Part 1: What the Bible Says About the 1,000 Years

What is the truth about the 1,000 years? Some teach this period is entirely symbolic. Others say we are in it now. The majority teach it follows the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and will be a time of peace on earth. According to this popular view, Jesus Christ will reign over the nations from the present city of Jerusalem during the future millennium.

The truth is the Bible doesn’t exactly say any of these things. The only chapter in God’s Word that specifically mentions this 1,000-year period is Revelation 20. Below you will discover what Revelation says, and what it does not say.

• vs. 1 – An angel comes down from heaven with a key and a chain.
• vs. 2 – He binds Satan for 1,000 years.
• vs. 3 – During the 1,000 years Satan cannot deceive the nations any more.
• vs. 4 – The martyrs are resurrected to reign with Jesus Christ for 1,000 years.
• vs. 5a – The rest of the dead will be raised at the end of the 1,000 years.
• vs. 6 – Those in the first resurrection will reign with Jesus for 1,000 years.
• vs. 7 – Satan will be loosed at the end of the 1,000 years.
• vs. 8 – When the rest of the dead are raised Satan will deceive them again. There will be billions – like the sand of the sand. They are called Gog and Magog. Satan gathers them for a final battle.
• vs. 9 – Satan and this host surround God’s City. Fire comes down and devours them.
• vs. 10 – Satan, the Beast, and the False Prophet end up in this lake of fire.
• vs. 11 – Before this fire falls, a final judgment takes place.
• vs. 12 – All the resurrected lost are judged.
• vs. 13 – Another description of the resurrected lost being judged.
• vs. 14 – Death and Hell are cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
• vs. 15 – All the resurrected lost are cast into the lake of fire.

In summary, this is what the Bible says about the 1,000 years:

1. The righteous are raised at the beginning of the 1,000 years (vs. 4-6)
2. The “rest of the dead” are raised at the end of the 1,000 years (vs. 5a)
3. Satan is bound during the 1,000 years (vs. 3)
4. Satan is loosed when the “rest of the dead” are raised (compare verses 5 and 7)
5. Satan gathers the lost for a battle against God’s city (vs. 8)
6. A judgment occurs, then the lost go into the lake of fire (verses 9, 14, 15)
7. Then the old earth passes, and the new earth comes (21:1)

It should be noticed that Revelation 20 does not specifically say that Jesus Christ will rule on earth during the 1000 years from the present city of Jerusalem.

If you wish to discover more, continue on to Part 2 in this series.