Revelations in Grace

A personal revelation of the gift of righteousness and grace through Christ Jesus.

Jon Paul Miles

Timing the Millennium’s End

If Christ’s ascension began the thousand-year reign, when does it end? Around 1030 AD, marking a literal thousand years, or is it still ongoing?

Many scholars interpret John’s reference to the thousand years as symbolic. This interpretation becomes highly convincing, even unavoidable by the fact that the events associated with the end of the thousand years were promised to occur shortly after John’s writing.

The conclusion of the Millennium is linked to three key events in scripture:

  1. The defeat of Satan and Hades—they are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7, 10, 14).
  2. The second resurrection of the dead—the only resurrection to include both the righteous and the wicked (Revelation 20:5, 11-14).
  3. The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11).

Since these events happen only once, their mention in the Bible always refers to the end of the Millennium. Most importantly, all three were all promised to happen soon, at Christ’s return. This indicates that the Millennium’s conclusion was imminent, despite the mention of a thousand years.

The Defeat of Satan and Death

The defeat of Satan and death marks the end of the Millennium. Revelation describes how both are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10, 14), fulfilling the prophecy of Satan’s ultimate defeat in Genesis 3:15. This event was promised to happen soon.

Romans 16:20 (BSB) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Genesis 3:15 (BSB) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Paul links this defeat to Christ’s return, which other scriptures promised would happen soon.

1 Corinthians 15:22-26 (WEB) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s, at his coming. 24 Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father, when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

For a more thorough explaination, see “The Defeat of Satan” and “No More Death.”

The Second Resurrection

The second resurrection includes all remaining saints and the wicked dead (Revelation 7:9-17; 11:15-19; 20:5, 12). It is the only resurrection that includes the wicked and was expected to happen soon.

Acts 24:15 (BLB) having a hope in God, which they themselves also await, that there is about to be a resurrection, both of the just and of the unjust.

1 Peter 4:4-5,7 (WEB) They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, blaspheming. 5 They will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead… 7 But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.

2 Timothy 4:1 (WNT) I solemnly implore you, in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is about to judge the living and the dead, and by His Appearing and His Kingship

Since the end of the Millennium is the only time the wicked dead are resurrected—and this resurrection was described as imminent—this demands that the end of the Millennium was also near.

The Great White Throne Judgment

The Great White Throne Judgment occurs at the end of the Millennium and is followed by the establishment of the New Jerusalem. In Revelation’s final chapter, Jesus promised that this event, including the city’s arrival, would happen soon.

Revelation 22:12-14 (WEB) “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

The One-Time Return of Christ

Contrary to the belief that Christ will return multiple times for different judgments, the Bible teaches that Jesus’ return was meant to establish the kingdom of heaven, the New Jerusalem (Daniel 7:9-14). Daniel prophesied that God would establish an indestructible kingdom to replace all others.

Daniel 2:44 (BSB) In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever.

Each judgment passage—whether it’s the Son of Man Judgment, the Sheep and Goats Judgment, or the Great White Throne Judgment—signals the beginning of this eternal kingdom (Matthew 16:28; 25:34; Revelation 21:1-3, 7; 22:12-14). Since an eternal kingdom cannot be re-established, these passages all refer to a single, one-time return of Christ and were each promised soon.

Son of Man Judgment

In Matthew 16, Jesus promised that He would return to judge mankind and establish the kingdom of heaven within the lifetime of some of His disciples. This indicates that the Great White Throne Judgment was also expected to occur within their lifetime.

Matthew 16:27-28 (WNT) For the Son of Man is soon to come in the glory of the Father with His angels, and then will He requite every man according to his actions. I solemnly tell you that some of those who are standing here will certainly not taste death till they have seen the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.

Sheep and Goats Judgment

In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus told the parable of ten virgins, warning His disciples to be watchful for His return and the arrival of the kingdom of heaven. Later in the same chapter, Jesus described sitting on His throne in glory to judge the nations. In this judgment, those on His right are welcomed into the kingdom of heaven, while those on His left are cast into the lake of fire.

Matthew 25:31-35,41 (WEB) “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…

41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;

The above passage is a clear depiction of the Great White Throne Judgment. While it does not explicitly state the timing of this event, its parallel in Luke 21:34-36 clarifies that both the judgment and the kingdom were “about to” occur. This urgency explains why Jesus instructed His disciples to remain watchful.

Luke 21:27-36 (BSB) At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

29 Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

34 But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.

An Oath of No More Delay

Revelation should not be interpreted linearly but as a series of repeating visions and events. This is evident through its use of repetitive themes and events, including:

The Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20 parallels the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11, both describing imminent events. 1 Corinthians 15 reinforces this connection, tying the second resurrection to the “last trumpet,” when Hades is defeated:

1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (WEB) Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”Isaiah 25:8

55 “Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?”See Hosea 13:14

Revelation 11:15-18 describes the seventh and last trumpet, which includes a resurrection, while Revelation 20:13-14 describes the defeat of Hades, also featuring a resurrection. These passages describe the same event, and Revelation’s cyclical nature reinforces this.

Revelation 11:15-18 (WEB) The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!” …your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged… and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Revelation 20:11-15 (WEB) 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.

This connection is significant because the angel swore that the seventh and final trumpet would sound without further delay, implying that the Great White Throne Judgment would also occur imminently.

Revelation 10:5-7 (BSB) Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: “There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, just as He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.”

Summary

The Millennium, which began with Christ’s ascension, was expected to end soon after John’s writing around 62-64 AD.1 This is evident from the Bible’s consistent promises of imminent fulfillment:

  1. Satan and death were promised to be defeated soon at Christ’s return (Romans 16:20; Genesis 3:15; 1 Corinthians 15:22-26).
  2. The second resurrection, including both the righteous and the wicked, was expected shortly (Acts 24:15; 1 Peter 4:4-5, 7; 2 Timothy 4:1).
  3. The Great White Throne Judgment, paralleling the Seventh Trumpet Judgment, was sworn to occur without further delay (1 Corinthians 15:51-55; Revelation 11:14-18; 20:11-15; 22:12-14).
  4. Like the Great White Throne Judgment, the Sheep and Goats Judgment and Son of Man Judgment describe the arrival of the kingdom of heaven, an event Daniel prophesied would occur only once (Daniel 2:44). The Son of Man Judgment places this event within the lifetime of Jesus’ disciples (Matthew 16:27-28), while the Sheep and Goats Judgment also ties it to their generation (Matthew 25:31-35, 41; Luke 21:27-36).

If the Millennium represents at least a thousand years of delay, how could events tied to its end be promised and even sworn to happen soon? The only explanation is that the Millennium was symbolic and nearing its conclusion when John wrote Revelation.

Footnotes

  1. Stevens, The Final Decade, 84. ↩

All End Times On Time