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THE THOUSAND YEARS

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 27, 1879

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 53, No. 9.

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THE THOUSAND YEARS.

By G. V. Kilgore

The following statements, proved by the scripture references given, will show the Bible view of the thousand years of Rev. 20:—
1. The resurrection of the righteous will take place just prior to the thousand years. Rev. 20:4.
2. The resurrection of the wicked will not take place until the end of the thousand years. Rev. 20:5.
3. Christ will come before the thousand years, because he comes at the time of the resurrection of the righteous. 1 Thess. 4:16.
4. His coming will be personal and visible. Acts. 1:9-11; Rev. 1:7.
5. At this time he will take all the righteous from the earth to Heaven. 1 Thess. 4:17; John 13:33-36; 14:1-3.
6. They will reign with Christ on his throne during the thousand years. Rev. 3:21; 20:4.
7. The Judgment (to investigate and apportion the punishment of the wicked world) will be given to them. Rev. 20:4; Dan. 7:22; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; Ps. 149:5-9.
8. When Christ comes to take the righteous, he will destroy all the wicked, and leave the earth desolate. 2 Thess. 1:7, 8; 2:8; Jer. 25:26-33; Isa. 13:9.
9. This will be just prior to the binding of Satan, and just before the thousand years. Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-3.
This leaves no place for a world's conversion, nor for a time of peace on earth during the millennium spoken of in Rev. 20.
10. The bottomless pit, where Satan is to be bound, is nothing more nor less than this earth in its broken up condition as it will be after Christ comes. Rev. 6:14; Nahum 1:5, 6. The term “bottomless pit” comes from Abussos, which signifies “the deep,” “the abyss,” and is used in Gen. 1:2 to describe the earth when it was “without form and void.” At the great day of God the earth will be brought into a similar condition. Jer. 4:23-27. Hence the term Abussos is used in Rev. 20 to describe the condition of the earth when it shall be the bounds of Satan's habitation.
11. Satan is not now limited to the earth, but goes through the air, and with his legions of demons (Mark 5:9; Jude 6) tempts the people of all nations. Eph. 2:2, 3. But during the thousand years Satan will be cast down to the ground (Eze. 28:17; Isa. 14:12), and, without a human being to tempt, he will roam in solitude. Zeph. 1:2, 3; Rev. 20:1-3.
12. After the thousand years the wicked will be raised, Satan will be loosed from his limited power, and again go about his usual work, deceiving the nations. Rev. 20:5, 7, 8.
13. The city of God, with all the saints, will come down from Heaven and be on the earth at this time. Zech. 14:4, 5; Rev. 21:1-3; 20:9.
14. The wicked will be gathered around the city, and burned up with fire from God. Rev. 20:9; Mal. 4:1; Ps. 37:10, 20.
15. The devil and his host (his angels) will be destroyed at the same time. Rev. 20:10; Isa. 24:21, 22; Heb. 2:14; Eze. 28:17-19.
16. After this the earth will be free from sinners. All the universe will say, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto God and the Lamb (Rev. 5:13), and the saints will enjoy abundance of peace forever and ever. Ps. 37:11. G. V. KILGORE.