Revelation 20:1-6

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.  And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.  Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who 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 for 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 is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

The revelation of Christ, when He returns to the earth, will be followed by a thousand-year period called the Millenium.  This is certainly a subject about which there is much controversy.  The nature, timing, duration, and purpose of the Millenium are all subjects of theological debate stemming from the interpretation of this passage of Scripture.  This is certainly a secondary issue that should not divide believers.  I interpret this passage quite literally so believe that there will be a thousand-year reign of Christ on this earth before the new heavens and new earth are established.  I believe that God’s promises to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament will be literally fulfilled during this time.  This will be a time of peace and prosperity as has never been experienced on the earth since the fall of man.  The passage describes three realities of this Millennial kingdom.  

SATAN WILL BE BOUND TEMPORARILY: The first item of business for this new reign of Christ is to bind Satan.  The characteristics that mark this kingdom will be peace, prosperity, purity, and prolonged life.  Satan has been promoting violence, idolatry, immorality and death since his fall.  The combination of Satan’s confinement and the physical presence of Jesus on earth will usher in an unprecedented time of history.  Today, there are three major influences that lead man to sin: Satan, society, and self.  Satan will be held captive.  Society will be marked by justice.  The only influence left to cause sin will be the wicked heart of man.  One of the purposes of the Millennial kingdom is to demonstrate the heinous nature of the heart of man.  Despite the idyllic conditions on earth, and Satan not being able to tempt mankind; people will still sin and will eventually rebel against Christ’s reign and when Satan is once again loosed after a thousand years; a massive number of people will join Satan in yet another attempt to overthrow the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.

SOULS WILL BE RAISED PARTIALY: Not all souls will be resurrected at the revelation of Christ.  Just those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  I believe that there will be a resurrection of believers before the tribulation that is associated with the rapture of the Church.  However, during the seven-year tribulation, there will be many believers who will by martyred.  These followers of Christ who have died between the rapture of the Church and the revelation of Christ will be resurrected at this time.  Saints from the Old Testament, before the first coming of Christ will also be resurrected at or before this time.  This “first resurrection” is the resurrection of the just.  It started with the resurrection of Christ and culminates with the revelation of Christ.

SAINTS WILL REIGN JOINTLY: The occupation of all the saints who are resurrected will be to rule and reign jointly with Christ.  The population on earth during the Millennial kingdom will be different than we currently experience.  First, Christ will be physically present on earth and reign sovereignly over all of mankind.  Second, saints who have died in the past will be resurrected and will be on the earth serving with Christ in their glorified bodies in various positions of government.  Finally, the civilian population will be made up of believers who survived the tribulation and remain in their natural physical bodies.  This civilian population will continue to reproduce and all the children that are born during the Millennium will be born with a sin nature just like all of us were born.  Many of them will repent of their sin and place their faith in Christ.  These believers born during the Millennium will have more revelation of Christ than we currently enjoy because He will be present on earth with them.  However, there will be many children born during this time that will grow up with rebellious hearts that refuse to admit their sin, their need of salvation, and the authority of Jesus.  These will be those who will join the attempt to overthrow the kingdom of Christ when Satan in released.

APPLICATION: Recognize the wickedness of our fallen nature and be forever grateful for the sacrifice of Christ that makes forgiveness and freedom from sin possible through faith.  Rejoice in the anticipation of being able to rule and reign with Christ on this earth for a thousand years.  Don’t get “bent out of shape” about disagreements with how to interpret this passage.  I have tried to articulate what I think I think but there are many precious brothers and sisters in Christ who have a different perspective.  We must never become divided over our interpretation of the timing and nature of the Millennial kingdom.