Keep in mind as we research Chapter 20 of Revelation, that Jesus is allowing us to see into the spirit realm. While there will be an earthly manifestation of these events, nonetheless, what we are being shown in this chapter is taking place in the invisible spiritual realm. We are getting to see who is the power and authority in the invisible spiritual realm, perpetrating the physical manifestation of the depicted events on the earth. Once we define the symbolism the message locked inside will be revealed to us for our understanding.
In the last two blogs we established that two events are simultaneous events. What are they? Satan bound 1000 years and they lived and reigned with Christ 1000 years. By establishing the outset of lived and reigned with Christ 1000 years, we will also establish when Satan was bound 1000 years.
The Apostle Paul said about Jesus Christ...He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things He may have preeminence...Col. 1:18. The sinless Jesus, Son of the living God, offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind because...the wages of sin is death...Rom. 6:23. Since the man Jesus never sinned, His was a righteous blood sacrifice enabling Him to victoriously rise from the dead. When He was resurrected three days after He was crucified, He became the...firstborn from the dead. This is the first resurrection.
By this victory, Jesus Christ defeated the power of death that had been foisted upon the human race by Satan, tormenting them for centuries. The moment Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, Satan was deposed as reigning king on the earth -- he no longer had dominion over every living thing on the earth. But he is still god of this world, if people choose to follow him. He will be cast into the Lake of Fire at the end of the world.
When Jesus rose from the dead this was evidence that our sins had been paid for and our reconciliation to our Father in Heaven had been accomplished. Heavens doors are now open to those who receive Jesus as their Savior. But Jesus accomplished even more...through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage...Heb. 2:14-15.
Jesus paid for our sins, reconciled us to our Father in Heaven, and destroyed him who had the power of death over all mankind - the devil. This is the day that all things were restored to mankind, that He originally gave to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Through disobedience they surrendered all power and authority to Satan. Jesus gave it back to us. The day Jesus rose from the dead is the day...they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years...Rev. 20:4. The saints of God have been living and reigning with Christ for nearly 2000 years.
Since Satan bound a thousand years is a simultaneous event, then Satan was bound nearly 2000 years ago. It doesn't happen sometime in the future during a mythical millennial reign of Christ, because the day Jesus Christ returns...the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up...II Pet. 3:10.
When we were last together I asked, "Do you think if we define the meaning of a thousand years we can solve this riddle?" You bet we can!
The word thousand in our study in the original Greek language is chiloi meaning: uncertain; an indefinite period of time. It can also mean continual or uninterrupted, depending on the context in which it is used. If the word thousand in chapter 20 meant a numerical calculation, the Greek word would have been chilias. At the time this vision was given to John there was no larger word in the vocabulary of his day to describe a long indefinite period of time than thousand. The words million, billion or trillion had not been conceived.
John could have said one thousand, thereby limiting the amount of years in the prophecy, or he could have said ten thousands of years, indicating unending, but neither meaning was intended. John was shown the beginning of the reign of Christ on the earth and the beginning of Satan bound on the earth. Eventually, both will end which we will discuss later.
We glean insight on the meaning of the word thousand - chiloi - from the Apostle Peter. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, a thousand years as one day...II Pet. 3:8. What is Peter telling us?
Peter is explaining that one day is as a thousand years - one and the same - a continuum in the spirit realm. Time on the earth has a beginning and an end. In the spirit realm there is no time restriction. Eternal life is continual, an uninterrupted existence. Time in the spirit realm is always NOW. This is why God told Moses that His name is I AM...Ex. 3:14. He always was, is, and shall be forever...Heb. 13:8.
We now understand that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ permitted mankind to live and reign with Christ on the earth. This spiritual relationship was severed by the sin of Adam and Eve. Jesus Christ once again established the Kingdom of Heaven on the earth and invited mankind to partake. There is only one way. Jesus said...I am the way, the truth, and the life...no one comes to the Father except through Me...John 14:6.
If the Reign of Christ on the earth is still being offered to the human race, we can conclude Satan Bound 1000 Years is still happening. From what or how is Satan bound? What is the meaning of bound? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
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