1000 Years of Peace
You can be certain that it's coming - an incredible millennium that will be ushered in after Christ's return. And the devil doesn't want you to know about his 1,000-year prison sentence because it reveals his true character. In fact, Satan has concocted a counterfeit message on the millennium to trick you! It's an awesome, fascinating study that will utterly shake everything you've ever known! Now you can have the Bible's amazing truths about the coming 1,000-year reign.
1. What event begins this 1,000-year period?
"These came to life again and reigned with Christ for a thousand years." Revelation 20:4, NEB, last part of verse.*Answer: A resurrection begins the 1,000-year period.
*The New English Bible, (C) 1961, 1970 by the Delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press. Used by permission.2. What is this resurrection called? Who will be raised in it?
"This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection." Revelation 20:5, 6.Answer: It is called the first resurrection. The righteous people--"blessed and holy" of all ages--will be raised in it.
3. The Bible says there are two resurrections. When is the second resurrection, and who will be raised in it?
"The rest of the dead [those who were wicked] lived not again until the thousand years were finished." Revelation 20:5. "All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:28, 29.Answer: The second resurrection takes place at the close of the 1,000-year period. The wicked will be raised in this resurrection. It is called the resurrection of damnation.
Please notice: The resurrection of the righteous begins the 1,000 years. The resurrection of the wicked ends the 1,000 years.4. What other momentous events take place when the 1,000 years begin?
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him." Revelation 1:7. "The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, ... and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. "And there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great." "And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent [scholarly estimates vary from 58 to 100 pounds]." Revelation 16:18, 20, 21. (See also Jeremiah 4:23-26; Isaiah 24:1, 3, 19, 20; Isaiah 2:21.)Answer: Other momentous events that take place as the 1,000 years begin are: the most devastating earthquake and hailstorm in history strike the earth; Jesus returns in the clouds for His people; and all the saints are caught up into the air to meet Jesus.
5. What happens to the wicked--living and dead--at Jesus' second coming?
"With the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." Isaiah 11:4. "When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God." 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8. "Let the wicked perish at the presence of God." Psalms 68:2. "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." Revelation 20:5.Answer: The living wicked will be slain by the very presence of Christ at the second coming. When an angel appeared at Jesus' tomb, the entire group of Roman guards fell as dead men (Matthew 28:2, 4). When the brightness of all the angels, God the Father, and God the Son combine, the wicked will die as if hit by lightning. The wicked already dead when Jesus returns will remain in their graves until the end of the 1,000 years.
6. Many believe the unsaved will have an opportunity to repent during the 1,000 years. What does the Bible say about this?
"The slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground." Jeremiah 25:33. "I beheld, and, lo, there was no man." Jeremiah 4:25.Answer:
The wicked dead will lie upon the earth during the 1,000 years.
It is impossible for any person to repent during the 1,000 years because there will not be a person alive on earth. The righteous will all be in heaven. All the wicked will be lying dead upon the earth. Revelation 22:11, 12 makes it clear that the case of every person is closed before Jesus returns. Those who wait to accept Christ until the 1,000 years begin will have waited too long.7. The Bible says that Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit during the 1,000 years. What is this pit?
"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit. ... And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit ... till the thousand years should be fulfilled." Revelation 20:1-3.Answer: The word for "bottomless pit" in the original Greek is "abussos," or abyss. That same word is used in the Greek version of the Old Testament in Genesis 1:2 in connection with the creation of the earth, but there it is translated "deep." "The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep." How interesting! The words "deep," "bottomless pit," and "abyss" here refer to the same thing--the earth in its totally dark, disorganized form before God made order of it. Jeremiah, in describing this earth during the 1,000 years, used virtually the same terms as these in Genesis 1:2: "without form and void," "no light," "no man," 'black." Jeremiah 4:23, 25, 28. So the battered, dark earth with no people alive will be called the bottomless pit, or abyss, during the 1,000 years just as it was in the beginning before Creation was completed. Isaiah 24:22 also speaks of Satan and his angels during the 1,000 years as "gathered in the pit" and "shut up in the prison."
8. What is the chain that binds Satan? Why is he bound?
"An angel ... having ... a great chain in his hand ... laid hold on ... Satan, and bound him a thousand years, ... 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." Revelation 20:1-3.Answer: The chain is symbolic--a chain of circumstances. A spirit being cannot be confined with a literal chain. Satan is "tied down" because he has no people to deceive. The wicked are all dead and the righteous are all in heaven. The Lord confines the devil to this earth so he cannot roam the universe hoping to find someone to deceive. Forcing the devil to stay on the earth, alone with his demons for a thousand years with no one to deceive, will be for him the most galling chain ever forged.
REVIEW THE EVENTS OCCURRING
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 1,000 YEARS:
- Devastating earthquake and hailstorm (Revelation 16:18-21; Revelation 6:14-17).
- Second coming of Jesus for His saints (Matthew 24:30, 31).
- Righteous dead raised to life (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
- Righteous given immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-55).
- Righteous given bodies like Jesus (1 John 3:2; Philippians 3:21).
- All righteous caught up into the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
- Living wicked slain by the breath of the Lord's mouth (Isaiah 11:4).
- Wicked in graves remain dead until the end of the 1,000 years (Revelation 20:5).
- Jesus takes righteous to heaven (John 13:33, 36; 14:1-3).
- Satan bound (Revelation 20:1-3).
9. Revelation 20:4 says there will be a judgment in heaven during the 1,000 years. What for? Who will participate?
"I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them ... and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Revelation 20:4. "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? ... Know ye not that we shall judge angels?" 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3.Answer: The righteous of all ages (and probably even good angels) will participate in the judgment during the 1,000 years. The cases of all who are lost, including the devil and his angels, will be reviewed. This judgment will make details regarding the lost clear to each saved person. In the end, all will see that people are shut out of heaven only if they did not really want to live like Jesus or to be with Him.
During the 1,000 years, all God's righteous people will participate in the judgment in heaven.
REVIEW THE EVENTS
AND CONDITIONS
DURING THE 1,000 YEARS:
- Earth in battered condition from huge hailstones and devastating earthquake (Revelation 16:18-21; 6:14-17).
- Earth in total blackout/bottomless pit (Jeremiah 4:23, 28).
- Satan and his angels forced to stay on the earth/bound (Revelation 20:1-3).
- Righteous in heaven participating in the judgment (Revelation 20:4).
- Wicked are all dead (Jeremiah 4:25; Isaiah 11:4).
During the 1,000 years, every soul who has ever lived on earth will be in one of two places: (1) on the earth, dead and lost, or (2) in heaven, taking part in the judgment. The Lord invites you to be in heaven. Please accept His invitation.10. At the close of the 1,000 years the holy city, new Jerusalem, will come down from heaven to this earth. Who will come with it? Where will it settle?
"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. ... And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men." Revelation 21:2, 3. "Behold, the day of the Lord cometh." "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof. ... And the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee." "All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem." Zechariah 14:1, 4, 5, 10.Answer: The new Jerusalem will settle where the mount of Olives now stands. The mountain will be flattened to make a great plain, upon which the city will come to rest. All of the righteous people of all ages (Zechariah 14:5), the angels of heaven (Matthew 25:31), plus God the Father (Revelation 21:2, 3) and God the Son (Matthew 25:31) will return to earth with the holy city for Jesus' special third coming. The second coming will be for His saints; the third will be with His saints.
Jesus' Three Advents:
1. First coming, to Bethlehem in a manger.
2. Second coming, in the clouds at the beginning of the 1,000 years to take His people to heaven.
3. Third coming, with the holy city and all righteous people at the close of the 1,000 years.11. What will happen to the wicked dead at this time? How will this affect Satan?
"The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations." Revelation 20:5, 7, 8.Answer: At the close of the 1,000 years (when Jesus comes the third time) the wicked will be raised. Satan, loosed from his bonds, will then have an earth full of people (all the nations of the world) to deceive.
12. What will Satan do then?
"Satan shall ... go out to deceive the nations ... of the earth, ... to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city." Revelation 20:7-9.Answer: Satan, true to his nature, will immediately begin lying to the people left on the earth--the wicked from all ages. He will probably claim that the city is really his, that he was unjustly deposed from the heavenly kingdom, that God is power-hungry and ruthless, and that God is getting ready to wipe them all off the face of the earth with a devastating, inescapable fire. He will convince them that, if they unify, God does not have a chance. With the entire world against one city, the victory will appear certain. The nations will then unite and marshal their armies to surround the new Jerusalem.
13. What will interrupt Satan's plan to capture or destroy the city?
"Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into ... the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelation 20:9, 10; 21:8. "The wicked ... shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts." Malachi 4:3.Answer: Fire will suddenly come down from heaven (not up from hell, as many believe) upon the wicked and all will be turned into ashes, including the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). This fire that destroys sin and sinners is called the second death. There is no resurrection from this death. It is final. Notice that the devil will not be tending the fire, as is commonly believed. He will be in it, and it will put him out of existence.
14. When the wicked are burned up and the fire goes out, what glorious, thrilling event will take place next?
"Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth." Isaiah 65:17. "Look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13. "He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new." Revelation 21:5. "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." Revelation 21:3.Answer:
When the fire goes out, God will create a fantastic new earth,
with the holy city as its capital, and give it to His people. Please decide now to be there.
God will create new heavens and a new earth, and the new Jerusalem will be the capital city of the earth made new. Sin and its ugliness will be gone forever. God's people will at long last receive the kingdom promised to them. "They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Isaiah 35:10. Too fabulous to describe! Too glorious to miss! Too near for us to be unsure! God has a place prepared there for you (John 14:1-3). Plan to live in it. Jesus is waiting for your consent.
REVIEW THE EVENTS AT THE CLOSE OF THE 1,000 YEARS:
1. Third coming of Jesus with His saints (Zechariah 14:5).
2. Holy city settles on mount of Olives, which becomes a great plain (Zechariah 14:4, 10).
3. The Father, angels, and all of the righteous come with Jesus (Revelation 21:1-3; Matthew 25:31; Zechariah 14:5).
4. Wicked dead raised; Satan loosed (Revelation 20:5, 7).
5. Satan deceives entire world (Revelation 20:8).
6. Wicked surround the holy city (Revelation 20:9).
7. Wicked destroyed by fire (Revelation 20:9).
8. New heavens and earth created (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1).
9. God's people enjoy eternity with Christ on the new earth (Revelation 21:2-4).
THE 1,000 YEARS OF REVELATION 20
EVENTS DURING THE 1,000 YEARS
1. Earth torn up, desolate, and dark.
2. All wicked are dead on earth.
3. Satan bound to this earth.
4. Righteous judging in heaven.
FIRST RESURRECTION
_________________________
AT BEGINNING OF THE 1,000 YEARS
SECOND RESURRECTION
_________________________
AT CLOSE OF THE 1,000 YEARS
1. Devastating earthquake and hailstorm.
1. Third coming of Jesus with the saints.
2. Second coming of Jesus for the saints.
2. Holy city descends onto the mount of Olives, which becomes a great plain.
3. Righteous dead raised to life.
3. Father, angels, righteous come with Jesus.
4. Righteous given immortality.
4. Wicked dead raised and Satan loosed.
5. Righteous given bodies like that of Jesus.
5. Satan deceives all nations. They surround the holy city.
6. All righteous caught up into clouds.
6. Wicked destroyed by fire.
7. Living wicked slain by the Lord's presence.
7. New heavens and earth created.
8. Wicked already in their graves remain dead.
8. God's people enjoy eternity with Jesus.
9. Jesus takes righteous to heaven.
10. Satan bound.
15. Can we know how soon Jesus will return for His saints?
"When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Matthew 24:33. "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:28. "For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth." Romans 9:28. "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them." 1 Thessalonians 5:3.Answer: Jesus said when the signs of His coming are being fulfilled rapidly, as they are today, we should rejoice and know that His coming is near--even at the doors. And the apostle Paul said we can know the end is near when there is a great movement for peace in the world. Finally, the Bible says God will cut the work short (Romans 9:28). So without doubt, we are living on borrowed time. The Lord will arrive suddenly and unexpectedly--at an hour known to no one, but to God only (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7). Our only safety is to be ready.
16. I am definitely planning to live in the fantastic custom-built home that Jesus is preparing for me in heaven.Answer:
1. How long will the time period be from the day the holy city descends until the wicked are destroyed by fire from heaven? (Revelation 20:3 )The Bible says it will be a "little," or short, season (Revelation 20:3). Enough time will be required for Satan to persuade people to follow his plan and prepare weapons of war. The exact length of time is not revealed in Scripture.2. What kind of bodies will people have in God's new kingdom? (Philippians 3:21 )The Bible says the redeemed will have bodies like that of Jesus (Philippians 3:21). Jesus had a real body of flesh and bones after His resurrection (Luke 24:36-43). The saved will not be ghosts. They will be real people, as were Adam and Eve.3. Does the Bible say how the lost will react at Jesus' second coming? (Revelation 6:17 )Yes. The Bible says they will cry "to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" Revelation 6:16, 17. (See also verses 14 and 15.) The righteous, on the other hand, will say, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." Isaiah 25:9.4. When the holy city descends, will the wicked be able to see the righteous people who are inside the city? (Revelation 21:18 )Quite likely they will. The Bible says the city will be the see-through type—clear as crystal (Revelation 21:11, 18). The righteous will be able to see the wicked (Psalms 37:34), and the wicked will be able to see the righteous (Luke 13:28). This could mean that some very sad encounters will take place at the city wall, with the saved part of a family inside and the lost part outside. The resulting heartache and trauma are too much for human language to describe.5. The Bible says God will wipe away all tears from the eyes of His people and there will be no more death, sorrow, or pain. When will this happen? (Revelation 21:4 )From Revelation 21:1-4 and Isaiah 65:17, it appears that this will happen after sin and sinners are destroyed. During the final judgment and destruction by fire, God's people will have many reasons for deep sorrow. As they realize that relatives and friends are lost and that people they loved are being destroyed in the fire, anguish will doubtless bring tears and heartache to God's people. But after the fire goes out, the Lord will wipe away their tears. He will then create new heavens and a new earth for His people, which will bring them unspeakable joy and fulfillment. And sorrow, sadness, crying, and heartache will be forever gone.6. How will the destruction of wicked angels and people affect God the Father and His Son? (Isaiah 28:21 )Doubtless they will be relieved and overjoyed that the ugly cancer of sin is gone forever and that the universe is secure. Surely they will also experience deep, wrenching sadness over the fact that so many of those they loved--and for whom Jesus died--chose to cling to sin and reject salvation. Satan himself was once their warm, personal friend, and many people in the fire were their dearly beloved children. It will be like the agony of seeing one of your own errant children executed. Sin has been a crushing load upon both Father and Son since its inception. The aim of the Father and Son has been to love people and gently draw them to salvation. Their feelings are expressed in Hosea 11:8, NASB: "How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? ... My heart is turned over within Me, all my compassions are kindled."*
Thought Questions
*The New American Standard Bible, (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
7. What kind of body does Jesus have? (Luke 24:39 )He has a body of flesh and bones. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples (Luke 24:36-43) and demonstrated that He was not a spirit or ghost by stating that He was flesh and bones, having them feel His body, and by eating some fish and honey.
Jesus Ascends
He then walked with them to Bethany and, as He was conversing with them, ascended to heaven (Luke 24:49-51). The angel who appeared to the disciples as Jesus ascended explained that "this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11.
This Same Jesus Will Return
The angel's emphasis was that this same Jesus (of flesh and bones) will come again. He will be real, not ghostly, and the risen and translated saints will have bodies like His (Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2). The saints' heavenly bodies will also be incorruptible and immortal (1 Corinthians 15:51-55).
Quiz Questions
1. Mark the events that will take place at the beginning of the 1,000 years of Revelation chapter 20: (10)
___ Second coming of Jesus.
___ Earthquake and hailstorm.
___ Righteous dead raised.
___ Satan bound.
___ Living wicked slain.
___ Righteous given immortality.
___ Holy city descends.
___ Righteous taken to heaven.
___ Wicked in graves remain dead.
2. Every living person on earth will see Jesus at His second coming. (1)
___ True.
___ False.
3. The righteous will have spirit- or ghost-like bodies in heaven. (1)
___ True.
___ False.
4. Which of the following items are true about the 1,000-year period? (2)
___ Many sinners will be converted.
___ Satan and his angels will be forced to stay on the earth.
___ Satan will be bound by the fact that there is no television to watch.
___ It will be bright and sunny on earth during the 1,000 years.
___ Satan will raise the wicked dead to life to keep him company.
___ The righteous will be in heaven, participating in the judgment.
5. Which of the following are true regarding the events at the close of the 1,000-year period? (4)
___ Christ will come for a fifth time.
___ The holy city will land in the Washington, D.C., area.
___ The angels and God the Father will come with Jesus.
___ The wicked will be raised.
___ Jesus will come with His saints.
___ God will decide not to raise the wicked after all.
___ The wicked will be destroyed by angry evil angels.
___ God will create new heavens and a new earth.
___ God will banish Satan to the outer reaches of the universe.
6. The chain that binds Satan will (3)
___ Be symbolic--a chain of circumstances.
___ Force him to stay on the earth.
___ Be made of a new, very hard metal.
___ Be broken by the devil within 24 hours.
___ Keep him from tempting God's people, who will be safe in heaven.
7. Which statements are true of the bottomless pit? (2)
___ It is a vast hole deep inside the earth.
___ It means abyss.
___ It refers to the earth--dark and without form and void.
___ It is another name for hell.
8. Which items are true about the first, second, and third comings of Jesus? (3)
___ First coming was to Bethlehem as a baby.
___ First coming was in Noah's day.
___ Second coming was in Martin Luther's day.
___ Second coming will be at the beginning of the 1,000 years.
___ Third coming will be at the end of the 1,000 years.
___ Third coming takes place after the new earth is created.
9. The death the wicked die in the lake of fire is the second death. (1)
___ True.
___ False.
