In early Christianity's expectation of the Kingdom of God, two types were inherited from Judaism. The first was the expectation of a messianic Kingdom in this world, with its centre in Jerusalem, which was to be established by an earthly Messiah from the house of David. The second expectation was that of a heavenly Kingdom, which was to be inaugurated by the heavenly Messiah, Son of man, and in which the elected comrades of the Kingdom from all times would share in the state of the resurrection.

In Paul's letters and in the Revelation to John, the faithful Christians will first reign together with their returning Lord for some time in this world. Those Christians who are still alive at his return will take part in the reign without dying (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Christians who have already died will rise again and, as resurrected ones, share in the Kingdom upon Earth. Only after completion of this first act of the events of the end time will there then follow the general resurrection of all the dead and the Last Judgment. The elect will participate as co-judges (1 Corinthians 6:2). According to the view of the Revelation to John, this 1,000-year Kingdom is composed of the chosen comrades of the Kingdom, especially the martyrs and all who stood the test in times of persecution. It is a Kingdom of the privileged elect who would be the sheep chosen and separated from the goats who will go to hell.

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