That's a good idea! Let's look back into history, back to the 2nd century:
Justin Martyr is especially clear
Justin Martyr, writing in the
mid-2nd century, explicitly says that he and “many others” expected:
- a resurrection of the dead,
- a thousand-year reign, and
- Jerusalem to be rebuilt,
- with God's people gathered there,
- followed by the final resurrection and judgment.
He says:
“I and others, who are right-minded Christians on all points, are assured that there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a thousand years in Jerusalem.”
He specifically connects this expectation to
Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Revelation.
And notice something especially important in the passage: Justin says
some Christians disagreed with him. So he isn't claiming that every Christian believed this. But he clearly regarded the earthly-millennial interpretation as a legitimate Christian position.
Irenaeus is even more explicit
Irenaeus, writing in the late 2nd century, describes an
earthly kingdom following the resurrection of the righteous.
He says the righteous will:
and describes the kingdom as an
“earthly kingdom” associated with the renewal of creation.
Then in Book V, chapter 35, Irenaeus explicitly places the fulfillment
after Antichrist and the resurrection, in
“the terrestrial Jerusalem.” He connects the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Revelation with this future kingdom.