The Reign At His Coming Series

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

Reign (1000 years) at His Coming

Remarks.

1. In our lesson series today we are going to be discussing a theme: “the reign (1000 years) at his coming.” We have addressed the first two theories in pre-millennialism already in this lesson series: “the rapture and 7 years of tribulation,” of Christ at His coming.

2. We will now investigate the question, “will there be a 1000 year reign at His coming?” In Paul’s first Letter to the Corinthians, he renounces the theory of a 1000 year reign, when the Lord returns. He wrote: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. ... But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterwards they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he (Christ) must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death,” 1 Corinthians 15:20-26.

3. This Letter will settle the question of a 1000 year reign of Christ, upon the earth. Much of this theory is forged from the many “symbols and keys” mentioned in the Book of Revelation and prophetic utterances. We will discuss a few of them in this lesson. With this introduction, let’s consider our last lesson in this series.

BODY OF LESSON

REIGN AT HIS COMING

A. An overview of the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth. Reference: See God's Prophetic Word, by Foy Wallace, p. 347-349; cf. Lion and the Lamb on Planet Earth, by Rodney Miller.1 There are many views regarding the pre-millennialist’s theories.

1. After Satan’s defeat in the battle of Armageddon: “Jesus will then establish his earthly, civil kingdom (like that of David), on earth. He will reign as King in Palestine (Jerusalem) for 1000 years. At the end of His 1000 years reign, the wicked dead will be raised, then all men will be judged and receive their eternal rewards.”1 This is the third part of the theory of pre-millennialism.

2. Text of discussion. Paul wrote: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. ... But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterwards they that are Christ’s at His coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he (Christ) must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death,” 1 Corinthians 15:20-26; Hebrews 2:14-15.

B. Christ is risen. Paul affirms: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order; Christ the first fruits afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming,” 1 Corinthians 15:20-23. In these verses Paul establishes several things. Notice:

1. Christ is risen from the dead. Paul makes an empathic statement: “Christ is risen from the dead.” He states this from three sources. They are the:

a. Prophecy of scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

b. Proven sighting (eyewitnesses), 1 Corinthians 15:5-10.

c. Preaching sanctioned (by God), 1 Corinthians 15:11-19.

2. Christ is the first fruits of them that slept. The ideal of “first fruits” goes back to the Old Testament “feast of weeks” or “Pentecost,” Leviticus 23:10-11; Romans 11:16. Paul’s mentioning of Christ being the “first fruits” is testimony there is more to come. In this case, Christ the first resurrected; at His come “others will be resurrected.”

3. In Adam all die, in Christ all shall be made alive: “And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit,” 1 Corinthians 15:45; Genesis 2:7; John 6:39-40; John 6:54.

4. Every man in his own order: “Every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterwards they that are Christ’s at his coming,” 1 Corinthians 15:23.

a. Christ the first fruits: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept,” 1 Corinthians 15:20.

1) Christ's resurrection is a pledge and earnest of our resurrection, if we remain faithful to our calling and election to Christ.

2) We are a part of the consecrated lump, and shall be made partaker of the blessings of the first fruits (the resurrection of Christ).