What Is the Millennium?

In this episode of Gospel First, join Joe Cirillo as he explores the millennium—a future thousand-year period of peace and righteousness following the second coming of Christ. Discover the significant events predicted to unfold, including Christ's reign over the earth, Satan's binding, universal peace, the resurrection of the dead, the eradication of sickness and death, and the earth's transformation. Learn about the roles of missionary and temple work during this glorious era and what happens at the millennium's end. Gain enlightening insights from prophetic teachings and holy scriptures.

Can you envision a world completely devoid of fear, disease, pain, and worry? Let's explore what could be the most exhilarating thousand years to come.

The Millennium refers to a thousand-year period of peace and righteousness following the Second Coming of Christ, as mentioned in religious texts and prophetic teachings. It is described as a time when the entire earth experiences tranquility.

According to 2 Nephi 24:7, the arrival of Christ will elicit joyful singing, as loved ones are resurrected, evil and wickedness vanish, sin ceases, and sorrow is forgotten. Isaiah 11:9 further emphasizes that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, comparable to the vastness of the sea.

During this glorious era, known as the Millennium, several remarkable events will unfold. Here are just a few examples:

Christ will Reign Personally over the Earth:  During the Millennium, Christ will personally reign as the rightful King over the Earth. Both the Church and the government will be under His governance, and all laws will be established on principles of justice and righteousness. According to Joseph Smith, Christ and the resurrected Saints will be responsible for governing the Earth throughout the entire thousand-year period. While they may not permanently dwell on Earth, they will make occasional visits as necessary for their governing duties. 

According to Doctrine and Covenants 84:2-4, the Millennium will witness the existence of two capital cities. One will be located in Jerusalem, while the other will be the New Jerusalem situated within the United States. Scripture informs us that the capital city of the New Jerusalem will be specifically located on the American continent, in the state of Missouri.

Satan Will Be Bound:  During the Millennium, a remarkable event will occur—Satan will be bound, resulting in his complete powerlessness to tempt those living during that time. This is indeed a wonderful prospect! As stated in Doctrine and Covenants 101:28, "And in that day [referring to the Millennium], Satan shall not have power to tempt any man." 

There is a mistaken belief held by some that during the Millennium, Satan will lose his power to tempt people simply because the individuals living at that time will be exceptionally righteous. This belief is not true.  I love the quote from President Spencer W. Kimbal.  He said, “When Satan is bound in a single home - when Satan is bound in a single life - the Millennium has already begun in that home, in that life.”

There Will Be Peace on Earth:  As we have discussed, one of the indicators of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the presence of "wars and rumors of wars." However, when Jesus returns and throughout the entire duration of the Millennium, there will be an absence of warfare. It will simply cease to exist. This is emphasized in 3 Nephi 11:29 of the Book of Mormon, which teaches that there will be no contention or enmity among individuals, as contention is rooted in the influence of the devil.

During the Millennium, even animals will cease their fighting, as depicted in Isaiah 11:6, where it is described that the wolf and the lamb will dwell together peacefully. Nations will no longer engage in armed conflict, and there will be no need to learn the ways of war. Additionally, according to Doctrine and Covenants 101:26, there will be an end to conflicts between parents, friends, and even bothersome siblings.  Everyone will get along peacefully. 

The Dead Will Be Resurrected:  When Jesus returns, all the righteous Saints who have passed away but have not yet experienced resurrection, yet are worthy of entering the Celestial Kingdom, will be resurrected and ascend to meet Him.  In Christian theology, this event is commonly referred to as the rapture.  D&C 88:97 says, “And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened.”

During the Millennium, at a certain point, those who have passed away and are deemed worthy of the terrestrial kingdom will also experience resurrection. Additionally, towards the end of the thousand-year period, those who are destined to inherit the lowest kingdom, the telestial kingdom, will also be resurrected. Further explanations regarding the resurrection will be provided in upcoming lessons.

There Will Be No Sickness and No Death:  Just imagine, during the Millennium, nobody will experience death and burial. Even the occurrence of sickness will be entirely absent because there will be no diseases. As stated in Doctrine and Covenants 101:30, individuals will not suffer premature death but everyone will live “until he is old.” Furthermore, according to Doctrine and Covenants 63:51, when the time comes for individuals to die, “they shall not sleep in the dust, but they shall be changed [resurrected] in the twinkling of an eye.” 

The Earth Will Be Renewed:  According to the teachings of Prophet Joseph Smith, the Millennium will bring about a renewal of the earth, as it receives its paradisiacal glory.  At present, our earth exists in a telestial condition, but with the advent of the Millennium, it will be elevated to a terrestrial state resembling the conditions of the Garden of Eden. This transformation is described in Doctrine and Covenants 101:23-32; Isaiah 65:17-25; Malachi 3:1-6; and Malachi 4:1-6, which depict a new heaven and a new earth where health, peace, and joy will prevail.

The earth will undergo significant changes, transitioning from its telestial state to a terrestrial state, and eventually to a celestial state. As stated in Doctrine and Covenants 88:18-19, the Fall of Adam and Eve caused the earth to be transformed into its current telestial state, or the present mortal earth. However, with the Savior's return, this period will come to an end, after which the earth will be changed into a terrestrial state and prepared during the Millennium for its final transformation into a celestial sphere.

God Will Reveal All Things:  In the time called the Millennium, according to Doctrine and Covenants 101:32-34, the Lord will show us everything. This includes things from the past that we didn't know, hidden things, things about the earth and how it was made, its purpose, and what will happen to it. It also covers precious things, things above us and below us, things on the earth and in heaven.

Isaiah 65:24 tells us that during the Millennium, our questions will be answered super quickly. It's like the answers will be ready before we even ask, and while we're still talking, the Lord will already be listening and answering.

What Will We Do in the Millennium?  Some people are worried about the Second Coming and the start of the Millennium because they don't want the world to come to an end. They still want the chance to live life fully. The good news is, we'll still be able to enjoy all those experiences. And the even better news is, we'll go through all of this without facing issues like feeling tempted, being bored, getting sick, arguing, or dealing with rebellious children. 

We know from the scriptures that in the Millennium we will still live in houses, work, and have jobs.  Isaiah 65:21 says of our millennial work, “And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.”  We also know that righteous dating, courtship, love, and marriage will continue in the Millennium.  Doctrine and Covenants 45:58 teaches us that couples “shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation.”

Just think about how amazing it will be to be a parent in the Millennium. There won't be any complaining, fighting, rebellious behavior, or bad attitudes from our kids. All of our children will grow up to be good, live long lives, be resurrected in the twinkling of an eye, and get to inherit the best place- the  celestial kingdom.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie also said, “Billions of spirits will come to earth during the Millennium, when Satan is bound, when there is peace on earth, when there is no sorrow because there is no death, when they will not be confronted with the evil and carnality that face us.  They will grow up without sin unto salvation.

Missionary Work:  During the Millennium, a significant part of our focus will be on doing missionary work. Even though Jesus will have returned, the wicked will be gone, and Satan won't be causing problems because he will be bound, people will still need to be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Joseph Fielding Smith explained that during the Millennium, "There will be millions of people, Catholics, Protestants, agnostics, Mohammedans, people of all classes, and all beliefs, still permitted to remain upon the face of the earth, but they will be those who have lived clean lives, those who have been free from wickedness and corruption.  All those who belong, by virtue of their good lives, to [at least] the terrestrail order ... will remain upon the face of the earth during the Millennium."  People will still have the freedom to make choices, and for a while, they will be allowed to follow their religions and ideas. However, as time goes on, everyone will come to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Savior.  

Isaiah 11:9 indicates that in the Millennium, missionary efforts will spread all over the world until eventually “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

Those who are not part of the Church but live during the Millennium will be those who have led good and honest lives. These individuals will inherit either the terrestrial or celestial kingdom based on their actions and choices.

Temple Work:  In the Millennium, another significant task we will undertake is temple work. The Saints will keep building temples and receive ordinances in behalf of their deceased relatives.  Guided by revelation, they will prepare records of their ancestors, reaching all the way back to Adam and Eve.

Brigham Young explained that during the Millennium, “we will have revelations to know our forefathers clear back to Father Adam and Mother Eve, and we will enter into the temples of God and officiate for them.  Then man will be sealed to man until the chain is made perfect back to Adam to the winding—up scene.  This will be the work ofthe Latter-day Saints in the millennium."

What Happens at the End of the Millennium?  Regrettably, there will be a brief time following the thousand-year span of the Millennium when Satan will be released. During this period, wickedness will resurface, people will turn away from God, and the peace that characterized the earth will be disrupted. The exact duration of this period is uncertain, but Doctrine and Covenants 29:22 provides some insight into this timeframe, explaining “that when the thousand years are ended, and men again begin to deny their God, then will I spare the earth but for a little season.”  

Following the short period when Satan is released at the close of the Millennium, there will be preparations for a major conflict between the righteous and the wicked. Afterward, Satan and his followers will be permanently cast away. 

Doctrine and Covenants 88: 111-114 teaches, "And then [Satan] shall be loosed for a little season, that he may gather together his armies.  And Michael [Adam], the seventh angel, even the archangel, shall gather together his armies; even the hosts of heaven.    

And the devil shall gather together his armies; even the hosts of hell, and shall come up to battle against Michael and his armies.  And then cometh the battle of the great God; and the devil and his armies shall be cast away into their own place, that they shall not have power over the saints any more at all."

After the final big battle and when the wicked are destroyed, Satan will be thrown out for good, and the earth “will be changed into celestial kingdom” and become like a “sea of glass” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:7), and attain “its sanctified, immortal, and eternal state” (Doctrine and Covenants 77:1-2). Then “the meek of the earth shall inherit it” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:17) and it will become the celestial kingdom, where “it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father; that bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may possess it forever and ever.”(Doctrine and Covenants 88:19-20)

This concludes our lesson in this section of  ACT 2.  The next lesson, which is in ACT 3, will focus on “Life After Death.”

If you have any questions about the gospel, please feel free to leave a message in the comments section below, and don’t forget to subscribe and share so that we can spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ together.

A Good Foundation Against The Time To Come: Gary E. Stevensen

Hope In Christ: M. Russel Ballard

• Zechariah 14:4-9; 1 Nephi 22L24-26 (Jeus to reign on earth)

• Daniel 7:27 (Saints to be given the kingdom)

• Doctrine and Covenants 88:87-110 (Conditions during the Millennium)

• Revelations 20:1-3; 2 Nephi 30:10-18 (Satan to be bound)

• Doctrine and Covenants 101:22-31 (Enmity to cease; no death; Satan to have no power to tempt)

• Isaiah 11:1-9 (Wolf and lamb to dwell together)

• Doctrine and Covenants 43:31; Revelations 20:7-10 (Satan loosed to gather forces)

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Read: The Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price.