Daily Scripture Reading Revelation 19:17 - 20:10
Most Christians acknowledge there is a reference in the Bible to a 1,000 year period known as the millennium. However, there are multiple viewpoints regarding the millennium. Some people think it is symbolic while others believe it is literal. There are those who claim we are in it now, while others say it will occur in the future.
Today’s passage includes the verses that mention a 1,000 year reign of Christ, something known as the millennium. The passage is fairly clear about when it will take place.
The opening verses of chapter 19 tells us about a horseman named Faithful and True. He rides on a white horse. He has a sword in His mouth and the armies of heaven follow Him on white horses.
Rev. 19:17 ¶ Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God,
Rev. 19:18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of strong men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”
Rev. 19:19 ¶ Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war with Him who sits on the horse and with His army.
Notice who is and is not mentioned. The beast is mentioned as being part of this battle, but Satan is not part of this battle.
Rev. 19:20 ¶ And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who did the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.
Notice what this verse does and does not say. The beast and false prophet were thrown into the lake of fire; however, Satan himself was not thrown into the lake of fire.
Rev. 19:21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sits on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Rev. 20:1 ¶ Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.
Rev. 20:2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
Rev. 20:3 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 finished. After these things he must be released for a short time.
Think about the stubbornness and obstinance of Satan. First, Satan has always known he will lose. He has been in heaven. He knows he is completely at the mercy of Yahweh. Second, he knows Jesus died and rose again. Third, he will see the beast and false prophet thrown into the lake of fire. And yet, having seen all that, he will refuse to submit to Yahweh.
Unfortunately, many humans are equally obstinate. There are people who know the truth about God. They know there is a heaven and a hell; yet, they refuse to submit to Christ.
Rev. 20:4 ¶ 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 witness of Jesus and because of the word of God, and who also 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.
Pay attention to who is resurrected. It is only those who were beheaded because they refused the mark of the beast. This is a small subset of all those known as saints.
Notice the reign of 1,000 years. This is known as the millennium.
Some Christians hold to a-millennialism. They believe the millennium is a symbolic reference to Christ’s reign now during the church age. However, Revelation 20:4 makes it clear the millennium will happen after the mark of the beast. That means the millennium is not happening now.
There are other Christians who believe in post-millennialism. Post-millennialism teaches that the gospel will gradually Christianize the world, and then Christ will return. However, this passage makes it clear that the millennium will happen after the events listed in the first 19 chapters of Revelation. The first 19 chapters describe a world that is dominated by the anti-Christ and the beast, and punished for its wickedness and rebellion against God.
Since, those who refused the mark of the beast will reign with Christ during the millennium, that means the millennium will happen after the mark of the beast, and after the destruction described in the first 19 chapters of Revelation, something known as the tribulation period. This means the correct view is something known as pre-millennialism, the belief that after the tribulation period, Christ will literally reign on earth for 1,000 years.
Rev. 20:5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Notice the phrase “first resurrection”. Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus, Peter, and Paul performed miracles where they raised people from the dead. Therefore, the resurrection described in Revelation 20 is not the first resurrection in the history of the world. Instead, it is the first of two resurrections that will happen after the tribulation period.
Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
Rev. 20:7 ¶ And when the thousand years are finished, Satan will be released from his prison,
Rev. 20:8 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.
During the millennium, Satan will be bound, so people will not be deceived into defying Christ. However, at the end of the millennium, Satan will be released and given an opportunity to deceive those who were born during the millennium.
Take note of the phrase “like the sand of the seashore”. Satan will successfully deceive a large number of people.
Rev. 20:9 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.
Rev. 20:10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Satan will finally be thrown into the lake of fire.
There are some Christians who believe the millennium is symbolic of the church age, or is a gradual Christianization of the world. However, today’s passage makes it clear the millennium will happen after the mark of the beast and after the world is judged and destroyed for being wicked. This means the millennium will happen after the tribulation period.
What does your church teach regarding the millennium?
How does today’s passage confirm or contradict what you have been taught about the millennium?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”