Why is there a thousand year cut off period before Satan is let out of hell, and the ones who worship with the Lord comes to an end? What's next for them?
Revelation 20:3 - 5
KJV - 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. 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.
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Asked June 13 2013
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Helena Jones
Supporter
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Toni House
Supporter
The thousand year reign with Christ (from my understanding in text) is for the martyrs of Christ, the dead in Christ, and those who endured during the tribulation, then when the thousand year reign is complete, then satan is released, then destroyed (cast into lake of fire forever). That is death put to death forever, then the Great Judgement Throne, all the dead will rise and be judged and whoever is not found in Book of Life will be cast into hell too. After that is when death is completely defeated and God makes a new Heaven and new Earth and New Jerusalem, where we will live forever with Christ.
Bill Brunson
Supporter
The thousand year reign Is for all Christians. Those who were dead in Christ will be called out, Paul tells the Thessalonians of this, 1 Thess. 4:15-17. In the book of Daniel it talks about the Anti-Christ coming deceiving mankind. Jesus talks about His second coming in Matthew 24. Christ will return and reign for a time there will peace then. This shows God's absolute justice, because Satan and those who follow him are worthy of punishment. And even thought Satan is given one more chance, he still deceives. This also shows the depravity of the people who follow Satan. Then the final judgement, where all will be judged. The Book of Life will be opened, those not found in it will be thrown into the lake of fire, this is the second death.
Samuel Reed
Supporter
The thousand years is a symbolic number and not a literal number of years. We are currently living under the rule of Christ. The binding of Satan has been in effect since the Cross and will end shortly before Christ returns. I think the best explanation of End Times is written in a book by Anthony A. Hoekema "The Bible and The Future". I believe the kingdom of God is now present in the world through His church and this due to the victory of Christ at the cross/resurrection. Christ is ruling his people by His Word and Spirit but we also look forward to a future, glorious, and perfect kingdom. Consider the various places we read that Christ is "seated" in Heaven (Cor. 3). Then consider His role as "judge". When a judge comes into the courtroom everyone rises and when he sits down he is in total control from then on. I see this as a type and shadow of what is going on today. Christ is seated and in total control of His Kingdom. Currently Satan is like a dog on a chain. He is not able to deceive the nations to the fullest extent possible until he is loosed for a short time. Remember, before Christ the entire world was a pagan mess; except a small number of people (Jews). God had revealed Himself to the Jews and the rest of the world was totally deceived by Satan. The so-called "signs of the times" have been present in the world from the time of Christ's first coming and they will intensify until the Second Coming. Christians need to stop with all the newspaper eschatology claiming the latest headline in the news is the next surest sign of Christ's return. This is how scoffers get their energy to continue scoffing. The gospel will continue to be preached to all nations until the fullness of True Israel (God's chosen) is complete and the world will continue to grown in travail until Christ returns. The number "thousand" should not be strictly interpreted as literal in it's sense, the Book of Revelation is full of symbolism. It does not make sense to take a small phrase out of the context it is in and make it literal. I think it is done for the purpose of making it fit into a eschatalogical scheme created by John Nelson Darby in the late 1800's. The number ten signifies completeness and "thousand" is ten to the third power which means a very long time.
JD Abshire
Supporter
Although many believers will be martyred during the great tribulation (Revelation 6:9-11) and most of earth's population will be killed during the battle of Armageddon, there are 144,000 which are sealed and protected (Revelation 7:2-8). These do not have glorified bodies, will enter into the millenial period and undoubtedly bear children. (Isaiah 11:6, 8-9). Not all born during the millenial period will come to faith and are most likely included in the nations referred to in Revelation 29:7-9.
RICK PORTER
Supporter
In 930BC the United Kingdom of Isreal split into 2 separate entities with 10 of the 12 Tribes of Isreal rejecting Solomon's son Rehoboam as their King.The Tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained loyal to Rehoboam and re-formed the Kingdom of Judah with Jerusalem as it's Capital. The other 10 Tribes were called the Kingdom of Israel and made Hebron their Capital.[1 Kings 12 and-2 Chronicles 10] Both Kingdoms were conquered by different Kingdoms and never shared the Glory of David's United Kingdom all the way through Jesus's first coming to earth dying, resurrection and ascension. Then in 70AD the Romans completely destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple as Jesus said would happen. Look, at the time period, 1000 years! Jesus will come again and establish His reign as The King of Kings in Jerusalem and reign 1000 years, a King in the line of David with a united Israel and even an expanded Israel but He shall rule with an Iron Rod [Revelation 2:27] and the world will experience Peace because of His rule and the fact Satan and demons will be bound for the 1000 years[Revelation 20:1-2] Secondly, some scholars believe the 1000 years will complete the perfect number of 7000 years of worlds creation from the Genesis account called the young earth belief or Dispensationalism. Whatever the reason I believe the 1000 year physical reign on earth is Literal and we as believers will rule with Him.[Revelation 20:4+] Luke 19:17-19] describes how faithful servants will be given authority over cities. Jesus shall be King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Bill Brunson
Supporter
In Revelation 20 it tells the thousand year reign of Christ. The word here in Latin is Millennium for one thousand years. It is mentioned six times in this chapter. And at this time Satan will be bound, so that he is not free to work. Christ will reign and those who died without the mark or worshiped the beast will reign with Christ. (Isa. 2:3, Daniel 7:14, Zech. 14:9) The wording here refers to a period of time, as is when Satan is let loose in a final all out battle against Christ and the saints. I might say here that we are reading this passage with a Western mindset. In the Jewish mind time was important enough to mention. Christ will reign and He will be the victor.
Mike Memmel
Supporter
I am sure that there are many reasons, at many levels. I think that one of them is this: not even a perfect government will be the answer. Surely Christ's government would be perfect but even then there will be rebellion. To live in the kingdom you must be born again.
Kenneth Heck
Supporter
The time of the Christian dispensation is three days, or about 3,000 years. Christ himself said (Luke 13:32) " Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected." The third day refers to the 1,000 year reign. Another foreshadowing of the three thousand years is found in the Israelite tabernacle in the wilderness. After the bronze altar (signifying Moses) and the sea of water (Elijah down to John the Baptist) we come to the door of the holy place (signifying Christ, since he is the door) and the two compartments within, the first twice as long as the second. The physical separation between compartments stands for the second coming of Christ, and the second compartment, the most holy place, represents the thousand year reign of Christ. After the 1,000 years comes the little season when Satan is unleashed to deceive the nations. Then fire comes down from heaven destroying all the forces of Gog and Magog covering the entire earth. Then there is the Great White throne judgment, the new heaven and new earth, and the New Jerusalem. At this time those who weren't part of the first resurrection will be resurrected with physical bodies and continue to worship God and eat of the tree of life.
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