Questions and Answers | The 1000 Year Reign
When Christ returns to reign for 1,000 years, where will the believers be who have been with Him in heaven?
When Christ returns to begin His 1,000-year reign on earth, Revelation 19:14 says that “the armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.” In verse 8, “fine linen” is defined as the righteous acts of the saints. Thus, we can understand that the armies following Christ on white horses, clothed in fine linen, are believers, those men and women who trusted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. These believers will return with Christ and reign with Him (Rev. 5:10). Also, we know that believers who were martyred during the great tribulation will be resurrected at the Lord’s return to set up His kingdom. They will reign with Christ for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:6). God’s people from every age of history will share in the eternal reign of the Lord Jesus. It is this glorious prospect that leads us the pray the last recorded prayer of the Scripture, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20).
BY Dr. Winfred O. Neely
Dr. Winfred Neely is Vice President and Dean of Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School. An ordained minister, Winfred has served churches across the city of Chicago, the near west suburbs, and Senegal, West Africa. He is the author of How to Overcome Worry (Moody Publishers) and a contributor to the Moody Bible Commentary and Moody Handbook of Preaching. Winfred and his wife Stephne have been married for forty years and have four adult children and nine grandchildren.