The 1,000-Year Reign: Understanding the Millennium and the First Resurrection

We continue our study of the Millennium, the thousand-year reign of Jesus on Earth. In the third study of the Insights into Eternity series, we discussed the resurrection of the saints at Christ's return. Those who are born again and walk with Christ will receive imperishable, powerful, immortal bodies. These bodies will be like Christ's resurrection body, which was sown in dishonor but raised in glory (1 Corinthians 15:43). The saints are granted authority to reign with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4; 1 Corinthians 6:2), while Satan will be bound and cast into the Abyss (Revelation 20:1-3).

What is the First Resurrection?

¹And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. ²He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. ³He 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. ⁴I 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 worshiped 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. ⁵(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. ⁶Blessed 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 20:1-6; emphasis added).

Three Views of the Millennium: Amillennialism vs. Premillennialism

Theologians and scholars refer to the thousand-year reign of Christ as the Millennium, which means a thousand years. There are three main beliefs about the Millennium. The first is called Amillennialism, where an Amillennialist sees the five mentions of the thousand years in the passage as symbolic, representing our current era, the church age. The second is postmillennialism, which also interprets the 1,000-year period non-literally, believing the church will bring about a golden age of Christian ethics before Jesus' Second Coming. The third, premillennialism—this writer's view—holds that Jesus will return during a time of tribulation (Matthew 24:22), will raise the saints—those who have been spiritually reborn (John 3:3)—and that these saints will reign with Him in a literal thousand-year reign on earth.

The Binding of Satan and the Abyss (Abussos)

The dragon, the ancient serpent from the Garden of Eden, also called the devil and Satan, will be confined in the Abyss—known in Greek as Abussos, meaning bottomless, unfathomable, enormous, or immeasurable. Until the 1,000 years are over, there will be no war; after that, Satan will be released temporarily. Imagine how our world might look when Satan is bound. What changes could occur for humanity if it lived without satanic influence?

The New Resurrection Body: Immortal and Glorious

Believers in Christ will receive resurrection bodies free from temptation, sin, and deception (v. 3). These bodies will eliminate fears of harm and death. At Jesus' return, all true believers will become immortal (Philippians 3:20-21). Sinful urges will disappear, replaced by unrestrained creativity and freedom. Our bodies, minds, and souls will operate on a higher level, unbound by limits, allowing us to experience life as God intended. I eagerly anticipate this future and hope you do too. Keith Thomas

Continue Your Journey…

This devotional is part of our series, Insights into Eternity. If you want to dive deeper into what God has planned for your future, continue to the next lesson: What the 1000 Year Reign of Christ Will Be Like