Concise Bible Dictionary:
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).
From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:
This is a term that is found in the Latin Vulgate Version in Revelation 20:4, but it does not appear in the KJV. It refers to the 1000-year public reign of Christ which will begin at His Appearing. Israel’s prophets speak of this kingdom which their Messiah would set up (2 Sam. 7:12-16; Psa. 72; Dan. 2:44, etc.). They state that it would go on “forever,” which in the Old Testament means “for as long as time shall run,” or “until the end of time.” Revelation 20 states that the kingdom will last for 1000 years—hence comes the word “Millennium” (Rev. 20:4, 6).
Israel’s prophets describe this coming kingdom as having incredible utopian conditions. Some of the outstanding features are:
• Israel’s Messiah (the Lord Jesus Christ) will reign supreme over all of the world, not just over Israel (Psa. 47:7; Zech. 14:9). The Gentile nations will gladly be gathered together under Him (Psa. 18:43-44; Zech. 2:11).
• Jerusalem will be the capital city of the world and the religious center of the earth (Isa. 2:2; 62:6-7; Psa. 48; Ezek. 5:5; Jer. 3:17; Psa. 87:1-3).
• There will be one universal government over all the earth, wherein “righteousness” will reign (Psa. 72:1-7; Isa. 9:6-7; 11:4; 16:5; 32:1, 16-18; 61:11).
• The duration of this kingdom will be for as long as time will run (2 Sam. 7:12-16; Dan. 2:44; 7:14, 44; Psa. 145:13).
• Israel will be established as the "head" of all nations on earth according to God's original purpose for them; they will no longer be under Gentile dominion (Deut. 26:18-19; 28:1; Isa. 2:1-5; 60:14; Dan. 3:29-30; 7:27; Psa. 18:43; Psa. 47:3).
• There will be world peace—no more wars (Psa. 46:9; Psa. 72:7; Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3; Hos. 2:18; Isa. 60:18; Psa. 147:14).
• The Lord will make a "new covenant" with Israel on the principle of grace, wherein He will bless them spiritually and materially (Jer. 31:31-34).
• The Holy Spirit will be “poured out” on Israel and they will perform miracles to help and bless the world in the name of the Lord (Isa. 44:3; Ezek. 39:29; Joel 2:28-29).
• There will be one world-religion—the universal worship of the Lord Jesus Christ as Jehovah of Israel in the context of Judaism under the "new covenant" principles of grace. Thus, the Millennium will be an economy where the Law and the Sabbath will be observed, etc. (Isa. 66:23; Ezek. 44:24; 45:17). Christianity and its way of approach to God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24; Heb. 10:19-22) will not be the religious order of that day.
• Idolatry and every false religion will be abolished from the face of the earth. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc., will be gone forever (Isa. 1:28-31; 2:18; Ezek. 37:23; Hos. 14:8; Mic. 5:12-14; Zech. 13:2-6; 14:9).
• Creation itself will be released from its bondage and curse. The earth will sing (figuratively speaking) and enjoy its Jubilee (Isa. 35:1-2; Psa. 65:13; Zech. 14:11; Rev. 22:3). Compare Romans 8:19-22.
• The blind, deaf, dumb, and lame, etc., will all be healed (Isa. 35:5-6; Psa. 146:8). There will be no more sickness and disease on earth—no more flu, cancer, etc. Consequently, there will be no need of doctors, dentists, nurses, hospitals, etc. (Isa. 33:24; Psa. 103:3).
• Men and women will not die of natural causes, but will live as long as a tree—i. e. for the duration of the 1000 years! (Isa. 65:20, 22)
• The savage and killer instincts in the animals will be changed. “The wolf and the lamb” will live together. Children will play with lions and snakes and will not be hurt (Isa. 11:6-9; 35:9; 65:25; Ezek. 34:25).
• There will be a new river with healing waters flowing out from under the new temple that will be built. It will flow into the center of Jerusalem and part into two heads—one to the east, emptying into the Dead Sea, and one to the west, emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. This river will have healing properties that will enrich and fertilize the whole earth (Ezek. 47:1-9; Zech. 14:4, 8; Psa. 65:9-10; Joel 3:18).
• Agriculture will flourish in a way that has not been known since the fall of man (Psa. 65:9-13; Psa. 67:6; Psa. 144:13-14; Isa. 27:6; 35:1-2, 7; Joel 2:21-27; 3:18; Amos 9:13-15; Mic. 4:14; Zech. 3:10). The desert will blossom like a rose (Isa. 35:1-2, 7). Fruit trees will produce crops monthly! (Ezek. 47:12) The harvests will be so great that there will not be enough time to get the crops off the fields before it will be time to sow again (Amos 9:13).
• Resulting from such abundance, there will be no more poverty on earth (Psa. 132:15; Isa. 41:17; 65:21-23; Psa. 146:7).
• All the nations of the earth will be tributary to Israel (under taxation) and Israel will "suck" of the abundance of the Gentiles and will be the wealthiest nation on earth (Isa. 60:5-6, 9-11, 16-17; 61:4-5; Psa. 72:10; 10:14-15; Zech. 14:14). The Gentiles will have so much materially that they will be glad to give a portion of it to Israel. They will be happy to serve Israel—feeding their flocks, plowing their fields, and keeping their vineyards (Isa. 14:2; 61:5-6)—while Israel will attend upon the things of the Lord as His Priests and Ministers, teaching the nations how to live in the kingdom (Isa. 2:3; 61:6; Micah 4:2).
• The earth will shine with the Lord's glory and the Millennium will be one long nightless day (Ezek. 43:2; Num. 14:21; Hab. 2:14; Psa. 72:19). The light of His glory will be so bright that at night-time it will not be totally dark (Zech. 14:6-7; Isa. 4:5-6; 30:26; 60:19-20; Rev. 21:23-24).
• Satan and his angels will be bound in the abyss, and men on earth will no longer be harassed by the tempter to do evil (Rev. 20:1-3; Isa. 24:21-22).
• Any crime that will occur through the self-will of men will be dealt with by morning light of the following day. The offenders will be killed by a providential judgment of the Lord (Psa. 101:7-8; Zech. 5:1-4). Any who may be minded to sin will not dare to do so for fear of judgment. Thus, the world will be virtually free of crime, immorality, spiritual corruption, etc. As a result, there will be no need of security systems, safe deposit boxes, door locks, etc.