This word signifies a thousand years, and usually refers to that period spoken of in Revelation 20. The first resurrection will have taken place before these years commence, the saints who have part in this resurrection will be priests of God and of Christ, and reign with Christ the thousand years. During that period Satan will be confined in the abyss, or bottomless pit (Rev. 20:1-6). These two facts prove that the millennium will not be brought about by any present or similar agency in connection with the gospel. Satan must be confined, and the first resurrection must have taken place. See RESURRECTION. Other important events will also have occurred previously, namely, the judgments that must fall upon Judah and Israel before they can under God occupy the first place of earthly blessing, in their own land, the nations being blessed through them (Jer. 30:4-9; Matt. 24:21-22). Blessing will follow the judgments. They will not speak then of having been brought out of Egypt, but from all countries whither God has driven them (Jer. 23:5-8). The reconciliation of Israel will be “life from the dead” (Rom. 11:15).
The man of sin also must first be manifested, and, with the resuscitated Roman empire, be crushed (2 Thess. 2:7-12; Rev. 13-14). From these, and from other particulars mentioned in scripture, it is clear that there will be a great and marvelous change before the millennium is established, and that change will not be limited to a spiritual change in man, as many suppose. The change will bring about a dispensation entirely different in character from that which now exists during the gathering out from the nations of a people for heavenly blessing. It will be characterized by a universal knowledge of Jehovah in relation to Israel (Jer. 31:34; Zech. 14:9). “All flesh shall know that I Jehovah am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob” (Isa. 49:26). The Lord Himself will reign over the earth in righteousness, and all the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness (Psa. 72:8,17; Isa. 11:5; Isa. 26:9).
The Spirit will be poured out on all flesh, and creation, now groaning and travailing in pain, will be delivered from the bondage of corruption (Rom. 8:19-22). “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree” (Isa. 55:13; compare Isa. 41:19). Things and natures, most opposed and diverse, will dwell together in peace. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’s den” (Isa. 11:6-8).
There will be universal peace and blessing all over the earth: instead of the invention of weapons of slaughter, the swords will be beaten into plowshares (Isa. 2:4).
Thus the kingdom spoken of in Daniel 2:44 will be established on earth by the God of heaven, and it will consume all other kingdoms. It will be the kingdom of God in power, and the Lord Jesus will be acknowledged King of kings and Lord of lords. He will first reign as son of David, the man of war, and then, when all enemies of His people have been subdued, as Solomon, the man of peace.
Death, though not destroyed, will be swallowed up in victory. If one should die at a hundred years of age he will be considered an “infant” (Isa. 65:20).
The throne of God and the Lamb will be in the new and heavenly Jerusalem, which descends from God out of heaven, and the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb will be the temple thereof. The glory of God lightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. The saved nations will walk in the light of it (Rev. 21:22-24).
As well as being the fulfillment of all God’s promises to Israel, the millennium will be a trial of man under entirely new circumstances. And no sooner will Satan, released from his prison, go forth to deceive the nations, than he will be readily listened to. They will be gathered to attack Jerusalem, but only to meet with their own destruction (Rev. 20:7-9).