The Millennium What Does the Bible Teach? Lesson 3 – Will the True Millennium Please Stand Up?

The book of Revelation consists of a series of seven visions that Jesus gave to John. Each describes the travails and triumphs of the church from the time of Christ’s first coming to his second coming at the end of the world, culminating with the eternal victory celebration of God’s people in heaven. Chapter 20 contains four parts, each introduced by the words “and I saw” (or “I saw”).

The Seven Visions of Revelation Read Revelation 20:1-3 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

The Seven Visions of Revelation 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

The Seven Visions of Revelation  Who came from heaven? Describe his power.

The Seven Visions of Revelation Revelation 1:18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

The Seven Visions of Revelation 1 John 3:8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

The Seven Visions of Revelation John 16:11 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt… 11 in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

The Seven Visions of Revelation Who alone has power over Satan and hell (the Abyss)? What can we therefore conclude regarding the identity of the “angel” in this vision?

The Seven Visions of Revelation Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

The Seven Visions of Revelation John 16: But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:

The Seven Visions of Revelation 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

The Seven Visions of Revelation What in these verses from Colossians and John lead us to conclude that the “thousand years” is not meant to be understood literally but as a symbolic number for the whole NT period, from Christ’s first coming to his second coming at the end of the world?

The Seven Visions of Revelation When and how did Jesus bind Satan? Who is responsible for restricting Satan from deceiving the nations during the NT age?

The Thousand Years Read Revelation 20:4-6 4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands.

The Thousand Years They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. What does John say he saw?

Luke 23:42-43 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Philippians 1:23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far…

The Thousand Years Where are the souls of Christians who have died? What does Revelation 20:4-6 promise for all Christians, even those who were martyred for their faith?

The Thousand Years Read Revelation 20: When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.

9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The Thousand Years Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,

The Thousand Years 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

The Thousand Years How does Paul describe this period? What evidence do you see today that fits this description? In Revelation 20:10, how does God’s Word assure us of Satan’s final defeat and Christians’ final victory?

Read Revelation 20: Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

The Thousand Years What event is described in these verses? Vs assure us of the final defeat of Satan. What other enemies’ defeats are described in verse 14? What is the overall message of Revelation 20?

The Thousand Years How does this message comfort and encourage Christians throughout the ages as they strive to live Christian lives and proclaim the gospel for the salvation of lost souls?