We get the idea of a period of a thousand years from Revelation 20. This is accompanied by:
1. the binding and loosing of the devil (verses 1 – 3),
2. the reign of YaHUsha as Messiah with the martyrs (verses 4 – 6),
3. the first resurrection (verses 5 – 6),
4. Gog and Magog (verses 7 – 10) and
5. the Second Death (verses 6, 11 – 15).
INTRODUCTION
To interpret the thousand years, one must understand how the background of the book of Revelation relates to the rest of Scripture. The first and last books of Scripture (Genesis and Revelation) are often described as the two “bookends” of the Bible. Like bookends at the beginning and end of a series of books, these two books hold together the whole of biblical truth.
Therefore, there are many direct aspects from Genesis that appear again in Revelation as mirror images. Genesis shows us how everything was created and then “broke”, while Revelation depicts how YaHUaH Elohim restores everything. One can then summarise the entire Bible in a nutshell as follows:
1. Genesis: Creation and the Fall
2. Rest of the Bible: YaHUaH Elohim’s plan of salvation
3. Revelation: Restoration of all
Revelation as the last book then involves the end and final restoration of all after a long preceding struggle. However, it is an apocalyptic writing and therefore it is extremely symbolic due to the much imagery. The meaning of this imagery must then be obtained from the preceding rest of Scripture, because as seen above, it is not independent.
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