What Is the Messianic Era of Christ?
Bible Study
The Messianic Era is another term used to describe the one thousand year reign of Christ on earth. This term is interchangeably used with Messianic Kingdom, Millennium, and Millennial Kingdom among others.
They all point to a one thousand year period that’ll begin after the seven year Tribulation period. Christ will return at the end of the Tribulation and judge the nations for how they they treated His nation and people.
Then He’ll set up the earth for the one thousand year Messianic Era. This 1,000 year period will precede the time of the new earth and new heaven. The Millennial Kingdom will in fact be that last days of the earth and the heavens around us as we know them before they’re completely destroyed. But not with the people of God. He has a glorious plan for us.
The Messianic Era’s Three Groups of People
We’ve established in the previous Bible study that the temple from where Jesus Christ will rule will be exalted on the highest mountain on earth. We examined how this will happen.
Now let’s take a closer look as to what life might look like during Christ’ reign on earth.
There will be three groups of people on earth during this time. First, there’ll be those who’ve managed to survive seven years of God’s wrath upon a sinful planet in the Tribulation period. Based on Revelation, that’ll be approximately a quarter of earth’s population today.
The second group will be one third of the Jews who have also survived the seven year Tribulation. This means two-thirds of the Jews will perish at this time. But something will be very different about them when Christ returns. They will turn to Him and finally accept Yeshua as their Messiah, and their Lord and Savior.
The prophet Zechariah prophesies of this happening.
“In the whole land,” declares the Lord,
“two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
yet one-third will be left in it.
9 This third I will put into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” (Zechariah 13:8-9)
The third group of people on earth during Christ’ reign will be those who accepted Christ while they were alive on earth. These are the ones that will be raptured and removed from the wrath of God before the Tribulation. These will have glorified bodies like Christ had when He returned to earth after His resurrection and appeared to His disciples and others.
People Will Seek Jerusalem in the Messianic Era
(Verse 3) Unless you’re a tourist or you have roots in Israel, no one is really seeking to go to Jerusalem. Especially today, in the midst of wars on several fronts.
But Isaiah makes it clear in this verse that people will seek Christ from where He rules in Jerusalem during His 1,000 year reign. They will wish to go to Jerusalem and they will invite others to go as well.
In complete opposition of how the world is today in its relationship with the Jews, the Messianic Era will be a time of no antisemitism. In fact, it’ll be just the opposite. The world during Jesus’ reign will come to understand that the Jews are truly God’s people and they will be sought out.
Zechariah 8 prophesies more detail as to how this is going to be. In this chapter, Zechariah the prophet is speaking of the future day of Jesus’ reign on the earth.
This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’” (Zechariah 8:23)
In other words, people from all over the world will intentionally seek out God’s chosen people. They will want to go with them to learn about God and their Messiah who rules from the temple in Jerusalem.
These will be the same people who had no belief in God or faith in Christ. But they managed to survive a seven year period of wrath never before seen on earth.
The End of Hatred Toward the Jews
The end of the Tribulation period will bring about an end to hatred against the Jews. Never allow any false prophet or pastor to convince you of the lie that the church believers in Christ have replaced the Jews as God’s chosen people.
The father of lies and opposer of God and His chosen people is no longer influential in the world.
It’s Satan’s deception to believe such a lie. God has a plan for the Jews. He is faithful to His chosen people. They will remain the apple of His eye and no people will replace them as the chosen to fulfill God’s plan.
We must love what God loves and bless the Jews. There is no place in a Christian’s heart for hatred toward Jews. We must bless and pray for the peace and security of the Jewish people and Israel.
It’s spiritually impossible to hate the Jews and be a Christian. It cannot be done.
God has loved them from the beginning and still does. He’s currently performing miracles in Israel almost everyday.
“I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3)
Jesus Will Be the Teacher in the Messianic Era
People will not only seek out the Jews in the Millennial Kingdom. They will want to learn what Jesus has to teach. Because from Jerusalem, Christ will send forth his righteousness and holiness for all to understand. Jesus will teach all nations what it means to walk a righteous and holy path.
Christ will also be the Judge of all the earth and the law will go out from Jerusalem where He sits and reigns.
(Verse 4) This will be a time where the Department of Justice will not exist. The court systems of the nations will not be necessary. There will be no need for military armies to maintain order and justice.
Christ will judge with holiness, righteousness and an iron scepter. Many people will seek to understand these ways. There may be some conflicts that can’t be resolved. The ones that can’t, Christ will surely have a resolution. Again, based on His righteous and holy rule but with an iron scepter.
Somewhere in this order of Jesus’ reign among the nations, we (believers) will have a place where we will reign with Christ on the earth. The Bible has not revealed clearly what that role will look like. But we will not be of unglorified flesh, but glorified bodies.
Possibly, our role may exist in resolving local and regional disputes among nations and those that can’t be resolved will be handled by Christ in Jerusalem. Assuredly, we will know more when we arrive at that time of the Messianic Era.
“Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;” (2 Timothy 2:11-12)
“To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father.” (Revelation 2:26-27)
There Will Be No War in the Messianic Era
There will be no need for weapons of war in Christ’ kingdom. Because there will be no war. Remember, Satan is being held bound for the entire one thousand year period of the Messianic Kingdom. He’ll have no influence on the people of the earth. Temptation and deception will be gone.
There will be no need for weapons of mass destruction because no nation will be training for war against another nation. It’ll be a time of peace.
“Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.” (Revelation 19:15)
Everyone will be required to submit to Christ’ reign on earth. Those who do not and dispute with Christ will be settled by the power of Christ’ reign as the the just judge over all nations.
All the weapons will be re-manufactured into tools for growing and harvesting crops. The earth will be rich with the blessings of God as Christ reigns. The earth will be fruitful and produce rich crops.
Micah, the prophet echoed Isaiah’s prophesy on turning weapons into tools for agriculture during the Messianic Kingdom.
“He will judge between many peoples
and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.” (Micah 4:3)
Thankfully, Isaiah gives us a detailed look at the Messianic Era. He has much more to say about what life will look like in that period.
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