THE MILLENNIUM - (Part 1)

The millennium for many is of great mystery. The only record of this period of time is a short chapter in the book of Revelation. Because this book is hard to understand some have said that the thousand years is simply prophetic and that there is no clarity in terms of when it begins or ends. But the Bible is very clear, especially when interpreted in light of other biblical texts.

My objective is to answer the following questions:

When does it start?
Are the 1,000 years prophetic or literal?
Where are the saints during this time, on earth or heaven?
Is there a hell? If yes, where and is it eternal?
How will Satan be bound with a chain?
What will happen with the wicked?
What is the purpose of the thousand years?

In this part we will analyze the time when the thousand years begin and end. In the second part I will go into detail about the events that take place during the thousand years. Finally, I’ll present a theory which gives a little more light on this issue in order to summarize it.

¹ Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. ² He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; ³ and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. ⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:1-6

The first question we need to answer is when the 1,000 years will begin. In the first three verses we see powerful images of what will happen just before the start of this period. But to put a time frame we need to compare some more texts from the Bible.

In verse 4 we find the fulfillment of the third angel's message (Revelation 14:9-13). They are given authority to judge all those who have not received the mark of the beast on their foreheads. Now this is a group that includes all the righteous throughout the ages, those who stood firm for the truth and preferred death rather than turning away from God.

Verses 5 and 6 tell us of two resurrections. Those who have the privilege of reigning with Christ a thousand years include the righteous living and all who will take part in the first resurrection but not the second resurrection! This is important because it helps us understand when the 1,000 years begin.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

We have discussed before that Paul is referring to the great day when the Lord descends in the clouds of heaven and gives the reward to all the righteous. If we notice the words used, "the dead in Christ shall rise first." This phrase allows us to understand two things, the righteous (the dead in Christ) will be part of the first resurrection in which the apostle John refers to in Revelation 20. It also allows us to understand that before we, who are alive, are caught up in the clouds the dead shall rise first and receive Jesus in the clouds. What great hope!
Because the 1,000 years includes all who take part in the first resurrection but ends with the second resurrection it must necessarily begin when Jesus returns.
The Bible emphasizes this point once more!

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

Those who sleep in Christ will rise at his coming, those who are part of the first resurrection, those which are raised at the beginning of the 1,000 years.
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:30, 31

Again we see that when Jesus returns the righteous will meet him and the millennium begins. In conclusion, we have already answered some questions. The 1,000 years begin when Jesus returns a second time. All the righteous, living and dead will be with him during this time (later we will see where we will actually be). The wicked living will be destroyed as a result of the coming of the Lord and the dead will not rise until the second resurrection, at the end of the 1,000 years.

Our objective should be to be among the elect who are willing to give their lives if necessary to stand firm and faithful to God. Our suffering may be great but our reward will be beyond measure.

JESUS IS COMING!