Will Christians go to heaven for 1,000 years when Christ returns?

You are here

Will Christians go to heaven for 1,000 years when Christ returns?

Login or Create an Account

With a UCG.org account you will be able to save items to read and study later!

Sign In | Sign Up

×

The Bible reveals that one of the purposes for God bringing sons and daughters into His family is so they might rule as kings and priests on the earth when Jesus returns to establish the Kingdom of God (Revelation 1:6; 5:10).

When Jesus returns to earth, the saints (that is, all true Christians, whether they have died or are still living) will rise in the air to meet Christ. As 1 Thessalonians 4:17 explains: "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."

To know where we will be for the 1,000 years between the first and second resurrections (see Revelation 20:5-6), we need to know where Christ will be during this time. When Jesus returns, He will descend to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem to fight against the nations that will oppose His leadership (Zechariah 14:1-4).

Jesus and the risen saints following Him will defeat these armies. Projecting ahead to this time in vision, voices in heaven say, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ" (Revelation 11:15).

After defeating the armies gathered against Him, Jesus will take over the physical kingdoms of this world and His saints will then begin ruling over the nations here on earth. As Revelation 5:10, cited above, makes clear, the saints will be "a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth" (NRSV).

Christ likewise earlier stated, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). Christians do not go to dwell in heaven when Christ returns; they will be on earth, ruling over the Kingdom of God.

You might also be interested in...

Comments

  • rrrr

    jesus said i go and prepare a place for you ----mansions. so when he comes back mansions are not with him so that means there up in heaven and thats where will be for the first thousand years judging ----looking at gods books---book of life and others to see that god was fair. then we come back down to the new earth made new from the eternal fire---only god can put out.

  • Patty Graham

    It is my understanding that the saints will judge the world, not teach them. Jesus clearly states this teaching(the power that opens the mind to knowing God) is the function of the Holy Spirit, not man. This present world will be burned up, and they( the unbelievers) will not escape. (As the days of Noah). The saints will spend the time between the two resurrections with Christ in the 'place He prepared for them'. They are 'in' the city when it descends out of heaven, because they were the first resurrection which was blessed and holy. God knew all hearts, and His Spirit drew to all, just as Jesus promised in John 12:32.
    The only unforgivable sin was to blaspheme the power which DID draw to them.

  • Yowatsupman3
    I am very happy to find out this information. I didn't quite understand that meek shall be in heaven and inherit the earth. Will those that have already gone to paradise, who are also meek, also come to earth and be there ruling over the Kingdom of God on the earth?
  • Join the conversation!

    Log in or register to post comments