The Literal, Fulfilled Millennium
Channel: lethimwhoboasts
Date: 2022-11-24

Revelation 20:1-6f

This passage is the only direct reference to the Millennium, literally meaning 1000 years.  Any other correlations to this period are strictly by association, and cannot be proven to be directly related to this period.  Further, while this passage says that those who came to life "reigned with Christ" for 1,000 years, it says nothing about this Kingdom (which reign implies) either before or after.  It does not say whether these saints continue to reign, whether Christ was reigning prior or after, or any other thing.

The Millennium and the rapture are how many identify their eschatology.  The typical categories of view on the Millennium are Pre-Millennial, believing that Christ will return before a literal millennial reign, post-millennial, that it will be after, and a-millennial, that there will be no literal thousand year period, but that is merely a modern convention.  These categories have within them such strong assumptions that lost in the mix is the simplicity of the Word itself.

One of the most important things we can do is to stay as close to the Word as possible.  Countless theories abount concerning what these verses may or may not mean, and people write literal volumes of speculation on just a single phrase from one verse.  Schools of thought are good, but when those thoughts diverge so far from the literal text of the Scripture, people tend to believe their beliefs more than the actual Scripture.

As an example, note that in verses 1 and two, only a singular entity, the dragon, and a singular chain are mentioned.  Yet, many take as their belief that the devil (the dragon) and all his demons (not mentioned) are together imprisoned.  While this is not stated, many take it to be fact, and thus depart from the Word itself.  Whether it is true or not is beside the point, but many are so entrenched in their opinions of what it means, they have forgotten what the Word says itself altogether.

But, what of it's fulfillment?  Two characteristics stand out for any claimed application of this verse.  First, satan is bound.  There is a marked change, not of all demonic activity, but, perhaps like if a mafia crime boss were imprisoned, yet his armies are still free to roam.  The mastermind is missing, so the large-scale coordination doesn't take place, but it in no way stops petty theft, burlagries, murders, etc.  They are there, but are not organized, so they do not take off.

Second is the reign of the saints.  This reign does not need start at this time, nor does it end with the end of the period, but it is marked by a dominion of the saints in some way, whether visible or invisible.  Notice again, while Christ reigns in heaven, it does not say his saints reign on Earth.

So, what do we see in history?  Interestingly, we read this from the famous book, Foxxes Book of Martyrs...

Maxentius was the last Roman persecutor of the Christians whom Constantine set free after three hundred years of oppression and death. Constantine so firmly established the rights of Christians to worship God that it would be a thousand years before they would again suffer for their faith.

The Tenth Persecution AD 303 – ABRIDGED – “Foxxe’s Book of Martyrs”, emphasis added

Additionally, and perhaps more telling, we notice that historically, while there was no outward war and conflict that brought it about, from the end of Rome near 476 AD, the only power that ruled the entire world in any sense was the catholic church.  In fact, world history recognizes the "Holy Roman Empire" as the only power with global reach for literally 1,000 years.