The Thousand Year Reign of Christ
Revelation 20:1-4
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. [Rev 20:1-2]
When Jesus returns [Rev 19:11-16] one of the first things that will happen is that Satan will be bound for a thousand years. Interestingly enough, it will be another angel that does the binding. This gives us insight into the Devils limited power. While we are never to underestimate Satans power, we should always know that greater is He Who is in us than he who is in the world [ref. 1 Jn 4:4]. When it comes to a power encounter, the battle not only belongs to the Lord, it is already won. As Jesus put it plainly on the Cross of Calvary, It is finished! Our part is to believe and walk in that truth.
During the Millennium Satan will no longer be able to deceive the nations. His influence to tempt and lure away will cease. He will literally be chained in the bottomless pit [the abyss, ref. Lk 8:31].
Imagine a world dominated by righteousness and goodness, a world where there is no injustice, where no court ever renders an unjust verdict, and where everyone is treated fairly. Imagine a world where what is true, right, and noble marks every aspect of life, including interpersonal relations, commerce, education, and government. Imagine a world where there is complete, total, enforced, and permanent peace, where joy abounds and good health prevails, so much so that people live for hundreds of years. Imagine a world where the curse is removed, where the environment is restored to the pristine purity of the Garden of Eden, where peace reigns even in the animal kingdom, so that the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them (Isa 11:6). Imagine a world ruled by a perfect, glorious Ruler, who instantly and firmly deals with sin. [MacArthur]
That world will become reality in the Millennium. It will be a thousand years of perfect rule by a Perfect King, and we [His Bride, the church] will rule with Him. It will be a glorious time of reaping [by sight] what was sown by faith in the here and now. And after that it will even get better in the Eternal State [Rev 21-22].
Stay faithful. Be encouraged. Revelation 1-19 was only the introduction: The best is yet to come!
