Following the Resurrection of those who are in Christ, which Paul tells us about in 1 Cor 16:23, he tells of things that will follow:

then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

1 Corinthians 15:24-26

The order of things to occur following Jesus coming also seem to divide the body. Just one more point of contention amid the many. This verse is clear that Jesus will rule following The Resurrection until all enemies are defeated. The last being Death itself. So you might ask why then is there a misunderstanding about this? Let’s consider another close by and related passage:

But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “ Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting ?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NASB

This passage seems to tell us something very different. Once we are resurrected Death no longer has its power over us. And then the question must be asked: “Is this not then the end of death and have all enemies now been defeated?” Here are the points we need to consider:

1.At the time of His Coming the resurrection of all who are in Christ has occurred.

2.Jesus after this resurrection is trampling the wine press of His Wrath. So all enemies are not yet destroyed.

3.This wrath seeing its final consumption in the future Great White Throne Judgment will conclude wrath and the death it brings. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

Romans 5:6-9 NKJV. He has kept His promise.

4.Jesus’ Judgment of Nations is still future following First resurrection.

5.He has not yet handed the kingdom over to His Father.

Therefore we must conclude that Death cannot yet be finally defeated until the millennium is ended. In Revelation we are told of what is a final rebellion and death that is to occur after Messiah reigns for 1000 years following His return. We will reign with Him at that time. Following that reign and the destruction of our final enemy death then the millennial kingdom will be given over by Christ to His Father. At that time Death will have been destroyed.

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

1 Corinthians 15:50

Since Paul adds this requirement to the kingdom of God which we will enter following the millennium; then we can make the following observation. The Millennial Kingdom does not have the same characteristics as the kingdom of God. Since the millennium is 1000 years in length and will include mortals, and mortals die; and God’s kingdom is eternal. Death and mortality will both enter the millennium. No mortal will enter God’s kingdom, but death is still seen during the Millennium.

Why does Jesus say to Pilot, “My kingdom is not of this world, when He will reign on the earth? There is a translation error. “ek Tov” in the Greek means “out of”, and if properly used in the translation of this verse; then Jesus said “My kingdom is not out of this earth”; and then the implication is this: His kingdom does not arise from earthly power, but from above. So His reign will be over the earth but with Heavenly authority. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. His reign will result in the final destruction of death. Evil will be destroyed at His coming. Satan will be bound, but evil and Satan will once again rebel against Him, and then He will defeat it, and with it death forever.