The Thousand Years

Part I

With one fundamental point clear: that Christ's resurrection was the first, it seemed time to go on to something else.  But we were not finished with the thousand years. The Holy Spirit was leading back to it.  After praying and waiting the only thing that came was more of Revelation 20:1-8. I recognized this as my guidance.  Some things in verse 4 seemed to stand out:

Revelation 20:4

4) "…and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God…"

The Lord was revealing more.  There were two distinct groups that John saw.  Those that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, was one group.  John the Baptist came to mind immediately.  His whole ministry was to prepare the way of the Lord.  Those who died for the Word of God, was the other group.  These did not know Jesus, but they were faithful to the Word for which they gave their lives.  They were under the Old covenant.  Then I realized the Lord was showing these were a part of the first resurrection, which was Christ's.  Shortly He opened this to me:

I Corinthians 15:20

20) "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."

These were a part of the firstfruits that came out of the grave after His resurrection. The Lord showed me the order of events. The Word explains it:

I Corinthians 15:23-24

23) "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.  

24) Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power."

The Lord quickened the word 'firstfruits' to show that upon His resurrection He became the firstfruits of them that slept.  Those who came out of the grave after Jesus' resurrection were also part of the firstfruits.  Praise God!  We'll deal with "they that are at Christ's coming", at a later time.

These firstfruits lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  This is from Revelation 20:4.  What a great reward they received!  For we see:

Revelation 20:5-6

5) "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection.  

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."

Those who were part of the firstfruits at the first resurrection (of which the Lord said, "You know Christ's Resurrection was the first.") are blessed and holy.  They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  For: They were part of His resurrection, which was the first.  It is spelled out that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

I Corinthians 15:50

50) "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption."

But now to get back to the part of the firstfruits who died for the Word of God as there is more. One of the things the Lord taught me was to back up… to read a scripture and then go to the beginning of the chapter or book and start reading.  So I backtracked.

Revelation 14:1; 3-4

1) "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.  

3) And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.  

4) These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.  These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."

My hallelujah was loud! These saints were with Jesus.  They have the Father's name in their foreheads.  They were the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And now, these firstfruits were numbered 144,000.  They were redeemed from the earth and were without fault before the throne of God.  They were under the law not under the blood originally.

In Revelation chapter 7, these, which are numbered 144,000 are named by tribes, as is the Old Covenant custom.  In Revelation 7:2-8, the twelve tribes are named and sealed with the seal of the living God in their foreheads.  In this list the name of Manasseh, son of Joseph, replaces Dan.

God is not a God of the dead, but of the living.  So this all converges again on that one time when the Word of God was preached to the dead: When Jesus went down into hell and preached the Gospel to the captives and led them out.  This will not happen again. The whole work was done, complete and finished when Jesus came victoriously out of the grave bringing these firstfruits with Him.  More of this same great plan of salvation for all Israel was revealed when God spoke to Ezekiel in a vision:

Ezekiel 37:4

4) "Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD."

These were not living people in danger of death.  They were dead and buried. Ezekiel did every command that the Lord gave him in the vision.  The dry bones lived and came out of their graves.

Ezekiel 37:11-12

11) "Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

12) Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel."

Thus, as Jesus preached the Gospel to the dead, they did hear the Word of the Lord and came out of the graves.  They did indeed, "Awake and sing" (Isaiah 26:19) and they went "into the holy city and appeared unto many." (Matthew 27:53).  And God said, "These bones are the whole house of Israel."  That means all twelve tribes as named.  They did hear the Word of the Lord spoken to them by Jesus and were saved. For Jesus is the only door for this fold of lost sheep also.  Jesus was their hope.

In verse 14, God puts his spirit in them so that they may live.  He placed them in their own land for they were seen of many in Jerusalem after Christ's resurrection.  Matthew 27:51-53).  Thus, they are part of the firstfruits and are part of the first resurrection. "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." (Revelation 20:5). Peter understood the matter and records it as follows:

I Peter 4:6

6) "For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."

These saints who had part in the first resurrection, which is Christ's, were made to live as God's spirit came into them.  They were judged and have been living with Jesus ever since.  He did not judge them and throw them back to the devil.   For Jesus said:

John 18:36

36) "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world'…"

John 14:2-3

2) "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  

3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

We can now look forward to Jesus return for us so we may join Him in the air and be united with the saints of old in God's forever family. Got a lot of questions for everybody?   Praise God!  You will know all the answers then.

So as Jesus is preparing His new heavens and a new earth for us we know the time is short.  The wedding feast is being prepared for all that will come.  The new Jerusalem, the bride, the Lamb's wife, is being prepared. (Revelation 21:2,9).  Now especially as the wedding feast is nearing let us take heed of what Jesus tells us about the kingdom of heaven.

In Matthew 22:1,14 Jesus tells a parable, saying: the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man who made a marriage for his son.  The servants went out to call the guests, but they refused to come and killed the servants.  So the invitation was given to strangers, to anyone who would come.  God threw open the doors and declared open house for all men.  But as he was observing the guests, one troubled him.  For one did not have a wedding garment, he was cast out and bound.

When the Lord first began to quicken this to me I asked Him what that garment might be.  Later when I was studying in Ephesians 6, that word, GARMENT, came back to me as I read, "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with TRUTH."  Jesus is the truth, the Word made flesh.  The garment of truth is the wedding garment. For, "No man cometh to the Father but by me", said Jesus.

We must not neglect the rest of the amour of God if we are to stand against the wiles of the devil.  But without sound, Holy Spirit revealed, Bible truth the rest of the armour is void.  Without truth the wedding guest was cast out.

This parable is a word of caution to us to test our teaching, preaching and believing with the Word of God. If it is not there in the Bible, forget it.

To worldly people Jesus was a disappointment.   They wanted him to be an earthly king. Both friends and foes thought that was his intention.  They failed to listen to his words.

It is pleasing to God when we use the Word of God as the final authority for all our problems.  Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Matthew 24:35.  Let us hear him.

 The Thousand Years

Part II

After having prayed over, wept over and studied over Revelation 20:1-8, the words were well fixed in my mind.  It was clear to me; we were not finished with it yet.   One question formed in my mind.  I wondered why Satan was chained right then at that particular time.   He had been evil for a long time.  Did God just for no special reason decide to do it?  It also seemed this chaining came in a rush at that.  These questions were set aside as the Lord led in another direction.  It seemed the Lord was showing something in Revelation 12:4,5.  The child, which was to be born, was Jesus.  The dragon was ready to devour him.

In the first three verses of this vision there is a sign in heaven.  A woman is ready to have a child when a "great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns," appears, having great power in the heavens.

Revelation 12:4-5

4) "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

5) And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne."

While praying for the understanding of this I wondered why there was this prophecy on the birth of Christ that had already taken place.  When my prayer was finished, the leading was to the gospel account of Jesus' birth.

The wise men, following the star, stopped to ask King Herod where the child born to be King of the Jews was found.  Herod was troubled and inquired of the chief priests where this was to be.  They quoted the scriptures (Micah 5:2) to him.

Micah 5:2

2) "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

Matthew 2:6

6) "And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel."

Herod told the wise men to search in Bethlehem and let him know of the child.  The wise men were warned in a dream not to tell Herod.   Joseph also was warned of God to take Jesus and his mother to Egypt so Herod could not destroy him.

Matthew 2:16; 18

16) "Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

18) In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."

And to finish this out in verse 18, the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15, was fulfilled.  It is the voice of weeping, "Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."   This slaughter of infants prophesied took place as a result of Satan's scheme to destroy God's plan of Salvation!   It was Satan himself who devised the plan to destroy Jesus and obliterate the plan God had ordained from the foundation of the world!

In this unparalleled act of violence against God, Satan used Herod as his instrument. Has this whole point been missed or hidden from us?  Or is the magnitude of it too great to take in?  But this enemy is exposed fully in Isaiah 14:12-14. He wants to be exalted above the stars of God.

Isaiah 14:12-14

12) "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  

13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  

14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."

Jesus said that what we bind on earth is bound in heaven.  In other words, there are corresponding events in heaven and earth.  As we have just seen in the spirit world Satan planned to devour the child when it was born.  In the earth, Satan used the king to actually kill all the infants in his vain attempt to destroy God's salvation.

The feeling persists that we, who are called by His Name, have skipped over and not really discerned the full magnitude of what God did for us in giving His own Son.  This is more even than a matter of life and death.  It is a matter of everlasting life and death. No wonder we see in Revelation 12, again, this act of the devil amounted to a declaration of war against God!

Revelation 12:7-10

7) "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,  

8) And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  

9) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.  

10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."

I dare say there was war in heaven until Satan was cast out into the earth.  That old accuser had even enjoyed access to God himself until he tried to destroy Jesus and with Him God's plan to save us.  This is what caused the war: Satan's rebellion and his angels against God.

Michael the archangel fought and overpowered Satan and threw him out of heaven…that old serpent.  Then the Lord turned on the light for me: "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:9.

That was it! The Lord seemed to superimpose that scripture on this:

Revelation 20:2-3

2) "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,  

3) 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."

It was as though the Lord had shown me in my mind's eye the two sets of phrases, one on the other.  Satan was cast out and bound immediately.  This is where I had gotten the feeling that the angel was in "hot pursuit" of the devil and chained him, and sealed him for a thousand years.

No longer could Satan roam freely between heaven and earth accusing everybody in front of God.  Nor would he be allowed to 'deceive nations' any more till the thousand years were finished. Praise the Lord!  Now the gospel could be preached.  For as the voice from heaven said in Revelation 12:10, after Satan was cast out, "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God".

Jesus, having the seventy, who had just returned say, "even devils are subject to us through thy name," commented:

Luke 10:18

18) "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."

Again we have that 'hot pursuit' feeling from the lightning fast fall of Satan.

Another time, Jesus, speaking to the disciples, after they had heard a voice from heaven, said the voice came for their sakes.  Then he stated:

John 12:31

31) "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out."

Matthew 11:12

12) "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."

Jesus knew of the war that had been waged since the time Satan sought to destroy him; at His birth and again right after He was baptized of John.  These battles in the spiritual realm were of crucial importance.  They do not happen over night.  The war that Satan declared against God by trying to destroy the infant Jesus was waged until Jesus finished His work on the cross and preached to those saints who were held captive in hell.

His blood had availed for them when they came out of the graves after his resurrection. Hallelujah!  Satan's power was drastically curtailed by binding him in chains. Remember all the way back to the beginning of the earth, it was through the efforts of Satan, that old serpent, that man fell and Salvation in the Blood of Christ became necessary as the ONLY way to God.

Our God formed this wonderful plan to restore us to Himself.  We were made for Him in the first place.  Oh, Praise His Holy Name!  Thank you Jesus.  Thank you for making this understandable to us.

It is time we see Jesus as He is revealed in the Bible and fall on our faces and declare with Saint Thomas of old, "My Lord and my God."  It is as Saint Paul wrote in:

I Corinthians 2:9-10

9) "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  

10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

It is truly the Holy Spirit of God sent to us by Jesus who teaches us the things of God. We are told in the Word the purpose of Jesus:

I John 3:8(b)

8b) "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

No wonder there was rejoicing when the devil was cast out and bound a thousand years. For truly now the gospel could go out to the nations.   The nations would not be deceived because the deceiver was cast into hell and limited by chains.  In Revelation 20:3 after the devil was chained a seal was set upon him so that he could not be loosed till the seal was opened.

Revelation 20:3

3) "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."

We shall consider the opening of seals in another part.   The fact that Satan was chained near the time of the crucifixion may come as a surprise to some.  But remember what the war was all about and also that Jesus saw him fall.  Peter certainly knew this had been done; both the casting out and the chaining:

II Peter 2:4

4) "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;"

In Revelation 20:1 we see that an angel (Michael, who led the war against Satan) has the key to the bottomless pit and the chain in his hand, but afterward we see that Jesus has the keys of death and hell:

Revelation 20:1

1) "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand."

Revelation 1:18(b)

18b) "…behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

That is complete victory!  When the thousand years are fulfilled Satan must be loosed a little season.

Revelation 20:7-8

7) "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,  

8) And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea."

Notice the Word does not say there will be no sin on the earth while Satan is chained.   It says nations will not be deceived.   Scripture does not imply utopia on this earth.

What we have been shown is that the saints, which came out of the graves in the first resurrection, which was Jesus' resurrection, lived and reigned in heaven with Him a thousand years.  During this same period Satan was bound so that he could not deceive the nations.  The heavens rejoiced because:

Revelation 12:10-11

10)"Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethern is cast down 11)…and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb…"

When the devil saw that he had but a short time, he was full of wrath.  He persecuted the woman that was with child (Jesus).  The serpent cast out of his mouth a flood of persecution against the woman (the church) trying to destroy her.  Satan is anti-christ and intended to destroy her with the flood of persecution.

The earth helped her (the church) to survive by opening up and swallowing the flood of persecution.  Satan's power was greatly restricted and limited.  The early Christian martyrs "loved not their lives unto the death" and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.  Satan was angry with the woman (the church, the Body of Christ) and went to make war plans against the remnant that would be left after the main Body of Christ is removed.  These are they who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 12:11-13; 15-17

11) "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.  

12) Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.  

13) And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.  

15) And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.  

16) And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.  

17) And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

Speaking of this and end time persecution, Jesus says:

Matthew 24:21

21) "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."

Mark 13:20

20) "And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved:…".

For it is Satan's work of deceiving nations which causes "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." Luke 21:10.  Jesus tell us:

Luke 21:20; 24

20) "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.  

24) And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."

Jerusalem has been compassed about with armies for some time, almost since Israel because a country.  But it is when God has the temple, the altar and them that worship therein measured off for Himself, the angel says:

Revelation 11:2

2) "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months."

The time is measured off for the heathen, in the power of the anti-christ, to desolate the holy city for forty-two months.  Satan's time is short after he is loosed.  When he gets the nations to compass the holy city, at the last time:

Revelation 20:9-10

9) "And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.  

10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone…"

This we shall deal with in more detail in another part of the study. But do notice that the fire from God does not come down till the forty-two months are fulfilled.

The Thousand Years

 Part III

We know Christ's resurrection was the first.  We have seen this in the scriptures.  We know that Jesus brought others out with Him.  The first resurrection is complete.  The thousand years took place between Jesus' resurrection and His upcoming return to call out His church.  It is during that thousand years (Revelation 20:1-8) Satan is chained in the earth and also those souls reign with Jesus in heaven.

Now the question is what happened on earth during that period?  So I asked the Lord to show me.  The leading of the Lord was to look in the history books.

The first cursory search through the volumes seemed to answer nothing.  However, I was certain this was the leading of the Lord, so I continued the search prayerfully.  I traced the footprints of the church across the centuries, as recorded in the history books, trying to find one thousand years of peace.  The more I searched for a period of peace, the clearer it became that there was no such period.  So I went back into the Word of God and prayed again.  As I read along, it said:  "Think not that I have come to send peace on earth: I come not to send peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:34)

I remembered Jesus gave us His peace.  The peace of God is not the same thing as peace in the world.  So I quit looking for peace as a signal of the beginning of the thousand years. But one thing gleaned from the records was an indication that there was a time of transition.  This transition time apparently began sometime after the first century.

The first century persecution seemed to gradually give way.  They overcame the anti-christ, "by the blood of the Lamb  ant the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death," (Revelation 12:11).  These martyrs of the first century cleared the way.  The transition away from anti-christ began.  Praise God.

The emperor Constantine in 312 A.D. accepted Christianity.  This opened the door for the Gospel to be preached openly in the empire.  The transition away from anti-christ government is discernable.  Crusades were carried out under the direction of the church and the government jointly.  The lion represents government.  The lamb represents the church. These two lay down together and brought forth fruit in the name of Jesus. However there was no glory in it for Him.

Then a new trend began to manifest.  It was as though the Biblical mandate to go forth to preach the Gospel into all nations shifted over the centuries to zeal in extending government dominions.    Almost everything I read about the church was negative. The crusades and inquisitions are two vivid examples. 

I looked to the Lord in prayer knowing one thing for sure:  no matter how it looks God's Word does not return to Him void.  God did not sacrifice His own Son in vain.  Then the Lord showed me this: the histories I read were not written by spiritually discerning people.  Therefore the progress of Christian development would not be easily traceable.

Now the Lord could guide me.  He quickened to my mind Revelation 12:10: "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser is cast down…" And then Jesus' words in Matthew 28:19-20 came.  We are to go into the entire world and preach the Gospel.  He will be with us always.

Matthew 28:19-20

19) "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Now I had a better idea of what I was looking for, at last.  Even though the church grew, over time it grew less like Christ.   Even the reformation almost came too late!  I needed to know when souls were saved.

There actually was a time when nations were not deceived and the Gospel was freely taught.    With the historical events fresh in my mind now, I could observe a distinction between the organized church and the Body of Christ.  These two are not always the same thing. Then the Lord turned on a whole new light.  Let's look at each time period at a summary level.  The detail follows immediately.

First Scene:

The first scene presented was a composite of the first century persecuted, martyred and scattered band of Christians.  These Christians were faithful unto death under an anti-christ government known as the Roman Empire.

Details of First Scene:

Christians were persecuted by not only by Jews but also by the anti-christ Roman government.  Many were martyred in the arena, thrown to the lions or killed by gladiators amid jeering throngs out for a day's amusement.  This was real.  Some, betrayed by their own families, were torn from their loved ones.

The accompanying moral climate of the day is history characterized by every kind of self-indulgence and gratification.  Perversion was rampant.  The early Roman orgies were precisely portrayed in this age in motion pictures.  

The Romans had many gods.  Roman emperors declared themselves to be gods.  This anti-christ beastly government disintegrated rather slowly.  It came to world power in 27 B.C. and lasted until 395 A.D.    Martyring of Christians in the first few centuries was a policy of the anti-christ government.  Preaching the Gospel exacted a high price in those those days.

Second Scene:

The second scene was another composite a thousand years later:  Christians were not found in the arena as victims.  They were in the grandstands observing games.  They were in government positions.  Many men's hearts were still evil, but the official position of the government was no longer anti-christ.  The Gospel was being spread into the known world.  The nations were not deceived into an anti-christ position.

Details of Second Scene:

Then I saw with sudden clarity a thousand years later!  The people who held power in governments called themselves Christians.  The heads of the churches in the countries were in close consult with those rulers!  The Crusades occurred during this time period. The 'Christians' were not persecuted but they persecuted the unbelievers.  A complete turn-around had taken place!  I said, "Lord, I don't see how glory for You in this." There certainly was no Godly love in these acts.  There was not even peace between the so-called Christian nations.  The Lord was revealing something to me.  Praise Him!

The Gospel was being spread into the world!  The Gospel of the kingdom was taken to one place after another and to one country after another.  It came to the savage Vikings.  The Word of truth settled in their hearts.  The Word of God does not return void.  The Vikings became peaceful God-fearing peoples.  The same thing happened repeatedly.  Nations were formed out of the many formerly heathen peoples.  The nations that they formed were founded on the principles of right and wrong based on Bible concepts.  Their legal structure were thus constituted.  Praise the Lord!  I was beginning to see what the Lord meant.  He certainly does look at things differently than we do.

In spite of everything man was doing the same process was repeated in one country after another.  The Gospel was being spread through the barbaric tribes and God-fearing nations were formed.  The Kingdom of God was being built.

We must never under-estimate the power of God's Word on men.  There was freedom of the Word so that the teachings of Jesus could be introduced and then become part of the nation.  There were no overtly anti-christ purposes set forth in the governments.  In the midst of that political climate salvation could be preached to the people.  This situation continued with some notable exceptions for hundreds of years.  God's kingdom grew in spite of sinful men.

Great cathedrals emerged out of that period.   They still stand and remind us of that era.  The very best skills and knowledge of the time went into building these magnificent structures.  Though now empty of worshippers in most cases these cathedrals have survived the centuries and bear silent witness to us: "Men in this century once worshipped God."

Our legacy from that time is the unmatched works of art glorifying God's Son, Jesus Christ.  Many of the artists dedicated their lives to God's service.   They lived under the divinely instituted government authority and served Him in the light they had.

The forward momentum of the spiritual power growing out of the middle age period brought great music to worship God especially, Handel's "Messiah".   There has never been anything since to compare with it.    Crowned heads of government bowed before the majesty of Jesus and proclaimed Him, 'King of kings' and 'Lord of lords' at the inspiration of this music.

Also during this time the last great wilderness was discovered.  God had held this in reserve for a purpose.  This last great wilderness which is America became the only refuge for persecuted people who were seeking to worship God in the best light they had.  The United States grew and retained her role as refuge and God has blessed her more bountifully for serving Him than the founding fathers could have dreamed.  Praise God!

The Lord then turned my mind another thousand years later.  From this time perspective, it is easy to see that the Gospel did go out, according to the great commission of Jesus:

Matthew 28:19-20

19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Notice today that it is mostly from America and the United States especially that the Word of God is going out to the ends of the earth.  This is that last great wilderness fulfilling God's plan for her.

Also from the perspective of this day, we can see many prophecies fulfilled.  Our purpose here is to note the contrast between Jesus' time, one thousand years later, and now, our time, which is an additional thousand years later.  Knowledge has increased in electronics and communication which now makes it possible for this generation to finish the 'great commission' to go and teach all nations.  Look again at the three periods the Lord opened to me:

1)the persecution following Christ's resurrection,

2)the transition slowly from anti-christ to Christian philosophy of government, and now to

3)the situation of this day.

Third Scene:

The last scene was a composite of the times of today.  While the gospel is going out from America into much of the world, there are many countries in which Christians are existing under strict anti-christ governments.  There have been more people martyred for Christ in this century than in all the centuries before.  This world is turning away from God again.  Now to go into more detail what the Lord had shown.

Details of Third Scene:

Now we can discern another transition in government this century.  Once again we see world leaders and governments actively anti-christ.  Our own federal law now restricts prayer and Bible reading in schools.  This law stands today as a legal and official turn away from God by our government.

In the spring of 1973, Iceland, another Christian nation, formally recognized belief in the ancient Norse gods.  These have been banished since the year 1000 A.D.  This paved the way for sacrificial feasts in which sight-seers join believers and offer food and wine to the gods.

The government of Denmark rescinded and authorized contribution of thousands of dollars which was to help pay for a pornographic movie about Jesus.   Satan is back in the business of deceiving nations again.

Yes, while Satan was bound for the thousand years, there was in reality about a thousand years during which the Gospel message was carried to the nations with little or no interference from the governments of the nations.  Satan is back in business again and is going forth with great fury for he knows he has but a short time.

It is easy to detect Satan's free hand once we observe the parallels between the first century and the twentieth century and recognize the devil's activities in every aspect of life in both centuries.  Then notice a thousand years ago nations were free to hear the Word of God and follow as they had light to see.  They were persecuted for deviating from the tradition established by man and not because they believed in Jesus.

Jesus led captivity captive.  Clearly the moment Satan was chained all his power did not suddenly vanish from the earth.  However, it did begin to diminish.  During this same transition period the power of the Word of salvation began to grow in the hearts of men.

Fixing dates for the thousand years is not the purpose here.  It may not easily be possible since Satan was only bound from deceiving nations.  He was not eradicated.

Then after the thousand years there is another transition period.  The world did not suddenly turn away officially from honoring Christ to violent anti-christ policies over night either. A transition period is like planting a fruit tree.  The seed was planted.  The tree must have time to grow.  Next is the harvest.

Harvest time is certain. Final harvest is almost upon us.  Jesus will come to gather in His harvest. He died for you.  He is actually seeking you.  Give Him yourself right now! Give him your sins, problems, everything good or bad.

Excerpts from:

"If Ye Have Ears to Hear…the Little Book that John Ate" © 1997.