TABLE OF CONTENTS:

 

ALL DEFINITIONS OR DOCTRINES.

RIGHTEOUS AND UNRIGHTEOUS.

TO THE BIBLE.

 

 

ALL DEFINITIONS OR DOCTRINES

 

 

ANY DEFINITION OR DOCTRINE OF THE MILLENNIUM MUST BE ENTIRELY BASED UPON AND FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION, CHAPTERS 19 (last part) THROUGH 21 (first part); FOR THESE ARE THE ONLY SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES THAT DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THIS DOCTRINE (Specifically Chapter 20).

 

The Biblical fact that we will have a millennium of time after the Second Coming of our Lord, indicates that at the Second Coming of Christ, the cosmos full of beings are not yet ready for the annihilation of unrepentant sinners, of Satan, and of his fallen angels.  The extinction of a fragment of God’s intelligent creation must take place at the appropriate moment, when it will result in the healing of the universe and the restoration of perfect harmony.  Otherwise the result could be a fragmentation deeper than the one that Satan at first caused.  The millennium provides the needed time to create universal support for God’s solution to the great controversy.

 

 

RIGHTEOUS AND UNRIGHTEOUS

 

 

There are three (3) major doctrines of the “millennium” and three (3) minor ones.  To discuss these is not important or fruitful, because we only want to focus upon what the Bible teaches as truth.

 

If you know what happens to both the righteous living and the righteous dead, along with the unrighteous living and unrighteous dead, and what transpires to each group at the Second and Third Comings of Christ, you will already have a firm grasp upon the doctrine of the “millennium.” If not, or even if so, the following will bring out more clearly both the Millenium doctrine and the state of the living and dead doctrine at the time of the Second and Third Comings of Christ.

 

 

TO THE BIBLE

 

 

 

It has been assessed that most Christian churches do not see the Millennium as a literal event.  Nor do they see that the 144,000 go through the tribulation with all their Pre-trib and Mid-trib and Post-Trib false doctrines.  The truth is stated by our Lord Himself in Matthew 24:29, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days,” in other words, after all those events, then our Lord Comes a Second Time and we have the “Close of Probation.”.

 

The wicked are destroyed at the SECOND COMING of Christ.  (Psalm 50:3; Isaiah 11:4; 13:6; 24:3 & 6; 66:15-16; Jeremiah 25:31 & 33; Matthew 3:12; 13:30, 40-42 & 49-50; 24:39; Luke 17:27 & 29; Second Thessalonians 1:8-9; 2:8; Second Peter 3:10-12; Revelation 11:18; 19:21).

 

At the same time the righteous are, “caught up. . . to meet the Lord in the air,” First Thessalonians 4:17.  Here Paul clearly shows that at Christ’s Second Coming, Christ does not establish His kingdom on earth, because He removes the saints (righteous) form the earth!

 

According to Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:43; Acts 2:34-35; Hebrews 1:13; 10:13; Christ will not return to this earth physically until all His enemies are subdued.  Better, destroyed on the “footstool,” which is the earth; at His Third Coming.  Confirmed below.

 

REVELATION 20:1-3: “[1] And I saw an angel come down from Heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. [2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, [3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled:  and after that he must be loosed a little season.”

 

Satan is bound for a thousand years (verse 2) upon this earth.  The description of what happens after he is “loosed a little season” is given to us in Revelation 19:19-21 & 20:7-11.  And according to Jude 1:6, all of Satan’s angelic followers will be in “chains” on earth with him during the 1,000 years.

 

During those thousand years the earth will be “without form, and void” and the heavens without “light,” Jeremiah 4:23-27.  Note that in Jeremiah Chapter 4, he could not be referring to creation, for “the cities thereof were broken down,” verse 26, and “the birds of the heavens were fled,” verse 25.  And according to Jude 1:6, all of Satan’s followers will be in “chains” on earth with him.

 

Note:  That the “bottomless pit” in Revelation 20:3 equals the “earth” can be noticed by seeing Revelation 9:2-3, where the “smoke” that came “out of the bottomless pit,” verse 3, is “upon the earth.” This is confirmed in Revelation 17:9 also.  The Greek word for “bottomless pit” is “abussos.” In the “LXX,” in Genesis 1:2, the word “abussos” translates to the Hebrew word “tehom,” meaning “deep,” which is the word that describes the surface of the earth as it appeared on the first day of creation, i.e., “without form, and void.” It also is the same word that is translated “great deep” in Genesis 7:11.  In Jeremiah 4:23-30, it is used to describe the desolate and uninhabited portion of Palestine during the Exile.  In Isaiah 24:21-22, it is translated as “pit” in verse 22, and is definitely referring to “the kings of the earth upon the earth,” verse 21.  See also Micah 7:13.

 

The STATE OF THE EARTH during the 1,000-year period is vividly described by both Isaiah 24:19, and in Jeremiah 4:23-26 & 25:33.  In fact, Jeremiah specifically states that there was “no man” upon the face of the earth.  Meaning, “no man” alive; for he sees cities broken down and the dead bodies (Psa. 110:5-6) of humans.

 

Note:  In Isaiah 11:4; 13: 6 & 9; Jeremiah 46:10; Joel 2:1-3; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Luke 17:29-30; First Thessalonians 5:2-3; Second Thessalonians 1:7-9; 2:8, is the description of Christ Coming the Second Time to decimate the wicked.  Afterwards is the millennium.  After that, in Revelation 19:11-18 is described Christ’s THIRD Coming; after the 1,000-year period.

 

REVELATION 20:3: “that he should deceive the nations no more” = Satan can no longer enter where the Saints are in Heaven.  And, he can no longer “deceive the nations,” for they are all dead lying upon or in the earth.  Many see a symbolic link between banishment of the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement (see Lev. 16:22) and the circumstances of Satan during the millennium -- stuck on earth during the millennium.

 

REVELATION 20:4: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:  and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

 

According to this verse and Daniel 7:22; Luke 22:30; First Corinthians 6:2-3, the righteous are assigned to be judges DURING the millennium.  This corresponds to Matthew 19:28, and appears to be the employment of the redeemed during the millennium while in Heaven.  The millennium is also the time in which the redeemed receive their answers to all of their questions (see 1Co. 13:12).

 

“witness of Jesus” = This should be translated as “testimony of Jesus,” as the same Greek word, “marturia” is used here as in Revelation 1:9; 6:9; & (see Note) 12:17.  Also, see my Note in Revelation 1:2.  Thus, these are in particular speaking of prophets of the Lord that died for Him.

 

“neither had received his mark” = These knew about the “mark of the beast” being Sunday keeping prior to the enforcement of the Sunday Law and died for witnessing about the true Biblical Sabbath.

 

REVELATION 20:5: “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years WERE FINISHED.  This is the first resurrection.”

 

This proves that the dead remained and are dead during the thousand-year period.  The “first resurrection” is for the righteous.  The “second resurrection” will be for the wicked, described later.  In other words, the wicked remain dead during the thousand-year period.

 

Since the righteous are/were raised “to meet the Lord in the air,” First Thessalonians 4:17, on their way to dwell in Heaven; and the wicked are not raised until after the 1,000 years, then the earth is unpopulated (Righteous in Heaven / Wicked are dead), other than their dead bodies which will be lying on the earth; for the “fowls that fly in the midst of Heaven,” to “gather,” Revelation 19:17, and “eat,” Revelation 19:18, “and all the fowls were filled with their flesh,” Revelation 19:21.

 

Also, understand that the Bible does not generally follow in chronological order, leaving out the Millennium in Revelation, Chapter Nineteen.  Therefore, Revelation 19:11-18, covers pre-millennium; whereas parts of Revelation 19:19-21, covers during and post-millennium.

 

Note The Condition Of The Earth:  Only Satan and his angels live on the earth during the millennium (Revelation 20:2&3; Isaiah 14:20-21; Jerremiah 4:23-28).  Therefore, he is “chained” to this earth [read Revelation 20:1-3again], un-allowed to tempt anyone for this 1,000-year period; for there is no one alive to tempt and he is locked to this earth, not allowed to roam the cosmos.  Later, when the wicked are raised in Revelation 19:19-21 & 20:7-11, Satan will be allowed to tempt again the raised wicked dead at Christ’s THIRD COMING.

 

Since the “First Resurrection” (First Thessalonians 4:16-17; Luke 14:14) is for the righteous (called “blessed and holy”), noting that they are raised before the millennium [or better, at the start of it], and the “Second Resurrection” is for the wicked, called the “second death,” Revelation 20:6 & 14; 21:8.  John 5:28-29 clearly describes to us that there are two resurrections.  One for the righteous and one for the unrighteous.  The one is before the millennium, the second is after the thousand years, where in Acts 24:15 the Bible calls this Second Resurrection, “the resurrection of the dead,” which is the “the resurrection of damnation,” according to John 5:29, which leads to the “second death.” Therefore, the millennium must take place between these two resurrections.

 

Also, whenever the word “throne,” or “thrones,” is used in the Book of Revelation (occurs 47 times), it is always used in the context of being in Heaven; with only three exceptions; Satan’s throne, Revelation 2:13; and the beast’s throne, Revelation 13:2 & 16:10; which are located upon the earth.

 

REVELATION 20:6: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection:  on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

 

A “first resurrection” implies a “second resurrection,” of which only the wicked will be a part of at the Third Coming of Christ.  Also, the fact that there is a “second death,” means eternally dead.

 

We will take a closer look at “second death” under Revelation 20:14.  The inference here is clear to a student of the Bible.  If you are raised at the Second Coming of Christ, you are saved throughout eternity.  If you are raised at the “second resurrection,” which is the Third Coming of Christ, you will incur the “second death.”

 

Let’s look at “reign with” Christ.  Reigning is a position of authority.  What is it that the “they,” the righteous, are to “reign” over?  Most likely is that they “reign” over the proceedings of the “sentencing judgment.” And as we learned earlier, the saints will be “judging” the wicked, both angels and mankind (1Co. 6:2-3).  Thus, “reigning” implies applying God’s Law against the violators of It.  This is what the righteous raised will be doing during the millennial period.

 

REVELATION 20:7-8: “[7] And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, [8] And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle:  the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”

 

In review, at the beginning of the millennium the earth became un-populated at the “Second Coming” of Christ (see Revelation 20:5; Psalm 50:3; Isaiah 11:4; 13:6; 24:3,6; 66:15-16; Jeremiah 25:31,33; Matthew 3:12; 13:30, 40-42,49-50; 24:39; Luke 17:27, 29; Second Thessalonians 1:8-9 & 2:8; Second Peter 3:10-12; Revelation 11:18 & 19:19-21).  Becuase the wicked are destroyed at Christ’s Second Coming (Second Thessalonians 2:8).  Thus, this “loosing” must be in association with the Second Resurrection, which is for the wicked, at the end of the 1,000 years and comprises Christ’s Third Coming.  It is at this point that the wicked are raised, while Christ Comes back to this earth with His “saints” at His Third Coming (Deu. 33:2; Job 21:30; Zec. 14:1-5; 1Th. 3:13; Jude 1:14-15).

 

Also according to Isaiah 14:20, “Thou [Satan] shalt not be joined with them in burial” = Satan is to walk this desolate earth for 1000 years, and not be permitted to enter the grave (die).

 

Satan is depicted as being “loosed,” because he had nobody to deceive during the thousand years (millennium), because he was bound in verse 2.  Therefore, he did not have access to Heaven where the saints are.  Thus again, proving that the earth is un-populated (verse 5).  He is “loosed out of his prison,” at the end of the 1,000-years, because of the Second Resurrection.

 

 Remember, we want to be part of the “First Resurrection,” Revelation 20:5, and not the “Second Resurrection,” which will result in the “second death.” The bringing forth of the wicked allows Satan to be “loosed” in order for him to “deceive the nations,” Revelation 20:8, again.

 

This same event is described in REVELATION 19:19-21 (remember, the Bible is not in chronological order): “[19] And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image.  These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. [21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”

 

Another reason for Satan to be “let loosed,” for “a little season,” Revelation 20:3, is found in Isaiah 14:15-17, for the wicked to see their error in listening to Satan.

 

REVELATION 20:8: “And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle:  the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”

 

Efforts to identify “Gog and Magog,” must be in reference to Ezekiel 38:2, and have come to us without any historical character to fit them.  Efforts to do so have proved fruitless.  The root from which the names are derived from are unknown.

 

In Revelation 20:8, it is used to symbolize the nations of the wicked, whom Satan assembles after the millennium, to attack Christ and His host in an attempt to seize the New Jerusalem (verse 9).  Since this takes place “after the millennium,” we should not look for meanings, kingdoms, or any other references to events prior to the pre-Second Coming of our Lord when attempting to identify Ezekiel’s possible meanings for the Book of Revelation.  Good luck identifying events after Christ’s Second Coming (which I will address, i.e., attempt to do so in the following).

 

The Greek meaning for “Magog,” is “an Anti-Christian Party,” i.e., “Nation.” Whereas “Gog,” seems to be the king, and “Magog,” the kingdom; such that “Gog and Magog,” are like Pharaoh and the Egyptians.  However, “Gog” is identified in Ezekiel, Chapter 38, verses 17 & 18, as a people who attack God’s people.  Therefore, with the help of Revelation 20:8, we can better understand that this event takes place after the millennium is over.

 

By contrast, “Magog,” i.e., “Meshech and Tubal,” Ezekiel 38:2, could be referring to the descendants of the son of Japheth (see Genesis 10:2; First Chronicles 1:5); his descendants and their dwelling-place being probably somewhere in the neighborhood of Armenia (Herodotus iii. 94).  However, in Psalm 120:5, the name “Mesech” occurs as simply a synonym for foreigners or barbarians.  According to the “Targum,” “Meshech” and “Tubal” would be the Scythians.

 

In Jewish tradition, “Gog and Magog” became equated with the rebellious nations of the Book of Psalms, Chapter Two, who revolted against God and His Messiah (see “The Babylonian Talmud,” pages 7b, 10a, 13a).  This appears to be more fitting to the text and context; which would apply to the resurrected dead at the Third Coming of our Lord.  Again, after the millennium.

 

To sum up, “Gog and Magog” represent the enemies of Israel, and in this context, they attack the New Jerusalem after it comes down from Heaven to this earth after the millennium (Rev. 21:2).  Simply put, “Magog” means, “from the matrix,” or better, the “children of Gog.” Whereas, “Gog” means, or symbolizes, “a nation that fights against Israel (God’s people).” And “Magog” means, “the children of that nation.”

 

Thus, the Bible stays true to Itself, in that “Gog and Magog” are just acronyms for the battle against good and evil, Christ and Satan; one of the main themes of the Bible.

 

REVELATION 20:8-9: “[8} And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle:  the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [9] And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city:  and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”

 

Satan deceives them into thinking they can capture the New Jerusalem (Rev. 16:14 & 17:14), but they are destroyed, thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20; 20:10 & 14 & 15).

 

Ever rebellious unto the end against the justice of God’s judgment -- of Whom the wicked are -- is clearly seen again, and that they are rightly delegated for destruction is justified.  It is therefore at this point, after the 1000-year period, that the wicked are raised and prepare to attack the New Jerusalem which has freshly come down from out of Heaven to this desolate earth.  See Zechariah 12:2-3.

 

According to Zechariah 14:1 & 4, Jesus descends to this earth, and “His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,” which “faces Jerusalem on the east.”  And when Christ’s feet touch “the Mount of Olives,” it will split and form a great valley.  Why?  It is where the New Jerusalem will come down from Heaven and rest in its permanent abode on this earth.  Then, after the destruction of the wicked and Satan with his angels, there will be created by God, “a new Heaven and a new earth,” Revelation 21:1.  Meaning, God, Who always wanted to “dwell” with this people group (Exodus 25:8 & 29:46 & Revelation 21:3) will establish Heaven upon this earth!

 

REVELATION 20:9: “fire came down from God out of Heaven” = According to Zephaniah 3:8, this “fire” is “the fire of My jealousy” for His Law which was and is constantly broken.  See also Psalm 46:6 & 8; Isaiah 26:21; Zephaniah 1:18.

 

REVELATION 20:10-11: “[10] And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. [11] And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven [the first heaven; i.e., the atmosphere] fled away; and there was found no place for them [that is, the wicked].”

 

The supplied word “are” gives the wrong impression.  A better supply, staying in context, would be, “were cast.”  Just like the “devil. . . was cast.”  Satan is “cast into the lake of fire,” where everyone else (wicked) “are,” or better, “already are.”

 

Note:  This is the “second death,” verse 14.  So Satan (and all the wicked) are annihilated and will be “ashes under the souls of your feet, Malachi 4:3.  For the wicked being totally “annihilated,” See my Bible Study, “DEATH, THE BIBLICAL TRUTH ABOUT.”

 

[10] “for ever and ever” = IF we go to Ezekiel 20:16 & 18 & 19, we learn that Satan does not burn “forever,” but is (16) destroyed; (18) devoured to the point of being “ashes upon the earth” (19) “and never shalt thou be any more.” See my Bible Study: “DEATH, THE BIBLICAL TRUTH ABOUT.”

 

REVELATION 20:11: “great white throne” = The “throne” that was the “throne of grace” to which humans could come to present their prayers and obtain deliverance (see Heb. 4:16), now becomes a terror to the wicked, “there was found no place for them.” See Jeremiah 3:17.

 

REVELATION 20:12-15: “[12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the Books were opened: and another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life:  and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books [the Recording Angels], according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them:  and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

 

According to Psalm 119:92: “Unless Thy Law had been my delights, I should then have perished.” All who disregard the Law of God will “perish.”

 

The judgment that the saints determined upon the wicked (verse 4) is carried out here (verse 15).  To misunderstand “second death,” Revelation 20:14, is to misunderstand the true final state of the dead, and has been responsible for many a “False Doctrine.” And if you are not listed in the “Book of Life,” Revelation 20:15, it now becomes clear that you (the wicked) are annihilated in “the lake of fire,” Revelation 20:14 &15, because of the term, “second death,” Revelation 2:11 & 20:6 & 20:14 & 21:8.

 

REVELATION 20:14: “death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death” & REVELATION 19:19-21: “[19] And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20] And the beast was taken, andwith him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burningwith brimstone. [21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which swordproceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”

 

Temporal death does not hinder eternal life; for all die (= “death”).  However, those who die without loving God (= “death and [those who will go to] hell”) will be “cast into the lake of fire,” verse 15, which means they will experience “the second death,” equaling never to live again.  Yes, they will have torment in the “lake of fire,” but will eventually turn to ashes (Mal. 4:3).

 

REVELATION 21:1-2: “[1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:  for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. [2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

 

The New Jerusalem comes down, which equals the THIRD COMING of Christ with His saints.

 

The context of “new heaven” most likely is a dual application, in that it refers to the previous “first heaven (atmosphere),” and the NEW place the “Third Heaven,” Heaven Itself, will be moved to this earth (see under Revelation 20:8-9 & proved under Revelation 21:3).

 

Note:  This event had already taken place in Revelation 20:9.  This is just a better description of that event.

 

Note 2:  This further proves that the earth was un-populated during the millennium, for why would the “New Jerusalem” have to “come down” to earth if it was already inhabited there?

 

REVELATION 21:3: “And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

 

Note:  For the rest of eternity; Heaven apparently to be (moved to) upon this earth.

 

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