Let’s start with where the Bible describes the 1,000-year period in Revelation 20:1-7 six times. It is called the “millennium” because it means one thousand years. But the word millennium is nowhere in the Bible. Other verses describe this time as the period in heaven but do not specify 1,000 years (Isaiah 65:17–25; Daniel 7:27; John 14:1–3).
It is a time directly after Christ’s second coming when Jesus will reign in heaven for 1,000 years with the saved.
Revelation 20:1-7 KJV says,
“1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3And 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.
4And 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.
5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,”
What will happen during the Millennium?
During this time, Christ will reign with the resurrected saints and raptured righteous living at the end times. They will judge the wicked and the fallen angels (1 Corinthians 6:2-3) when the “books are open” in Revelation 20:12.
It is a key part of the millennium.
God already had investigated and judged before the second coming who was saved and who was wicked. The saved being the redeemed in Christ made righteous. Otherwise, how would Jesus know who to take to heaven? Yet, God allows the righteous to see and understand for themselves. Why was this person saved and not this other person?
They can see God rightly judged who was saved and who was not. It is a time to answer the righteous’ questions. Thus the “open books”.
The 1,000 years will also be a time of healing. In Revelation 21:4 it reads:
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
This verse describes the new heaven and new earth. God will restore all things, bringing comfort and peace to His people.
There will also be a lot of celebration and rejoicing in heaven (Revelation 19:6–9; Matthew 8:11; Isaiah 25:6–9; Matthew 26:29; Isaiah 66:22–23; Revelation 22:1–2). Jesus is waiting to drink wine with us at a great feast. And we will come together each Sabbath and each month to worship at the Tree of Life.
Now, let’s talk about the events that happen just after Christ’s return to the Earth.
What happens just before the start of the Millennium?
First, there will be the resurrection of the righteous dead (this is the first resurrection Revelation 20:5-6). The first resurrection corresponds with Jesus’ teachings of the “Resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14) and the “Resurrection of life” (John 5:29; John 5:28–29).
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.“
After the first resurrection, all of the saved righteous will be taken in the sky. They are protected from God’s final judgment on Earth. But they will go to heaven in the holy city of New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-8).
God’s wrath will destroy the Earth and all of the wicked, described as the seventh bowl, trumpet, or plague (Revelation 16:17–21; Revelation 11:15–19; Revelation 10:7). These three “sevens” represent the completeness and finality of God’s judgments.
There will be thunder, lightning, and hail. Great worldwide earthquakes will flatten mountains. Remove all islands. God will destroy everything (Revelation 16:17-20).
The wicked will try and fail to hide from God (Revelation 6:15-16).
Earth will be lifeless and returned to a similar state before creation. Satan will be bound for 1,000 years on Earth. The fallen angels and Satan will be left alive to wait for their final judgment, unable to leave or do any more evil. This is referred to as the “desolation of the earth.”
Revelation 20:1-3 says, “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.“
What will happen after the Millennium?
After the millennium the Bible outlines several key events that lead to the final judgment, the destruction of evil, and the establishment of the new heavens and new earth.
At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released.
The wicked dead will be resurrected by God. This is the second resurrection, or the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28-29).
Satan will lead one final rebellion against Christ by deceiving all nations (Revelation 20:7-8).
New Jerusalem will leave heaven with the saints, the angels, and Jesus. The holy city comes to Earth.
God lets Satan and the wicked try to attack New Jerusalem. But God stops them before they can. He holds the final great white throne judgment and destroys them (Revelation 20:9; Revelation 20:11-12).
Satan will be defeated, and the wicked will be destroyed in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:13-15). With fire and brimstone from heaven. Completely destroying the wicked forever, leaving only ash (Malachi 4:1-3; Revelation 20:14-15).
Then, God will create a new earth, where the righteous will live with Him for eternity. New Jerusalem will land and stay on Earth (Revelation 21:2–3; Revelation 21:10-11).
Lesson 12 Study Guide by Amazing Facts:
The 1,000 years in Revelation 20 and the events after Christ returns.
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