Left Behind Study: The Church in the Millennial Kingdom

April 10, 2026 - By Cindy Fraser

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In the panoramic study, we covered many topics in What You Need to Know About the Tribulation Judgment. The plan was to keep the timeline in perspective concerning the five judgments that were identified in that study. This study is not intended to be an in-depth examination but rather a quick look at who will reign with Jesus during the millennial kingdom. We will, however, look at some other topics to lead up to the millennial years.

The Rapture vs The Second Coming

[Women’s Bible Teaching takes a preTribulational approach to eschatology regarding the end times.]

As a review, the rapture of the Church is for both Jews and Gentiles who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Meaning they are born of water and of the Spirit, John 3:3, 5.

Scripture says that the rapture (harpazo in Greek) will be sudden and when you least expect it, like a thief in the night, 1 Corinthians 15:52.

It is imminent (the doctrine of imminency), meaning it can happen at any time. Even before you finish reading this study! Or tomorrow, or next year. Who knows? Only the Father knows, not even Jesus.

The rapture event is completely different from the second coming event. Let’s look at the differences.

Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:1-3:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Jesus has gone to prepare a place for His Bride and will return to get us when His Father tells Him it is time to get us.

Who Will Preach Salvation during the Millennial Kingdom?

Shortly after the Church is taken up to be with Jesus in heaven, the world will go through the tribulation years. The Believers (the Church) will not see this, as we are gone at this point. At first, life will seem ‘normal’, but lawlessness will increase and will escalate to the point that the Anti-Christ will make himself known. This will be at the midpoint of the seven-year tribulation period.

We’re not going into detail about the tribulation judgments, as you can read them in the book of Revelation, chapters 5 through 19.

During the tribulation years, Matthew 24:14 tells us that the “gospel will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations.” People from every nation will be part of the redeemed as genuine conversions take place during the days of suffering and persecution. These new believers will be tested for their faith, which will cost many their lives. These are the martyred saints in Revelation 20:4.

Are you wondering who is preaching the gospel if the Church has been raptured?

Meet the New Evangelists

Scripture mentions

that there will be two witnesses, Revelation 11:3-12, who will preach the Gospel for three and a half years. The world will hate them, but in the end, the world will see the two witnesses ascend into heaven. Many may be saved when they see the two dead witnesses resurrected and ascend to heaven.

God has 144,000 sealed Israelites who will proclaim Jesus (Revelation 7:4; 14:1, 3). Their witness will be to preach repentance and salvation, as well as future judgments to come.

The 144,000 Israelites will be from the 12 tribes of Israel and will have the Father’s name written on their foreheads. Revelation 14:4 says these Jews are “redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.” Bible scholars believe that the 144,000 will be witnessing and preaching the Gospel to others as the Holy Spirit operates in them to preach.

God will allow an angel to preach the Gospel for the first time, Revelation 14:6-7. It is believed that this angel will be revealed near the end of the Tribulation.

The Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh, and people will see visions, have dreams, and speak prophecies from God. Joel 2:28-32 tells us what will happen and gives a description of the latter days.

God has already begun pouring out His Spirit, even now, before the Rapture has taken place. God desires that all will be saved and wants as many people saved (John 3:16) to be a part of the raptured Church as possible. After the Rapture, He will continue to pour out His Spirit on all flesh, but to a greater degree during the tribulation years.

Millions of Books Left Behind

During the tribulation years, God will use supernatural means to reach as many people as possible for repentance and salvation in Jesus before the end comes, as there will be no further opportunity for salvation.

Here’s another thought. When the Church is raptured, she will leave behind Bibles, study books, blog posts, and sermon articles over the internet, along with teaching/preaching videos from pastors and Bible teachers, and thousands of books in Christian book stores. This material will be available until the Antichrist removes it. But until then, this could also be a means of salvation to thousands of people as they look for answers to what happened to millions of people who disappeared from the earth.

Daniel 7:13-14 states that the Second Coming marks the termination of the times of the Gentiles (Tribulation) and the beginning of the reign of God’s kingdom on earth.

At the end of the horrors of the tribulation, those who placed their faith and their very lives in Jesus will be saved to enter the Millennial Kingdom.

The tribulation martyred saints will be with Jesus, serving Him in Jerusalem as He sits on His throne to rule over the earth in the millennial kingdom, Revelation 7:13-15. Those believers who survived the tribulation years will enter the thousand years of peace on earth.

May Your Kingdom Come — the Millennial Kingdom

When the Tribulation judgments are completed, Jesus will return to earth for the final battle of Gog and Magog. He will leave heaven on a white horse (Revelation 19:11) to make war. The army will “follow Him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean”, Revelation 19:14.

While the apostle John didn’t write the specific words referring to the Church or the raptured saints, upon a closer examination of Scripture, Revelation 17:14, we learn that “they that are with Him, are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Do these words ring a bell with you? It is the Church who is called, chosen, and faithful, Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 2:9. In addition, Jude 1:14 tells us “…Behold the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints.”

The army in heaven is the raptured Church who follows Jesus to the earth, and does not have weapons, as one might expect an army to carry. Jesus will lead His saints who are clothed in “fine linen, white and clean.” Bible commentator, David Guzik, says this: “The only armour or weapon they have is the only one they need: clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” This is the righteousness of the saints.

Here is what Scripture tells us.

The raptured Church will return with Christ in fine linen, clean and white, Revelation 19:8, 14. Also check 2 Timothy 2:11-12; Revelation 2:26, 3:21, 5:10; Daniel 7:13-14, 18, 27, 12:13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-3.

The Raptured Saints, the Resurrected Tribulation Saints, and the Old Testament Saints

There is also the verse when Jesus spoke with His disciples in Luke 22:28-30 and told them that they, the disciples, would “sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

The raptured Church, the resurrected Tribulation saints, and the Old Testament saints will have glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42; Revelation 20:4) while the believers who made it through the Tribulation years will have earthly bodies. During the millennial kingdom, both those with glorified bodies and earthly bodies will live together on the earth. Only those with earthly bodies can marry and populate the earth.

Jesus Christ will serve as King of kings and Lord of lords in the millennial kingdom and will fulfill the promises that He will sit on David’s throne over the house of Israel (2 Samuel 7:16; Psalm 89:20-37; Isaiah 11:1-16; Jeremiah 33:19-21). In His relationship to Israel as her king, He was born to rule over her (Luke 1:32-33). ¹

The people of Israel rejected Him as their king (Mark 15:12-13; Luke 19:14). In His death it was posted on the cross that He died as a king (Matthew 27:37). It is in keeping with this that when He comes again, He comes as the King who will fulfill prophecies of His ruling over the Davidic kingdom (Revelation 19:16). ¹

In addition to reigning over Israel as the Son of David, Christ is also King of Kings over the entire earth, and this includes, of course, the Gentile world. As Psalm 72:8 states, “He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” ¹ Check this interesting link for further details on the Characteristics and Spiritual Life of the Millennial Kingdom.

Conclusion

As we come to the end of this brief study, those who will reign with Jesus when He returns at His Second Coming are:

The raptured Church (made up of both Gentiles and Jewish believers),
The 12 apostles (disciples) judging over the twelve tribes of Israel,
And the resurrected Old Testament saints.

Who is Jesus reigning over?

The righteous Gentiles
The Jewish people

Both the Jews and Gentiles who survived the Tribulation years will enter the thousand years of peace and will produce offspring to populate the earth, producing millions more people.

Who will not be living in the Millennial Years?

The unbelieving Gentiles
The unbelieving Jews

Let me finish this study with 2 Corinthians 6:2b, Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. NKJV

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, now is the time to do so. Do not wait until it is too late, for there will be no second chances. The decision is yours, and today is the day to choose Christ, to choose life.

Sources:

1 – bible.org – The Second Coming of Christ and the Millennial Kingdom by John F. Walvoord

Further Teaching: