One Bible subject that has caused some serious concern and led to confusion in interpretation is Revelation 20:1-10. You most likely are aware of the passage; if you’re not, though, it refers to the text in the book of Revelation that describes the one thousand years period called the Millennium. Here’s the text: 

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things, he must be released for a little while. 

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 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 for a thousand years. 

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. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 

Key Highlights

• Satan is bound behind a chain and a lock for a thousand years.
• Satan is thrown into the bottomless pit, the Greek term abussou, which means abyss.
• Satan cannot further deceive the nations till the thousand years end.
• Satan will be let out for a little while.
• A multitude had been called to sit in judgment. This multitude are martyred saints for the gospel of Christ. 
• After the thousand years have elapsed, Satan is finally let out of his bondage. He gathers a big army and marches towards Jerusalem, where they camp around the city.
• Flames come down from heaven and devour Satan’s army.
• Satan is cast into the lake of fire to join both the False Prophet and the Beast, as all of them will remain there and in it eternally.

The term “one thousand” is repeated six times in Revelation 20: once in verse two, once in verse three, once in verse four, once in verse five, once in verse six, and once in verse seven. We are not talking about a number of verses, but a minimal number compared to all the verses in the Bible. Such a small number causes so much pain and disagreement. 

What is taking place during this time? First, Satan is bound but not yet judged. Second,  this section is the fulfillment of Revelation  6:9-11. 

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. 

My next goal is to clear up the mystery of the one thousand years. If we keep it so separate from Revelation 19, 21, and 22, then chapter 20 sits by itself with no context.  

Examining chapters 19-22 speak of the end of one era or age and the start of a new era or age, the latter one is eternal. It is the completion of the Mosaic Age followed by the new eternal Messianic Age. 

Revelation unfolds like a scroll before John’s eyes. What John records is the judgment of the Jewish nation followed by a new heaven and New earth. 

Looking at 2 Peter 3:3-14 may shed some light on  Revelation 20. Peter says that to the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. God’s time is measured differently than human time. To God and to God only, the one day/one thousand terminology is the way God responds to relates to it. What if the 1000 year span of time is meant  a period of time? Doesn’t it seem strange that both 2 Peter 3 and Revelation 20 refer to the number “one thousand?”  Why did Peter choose of all numbers “one thousand? ”A few remaining ideas. 

1. The Millennium is a period of time. How long is it? It is hard to answer that question. If Revelation 19, 21, and 22 were on a straight timeline, then Revelation 20 would be on that timeline as well. Looking at the four chapters as a whole speaks of something ending and something new coming. So how long is the “ thousand years” if it is not literal? In this scenario It is most likely 40 years, as Don K. Preston states in his writings.
2. The New Heaven and New Earth speak of the New Covenant or the Messianic Age, where heaven is attainable through our prayers and intercessions and where heaven meets Earth in the form of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the King of the Kingdom. He rules and reigns, but not literally i.e.  human terms, but spiritually. He rules in our hearts and lives. We can now sum up heaven not as a closed place but as an open place where we abide. Paul says we abide in heavenly places.
3. The New Jerusalem is not a literal building. It cannot be. If it were to sit on this earth, it would cover 1500 miles square. If this were the U.S., it would cover something one-third or more of the country. Next, it is 1500 miles high. Maybe it is a pyramid shape. Nonetheless, it still reaches about three times farther than our satellites that circle the Earth. Then there is the scripture that causes me to wonder what is happening with those outside of the New Jerusalem. It reads, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Am I to understand that there are still immoral people who practice magic arts, who are sexually immoral, who are still murderers and idolaters in an area outside of New Jerusalem? Am I to live within a group of people who still love and practice falsehoods? I ask you seriously how this could be. It is supposed to be heaven, a perfect place where all tears are wiped away, where sin is no more, and where only righteousness.

The “one thousand years “ is a period of time, not a literal one thousand years. Plus,  heaven still exists and is a beautiful place. I do not deny the reality of heaven. My parents are there. My wife has family in heaven. I will go there one day. But while I am here, on this earth, I believe that Christ, through his death and resurrection, has made a way for me to enter His kingdom. Now, I am part of the family of Jesus, though one day I shall have to leave this earth to meet God in heaven, and there I shall forever be.  

Jesus took care of everything. He did what He promised—he came back a short time after he rose from the dead and ascended to heaven after being with His desciples 40 days. Then about 40 years later, He returned in the heavenlies and opened heaven to all who believe. Hebrews 9-10 makes more sense in this situation than in any other explanation. It is finished,” as Jesus said in John 19:30.