This should really have been the OP.
What we see in the Bible...
Events leading up to the 1,000 year reign of Christ
- Revelation 13:1-8 - The Wild beast makes it's appearance.
- Revelation 16:13-16 - The Wild beast influences the kings to get ready for battle with the King of Kings.
- Revelation 17:3-18 - The Harlot's influence over the Wild Beast, and people of every nation is exposed, and God uses the Wild Beast to destroy the Harlot.
Now the Battle of Armageddon begins...
Revelation 19:19-21 - 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
After the battle of Armageddon is fought, and won... by the King of Kings, of course, the Leader of all God's enemies - Satan the Devil - receives attention... The Devil is imprisoned.
Revelation 20:1-3 - Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
What does John then see?
Revelation 20:4-6 - 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
We have arrived. The 1,000 year rule begins.
Christ's 1,000 year rule begins after the Devil is bound.
What takes place during the 1,000 years? is the question.
We know these 1,000 years are literal, or if not, extremely long - a day from God's point of view - Matthew 11:22-24; Matthew 12:36, 41, 42; Lu 10:13-15; Luke 11:31, 32. The 1,000 years are also used in contrast to a short period - "a little while" Revelation 20:3.
Before telling us what takes place during the 1,000 years, John tells us what will take place after the 1,000 years
Revelation 20:7-10 - 7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Then John tells us what takes place during the 1,000 years.
Revelation 20:11-15
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
With the former heavens, and former earth gone, ( This does not refer to the literal heavens and earth. The sea from which the dead come out, is literal - the actual sea, in which dead people were laid.
If there is no literal earth, there can be no literal sea, for the dead to come out. Nor the grave (Hades) which some people say is deep under the earth. ) the resurrection now takes place.
The judgment also takes place during the 1,000 years.
This includes persons mentioned earlier, in the scriptures referenced - Matthew 11:22-24; Matthew 12:36, 41, 42; Lu 10:13-15; Luke 11:31, 32 - The Queen of Sheba; The people of Nineveh, and Tyre and Sidon, People who lived in the lands of Sodom and Gomorrah, and millions of other dead, who did not come to know God.
These are the unrighteous - the dead - that would come to life, after the 1,000 years. The righteous dead will also be resurrected.
Acts 24:15
I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
This is the hour spoken of by Jesus at John 5:28, 29
Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and will come forth--those having done good to the resurrection of life, and those having done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
We have reached the judgment.
Those who live by the things written in the books that were opened, will be judged favorably, and their names will be written in the book of life.
On the other hand,
if they do not live by the things written in the books that were opened, their names will not be found in the book of life, and they will receive the second death, where destruction is permanent for Death, Hades, the Wild Beast, the false Prophet, and Satan the Devil, and his angels.
What will they be doing during those 1,000 years, though... sitting around doing nothing?
Isaiah 65:21-25
21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 No longer will they build houses for others to inhabit, nor plant for others to eat. For as is the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, and My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands. of their hands.
23 They will not labor in vain or bear children doomed to disaster; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD - they and their descendants with them.
24 Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the food of the serpent will be dust. They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain,” says the LORD.
This sends our mind back to Eden, doesn't it?
Yes,
during the 1,000 years Paradise will be restored.
People will be living in peace, without the Devil around, and "the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found." Psalm 37:10
God's will for the earth, and mankind, is being fulfilled.
