“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
(Revelation 20:6)
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
(2 Peter 3:8-9)
A thousand years
“Concerning the one thousand years as recorded in the Book: It signifieth the beginning of this Manifestation until the end of its predominance throughout the contingent world; because this Cause is great, its powers are growing and its signs are dazzling. It shall continue in elevation, exaltation, growth, promulgation and promotion until it shall reach the apex of its glory in one thousand years—as the day of this Manifestation is one thousand years. Thou shalt see its conquering power, its manifest dominion, its eternal might and its everlasting glory.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá v3, p. 659)
During the times of tribulation that humanity is currently passing through, it may be difficult to perceive the coming of the Lord. Though perhaps weak and frail, as we respond to His call, He resurrects us from our tombs of ignorance and error. We are judged by our receptivity to His Person and His Revelation. Filled with the rapture of His Spirit, our hearts long to share the glad tidings throughout the earth, and we arise to serve our Lord.
Complete victory
“If it be Our pleasure We shall render the Cause victorious through the power of a single word from Our presence. He is in truth the Omnipotent, the All-Compelling. Should it be God’s intention, there would appear out of the forests of celestial might the lion of indomitable strength whose roaring is like unto the peals of thunder reverberating in the mountains. However, since Our loving providence surpasseth all things, We have ordained that complete victory should be achieved through speech and utterance, that Our servants throughout the earth may thereby become the recipients of divine good. This is but a token of God’s bounty vouchsafed unto them. Verily thy Lord is the All-Sufficing, the Most Exalted.” (Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 197)