The Old Testament prophesies of a future era when God will intervene in history and establish his eternal kingdom with the Messiah as king. This messianic age is characterized by righteousness, justice, peace, the outpouring of the Spirit and the restoration of God’s people and creation. With the coming of Jesus to earth, the kingdom of God has already come into the world, and at the time of Jesus’ return, Jesus will fully establish this kingdom by binding Satan for 1000 years, resurrecting all believers, and reigning on earth with us. After this millennium, Satan will be unleashed again and gather people for a final rebellion against God but will be stopped by fire from heaven and cast into hell. Then Jesus will judge all people. The number 1000 in the Bible often symbolizes “an uncountable number”, “eternal”, etc.
Bible Verses
“1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.” (Re 20:1–3)
“4Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” (Re 20:4–6)
“7And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Re 20:7–10)
“15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” (Mk 1:15)
“4He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Is 2:4)
“6The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. 7The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. 9They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Is 11:6–9)
Study Questions
- Has the kingdom of God already begun?
- Is the number “1000” symbolic?
- Will the millennial kingdom be an earthly kingdom?
- What will the millennial kingdom be like?
- What is the purpose of the millennial kingdom?
- Why isn’t Satan thrown into hell right away?
- Who are the people who rebel against God?
Additional Bible Verses
Dan 2:37-44, Dan 7:13-14, Rev 11:15, Matt 12:28, Acts 1:6-7, Isa 9:7, Ezek 11:19-20, Isa 65:25, Matt 19:28, Matt 25:31-46