“They came to life and reigned with the Messiah 1,000 years.” Revelation 20:4 Who? When? What happens before these 1,000 years? Who reigns before the 1,000 years? What is the purpose of this 1,000 years?
“Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge.” Rev. 20:1 So the Messiah and his saints are judging for 1,000 years. Also, Satan is bound. From these verses we can surmise that this period of time will not have the temptations of Satan. That’s good! Also, it’s a very long time for judgment. Not 24 hours. Many Christians get the idea that the judgment will be a quick court case with billions of people standing in front of a huge court, receiving sentences in very quick fashion. Not so! Individual cases in this judgment may take several centuries! This is so everyone has a chance to repent and learn the ways of the truth. God is very merciful.
There are many other details of this 1,000 years which we won’t fully discern until we’re well into it. The whole bible has scriptures sprinkled through it relating to this period. God has hidden his truth in plain sight. It includes the resurrection of the firstborn (Christians) and secondborn, the binding of Satan, the healing of the nations, and more. At the end there is one last temptation:
“When the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them.” Rev. 20:7
Those who take part in this assault will be destroyed with their second death, never to rise again. Those that remain faithful will have their sins blotted out, and live eternally.
Bible Study Seattle 
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