39. The Thousand Year period - Part 1 of 2

a.k.a. The Millennium
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Printed below is the only section of the Bible that specifically mentions the Millennium (Revelation 20: 1-8) [many other passages tell of events during the millennium]:

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the bottomless pit, and shut it up and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. But after that he must be released for a little while.
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was given. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who participates 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.
7 And when the thousand years has ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.

You can see that the term "thousand years" is used six times in this portion of scripture, and only here in the entire bible -- AND that the term "Millennium" is never used in the Bible!

Here is a list what is happening during the Millennium:
1. Satan is bound for 1000 years.
2. He will not deceive the nations for 1000 years.
3. Those believers who have been martyred during the great tribulation come to life and reign with Christ for 1000 years.
4. The rest of the dead did not come to life until after the 1000 years were ended.
5. This (3. above) is the first resurrection. (Note: comparing scripture here with other scripture, this is the first resurrection after the victorious return of Christ)
6. After the 1000 years, Satan will be released for a little while.

From my Topic #29, the condensed version of the Future History as presented in the Bible, I have copied the section in which the 1000 years are included:
H. Armies come together at Armaggedon, bloodbath occurs on 7th anniversary of peace pact.
I. Jerusalem falls, Jesus Christ returns with armies of heaven. Evil resistance is crushed.
J. Christ sets up his Kingdom for a 1000 year period, Satan is bound, and martyred believers are raised.
K. At the end of the 1000 years, Satan is loosed, a great battle is again fought, and Satan is forever thrown into the lake of fire.
L. The New Heavens and the New Earth are completed. . .

So we can place the Millennium after the Rapture of the Church, after the 7 year period of great tribulation and chaos, after the battle of Armaggedon (which ends the tribulation), and after the glorious and victorious return of Jesus Christ (which ends the battle of Armaggedon).

At least it seems we should be able to put the Millennium after the return of Christ. But not all scholars and leaders in the Christian community agree with this assessment. Next, in post #40, we shall revisit the Millennium and look at the various views held within Christianity.
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