King Jesus promised His 12 disciples that they will rule for 1000 years over the 12 tribes of Israel, their people from amoung whom they were redeemed.
Over what tribe, tongue, people, nation will you be ruling with King Jesus for that 1000 years, Joe?
Dear 12question,
Here is what the spiritual symbol "1000 years" represents:
2Pet 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
In 2nd Peter chapter 3, Peter is teaching about
Christ's judgment and how that judgment compares to the spiritual symbol "thousand years". And as you will see later, John in Revelation chapter 20 is teaching about the same subject.
When Peter compares a thousand years to a day, the “day” Peter is referring to is the
Day of the Lord. Both the “Thousand Years” and the “Day of the Lord” are
spiritual symbols which represent Christ’s judgment.
They do not represent any specific amount of literal time - that is a carnal understanding of the symbols.
2Pet 3:10 But the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
When Christ’s judgment arrives, it comes as a thief in the night and will destroy the “heavens” and the “earth” of the believer. The earth represents mankind’s
spiritual nature (heart). The heavens represent mankind’s
mind. In the verse above, Peter is speaking about mankind’s
carnal spiritual nature and
carnal mind.
These are the Old Heavens and the Old Earth.
When Christ comes a "second time" to a believer and gives them the Latter Rain of the Spirit, it will immediately be followed by the arrival of the Day of the Lord/Thousand Years. Christ's judgment will destroy the Old Heaven and the Old Earth. Once they are completely destroyed, the Elect believer will be governed by a New Heaven and a New Earth which will come from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early (referring to the Elect/First Fruits): for when thy judgments are in the (New) earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
This verse below applies to what Peter stated about the Thousand Years:
Psa 90:3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. 4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. 5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
Though the above verse is clouded in spiritual language, it is also teaching that the Day of the Lord is like a Thousand Years.
This verse also applies:
Ecc 6:6 Yea, though he live a Thousand Years TWICE TOLD, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
The above verse is speaking of the Elect who will reign with Christ in judgment “twice told”. The
first time they reign with Christ is over their own judgment (
presented in Rev 19:11-14). The
second time they reign with Christ is in the final age when the lost are judged (
Joel 2:1-11). During both judgments, the Elect do not see any good and all who are judged (mankind, children of the devil) will go to “one place” (Lake of Fire, destruction).
Revelation chapter 20 is a continuation of chapter 19 and the thousand years taught there carries the same meaning as Peter taught.
When judgment comes to an Elect believer, Satan will be bound during that time of judgment (a thousand years) and not allowed to tempt the believer until they are converted. This time of judgment for the Elect believer is called the Day of the Lord. But since the believer is "born again"
prior to their judgment occurring, they do not experience wrath. Instead, they will reign with Christ over their own judgment (as shown in Rev 19:11-14) as a newly born child of God (a Bride).
This time of judgment for an Elect believer is also called the "1000 years" reign. After the chosen believer's judgment is complete, Satan will be loosed for a "little season" (shown in detail in Rev 20:7-10) to test the newly converted believer. This time of testing for a believer was "typed" by Christ when Satan came to Christ at the end of His 40 days of fasting. And like Christ, the converted believer will not fall for Satan's deceptions.
Also, the spiritual term "First Resurrection" represents the complete spiritual process of
conversion. It is not the bodily resurrection from the grave. It is the spiritual resurrection.
The full process of the First Resurrection (conversion) is taught in the previous chapter (Rev 19:7-21) using the
marriage analogy. It consists of the birth of the child of God (Marriage of the Lamb) and their learning truth directly from Christ (Marriage Supper of the Lamb). After the believer has received sufficient knowledge, judgment will fall on the believer and remove their "chaff". After the believer is converted, they will have eternal salvation and will walk by faith.
As for your question on who I believe I will be reigning over (serving) in the final age, I won't speculate because God's Word tells us "not to go beyond what is written":
1Cor 4:6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.
Joe