Bible Basics

A "Thousand Year" Reign

More than any other passage, Revelation 20 has been a favorite of religious speculators.  From the first seven verses theories have arisen concerning a future thousand year reign of Christ on the earth.  This theory is so widely accepted and so enlarged upon by its advocates that one might be led to think it is found throughout the Bible, but these are the only verses in Scripture that mention a thousand year reign.  Once again, the symbolic nature of the book is either ignored altogether or inconsistently applied in interpretation.  Last week we saw that the number 1000 was symbolic of “completeness” or “fullness,” and so in this passage signifies “a complete or full period of time.”  Many ignore specifics that are stated in Revelation 20 and embellish the text with many assumptions that are not stated.  For example, Revelation 20 does not mention: (1) the second coming of Christ; (2) a bodily resurrection; (3) a reign “on earth”; (4) the literal throne of David; (5) Jerusalem or Palestine; (6) “us” instead of “they” who lived and reigned; (7) Christ on earth.  Sound exegesis does not add to the word of God, and those who do so should heed the closing warning of the book (Rev. 22:18, 19).  We must not get sidetracked from what is written by speculation over what is not written.

                                                                                                               -- Clark Dugger

Bible Basics