Why Create A Millennial Kingdom?
- Bob Russell
- Apr 25
- 4 min read
Updated: May 8
I have written several pieces on the Millennial Kingdom on Medium:
There is probably confusion about why an intermediate state exists between the tribulation/wrath of God and the final heaven, as described in Revelation chapters 21 and 22. The description of the millennial period is given in Revelation 20 and called the Thousand Year Reign.
Let’s face it, Israel has not had an easy time as a chosen people. They have faced many conflicts, oppositions, and rejections throughout the ages. Being a chosen people of God seems to have resulted in more of a “bull's eye” on their heads than any blessing.
However, the promises of God cannot go unfulfilled.[1] God has made strong and affirming promises to Israel that have not come to pass.[2]
For the serious bible student, the history of Israel in contrast to the promises doesn’t seem to match. This has caused some confusion among the Christian churches. Some believe the church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people — this is a BIG mistake!
To the non-believer, such inconsistencies between the Old and New Testaments and the Bible itself seem like a bad joke. However, there is a pivot point, a prediction as seen in the Old Testament book of Isaiah 43: 1–25, these verses support the New Testament in the Apostle Paul’s vision in Romans chapters 9–11 — Israel’s rejection and scattering is not final. Israel will be restored!
The Scattering of the Israelites
Today, many Jews are secular, having no real belief in the Biblical story. This is thought to be due to the many years of persecution they faced and the near annihilation of the Jewish people. Sadly, the Christian church played a role in their devastation on many occasions. It’s a wonder Jews will listen or even fellowship with Christians today.
But was some predictability of this happening in scripture? Yes — indeed this was foreseen.[3] Both the Old and New Testament forewarned the Jews of the consequences of rejection of God’s messenger.[4] Many of the references on God completing His plans for Israel were contingent on obedience and that was (and remains) the delay on the promises being fulfilled.
Of the twelve original tribes, only two retained an identity with God, Judah and Benjamin, and a much smaller number from the tribe of Levi — the priests. We Gentiles call this remnant “Jews.” However, the Jews are not the total people that make up the people of Israel.
The Old Testament describes a period when the nation of Israel became divided, ten tribes to the north called Israel, and the two tribes to the south called Judah. There is a considerable backstory on this that I will not cover in this writing.
There is one aspect of that history that is important.
The northern tribes and their kings were worried that their people might gravitate south because of the temple of God being in Jerusalem. This caused many of the northern tribe kings to invest in building substitute religions to distract their people away from Judah.
The worship of the gods Baal and Astaroth became the primary idols of the north, with temples and holy sites developed in their honor. Little doubt this did not please God, so He allowed Assyria to conquer and take the northern ten tribes into captivity. In effect, we lose the trail of those ten tribes into history — scattered among the nations. Their identities as children of Israel vanished.
In Ezekiel chapter 37, we see a valley of dry bones brought back to life. This vision is God restoring broken Israel. In verses 15–22 of the same chapter, we see Israel being reunited with Judah, gathered from the nations, and brought back to their land in Israel, never to be cast aside again. In verses 23–28, we see an early prediction of the Millennial kingdom to come. God establishes His King over them called the Branch, and David (Jesus), and under his rulership, the covenant God made with Abraham and the land promised to Jacob (Israel).
So, what was the purpose of this occurrence? This takes discernment, but the purpose of the exile of the ten tribes was to gather to God a people called by His name from among the Gentiles!
You might say God sent out the ten tribes to gather and build their numbers. In turn, the Gentiles bring back to God the scattered tribes to their land.[5] This combination will become the New Nation of Israel, under Jesus as King and Lord. Paul describes this in Romans, chapter 11, where God combines the wild branches of the Gentiles into the tree of Israel.
This implies that the “wild ones” within Israel were sent out to recruit the “wild ones” among the Gentiles, to combine and become one people under Christ. This was God’s plan all along.
"He (God) took him (Abram) outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars — if indeed you can count them.” Then He Said, “So shall your Offspring be.” — Genesis 15:5
“I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the gates of their enemies.” — Genesis 22:17
“Furthermore, through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed because you have obeyed my commands.” — Genesis 22:18
This is why in Christ there is no longer any Jew, Greek, or Gentile separation, because all who are called to Jesus become Israel!
So, back to the original question: Why a Millennial Kingdom? To fulfill God’s promises and raise the combined nation of Israel, the children of Abraham, to become chief among the nations and experience the glory God promised. This is necessary to occur BEFORE the revelation of the final form of the Kingdom of God!
Sources and references:
[1] Numbers 30:1–2; Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 89:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:24
[2] Deuteronomy 28:1; Isaiah 41:10; Jeremiah 29:11; Jeremiah 30:17, 33:6; Genesis 12: 1–3; Joshua 1:3; Psalm 121:4–5; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6–7; Ezekiel 37:11–12; Isaiah 11: 12; Romans 11:26
[3] Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 4: 23–27. 28: 25, 37, 64; Luke 21:20–24; John 2:19; Matthew 24; Mark 13:1–2; Daniel 9:24–26
[4] Malachi 4:5–6; Amos 5:1–3
[5] Isaiah 66:20; Luke 21:24; Romans 11:26
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