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NOTE: (All Scripture references are in the New King James Version, for the purpose of clarity. KJV is used next to a verse to indicate that the verse is in the King James Version of the Bible.)
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In this detailed article, I would like to present what the Bible has to say about the 1,000 year period, found in Revelation 20. The MAJORITY OF SINCERE CHRISTIANS believe that it will be on Earth, after the 7-year period of tribulation. Unfortunately, this view, however popular, is not Bible-based. Jesus and Paul warned EXTENSIVELY about deception revolving around the Second Coming of Jesus:
Matthew 24:4 - And JESUS answered and said to them [His Disciples]: ‘Take heed that NO ONE DECEIVES YOU.’
2 Thessalonians 2:3 - Let no one deceive you BY ANY MEANS…
NOTE: The people of God were being exposed to false teachings about the Second Coming of Jesus, and as a result many were led astray. Jesus’ FIRST warning in regards to His Coming was that, we should be wary and cautious when it comes to false and deceptive doctrines centred around the Coming of Christ. We should NOT RELY UPON prophetic teachers to tell us what to believe, but rather go to God’s word and test it.
1 John 4:1 - Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but TEST the spirits, whether they are of God; because MANY FALSE PROPHETS have gone out into the world.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 - TEST all things; hold fast what is good.
Please, dear reader, do not dismiss a doctrine simply because it does not fit your idea of Bible interpretation; but rather test the doctrine by the Bible. That includes this article as well!!!
Before we dive into this study on the Millennium and the location thereof, I would like to briefly address this 7 year tribulation theory, even though I will do an extensive article on this deception at a later point in time.
Here are some problems with the Seven-Year Tribulation Theory
Problem 1: THERE ARE 1,007 YEARS BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND RESURRECTION
If there is to be a supposed seven-year tribulation, THEN this means that there will be 1,007 years BETWEEN the first resurrection (at the rapture; at the start of the seven years) and the second resurrection (after the 1,000 years.) Draw out a diagram on paper and see for yourselves!
Rapture
First resurrection
(7 Years Later)
Glorious Second Coming
Beginning of the Millennium
(1,000 Years Later)
Second Resurrection
End of the Millennium
NOTE: How many years are BETWEEN the 1st and 2nd resurrection, according to the above diagram? That’s right 1,007 years!! The Bible makes it plain that there are ONLY 1,000 years between the 1st and 2nd resurrection (Revelation 20:4-5.)
Problem 2: TWO-PHASED COMING OF CHRIST
At the Glorious Coming of Jesus, which in Greek is called the ‘parousia,’ pre-trib rapturists teach that Jesus will come WITH His saints, while AT the rapture He will come FOR His saints. However, this is without any Biblical foundation. This so-called two-staged coming of Jesus is without ANY Biblical foundation.
Let’s look at a few passages together:
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 - For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain UNTIL the coming [parousia] of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. FOR [or because; Paul is now going to explain what the ‘parousia’ of verse 15 is] the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a SHOUT, with the VOICE of an archangel, and with the TRUMPET of God. And the dead in Christ WILL RISE FIRST. THEN we who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP together (hama: at the SAME time) with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air [Jesus will literally be in the air]. And THUS we shall always be with the Lord.
NOTE: It is surprising to know that those who support a Pre-Trib Rapture use this text to support their view. In fact, this text shows the exact OPPOSITE of what they teach. The text says that Jesus (who is the Lord; see Matthew 8:5-8; 9:27-28), will descend FROM Heaven with a shout, and His saints (both dead and living) who are ON THE EARTH, will be gathered together IN THE AIR to meet Jesus. Notice again, the ONLY living saints at this point in time are ON THE EARTH waiting to meet Jesus in the AIR; and are not coming down from Heaven with Jesus. If we compare this passage with Matthew 24:30-31, we see that it is the angels that come with Jesus at His Coming. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 has the Second Coming, and what dispensationalists call the rapture, happening at the same time. After this event, the earth is left in chaos (see Jeremiah 4:23-26; 25:30-33; Isaiah 24:1-6, 19-20). More on this later.
The Bible also teaches that the Second Coming (parousia), and the resurrection occur AT THE SAME TIME:
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 - But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, EVEN SO in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, AFTERWARD those who are Christ’s AT HIS COMING [parousia].
NOTE: Mark this passage well! The resurrection as well as our gathering together with Jesus, occurs at the Glorious Coming of Jesus Christ. The last point that I would like to make is, ‘Will time go on AFTER Jesus Comes?’
Matthew 24:37-39 - But as the days of Noah were, SO ALSO will the coming [parousia] of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, UNTIL the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know UNTIL the flood came and TOOK THEM ALL AWAY, SO ALSO will the coming [parousia] of the Son of Man be.
NOTE: The Bible makes it very clear that the Glorious Coming of Jesus will be a destructive coming. Question: Was there anyone left outside the ark, AFTER the flood took the wicked away? No! Those who were lost were lost, and those who were saved were saved; those who were outside were destroyed, and those who were in the ark were saved. When looking at this erroneous doctrine, it seems very apparent that pre-trib rapturists just jump around the Bible, and string verses together, to make it APPEAR as if the Bible supports their doctrine:
“PRETRIBULATIONISTS, of course, CANNOT PROVIDE ANY strong biblical evidence for their secret-rapture IDEA. Rather, this idea comes by INFERENCE [reading things into the text] from texts relating to deliverance from tribulation, as well as from A PECULIAR INTERPRETATION of such Bible passages as "one shall be taken, and the other left" (Mt 24:40, 41).”—A Symposium on Biblical Hermeneutics, p.103
When does the Millennium begin?
Revelation 20:4-6—And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls [that is, living souls; see Genesis 2:7 and Psalm 104:29-30] of those who HAD BEEN beheaded [they were once dead, but are now alive] for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, [they went through the tribulation] and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they LIVED [they must have been dead at some point in the past, in order to now ‘live’] and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead [that is, the wicked; as this group of dead people are contrasted with the righteous] did not live again [the phrase ‘live again’ is parallel to ‘they LIVED’ in verse 4, as the word ‘but,’ is used to bring a contrast between the two phrases] UNTIL the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. [this is referring to verse 4] Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death [the second resurrection must lead to the second death, if the first is blessed and holy] has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
NOTE: It is extremely clear that the ‘First Resurrection,’ marks the beginning of the Millennium. The righteous saints were slain at some time in the past and are now presented as being alive, implying that there was a resurrection inbetween their death and being made alive (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 36-46.) These saints are brought forth in the first resurrection. The question begs to be asked:
When does the ‘First Resurrection’ occur?
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17—For the LORD HIMSELF WILL DESCEND from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the TRUMPET of God. And the DEAD IN CHRIST will rise FIRST. THEN we who are ALIVE and REMAIN shall be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER with them in the CLOUDS to meet the LORD IN THE AIR. And THUS we shall always be with the Lord.
NOTE: Notice this passage carefully. The ‘First Resurrection’ occurs when Jesus comes in all His glory (compare Matthew 24:29-31.) His coming is ACCOMPANIED with a trumpet, a shout, a voice and His Holy Angels (see 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9) as well as Jesus VISIBLY descending from Heaven. The dead in Christ will rise first, which parallels the ‘First Resurrection’ in Revelation 20:4-5, and BOTH the living saints and resurrected saints will meet Jesus in the air. Please notice another point: the ONLY living saints at this point in time are ON THE EARTH, and are NOT COMING DOWN FROM HEAVEN with Jesus to begin the 1,000 years on earth. According to Paul, IN THIS PASSAGE, ONLY Jesus will descend from Heaven (that is not to say His angels won’t come as well, if you read from verse 13 Paul is trying to encourage believers in the hope of JESUS’ soon return and His resurrection, that is why He EMPHASISES Jesus alone as returning), and not Him and believers. Also, Paul says that it is AT THE RESURRECTION that we are EVER OR ALWAYS WITH THE LORD, not seven years before that time or immediately at death or AT ANY TIME BEFORE THAT!
John 6:39—This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up AT THE LAST DAY.
John 6:40—And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up AT THE LAST DAY.
John 6:44—No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up AT THE LAST DAY.
John 6:54—Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up AT THE LAST DAY.
John 11:24—Martha said to Him [Jesus], “I know that he will rise again in the RESURRECTION AT THE LAST DAY.”
NOTE: Based on these verses, if the resurrection is at the LAST DAY, and it is accompanied by the coming of Jesus, according to 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. How then, can time continue as normal after Jesus returns? It just can’t happen! You can’t have time going on after the LAST DAY! From the above verses, we can see that the resurrection occurs at the same time as the second coming, as the second coming triggers or activates (so to speak) the resurrection of the saints.
Where are the saints taken AFTER they are caught up in the clouds to meet Jesus?
The saints are taken to the same place Jesus went AT His ascension:
John 14:1-6—‘Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My FATHER’S HOUSE are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I GO [that is, to the Father’s house] to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will COME AGAIN and RECEIVE YOU TO MYSELF; that where I AM [that is, the place He INITIALLY went to, BEFORE He comes to receive us], THERE YOU MAY BE ALSO. And where I go you know, and the way you know.’ Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, [First Question] and how can we know the way?’ [Second Question] Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, [Answer to the Second Question] the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father [Answer to the First Question] except through Me.’
NOTE: This is a well-beloved passage (and rightly so), as it gives us the assurance that Jesus will come again to receive us to Himself. Notice, that Jesus went to His Father’s house at His ascension, and he says that where I am (that is to say, where He is going), there you may be also.
Is there proof that Jesus went into Heaven at His ascension?
Luke 24:50-51—And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried UP into HEAVEN.
Acts 1:9-11—Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was TAKEN UP, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked STEADFASTLY toward HEAVEN AS HE WENT UP, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand GAZING UP INTO HEAVEN? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you INTO HEAVEN, WILL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER as you saw Him GO INTO HEAVEN.”
Acts 3:20-21—and that He may send JESUS CHRIST, who was preached to you before, WHOM HEAVEN MUST RECEIVE until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
Ephesians 4:9-10—(Now this, “He ASCENDED”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended IS ALSO the One who ASCENDED FAR ABOVE ALL THE HEAVENS, that He might FILL ALL THINGS.)
Hebrews 1:3—who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the MAJESTY ON HIGH.
Hebrews 9:24—For Christ HAS NOT ENTERED the holy places made with hands, [that is, the earthly sanctuary] which are copies of the true, but into HEAVEN ITSELF, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
NOTE: The Bible leaves no room for doubt. Jesus left this world and ascended to the presence of His Father, who is in Heaven. He does not touch the earth when He comes (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), and His kingdom is NOT OF THIS WORLD (John 8:23; 18:36.)
Are the Father’s House and Heaven the same destination?
Matthew 6:9 KJV—After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in HEAVEN, Hallowed be thy name.
John 16:28—I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. AGAIN, I leave the world and go to the FATHER.
NOTE: John 3:13 says that Jesus originated from Heaven, and came to this earth and then ascended up into Heaven again.
Revelation 2:7—He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from THE TREE OF LIFE, which is in the MIDST of the PARADISE OF GOD.
NOTE: The dwelling place of God is called the ‘Paradise of God,’ and is characterised by the ‘tree of life.’ Where else is the tree of life located?
Revelation 22:1-2—And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding FROM the THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB. In the MIDDLE of its street, and on either side of the river, WAS THE TREE OF LIFE, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Revelation 22:14—Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to THE TREE OF LIFE, and may enter through the gates INTO THE CITY.
NOTE: The tree of life is found in the same location as God’s Throne. We know from Revelation 22:14, that the tree of life is in the city of God, the New Jerusalem (see Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 11:10, 16; 12:22; Revelation 21:1-2.) So, the Father’s House is in the New Jerusalem, as this is where God dwells.
What will happen to the earth AFTER Jesus returns?
Isaiah 24:1, 3, 4, 6, 19, 20 KJV—“Behold, the Lord MAKETH THE EARTH EMPTY, and MAKETH IT WASTE, and TURNETH IT UPSIDE DOWN, and SCATTERETH ABROAD THE INHABITANTS THEREOF.” “The land shall be UTTERLY EMPTIED, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word.” “THE EARTH MOURNETH AND FADETH AWAY, the world languisheth and FADETH AWAY, the haughty people of the earth do languish.” “Therefore hath the curse DEVOURED the earth, and they that dwell THEREIN ARE DESOLATE: therefore the inhabitants of the earth ARE BURNED, and few men left.” “The earth is UTTERLY BROKEN DOWN, the earth is CLEAN DISSOLVED, the earth is MOVED EXCEEDINGLY.” “The earth SHALL REEL TO AND FRO LIKE A DRUNKARD, and SHALL BE REMOVED like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and IT SHALL FALL, AND NOT RISE AGAIN.”
NOTE: Do these verses sound like life, for the wicked, goes on as usual after Jesus comes? The answer is NO! Now, you may say that the text says, “and few men [are] left.” And therefore, some of the wicked SURVIVE Christ’s coming. The question is, “Who are these ‘few men’ that are left?” The Bible makes it clear that it is the RIGHTEOUS. The wicked are described as the ‘inhabitants,’ because Isaiah is trying to emphasise the idea, that the majority of the people on earth will experience this destruction. The Bible gives us a similar formula, where the wicked are described as taking up the entire earth and not surviving God’s destruction:
Genesis 6:7-8, 11-13—“So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created [Mankind; see Genesis 5:2] from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’ BUT NOAH FOUND GRACE in the eyes of the Lord.” “The EARTH also was corrupt before God, and the EARTH was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for ALL FLESH had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, ‘The END OF ALL FLESH has come before Me, FOR THE EARTH IS FILLED WITH VIOLENCE THROUGH THEM; and behold, I will destroy THEM [that is, all flesh] with the earth.’”
NOTE: The above verses show that ‘ALL FLESH’ was corrupt before God, with the exception of Noah. Is this a contradiction? How can ‘ALL FLESH’ not include Noah? It is very simple! God is emphasising the fact that the MAJORITY of the earth (this, of course, being the wicked) had corrupted its ways before Him, with the exception of Noah, hence the word ‘but,’ which indicates an exception. This passage shows that ‘ALL FLESH’ was everyone apart from Noah.
Matthew 24:37-41—But as the days of Noah were, SO ALSO will the coming of the Son of Man be. FOR AS in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, UNTIL the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and TOOK THEM [those who were eating and drinking—the wicked] ALL AWAY, SO ALSO will the coming of the Son of Man be. THEN [or, at that time] two men will be in the field: one will be TAKEN and the other LEFT. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be TAKEN and the other LEFT.
NOTE: Matthew 24 shows us that there were two groups of people in the days of Noah: the wicked and the righteous; the taken and the left. The ‘wicked’ are the ones TAKEN, as in Noah’s day the WICKED were TAKEN AWAY by the flood. Luke describes the same event, but instead of using the phrase ‘taken away’ he uses the word DESTROYED (see Luke 17:26-27.) The same word ‘destroyed’ is used in Genesis 7:23 to describe what happened to the WICKED. The righteous are the ones who are ‘left,’ as IN THE DAYS OF NOAH, the ones who were ‘left’ SURVIVED the flood or REMAINED ALIVE (Noah and His family: see Genesis 7:23.)
Further proof of this is that, the second coming is COMPARED WITH the FLOOD of Noah’s day, which DESTROYED the WICKED, while the RIGHTEOUS REMAINED alive to be caught up IN THE AIR to meet Jesus. The ones who are ‘left’ in Matthew 24, would therefore be the ones who SURVIVE the coming of Jesus. The wicked are the ones who are receiving the divine judgement of God, as is the case with Isaiah 24.
Revelation 13:8—ALL WHO DWELL ON THE EARTH will worship him, WHOSE NAMES HAVE NOT BEEN WRITTEN in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
NOTE: Again, ALL the earth is everyone, EXCEPT a faithful remnant who are obedient to God and His laws. John is trying to highlight the fact that the MAJORITY of the people on this earth will worship the beast, AND NOT THAT EVERY single person will worship the beast.
Genesis 14:10 KJV—And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that REMAINED fled to the mountain.
NOTE: From this verse, we can see that the ones who REMAINED WERE NOT AFFECTED by the slaughter. It is in the same way that the ‘few men [that are] left,’ were NOT affected by the destruction that affected the wicked. Furthermore, the word for ‘remained’ is ‘shaÌ‚'ar.’
Notice how the ‘Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament’ on p.894 describes this word:
“shaÌ‚'ar seems to be used almost exclusively to indicate the STATIC ACTION of SURVIVING AFTER AN ELIMINATION PROCESS. This process of elimination may have been natural (Ruth 1:3, ‘Naomi’s husband died; and she was left’). It may have been humanly caused (1 Sam 9:24, ‘Behold that which is left!’ Here Samuel is speaking of meat which was intentionally left for Saul to eat). Or the elimination may have been the direct result of a DIVINE intervention (Ex 10:19, ‘There remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt,’ when God blew them away). No matter what the cause, however, shaÌ‚'ar points to that which REMAINS or has SURVIVED, e.g. 1 Sam 16:11, ‘There remaineth yet the youngest,’ whereby Jesse informs Samuel that the prophet has examined every one of his sons except one who yet ‘remaineth,’ a survivor as it were from Samuel’s earlier interviews.”
The inhabitants represented by Isaiah are the wicked, WITH THE EXCEPTION of the faithful few, as we saw in Revelation 13:8. This holds true when you appreciate the fact that the word for ‘left’ in Isaiah 24:6, is shaÌ‚'ar. With all of this in mind, let’s move on from this point:
Isaiah 13:9-10—Behold, the day of the Lord comes,
Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger,
To lay the land DESOLATE;
And He will DESTROY its SINNERS from it.
For the stars of heaven and their constellations
WILL NOT GIVE THEIR LIGHT;
The SUN WILL BE DARKENED in its going forth,
And THE MOON WILL NOT CAUSE its light to shine.
Jeremiah 4:23-26—I beheld the earth, and indeed it was WITHOUT FORM, AND VOID;
And the heavens, they had NO LIGHT.
I beheld the mountains, and INDEED THEY TREMBLED,
And ALL the hills moved back and forth.
I beheld, and indeed there was NO MAN,
And ALL THE BIRDS of the heavens had fled.
I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a wilderness,
And ALL its CITIES WERE BROKEN DOWN
AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD,
BY HIS FIERCE ANGER.
Zephaniah 1:3—I will CONSUME MAN and beast;
I will consume the birds of the heavens,
The fish of the sea,
And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked.
I WILL CUT OFF MAN from the face of the land,
Says the Lord.
Zephaniah 3:6—I have cut off nations,
Their fortresses are DEVASTATED;
I have made their STREETS DESOLATE,
With NONE passing by.
Their cities are DESTROYED;
There is NO ONE, NO INHABITANT.
NOTE: After Jesus comes the second time, there will be NO people left to inhabit the earth. His people are taken to Heaven and ALL the sinners are DESTROYED from the earth. The earth is left in a desolate condition with no sun, no stars or any form of light. Friends, this is too clear to be misunderstood. There will be no ruling over the wicked on the earth when Jesus comes. How can He, when EVERY SINNER is dead?!
What will cause the wicked to be destroyed at the Second Coming?
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9—and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with HIS MIGHTY ANGELS, IN FLAMING FIRE taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION from THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD and from THE GLORY OF HIS POWER.
2 Thessalonians 2:8—And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and DESTROY with the BRIGHTNESS OF HIS COMING.
NOTE: The two verses above show us clearly, that the wicked are destroyed at the coming of Jesus Christ by the brightness of His coming.
When are the wicked resurrected?
Revelation 20:5—But the rest of the dead [that is, the wicked dead] did not live again UNTIL the thousand years were FINISHED.
NOTE: The righteous are taken up to heaven at the first resurrection and 1,000 years later the wicked are raised.
What happens to Satan during this time?
Revelation 20:1-3—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 [the chain has something to do with Satan’s ability to deceive; very clearly the nations are not there to be deceived, as the earth is desolate] till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
NOTE: Satan is cast into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. The chains that Satan is bound with, are not literal chains, but are symbolic of circumstances. It is very clear that throwing Satan into the bottomless pit represents Satan being bound by circumstances, as the RESULT of this action PREVENTS Him from DECEIVING THE NATIONS any more UNTIL the thousand years are finished. The Greek word for ‘bottomless pit’ is ‘abyssos.’ This Greek word is used to refer to the condition of the earth BEFORE God created it (see Genesis 1:2.) So, we know that the ‘abyssos’ must in fact be THIS EARTH in its desolate condition. In Luke 8:31, the word ‘abyssos’ is used again:
Luke 8:31—And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the ABYSS.
NOTE: The demons did not want to be cast out into NOTHINGNESS, where they would not have the ABILITY TO TEMPT or possess human beings. This is the bottomless pit. Simply put, the bottomless pit is the desolate state of this earth, that will prevent Satan and his angels from tempting or possessing human beings, as there will be NONE to possess.
How can you prove that the bottomless pit is going to be this earth?
We’ve already touched on this point in our previous question. However, there are still more points that can be made to prove that the bottomless pit will be this earth in its desolate condition:
- In Revelation 9:2, the bottomless pit produces smoke that ascends upwards to darken the sun and the air. If smoke ascends upwards, to darken the sun and the air, which are in the atmospheric heavens (our sky), THEN the origin of the smoke would have to have come from under the heavens, which is this earth (see Genesis 6:17; 7:19; Job 28:24; 37:3; Daniel 7:27.)
- As discussed before, the Greek word for ‘bottomless pit’ is the same word (in the LXX) for the condition of the EARTH before it was created (see Genesis 1:2)
- According to Revelation 20:7-8, Satan will be released from the bottomless pit AFTER the 1,000 years and will then be able to deceive the nations that are on THIS EARTH. The only way for him to IMMEDIATELY deceive those nations after the millennium, is if he were bound on this earth in its future desolate condition.
What will the saints be doing during the 1,000 years?
1 Corinthians 6:2-3—Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
Revelation 20:4—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 on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
NOTE: That’s right! The saints who are caught up in the air with Jesus to be taken to Heaven, will be judging the wicked dead and fallen angels. The Greek word for ‘judge’ in 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 is, ‘krinoÌ„,’ which means ‘Properly to distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish: - avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, CALL IN QUESTION, sentence to, think.’ The Greek word in Revelation 20:4 for judgement is ‘krima,’ which comes from ‘krinoÌ„,’ and means ‘to make a decision.’ It can very well mean to ‘call into question a decision that has been made.’ I do not believe that the righteous will be choosing who will be saved and who will be lost, as God has already done this by taking the saved to heaven and leaving the lost on earth. I believe that they will decide the severity of the punishment for the wicked, and call into question why certain individuals did not make it into Heaven. The reason I have come to this conclusion, is simply because in Revelation 20:11-15, we see that the wicked are judged out of the books, which God has written. Verse 15 says that anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. The natural question one would ask is: Why were they not written in the Book of Life? This is where the 1,000 years come into full view. The righteous will view the record of the wicked so that when God pours out His judgement on the wicked, both the righteous and the wicked will see that God is love and that He is fair (see Revelation 16:5-6). At this point in time the wicked will bow, even Satan and His angels (see Isaiah 45:22-23; Romans 14:10-12; Philippians 2:9-11).
What will happen to the wicked AFTER the 1,000 years?
Revelation 20:7-9—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, [Enemies of God’s people: see Ezekiel 38:18; 39:1, 11] to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. [see Joshua 11:4] 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.
NOTE: As mentioned previously, the wicked will be judged and then God will rain fire down from heaven. This FIRE WILL UTTERLY CONSUME and turn the wicked into ASHES to fulfil Malachi 4:1, 3 KJV: “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and ALL the proud, yea, and ALL that do WICKEDLY, SHALL BE STUBBLE: and the day that cometh shall BURN THEM UP, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them NEITHER root nor branch.” “And ye shall TREAD DOWN the wicked; for THEY SHALL BE ASHES under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.” The Bible couldn’t be any plainer than that!
After all the wicked are UTTERLY CONSUMED, what then?
Psalm 37:9-11 KJV—For evildoers shall be CUT OFF: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and THE WICKED SHALL NOT BE: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, AND IT SHALL NOT BE. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Isaiah 65:17 KJV—For, behold, I CREATE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
2 Peter 3:13 KJV— Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
NOTE: There you have it friends. AFTER the wicked are CUT OFF FROM THE EARTH, THEN AND ONLY THEN can the meek inherit the earth. THERE WILL BE NO eternally burning hellfire, as God COULD NOT create a new earth with the wicked still burning on it. Also, the righteous WOULD NEVER be able to inherit the new earth, as Psalm 37:9-11 makes it very clear that, ONCE the wicked are CUT OFF, THEN SHALL the meek inherit the earth (see Proverbs 11:31.)
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV—STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of truth.
God bless you!
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