Understanding the Millennium: Satan's Binding and the Saints' Reign

During the millennium, a literal thousand-year period following the second advent of Christ, the righteous reign with Him in heaven while Satan is bound in a state of total inactivity on the earth Revelation 20:1-4EVRR684+1.

The Binding of Satan

• At the start of this period, an angel descends from heaven to lay hold of the dragon, that old serpent who is the Devil and Satan Revelation 20:1-2EVRR684.

• He is bound with a great chain and cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years so that he can no longer deceive the nations Revelation 20:2-3EVRR684.

• This confinement prevents him from exercising his power to lead others astray until the time period is finished and he is released for a little season Revelation 20:3SITI April 7, 1887, page 215.1.

The Reign and Judgment of the Saints

• The righteous, having been raised in the first resurrection or translated at Christ's coming, live and reign with Christ for the duration of the millennium Revelation 20:4-6EVRR373+1.

• During this time, the saints sit upon thrones, and the work of judgment is committed into their hands Revelation 20:4EVRR373.

• This phase of judgment is not for God's benefit, as He is omniscient and knows every heart, but is conducted for the sake of humanity and the universe to demonstrate the justice of His decisionsEVRR499.

• The saints participate in the "time of the dead, that they should be judged," which follows the second advent Revelation 11:18EVRR373.

The Condition of the Earth and the Wicked

• While the righteous are in heaven, the rest of the dead—the wicked—do not live again until the thousand years are finished Revelation 20:5ARSH April 18, 1854, page 102.24.

• The earth itself is not in a state of peace and conversion, as some modern theories falsely suggest, but is instead characterized by the destruction that ushered in the periodSYNPT 170.2+1.

• The popular doctrine of a "temporal millennium" where the world is converted and nations beat swords into plowshares is a perversion of scripture; those prophecies actually describe what the people falsely say will happen in the last days Isaiah 2:3-4SYNPT 170.2+1.

• In reality, the Lord calls for the opposite in the last days, telling the nations to prepare for war and beat plowshares into swords Joel 3:9-10SYNPT 170.2.

• The broad way continues to lead to destruction until the end of time, and evil men only wax worse and worse until Christ's coming Matthew 7:13-14+1SYNPT 175.2+1.

The Conclusion of the Millennium

• At the end of the thousand years, the wicked dead are raised in the resurrection of damnation to receive their final judgment John 5:28-29EVRR499+1.

• Satan is loosed from his prison and goes out once more to deceive the nations in the four quarters of the earth to gather them for battle Revelation 20:7-8EVRR684.

• Finally, the great white throne judgment takes place where every person is judged according to their works as recorded in the books Revelation 20:11-13EVRR499.

• Those not found written in the Book of Life, along with death, hell, and the devil, are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death Revelation 20:14-15.