A millennium is a period of a thousand years. In Revelation 20:1-10 the term refers to the thousand-year reign of Christ over the earth. This passage has had various interpretations; please see a wide variety of other texts for a full spectrum of interpretations. It is most likely that this ‘thousand years’ is not literal but figurative (as are most of the numbers used in Revelation) and represents a long period of time where God will complete His purposes. The ‘millennium’ could be the present time where Satan’s power to deceive people is subdued (Revelation 20:2-3); where Christ reigns with all authority in heaven with those who have died in Him (Revelation 20:6); and where the Gospel is proclaimed to the nations (Matthew 28:18-20). At the completion of this current age (whenever that might be), the dead will be raised to face judgement (Revelation 20:5) and Satan will be released for a short time before he and all who serve him will be cast into Hell (Revelation 20:7-10). After this, the final judgement of human beings will take place and the New Heavens and the New Earth will begin for those who have trusted in Jesus (Revelation 20:11- Revelation 21:8).
