MILLENNIUM
Other than the concept “Rapture”, Millennium may be the most misunderstood mystery in the Bible. Many have tried to explain it and even dismissed it as a fairy tale. However, the following will explain the concept and offer proof that is a promise from God.
The “Millennium”-what is it and from where did the concept come? The Old and New Testaments include references to the kingdom of the Messiah, long-anticipated rule and reign of the Lord Jesus Himself upon the earth. In fact, it is one of the most frequently mentioned subjects in the Bible. In Matthew 6:10, when Jesus taught His followers to pray, “Thy Kingdom come”, He was referring specifically to the time of this earthly reign, In the most incredible kingdom in all human history, Jesus, the anointed king, will have the nations for His inheritance (Psalm 2:8), “the wolf also shall dwell with the lame” (Isaiah 11:6), and the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:9).
How long will His earthly kingdom last? Only one chapter in the entire Bible reveals its duration- Revelation 20. “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 a thousand years” -Revelation 20:6. The kingdom is often referred to as the millennium, a name derived from the Latin words “mille” (meaning- one thousand) and “annum” (meaning- year).
Before the thousand reign of Jesus on earth, the Millennium, can begin, two things must happen: Jesus must return (Revelation 19:11-19), and Satan’s rule must come to an end. Revelation 20:1 states that an angel comes out of heaven with a key to the Abyss and holding a great chain in his hand. Revelation 20:2 says the angel seizes the devil or Satan and binds him for a thousand years. The Millennium is needed to redeem creation. Revelation 20:3 states that the angel threw Satan into the Abyss, locked and sealed it over him until the thousand years were ended.
More to come in several other parts!