The 1,000 years in Revelation 20 is the specific duration of Christ's Kingdom rule and reign.
The Old Testament promised a Kingdom to Israel, but no time frame was attached. Revelation 20 is the first place in Scripture that gives the Kingdom a thousand-year duration, which is why it is called the Millennium. Les Feldick teaches that this thousand-year reign is only the introduction into the eternal.
Revelation 20:1-7 — This passage directly answers the question because it repeatedly specifies a thousand-year period for Satan's binding and for the reign of Christ and His people.
Revelation 20 states that an angel bound Satan for a thousand years and shut him up so that he could no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were fulfilled. It then shows those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God living and reigning with Christ for a thousand years. The chapter also says that those who share in the first resurrection are blessed and holy, and that they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Finally, when the thousand years are expired, Satan is loosed out of his prison.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Revelation 20 is the first place in Scripture to put a time element on the Kingdom. All the Old Testament references to the promised Kingdom, and even Christ's offer of Himself as King, came without a specific time frame. It is Revelation that sets the Kingdom's duration at a thousand years, giving us the term millennium. Les explains that this should not be seen as contradicting the Old Testament promises of an eternal Kingdom. Rather, the thousand-year reign of Christ is the introduction into the eternal. After the thousand-year reign runs its course on the present earth, the new heavens and new earth continue with the same set of circumstances. During the thousand years, Christ is absolute King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and no Satanic power opposes Him. But Satan is still alive and confined, not finally put away. The final setting away of Satan cannot take place until the thousand years are finished, at which point he is loosed for a little season. Even in the glory of the millennium, every new generation born during that period still has the Adamic nature, so the thousand years remain a time of testing.
Les Feldick points out that Revelation is the first place in Scripture to put a time element on the Kingdom: a thousand years. That specific period is why believers call it the millennium. He also notes that even the world uses the word millennium, but it refers to the next secular thousand years; Scripture's thousand years refers specifically to the rule and reign of Christ.
No. Les says people should not feel that Scripture is contradicting itself when they see a thousand-year reign alongside Old Testament references to an endless Kingdom. The thousand-year reign of Christ is really the introduction into the eternal. He also connects this with Revelation 11:15, which says He shall reign forever and ever.
Revelation 20:2-3 says Satan is bound for a thousand years and sealed so he can deceive the nations no more until the thousand years are fulfilled. Les explains that even though Christ rules without Satanic opposition, Satan is still alive during the millennium. His final setting away cannot take place until the thousand years have finished. Revelation 20:7 then says he is loosed out of his prison after the thousand years expire.
Les teaches that although the thousand-year reign of Christ is glorious and without sin, it is still a time of testing. New generations born during the millennium still have the Adamic nature. They have not needed salvation while under the King's rule, but as the end of the thousand years approaches, they must make a choice.
The Millennium Explained: What Revelation 20 Really Teaches
So anyway, for those of you, and every week we're getting letters and phone calls from people who have just now found the program. And I had to tell a lady the other night, if you're just coming in at Revelation, you're about like a kid that's been thrown into calculus without ever having had third and fourth grade arithmetic. Because that's about the way it is.
Revelation's thousand-year time element
Les points out that Revelation puts a time element on the Kingdom—a thousand years—and that this period is the rule and reign we call the millennium.
Daniel's Vision of 4 Beasts & the Antichrist Explained
He will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. Now, you want to remember, the book of Revelation puts a time element on the kingdom. How long? A thousand years. Consequently, we get the term, the millennium. And even the world likes the year.
First delineated thousand years
Les says this is the first time Scripture gives a delineated thousand-year period, and after that period Satan is loosed for a little season.
No time frame until Revelation
Les explains that no Old Testament reference or New Testament offer of the Kingdom gave it a time frame until Revelation puts a thousand years upon it.
Introduction to the eternal
Les teaches that the thousand-year reign of Christ is simply the introduction to the eternal, linked with the language that He shall reign forever and ever.
Satan confined but alive
Les explains that during the thousand years Christ rules with absolute power and no Satanic opposition, but Satan is still alive and his final setting away must wait until the thousand years finish.
Time of testing in the millennium
Les teaches that new generations born in the millennium still have the Adamic nature and must make a choice, making the glorious thousand years a time of testing.
Revelation 20:2-3: And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
This verse shows that the thousand years are the length of Satan's binding, ending with a little season of release.
Revelation 20:4: And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
This verse connects the thousand years with the reign of Christ's faithful servants.
Revelation 20:6: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
This verse repeats the thousand-year duration for those who reign with Christ in the first resurrection.
Revelation 20:7: And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
This verse marks the end of the thousand years and the release of Satan for a little season.
Revelation 11:15: And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Les uses this verse to show that the thousand-year reign is the introduction to an eternal reign.
Les Feldick explains that Revelation is the first place in Scripture to put a specific time frame on the Kingdom—a thousand years—and that gives us the term millennium. The world also uses the word for the next secular thousand years, but Scripture's millennium refers to Christ's rule and reign.
No. Les teaches that the thousand-year reign of Christ is the introduction into the eternal. Revelation 11:15 also says He shall reign forever and ever, so the eternal reign is not cancelled by the thousand-year period.
Revelation 20:7 says Satan is loosed out of his prison after the thousand years expire. Les notes that Satan is still alive during the thousand years, but his final setting away cannot take place until the thousand years are finished.
Watch the Teaching: The Millennium Explained: What Revelation 20 Really Teaches