The Millennium

More has been written about the first ten verses of chapter 20 of the book of Revelation than any other text in the book. To be sure, as with any Bible passage, these verses are significant; however, they should not be elevated above the essential repeated themes emphasized in the book – namely, the return of Christ, the final judgment of all wickedness, and the beauty and splendor of eternity.

In the chapters leading up to chapter 20 of Revelation, we see the demise of the false prophet and the beast (or Antichrist), leaving us with one member of this "unholy trinity" left to vanquish – Satan, the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil. Chapter 20 does not disappoint, beginning with a majestic vision of an angel who binds Satan, casting him into and sealing him in a bottomless pit for 1000 years (a millennium). Clearly Satan's activity and power to deceive are completely taken away from him as he becomes the object of God's personal and unrelenting judgment.

Also, during this time, the kingdom of God is visibly consummated on earth, and the people are ruled by the only righteous king, Jesus Christ. Justice and righteousness now prevail as was oft promised in the Old Testament (Is 9:7, 11:3-5, 16:5 and many more!). The earth returns to the condition in which God created it before the fall of Adam and Eve. Reigning with Christ are those martyrs who were "beheaded for the testimony of Jesus …" (v. 4).

While there are varied interpretations to this passage, rather than dividing us, we all can enjoy and anticipate the glorious time that this passage describes as part of God's plan culminating in a new heaven and a new earth.