36 passages, 9 quoted here · Marked debate. Read the differences
Whether Christ will reign on earth for a thousand years before the end, a point the early writers did not all agree on.
Where they stood
Each row is one claim. Each name is a writer, placed at the date of the passage. Select a name to read what they said.
5 of the 6 writers here teach: “Christ will reign a thousand years on earth / in Jerusalem.” 1 reject it. They answer a rival view: “The reign in Revelation is not a bald earthly kingdom.” An internal debate, not a later break.
teaches itpartlyrejects itlater writer, summary only
Apostolic FathersApostolicBefore NicaeaBefore NicaeaNicaea to ChalcedonNicaea to 451After ChalcedonAfter 451
Christ will reign a thousand years on earth / in Jerusalem5 teach · 1 reject
BarnabasTeaches: Christ will reign a thousand years on earth / in Jerusalem
fl. c. 100 AD · Epistle of Barnabas 15
It is also written about the Sabbath in the ten words which God spoke face to face with Moses on Mount Sinai: "You shall sanctify the Sabbath of the Lord with clean hands and a clean heart" (Exod 20:8–11). Elsewhere it says: "If my sons keep the Sabbath, then I will put my mercy upon them" (Exod 31:13).
Justin MartyrTeaches: Christ will reign a thousand years on earth / in Jerusalem
c. 100–c. 165 AD · Dialogue with Trypho 80
Do you expect this, or did you only agree to confess these things so that you might appear to overcome us in these debates?" I answered, "I am not so foolish, Trypho, as to say things other than what I actually think.
Justin MartyrTeaches: Christ will reign a thousand years on earth / in Jerusalem
c. 100–c. 165 AD · Dialogue with Trypho 81
For Isaiah spoke thus concerning this millennium: The heaven will be new and the earth new, and they will not remember the former things nor will these come to mind; instead they will find joy and gladness in what I create.
Irenaeus of LyonsTeaches: Christ will reign a thousand years on earth / in Jerusalem
c. 130–c. 202 AD · Against Heresies 5.33
For this reason he came to his passion: to preach the gospel to Abraham and those with him, opening the inheritance. Having given thanks, he took the cup, drank from it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
Irenaeus of LyonsTeaches: Christ will reign a thousand years on earth / in Jerusalem
c. 130–c. 202 AD · Against Heresies 5.35
If some try to allegorize these things, they will not be able to square their readings with themselves on every point; the very words will convict them.
CommodianTeaches: Christ will reign a thousand years on earth / in Jerusalem
fl. c. 250 AD · Instructions 44
The city will descend from heaven in the first resurrection; we must speak of such a great heavenly structure. We who were devoted will rise again, incorruptible, already then living without death. No pain, no groaning will exist in that place.
1. But as they produce a certain composition by Nepos, on which they insist very strongly, as if it demonstrated incontestably that there will be a (temporal) reign of Christ upon the earth, I have to say, that in many other respects I accept the opinion of Nepos, and love him at once for his faith, and his…
LactantiusTeaches: Christ will reign a thousand years on earth / in Jerusalem
c. 250–c. 325 AD · Divine Institutes 7.24
I now append the rest. The Son of the highest and greatest God will come to judge the living and the dead, as the Sibyl testifies and declares: there shall be a mingling of mortals across the whole earth when the Almighty Himself arrives to judge the souls of the living and the dead and the entire world.
LactantiusTeaches: Christ will reign a thousand years on earth / in Jerusalem
c. 250–c. 325 AD · Divine Institutes 7.26
We mentioned a short while ago that at the outset of the holy kingdom the prince of demons would be conquered by God. Yet once the thousand years of that kingdom — in other words, seven thousand years — begin to draw to a close, he will be released once more, let loose from custody, and will go out to incite all the…