The Book of Revelation (part 33)

Revelation 20: Jesus’ Millennial (1000-year) Reign

5.19.2021

In Revelation 20, Jesus has returned, the judgments are completed, and the earth is entering the millennial reign of Christ.

Before we go there, listen to the words of Daniel:

Daniel 12 (NKJV)

“At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time, and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” 5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?” 7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. 8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?” 9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.”

Here is the timeline of events in Revelation given by Daniel:

(11) And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.

From the time the antiChrist turns against Israel and the treaty he signed with them until the end of the 7 years and the blowing of the 7^th trumpet will be 3½ years plus 30 days. During the 30 days, the 7 bowl judgments are fulfilled. During that time, false religions are judged, the economic system called Babylon the Great is defeated, and the battle of Armageddon brings defeat to all of Christ’s enemies.

(12) Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

(13) “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Another 45 days is added to this time period. The 45 days transitions the earth from a time of judgment to the millennial reign of Christ.

Three groups

Three groups of people will enter the millennium: Israelites that were sealed by God and endured the seven-year tribulation; non-Christian Gentiles who did not take the mark from the antiChrist; and the glorified believers who have been resurrected from the dead.

Six things restored during the millennial reign of Christ.

1. Jerusalem and Mount Zion restored

Isaiah 2:2-3 (NKJV)

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. 3 Many people shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Micah 4:1-4 (NKJV)

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. 2 Many nations shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. 4 But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

2. The nation of Israel restored

Isaiah 10:20-21 (NKJV)

And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, will never again depend on him who defeated them, but will depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God.

Isaiah 66:18-20 (NKJV)

“For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory. 19 I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. 20 Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.”

3. Gentile nations that honored Israel restored

Isaiah 19:24-25 (NKJV)

In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, 25 whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

Isaiah 56:6-7 (NKJV)

Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants— Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant — 7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.

Micah 7:16-17 (NKJV)

The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might; They shall put their hand over their mouth; Their ears shall be deaf. 17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent; They shall crawl from their holes like snakes of the earth. They shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of You.

4. The Jewish Temple restored

Zechariah 6:12-13 (NKJV)

Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying:

“Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the LORD; 13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”

5. God’s sovereignty through Christ will be restored worldwide.

Daniel 7:12-14 (NKJV)

As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.

6. The martyrs are restored.

Revelation 20:4 (NKJV)

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:1-3 (NKJV)

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

Here, John is shown what happens right after the Battle of Armageddon. Jesus has won in His battle against Satan and his allies – the antiChrist and the false prophet who deceived people to follow the antiChrist.

False religions, represented by the great Harlot in Revelation 17, which have deceived the people of the earth for thousands of years, have been destroyed.

Babylon the Great, which represents the deception of money and business and was taken over by its allegiance with false religions, has been destroyed. We read about this in Revelation 18.

This angel has been authorized by God to bind Satan, the antiChrist, and the false religious leader and to place them in the bottomless pit for 1000 years.

This angel is mentioned as a star in Revelation 9:

Revelation 9:1-2 (NKJV)

Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.

(2) He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; (3) and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

This is not Satan’s eventual end. Rather, Satan is placed in confinement for 1000 years, until the very end of Jesus’ 1000-year reign on earth. During the 1000-year reign of Christ, people will be born who have never been tempted to sin the way we are, and Satan will challenge them when he is freed from this pit.

Revelation 20:4a (NKJV)

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them…

The thones here are people in the kingdom of God who assist God in the work of judging angels and demonic beings that have worked with Satan to deceive mankind.

Daniel 7:18 (NKJV)

But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.

Daniel 7:25-27 (NKJV)

He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand

for a time and times and half a time. 26 But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. 27 Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 (NKJV)

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

Revelation 20:4b (NKJV)

…Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Here is a clear illustration of life after death for those who are skeptical. Death is a transition into another realm of living. Their souls are in heaven awaiting their earthly body resurrection and their gaining a new body.

Understand that the rapture takes place after the opening of the sixth seal in Revelation 6:12-17. This is also mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 24:29-32.

Matthew 24:29-31 (NKJV)

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

During the rapture of the church, all believers from the time of Christ until the rapture will be given resurrection bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (NKJV)

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV)

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV)

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

After the rapture of the church, many who have been born again are killed by the antiChrist, who refused to take the mark that the antiChrist demanded so they could participate in commerce. These believers are resurrected from the dead at the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ and gain their glorified bodies at that time.

Note that there will be a group of people that survive the seven-year tribulation, and go into the millennial reign of Jesus in natural bodies. They will get married, have babies, and live on the earth during Jesus’ reign.

Look at the scriptures again:

Revelation 20:4

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.

Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:5 (NKJV)

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

The first resurrection mentioned here is after the seven years of tribulation, and just as the millennial reign of Christ begins.

The rest of the dead are those who were not born again during all ages from Adam’s time until the end of the millennium. This will be the resurrection of the unrighteous. This will be the second resurrection and will be at the very end of the millennial reign of Christ .

John 5:25-29 (NKJV)

Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

It is referred to later in Revelation 20.

Revelation 20:13 (NKJV)

The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

Revelation 20:6 (NKJV)

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

During the millennial reign of Christ, there will be two groups of people. There will be believers who have glorified, resurrection bodies, and they will help Jesus as a ruling class during the millennium. There will also be regular people in human bodies who come through the tribulation or are born during this reign of Christ.

Job 19:25-27 (NLT)

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and He will stand upon the earth at last. 26 And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! 27 I will see him for myself.

Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!

Action Points:

1. Are you ready for the return of Jesus to the earth?
2. Are you ready for Jesus to take you in the rapture?
3. Are you sharing your faith in Jesus with those you know, so they too can be ready?