Has the 1000 years of Kingdom Rule started?

[Jack Ryan]

I remember seeing a video some time back where Sam Herd says;
“100 years of Kingdom rule and counting”

Or something along those lines.
They always used to distinguish between the kingdom starting in 1914 and the coming millennial kingdom starting at Armageddon, but this recent video makes it plain that the Kingdom Rule started in 1914 and will end with a paradise earth restored.
Am I correct in understanding that they now view the millennium to have started in 1914?
This would mean we have 898 years left of the millennium.

[io.porog]

1 hour ago, Jay Witness said:

I remember seeing a video some time back where Sam Herd says;
“100 years of Kingdom rule and counting”

Or something along those lines.
They always used to distinguish between the kingdom starting in 1914 and the coming millennial kingdom starting at Armageddon, but this recent video makes it plain that the Kingdom Rule started in 1914 and will end with a paradise earth restored.
Am I correct in understanding that they now view the millennium to have started in 1914?
This would mean we have 898 years left of the millennium.

I don't think so, as 1914 C.E would shift the date of Adam's creation back also. We think 1975 was 6,000 years since Adam's creation and still use that chronology for other dates of significant events in Bible history. All other dates would need to be pushed back, wouldn't they? Sorry, Ive never been the greatest mathmetician lol

[Evacuated]

What Does the Bible Really Teach  commented on Rev. 20:4: 

"After Armageddon, Satan and his demons will be imprisoned in an abyss for a thousand years. During that time, the 144,000 heavenly joint heirs will be judges and will rule “as kings with the Christ for 1,000 years.” " p214 para 1.

That places the 1000 year, Satan-free period still in the future.

[Melinda Mills]

 Asking is good

 

⁷ “Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you; ⁸ for everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking, it will be opened.

 

 (Acts 17:27) so that they would seek God, if they might grope for him and really find him, although, in fact, he is not far off from each one of us.

 

 

Studying/seeking/researching is even better

 

 (John 17:3) This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

 

(Proverbs 2:4,5) ⁴ If you keep seeking for it as for silver, And you keep searching for it as for hidden treasures;  ⁵ Then you will understand the fear of Jehovah, And you will find the knowledge of God.

 

==========

 

 (Psalm 110:1-2) Jehovah declared to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand Until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.”  ² Jehovah will extend the scepter of your power out of Zion, saying: “Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.”

 

*** pe chap. 16 God’s Government Begins Its Rule ***

BEGINNING OF RULE IN THE MIDST OF ENEMIES

⁸ When Christ returned to heaven after his resurrection, he did not start ruling then as King of God’s government. Rather, there was to be a time of waiting, as the apostle Paul explains: “This man [Jesus Christ] offered one sacrifice for sins perpetually and sat down at the right hand of God, from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet.” (Hebrews 10:12, 13) When the time came for Christ to begin to rule, Jehovah told him: “Go subduing [or, conquering] in the midst of your enemies.”—Psalm 110:1, 2, 5, 6.

⁹ Does it sound strange that anyone would be an enemy of God’s government? Yet not everyone wants to live under a government that requires its subjects to do what is right. So after telling how Jehovah and his Son would take over world rulership, the Bible says, “the nations became wrathful.” (Revelation 11:15, 17, 18) The nations do not welcome God’s kingdom because Satan misleads them into opposing it.

¹⁰ When God’s government begins its rule, Satan and his angels are still living in heaven. Since they oppose Kingdom rule, right away war breaks out. As a result, Satan and his angels are thrown out of heaven. At this, a loud voice says: “Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ.” Yes, the rule of God’s government begins! And with Satan and his angels removed from heaven, there is rejoicing there. “On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them!” the Bible says.—Revelation 12:7-12.

¹¹ Is this also a happy time for the earth? No! Instead, there is the greatest time of trouble the earth has ever had. The Bible tells us: “Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.” (Revelation 12:12) So this is an important point to remember: The start of the rule of God’s kingdom does not mean immediate peace and security on earth. True peace will come later when God’s kingdom takes full control of the earth. This happens at the end of the “short period of time,” when Satan and his angels will be put out of the way so that they can no longer cause trouble for anyone.

¹² But when is Satan thrown out of heaven, thus causing trouble on earth for “a short period of time”? When does God’s government begin its rule? Does the Bible give an answer? We should expect that it would. Why? Well, because long in advance the Bible foretold when God’s Son would appear first as a human on earth to become the Messiah. In fact, it pointed to the very year that he became the Messiah. What, then, about the even more important coming of the Messiah, or Christ, to begin his Kingdom rule? Surely we would expect that the Bible would also tell us when this would happen!

¹³ But a person may ask: ‘Where does the Bible foretell the very year the Messiah appeared on earth?’ The Bible book of Daniel says: “From the going forth of the word to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Leader, there will be seven weeks, also sixty-two weeks,” or all together 69 weeks. (Daniel 9:25) These, however, are not 69 literal weeks, which amount to only 483 days, or a little more than one year. They are 69 weeks of years, or 483 years. (Compare Numbers 14:34.) The command to restore and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem was given in 455 B.C.E. (Nehemiah 2:1-8) So these 69 weeks of years ended 483 years later, in 29 C.E. And that is the very year that Jesus came to John to be baptized! On that occasion he was anointed with holy spirit and became the Messiah, or Christ.—Luke 3:1, 2, 21-23.

WHEN GOD’S GOVERNMENT BEGINS ITS RULE

¹⁴ Well, then, where does the Bible foretell the year that Christ begins to rule as king of God’s government? It is in this same Bible book of Daniel. (Daniel 4:10-37) There a giant, heaven-high tree is used to represent King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He was the highest human ruler at that time. However, King Nebuchadnezzar was forced to know that someone higher was ruling. This one is “the Most High,” or “the King of the heavens,” Jehovah God. (Daniel 4:34, 37) So, in a more important way, this heaven-high tree, comes to represent the supreme rulership of God, particularly in its relationship to our earth. Jehovah’s rulership was expressed for a time through the kingdom that he set up over the nation of Israel. Thus the kings of the tribe of Judah who reigned over the Israelites were said to “sit upon Jehovah’s throne.”—1 Chronicles 29:23.

¹⁵ According to the Bible account in Daniel chapter four, the heaven-high tree was cut down. However, the stump was left, and bands of iron and of copper were put on it. This would keep the stump from growing until it was God’s time to remove the bands and let it start growing again. But how and when was God’s rulership cut down?

¹⁶ In due course, the kingdom of Judah that Jehovah had set up became so corrupt that he allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to destroy it, to cut it down. This happened in the year 607 B.C.E. At that time Zedekiah, the last king of Judah to sit on Jehovah’s throne, was told: “Lift off the crown. . . . it will certainly become no one’s until he comes who has the legal right, and I must give it to him.”—Ezekiel 21:25-27.

¹⁷ So God’s rulership, as represented by the “tree,” was cut down in 607 B.C.E. No longer was there a government to represent God’s rulership in the earth. Thus, in 607 B.C.E. a period of time began that Jesus Christ later referred to as “the appointed times of the nations,” or, “the times of the Gentiles.” (Luke 21:24; King James Version) During these “appointed times” God did not have a government to represent his rulership in the earth.

¹⁸ What was to happen at the end of these “appointed times of the nations”? Jehovah was to give the power to rule to the One “who has the legal right.” This One is Jesus Christ. So if we can find out when “the appointed times of the nations” end, we will know when Christ begins to rule as king.

¹⁹ According to Daniel chapter four, these “appointed times” would be “seven times.” Daniel shows that there would be “seven times” during which God’s rulership, as represented by the “tree,” would not be in operation over the earth. (Daniel 4:16, 23) How long are these “seven times”?

²⁰ In Revelation chapter 12, verses 6 and 14, we learn that 1,260 days are equal to “a time [that is, 1 time] and times [that is, 2 times] and half a time.” That is a total of 3 ¹/₂ times. So “a time” would be equal to 360 days. Therefore, “seven times” would be 7 times 360, or 2,520 days. Now if we count a day for a year, according to a Bible rule, the “seven times” equal 2,520 years.—Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6.

²¹ We have already learned that “the appointed times of the nations” began in the year 607 B.C.E. So by counting 2,520 years from that date, we come down to 1914 C.E. That is the year these “appointed times” ended. Millions of people still living remember the things that happened in 1914. In that year, World War I began a period of terrible trouble that has continued to our day. This means that Jesus Christ began to rule as king of God’s heavenly government in 1914. And because the Kingdom has already started its rule, how timely it is that we pray for it to “come” and wipe Satan’s wicked system of things from the earth!—Matthew 6:10; Daniel 2:44.

²² Yet a person may ask: ‘If Christ has already returned to rule in his Father’s kingdom, why do we not see him?’

 

Book reference ‘Pe’ = You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth

 

 

*** Extracted Document ***  Cross-references from Psalm 110:1-3

Psalm 2:8, 9) Ask of me, and I will give nations as your inheritance And the ends of the earth as your possession.  ⁹ You will break them with an iron scepter, And you will smash them like a piece of pottery.”

(Psalm 45:4, 5) And in your splendor go on to victory; Ride in the cause of truth and humility and righteousness, And your right hand will accomplish awe-inspiring things.  ⁵ Your arrows are sharp, making peoples fall before you; They pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies.

(Matthew 28:18) Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth.

(Revelation 6:2) And I saw, and look! a white horse, and the one seated on it had a bow; and a crown was given him, and he went out conquering and to complete his conquest.

(Revelation 12:5) And she gave birth to a son, a male, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away to God and to his throne.

(Revelation 19:11) I saw heaven opened, and look! a white horse. And the one seated on it is called Faithful and True, and he judges and carries on war in righteousness.

(Revelation 19:15) And out of his mouth protrudes a sharp, long sword with which to strike the nations, and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron. Moreover, he treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 

FULFILLED

NOT YET FULFILLED

 *** w14 2/15 p. 7 Hail Christ, the Glorious King! ***

THE KING COMPLETES HIS CONQUEST

¹⁷ Read Psalm 45:5. The King is mounted on a white horse, representing warfare that is clean and righteous in Jehovah’s eyes. (Rev. 6:2; 19:11) In addition to a sword, he is equipped with a bow. We read: “I saw, and look! a white horse, and the one seated on it had a bow; and a crown was given him, and he went out conquering and to complete his conquest.” Both the sword and the bow represent the means that Christ will use to execute judgment on his enemies.

¹⁸ In poetic language, the psalmist prophesies that the King’s ‘arrows are sharp, piercing the hearts of his enemies’ and ‘making peoples fall before him.’ The carnage will be earth wide. Jeremiah’s prophecy foretells: “Those slain by Jehovah in that day will be from one end of the earth clear to the other end of the earth.” (Jer. 25:33) A parallel prophecy states: “I saw also an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice and said to all the birds that fly in midheaven: ‘Come here, be gathered together to the great evening meal of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of military commanders and the flesh of strong men and the flesh of horses and of those seated on them, and the flesh of all, of freemen as well as of slaves and of small ones and great.’”—Rev. 19:17, 18.

¹⁹ After destroying Satan’s wicked system of things on earth, Christ ‘in his splendor’ will “go on to victory.” (Ps. 45:4) He will complete his conquest by abyssing Satan and his demons for the full length of the Thousand Year Reign. (Rev. 20:2, 3) With the Devil and his angels then in a state of deathlike inactivity, earth’s inhabitants will be free of satanic influence and will be able to live in total subjection to their victorious and glorious King. Before they see the earth gradually transformed into a global paradise, however, they will have another reason to rejoice with their King and his heavenly associates. That joyful event will be examined in the following article.

[Melinda Mills]

10 hours ago, Melinda Mills said:

¹⁹ After destroying Satan’s wicked system of things on earth, Christ ‘in his splendor’ will “go on to victory.” (Ps. 45:4) He will complete his conquest by abyssing Satan and his demons for the full length of the Thousand Year Reign. (Rev. 20:2, 3) With the Devil and his angels then in a state of deathlike inactivity, earth’s inhabitants will be free of satanic influence and will be able to live in total subjection to their victorious and glorious King. Before they see the earth gradually transformed into a global paradise, however, they will have another reason to rejoice with their King and his heavenly associates. That joyful event will be examined in the following article.

Note second sentence in para. 19 quoted. 

The political nations (the wild beast), the scarlet coloured wild beast, the small and the great who follow them have not yet been destroyed; nor have Satan and his demons been abyssed.

Since Satan will be out of operation for the full length of the thousand years, we know the Millenium has not yet started, but God's Kingdom by means of Christ has started to rule towards the earth in the midst of its enemies. Jesus is also leading his congregation and for the last 100 years much progress has been made and many legal victories have been obtained over his opposers.

 

 

 

 

 

[JW Insider]

On 3/24/2016 at 11:04 PM, Epiraima said:

I don't think so, as 1914 C.E would shift the date of Adam's creation back also. We think 1975 was 6,000 years since Adam's creation and still use that chronology for other dates of significant events in Bible history. All other dates would need to be pushed back, wouldn't they? Sorry, Ive never been the greatest mathmetician lol

We (WTS) used to think that 6,000 years of man's existence ended in 1873 and thus 1874 was the beginning of the thousand years. This is why the primary books of that time period were called "Millennial Dawn." The 1,000 year "day" had just dawned, and "we" were in the early morning of that day.

The fact that so many Bible chronology "proofs" led to the year 1874 was the reason that we kept that date "on the books" as significant for so many years. Up until around 1930. Changes became official for removing 1874 from our chronology "portfolio" in 1943/1944. After that, we kept 1878 as a significant prophetic year "on the books" even up until past when I was born (1957). So, although I don't remember it, we still studied that date at our "Congregation Book Study" in my lifetime.

[io.porog]

1 hour ago, JW Insider said:

We (WTS) used to think that 6,000 years of man's existence ended in 1873 and thus 1874 was the beginning of the thousand years. This is why the primary books of that time period were called "Millennial Dawn." The 1,000 year "day" had just dawned, and "we" were in the early morning of that day.

The fact that so many Bible chronology "proofs" led to the year 1874 was the reason that we kept that date "on the books" as significant for so many years. Up until around 1930. Changes became official for removing 1874 from our chronology "portfolio" in 1943/1944. After that, we kept 1878 as a significant prophetic year "on the books" even up until past when I was born (1957). So, although I don't remember it, we still studied that date at our "Congregation Book Study" in my lifetime.

I'm aware of the other dates. The current chronology still has Adam's creation at 4026 B.C.E pointing to 1975 as the end of 6,000 years. So today, we still use dates that fit the chronology at the time of 1975. What's missing is that the Septuagint has a differing timeline as you may know, and if that is more accurate than the Masoretic text as some believe after comparing the Dead sea scrolls then it may be a long time yet coming.

[Witness]

Would Satan be totally out of operation during the Thousand Years?  I think of Job, a man blessed by God amidst much wickedness. 

 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” 

 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.  But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.  Job 1:8-12

Revelation is a book of symbols. The Watchtower Kingdom Interlinear for Rev 1:1 reads as word for word, “Revelation of Jesus Christ, which gave to him the God to show to the slaves of him, which (things) it is binding to occur in quickness, and HE SHOWED BY SIGNS having sent off through the angel of him to the slave of him to John”

Matt 13:34,35 – “All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:  “I will open My mouth in parables;  I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

By this, we understand that Satan’s “chained” state in the abyss is also symbolic.  He was restrained by the conquering Christ, in the first century.   John 16:33; 14:30; Luke 10:17-19; Rev 20:1-3; Eph 1:19-21

The scriptures seem to point to Christ beginning his rule at the right hand of God upon his resurrection.  John 18:33,36,37; Matt 21:1-5; Luke 17:21

Keeping in mind the use of symbolism in Revelation, the Thousand Year period must have a deeper meaning than a literal time period.  “10” used in the Bible is symbolic for completeness or wholeness. 

“This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” 2 Cor 13:1  The clue here shows that complete truth was received three times.  10X10X10=1000 – a whole and perfect witness to truth.

Another example; there is wholeness found in Satan’s realm.  “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”  1 John 5:19

Another established scripture to help with the Thousand Year period being symbolic is 2 Pet 3:8,9:

“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

This is basically putting an unlimited understanding of “man” time on Christ’s rule, as its limit is in accordance with his will that we all obtain repentance.  It also shows man’s impetuous desire to establish dates, when in reality all is governed by God’s own timetable.  2 Pet 3:1-4; 2 Thess 2:1,2; Isa 55:8,9

Since Christ sat at the right hand of God, his Bride of faithful ones has been continually gathered. Eph 1:10; 3:2; Rev 7:4; 14:1; Isa 2:3; Rev 21:2; Ps 110:2

The Watchtower states that this is now Satan’s short period of time, but also teaches the Kingdom began in 1914; but a Thousand Year kingdom is still to come.  This sounds rather confusing to me. 

The Kingdom of God’s coming is in this order according to scripture:

In Rev 12:10 -  “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”

Which occurs first, is it the Kingdom, or the casting down?  God’s Kingdom is ushered in when all of the 144,000 have been sealed and after Satan’s short period of release is ended.  His short time is his last serious deception against Christ’s seed (for the accuser of our brethren).  It is after that, God’s Kingdom begins, (NOW salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God….)

 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.²⁵ For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.  1 Cor 15:23-26

The Watchtower Kingdom Interlinear translates word for word, Matt 24:3,8 as:

3 – “Sitting but of him upon the Mount of the Olives came toward him the disciples according to private (spot) saying Say to us when these (things) will be and what the sign of the your presence and of conclusion of the age”

8- “all but these (things) beginning of PANGS OF BIRTH”

Mark 13:8 reads, “….beginning of BIRTH PAINS these things” 

Before birth there are always pains of labor, and the birth we are speaking of is the advent of the Kingdom.  If it is already here, than birth has come before labor. 

“Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.”  Rev 12:1,2,5

That birth of the completed number of heirs, causes the kingdom of this world, 
to become the kingdom of our God, Rev 11:15; 12:10
God’s will then takes place as it already is in heaven (among those sealed
-Eph 2:6; Heb 12:22,23; Luke 10:20),
...even to take place on earth (Matt 6:10).

And are labor pains found in Satan’s world?  It is the woman covenant that suffers the pains of birth. Satan has been able to mislead everyone with events taking place in the very world he controls 1 John 5:19;12:31. God's Holy Kingdom is not being born from this demonic source Job 14:4;John 18:36.

Once Satan is cast down, all is finished.  Since the Father has committed all judging to his Son, his Thousand Year rule has presented complete truth to all the anointed ones and they are judged by their acceptance to it.  Mal 3:18; 2 Tim 3:13

Armageddeon has to do with the battle between Kings, chosen anointed ones.  Rev 16:16 (Rev 1:6,5:10; Matt 19:28; Rev 11:16)  It is a “court case” held symbolically to determine each one’s righteousness in acceptance of truth outlined by Jesus Christ.  Joel 3:12,14; Dan 7:10-14,18-27

This is truly Satan’s short period of time; enraged at the woman’s seed, and uses deception to cause each chosen one to possibly fall for his lies placed before them.  Rev 12:17  Through each potential sealed priest/king’s teachings, Christ gives his final judgment, (Matt 12:37; John 12:48)  to them, as well as to all who listen.  John 21:17

[Jesus.defender]

1916 "The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six great 1000 year days beginning with Adam are ended, and that the great 7th Day, the 1000 years of Christ's Reign, began in 1873," (The Time Is at Hand, forward, p. ii).