Will Jesus reign 1000 years?

Many believe that Jesus will reign 1000 years when He returns (the doctrine of “millennialism”). In fact, the Bible says that, “they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him [Jesus] for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)

However, it’s just one verse. Could it be a figurative way to describe Jesus’ reign? Let’s consider its context and look at other uses in Scripture that may help us understand if Jesus will reign 1000 years.

How Scripture answers "Will Jesus reign 1000 years?"

By the time we get to the passage of Scripture that promoters of this “literal thousand year reign” doctrine stake their claim on¹, Scripture has well established a figurative use for “a thousand years”^{2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15} (and not at all unlike many secular examples). Indeed, without the clouding lens of a presupposed doctrine that requires a certain interpretation, the Revelation 20 text is simply communicating to the reader a very long (everlasting^{2,3,4,7,11,12}) and triumphal (complete^{2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15}) reign of Christ and the Saints.

Further Study if you're interested...

While Revelation 20 makes a statement about a “one thousand year reign”, it should not be taken literally. To begin with, there is no Scriptural precedent to take it literally – in fact quite to the contrary. There is no other place in Scripture where “a thousand years” (or anything like it) is used literally^{2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15}. We see “thousand” used figuratively in books of history^2,7,14, poetry^3,4,8,10,13, New Testament epistles^12,15, other books of prophecy^6,9 and other places in Revelation itself⁵.

In Revelation, we are reading “one thousand years” within the broader prophetic and highly figurative vision of John. Furthermore, to take “one thousand years” literally in Revelation 20 would be out of context for the rest of Scripture, being quite literally (no pun intended), the only instance.

Answer built on scripture-blocks below

1

Revelation 20:5-6

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

What does it say?

The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended which is the first resurrection. The one that shares in the first resurrection is holy and blessed. They will overcome the second death and be priests of God and Christ – reigning with Him for a thousand years.

What is the context?

The book of Revelation is what John saw and was told to write down (1:1-2). Using “in the Spirit” as a structural marker, the book can be sectioned into four visions in particular:

Vision One (1:9-3:22) – Jesus speaking to the seven churches
Vision Two (4:1-16:21) – Seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls of wrath; “one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls” introduces the last two (and therefore possibly connected):
- Vision Three (17:1-21:8) – Babylon the Harlot
- Vision Four (21:9-22:5) – Jerusalem the Bride

In chapter 17, we begin to see judgment for “the prostitute” and the city “Babylon the great” and the “marriage supper of the Lamb” in heaven. In chapter 20, several images or statements are presented that occur only in this chapter of Revelation (listed below). The clear and final defeat of Satan in 20 follows with the ultimate and glorious victory of God in 21 and final warnings and a call to return in 22.

The exclusive terms and concepts of Revelation chapter 20:

the “thousand years” of Satan chained (vss 2-3, 7) and saints reigning with Christ (vss 4-6),
the “first resurrection” (vss 5-6),
the “second death” (vs 6, 14),
the “great white throne” (v 11)

How does it apply here?

Within the immediate context of the few verses beginning chapter 20, two one thousand year periods are described. However, this is within the broader context of a book of prophecy with many fantastic scenes.

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

It’s a vision that John sees (how does John “see” a literal thousand years?). A figurative understanding of “a thousand years” is much more natural and even required given the context.

2

Deuteronomy 7:9-10

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face.

What does it say?

Know that your God is the faithful God who remains bound and loving to all those who remain bound and loving to Him, for all time. He meets out justice to those that do not by destroying them. His justice will not fall short for those; He will repay them to their face.

What is the context?

Moses’ great summation of all that’s happened to the children of Israel just before they enter the land (and he dies). He implores them through these several chapters to remain steadfast in their obedience to God in order to maintain the blessing of the land.

How does it apply here?

To interpret this as a literal thousand generations is absurd and contracting all Scripture has to say about God’s faithfulness.

5

Revelation 5:11

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,

What does it say?

I saw and heard around the throne many [more than could be counted] living creatures and elders and angels.

What is the context?

John’s vision of the throne scene (chapters 4,5). Specifically here, there is “one seated on the throne” mentioned several times beginning in chapter four, eventually identified as who would be God, the Father (4:11). Surrounding and singing praises to Him are “four living creatures” (4:6) and “twenty-four elders” (4:4). He is holding a scroll that cannot be opened by anyone, except one standing beside the throne and identified as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” (vs 5), and a “Lamb” (vs 6).

The vision continues through the rest of Revelation.

How does it apply here?

“Thousands of thousands” isn’t a counting mechanism but rather a representation of the countless – myriads around the throne of God. It is figurative.

6

Daniel 7:10

A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

What does it say?

Fire came out in front of him while many served him and many more stood before him awaiting judgment while the books were opened.

What is the context?

Daniel is documenting a dream/vision he as had in the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon. It is of four beasts (or empires – vss 17, 23) coming from the sea: one like a lion, another like a bear, a third like a leopard, and a fourth different from the others but with ten horns. Assuming that this “fourth kingdom” would have to Rome (Daniel lived during the Babylonian (1st), then the Medo-Persian (2nd), then followed Greece (3rd), and finally the Roman empire (4th)), a possible outline and explanation for the chapter follow:

Rome’s rulers which are represented by horns (7:24) are full of great boasts and blasphemies (7:8).
Eventually, this beast (Rome) would be slain and burnt – a prophecy of its destruction (7:11) — appears to connect with John’s vision in Revelation 19.
However, before its final destruction, it is granted a reprieve for a period of time (7:12), during which the Son of Man (Jesus) goes before the Ancient of Days (God, the Father) and receives a kingdom that will not be destroyed (7:13-14).
The saints of God (Christians) will receive and possess that kingdom (7:18).
Then a really wicked ruler would arise, gaining power by destroying three of his predecessors (7:24).
During his reign, Christians would be persecuted for a short period of time (7:25), but eventually, God would bring judgment on the ruler and God’s people would reign (7:26-27) – which appears to connect with Revelation 20:4-6.

How does it apply here?

This part of Daniel’s vision is a heavenly throne scene of judgement. “Thousand” here is not literal, but shows many that serve Him and should understand “ten thousand times ten thousand” to represent all/everyone as God is “judge of all.” (Hebrews 12:23)

11

Deuteronomy 23:2-3

No one born of a forbidden union may enter the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of his descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord. No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the Lord forever,

What does it say?

Nobody in an unlawful marriage may enter the temple/worship of the Lord, not even their descendants to the tenth generation. Also, no Ammonite or Moabite may enter, even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter forever.

What is the context?

Moses is re-telling the law of God to the people before entering the Promised Land.

How does it apply here?

God, through Moses, is giving a law forbidding certain people from entering the temple to worship. His point is that they may never (“forever”) enter! He illustrates by saying “to the tenth generation.” He certainly doesn’t mean that anyone in the eleventh generation may enter. Cleary, “tenth” here means forever/complete.

14

Exodus 34:6-7

The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

What does it say?

God passed before him and said, “I am a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love to the thousandth generation, forgiving sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, with the consequences visiting the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

What is the context?

Moses has just received the replacement tablets on Mt Sinai and he is renewing the covenant between God and His people.

How does it apply here?

God’s steadfast love is obviously not limited by or counted to the “thousands” or any finite number. “Thousands” here is representative of a limitless or countless number.

15

1 Corinthians 4:15

For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

What does it say?

Although you’ve had many, many tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. That has been my [Paul’s] role in Christ Jesus through the gospel word.

What is the context?

In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul is calling them back to what they have learned and away from the arrogance and divisions that have crept in.

In these first four chapters, he emphasizes the need for them to rely upon the word of God that he had shared with them as the foundation to solve these issues.

How does it apply here?

The Greek word for “countless” is literally “ten thousand” (still rendered such in the KJV). Obviously, their “guides in Christ” could literally be counted (and are not literally ten thousand). Paul simply means they’ve had a lot!

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