Satan in the Abyss for a Thousand Years

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INTRODUCTION It’s a fairly formidable task to come to a conclusion on a Bible verse that there simply isn’t an answer for. What I am referencing is Revelation Chapter 20: 1-6 in which we see a picture of Satan being thrown into an abyss for a thousand years and Christ ruling over the earth. As I dissected the research paper directions for this assignment I dove into the process of learning about each of the views that scholars would contend for. There were several and each of them fairly complex. Very early on in the assignment I easily came to one conclusion; this wasn’t going to be easy. This assignment certainly is not for the faint of heart and cannot be answered by looking at a few verses and then reaching a conclusion. If it were that easy then there would be no debate over the meaning of this eschatological (end times) passage. Simply stated here is the topic; what is the meaning of Revelation Chapter 20? Should we regard the thousand years that is referenced in the chapter as symbolical or literal? Certainly, it has sparked an interesting debate but how should we view this span of time taught to us by the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos? Opposing views that mainstream Christians hold today help us to get to the heart of that very question. There are a few questions we must explore to fully grasp the topic; (1) what are the three main views that believers hold today, (2) what happens during the millennium, (3) how long is it, (4) who will be there (and what is the relationship of Israel and the church to the millennial kingdom), and finally (5) when does it occur in relation to the Second Coming of Christ. VARIOUS ESCHATOLOGICAL VIEWS Three views have dominated the discussion when attempting to understand Revelatio... ... middle of paper ... ...he Tribulation and come to a lasting belief in Him. Scripture teaches us that Israel will have an eternal place in Christ’s government (Romans 11:26-27; Daniel 4:3, 7:14; Jeremiah 23:5). Chosen believers will be appointed to reign under Christ, who will rule as the King of Kings (Revelation 19:16). Government and religion also seem to still be a necessity during His reign (Revelation 20:4-6). Additionally, there will be believers in glorified bodies who will literally reign on earth with Christ. At the beginning of the Millennium there will be those believers who are still be alive from the Tribulation who still have their old physical bodies (Zechariah 10:8; Jeremiah 30:20). These believers who have made it through the tribulation will still have their sin natures. Some of these believers will die and there will even be some whom will live the entire 1,000 years.

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