It seems like a long time ago, but the Y2K bug swept across the United States as a threat to security and life as we know it. With the way things were programmed, analysts predicted that banks would fail, cards would stop working, and an apocalypse might occur. Some people took a cautious approach and stocked up on food and energy – Just in case. Others took no approach and lived life as usual. In hindsight we realize that this issue was nothing to be afraid of, but it would have been hard convincing people of that prior to the turn of the millennium.

Previously we looked at a Biblical view of death and ended with an eventual resurrection that would happen for God’s people. In Revelation 20 a mention to a 1000 year period exists. Tonight we took a look at what the Bible says about the 1000 years so that we know the proper preparations will happen to something that is guaranteed to occur – unlike the Y2k apocalypse.

We began by looking in Revelation 20, where the millennium is mentioned. By the way, the word millennium does not appear in the Bible, it is a Latin word meaning “a thousand years.” In verse 1 we see that there is an angel with a key to a bottomless pit and a chain in his hand. Verse 2 and 3 indicates that the devil is bound with this chain and is thrown into a bottomless pit for 1000 years, then he is set free for a short time.

How do you bind the devil to a bottomless pit? Wouldn’t he just keep falling? The Greek word used here is abussos, and it is in reference to the Earth. In fact, the same word for bottomless pit used here in the original New Testament language is used in Genesis 1:2 to refer to the Earth as being formless and without void. So we know that the bottomless pit is the Earth, and the devil is stranded on it. In addition, the word “abyss” comes from this word, so we know the condition of the Earth is desolate and void when the devil is bound to it.

What are we doing during the devil’s imprisonment? Verse 4 tells us that the righteous dead and live (loyal to God, did not worship the beast – of Revelation 13) live and reign with Christ for 1000 years. We know when this happens! John 5:28 reveals that there are two resurrections, one for those who did good and one for those who did evil. and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 shows that the dead in Christ will rise first. So the resurrection of the righteous happens first, and we see them with Jesus in Revelation 20:4. How awesome is that? The righteous are resurrected at Jesus’ second coming, then they live are with jesus for 100 years.

What about the rest of the dead? The wicked people? Luke 17:27 reveals that Jesus’ coming will be like Noah’s day. Only a few righteous people were saved (the ones that choose to be), and the rest drowned. In Revelation 20:5 we see that the rest of the dead will not live again until after the 1000 years. The end of Revelation 6 indicates that at Jesus’ coming the wicked were afraid of Christ and were calling for destruction on themselves.

The current timeline: Jesus comes again > First resurrection consisting of the righteous > devil bound on Earth for 1000 years > second resurrection consisting of the wicked. We discussed how during the 1000 years, the righteous will be in heaven with Jesus, the wicked will all be dead – slain by the glory of Jesus coming again, and the devil is the only one left on this Earth during that 1000 year timeframe. With no one to tempt on Earth, this is how the devil is “bound” as that was his craft.

During the 1000 years, Revelation 20:4 tells us that that the righteous will participate in a judgment that is given to them. What does that mean? 1 Corinthians 6:2,3 shows that the saints will judge the world. When we first get to heaven we will be excited to be there but we will definitely have quite a bit of questions for Jesus. Why are some people here? Why are some people not here? We will get to judge that what ever happened during the period of Earth’s history was fair.

After the 1000 years the rest of the dead (all wicked people, righteous have been with Jesus) are resurrected (second resurrection) and the devil is “released” from his prison. Now he has people to tempt. In Revelation 21:2 we see that God’s city descends from heaven to the Earth, in all her glory. This is the city that is talked about in Revelation 20:7-9. The devil deceives the entire earth one last time, which the Bible refers to as Gog and Magog. Why use these words? Ezekiel 38 and 39 reveal that Gog and Magog refer to the enemies of God. Satan deceives all of the enemies of God that they can take the city and rule forever.

However, in verse 9 we see that fire comes down and devours the wicked.

This is loaded, so let us step back.

1 – Jesus comes again, the righteous are resurrected (first resurrection), and they judge the world and God’s actions for 1000 years (1 Thessalonians 4:16, John 5:28, Revelation 20:4)
2 – The living wicked people are slain by the brightness of Jesus’ coming (Revelation 6:15-17) and the wicked who are dead stay put.
3 – The devil is bound to the Earth for 1000 years with no one to tempt on a desolate world (Revelation 20:1-3)
4 – After 1000 years, the city of God comes from Heaven to the Earth (Revelation 20:1-2)
5 – The wicked dead are resurrected and deceived by the devil to surround and attack the city with the righteous inside of it (Revelation 20:7-9)
6 – Fire destroys the wicked.

This is how the Bible explains the 1000 years. Everyone who ever lived  on this Earth will be alive at this one moment in history. A wall separates the ones who choose Jesus and the ones who choose the devil. But the Bible tells us how this will end.

The choice is up to you, which side do you want to be on? Do you want to be with Jesus? Today is your opportunity, do not postpone it before It becomes too late.