The True Nature of the Millennium

by Marcos S.
[Unfinished]

There are millions of sincere Bible believing Christians who believe there will be humans inhabiting the earth during the 1000 year millennium described in Revelation 20. But is this really what the Bible teaches? Please take careful examination to the following described events in sequence, and may the truth be revealed about the nature and condition of Gods people and the earth during the 1000 years. The purpose of the following chronological outline is to prove that the millennium is between two resurrectionsthe resurrection of the righteous, and the resurrection of the wicked, and that there is no mathematical possibility for humans to be inhabiting the earth during this time frame. Additionally, this outline will demonstrate that ALL the saints will be in heaven during the 1000 years, and Satan and his fallen angels will be left bound to this desolated abyss, known as the earth, with no humans to deceive.

Second Coming >

When Christ comes the Second time, there will be 2 groups of people divided into 4 categories: Category 1: The Righteous Living - (caught up in the clouds to be taken to the prepared mansions) Category 2: The Righteous Dead - (resurrected, caught up in the clouds to be taken to the prepared mansions) Category 3: The Wicked Living - (destroyed and slain by brightness at Second Coming) Category 4: The Wicked Dead - (remain dead for 1000 years) In order to determine what the condition of the earth will be in during the 1000 years, we must first decipher what will happen to each one of these 4 categories, and when. The following points will help you decipher this mystery: Category 1 & 2: - Righteous dead and alive caught up to meet Lord in air (1 Thess 14:16,17)--these righteous go to the mansions prepared for them in heaven (John 14:2-4) [Category 1 and 2 leave the earth to heaven] - This is the first resurrection (Rev 20:5,6) and same as the resurrection of life (John 5:29), of the just (Acts 24:15), and those who awake to everlasting life (Daniel 12:2) Category 3: - The remaining living wicked receive sudden destruction and shall not escape (1 Thess 5:3), and the Lord with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. (Isaiah 11:4), and the wicked are destroyed by brightness of His coming (2 Thess 2:8 ), Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. (Isaiah 13:9) Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth. (Psalms 104:35)For our God is a consuming fire. (Heb 12:28) When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God. (2 Thess 1:7,8) Let the wicked perish at the presence of God. (Psalms 68:2) And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land. (Zeph 1:17,18) I will utterly consume everything From the face of the land, Says the LORD; I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land, Says the LORD. (Zephaniah 1:2-3 NKJV).

- Global crumbling of cities (Rev 16:19) - Disappearing of mountains and islands (Rev 16:20) - Largest earthquake in history (Rev 16:18 ) - Total depopulation of earth as it was in the days of Noah! (Matthew 24:37-39) [Note: While the Lord will come with vengeance to the wicked, it will be deliverance for the righteous: Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. (Isaiah 35:4) For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41:13) Vengeance to the wicked and deliverance for the righteous occur simultaneously at the same eventthe Second Coming] Category 4: Slain of Lord shall be from one end of earth even to the other end, not be gathered, nor buried, but dung upon ground (Jer 25:33) -- there is clear implication that there is NOBODY left to gather or bury the wicked. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. (Isaiah 26:21) [Category 3 have now joined Category 4] - Conclusion: Impossibility for ANY human to be left on the earth as we begin this 1000 year Sabbath rest.

Beginning of 1000 years >

- The 1000 years begins AT the Second Coming of our Lord, because Revelation 20 comes after Revelation 19, and Revelation 19 describes the Second Coming and destruction of Babylon. It also describes the same first resurrection in 1 Thessalonians 14:16,17 where it says the dead in Christ shall rise first - Rest of the dead lived not again until the 1000 years are finished (Rev 20:5) - And they [the wicked] shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit [killed and thrown into the grave], and shall be shut up in the prison [grave], and after many days shall they be visited [punished].(Isaiah 24:22) describing that the wicked will be dead for 1000 years, and will be visited at the end of the 1000 years. [Category 3 and 4 remain dead until the 1000 years are finished] - Satan is bound by a chain of circumstances in the Bottomless Pit (Greek, abussos or Endless Cemetery-the earth in its state. The Septuagint uses this expression to translate the Hebrew word tehom, "deep," in Gen 1:22. This indicates that the condition of the earth during the millennium reflects at least in part the condition of the earth in the beginning when it was "without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.") (Rev. 20:1-3)parallel with scapegoat cast into the wilderness in Lev. 16, and Isaiah 14:17 where the world is as a wilderness. The house is also grave, or place of sheol (grave), and the prisoners are those dead in the grave (using original Hebrew) (Read about Lucifers fate on this desolated planet in Isaiah 14:18-21thou shall not be joined with them [kings of the earth] in burialthis is what awaits him at the end of the world, and beginning of the 1000 yearsthis is the great chain of circumstances that binds Satan, as he cannot deceive the nations)

Earth Void and Desolate

- Earth has no man, has none inhabitant, is void, has no form, is utterly broken down, is a wilderness, heavens have no light, is clean dissolved, is utterly emptied, utterly spoiled, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste ALL the earth shall be devoured and the land is made desolate (Please read: Isaiah 24:17-22; Jer 4:23-28; Isaiah 24:1-4; Isaiah 14:12-21; Isaiah 13:9-13; Isaiah 6:811; Isaiah 28:21,22; Isaiah 34:1-15; Jer 25:32-38; Zeph 1:2,3; 3:6-8), and the wicked are all dead, and lie in wait in the grave (Hosea 7:6,7) Let us now break the verses down: Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth [Satan inhabiting the earth]. And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit [the grave]; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited [Cross-reference with Revelation 20:5 the rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years are finished]. Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously [This is the end of the 1000 years, after the New Jerusalem has come down out of heaven] (Isaiah 24:17-23) I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was NO MAN, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and ALL the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger. For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end [The wicked have not been judged yetthe full end does not come till after the Great White Throne Judgment and the Lake of Fire]. For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it. (Jeremiah 4:23-28) Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof [Some people have argued that scattering the inhabitants proves there are people on the earth. No, they are scattered all over the earth, but destroyed. Cross-reference with Psalms 92:9 which says thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.]. . . . The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word. The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.* (Isaiah 24:1, 3, 4) *Some have tried to argue that the phrase few men left in verse 4 allows for a few saints or people to be left on the earth. However, verse 3 (The land shall be utterly emptied)does not allow for any people to be left alive on earth during the millennium. Matthew 7:14 says Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Clearly the few are the saved. After the second coming the saved will be attending the marriage feast of the lamb. Where will that be? At the Father's house: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Clearly, the few that are left are left alive, but these are taken to the mansions in heaven prepared for them by Jesus to partake of the

great marriage supper of the lamb. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. (Isaiah 13:9-13) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate. (Isaiah 6:8-11) For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth. (Isaiah 28:21,22) Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground. Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture. And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD. He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger. (Jeremiah 25:32-28) I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings. Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for ALL the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. (Zephaniah 3:6-8) Satan will be bound to this uninhabited earth during the 1000 years: How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? [another reference to the resurrection of the wicked at the end of the 1000 years] All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house [Job 17:13 If I wait, the grave is mine house]. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an

abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned. Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities. (Isaiah 14:12-21) Note: The word pit in the Hebrew is Shachath, which means destruction, grave. The word pit in Greek is abussos which means abyss, or to be properly interpreted, an endless emptiness, which is perfect symbolic imagery for an earth completely void and desolated, clean dissolved, and utterly emptied. - Saints are reigning with Christ in heaven (ones that were resurrected, and ones that were alive), which John sees in vision (Please read: John 14:1-3; Rev 3:12; 21:10,24; 19:1,2) [Category 1 and 2 are reigning with Christ in heaven, not on earth. It is impossible to survive with no sun.]

End of 1000 years >

- Holy City descends "out of heaven" (with ALL the saints) onto a purified spot of the earth (Mount of Olives) (Please read: Zachariah 14:4; Rev 3:12; 21:2; 21:10, Jude 1:13-15)--this is the SAME as the "beloved city" that is surrounded in Rev. 20:9, but Rev. 21 simply repeats parts of the vision of chapter 20 - Resurrection of damnation (John 5:29) the wicked are resurrected (Second Resurrection) to be thrown into the Lake of firethe same as the resurrection of the unjust (Acts 24:15) and those who awake to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2) - Satan is loosed and deceives the nations, Gog and Magog (the resurrected wicked) (Rev 20:3,7,8 ) - Wicked surround Holy City from all four corners of earth (Rev 20:8,9) - "Fire comes down out of heaven" - forming the lake of fire (Rev 20:9,10,14) - Satan and Angels cast into lake of fire (Matt 25:41; Rev 20:9,10) - Wicked are cast into lake of fire, which is the second death (Rev 20:14) - Whole earth is burned up (lake of fire encompasses the breadth of the earth (Rev 20:9) except the spot of the citya liquid lava covering the eartha repeat of the flood, but not by water) (2 Pet 3:5-7,10; Matthew 13:40, Duet 32:22) - The liquid sea of fire is REMOVED by God after it has done its cleansing work. The proof of this lies in the fact that the wicked shall be ashes under soles of our feet(Read Malachi 4:1-3) - Earth is remade new (Please read: Rev 21:1; Isaiah 66:22; 2 Pet 3:13, Isaiah 11:6-9)

Eternity >
- Revelation 21 and 22 Please visit: www.1000yearMillennium.com and www.1000yearMillennium.info for a deeper study.

The Chart Below can help you visualize the words above:

Extra Notes to prove that the Righteous are Delivered WHILE the wicked are Destroyed: Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. (Isaiah 35:4) So while God is coming with vengeance, he is ALSO coming to deliver the righteous! For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.. (Isaiah 41:13) God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 NIV). The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Matthew 13:41-43 NKJV). this takes place AT the Second Coming! An interesting verse from the Apocrypha, which happens to agree with the Biblical concept of a destroyed earth beginning the millennium (Note: I do not recognize the Apocryphal writings as inspired. I only thought this text was interesting). Great and mighty clouds, full of wrath and tempest, shall rise and destroy all the earth and its inhabitants. (2 Esdras 15:40) The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. (Psalms 110:5,6) Psalms

21:9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. 21:10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.