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Bible Study 16
1,000 Years Of Peace

Note: The phrase "one thousand years" appears six times in Revelation chapter 20. This "one thousand year" period is often referred to as the millennium from the Latin mille and annus, meaning one thousand years.

How many resurrections did Jesus say would take place?
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."
John 5:28, 29

When will the resurrection of the righteous dead take place?
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first."
1 Thessalonians 4:16

Note: It is at the Second Coming of Jesus that the resurrection of the righteous takes place.
What does the book of Revelation call this resurrection of the righteous?

"Blessed 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."
Revelation 20:6

	IN HEAVEN The redeemed assist in the judgment of the wicked.
	The Millenium 1,000 Years Between Resurrections
First Resurrection 1. End of Seven Last Plagues 2. Christ's Second Advent 3. Righteous Dead Raised 4. Wicked Perish / Satan Bound 5. Righteous Ascend to Heaven		Second Resurrection 1. Christ and Saints Descend to Earth 2. Holy City Descends 3. Wicked Dead Raised 4. Satan Loosed 5. Wicked Destroyed
End of the World	Satan has time to think about what he has done. Their probation past, the wicked are dead.	New Earth and Eternity

The Biblical Millennium

We live in the last days of history. Life as people now know it is nearly ended. Soon Jesus will return. We only have one period of probation-and that is during our present life. The Millennium will not be a thousand years of glory and peace here on earth! And it will not be an age of technological progress or a "second chance" for the wicked. All humanity will not be converted before it, during it, or after it! And neither Christ nor His redeemed ones will be on the earth during that thousand years.

Here is the truth about the Millennium and the events that mark its beginning and end:

1-Jesus is going to return for His people: He promised us that He would (John 14:1-3), and so we can know that He will.

2-There are four identifying marks of His second advent that cannot be counterfeited by false christs: (1) He will come so that all alive on the earth at that time can see Him return (Revelation 1:7; Acts 1:9; Matthew 24:30, 23-27). (2) He will come so all can hear Him as He returns (Matthew 24:31 Thessalonians 4:16). (3) He will come in majestic glory-His own glory, His Father's glory, and the glory of millions of angels that will come with Him (Luke 9:26; Matthew 28:2-4; Matthew 25:31; Revelation 6:14-17). (4) He will come unexpectedly (Matthew 24:44; 24:36).

3-His second coming will mark the beginning of the Millennium. Six events will take place: (1) He will raise the righteous dead (1 Thessalonians 4:16). (2) He will catch up the righteous living together with the resurrected righteous dead-to meet Him in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17). (3) He will change their vile bodies to be like unto His glorious body (Philippians 3:20, 21) and translate them (1 Corinthians 15:51-55; Isaiah 25:9). (4) Having gathered all the righteous (1 Thessalonians 4:17, 18; Matthew 25:34-40; 24:30, 31), He will take His redeemed ones to heaven (John 14:1-3; 17:24; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). (5) He will destroy the living wicked with the brightness of His coming (Luke 17:26-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:8). (6) He will bind Satan to this earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20:2-3).

4-During the Millennium, the earth will be desolate (Revelation 20:3; Jeremiah 4:23-26; Isaiah 24:1, 3). The wicked will be dead (2 Thessalonians 2:8). There will be no one left (Isaiah 24:20-22; Jeremiah 4:25, 26; 25:31-33). Satan will be bound on a desolate earth (Revelation 20:1-3). The righteous will be in heaven (Revelation 20:4, 6; Daniel 7:22) engaged in a work of judgment (Revelation 20:4; 1 Corinthians 6:1-3; Acts 24:25; Jude 6).

5-At the close of the Millennium, the Holy City will descend from heaven (Revelation 20:9; 21:1-5; Zechariah 14:4, 9); the wicked will be raised in the "second resurrection" (Revelation 20:5, first part). Satan will be thus loosed to deceive them again (Revelation 20:7, 8). Satan and the wicked will surround the Holy City to take it (Revelation 20:8, 9). All of the wicked will be destroyed (Revelation 20:9), and this earth will be made new (Revelation 21:1-5; 2 Peter 3:10-14).

What happens to the "living righteous" when Jesus comes?
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
1 Thessalonians 4:17

What happens to the "living wicked" when Jesus comes?

Old Testament Prophecy:

"And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground."
Jeremiah 25:33

New Testament Prophecy:

"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming."
2 Thessalonians 2:8

How do we know the "wicked dead" (the unsaved of ages past) will not be disturbed or resurrected at the Second Coming of Jesus?
"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished."
Revelation 20:5

Note: The 1,000-year period of peace begins immediately following the Second Coming of Jesus. These 1,000 years are bounded by two resurrections: 1) the resurrection of the righteous which occurs at the beginning of the 1,000 years when Jesus comes again, and 2) the resurrection of the wicked which occurs at the end of the 1,000 years. Examine the chart carefully that accompanies this study; it will simplify these Bible events.

What will the righteous (the redeemed of all ages) be doing in heaven during the 1,000 years?
"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.… Blessed 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."
Revelation 20:4, 6

"Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?"
1 Corinthians 6:2

What will be the condition of the earth during the 1,000 years?

Old Testament Prophecy:

"I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger. For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end."
Jeremiah 4:23-27

New Testament Prophecy:

"And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.... and the cities of the nations fell… And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found."
Revelation 16:17-20

What happens to Satan during the 1,000 years?
"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 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."
Revelation 20:1-3

Note: "For a thousand years, Satan will wander to and fro in the desolate earth to behold the results of his rebellion against the Law of God. During this time his sufferings are intense. Since his fall, his life of unceasing activity has banished reflection; but he is now deprived of his power and left to contemplate the part which he has acted since first he rebelled against the government of heaven, and to look forward with trembling and terror to the dreadful future when he must suffer for all the evil that he has done and be punished for the sins that he has caused to be committed." The Great Controversy, page 660.

When will the second resurrection (for the wicked) take place?
"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished."
Revelation 20:5

When will Satan be released from his prison?
"And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison."
Revelation 20:7

When Satan is released, what act will reveal that he has not changed but remains a rebel against God?
"And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea."
Revelation 20:7, 8

What will happen to Satan and his resurrected, wicked followers, as they attempt to take the city of God?
"And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.… And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
Revelation 20:9, 14, 15

When the fire from God has completed its cleansing work, what has God promised to do for the redeemed?
"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."
2 Peter 3:13

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