Chapter 68 The Millennium
The seventh major section of Revelation (chapter 55) is the Millennium. It is covered by chapters 19 through to 21:8. Two and a half chapters describe the Millennium, but only three verses describe what is done in that time – Rev 20:4-6:
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
We see a group of people described as not having received the mark of the beast or its image, neither having worshipped the beast. They had been beheaded for witnessing for Jesus. These bits of information characterise the 144 000. We saw that at the end of their ministry during the 3.5 years, the beast that ascends from the abyss kills them (chapter 36):
Rev 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
The beast that ascends out of the abyss is the Jesuit order. The Jesuits possess all sorts of instruments of torture that were used in the Dark Ages against God’s people. These are still there, kept in basements and dungeons and museums. They will be brought into action again and this passage seems to indicate that the one in prime use will be the guillotine. Many of the 144 000 will be beheaded. 3.5 days after their slaughter, God will resurrect them and they will ascend into heaven. They will return with Christ at the Second Advent as the armies of heaven, and then during the Millennium will reign as kings. They will be kings in that they have judgement in their hands. The books of judgement will be opened and they will reveal to any inquirer details of God’s decisions. They will also be priests because they will mediate between the inquirers and God.
The 144 000 are priests, kings and prophets. During the 3.5 years they served as prophets, bringing the word of God to the people. Rev 10:11 indicates they are prophets:
Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Christ tells the 144 000 at the Outpouring of the Latter Rain to prophesy before kings and nations. Jacob divided the patriarchal birthright between three of his sons. These three aspects of the birthright come together in the 144 000 (chapter 13). They are kings (rulers), priests and prophets.
We see then that during the Millennium, all questions about friends and loved ones will be answered by the 144 000. When the Millennium ends, all the saved will be happy with the judgement of God, all their inquiries will have been answered. During the Millennium all tears will be wiped away.
What is the context of the rest of these two and a half chapters? We find a chiastic structure involving seven sections (besides the introduction and a parenthetical part). The first is paired off with the last, the second with the penultimate, and the third with the fifth. The fourth part is the focus, and we have already dealt with it in Rev 20:4-6, where the activities during the Millennium are described. The first three parts deal with occurrences at the Second Advent which marks the beginning of the Millennium. The last three parts deal with events at the Executive Judgement at the end of the Millennium.
The first part deals with God and Christ’s judgement at the Second Advent and then Their judgement at the end of the Millennium in the seventh part: The first section we have already dealt with in chapter 66 which describes the Second Advent:
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
Chiastic to this portion of Scripture is God’s judgements after the Millennium:
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The Father identifies Himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is everything to us. Those of us that yearn to be united with the Father and experience His love are promised that our thirst will be quenched with the water of life in abundance. We are admonished not to give up or grow tired, but to overcome. Then God will remain our God and we will be His children. Verse eight shows us the characteristics of the people who will not inherit eternal life. They will be cast into hellfire and die the second death (previous chapter).
The second and sixth parts of this section of Revelation describe what happens to the impenitent before and after the Millennium. The second is covered in Rev 19:17-21:
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
This portion of Scripture was dealt with in chapter 66. The raptors are invited to feast on the corpses of the impenitent when they are slayed by Christ. The beast and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire which burns throughout the Millennium. The sixth part describes the lot of the impenitent after the Millennium:
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Verse 13 indicates that all the dead are resurrected. Judgement is finally reviewed in the face of everyone that has ever lived on Earth. The Father is seated on His great white throne, the seat of judgement. All the books are opened, books containing a record of all the deeds of the impenitent, also the book of life. The book of life contains the names of all the saved. Those whose names are not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire. This is the final death of all the impenitent, the second death (previous chapter). Death itself and the grave are also thrown into the lake of fire because hereafter there will be no more death. Those that remain will enjoy eternal life, granted by the Father through the Son.
The third and fifth sections deal with what happens to Satan at the Second Advent and after the Millenium, respectively:
Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
The description is brief. The dragon, Satan, is metaphorically chained and thrown into the abyss, which is locked and sealed. We have seen that the abyss is a situation where Satan and the scarlet beast (Jesuits) are not allowed to do as they please (chapter 36). The righteous all ascend into heaven at the Second Advent, and the impenitent are all dead. Satan and his angels have nothing to do but work on each other’s nerves. Circumstantially they are in the abyss. They will also see the beast and the false prophet in the lake of fire. This fire seems to burn throughout the Millennium because it burns before the Millennium and is still burning at the end of the Millenium. Every time they look at these two in the fire, they are reminded of where they are headed to. This portion of Scripture ends with the concept that at the end of the Millennium, they will be loosed from the abyss. The dead will be resurrected and they will tempt them again. They will egg them on to destroy God’s city, the New Jerusalem.
Rev 20:7-10 describes what Satan does at the end of the Millenium, and what will happen to him:
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
When the impenitent are resurrected, Satan is loosed from the abyss. He then has people to tempt and control. He musters the forces of the impenitent and has them surround the New Jerusalem which has come down to Earth (Rev 21:10). In a last desperate bid to destroy God and His kingdom the forces of the impenitent march onto the city. God finally defends the city and the saved by pouring fire and brimstone (burning sulphur) onto Satan and his vast army. This is the final fires of hell. Satan is united with the beast and the false prophet in hell. It would seem that the fires of hell will burn eternally, but this is simply indicating the finality of the destruction of Satan and the impenitent. Sodom and Gomorrha was destroyed with an eternal fire, and yet they are not burning today. This clarifies the meaning of an eternal fire:
Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Understanding the chiasms clarifies the events during the Millennium If read chronologically, it would seem that Satan is destroyed before the judgement of the impenitent. Each section has a focus and looks at particular role players in these events. That is why some events are repeated with a different perspective. That is also true for Scripture beyond the bounds of the Millennium, because the descent of the New Jerusalem is described in Rev 21, but the camp of the righteous, their city, is on Earth in Rev 20. The focus in Rev 21 is the description of the city.
A clear understanding of Revelation is important. Contrary to the doctrine of the secret rapture, which implies second chances for those that are not ready at the rapture, Revelation indicates that there is but one chance, and that is to seek and find God before Probation Closes. The current pope has just released a statement that no one will be lost eternally in hellfire, but that everyone will eventually be saved. This then motivates people to continue with their lives of sin and evil. Don’t be caught by the wine of Babylon. Stay sober and seek God while He may be found before your probation closes by death, or corporately.
The seventh major section of Revelation (chapter 55) is the Millennium. It is covered by chapters 19 through to 21:8. Two and a half chapters describe the Millennium, but only three verses describe what is done in that time – Rev 20:4-6:
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
We see a group of people described as not having received the mark of the beast or its image, neither having worshipped the beast. They had been beheaded for witnessing for Jesus. These bits of information characterise the 144 000. We saw that at the end of their ministry during the 3.5 years, the beast that ascends from the abyss kills them (chapter 36):
Rev 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
The beast that ascends out of the abyss is the Jesuit order. The Jesuits possess all sorts of instruments of torture that were used in the Dark Ages against God’s people. These are still there, kept in basements and dungeons and museums. They will be brought into action again and this passage seems to indicate that the one in prime use will be the guillotine. Many of the 144 000 will be beheaded. 3.5 days after their slaughter, God will resurrect them and they will ascend into heaven. They will return with Christ at the Second Advent as the armies of heaven, and then during the Millennium will reign as kings. They will be kings in that they have judgement in their hands. The books of judgement will be opened and they will reveal to any inquirer details of God’s decisions. They will also be priests because they will mediate between the inquirers and God.
The 144 000 are priests, kings and prophets. During the 3.5 years they served as prophets, bringing the word of God to the people. Rev 10:11 indicates they are prophets:
Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Christ tells the 144 000 at the Outpouring of the Latter Rain to prophesy before kings and nations. Jacob divided the patriarchal birthright between three of his sons. These three aspects of the birthright come together in the 144 000 (chapter 13). They are kings (rulers), priests and prophets.
We see then that during the Millennium, all questions about friends and loved ones will be answered by the 144 000. When the Millennium ends, all the saved will be happy with the judgement of God, all their inquiries will have been answered. During the Millennium all tears will be wiped away.
What is the context of the rest of these two and a half chapters? We find a chiastic structure involving seven sections (besides the introduction and a parenthetical part). The first is paired off with the last, the second with the penultimate, and the third with the fifth. The fourth part is the focus, and we have already dealt with it in Rev 20:4-6, where the activities during the Millennium are described. The first three parts deal with occurrences at the Second Advent which marks the beginning of the Millennium. The last three parts deal with events at the Executive Judgement at the end of the Millennium.
The first part deals with God and Christ’s judgement at the Second Advent and then Their judgement at the end of the Millennium in the seventh part: The first section we have already dealt with in chapter 66 which describes the Second Advent:
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
Chiastic to this portion of Scripture is God’s judgements after the Millennium:
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The Father identifies Himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is everything to us. Those of us that yearn to be united with the Father and experience His love are promised that our thirst will be quenched with the water of life in abundance. We are admonished not to give up or grow tired, but to overcome. Then God will remain our God and we will be His children. Verse eight shows us the characteristics of the people who will not inherit eternal life. They will be cast into hellfire and die the second death (previous chapter).
The second and sixth parts of this section of Revelation describe what happens to the impenitent before and after the Millennium. The second is covered in Rev 19:17-21:
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
This portion of Scripture was dealt with in chapter 66. The raptors are invited to feast on the corpses of the impenitent when they are slayed by Christ. The beast and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire which burns throughout the Millennium. The sixth part describes the lot of the impenitent after the Millennium:
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Verse 13 indicates that all the dead are resurrected. Judgement is finally reviewed in the face of everyone that has ever lived on Earth. The Father is seated on His great white throne, the seat of judgement. All the books are opened, books containing a record of all the deeds of the impenitent, also the book of life. The book of life contains the names of all the saved. Those whose names are not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire. This is the final death of all the impenitent, the second death (previous chapter). Death itself and the grave are also thrown into the lake of fire because hereafter there will be no more death. Those that remain will enjoy eternal life, granted by the Father through the Son.
The third and fifth sections deal with what happens to Satan at the Second Advent and after the Millenium, respectively:
Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
The description is brief. The dragon, Satan, is metaphorically chained and thrown into the abyss, which is locked and sealed. We have seen that the abyss is a situation where Satan and the scarlet beast (Jesuits) are not allowed to do as they please (chapter 36). The righteous all ascend into heaven at the Second Advent, and the impenitent are all dead. Satan and his angels have nothing to do but work on each other’s nerves. Circumstantially they are in the abyss. They will also see the beast and the false prophet in the lake of fire. This fire seems to burn throughout the Millennium because it burns before the Millennium and is still burning at the end of the Millenium. Every time they look at these two in the fire, they are reminded of where they are headed to. This portion of Scripture ends with the concept that at the end of the Millennium, they will be loosed from the abyss. The dead will be resurrected and they will tempt them again. They will egg them on to destroy God’s city, the New Jerusalem.
Rev 20:7-10 describes what Satan does at the end of the Millenium, and what will happen to him:
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
When the impenitent are resurrected, Satan is loosed from the abyss. He then has people to tempt and control. He musters the forces of the impenitent and has them surround the New Jerusalem which has come down to Earth (Rev 21:10). In a last desperate bid to destroy God and His kingdom the forces of the impenitent march onto the city. God finally defends the city and the saved by pouring fire and brimstone (burning sulphur) onto Satan and his vast army. This is the final fires of hell. Satan is united with the beast and the false prophet in hell. It would seem that the fires of hell will burn eternally, but this is simply indicating the finality of the destruction of Satan and the impenitent. Sodom and Gomorrha was destroyed with an eternal fire, and yet they are not burning today. This clarifies the meaning of an eternal fire:
Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Understanding the chiasms clarifies the events during the Millennium If read chronologically, it would seem that Satan is destroyed before the judgement of the impenitent. Each section has a focus and looks at particular role players in these events. That is why some events are repeated with a different perspective. That is also true for Scripture beyond the bounds of the Millennium, because the descent of the New Jerusalem is described in Rev 21, but the camp of the righteous, their city, is on Earth in Rev 20. The focus in Rev 21 is the description of the city.
A clear understanding of Revelation is important. Contrary to the doctrine of the secret rapture, which implies second chances for those that are not ready at the rapture, Revelation indicates that there is but one chance, and that is to seek and find God before Probation Closes. The current pope has just released a statement that no one will be lost eternally in hellfire, but that everyone will eventually be saved. This then motivates people to continue with their lives of sin and evil. Don’t be caught by the wine of Babylon. Stay sober and seek God while He may be found before your probation closes by death, or corporately.
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