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Throughout this series we’ve processed the outline of events leading up to the return of Christ and the moment He finally comes back to rapture His Church. In the final blog of this series, we’ll chat about what happens to the world after Jesus comes back and why Heaven might not be exactly what you think.

Following the rapture and the return of Jesus is something called the Millennial Kingdom or the millennial reign of Christ. Jesus will rule the earth as King for a specific 1,000-year period and then fully transition the earth into eternity. Let’s unpack the major details of this concept.

The Resurrection

In the previous post, we learned that when Jesus gathers His Church in the rapture our physical bodies will also be transformed into supernatural eternal bodies. When Jesus comes back, He will give to all of His people resurrected bodies just like the one He has. (Philippians 3:20-21 // 2 Corinthians 5:1-5)

What will these bodies be like? There’s not a ton of information in the Bible, but we know that we’ll still look like ourselves. After Jesus was raised from the dead, He was recognizable in his resurrected body.

We know that Jesus ate food and was able to have physical contact with others in His resurrected body. It seems like our resurrected bodies will be enhanced versions of the ones we have now: much the same, but free from the death and decay that we are vulnerable to in this life. (Romans 8:18-24 // 2 Corinthians 5:1-5)

It’s more common to hear about the resurrection of believers, but did you know there’s a resurrection of unbelievers too? At the end of the 1,000 years Jesus will resurrect those who died having never trusted Him for salvation for their time of judgment.

This event is called the Great White Throne Judgment, the final judgment of all unbelievers. They will be held accountable for their sin because they’ve rejected the forgiveness of Jesus. Their fate is in the lake of fire, which is the place of eternal punishment for sin. (Revelation 20:11-15)

I know that’s intense, but Jesus doesn’t want anyone to experience the lake of fire. His desire is for everyone to repent and be saved, not to perish eternally. (1 Timothy 2:1-4 // 2 Peter 3:9) That’s why He came to die on the cross, making a way for us to be saved from our sin. (Romans 5:6-11) But He loves us enough to give us free will and unfortunately, some people choose to reject His gift of salvation and relationship with God. (More on how to have a relationship with Jesus here.)

The Reign of Jesus

You’re probably wondering what the heck we’ll do for eternity. Is Heaven just sitting on a cloud, playing a harp and choir practice with angels all day? What will life be like then? Remember, it all starts with the millennium–the 1,000 years.

During this time, Jesus will restore creation, which has been under the curse of sin since the fall of humanity. The Bible talks about animals that used to prey on each other dwelling peacefully with each other and with humans. It also mentions unprecedented peace, blessing and prosperity in the world. (Isaiah 11// Isaiah 65:20-25)

Also at this time, the base of Jesus’ government will be in Jerusalem and it will be a center of worship for the whole world. (Isaiah 2:2-4 // Psalm 132). His teaching will disciple the nations, settle political matters, and all rulers in the world will serve and obey Jesus. (Daniel 7:27)

The really cool thing about this time? His people reign alongside Him. Yes, you read that right. If you’re a follower of Jesus, this includes you. (Revelation 20:4-6)

We learn in Psalm 2 that Jesus’ inheritance from God the Father is to rule the nations of earth. In Revelation 2:26-28, we see Jesus declare that His people who obey Him to the very end will rule nations with Him, using the exact same language we find in the Psalm 2 passage.

Isn’t that mind-blowing?! This is our destiny as Christians: to be with Jesus, worship Jesus, and reign with Jesus forever! Jesus brings us into His work in the world as His co-heirs and co-laborers. (Romans 8:17 // Galatians 4:7)

We don’t have a ton of detail in the Bible about what reigning with Jesus will look like, but we can tell from Scripture that all the processes of normal life will continue like they did before Jesus came back, just now under the leadership of Jesus as He fills the world with His peace and righteousness.

There are still nations and cities, which means there are still governmental and societal systems that will need to function. There are still families. People still need places to live, etc. There’s still a world that needs to be run, it’s just that now Jesus is in charge of it and His people are His partners.

I believe from Scripture that when believers’ lives are evaluated by Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10), we are given eternal rewards based on how we lived for Jesus in this life (Revelation 2-3), and that part of that reward is what our role or responsibility will be when Jesus sets up His Kingdom. (Matthew 25:14-30 // Luke 12:35-38)

The New Heavens and New Earth

I prefer the term “end of the age” to “end of the world” when discussing the end times because biblically, the world doesn’t ever end. The world is renewed by God and continues forever. (2 Peter 3:10)

When most of us think of Heaven, we think of believers going up to be with Jesus after death and that’s where we’ll stay forever. But that’s not quite the full story the Bible paints for us. It’s true that when a Christian dies their spirit immediately goes to be in the presence of Jesus in heaven. (2 Corinthians 5:8 // Revelation 6:9-11, 7:9-14)

But when Jesus comes back, He will bring back the spirits of believers of who have died and reunite them with their resurrected bodies during the rapture. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17) We’ll be in those bodies for the millennial reign of Christ and forever.

At the end of those 1,000 years, however, heaven will come down to earth, and so will God the Father’s throne. Heaven and earth will become one and believers will live on the earth with Jesus forever. (1 Corinthians 15:24-28 // Revelation 21-22) Theologian N.T. Wright unpacks this idea in his book, Surprised By Hope.

Going up to heaven to be with Jesus is only a temporary expression of what heaven is. The ultimate expression of heaven is when God unites heaven and earth and lives on the earth with His people forever.

When this happens, Jesus’ process of removing sin from the earth will be complete. There will be no crying or pain, no suffering or death anymore. The separation between God and humanity will be forever done away with. (Revelation 21:1-7, 22:3-4)

Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

(John 17:24)

The most exciting and most important thing about heaven/eternity is being with Jesus. I love how hopeful Christians are for the resurrection and for eternity that we’ll see our loved ones again. We look forward to it and comfort each other with these words all the time, as we should. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)

I’ve got some loved ones with Jesus now that I would love to see again. Praise God that this earthly life is not the end for us or for our loved ones if we believe in Jesus!

My prayer for us as believers, though, is that as excited we are to see our loved ones again and as much as we ache to be united with them, we would first and foremost be excited to see Jesus and we would ache to be united with Him.

We were made to be close to God and to live as His companions. That was His desire and plan from the beginning of creation. The whole story of Jesus’ first and second comings has been about God restoring that broken relationship.

All of the other amazing things about eternity pale in comparison to the fact that we get to be with Jesus, our beloved Friend, Savior and King forever. How kind and amazing is God that we get to live with Him forever, not just as individuals, but together as His people!

Let’s Talk: Does anything you learned in this study change your understanding of heaven and eternity? How so? Discuss this post in the comments below.

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