The One Thousand Years Unveiled

Revelation 20 zeros in on a 1,000-year period that follows the Second Coming of Christ. The events surrounding this “millennium” mark the final act in the conflict between Christ and Satan that has been going on since sin entered the universe.

This cosmic drama began in heaven when Lucifer became jealous of Christ, started a war with the unfallen angels, was expelled, and fled to our world. The drama continued on earth in the Garden of Eden, then down through the centuries until it reached its first climax when the devil impelled human beings to crucify Christ. (You may wish to review this sad story in guide 3.) The drama will reach its final climax at the close of the 1,000-year period when our sinful world is cleansed and placed under Christ’s control.

Revelation 20 shows us that two resurrections serve as boundaries for the 1,000-year period. Who does God raise from the dead in the first resurrection that takes place at the beginning of the 1,000 years?