The 1000 year reign - Revelation Chapter 20

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The Book of Revelation is often consider a confusing book, hard to understand and filled with symbolic mystifying writings and baffling numbers that make little or no since. A light reading leaves the Christian a feeling with the inability to understand what John wrote and experienced during his period of time in exile on Patmos. I thought that it might be timely to conduct a brief journey into Chapter 20 and interpret the message John received, specifically regarding the “1000 Year Millennium” of Christ. This topic is debated intensely by scholars but I believe that it teaches one and one only position; Pre-millennium”, meaning the rapture occurs prior to the 7 years of Tribulation. We should also discuss the different viewpoints surrounding the “Millennial View” of different evangelicals. “The word millennium comes from the Latin word mille, meaning “one thousand” and annum, meaning “year”. The Greek word chilias, meaning “1000 years” appears six time in Revelation Ch. 20, defining the durations of Christ’s kingdom before the destruction of the old heaven and the old earth, which will occur immediately preceding eternity”. (Hindson 2002, 234-235 ). During the ten centuries Christ will rule over the earth from His Temple in Jerusalem. The 1000 year reign of Christ is one of the most specific prophesy’s in the Bible regarding end times, for it is a perfect illustration of the Bible confirming its divine inspiration and accuracy. For example, the revelation seen in Psalm 72, revealing Christ’s reign over the whole earth. After describing how He will judge the people, defend the sick and helpless, and deliver the righteous”. Another passage of scripture from the Old Testament speaks of the millennium being established after Christ Second Coming in Isaiah 11. Again in Zechariah 2:10-11 also speaks of the coming of Christ and His making earth his home.  “Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.’” In that future day Scripture declares that Christ will claim the Holy Land as His own. Zechariah says, “The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem” (Zechariah 2:12). As we study the Book of Revelation we must not fail to realize that ( Rev.20:1-3) tells us that Satan will be released for a while to torment the earth, “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 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” (Revelation 20:1-3). But listen to this, in 7-14 comes the “Great White Throne of Judgement” when Satan, demons, fallen angels and unbelievers will be thrown into the lake of fire and separated from God for eternity.

Many events will transpire during the 1,000 reign of Christ on earth. A common mistake for many readers is that they take on the opinion that this is the New Heaven and New Earth, it is not. Up until this point we have seen in Chapter 1-3 the letters to the churches at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.  These letters were written to be passed from one church to another. I believe that Christ was sending a message of commendation and commendation to encourage and rebuke His Christ. As Christians we can celebrate and anticipate the coming of Christ our Lord, seeing Him in all his glory and spending eternity in heaven. “The Bible says that as long as we are here on earth, we are strangers in a foreign land. There are enemies to be conquered before we return home. This world is not our home; our citizenship is in heaven. Even when we allow our imaginations to run wild on the joys of heaven, we find that our minds are incapable of conceiving what it will be like” (Billy Graham).

I drove past a church in Palestine, their sign outside read, “Christ Could Come Today”, Are You Ready? To God be the glory, Amen. May God move in your life in a might way this week
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Eddie invites comments or questions at eddieturner2502@gmail.com