The word ‘millennium’ does not appear in the Scriptures as such, but literally means a period of a thousand years. The word is derived from the Latin ‘mille’ (one thousand) and ‘annus’ (year), and is used by Biblical scholars to denote the thousand years period referred to by John in Revelation 20:4, when the saints would reign with Christ. The period “a thousand years” is referred to 6 times in Revelation 20:1-7, and the events surrounding this period of time must be carefully analysed in order to place them in perspective.
Modern theological trends place great emphasis on the millennium, and to most it is the long-awaited period of peace brought about by the binding of Satan and the reign of Christ. The various viewpoints differ, however, on the details surrounding these events. Current concepts can be summarised as follows:
1) Amillennialism
This view does not allow for a specific period of a thousand-year reign, but applies the period to the whole of church history. The period will culminate in the earth made new. The Old Testament prophecies pertaining to the kingdom apply to Christ’s spiritual reign in the church. This view is the view held by Roman Catholicism and some conservative protestant groups.
2) Postmillennialism
This view claims that the kingdom is a present reality because Christ reigns in His church. It also propagates the view that all nations will be converted to Christ prior to the coming of Christ. The period prior to His coming will become peaceful and the gospel will be spread to all nations. At the end of the millennium, there will be a period of apostasy and tribulation brought on by the reign of antichrist. Then Christ returns and there is a single resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. The resurrection of the righteous, or the first resurrection of Revelation 20, is, according to this view, equated with the new birth and is not literal. Both the Lutheran Augsburg Confession and the Puritan Westminster Confession subscribe to this view.
3) Premillennialism
a) Dispensational Premillennialism
This view allows for two literal resurrections from the dead, that of the righteous before the millennium and that of the wicked after the millennium. However, dispensationalists also believe in a secret rapture prior to the tribulation, and claim that the millennial kingdom must reach its fulfillment in the Jewish nation. This view demands the restoration of the Jewish nation in Palestine, the rebuilding of the temple, and the reinstatement of the sacrificial system.
This interpretation makes many of the teachings of Jesus obsolete to the church. All the warnings given to the church regarding the time of trouble prior to the coming of Christ now become applicable to the Jews only. In fact, the whole of Matthew 24 and Luke 21 applies only to the Jews, as “the gospel of the kingdom” must refer to the Jews only. Even the Lord’s prayer “Thy kingdom come” then only has bearing to the Jews, as only they are concerned with the kingdom. If this is indeed so, then virtually all prophecies in the Bible regarding the coming of Christ and the setting up of His kingdom become meaningless to the Christian.
Paul preached the “gospel of the kingdom to the Jews and gentiles” (Acts 20:25; 28:23,31) and both Matthew 24 and Luke 21 apply to the church. Surprisingly, of the entire discourse, dispensationalists apply only verse 40 and 41 in Matthew 24 to the church, as they believe to find evidence for the secret rapture in these verses. These views create a false hope, as Christians expecting a rapture before the tribulation will be ill-prepared for the time of trouble. Moreover, built into these views is the doctrine of second chance for the rejecters of Christ’s grace.
Dispensationalists believe in the post-rapture reign of antichrist during which 7-year period, the Jews will all come to accept Christ. Paul, in his teachings to the Thessalonians, clearly dispels any such teaching. Referring to the day of the Lord, he writes:
Now brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means: for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God… And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work: only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-10 NKJV
The “gathering” of the brethren (verse 1) and the destruction of the lawless one (verse 8) occur simultaneously at the coming of the Lord, not at two different times. Paul’s warning in verse 3 seems appropriate even to this day.
b) Historic Premillennialism
According to this view, the redeemed of all ages are on the earth during the millennium. The church is the Israel of God comprising all the peoples of God. The millennial period constitutes the first thousand years of God’s kingdom on earth.
Historic premillennialists place the end of probation at the beginning of the millennium and in this way, they differ from all the other millennialists. However, their view of an earthly millennium is inconsistent with Scriptural texts, which point to a destroyed earth uninhabited by men during this period. Moreover, Scripture places the millennial judgement scenes in heaven which is in harmony with Christ’s promise to take the redeemed to mansions prepared for them in heaven. As seen in the previous chapter, the elect of God are gathered by angels and taken away from the earth to meet the Lord in the sky whilst the unrighteous are slain by the brightness of His coming.
To place all the events pertaining to the millennium into perspective, a careful study of the Scriptures is required, detailing the premillennial, millennial, and post-millennial milestones.
The Pre-millennial Events
The great theme of the thousand year prophetic period is the judgement. The judgement set the record straight as to the origin of sin. Moreover, God’s character and dealings with the sin question will be vindicated in the judgement.
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4-6 NIV
The resurrected and the translated righteous will reign with Christ a thousand years whilst the rest of the dead (the unrighteous that had died before the return of Christ and the unrighteous that were slain at His coming) did not awake until the thousand years were over. What will happen during these thousand years and what judgement is here referred to? If Christ, at His return severed the wicked from the just, then He had already judged them before His return to earth. A pre-advent judgement must thus have taken place in heaven before Jesus returned to gather His saints.
The Pre-advent Judgement
When Jesus returns to this earth, He will reward those who have been obedient, and destroy the disobedient.
And behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according to his work shall be. Revelation 22:12
This implies that the decision as to who is saved or not saved precedes the coming of Christ. The reward of the righteous is eternal life, and the righteous dead are resurrected at the second coming.
God’s purpose is the destruction of sin, which must forever be eradicated from the universe. He is destroying sin now in the believer, but the time will come when the Lord will do “his strange work” (Isaiah 28:21) and eradicate both the perpetrators of sin, and sin itself, from His kingdom. As sin is transgression of the law, the standard of judgement must be the law of God.
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4
…for where no law is, there is no transgression. Romans 4:15
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery’, also said ‘Do not murder’. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye and so do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. James 2:10-12
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13,14
The law of Ten Commandments is the standard of judgement. It is also called the law of liberty since only in keeping the law can the bondage of sin be eradicated. An alcoholic can only escape his bondage by avoiding alcohol altogether. God has appointed a day for judgement and Jesus Himself will judge.
…because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. Acts 17:31 NKJV
I said in my heart, ‘God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.’ Ecclesiastes 3:17
Judgement will also begin with the people of God.
For the time has come that judgement must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
Good question! If God will not condone sin, even in professed believers, how much more so in the willfully disobedient. Since Christ will reward the faithful at His return, this judgement must take place in heaven prior to His return.
This solemn judgement was typified in the Old Testament by the great Day of Atonement. (See The Gospel in the Old Testament) This was the day when the record of sin was cleansed from the sanctuary. Similarly, on the anti-typical Day of Atonement, the heavenly sanctuary must likewise be cleansed. This event was to take place at the end of the 2300-day prophecy of Daniel 8 which terminated in 1844 (See Church in Prophecy). This “day of judgement” takes place in heaven and terminates with the close of probation when Christ will cease his mediation and declare:
He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. Revelation 22:11,12 NKJV
Subsequent to this decree is the return of Christ and the reward of the saints.
In Daniel chapter 7, the prophet describes this great judgement scene in heaven:
I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. Daniel 7:9,10 NKJV
In this scene, the judgement is set and books are opened. The books mentioned here must refer to the books in which are recorded the deeds of those that are to be judged. There a a number of books mentioned in the Bible, and these include the book of life, and the book of remembrance:
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. Revelation 20:12
The those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them: So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. Malachi 3:16 NKJV
Nothing about our lives is unrecorded in heaven.
For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14 NKJV
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 12:36,37
And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot him out of My book.’ Exodus 32:33 NKJV
The judgement is a serious issue and as judgement begins with God’s people, it is essential that we take cognizance of our lives. Christ wants to transform our characters. He wants to give us hearts of flesh instead of our hearts of stone. The work of sanctification is to achieve this end as we cooperate with God to achieve this change of heart. We have nothing to fear from the judgement, unless we refuse to submit to the sanctifying power of God.
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord… Hebrews 12:14
When we are judged, God reveals our character to us and chastens us, that we may be refined.
But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:32 NKJV
Daniel depicts world events continuing whilst the judgement sat.
I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. Daniel 7:11 NKJV
The prophet then describes the coming of one like a Son of Man with the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of Days.
I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Daniel 7:13 NKJV
This coming of Christ is not the return of Christ with the clouds of heaven to this earth, but rather the coming of Christ to the Ancient of Days which takes place before the throne of God in heaven. Christ’s mediatory ministry ceases, and He puts on His kingly robes prior to His return as King of kings.
And there was given Him dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:14
As it was in the days of Noah, when Noah and his family were locked in the ark and probation for the antediluvian world had ceased, so shall it be at the end of time. Probation had ceased and the wicked knew it not. To those who refuse to allow the sanctifying Spirit of God to work in their lives, life will seem to carry on as usual. They will not have made the Scriptures their guide and when the time comes for Christ’s return, they will be caught unawares. To them the coming of Christ will be like a thief in the night. Believers are urged to study the Scriptures and the signs of the times, so that day will not catch them unawares.
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour paints upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ… 1 Thessalonians 5:2-9 NKJV
After the close of probation, the executive judgement will begin. In the previous chapter we discussed the seven last plagues and the final deliverance of the saints. Let us briefly here place these events into their time sequence.
Executive Judgement
Once the investigative phase of the judgement has been completed and the pronouncement of judgement has been issued (Revelation 22:11,12) then God’s judgements will fall upon the earth. This is the executive phase of the judgement.
The first judgements to fall upon the earth after the close of probation are the seven last plagues. In Revelation 15, there is a description of the heavenly scene which takes place at the close of probation.
And after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. Revelation 15:5
The temple is opened, Christ’s high priestly ministry has closed, and the seven angels, having the seven last plagues are instructed to pour out their vials on the earth (Revelation 16). The plagues fall and these judgements are declared as just by the angels of God.
And I heard the angel of the waters saying: ‘You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is, and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, for it is their just due. Revelation 16:5-7 NKJV
The plagues fall prior to the coming of Christ and again the entreaty to be prepared is given.
Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. Revelation 16:15
Only the righteousness of Christ can shield one from the effects of the plagues.
He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Psalm 91:4-8 NKJV
The falling of the plagues takes place whilst the righteous are still on earth. They are shielded form their effects, but not removed from their presence. Christ’s prayer is:
Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are… I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. John 17:11,15 NKJV
Christ promises protection not removal. In Revelation 7 we read:
…these are they which came out of the great tribulation. Revelation 7:14
This text shows that the righteous pass through the tribulation but will be delivered out of it at the end.
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time. And at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Daniel 12:1
Deliverance and Armageddon
As discussed in the previous chapter, deliverance takes place during the outpouring o the seventh plague. Babylon’s support base had been eroded under the sixths plague, and spurned on by demonic forces, the death decree against all who would not worship the beast, his image or accept his mark, had been proclaimed. The proclamation of this final decree calls forth the direct intervention of God and Christ returns to deliver His saints. The saints have no power against the confederacy of the world. It is only Christ who can deliver them, and He fights this pre-millennial war called Armageddon on their behalf. During the seventh plague the earthly confederacy is destroyed by the earthquake, the hail, and the brightness of His coming. (Job 38:22,23, Isaiah 28:17; Psalm 110:5,6; Jeremiah 4:23-27; Jeremiah 25:33-38; Zephaniah 1:1-3)
Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty and makes it waste, distorts its surface and scatters abroad its inhabitants. And it shall be: as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with the debtor. The land shall be entirely emptied and utterly plundered, for the Lord has spoken this word. The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away; the haughty people of the earth languish. The earth is also defied under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Isaiah 24:1-5 NKJV
The prophet Isaiah here so clearly shows that God is just in all His dealings. There is no favoritism here. There is also no room for error in terms of what Christ will do when He returns. The earth will be utterly destroyed, but in the midst of this destruction, the Lord promises deliverance:
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: ‘Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.’ Zephaniah 3:16-17 NKJV
What a promise! In the midst of earthquakes and hail under the seventh plague a loud voice is heard (1 Thessalonians 4:16), and the armies of heaven intervene.
The Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard, and show the descent of His arm, with the indignation of His anger and the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, tempest, and hailstones. For through the voice of the Lord Assyria will be beaten down, as He strikes with the rod. And in every place where the staff of punishment passes, which the Lord lays on him, it will be with tambourines and harps; And in battles of brandishing He will fight with it. Isaiah 30:30-32 NKJV
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds: And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands. And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities. And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard. Micah 5:10-15.
Assyria was one of the cruelest nations that Israel had to contend with, and the reference to this nation serves as a type for the cruel bondmaster that Christ will destroy with brightness of His coming. Christ’s redeemed of all ages are raised from the dead, the living righteous are translated, they are gathered by the angels and meet the Lord in the sky.
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
Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Isaiah 26:19-21
Millennial Events
Satan Bound
And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to 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 on 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
The destruction of the wicked and the removal of the saints from the earth leave the earth desolate. In Revelation 20, John describes an angel who binds Satan with a great chain and throws him into the bottomless pit (abyss). The term ‘abyss’ is used in Scripture to denote the grave, death and destruction, and the prison of the demons. (Romans 10:7, Luke 8:31) The term ‘abyss’ is also used in the Greek version of the Old Testament to describe the state of the uninhabited world where the ‘deep’ is the ‘abyssos’.
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2
The description of the earth after the coming of Christ, given by the prophet Jeremiah is an apt description of the formless and voice earth.
I beheld the earth, and lo it was without form, and void; and the heavens 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 were broken down at the presence of the Lord, by His fierce anger. Jeremiah 4:23-26
The whole world will once again be turned into a great abyss or prison for Satan and his demons. The great chain with which he is bound is thus the chain of circumstances which prevents him from deceiving the nations, as they are destroyed and no man remains on the earth. The Biblical records abound with chains of circumstances. (Psalm 2:3; 107:10,14; 116:16; Ecclesiastes 7;26; Isaiah 28:22; 52:2; 58:6; Jeremiah 40:4; Lamentations 3:7; Ezekiel 7:23)
It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will punish on high the host of exalted ones. And on the earth the kings of the earth. They will be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and will be shut up in the prisons; after many days they will be punished. Then the moon will be disgraced and the sun ashamed; for the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before His elders, gloriously. Isaiah 24:21-23 NKJV
In these verses, God’s judgements fall not only upon the kings of the earth, but demonic forces are also punished (“the host of the high ones that are on high”). The evil confederacy is shut up in the prison and after many days (one thousand years), they shall be released. (Revelation 20:3) During the millennium, Satan and his hosts are thus captives on the earth made desolate, whilst the redeemed are taken to heaven where the wedding feast is held for all the saints of the Most High.
Judgement Given to the Saints
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgement was given unto them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness of Jesus and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast neither his image, neither had received his mark on their foreheads or in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. On such, the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:4-6
These prophetic verses are pictured as taking place in heaven where John had earlier seen God’s throne and that of the 24 elders (Revelation 4:4). The redeemed are given the promise that they would reign on the earth (Revelation 5:10), but prior to this reign, they were first to judge the nations. Precisely who is meant with the twenty-four elders is not revealed. In the erthly sanctuary, there were twenty-four elders that participated in the services, so the heavenly also must have had twenty-four elders participating in the heavenly sanctuary. The number twenty-four is also the sum of the number of patriarchs and apostles. The gates of the New Jerusalem have written on them the names of the twelve tribes of Israel and the foundation stones have the names of the twelve apostles, thus unifying the Israel of God under the Old and the New covenant. The verse also tells us that amidst this heavenly scene, the saints of God are now to become judges.
…judgement was given unto them. Revelation 20:4
At the return of Christ, the decision as to who would constitute the redeemed and who the wicked had already been made. The judgement which was given unto the saints must therefore be a judgement of verification. God’s righteousness and justice must forever be vindicated before the universe. During the thousand years, every case will be scrutinized – no lingering doubts may remain – one harmonious chord must exist in heaven and with one voice all will proclaim:
…Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Revelation 15:3
God’s judgement will be declared righteous. (Romans 2:5; 2 Thess. 1:5; Genesis 18:25; Psalm 19:9)
In this millennial judgement, God’s dealing with the rejecters of His truth and the evil angels will be scrutinized (Hebrews 10:26,27; 2 Peter 2:4,9; Jude 6). The saints will judge the world.
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
1 Corinthians 6:2,3 NKJV
Post Millennial Events
After the thousand years and the verification of judgement in heaven, the final events in the great controversy between good and evil will take place. In this final drama, God’s name will be fully vindicated, every knee will bow, and evil will forever be eradicated. These events are described in Revelation chapters 20-22. As the book of Revelation is written in chiastic structure, with the heart of the chiasm (events dealing with the final events before the return of Christ) in the middle of the book, the events described in these chapters appear to be described in reverse sequence. (eg. the wicked surround the New Jerusalem in Revelation 20:9, but the city only comes down from heaven in Revelation 21:2). If the chiastic structure is taken into account, then the sequence of events can be readily discerned.
The Post-Millennial Return of Christ
After the thousand years, Christ returns to the earth to execute final judgement on the rejecters of His truth, and to take back that which is rightfully His. It is then that the kingdom will be restored to the saints.
The prophet Zechariah describes the coming of the Lord with all His saints, and how the feet of the Lord touch the earth to create a great plain (something that did not happen at the Second Coming. (See Zechariah 14:4-5) The ancient prophecies made to literal Israel could have had their fulfillment in the Israel of old if they had been obedient to God. The old covenant promises were transferred to spiritual Israel when they rejected the Messiah. The essence of the prophecy in Zechariah thus still applies and reaches its final fulfillment in the return of Christ after the millennium. The New Jerusalem then descends from heaven:
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2
From the safety of the city, the redeemed will then witness the final events, which will end the great controversy between Christ and Satan. Satan will have had a thousand years to reflect upon the consequences of his actions and the sentence that awaits him.
The Resurrection of Damnation & the Final Battle: Gog and Magog
Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. Revelation 20:7,8 NKJV
Satan had been bound by chains of circumstances when the wicked were slain at the first coming of Christ. The wicked that died would not come to life until a thousand years had expired.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished… Revelation 20:5
The resurrection of the wicked of all ages looses the chains of circumstances which had bound Satan, and he spurns the resurrected millions on to take the Holy City in one final effort to retain power.
…and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. Revelation 20:8 NKJV
In Ezekiel 38:2 and 39:6, Gog, the king of Magog is described as an enemy of God’s people. He is described as the leader of the host that would attack the restored Israel. (Ezekiel 38:2, 14, 16-19) but he would meet his end. This would happen “after many days” (Ezekiel 38:8)
‘And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,’ says the Lord God, ‘that My fury will show in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: “Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel…”‘ Ezekiel 38:18,19 NKJV
God destroys Gog and Israel does not battle at all. No historic figure has as yet been identified with Gog, and he stands as a symbol of the leader of rebellion, Satan himself.
God permits this final act of rebellion by Satan and his hosts together with the resurrected wicked to dispel any lingering doubt as to the antipathy of those arraigned against God and His people. Good and evil stand opposite each other. The saints within the city, the wicked without.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV
At the majestic sight of Christ on His throne, every knee will bow. All thoughts of rebellion and victory will fade.
For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:11,12 NKJV
…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and of things in earth, and of things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10,11
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. Isaiah 45:22-24
This is the final coronation of the Son of God. The final judgement then takes place:
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books according to their works. Revelation 20:12
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15
Each act of defiance, each rejection of God’s grace is made apparent. The consequences of these choices are eternal. (Hebrews 6:2) The final sentence is the sentence of death.
For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgement and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Hebrews 10:26,27 NKJV
They chose to believe Satan rather than God (John 8:44) and their characters have been formed according to the similitude of their master. They would never be happy amongst the people of God where there is no room for selfishness. The atmosphere that permeates heaven is an atmosphere of self-sacrifice, and is the essence of its joy. All are satisfied that God’s judgements are true and just.
…’Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honour and glory and blessing!’ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honour and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ Revelation 5:12,13 NKJV
Satan’s allegation against God and His government are proved groundless. Christ stands vindicated and ready to perform his “strange act”.
For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. (Isaiah 28:21)
Destruction of the Wicked
Satan and the wicked will be destroyed by fire.
…and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, that deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone… Revelation 20:9,10
Then he will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels…’ Matthew 25:41 NKJV
Then 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 20:14,15
The “everlasting fire” was dealt with in the chapter The Mystic Realm of Death and refers to the everlasting consequences of that death. The final issue of salvation or damnation is whether one’s name is written in the book of life. The wicked are burnt to ashes and the fires consume them until they are no more.
‘For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘That will leave them neither root nor branch.’ Malachi 4:1 NKJV
The root is Satan and the branches are his followers.
‘…You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,’ says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 4:3 NKJV
They do not burn forever, but will become ashes. In Ezekiel chapter 28, the prophet takes up a lament against the king of Tyre. This passage cannot refer to the literal king of Tyre because he would not have been in Eden (verse 13) and neither was he an anointed cherub (verse 14). This king is a reference to Satan and his fate is made clear.
You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities. By the iniquity of your trading; therefore I brought fire from your midst; it devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you. All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; you have become a horror, and shall be no more forever. Ezekiel 28:18,19 NKJV
With this final destruction of Satan ends the great controversy. Satan and his host (Gog and Magog) are destroyed by fire. The parallels between the prophecies of Ezekiel and John’s Revelation are striking and can best be summaries in the words of Hans LaRondelle:
1) The resurrection of a dead Israel from the graveyard of Babylon to be a new, holy covenant people of Yahweh. (Ezekiel 36:24-28, 37:1-14)
The resurrection of the beheaded witnesses of Christ who refused to worship the Babylonian’s “beast or his image”. (Revelation 20:4)
2) Israel as the new theocracy lives peacefully in the Promised Land under the rule of the new David, the Messiah. (Ezekiel 37:15-28)
The resurrected saints reign with Christ for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)
3) After “many days”, the final attack against Israel from the north by the armies of Gog, king of Magog, receives a smashing defeat through fire from heaven. (Ezekiel 38:8 -39:22)
After the saints’ thousand year reign, the armies of “Gog and Magog” attack the camp of God’s people, the Holy City, from all directions, but are destroyed by fire from heaven. (Revelation 20:7-9)
- The vision of Yahweh’s theocracy in a New Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40-48)
The vision of the New Jerusalem which descends from heaven to earth as the
bride of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:1-22:5)1
The Earth Made New
The fire that destroys the wicked also cleanses the earth.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also and the works that are in it shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which dwelleth righteousness. 2 Peter 3:10-13
God restores the earth to its original beauty – the earth is made new.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. And there was no more sea. Revelation 21:1
The sea divides people and contains the waters of the flood that destroyed the antediluvian world. The new earth will no longer contain characteristics that remind of the curse.
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ Revelation 21:3-5 NKJV
God’s home will be among the redeemed and the sorrows of the world are passed away and will no longer come to mind.
For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying. Isaiah 65:17-19
The kingdom of God has been restored and the earth is the final home of the saints.
The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men. Psalm 115:16 NKJV
This is the hope of the children of God.
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. 2 Peter 3:14 NIV
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV
REFERENCES
1 Reference Ministry, January 1983, pp. 7-9