1000 thousand years is not literal

[Writer]

Greetings again Writer,

True believers come to a knowledge of the Gospel of Christ by many different circumstances. We educate our children by means of 15 years of Sunday School. Others listen to a few of our lectures. Others hear the Gospel by personal contact. I do not consider any of this is by means of a direct infusion of the Holy Spirit. I do not believe in the so-called "rapture".

Kind regards
Trevor

Circumstances matter because it creates the many different ways God uses to reach us. He called, and we all had to remove ourselves from whatever kind of quagmire we were in to ultimately repent and get circumcised of the heart and baptised of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said without repentance one can not be saved. That's what we all have in common. We all repented, and that was what we all participated in. How we got there, well, that's our individual testimonies.

Now Trevor, in this way I agree with you, and all that you say, but with the exception of how the Holy Spirit works and role He plays, not only in the circumstances, but when on becomes a Christian. A Christian must be approved and sanctified or set apart by the holy spirit. If it takes 15 years of Sunday School to me sanctified and born again or born from above, than I'm reading the bible all wrong. The Holy Spirit worked throughout my life and at one point I said there has to be more and that's when the Holy Spirit lead me from my crooked road straight to Jesus. The infusion was there, and he's there for everyone. If you can't see it, well, I don't know what to tell you.

I know this, I was born a Catholic, Catichism every week, Mass every Sunday, the Rosery every evening before bed with the entire family. Mom led the prayers. Every Sunday I'd be bored to death with Mass. I hated it, except when the Priest opend the Gospel and read the words of the Apostles. I marveled at the way they wove their words and spoke their messages. I loved listening to the Gospels. It was the only thing worth listening to.

After I became Christian, I read these words in my bible, and I underlined them. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God". All I loved to listen to was the Gospel, by hearing it, the Holy Spirit was infused. Indeed. God cannot and will not be mocked, and His word never comes back to Him empty. Even though he was a Catholic, with a doctrine that makes Mary almost a 4th person of the Trinity, inspite of that, the Gospel, inspired by the Holy Spirit moved me.

When I read the bible, it is the Holy Spirit, speaking from His inspiration that makes Him alive, not the servents who wrote it, but the Spirit that gets the Glory; All of it.

That is why there will be a Judgment, probably sooner than we think, because "now therefore, there is no excuse". No one will be able to say, wait Lord don't judge me yet, I haven't felt the infusion of the Holy Spirit yet. Wait, I haven't heard the Gospel enough times. Jesus says it best. When the Gospel is preached to the four winds of this earth, the end will come.

 

[Jack]

Yeah, its cause we die.

"Death" NEVER means 'cease to exist' in the Bible. Billions of humans in the EVERLASTING Hell Fire will wish they don't exist!

 

[Gottservant]

I think the misinterpretation is that "1000 years" means "at least 1000 years"

 

[Writer]

I think the misinterpretation is that "1000 years" means "at least 1000 years"

The 1000 years is interpreted to mean an "exact" time the dragon is released from the abyse to once again deceive and influence the nations against God and move against His holy place on the earth. How long it takes for the dragon to get that done can take more than, and continue beyond the 1000 years referencing his release from the abyse.

The misinterpretation comes from being oriented to believe that once we are "raptured" we go to heaven and remain there and not be on the earth another thousand years with new spiritual bodies. Then, the 1000 years would have to be reinvented to require a non literal interpretation. Sorry folks, if you believe that, then it's you that needs to "renew your mind"!

 

[One 2 question]

The Thousand Years: Symbolic Completion, Not Chronological Countdown
The idea that the "thousand years" in Revelation 20 is a literal span of time has fueled centuries of speculation, but I believe it's symbolic—a metaphor for the fullness or completeness of God's redemptive timeline, specifically marking the transition from the Mosaic age to the fullness of Christ's reign.

Scriptural Anchors for a Symbolic View:
• Revelation 20:2–6 speaks of Satan being bound for a thousand years, but this echoes other symbolic uses of numbers in apocalyptic literature. Just as “seven” often represents completeness, “a thousand” may represent the full scope of divine purpose—not a stopwatch.

So the 7 churches the writer of Revelations states means the complete church in all the earth and of all time? The 144,000 is symbolic, the 12 tribes, the 2 witnesses.

• Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8 remind us that “a thousand years is like a day” to the Lord. Time in prophetic literature often bends toward meaning, not measurement.

Peter says 1 day IS LIKE 1,000 years, not 1,000 years is 1 day.

.
• Hebrews 8:13 declares the Mosaic covenant “obsolete” and “ready to vanish away”—a clear signal that the old age was ending in the first century.

A possible and plausible signal of what you are refering to as well what lies ahead of us.

• Matthew 24:34: “This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled.” Jesus was speaking to His contemporaries, not forecasting millennia ahead.

We will see

• Revelation 1:1 and 22:6 both emphasize that the events described were to happen “soon” and were “at hand.”

But Perter said 1000 years as 1 day to God, God in the flesh. So it's only been 2 days to God. 48 hours sounds like 'soon' and 'at hand'.

So why do we keep trying to pin down a date?

It's what John specifically said 1 time or was that 1,000 times? Actually 1,000 years was recorded 6 times by John.

On Predictions Like 2037 or 2056: I’ve heard those too—2037, 2056, and countless others. But this pattern of prediction isn’t new. From the early church to modern forums, people have tried to decode the timeline. Yet Jesus Himself said in Matthew 24:36, “No one knows the day or hour.” That should humble us.
Instead of chasing dates, maybe we should ask: What did Jesus mean by “the end of the age”?

First-Century Fulfillment? It’s entirely plausible that the “end of the age” Jesus spoke of was the end of the Mosaic age, culminating in the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. That event marked a seismic shift in covenantal history. Jesus warned of it repeatedly:
• Matthew 23:36–38: “Your house is left to you desolate.”
• Luke 21:20–22: “These are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”

This wasn’t about the end of the world—it was about the end of a world: the old covenant world.

John wrote 1,000 years 6 times in his scroll. Someone recently quoted John saying.....

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

 

[One 2 question]

I’m not here to bicker. I’m here to build.
Some wield scripture like a sword, not to heal but to divide.
They quote verses to justify horrors—rape, murder, suffering—
as if God delights in torment, regardless of age or gender.
But that’s not the God I know.

You are right. God doesn't need to justify Himself to His mere creations. And He certainly doesn't need us to do it on His behalf. God gives. The same God takes away. God loves. The same God hates. God sometime prevents rape and sometimes He doesn't. That includes murder and suffering.

“The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His works.” — Psalm 145:17
“He does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.” — Lamentations 3:33

Yet He allowed Joshua to kill men, women and children. Or if we are being technical, God actually caused the walls first causing death to many. And with hailstones shortly after this. But God gave His chosen people the land He promised them. God does as He pleases hey.

Yes, people crafted TULIP—an elegant system, maybe.
But elegance doesn’t equal truth.
And truth isn’t always tidy.
I’m on the debate thread, and I welcome arguments.

Ok

But when I read about the thousand-year marker,
I don’t see a countdown to apocalypse.
I see a symbol of fullness—completion.
A cycle that came to its end.

“For these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.” — Luke 21:22
“Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” — Matthew 24:34

Yet for others of us we definitely see Jesus's coming 1000 year kingdom on earth. And Satan bound for this exact same 1000 year period.

Jesus spoke to that generation.
He said what they endured would never be repeated.
So how could that be literal for us now?
People still predict His return in numbered years,
as if prophecy is a puzzle we can solve with calendars.
But scripture wasn’t written to confuse—it was written to convict.

The scriptures including prophecy is interpreted by the One Who gave it. The Holy Spirit of Truth.

It was written to them, in their time,
and they understood it as symbolic, urgent, and present.
Not distant. Not delayed.

Who told you this? Did you ask them and this is the conclusion they came to and told you?

So I ask:
Are we reading to understand, or to control?
Are we quoting to illuminate, or to dominate?
Because I’m not here to fight.
I’m here to seek.
And if we’re not seeking truth with love,
we’re just making noise.



“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14
“Avoid foolish controversies… for they are unprofitable and worthless.” — Titus 3:9

Thanks for your post my friend. It's great to have the Spirit Christ sent to us so He can lead us into all truth.

 

[One 2 question]

Yeah that is probably called dying.

It would stupid to destroy this entire world - because then - no human beings are left to continue to procreate, let alone the beautiful world itself would no longer be good as God had made it.

Anyway! That to me an a depressing outlook.... This world will contiinue to go on after I die... cause with it to be consumed, would leave no more people to enter into the heavenly kingdom that doesn't end.

Grace and peace,
Matthew

Yes the whole creation groans while it waits to be set free from its bondage by its Creator. He is not going to set all the planets free then destroy it. No, He's going to develop and bring them to their completion in the ages to come. This is the hope of the children of God.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

 

[MatthewG]

What? Just reduce it to one post. I am not going to read all three of your post.

 

[One 2 question]

What? Just reduce it to one post. I am not going to read all three of your post.

I was just responding to YOUR 3 different posts.

 

[MatthewG]

I was just responding to YOUR 3 different posts.

Yeah, what's your synopsis of it all?

 

[MatthewG]

Im thankful we don't live in the end of days, and that Jesus came back which was not some 1000 years after the fact.

 

[MatthewG]

I don't think a lot of people believe that.

It's whatever though, who cares what people believe right?

You can be a person who suggest we are living in the last days today, and Jesus is coming back if you want to.

Why should your beliefs effect what is understood from the text itself hopefully by the Spirit.


So if Jesus never came back the apostles were lying concerning him coming back to the people they encouraged.

If that is the case, the whole bible shouldnt be trusted.

 

[One 2 question]

Yeah, what's your synopsis of it all?

Christ is currently redeeming His kings and priests to reign with Him in His new coming kingdom on earth. We are from every nation people tribe and tongue. Once this is objective is complete He will move on to the next age or period. 1000 year term in government in which the Divine Global Leader will restore the earth ready for His Father to come here with His New Jerusalem.

 

[One 2 question]

Im thankful we don't live in the end of days, and that Jesus came back which was not some 1000 years after the fact.

Father is doing everything for Himself. So if 1000 years is like 1 day to Him then He's only been waiting 2 days to send His Son to establish His kingdom. For us humans it's been a long time, 2000 years.

 

[One 2 question]

So if Jesus never came back the apostles were lying concerning him coming back to the people they encouraged.

So what Paul, Peter, James, Thomas, Jesus and the rest of the apostles taught was only for their generation not the church after them.

So forget the historical teaching as it's not for the church of their future?

Some may dispute such a claim.

If that is the case, the whole bible shouldnt be trusted.

Do you mean that God shouldn't be trusted as the bible contains some of God's expressed thoughts?

 

[One 2 question]

Yeah, what's your synopsis of it all?

Did you read my 3 previous posts?

 

[MatthewG]

No I have no reason to speak to you.

I don’t believe your beliefs concerning what you share.

 

[One 2 question]

No I have no reason to speak to you.

I don’t believe your beliefs concerning what you share.

Ok. I though you started this thread so that others besides yourself could comment and share their insights relating to your topic. Sorry if I misunderstood your intention.

 

[MatthewG]

Yeah well, I am sorry if I dont have anything to say to you. Typical same things happen all the time.

 

[MatthewG]

People are free to share their thoughts, I don't have to comment or commit to answering questions.