Authored by Jerry Marshall The phrase “thousand years” occurs six times in Revelation 20:1–7. This period in history is known as “the Millennium,” from two Latin words, mille (“thousand”) and annum (“year”)—the 1,000-year kingdom of Christ on earth. At last, Christ and His saints will reign over the nations of the earth, and Israel will enjoy the blessings promised by the prophets (see Isaiah 2:1–5; 4:1–6; 11:1–9; 12:1–6; 30:18–26; 35:1–10).
I. The Great Chain (20:1–3)
A. The prisoner (20:1–2)
B. The prison (20:3)
II. The Great Reign (20:4–6)
A. The resurrection of the just (20:4a)
B. The rule of the just (20:4b–6)
III. The Great Revolt (20:7–10)
A. The adversary (20:7)
B. The apostasy (20:8)
C. The attack (20:9a)
D. The annihilation (20:9b–10)
1. Satan’s henchmen are consumed by the fires of heaven (20:9b).
2. Satan is consumed by the fires of hell (20:10).
IV. The Great Throne (20:11–15)
A. The Judge (20:11)
B. The judged (20:12–13)
1. The books in this judgment (20:12a–12b)
a. Various books (20:12a)
b. The Book of Life (20:12b)
2. The basis of this judgment (20:12c–13)
C. The judgment (20:14–15)
1Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (Re 20:4). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
2Willmington, H. L. (1999). The Outline Bible (Ro 20-Re 20:15). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.
Who will reign with Christ during the Millennium? (Revelation 20:4-5)
The best way to answer this question is to take note of the specific statements in the Bible, which describe those who will reign with Christ during the Millennium.
Revelation 20:4a; Matthew 19:27-28 ____________________________
Revelation 20:4b ___________________________
1 Corinthians 6:2, 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelations 2:26; 3:21; 5:9-10 ___________________________
MacArthur makes the following comments regarding 1 Corinthians 6:2:
When Jesus Christ returns to set up His millennial kingdom, believers from throughout all of history will be His coregents, sitting with Him on His throne (Rev. 3:21;
If the saints will one day help rule the entire earth, they surely are able to rule themselves within the church now. That future rule will be based on perfect adherence to the Word of God and proper godly attitudes, which are available now. There will not then be any different principles of wisdom and justice than we have revealed to us in Scripture now.
Who are those who will be a part of the first resurrection?
The context of Revelation 20:4-6 makes it abundantly clear that the Tribulation Saints are a part of the first resurrection. In addition, all believers from the church age who died in Christ and are resurrected at the time of the rapture of the church are a part of the first resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The Apostles would also be a part of the first resurrection since Christ promised that they would reign with Him during the Millennium (Matthew 19:27-28). All OT believers will also be a part of the first resurrection (Daniel 12:1-2).
“Scripture teaches two kinds of resurrections: the “resurrection of life” and “the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:29; cf. Dan. 12:2; Acts 24:15). The first kind of resurrection is described as “the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14), the resurrection of “those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Cor. 15:23), and the “better resurrection” (Heb. 11:35). It includes only the redeemed of the church age (1 Thess. 4:13–18), the OT (Dan. 12:2), and the Tribulation (v. 4). They will enter the kingdom in resurrection bodies, along with believers who survived the Tribulation. The second kind of resurrection, then, will be the resurrection of the unconverted who will receive their final bodies suited for torment in hell.”
cf. confer (Lat.), compare
3MacArthur, J. (1996, c1984). 1 Corinthians. Includes indexes. (138). Chicago: Moody Press.
Unbelievers from every age will be resurrected at the end of the Millennium in order to face judgment (Revelation 20:5, 11-15).
How can you identify Gog and Magog?
Dr’s Lahaye and Ice state the following regarding the identity of Gog and Magog.
“We believe that the participants in the battle of Gog and Magog can be identified by tracing the migration of those ancient peoples to their modern-day descendants. Ezekiel says this battle will occur “in the latter years (38:8) and “in the last days (38:16). The invasion involves a coalition headed by “Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshach and Tubal” (38:2).
Magog has been identified as ancient terminology for the area including modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. Ezekiel further identifies Magog as coming from “the remote parts of the north (38:6).
Gog will lead the invasion of Israel, and Ezekiel 38:5-6 adds that other nations will join with Gog – Persia (Iran), Ethiopia or Cush (Sudan), Put (Libya), and Gomer and Beth-togarmah (Turkey). Sheba and Dedan in Ezekiel 38:13 refer to Saudi Arabia.
All the allies of Magog are reasonably well identified and they are all presently Muslim. Interestingly, such an alignment of nations is already configured on the world scene today, so such an invasion does not seem like a far-fetched possibility.” (LaHaye and Ice-2007), Charting the End Times, page 93. Harvest House)
Practical Implications
1. The sovereign intent of our Lord cannot be thwarted by even the most powerful of created beings.
2. God’s promises are always fulfilled in his perfect timing. He promised King David that He would rise up a descendent from him who would come after him, and God would establish His kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:12). What we have studied in this chapter is beginning of the fulfillment of this promise (Luke 1:32).
3. Although we are saved by grace, the judgment of God is always based upon deeds that are done in life for both the believer (2 Corinthians 5:10) and the unbeliever (Revelation 20:12-13).
4. The context of Revelation 20 does not provide permission to understand the thousand years of the Millennium other than in a literal sense.
4MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Re 20:5). Nashville: Word Pub.
5. God has already judicially determined who would be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10; 21:8).