The 1000 Years

Intro

Passage: Revelation 20:1-10

The most confusing passage?

Entire systems based off it

Written not to confuse, but to comfort

Written to persecuted Christians, to reinforce the victory they have in Christ!

My goal:

To be honest with the text

To be honest in dealing with alternate views

To really encourage you with the real meaning of God’s Words

Revelation 20:1–10 NASB95

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and 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 completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who adeceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the cfalse prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

I. Context

In Revelation 20, we see:

Satan is bound

The saints reign

A period called “a thousand years”

Satan is released briefly

Then finally defeated

Now before we assume what it means, we need to remember what kind of book we are reading.

Revelation is full of symbols:

Dragons

Beasts

Horns

Chains

So the question is not: “Is this literal?”

But rather:

“What does this symbol represent?”

II. The Three Views

1. Premillennialism

Christ returns before the 1000 years

Teaches:

He reigns physically on earth

It is a future kingdom

There are multiple resurrections

Strength:

Takes the text seriously

Problem:

Conflicts with:

John 5:28-29 (one resurrection)

John 5:28–29 NASB95

“Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

2 Peter 3:10 (world end at His coming)… that’s it… its done

2 Peter 3:10 NASB95

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

So instead of one FINAL day, there’s one day and then 1000 more days and then ANOTHER final day

Jesus is already on David’s throne

We are already in his kingdom

Concerning a 7-year tribulation

Christians already face tribulation John 16:33 ““These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.””

Revelation 1:9 “I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

What about a rapture?

What about it?

English word, came from the Latin “rapturo” from the Greek which means, to be taken up or gathered… I believe that! Thats why I’m okay with singing it!

But no, the doctrine is not Biblical or in the Bible

When Christ comes, the dead are raised, the living are changed, and all meet the Lord

2. Postmillennialism

Christ returns after a golden age

Teaches:

Gospel gradually transforms the world

That is the 1000 years… we COULD be in it, but we can’t know for sure

Problem:

Scripture warns of falling away, false teachers & Christs, more immorality and a people ripe for judgement

2 Timothy 3:1–5 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.”

The kingdom grow? YES… but evil still remains

Wheat and tares still grow together till the final day

“Coming like a thief in the night” implies the mischief of the world like in Noahs day, not a “gospel golden age”

Problem: This affects our urgency… don’t wait on a better age, but be ready now!

3. Amillennialism

The “1000 years” = symbolic of Christ’s present reign

Meaning:

Satan is (not inactive) just restricted

Christ reigns now

Saints reign spiritually with Christ

III. The Symbols

A. The “Thousand Years”

In Revelation, numbers are often symbolic

1000 represents fullness/completeness

Means: Christ’s reign is complete, sufficient, “has come in full”

B. The Binding of Satan

Is Satan inactive today? Of course not! … but he cannot stop the gospel, or the kingdom

Matthew 12:29 ““Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.”

(This man cannot be the son of David can he? … This man casts out demons by Beelzebul the ruler of demons)

C. The Reign of Saints

Ephesians 2:6 “and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”

How do we reign?

Not politically… spiritually!

We reign we Christ… having conquered sin/death, we are now seated with our Lord

The Big Picture

When we step back, everything lines up:

Christ reigns now

Satan is limited now

The gospel is spreading now

And when Christ returns:

The dead are raised

Judgment happens

The world ends

One return. One resurrection. One final day.

IV. The Application

1. Christ is Already King

This is not a future reality.

The question is not:

“Will He reign?”

Does He reign over you right now?

2. There Is No “Later” to Get Ready

Premillennial thinking often leaves people feeling like:

“I’ll figure it out when the signs come.”

But Scripture says:

2 Corinthians 6:2 — Now is the day of salvation

There is no second stage to prepare in.

3. Satan Is Limited—But Active

He is bound, but not gone.

So:

Stay alert

Stay faithful

Stay grounded

4. Faithfulness Is Victory

Revelation was written to suffering Christians.

Its message was not:

“You will escape hardship.”

Its message was:

“You will overcome through Christ.”

Taking the ACT in high school… school bell rang… unexpected

🔚 FINAL LINE OPTIONS:

“The question is not whether Christ will reign—but whether He reigns over you now.”

“The thousand years is not your hope—the King is.”

“There is no future kingdom to prepare in—only the one you are either in… or out of.”