12).

Go into today thanking the Lord for the privilege to be a sharer in his sufferings and the incomparable glory that would follow. Ask the Lord to help you see life from the perspective of God’s kingdom. Amen.
—Abraham Damilola Arigi.

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