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How did the belief in Christ’s 1,000-year reign shape Jehovah’s Witness teachings?

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Three Jehovah's Witnesses stand beside literature carts, holding religious magazines, at the Star Ferry Pier under a blue sign for City Hall and MTR Station in Hong Kong. — Jehovah’s Witness Adherents of the Jehovah's Witness movement distributing literature about their faith in Hong Kong, China.

The belief in Christ’s 1,000-year reign, or millennialism, is a foundational element of Jehovah’s Witness theology, shaping their view of history and their role as evangelists.

Early leaders, such as Charles Taze Russell, interpreted the Second Coming as an invisible presence that signaled the end of the current social order. This expectation fueled the movement's focus on the "last days" and the imminent establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. Witnesses believe this kingdom will be headed by Jesus Christ and administered by 144,000 human corulers.

This millennial focus has profoundly influenced their practices:
* Evangelism: Believing they are living in the final period before this kingdom, members engage in intensive door-to-door witnessing to share their message.
* Separation: Their conviction that the current world order is temporary and destined for replacement leads them to remain strictly separate from secular governments, refusing military service, political participation, and nationalistic symbols like the flag.
* Organization: The movement is structured to support this global teaching effort, with members serving as "publishers" or "pioneers" to prepare others for the coming kingdom.1