Many people talk about and have attempted to put down the exact order of the things to come when Christ returns. This article will discuss only one ‘short’ part of this time – 1000 years called the Millennium.
These are some facts I’ve been studying about the Millennium – the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ. Millennium is a Latin word for 1000 years. The thousand year time frame occurs six times in the Bible passage Revelation 20:1-7.
The Millennium will begin right after Jesus returns.
He will come down from heaven with a loud command from the archangel and with the trumpet call of God. Those who have died in Christ will rise and those who are alive will be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:133 – 18)
Jesus will first cast the beast (false leader) and the false prophet into the lake of fire as His reign begins.
The book of Revelation was a revelation and vision given to the apostle John in A.D. 95 while he was exiled on Potmos Island. In Revelation 20:1-2, John writes that he saw an angel come down from heaven with the key to the Abyss and holding a chain. The angel seized the dragon or ancient serpent (this is Satan ) by the tail and used the chain to bind him for 1000 years.
He threw the dragon (Satan) into the Abyss and locked and sealed it for 1000 years to keep him from continuing to deceive the nations. When the 1000 years were complete, Satan would be set free for a short time. (vs.3) After this short time, Satan would be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were thrown.
Abyss is a Greek word that means ‘very deep’ or ‘bottomless.’ In the Bible, it is a place of confinement for evil spirits and for Satan.
Lake of burning sulfur – The lake of fire was prepared for Satan and his angels. (Matthew 25:41) Burning sulfur has been used in judgment before. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by a rain of burning sulfur. (Genesis19:24, Jude 7)
John saw those who had been given authority to judge seated on thrones. (vs.4)
John doesn’t say who was seated on the thrones. However, Jesus told the apostles that they would eat and drink at His table in His kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:29-30)
John saw the souls of the martyrs who had been beheaded for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image and who had not received the mark of the beast. They came to life and reigned with Christ 1000 years. He said that the second death would have no power over them and they would be priests of God and of Christ and reign with Him 1000 years. The rest of the dead (the wicked) would not come to life until after the 1000 years. (vs. 4-6)
The 1000 year reign of Christ will occur prior to the final judgment, the creation of the New Earth and New Heaven and prior to the entrance of believers into the eternal state of heaven.
Imagine living in a world that is under Christ’s rule with governments that are not deceived by Satan. In fact, Satan will not be able to deceive anyone – he will be locked away. Until then, we must be sure that we are under Christ’s rule and keep ourselves from being deceived.
- Read God’s word. Bible teachers are valuable for understanding but don’t rely totally on someone else to tell you what God has written.
- Pray consistently.
- Develop relationships with other believers so that you can encourage and support each other.
While I wait for that glorious day of Christ’s return all I can say is, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
