Study No. 20
The 1000 year Reign
Revelation Chapter 20
The last few chapters of Revelation have in one sense or another, all been dealing with that seven year period of time in the future that we commonly know as The Tribulation. The time frame of this study now turns to the one thousand year reign of Christ on this earth. This is known as The Millennium, or as The Millennial Reign of Christ.
Where did we leave off in our previous study?
the One thousand year reign of Christ now begins.
This event has been talked about in the Old Testament prophecies3. The curse upon the earth in the book of Genesis is removed. No more will the earth produce thorns and thistles.4 Believers of all the ages are there … those who have been resurrected and those who have been raptured and 'translated'. Before we go any further, let us consider the following: Read Rev. 20:1-3
Here is a cautionary note regarding scripture:
As we began reading the book of Revelation we immediately noticed symbolism. Numbers are repeated, especially the number seven. Picture imagery is used liberally (i.e horses and riders representing leaders and wars, famines etc.) 5 Because of the symbolism in this book some bible ‘authorities’ have treated the entire book as symbolic and take almost nothing literally. I do not recommend reading the pages of material available on the web that are based on a non-literal interpretation of Revelation. It is confusing because each author has a different opinion based on not much more than his ‘feelings’ about scripture. Besides, it would be a complete waste of time.
That being said, within the more conservative circles of bible teachers, some take the 20th Chapter of Revelation to be symbolic. Many take it literally. I am one of those. As stated in the footnote “whenever a literal interpretation would do violence to reason, and also place the passage in direct antagonism to plain statements of Scripture, such passage should be considered figurative”
In the first verses we are given a vivid picture … some may be symbolic … and some of it is literal. How do we know how to rightly understand this? First lets list what we see here.
- An angel is seen descending to earth.
The dragon is not really a reptile. Clearly this speaks of the devil. Is the key made of metal or some other kind of heavenly material? What about the chain? Earlier we read of Satan waging a war in heaven against Michael and the good angels … now we read of a single angel with the power to bind Satan.
This might be a good place to look at a sample of what some other groups are teaching.
Here is what the Seventh Day Adventists list as Fundamental Belief # 27:
27. Millennium and the End of Sin:
The millennium is the thousand-year reign of Christ with His saints in heaven (not on earth?) between the first and second resurrections. During this time the wicked dead will be judged; the earth will be utterly desolate, without living human inhabitants, but occupied by Satan and his angels. At its close Christ with His saints and the Holy City will descend from heaven to earth. The unrighteous dead will then be resurrected, and with Satan and his angels will surround the city; but fire from God will consume them and cleanse the earth. The universe will thus be freed of sin and sinners forever. (Rev. 20; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; Jer. 4:23-26; Rev. 21:1-5; Mal. 4:1; Eze. 28:18, 19.)
In speaking with a Seventh Day Adventist pastor regarding the incarceration of Satan in the abyss, his comment regarding the chaining of Satan was this, ‘Because all believers are present with Jesus in heaven, there are no humans on earth for one thousand years. Therefore there is no one for Satan to tempt. Like the expression we commonly use, his hands are tied.’
Will the redeemed be with Jesus in heaven ruling with Him for a thousand years? Clearly scripture says the ruling will take place on earth.
9…”You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).
If we follow the principle of understanding scripture literally unless it does violence to our understanding of clear biblical teaching, here is what we come up with.
Satan (and perhaps all of his angels/demons) will literally be removed from the surface of the earth. For the next thousand years he will not be the ‘prince and power of the air’6.
Is the pit or abyss literal? Is there really such a place that has no bottom … at all? Actually there is. As I have stated during a previous study … if the center of this earth were not hot and we could drill a 50 foot diameter hole from one side of the planet clear through to the other side … and then jump into the hole … how far would we fall? If we could fall so far that we went right through to the other side, people in China would be surprised to see someone come ‘up’ out of the hole. A split second later and we would be on our way down again. When would the up and down motion come to an end? When we are suspended in the middle. Every direction we might possibly point to would be ‘up’. It would be impossible to point down. In a very literal sense there would be no bottom. It would be a bottomless pit. While this illustration sounds a bit fictitious and even humorous, the point is, Satan will be confined to the center of the earth for one thousand years.
There is no violence done to any other clear teachings of scripture if we take these verses literally. Satan and his angels will be locked in the center of the earth.
There is no violence done to any other clear teachings of scripture if we take these verses literally. Satan and his angels will be locked in the center of the earth.
Regarding the thousand year period as being literal.
Some commentators have taken the position that the thousand years are not literal and actually represent eternity. The thousand year reign, they say, represents eternal existence with Christ forever… on the new earth or, as some have said, Eternity with Christ on this earth … which has been totally renovated. I am not sure why they take this position. To do so it leaves them in the position to explain what happens at the end of the thousand years. How can you have Satan being released … at the end of eternity?
It does the least violence to scripture to take all of this literally. Satan is removed from people for a thousand years. People dwell on this earth. The curse which was placed upon this earth in the garden of Eden is removed.7
Ruling with Christ
What does it really mean to be ruling with Christ for a thousand years? In this chapter it would appear that only those who refused the mark will be ruling with Christ. (read verse 4)
For sure … those who refused the mark will be ruling with Jesus. But according to scripture there will be others ruling with Jesus as well.
When the mother of the two apostles, James and John, asked Jesus to give them seats next to Jesus on his right and left hand, Jesus said this to her. (Mt 20:23) So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."
Regarding the twelve apostles He said,
(Mt 19:28) So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
In the following scripture Paul includes any believer who faithfully endures.
2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
Jesus says much the same to overcomers in the churches.
Rev 2:26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—--
27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ ——as I also have received from My Father;
Rev 3:21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
In our scripture portion for this chaper we also read ...Re 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over 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.
We may be thinking, 'How can so many people be rulers? Who are they ruling over?'
The people, that is, the mortals who are dwelling on the earth will be ruled over by those who are immortal. ( Ruled, that is, by those immortals who have been judged faithful)
Who are the mortals? Answer: The remnant of Israel8. One sixth of God and Magog (Russia)9. Any other gentiles10 who were not wiped out in the battle of Armageddon.
What form will the ruling take? We don't know. God is a God of order. We also do not know if all believers will be ruling simultaneously or will there possibly be rotating periods of service. These are things that are less important.
Here is what is important:
1Co 2:9 But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
Verse 7. When the thousand years are finished …
- Mortals have not died during the entire thousand years. There have been no funerals or burials for a thousand years. Many new families have been formed as children are born, grow up, marry, have children etc. The number of mortals has increased and filled the earth. (compare this with the population growth from Genesis to the flood). It has been the responsibility of each mortal to place their trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
- Satan, the deceiver, is released. He (and his angels) deceive all unbelievers11.
- God burns the entire group who have come against him and casts Satan into the Lake of fire (10) where the beast and the false prophet have been for the past thousand years.
- The Great White Throne Judgment takes place.
I believe we can assume that this judgment throne is in heaven. This is likely the same throne that John saw when he first was taken up to heaven. It is at the end of this judgment that death and hades is cast into the lake of fire.
Hades is in the lower parts of the earth. Before Jesus was raised from the dead there were two compartments there. One was called paradise. Jesus spent three days and three nights there ... preaching the good news to the ones in compartment number One.
In his parting breath while on the cross Jesus said, “It is finished”. Salvation was paid in full. Do not believe those bible teachers who say it was really not yet finished ... that Jesus had to go to hell for three days and suffer there ... and only then it was finished. True, the bible says that Jesus spent three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 12But Jesus spent his time in the section referred to as 'Abraham's Bosom'.13
If you remember the account Jesus gave of the beggar named Lazarus, you will recall that when he died he went to that compartment. When the self-centered rich man died he went to the other compartment. He could see Lazarus 'afar off'. He could call out to Abraham and hear a response ... but that was the extent of it. He was trapped there.
Jesus 'took captivity captive'. Abraham's bosom ... also called paradise, was moved by Jesus up to heaven14, leaving only one compartment in the heart of the earth.
Now we read that the dead, small and great stand before the Lord. We read that the sea, the grave and Hades gave up the dead that were in them. The Rich man who had no time for Lazarus or for God will be there.
Not specifically mentioned here is the judgment of the 'righteous' ones who were left alive at the close of the millennial. The believers. First the Book of Life is opened to determine that their name is in it. Then the second book is read so that they may be rewarded for their works. And they need to be transformed in body, just like those in the rapture had been transformed a thousand years earlier.
The unrighteous ones are also judged. If their names do not appear in the book of life, they are cast into the Lake of Fire. There is a good possibility that they are also judged regarding their works, which may determine less or more suffering in the Lake of Fire.
We read in verse 11 that 'earth and heaven fled away from the face of Him who was on the throne. Whether that was literal or not, in verse 14 we read that Hades and the grave actually and literally are cast into the Lake of fire.
If Hades is in the center of the earth ... and it is now cast into the lake of fire ... then we now have the fulfillment of 2Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
We will take a verse from the next study ... for our healing.
Re 21:4 "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."
1 2Th 2:3 ¶ 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,
.... 8 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.
2 Eze 39:2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: (Note: other versions have an alternate reading.)
3 The following webpage lays out Old Testament references to the millennial reign very clearly. http://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-millennium-in-the-old-testament/
4 Genesis 3:17 ¶ And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
5 “We are told, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is at hand." (Revelation 1:3) The very reading of it will bring a blessing, and, as its mysteries gradually unfold, the understanding thereof will bring still additional blessing.
“How can we read these things and understand them if they have a symbolic meaning? The symbolic must always bend in interpretation to the plainer, more literal statements, as soon as their symbolic character is recognized. Whenever a literal interpretation would do violence to reason, and also place the passage in direct antagonism to plain statements of Scripture, such passage should be considered figurative, and its interpretation as a symbol should be sought in harmony with obviously plain and literal passages, and with the general character and object of the revealed plan. By recognizing and thus interpreting the symbols in this case, the beautiful harmony of all the statements are manifest.” (http://www.bibletruthkeys.com/Revelation.htm)
6 Ephesians 2:2
7 Isa 11:6 "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.
Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
8 Zec 13:9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’"
9 Eze 39:2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
10 Older people, women and children will likely not be a part of the army at Armageddon and will survive the devastation.
11 It's surprising to think that in a perfect world with Christ present on earth that there could be any unbelievers! It goes to show that we can not blame our sin nature on the devil.
12 Matthew 12:40
13 Luke 16:22
14 Ephesians 4:8-10
Where did we leave off in our previous study?
- The seventh (last) trumpet sounded and all saints were gathered before God's throne for the judgment and receiving of rewards. (11:15-18) (This is known as the rapture)
- The seventh bowl of God's judgment has been poured out on 'mystery Babylon' and 'she' is utterly destroyed.
- The Judgment seat of Christ and the 'Marriage Supper of the Lamb' have taken place in heaven while this destruction has been happening on the earth.
- Jesus returns to earth with his armies (angels and saints) and He finishes off the 'man of sin1' with the brightness of His coming. This is commonly called The Battle of Armageddon.
the One thousand year reign of Christ now begins.
This event has been talked about in the Old Testament prophecies3. The curse upon the earth in the book of Genesis is removed. No more will the earth produce thorns and thistles.4 Believers of all the ages are there … those who have been resurrected and those who have been raptured and 'translated'. Before we go any further, let us consider the following: Read Rev. 20:1-3
Here is a cautionary note regarding scripture:
As we began reading the book of Revelation we immediately noticed symbolism. Numbers are repeated, especially the number seven. Picture imagery is used liberally (i.e horses and riders representing leaders and wars, famines etc.) 5 Because of the symbolism in this book some bible ‘authorities’ have treated the entire book as symbolic and take almost nothing literally. I do not recommend reading the pages of material available on the web that are based on a non-literal interpretation of Revelation. It is confusing because each author has a different opinion based on not much more than his ‘feelings’ about scripture. Besides, it would be a complete waste of time.
That being said, within the more conservative circles of bible teachers, some take the 20th Chapter of Revelation to be symbolic. Many take it literally. I am one of those. As stated in the footnote “whenever a literal interpretation would do violence to reason, and also place the passage in direct antagonism to plain statements of Scripture, such passage should be considered figurative”
In the first verses we are given a vivid picture … some may be symbolic … and some of it is literal. How do we know how to rightly understand this? First lets list what we see here.
- An angel is seen descending to earth.
- - He is holding a key
- - A large chain
- - Takes hold of the dragon
- - Binds him with the chain
- - Casts him into a pit that has no bottom
- - Shuts and seals the entrance to the pit
- - Puts a 1000 year time limit on his incarceration
- - Indicates to John that the dragon will be released for a short while after the 1000 years are completed.
The dragon is not really a reptile. Clearly this speaks of the devil. Is the key made of metal or some other kind of heavenly material? What about the chain? Earlier we read of Satan waging a war in heaven against Michael and the good angels … now we read of a single angel with the power to bind Satan.
This might be a good place to look at a sample of what some other groups are teaching.
Here is what the Seventh Day Adventists list as Fundamental Belief # 27:
27. Millennium and the End of Sin:
The millennium is the thousand-year reign of Christ with His saints in heaven (not on earth?) between the first and second resurrections. During this time the wicked dead will be judged; the earth will be utterly desolate, without living human inhabitants, but occupied by Satan and his angels. At its close Christ with His saints and the Holy City will descend from heaven to earth. The unrighteous dead will then be resurrected, and with Satan and his angels will surround the city; but fire from God will consume them and cleanse the earth. The universe will thus be freed of sin and sinners forever. (Rev. 20; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; Jer. 4:23-26; Rev. 21:1-5; Mal. 4:1; Eze. 28:18, 19.)
In speaking with a Seventh Day Adventist pastor regarding the incarceration of Satan in the abyss, his comment regarding the chaining of Satan was this, ‘Because all believers are present with Jesus in heaven, there are no humans on earth for one thousand years. Therefore there is no one for Satan to tempt. Like the expression we commonly use, his hands are tied.’
Will the redeemed be with Jesus in heaven ruling with Him for a thousand years? Clearly scripture says the ruling will take place on earth.
9…”You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).
If we follow the principle of understanding scripture literally unless it does violence to our understanding of clear biblical teaching, here is what we come up with.
Satan (and perhaps all of his angels/demons) will literally be removed from the surface of the earth. For the next thousand years he will not be the ‘prince and power of the air’6.
Is the pit or abyss literal? Is there really such a place that has no bottom … at all? Actually there is. As I have stated during a previous study … if the center of this earth were not hot and we could drill a 50 foot diameter hole from one side of the planet clear through to the other side … and then jump into the hole … how far would we fall? If we could fall so far that we went right through to the other side, people in China would be surprised to see someone come ‘up’ out of the hole. A split second later and we would be on our way down again. When would the up and down motion come to an end? When we are suspended in the middle. Every direction we might possibly point to would be ‘up’. It would be impossible to point down. In a very literal sense there would be no bottom. It would be a bottomless pit. While this illustration sounds a bit fictitious and even humorous, the point is, Satan will be confined to the center of the earth for one thousand years.
There is no violence done to any other clear teachings of scripture if we take these verses literally. Satan and his angels will be locked in the center of the earth.
There is no violence done to any other clear teachings of scripture if we take these verses literally. Satan and his angels will be locked in the center of the earth.
Regarding the thousand year period as being literal.
Some commentators have taken the position that the thousand years are not literal and actually represent eternity. The thousand year reign, they say, represents eternal existence with Christ forever… on the new earth or, as some have said, Eternity with Christ on this earth … which has been totally renovated. I am not sure why they take this position. To do so it leaves them in the position to explain what happens at the end of the thousand years. How can you have Satan being released … at the end of eternity?
It does the least violence to scripture to take all of this literally. Satan is removed from people for a thousand years. People dwell on this earth. The curse which was placed upon this earth in the garden of Eden is removed.7
Ruling with Christ
What does it really mean to be ruling with Christ for a thousand years? In this chapter it would appear that only those who refused the mark will be ruling with Christ. (read verse 4)
For sure … those who refused the mark will be ruling with Jesus. But according to scripture there will be others ruling with Jesus as well.
When the mother of the two apostles, James and John, asked Jesus to give them seats next to Jesus on his right and left hand, Jesus said this to her. (Mt 20:23) So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."
Regarding the twelve apostles He said,
(Mt 19:28) So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
In the following scripture Paul includes any believer who faithfully endures.
2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
Jesus says much the same to overcomers in the churches.
Rev 2:26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—--
27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ ——as I also have received from My Father;
Rev 3:21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
In our scripture portion for this chaper we also read ...Re 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over 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.
We may be thinking, 'How can so many people be rulers? Who are they ruling over?'
The people, that is, the mortals who are dwelling on the earth will be ruled over by those who are immortal. ( Ruled, that is, by those immortals who have been judged faithful)
Who are the mortals? Answer: The remnant of Israel8. One sixth of God and Magog (Russia)9. Any other gentiles10 who were not wiped out in the battle of Armageddon.
What form will the ruling take? We don't know. God is a God of order. We also do not know if all believers will be ruling simultaneously or will there possibly be rotating periods of service. These are things that are less important.
Here is what is important:
1Co 2:9 But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
Verse 7. When the thousand years are finished …
- Mortals have not died during the entire thousand years. There have been no funerals or burials for a thousand years. Many new families have been formed as children are born, grow up, marry, have children etc. The number of mortals has increased and filled the earth. (compare this with the population growth from Genesis to the flood). It has been the responsibility of each mortal to place their trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
- Satan, the deceiver, is released. He (and his angels) deceive all unbelievers11.
- God burns the entire group who have come against him and casts Satan into the Lake of fire (10) where the beast and the false prophet have been for the past thousand years.
- The Great White Throne Judgment takes place.
I believe we can assume that this judgment throne is in heaven. This is likely the same throne that John saw when he first was taken up to heaven. It is at the end of this judgment that death and hades is cast into the lake of fire.
Hades is in the lower parts of the earth. Before Jesus was raised from the dead there were two compartments there. One was called paradise. Jesus spent three days and three nights there ... preaching the good news to the ones in compartment number One.
In his parting breath while on the cross Jesus said, “It is finished”. Salvation was paid in full. Do not believe those bible teachers who say it was really not yet finished ... that Jesus had to go to hell for three days and suffer there ... and only then it was finished. True, the bible says that Jesus spent three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 12But Jesus spent his time in the section referred to as 'Abraham's Bosom'.13
If you remember the account Jesus gave of the beggar named Lazarus, you will recall that when he died he went to that compartment. When the self-centered rich man died he went to the other compartment. He could see Lazarus 'afar off'. He could call out to Abraham and hear a response ... but that was the extent of it. He was trapped there.
Jesus 'took captivity captive'. Abraham's bosom ... also called paradise, was moved by Jesus up to heaven14, leaving only one compartment in the heart of the earth.
Now we read that the dead, small and great stand before the Lord. We read that the sea, the grave and Hades gave up the dead that were in them. The Rich man who had no time for Lazarus or for God will be there.
Not specifically mentioned here is the judgment of the 'righteous' ones who were left alive at the close of the millennial. The believers. First the Book of Life is opened to determine that their name is in it. Then the second book is read so that they may be rewarded for their works. And they need to be transformed in body, just like those in the rapture had been transformed a thousand years earlier.
The unrighteous ones are also judged. If their names do not appear in the book of life, they are cast into the Lake of Fire. There is a good possibility that they are also judged regarding their works, which may determine less or more suffering in the Lake of Fire.
We read in verse 11 that 'earth and heaven fled away from the face of Him who was on the throne. Whether that was literal or not, in verse 14 we read that Hades and the grave actually and literally are cast into the Lake of fire.
If Hades is in the center of the earth ... and it is now cast into the lake of fire ... then we now have the fulfillment of 2Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
We will take a verse from the next study ... for our healing.
Re 21:4 "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."
1 2Th 2:3 ¶ 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,
.... 8 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.
2 Eze 39:2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: (Note: other versions have an alternate reading.)
3 The following webpage lays out Old Testament references to the millennial reign very clearly. http://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-millennium-in-the-old-testament/
4 Genesis 3:17 ¶ And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
5 “We are told, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is at hand." (Revelation 1:3) The very reading of it will bring a blessing, and, as its mysteries gradually unfold, the understanding thereof will bring still additional blessing.
“How can we read these things and understand them if they have a symbolic meaning? The symbolic must always bend in interpretation to the plainer, more literal statements, as soon as their symbolic character is recognized. Whenever a literal interpretation would do violence to reason, and also place the passage in direct antagonism to plain statements of Scripture, such passage should be considered figurative, and its interpretation as a symbol should be sought in harmony with obviously plain and literal passages, and with the general character and object of the revealed plan. By recognizing and thus interpreting the symbols in this case, the beautiful harmony of all the statements are manifest.” (http://www.bibletruthkeys.com/Revelation.htm)
6 Ephesians 2:2
7 Isa 11:6 "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.
Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
8 Zec 13:9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’"
9 Eze 39:2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
10 Older people, women and children will likely not be a part of the army at Armageddon and will survive the devastation.
11 It's surprising to think that in a perfect world with Christ present on earth that there could be any unbelievers! It goes to show that we can not blame our sin nature on the devil.
12 Matthew 12:40
13 Luke 16:22
14 Ephesians 4:8-10