What does the Bible say about thousand years?

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The Bible presents the thousand years in Revelation as a symbolic period of Christ’s victorious reign, during which Satan is restrained and God’s people share spiritually in Christ’s life and rule. Revelation 20:1-6 contrasts the blessed “first resurrection” of those who belong to Christ with the final resurrection and judgment of the wicked. Christians differ over the timing and manner of this millennium, but many historic Protestants understand it as the present gospel age rather than a literal earthly thousand-year kingdom. Revelation 20:7-15 points beyond it to Satan’s final defeat, the resurrection of the dead, and God’s righteous judgment. Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8 remind us that God is not bound by human measures of time.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • 2 Peter 3:8

    But don't forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

  • Revelation 20:6

    Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.

  • Revelation 20:4

    I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for the thousand years.

  • Psalms 90:4

    For a thousand years in your sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, As a watch in the night.

  • Revelation 20:1-15

    [1] I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. [2] He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, [3] and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. [4] I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for the thousand years. [5] The rest of the dead didn't live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years. [7] And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison, [8] and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [9] They went up over the breadth of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God, and devoured them. [10] The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. [11] I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. [12] I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. [13] The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. [14] Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. [15] If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

  • Revelation 20:5

    The rest of the dead didn't live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

  • 2 Peter 3:9

    The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

  • 1 Peter 3:2

    seeing your pure behavior in fear.

  • 1 Peter 3:8

    Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous,

  • Revelation 1:1

    This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John,

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