The Millenarian

The Church rejects the notion that Christ will visibly reign on earth for 1,000 years following His Second Coming.  Maria Divine Mercy actively promotes this idea.

The term "millenarianism" generally refers to the idea that, at his Second Coming, Jesus Christ will establish a visible kingdom on earth in which he will physically reign during a golden age of peace and prosperity for 1,000 years, at the end of which will occur the final judgment.  This idea was rejected by the Church in 1824, when the Holy Office (the former name for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) condemned a book by a Chilean priest which promoted millenarianism. Later, in 1944, the Holy Office issued a decree in which it stated that "the system of mitigated millenarianism cannot be taught safely taught" (see Denzinger-Schonmetzer 3839 [Denzinger 2296 in the "old numbering"]).  (In the same decree, the Holy Office identified "mitigated millenarianism" as the idea "that Christ the Lord before the final judgment, whether or not preceded by the resurrection of the many just, will come visibly to rule over this world.") And, most recently, the Church reaffirmed this condemnation of millenarianism in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "The Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism."  (n. 676)

One of the reasons why the Church rejects millenarianism is because the idea contradicts what the Church professes in the Nicene Creed: "He will come in glory again to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end." Jesus' Second Coming, the resurrection of the just, and the final judgment (which includes the final battle with Satan) will all take place at once and instantaneously: "in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Cor. 15:52), as St. Paul puts it (see Matthew 24:29-31; 1 Corinthians 15:20-24, 51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10; Catechism of the Catholic Church 668-677).  Since the Second Coming and the final judgment will happen at the same time, a 1,000-year, visible reign of Christ on earth cannot be foreseen as taking place in between the two occurrences.  And, once the Second Coming, the resurrection of the just, and the final judgment have transpired, there will follow the establishment of that kingdom which will have no end, as we profess, not of that on earth for 1,000 years.

So, when the Book of Revelation speaks of the 1,000-year reign of Christ in Revelation 20:4-6, only an interpretation which takes the 1,000-year time period as being symbolic would coincide with the Church's position on the matter.  One such interpretation, as St. Augustine put forward, suggests that the 1,000-year reign represents the entire stretch of history spanning between Christ's First and Second Comings, during which time he reigns spiritually and sacramentally through his Church (see City of God, Book 20, Chapter 9).

Maria Divine Mercy actively promotes millenarianism.  Following are several quotations in which she has promoted the idea of an actual, 1,000-year time period during which Christ is to reign on earth following his Second Coming:

"Many people believe that My Second Coming indicates that the end of the world has come.  That is not the case, for instead, it will mean the end times when Satan and his followers, who create untold misery in the world, will be banished for 1,000 years." (May 20, 2011)

"The New Paradise on Earth is now being planned for all of My children. It will last 1,000 years on Earth and no one must be excluded, for that would break my Heart." (June 25, 2011, bold print in original)

"John the Evangelist was also told about the Glorious Return of My beloved Son, when he will reign in the new Era of Peace for 1,000 years." (February 23,2012)

"My chosen generation will be with Me for eternity.  This Paradise will offer 1,000 years of peace, love, and harmony.  After this period the second resurrection of the dead will take place."  (February 24, 2012, bold print in original)

"You will live in love, peace and harmony during my Glorious Reign on earth for 1000 years." (April 6, 2012)

"The Era of Peace will take place after the Second Coming of My Son and will last 1,000 years." (April 9, 2012)

(See also August 14, 2011; February 14, 2012; April 29, 2012; June 9, 2012; June 21, 2012; October 15, 2012)

And, Maria Divine Mercy makes it clear that this "1,000 years" is not symbolic for some other time period.  She assures us:

"Know that the 1,000 years referred to in the Book of Revelation means just that.  If it was meant to be something different then it would have been given a different time.  My Church, the Catholic Church, has not declared their beliefs because they have not done this yet." (May 28, 2012).

Such a literal understanding of the 1,000 years does not correspond with the Church's position on the matter.  And, it is false to suggest that the "Church, the Catholic Church, has not declared their beliefs because they have not done this yet".  As shown above, the Church has indeed spoken on the matter, and the fact that Maria Divine Mercy knows this is shown in further messages:

"Why do you deny, for example, the existence of the 1,000 years of the New Heaven and Earth?
This revelation is very specific and the truth is there for all to see.
Yet My Holy Word is challenged.
The Book of Revelation, just as the prophecies contained in the Book of Daniel, have been given to you only in parts. Many of you are confused."  (March 22, 2012, bold print in original).

So, according to this message, anyone who "denies the existence of the 1,000 years of the New Heaven and Earth" is simply "confused".  It is presumptuous for Maria Divine Mercy to imply that the Church has been merely "confused" all this time.  And, regarding those of us who would continue to accept the Church's authority over Maria Divine Mercy's, Jesus supposedly told her:

"The prophecies, contained in the Book of Revelation, are only partially known.
No sacred servant in My Church understands the Book of Revelation, yet. They will be informed, and this I will do in parts. It is only for your knowing when I decide the time is right."  (January 27, 2013, bold print in original)

And, regarding the leaders of the Church who continue to teach the Church's teaching, Jesus tells Maria Divine Mercy:

"You must not listen to those, within your ranks, who twist the Truth in relation to the New Era of Peace on Earth.
What motivates your brothers, within My Roman Catholic Church, who deny the Truth?
You have confused My children.
Because of their loyalty to the One True Church, The Roman Catholic Church, you are denying them the chance to prepare their souls for My Son’s Reign in the New Paradise on Earth."  (February 23, 2012, bold print in original)

This message clearly conveys a call "not to listen to those, within [the] ranks" of the Church who put forward a different interpretation than Maria Divine Mercy's regarding the "New Era of Peace on Earth".  And, faithful Catholics' "loyalty to the One True Church, The Roman Catholic Church" is presented as a stumbling block which hinders people from preparing "their souls for [Jesus'] Reign in the New Paradise on Earth".  With these words, Maria Divine Mercy is advocating disloyalty to the Church, especially when the Church teaches something different than what she does.

What should be most telling in these messages is the implication that Maria Divine Mercy is aware that her messages convey a different teaching from the Church's, yet that she will continue to put forward this erroneous interpretation, anyway.