Thousand Year Reign
Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth — Gog and Magog — to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.
Many agree that most of the final prophecies in the bible point to the End times. The question is whether the “End Times” is a time that has yet to come alluding to America as part of the End time prophecies, or maybe, what many fail to consider, that the "End times" have already occurred.
What many in the Western church are not familiar with, is the events that led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple of God in 70 AD as part of the final prophecy of Daniel 9.
Dan 9:27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
Questions to be asked. Where does a thousand years fit into biblical times? Is it literal or does it represent something spiritual? Revelations and Ezekiel share very similar prophecies and point to the spiritual fulfillment of Gods plan of salvation, The giving of his promised Messiah who was planned from the beginning of creation. Israel rebelled in the first covenant. It was temporary, leading to a new and better covenant.
Pre-Millennial believers believe that Satan is bound, beginning with the Death and Resurrection of the Messiah for the next thousand years, at which time Satan will be released to deceive the nations. That time frame points to, very roughly, 1033 AD. After that time Satan will deceive the nations leading to the battle of Armageddon. As of the twenty first century, Armageddon has yet to happen.
Looking at history, there is no credence that points to Satan having been bound. There has been no pause of Darkness in the history of the world or the church.
Nicodemus was not able to understand Jesus as he explained what it meant to be born again. He understood scripture from the literal point of view while the Messiah was talking Spiritual lessons. That should be a key point for us to understand books like Revelations and Ezekiel.
2 Peter 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years,
and a thousand years are like a day.
Two key phases that should be on everyone’s mind as you try to understand the mystery of scripture. From the beginning of the old covenant and into the New Covenant, there are two consistent themes. “End times” and “The day of the Lord”, both pointing to one and the same thing, The coming of Gods Messiah. That would mean an end to the first covenant to make way for the second.
This is the time to look at that passage. Many understand “A day is like a thousand years” points to God’s creation in six days point to six thousand years for the world to exist.
What event in the bible would point to “A thousand years are like a day”? What day was the key event in Gods plan of salvation? The coming Messiah. That event will happen on “The day of the Lord”.
Now as your read Revelations 20, in place of "a thousand years", think of "the day of the Lord" and see if it makes more sense. Jesus defeats Satan upon his resurrection. Rev 20:4 is consistent with Matt 27: 52
Rev 20:4…And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God.
Matt 27:51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Revelations 20:7-9 is consistent with what followed in 70 AD, Gods Judgement on Israel and the nations, with Rome as the Anti-Christ that destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem. With the giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, the Temple of God now resides within his followers, the church.
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them…
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Joel 2:28 'And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
32 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved;
Isa 13:5 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.
Ezek 13:5 You have not gone up to the breaks in the wall to repair it for the house of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord.
Ezek 30:1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy and say: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: "'Wail and say, "Alas for that day!"
3 For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near — a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.
Joel 1:15 Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.
Joel 3:11 Bring down your warriors, O Lord! 12 'Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. 13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow — so great is their wickedness!'
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. 16 The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
Amos 5:18 Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light. 19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. 20 Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light — pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?
21 "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. 22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. 23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Obad 15 "The day of the Lord is near for all nations.
As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.
16 Just as you drank on my holy hill, so all the nations will drink continually;
they will drink and drink and be as if they had never been.
Zeph 2:1 Gather together, gather together, O shameful nation, 2 before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord comes upon you, before the day of the Lord's wrath comes upon you.
3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger.
Zech 14:1 A day of the Lord is coming when your plunder will be divided among you.
2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.
Mal 4:5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."
1 Thess 5:1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
The Destruction by Rome.
2 Thess 2:1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
2 Peter 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
Dan 9:25 "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."