The
following verses show that there cannot be a 1000-year gap between the return
of Christ and the final judgment.
When Jesus returns for the second time there will be one resurrection
and one judgment for the just and the unjust and then comes the end.
The Apostle Paul says there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15). You might then say that he is talking about the two separate judgments, one before the millennium and one after the millennium. But lets continue on and see if there is room for a thousand year gap.
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28,29).” In this passage Jesus tells us that everyone in the grave whether they are Christians or not will be resurrected at the same time and will either face damnation or eternal life. Jesus does not allow a long period of time between His return and the resurrection.
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats…and these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (Matthew 25:31,32,46).” This passage shows when Jesus returns believers AND unbelievers will be gathered before Him (one resurrection). THEN He will separate the goats for everlasting punishment and believers for everlasting life (one judgment). ALL the nations are gathered before Christ for judgment at the same time. Jesus does not allow a long period of time between his return and His judgment.
“Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thess. 1:6-10).” The Church on the earth is being afflicted. Jesus will come with fiery angels to bring final eternal punishment to the evil and also comfort to the saints. This is called the time of Christ’s coming. This will bring relief and judgment. We also see that at the time of Christ coming the saints will be resurrected.
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:13-17).” The coming of Jesus Christ is a PUBLIC event. This is one of the noisiest verses in the Bible. So again we see at Christ’s coming the saints are resurrected. So when are the saints resurrected?
“And this is the Father's will which has sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day…No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day(John 6:39,40,44).” Jesus will raise up His saints AT THE LAST DAY. Jesus is coming to bring relief to his saints. And when he comes there will be a resurrection of all who have believed in him. And John tells us that Jesus will do this AT THE LAST DAY.
Is there any room for a 1000-year period to be inserted? No. Because when Jesus comes back, eternal destruction will come upon those who disbelieve. All this will take place on the last day and then the end of time and history will ensue.
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive, But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet…in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed (1 Cor. 15:22-28,52).”(ESV) Paul says the day of resurrection will bring about “the end,” not just 1000 more years of drama. When Christ returns, his saints will be raised, he will deliver the Kingdom to the Father and that will be it.
In light of these verses we learn there will be a day of general resurrection when all men come from the graves. A day of general judgment when all men face the judgment of God being divided sheep and goats to eternal life and eternal judgment. We’ve also seen that when Jesus comes that will a day of relief to his people (glorification) and at the same time a day of eternal judgment for those who are unbelievers and afflicting his people. When Jesus returns his saints will be raised from the dead. The dead in Christ first and those we are still alive at his coming will be glorified with him in them. Jesus says he will raise up his people at the last day. Paul says when he does that, “then comes the end.” How long will it take? 1000 years? “In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye.” Jesus at that point is going to hand over the Kingdom to his Father. He came into this world to do a job. Dying on the cross for our sins was only part of that job. He rose from the dead and ascended to the Right Hand of God and there he rules as part of that job. Jesus is doing this in history. In the end Jesus hands over the Kingdom to the Father and says the work is done.
Revelation 20
We read about the Devil being bound for 1000 years so he would deceive the nations no more until the 1000 years are over. In Matthew 12 Jesus talks of his binding the strong man Satan so that he might spoil his house. And Jesus says if I by the finger of God cast out demons, the Kingdom of God has come upon you. Revelation 20 says more than just this, but we know it is talking about Jesus coming down and binding the strong man. The first resurrection is when Christians are born again. We are raised from the dead and seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). We are ruling with Christ. That is our spiritual position. The second death has no power over Christians. And when the thousand years are over Satan will be released (a great apostasy) and fire will come down and devour the last remaining enemies of God. The devil is cast into the lake of fire where the beast and the false prophet are. Notice that the beast and the false prophet are already in Hell BEFORE Satan is cast into the Lake of fire. The Beast and False Prophet represent anti-Christian governments and apostate religions. Since the devil is cast into Hell on Judgment Day (the last day of history) that means the anti-Christian governments and the apostate religions are destroyed BEFORE the end of history. This is where God's people can find comfort. Behind it all is the Sovereign hand of God. The fire from heaven is a parallel to 2 Thessalonians. 1. The book of Revelation confirms that Jesus will return AFTER the millennium not before the millennium.
The Apostle Paul says there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15). You might then say that he is talking about the two separate judgments, one before the millennium and one after the millennium. But lets continue on and see if there is room for a thousand year gap.
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28,29).” In this passage Jesus tells us that everyone in the grave whether they are Christians or not will be resurrected at the same time and will either face damnation or eternal life. Jesus does not allow a long period of time between His return and the resurrection.
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats…and these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (Matthew 25:31,32,46).” This passage shows when Jesus returns believers AND unbelievers will be gathered before Him (one resurrection). THEN He will separate the goats for everlasting punishment and believers for everlasting life (one judgment). ALL the nations are gathered before Christ for judgment at the same time. Jesus does not allow a long period of time between his return and His judgment.
“Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thess. 1:6-10).” The Church on the earth is being afflicted. Jesus will come with fiery angels to bring final eternal punishment to the evil and also comfort to the saints. This is called the time of Christ’s coming. This will bring relief and judgment. We also see that at the time of Christ coming the saints will be resurrected.
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:13-17).” The coming of Jesus Christ is a PUBLIC event. This is one of the noisiest verses in the Bible. So again we see at Christ’s coming the saints are resurrected. So when are the saints resurrected?
“And this is the Father's will which has sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day…No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day(John 6:39,40,44).” Jesus will raise up His saints AT THE LAST DAY. Jesus is coming to bring relief to his saints. And when he comes there will be a resurrection of all who have believed in him. And John tells us that Jesus will do this AT THE LAST DAY.
Is there any room for a 1000-year period to be inserted? No. Because when Jesus comes back, eternal destruction will come upon those who disbelieve. All this will take place on the last day and then the end of time and history will ensue.
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive, But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet…in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed (1 Cor. 15:22-28,52).”(ESV) Paul says the day of resurrection will bring about “the end,” not just 1000 more years of drama. When Christ returns, his saints will be raised, he will deliver the Kingdom to the Father and that will be it.
In light of these verses we learn there will be a day of general resurrection when all men come from the graves. A day of general judgment when all men face the judgment of God being divided sheep and goats to eternal life and eternal judgment. We’ve also seen that when Jesus comes that will a day of relief to his people (glorification) and at the same time a day of eternal judgment for those who are unbelievers and afflicting his people. When Jesus returns his saints will be raised from the dead. The dead in Christ first and those we are still alive at his coming will be glorified with him in them. Jesus says he will raise up his people at the last day. Paul says when he does that, “then comes the end.” How long will it take? 1000 years? “In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye.” Jesus at that point is going to hand over the Kingdom to his Father. He came into this world to do a job. Dying on the cross for our sins was only part of that job. He rose from the dead and ascended to the Right Hand of God and there he rules as part of that job. Jesus is doing this in history. In the end Jesus hands over the Kingdom to the Father and says the work is done.
Revelation 20
We read about the Devil being bound for 1000 years so he would deceive the nations no more until the 1000 years are over. In Matthew 12 Jesus talks of his binding the strong man Satan so that he might spoil his house. And Jesus says if I by the finger of God cast out demons, the Kingdom of God has come upon you. Revelation 20 says more than just this, but we know it is talking about Jesus coming down and binding the strong man. The first resurrection is when Christians are born again. We are raised from the dead and seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). We are ruling with Christ. That is our spiritual position. The second death has no power over Christians. And when the thousand years are over Satan will be released (a great apostasy) and fire will come down and devour the last remaining enemies of God. The devil is cast into the lake of fire where the beast and the false prophet are. Notice that the beast and the false prophet are already in Hell BEFORE Satan is cast into the Lake of fire. The Beast and False Prophet represent anti-Christian governments and apostate religions. Since the devil is cast into Hell on Judgment Day (the last day of history) that means the anti-Christian governments and the apostate religions are destroyed BEFORE the end of history. This is where God's people can find comfort. Behind it all is the Sovereign hand of God. The fire from heaven is a parallel to 2 Thessalonians. 1. The book of Revelation confirms that Jesus will return AFTER the millennium not before the millennium.
