Revelation 20:7-8

Now when the thousand years have expired, satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.

• ·        No sooner is satan released than he falls to his old work of deceiving the nations, and so stirring them up to make war with the saints and servants of God (MH)

• ·        The Millennium is important because it will reveal the depths of man’s rebellious nature in a perfect environment. Some people seem to believe that man is basically good, and deep down he really wants God’s righteous rule. Many believe that man is really innocent, and corrupted only by a bad environment. The Millennium will answer these questions before the great judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).  (DG)

Ezekiel 38:2  Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him.

Psalm 90:4 For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.

Revelation 20:6

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.  Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

• ·        In John 5:28-29, Jesus described two resurrections: Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.  (DG)

• ·        The two events are separated by this 1,000 year period, because the rest of the dead are not given their resurrection bodies until the thousand years were finished. (DG)

Exodus 19:6  And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.  These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.

Isaiah 61:6  But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, they shall call you the servants of our God.  You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast.

Revelation 20:5

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection.

• ·        None but those who have served Christ and suffered for Him shall be favored with the first resurrection (MH)

•    This is a resurrection of blessing (blessed and holy is he); This is a resurrection of power (over such the second death has no power); This is a resurrection of privilege (they shall be priests of God . . . shall reign with Him a thousand years)  (DG)

Isaiah 26:14  They are dead, they will not live; they are deceased, they will not rise.  Therefore You have punished and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

Job 14:14 If a man dies, shall he live again?  All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes.

Revelation 20:4

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.  Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.  And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

• The honor bestowed upon them:  they were raised from the dead and restored to life (MH)
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• These saints reign with Jesus for the same period of time that Satan is bound (a thousand years). They administrate the kingdom of Jesus Christ over the earth, reigning over those who pass from the earth of the Great Tribulation to the earth of the Millennium. (DG)

Daniel 7:9  I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool.  His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire

Psalm 146:10  The LORD shall reign forever – Your God, O Zion, to all generations.  Praise the LORD!