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There is no scripture in the Bible that tells us that the righteous will "rule" anyone during the millennium. There is scripture that tells us we will live and "reign"[936] WITH Christ for 1000 years. And there is scripture that states; Christ will "rule"[4165] the nations with a rod of iron at His second coming.
But, there are many things one should consider when trying to compare the two.
1. The timing of "rule".(Rev.19)
Pre-mill event that occurs at the coming of Christ/Armageddon.
2. The word "rule" actually means to "feed".(even more specifically feed cattle)
Strong's[4165]
3. The word "nations" actually is called "Gentiles", the majority of the times it was used in the Bible.
Strong's[1484]
The question shouldn't be, "Who shall we rule?"
Instead it should be, "What exactly is this pre-millennial event?
_______
_______
Again, a firm understanding, of the context and the terms used, can alleviate any doubts.
First, let discuss the word "ethnos", from which we get this word "nations",(Rev.19:15).
This word is used to refer to a particular group. Much as we use the words "them" and "they". It can be referring to just about any kind of grouping of like people. Even though this word is translated as gentiles and nations, by definition it means neither. It simply means a group of people that share common characteristics. For example, "hippies" and "Russians" have their own grouping(ethnos).
The problem we see is that people have gone beyond the definition and even the context and are blinded by a familiar English word which they refuse to see as anything other than what it reads. In this case some read the word "nations" and apply a very modern and rigid definition based solely on how we use that English word.
The English word "nations" implies an empire of a formal and political nature. But that is not what ethnos means at all. It can be used to refer to someone from a specific country, or it can also be used to refer to someone with a specific religion or even a certain disease.
When the word ethnos is used in Rev. 19:15, we must examine it in context to see the particular group that is being spoken of. Let's see what kind of characteristics these ethnos are described as having....
Christ comes to make war with them(v.11).
His initial attack smites them with His sword, feeds them a rod of iron and He treadeth them in His fierce wrath(v.15).
The fowl of the earth are called to feed on their flesh(v.17).
They are called, kings, mighty men, captains, all men, both free and bond, both small and great(v.18).
They are the ones who gather to make battle against Christ and His armies(v.19).
The remnant of this ethnos was slain with the sword and their flesh was eaten by the fowl(v.21).
________
________
This may sound fundamental, but these folks are obviously the "bad guys". It appears that these are all the wicked that are alive at the time of His advent. They're simply a group of the bad (ethnos) people. Unbelievers, wicked, tares, goats, etc... which obviously, if they are slain at Armageddon and their flesh is vulture food, then these people are not reigned over during the millennium
_________
_________
Now lets' move on to the phrase "rule them with a rod of iron". As mentioned earlier this word that we translated as "rule" comes from the Greek word "poimaino". It's primary definition and translation is to "feed". It was commonly used to mean to tend or keep a flock like a shepherd might and this is where the connotation of ruling comes from.
We've already seen above that these people are smited with a sword, slain with a sword, flesh is eaten by the birds, and tread upon in His fierce wrath.
That all by itself doesn't sound too hopeful for survivors, does it? Now that we have seen the context of who they are and what their fate is, let's compare a little scripture just to make sure this word "rule/feed" doesn't throw us off.
Psa 2:9 Thou shalt BREAK them with a ROD OF IRON; thou shalt dash them in pieces
like a potter's vessel.
Rev 2:27 And HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; as the vessels of a potter shall they be BROKEN to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
We see that elsewhere in Rev. and in Psa. it specifically mentions the rod of iron as well. Again the implication is clear, it is a violent act. Those verses tell us that this ruling with a rod of iron causes them to be broken and dashed to pieces like a potters vessel.
Since we see this mention of the rod associated with the Lord's wrath in Rev. 19:15, these also shed some light as to usage.
Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he JUDGE the poor, and reprove with equity for
the meek of the earth: and he shall SMITE the EARTH with the ROD OF HIS MOUTH, and with the breath of his lips shall he SLAY THE WICKED.
Lam 3:1 I [am] the man [that] hath seen affliction by the ROD OF HIS WRATH.
Isa 10:5 O Assyrian, THE ROD OF MINE ANGER, and the staff in their hand is mine
indignation.
According to Rev. 19 and other directly comparative scripture, let's see what we've come up with.
This (ethnos)group of bad people are...
smited with a sword
slain with a sword
flesh is eaten by the birds
tread upon in His fierce wrath
broken and dashed to pieces
ruled with a rod of iron
John is quite clear about the affect of this iron rod, it brakes them to shivers, and it is not some form of governing. It is the first death! And nowhere does he ever even hint that this event continues into the millennial period of judgment.
But, there are many things one should consider when trying to compare the two.
1. The timing of "rule".(Rev.19)
Pre-mill event that occurs at the coming of Christ/Armageddon.
2. The word "rule" actually means to "feed".(even more specifically feed cattle)
Strong's[4165]
3. The word "nations" actually is called "Gentiles", the majority of the times it was used in the Bible.
Strong's[1484]
The question shouldn't be, "Who shall we rule?"
Instead it should be, "What exactly is this pre-millennial event?
_______
_______
Again, a firm understanding, of the context and the terms used, can alleviate any doubts.
First, let discuss the word "ethnos", from which we get this word "nations",(Rev.19:15).
This word is used to refer to a particular group. Much as we use the words "them" and "they". It can be referring to just about any kind of grouping of like people. Even though this word is translated as gentiles and nations, by definition it means neither. It simply means a group of people that share common characteristics. For example, "hippies" and "Russians" have their own grouping(ethnos).
The problem we see is that people have gone beyond the definition and even the context and are blinded by a familiar English word which they refuse to see as anything other than what it reads. In this case some read the word "nations" and apply a very modern and rigid definition based solely on how we use that English word.
The English word "nations" implies an empire of a formal and political nature. But that is not what ethnos means at all. It can be used to refer to someone from a specific country, or it can also be used to refer to someone with a specific religion or even a certain disease.
When the word ethnos is used in Rev. 19:15, we must examine it in context to see the particular group that is being spoken of. Let's see what kind of characteristics these ethnos are described as having....
Christ comes to make war with them(v.11).
His initial attack smites them with His sword, feeds them a rod of iron and He treadeth them in His fierce wrath(v.15).
The fowl of the earth are called to feed on their flesh(v.17).
They are called, kings, mighty men, captains, all men, both free and bond, both small and great(v.18).
They are the ones who gather to make battle against Christ and His armies(v.19).
The remnant of this ethnos was slain with the sword and their flesh was eaten by the fowl(v.21).
________
________
This may sound fundamental, but these folks are obviously the "bad guys". It appears that these are all the wicked that are alive at the time of His advent. They're simply a group of the bad (ethnos) people. Unbelievers, wicked, tares, goats, etc... which obviously, if they are slain at Armageddon and their flesh is vulture food, then these people are not reigned over during the millennium
_________
_________
Now lets' move on to the phrase "rule them with a rod of iron". As mentioned earlier this word that we translated as "rule" comes from the Greek word "poimaino". It's primary definition and translation is to "feed". It was commonly used to mean to tend or keep a flock like a shepherd might and this is where the connotation of ruling comes from.
We've already seen above that these people are smited with a sword, slain with a sword, flesh is eaten by the birds, and tread upon in His fierce wrath.
That all by itself doesn't sound too hopeful for survivors, does it? Now that we have seen the context of who they are and what their fate is, let's compare a little scripture just to make sure this word "rule/feed" doesn't throw us off.
Psa 2:9 Thou shalt BREAK them with a ROD OF IRON; thou shalt dash them in pieces
like a potter's vessel.
Rev 2:27 And HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; as the vessels of a potter shall they be BROKEN to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
We see that elsewhere in Rev. and in Psa. it specifically mentions the rod of iron as well. Again the implication is clear, it is a violent act. Those verses tell us that this ruling with a rod of iron causes them to be broken and dashed to pieces like a potters vessel.
Since we see this mention of the rod associated with the Lord's wrath in Rev. 19:15, these also shed some light as to usage.
Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he JUDGE the poor, and reprove with equity for
the meek of the earth: and he shall SMITE the EARTH with the ROD OF HIS MOUTH, and with the breath of his lips shall he SLAY THE WICKED.
Lam 3:1 I [am] the man [that] hath seen affliction by the ROD OF HIS WRATH.
Isa 10:5 O Assyrian, THE ROD OF MINE ANGER, and the staff in their hand is mine
indignation.
According to Rev. 19 and other directly comparative scripture, let's see what we've come up with.
This (ethnos)group of bad people are...
smited with a sword
slain with a sword
flesh is eaten by the birds
tread upon in His fierce wrath
broken and dashed to pieces
ruled with a rod of iron
John is quite clear about the affect of this iron rod, it brakes them to shivers, and it is not some form of governing. It is the first death! And nowhere does he ever even hint that this event continues into the millennial period of judgment.
