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Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About Chiliasm And The Millennium

Early Christians did teach a future thousand-year reign of Christ on earth, and the strongest witnesses here are Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Lactantius, and Commodianus. Papias is cited as saying there will be a millennium after the resurrection, Justin says believers would live in Jerusalem for a thousand years, and Irenaeus and Lactantius both connect Revelation 20 to a real earthly reign of the saints with Christ.

The evidence is broad across the second and third centuries, but it is not uniform, because some writers also spiritualize the kingdom or speak more cautiously about the details. So the early record supports chiliasm strongly, while the exact shape of the millennium was still explained in different ways.

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Key Passages

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How to Study Chiliasm And The Millennium

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Scripture Map

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19 references

Foundation Texts

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.

Binding of Satan in the thousand years

Supporting Passages

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Revelation 20 links resurrection and reign

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.

First resurrection and thousand years

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

Exact first resurrection wording

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Matthew 19:28 gives throne-and-judging language used in millennial readings

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

Revelation 20:7 provides the end-of-thousand-years sequence

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Kingship on the earth

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

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

General resurrection background passage

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

General resurrection background passage

Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

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

Revelation 20:2 is part of the same binding passage

A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

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.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

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

Revelation 20:1 is the opening of the same passage