Millennialism - Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses

In brief, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Christ will rule from heaven for 1,000 years as king over the earth, assisted by 144,000 holy ones. This will happen after the destruction of the wicked at Armageddon. The principal purpose of this millennial reign is to resolve the question of who legitimately deserves to be sovereign of the Earth and of the universe.

Armageddon will be a decisive battle between two opposing forces: on one side, Christ Jesus together with the holy angels; in opposition, human governments and institutions (manipulated by wicked spirits), insistent on maintaining control over humanity. Unlike natural or manmade catastrophes, Christ and his angels will selectively destroy those humans deemed incorrigible. Planet Earth will be rid of greed, corruption, and all individuals as well as institutions who impenitently ruin the earth and impose misery on others. Malevolent spiritual beings will be restrained and prevented from interfering in human affairs for the duration of Christ's reign.

Unlike fundamentalist Christian groups who expect the planet Earth to be completely destroyed, Jehovah's Witnesses' understanding is that the 1,000 year rule is fulfillment of the Biblical promise of "New Heavens and a New Earth". Christ's kingdom consists of those who govern (from heaven) and those who are governed (on earth). The kingdom will accomplish in a relatively short timespan (1,000 years) all the things human institutions have promised, but failed to deliver, during thousands of years of rule, and by every form of government imaginable. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will be the 'head of state', or King officially designated by God. In turn, he will delegate authority to 144,000 select individuals, also chosen by God (Jesus' father) from among humanity. Those chosen have already proven their complete allegiance to God and to His legitimate right to govern. The first to be promised this privilege were the faithful apostles of Jesus Christ in the 1st century. The rulers will be loving and fair, always intent on the common good of everyone.

On the earth,those who survive the great tribulation (Matt 24:21) and the subsequent destruction of the world ruled By Satan the Devil (Rev16:16 1 John 5:19 Matt 25:31-40) a just, peaceful, and equitable earthwide society of humans will be established. With The help of King Jesus Christ(Heb 2:5), and the chosen (144.000) co-rulers (Rev 5:9,10 Dan7:27) Those who have survived, (Rev7:9)will accept the directions and norms applied by Christ and his co-rulers from Jehovah God The All-Mighty (Isaiah 42:5-8). During the millennium, Christ will use his power to cure every sort of sickness(Rev 22:17), malady, and infirmity; ultimately everyone who accepts living, by Jehovah God's Righteous standards (Gen 1:28, Exodus 20:1-17)1will attain perfect health. Guided by the heavenly government, humans will work to progressively produce an earthwide paradise(Matt 19:27,28) Hunger and poverty will be completely eliminated(Rev 21:1-5). Humans who died during the prior milleniums of human history (yet were not deemed incorrigible) will be resurrected (recreated)(Acts 24:15) on the earth over the course of the millennium, provided they accept Jehovah's righteous standards (Isaiah 65:11,20). These will have the opportunity to fully integrate into society(Isaiah 65:17).

At the culmination of the millennium, Christ will cede control of planet Earth to his Father Jehovah(1 Cor 15:28). He himself will acknowledge and accept Jehovah's right to rule (or sovereignty). The restraints on wicked spirit creatures will be removed and all humanity will face a test. With full understanding, each one must individually choose whether to accept or reject God's sovereignty (right to rule). Those humans and spirit creatures who reject rule by Jehovah God, showing themselves to be menaces to human society and the remainder of the universe, will be completely and permanently eliminated. For many this will literally be a "second" death. Thereafter, obedient humankind will live forever on the earth and Jehovah God's original purpose for the earth will be accomplished.