Lesson 7: The Good News about the Millennium
We believe that when the Savior returns, the dead in Christ will be
resurrected, and the wicked living will be "slain by the brightness of His
coming." See 2 Thessalonians 2:8. The living righteous will be changed
in the "twinkling of an eye." See 1 Corinthians 15:52. These living living
ones, along with the resurrected righteous of all ages, will rise "to meet
the Lord in the air" when He returns. 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
The earth will be left in a desolate condition for one thousand years. After the 1000 years, the New
Jerusalem will descend from heaven preceded by Jesus and the saints. At that time, (after the 1000
years), the resurrection of the wicked will take place. That will be the executive phase of the judgment.
The wicked will then suffer the "second death." The earth will then be purified from every trace of sin by
being turned into a "lake of fire." All vestiges of sin, death, suffering, and temptation will be forever
destroyed!
Note: The term "Millennium" is derived from two different Latin words: "mille", which means
"thousand," and "annus", which means "year." Thus the word "Millennium" literally means "1000 Years."
The term "Millennium" is not in the Bible, but there are several references to the "one thousand years."
1. When the Savior returns, what will happen to the righteous who have died and are sleeping the sleep
of death in their graves? 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Answer: The
in Christ shall
.
The righteous dead "rise first." The wicked dead are not resurrected when Jesus returns, but AFTER as
we shall see shortly.
2. When are the "rest of the dead" (the unrighteous) resurrected? Revelation 20:5-6.
Answer: After the
were
.
Since the righteous dead are resurrected when Jesus returns, the "rest of the dead" could only refer to
the unrighteous! They live not again until after the Millennium!
3. Did the Savior indicate that there would be two resurrections? John 5:28-29.
Answer:
.
He called the first resurrection, the "resurrection of life," and the second resurrection the "resurrection
of damnation." The book of Revelation tells us that these two resurrections will be one thousand years
apart!
4. Who will the righteous be with for this 1000-year Millennium? Revelation 20:6.
Answer:
.
5. What will this "great multitude" of the redeemed stand before? Revelation 7:9-10.
Answer: They stand before the
, and before the
.
6. Where is God’s throne? Psalm 11:4.
Answer: In
.
When the Savior returns, He will take His people back to heaven to be with Him for 1000 years. See
John 14:1-3. The dead in Christ will rise "to meet the Lord in the air" on that great day. Since the
wicked are slain by "the brightness of His coming," and the righteous are taken to heaven for a
thousand years, the earth will be depopulated during this time!
7. What will the condition of the earth be like during these 1000 years after Jesus returns? Jeremiah
4:23-27.
Fill In: Verse 23: "I beheld the
, and lo, it was
, and the heavens, and they had no
, and
."
Verse 24: "I beheld the mountains and lo, they
lightly."
, and all the
moved
Verse 25: "I beheld, and lo, there was
, and all the birds of the heavens were
."
Verse 26: "I beheld, and lo, the
place was a
thereof were
, and all the
at the presence of the Lord, and by His fierce
."
Verse 27: "For thus hath the Lord said, 'The whole land shall be
' yet will I not make a
end.'"
The cities of the earth will be "broken down" at the Lord’s presence! See also Revelation 16:19. The
Bible says that "no man" would inhabit this "desolate" earth during the time immediately following the
Lord’s appearing.
But the Lord at that time will not make a "full end" because there are events that must take place when
the 1000 years are over!
8. What will happen to Satan, and where will he be during this 1000 year period called the
"Millennium"? Revelation 20:1-3.
Answer: He will be
pit for a
up with a
and thrown into the
years.
Since the book of Revelation is written in "apocalyptic" style (that is, written using symbols to explain
truths), we must ascertain what truths are being symbolized. We know that Satan is a spirit being.
Certainly a spirit being (such as an angel) cannot be chained up with a literal chain! But because there
will be no one for Satan to control or tempt during this 1000 year period, his hands will be "tied" in a
symbolic sense! The word translated "bottomless pit" is the the Greek word abussos, and is the same
word used to translate Genesis 1:2 into the Greek language version of the Old Testament called the
Septuagint.
The earth will be like a "bottomless pit" during the 1000 years following Jesus' return! The "cities" of the
earth will be "broken down," and the surface of the earth will be filled with the dead and decaying
bodies of the wicked. Darkness will cover the earth. Satan and his fallen angels will roam the earth for
1000 years to consider the dire results of their rebellion against Yahweh and His righteous ways and
laws!
9. After the 1000 years, what will happen to Satan? Revelation 20:3.
Answer: He will be
a
season.
Because the wicked dead are resurrected after the 1000 years, Satan once again has people to tempt
and control. This is what causes him to be "loosed" from his circumstances for a little while!
10. At the end of this l000 year period, what will come down from God out of heaven? Revelation 21:2.
Answer: The
.
11. Where will this gigantic city rest on the earth? Zechariah 14:3-4.
Answer: The Mount of Olives will
very large
in two when Jesus’
touch it, and a
will be formed.
Jesus will come down from heaven with His saints, and when His feet touch the Mount of Olives, it will
split in two and form a gigantic plain on which the Holy City, New Jerusalem will rest!
12. What does Satan and his host of evil followers try do at this time? Revelation 20:7-9.
Fill In: (verse 9): "They went up on the breath of the earth, and
of the saints about, and the beloved
the
... "
This wicked mob of millions from all ages who have rejected God and served sin and Satan will march
under their master Satan's orders. They will attempt to surround and overtake the New Jerusalem, the
city of God!
13. What happens to them at this time? Revelation 20:9.
Fill In: "And
them."
came down from God out of
and
This fire will turn the whole world into a "lake of fire," and the wicked will at that time suffer the "second
death." See verse 14. Every trace of sin will be forever destroyed, and the earth will be purified by fire!
14. What will this "lake of fire" do to the old earth? 2 Peter 3:10-14.
Fill In: Verse 10: "... the
also and the works that are therein shall be
."
15. After this old earth is destroyed, what will the Father, and His Son, and the Holy Spirit create?
Revelation 21:1-4.
Answer: A
and a
.
No more sin and suffering will bedevil mankind! Peace, joy, gladness of heart, and unutterable fullness
of life and happiness will follow the people who have loved and known their Maker and Redeemer, and
who have received of the Holy Spirit! God's richest blessings will be forever theirs!
16. Will sin and suffering ever rise up to cause sorrow and sin to exist again? Nahum 1:9.
Answer:
.
The character of our heavenly Father and His law will have been vindicated once and for all! The way of
love will have plainly been seen versus the way of hate, rebellion, and lawlessness. Never again will the
character of the Godhead be questioned because all will have plainly understood the effects of sin, and
love shown in the wonderful plan of redemption! Our heavenly Father's love, and the love and sacrifice
of His Son, our Redeemer, will be revealed to us with ever increasing splendor throughout the ceaseless
ages of eternity! The great controversy will then be forever ended!
17. Are you making plans to join God's people who are pilgrims looking for a city who Builder and Maker
is El Shaddai (God Almighty)?
Answer:
.
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