Millennium (One thousand Year rule) (Chap.20):
The phrase “thousand years” occurs six times in (20:1-7). This period in history is known as “the Millennium,” from two Latin words, mille (thousand) and annum (year) i.e. the 1,000-year kingdom of Christ on earth. At last, Christ and His church will reign over the nations of the earth, and Israel will enjoy the blessings promised by the prophets. This is also the described as “times of refreshing” and “the period of restoration of all things” (Acts 3:19, 21). In other words, Christ will return to earth, establishes a literal kingdom on earth which will last for a 1000-years.
When we read O.T and the supporting verses leads us to “Pre-millennialism” and “Post-millennialism” theory too.
Pre-millennialism: This refers to Christ’s physical kingdom which will be established at His return. The kingdom will be centred in Jerusalem and lasts for 1000 years after which this world will be destroyed and replaced by the new earth. This is the most natural way of understanding as we study Rev. chap. 20-22.
Post-millennialism: Through Christian influence, society will continue to improve until it reaches utopian-like state. Christ will return after this period of peace and then the world will attain a state of utopia or heaven like. This understanding seems very contradictory.
The two types of Resurrections:
Before we move on to the Millennium period, we must understand the concept of Resurrection a believer would have and an unbeliever would have. The two types can be called as i) Resurrection of life ii) Resurrection leading to judgement (white throne judgement).
- Resurrection of life: (for saints or believers):
The resurrection of believers is something beyond human comprehension. This is Resurrection is on the model of Christ’s Resurrection. That’s why Paul says: “ I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” (Phili.3:10-11).
And Apostle John says: there will be a 1000-years span in between the two-resurrections. “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years” (20:4-6).
This Resurrection of life includes all the believers viz;
- All the Old Testament saints and great heroes of (Heb.12).
- All the saints of the church from 1st century till the beginning of great tribulation period.
- All the martyrs who stood for the cause of Gospel throughout the entire period between Rapture of the saints and the appearing of Christ in Judgement upon the beast and his armies (Rev.19).
The moment the voice of the archangel is heard all the sleeping saints will rise from their graves, leaving behind them those who have died in their sins to remain in darkness in silence over a period of 1000 years for the judgement. Apostle Paul says to Corinthians:
“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor.15:51-54).
ii) Resurrection leading to judgement: (20:11-12) (for wicked or unbelievers) also called as Great white throne judgement.
“For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself. And He Has given him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man. (Jn.5:27). This is the last courtroom scene. The judge i.e. the Lord Jesus Christ is sitting along with the Father on the throne. All the unsaved who have ever lived will be resurrected to face the trial and judgement.
This will include all those unbelievers: i.e. all those who have died in their sins from the days of Cain, in (Gen.4) down to the last apostate from Millennial glory in (Rev.20). The Lord Jesus said: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. (Jn.5:24). So this Resurrection leading to judgment consists only the sinners, all those who have not believed Christ in spite of the opportunities and privileges, will judged severely.
We shall deal with the Great White Throne judgement in the succeeding pages.
Millennium Period: (20:1-10): Apostle John reveals 4-essential truths happening during or at the concluding time of the Millennium (1000 year) period. They are:
- Satan is removed: (20:1-3): The removal of Satan would change the world profile. By this time all the human rebels would have been destroyed. Those who survived the tribulation judgement will have been executed at Armageddon (19:11-21) or the goat judgement (Matt. 25:31-46). The worldwide rebellion, the beast (Antichrist) and the false prophet will have been thrown into the lake of fire (19:20). The only one remaining is Satan and his demons.
God sends the Angel (perhaps Michael the arch angel who is called the great adversary of Satan 12:7) comes with a single agenda: to seize Satan, bind him, cast him into the abyss and seal it and then release him at the end of 1000 years i.e. after millennium . Abyss is a place of torment where demons fear to be sent (Lk.8:31). Satan is given several titles namely: “the dragon” (12:9) for his ferociousness and cruelty, “the serpent” (Gen. 3:1-6) for deceiving Eve in the garden of Eden; “Devil” means slanderer and also “adversary” means one who opposes God, Christ and all believers.
So Satan can deceive no more having put in Abyss with his co-friends (beast and false prophet) and demons. This does not mean that the living people in the millennium will be incapable of sinning but when they disobey, they will be judged with a rod of iron.
- Saints reign: (20:4-6): By this time, Satan, his demons and the sinners were out of sight. Jesus Christ the King of Kings and the Lord of the Lords would be the supreme ruler. He along with the saints would rule the earth. The saints would include those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and did not receive the mark of Satan on their foreheads or on their hands. These are the martyred believers from the tribulation. Because they were faithful to the death, they too came to life and reigned with Christ for a 1000 years. Also along with them saints of all ages too would resurrect from their graves and reign along with Christ. This resurrection is called the “Resurrection of the righteous or the First-resurrection (Lk. 14:14; Acts 24:15).
The common dead people (unbelievers) of all ages will still be in the Abyss or hades. They will not come to life until the 1000 years are over. The most amazing part is that the second-death will not have any power on those who are resurrected in the First resurrection.
The Apostle says: blessed are those who have a part in the first resurrection whichis the 5th of 7-beattitudes in Revelation (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 22:7, 14). These believers will reign with the Lord Jesus Christ along with those who survived the tribulation for a 1000 years. Physically it will a time when the curse is lifted (Isa. 11:7-9; 30:23-25; 35:1,2,7), when food will be plenty (Joel 2:21-27), when there will be physical health and well being (Is. 33:24) , leading to long life (Isa. 65:20).