What is the Millennium and will it be literal?
The Millennium is understood as the literal, substantial Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, established through the Lord of the Second Coming. This is not a symbolic era but a tangible reality where God's ideal of creation is fulfilled. The Messiah returns in the flesh, not on clouds, to offer both physical and spiritual salvation, initiating true families and restoring God's dominion over humanity and the natural world.
The Millennium, a central concept in Christian eschatology, defines the ultimate goal of God's providence. While traditional views have varied regarding its literal or symbolic nature, biblical prophecy and the Divine Principle reveal that the Millennium is the literal, substantial Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. This kingdom will be established on this physical world through the Second Coming of the Messiah, who comes in the flesh, not on the clouds.
The Biblical Foundation: Prophecies of an Earthly Kingdom
The primary biblical reference to the Millennium is found in Revelation 20:4-6, which states: "I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge... they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years... Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection... they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." This passage points to a literal, physical reign of Christ on Earth for a significant period of restoration.
Beyond Revelation, numerous Old Testament prophecies depict an ideal, tangible earthly kingdom. Isaiah describes a transformed natural world: "The wolf will live with the lamb... The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:6-9). This portrays ecological harmony under righteous human dominion. Zechariah 14:9 declares, "The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name." These verses resonate with Jesus' teaching in the Lord's Prayer: "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10), emphasizing God's desire for His ideal to be realized on Earth. Furthermore, Revelation speaks of a "new heaven and a new earth," where "God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them" (Revelation 21:1-4), clearly indicating God establishing His presence directly on earth.
Divine Principle's Clarification: The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth
The Divine Principle clarifies the Millennium as the period of restoration leading to the complete establishment of God's Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. It explains that the "thousand years" is not a literal, chronometric period but a symbolic number representing the complete historical period necessary to fulfill God's purpose. This involves the binding of Satan—the eradication of original sin and its fallen consequences—so Satan can no longer dominate humanity.
This is a gradual, providential process culminating in the Second Coming of Christ. The Second Coming will not be a sudden, public appearance on the clouds; rather, the Lord will come in the flesh, as Jesus did at his first coming. Prophecies of coming on clouds are metaphorical, representing the Lord coming as a central figure surrounded by crowds of faithful, God-centered believers. Just as Elijah returned as John the Baptist in the flesh, not in a chariot of fire, so too will Christ return. If the Lord were to come on the clouds for all to see, he would not suffer or be rejected; yet Jesus prophesied, "But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation" (Luke 17:25) and asked, "when the Son of Man comes, shall he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8). This makes sense only if he comes quietly, in the flesh, as a "thief in the night." The Messiah must come in the flesh to offer physical as well as spiritual salvation, and to restore our physical being through marriage and family life, thereby establishing a new lineage free from original sin. This process leads to a profound transformation of individuals and society. God’s original ideal of creation was a perfect world where humanity would establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth from the beginning. The Millennium thus represents the successful completion of God's history of salvation, restoring the dominion of God over creation through perfected humanity.
Understanding the Deeper Meaning: A Substantial Reality
The Millennium, as elucidated by the Divine Principle, is a literal, substantial kingdom built on this earth, not merely a spiritual concept. It is the tangible fulfillment of God's original ideal. This kingdom will be characterized by perfected individuals who have overcome sin, establishing true relationships with God and others. It will feature true families founded on God's ideal of purity and eternal love, serving as the fundamental building blocks of society. This will manifest as a global society based on righteousness, justice, and universal brotherhood, where God's principles are embedded in all aspects of life. It is a world where the three blessings of God's creation—individual perfection, true families, and dominion over the natural world—are fully realized, and humanity lives in complete harmony.
The Lord of the Second Coming is central to establishing this kingdom by founding true families, initiating a new lineage free from fallen nature, and teaching humanity God's Will. This process involves internal purification and external transformation of society and the natural world, leading to a new heaven and a new earth, as prophesied in Revelation 21:1: "Then I saw 'a new heaven and a new earth,' for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away." This signifies a fundamental purification, not annihilation. Ultimately, this is the environment where God can dwell with His children in perfect love, as Revelation 21:3 affirms: "God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them."
Living the Principle
Understanding the Millennium as the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth calls us to active participation as co-creators with God. We aim for individual perfection and strive to build God's ideal in our lives and world, as Matthew 6:33 states, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness."
1. Cultivate True Love: Strive for God-centered love in all relationships, overcoming fear, hatred, and ignorance. 2. Restore True Families: Honor marriage, raise God-centered children, and foster harmony in the home as the foundation of God's kingdom. 3. Transform Society: Apply God's principles to all aspects of society for justice and peace, establishing a world based on righteousness. 4. Engage in Spiritual Warfare: Actively uphold moral values and resist fallen influences, preparing the environment for the Messiah.
These answers explain the Bible in the light of the Divine Principle, the teachings of Reverend Sun Myung Moon. Read about the author, Sun Myung Moon.
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Sources and further reading
- The Holy Bible, King James Version — Scripture quoted and referenced throughout the answers.
- The Divine Principle (full text) — The complete text of the Divine Principle, the teaching of Reverend Sun Myung Moon that these answers explain.
- Unification texts library (tparents.org) — Large online library of Unification texts, sermons and collected speeches, including the Cheon Seong Gyeong.
- Short video lectures in English — Playlist of short English video lectures presenting these same principles.