Revelation: Peace on Earth

Revelation 20:1-6

When the angels announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, they proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). We know that Jesus brings peace to every believer, but will lasting peace ever come to earth? 

The answer is—Yes! However, treaties or peacekeepers won’t usher it in, nor will it happen because of actions by the United Nations. Today’s passage explains how peace will finally come to the earth.

Following Jesus’ second coming, which we considered last time, John saw a powerful angel descend from heaven on a specific mission. The angel seized Satan, bound him, and cast him into the abyss.

 Note the many descriptions of Satan in Revelation 20:2.

• The Dragon: Jesus described Satan as a dragon thirteen times in Revelation, once as the “great red dragon” (Rev. 12:3). This description emphasizes the fierceness and cruelty of our enemy.
• Ancient Serpent: This description appears twice in Revelation and takes us back to the Garden of Eden, where Satan appeared as a serpent and deceived Eve (Gen. 3).
• Devil: This name means “to slander” or “to falsely accuse.”[1]
• Satan: This name means “adversary” or “enemy.”

We’ll consider Satan’s deceitful work more fully in our 2026 Daily Devos, but here, as John describes the future, the “ancient serpent” will be seized and bound by the angel and thrown into the abyss (Rev. 20:3). The word “abyss” means “a deep hole” and is sometimes translated as a “bottomless pit.” In Luke 8, the demons begged Jesus not to send them to the abyss (Luke 8:31), so we know it is a place the demons fear and want to avoid.

In Revelation, the abyss is often described as a place for evil spirits (e.g., Rev. 9:1-3, 11). The angel locked and sealed the abyss “so that [Satan] might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended” (Rev. 20:3).

While some interpret “a thousand years” figuratively, I believe it refers to a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth, also known as the millennial kingdom. This will be a time and place in which believers “will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6). The specific timeframe is mentioned five times in Revelation 20:1-6, supporting a literal interpretation.

There are many views on the millennial kingdom. Some believe, as mentioned above, that the thousand years in this passage are figurative and that there will be no actual kingdom (amillennialism). Others believe humanity will usher in peace on earth, and that Jesus will come after this utopia is established (postmillennialism). I think Jesus will come to establish it himself (premillennialism). He is the only one who can bring peace to the earth. 

There are many questions about the millennial kingdom, and I don’t claim to have all the answers. For our purposes today, let’s address three key questions. In the Weekend Recharge, I will share a list of excellent resources for further study.

What is the end time timeline?
I believe that at some point in the future, Jesus will appear in the air and rapture living believers (see 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-53). Believers alive then will be “caught up” (raptured) to meet Jesus in the air, and their bodies will be changed into resurrected bodies fit for eternity. At that point, the souls of believers who have previously died will already be in heaven—absent from the body, present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6-8). However, the bodies of all New Testament believers who have died will also be resurrected at that time. 

The seven-year tribulation on earth will follow the rapture. It will end with the battle of Armageddon. Then Christ will return. At his second coming, the bodies of those martyred during the tribulation will be resurrected. John says:

Revelation 20:4
Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

We assume that the bodies of all the Old Testament saints will also be raised at this time (Dan. 12:2). 

Who will be in the millennial kingdom? 
The millennial kingdom will be populated by three groups: believers of all time, those martyred during the tribulation, and those who trust in Christ and survive the tribulation. Believers of all time and the tribulation martyrs will have glorified, resurrected bodies. Those who trust in Christ and endure the tribulation will enter the millennial kingdom in physical bodies. 

What an amazing time it will be! The millennial kingdom will be populated by those fit for heaven and by those in their physical bodies. Jesus will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

What will the millennial kingdom be like? 

• Jesus will reign from Jerusalem.
  Jeremiah said that during the millennial kingdom, Jerusalem will be called “The Throne of the LORD” and all nations will gather there to “honor the name of the LORD” (Jer. 3:17 NIV; see also Eze. 37:27-28). The “earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9). The original intention for Israel to proclaim God’s greatness will be realized (Isa. 61:1-7).
  
  
• The apostles will be given special seats of authority.
  Jesus promised the apostles that in the millennial kingdom they would “sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt. 19:27-28). Believers will also have positions of authority (1 Cor. 6:2-3).
  
  
• There will be peace between all nations.
  The prophet Isaiah explained that during this time, all nations will be governed by “the word of the LORD from Jerusalem… nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isa. 2:3-4).
  
  
• There will be peace in nature.
  The “wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them” (Isa. 11:6).
  
  
• People will live long lives.
  Those who entered the millennial kingdom in resurrected bodies will never die. Those who entered with physical bodies will marry and have children and populate the earth. And their lives will be long. Isaiah says that a person who dies at a hundred will be thought of as a “mere child” (Isa. 65:20 NIV).

Many things about the millennial kingdom remain unknown to us, but we are confident of this: Jesus will reign as King, and all believers will be there, enjoying our best life on earth. Will there ever be peace on earth? Yes! We will experience it during that harmonious time in the kingdom—all because of Jesus!

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD 
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Revelation 20:1-6.

Talking to God: How does reigning with Christ in the future motivate you to pursue faithfulness and obedience now?

Have questions? Please send your questions to our team. We're happy to assist as we explore God's Word together. Submit your question below, and we'll respond soon. If you're interested in learning more about a relationship with Jesus or seeking spiritual guidance, let us help you take the next step.

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