A Recap of Revelation
Revelation 20:4-6
“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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.”
“And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (v. 4). For sure this is one of the greatest prophetic utterances of the Bible! It is also one of the most awesome promises to the Tribulation saints who suffered and died in the Tribulation. I believe that this is a literal thousand years that Christ with His bride, the church, and with Israel will rule the world from the throne of David set up in Jerusalem.
Before we get into details about this Millennium reign of Jesus Christ, I want to recap some of the events that have already previously taken place before it begins. The church age, that began on the Day of Pentecost two thousand years ago, ends with the first phase of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in the air to rapture, to catch up His church (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Shorty after this the Antichrist is revealed (2 Thess. 2; Rev. 6:2) as he is pictured riding on a white horse, promising to bring peace to the earth and makes a peace treaty with Israel (Daniel 9). This triggers the beginning of the Seven-year tribulation on earth. Then the seven seals are opened that release the first of God’s judgments that happen in the first three and a half years of it.
Revelation 7 and 11 tell us about the two witnesses that come at the very beginning of the seven years, and the 144,000 Jews who get saved. They preach the Gospel to the nations and millions are saved. At the very middle of seven years, the two witnesses are killed then resurrected. The 144,000 Jews are sealed and can’t be hurt for the entire seven years. After the seven seals are opened, then the seven trumpet judgements begin that bring more catastrophic events that cause tremendous suffering and death to those who will not repent.
Antichrist breaks his peace treaty with Israel at the very middle of Tribulation and the remnant of Jews flees to the mountains. People are required now to take the mark of the beast to buy or sell and to worship the image of the beast that has been set up in the temple in Jerusalem. Antichrist sets up his global, one world religious, economic and political system called Babylon.
After the seven trumpet judgments finish, then the seven golden bowls of God’s wrath are poured out on the earth that also bring great devastation (Rev. 15). This also sets up the earth up for the Lord Jesus to come to destroy Babylon, the kings of the earth and their armies, and everyone who will not repent. The Antichrist and his false prophet will also be cast into the lake of fire. This concludes the Seven-year Tribulation.
At this point we believe there will be a national conversion and salvation of Israel (Romans 11:25-26). This will be all the Jews who survive the Tribulation. When they see Jesus come in His glory they will mourn and repent and experience His blood removing their sins and they will be saved (Revelation 1:5-7). Dozens of Old Testament prophesies will be fulfilled when this takes place.
Remember only lost people were left on earth at the beginning of the Tribulation. Now only saved, redeemed people will be left on earth at the very end of the Tribulation and they will enter the Millennium in mortal bodies. The Old Testament saints and the New Testament church saints come back with Jesus in immortal bodies, like the body of Jesus Christ, to rule and reign with Him over the earth!
Over the next few days we will look at some of the details, that we know from Scripture, about the literal, “thousand year” reign of Christ on the earth!
My friend, exciting days are definitely ahead of us who believe the Bible, trust Jesus alone for our salvation, and believe these wonderful prophecies! But terrible days are ahead for those who will not repent and be saved!
God Bless!