These verses just raise all sorts of questions! The big question would be "does God have to give the devil his due?" This question is raised once one realizes that the only "nations" left are the Christians, if this vision follows chronologically after the first.

The other possible explanation would be that this vision which ends the 6th major division is another of John's "suspension" visions by which we are "held in suspense" for a while (like the first mention of the Third Woe, or the first mention of the Seventh Trumpet, or the first reference to the Seventh Plague as marking the end of God's wrath). These suspension visions also do something else: following each of these visions, we are usually given a momentary glimpse of heaven before being thrown back in time to view the unrolling of God's scroll of the fulfillment of his plan for human destiny from yet another perspective.

This vision is one of those "suspension visions". But this vision differs from the other "suspension visions" in that in itself we are thrown back in time to view the unrolling of God's scroll.

We arrive at this conclusion by figuring out what the "1000 years" means. Once we understand the "1000 years" we have found the key that unlocks this vision and the verses which are to follow.

Vs 3: "the 1000 years" - This is that period referred to as the Millennium.

But when does this period happen? What time does it cover? Several different solutions have been offered to answer the question of: "when is the Millennium?"

1: Many sects and denominations have claimed that the Millennium is the period of time after the destruction of the world and before the Last Judgement ("The Harvest" at which God's friends are separated from His enemies; some to go to Heaven and others to go to Hell).

To think that God is going to cast the beast and its followers into the pit (all human enemies of God) and then rule a purified earth inhabited only by God's followers for "a millennium" raises several problems.

a) It is only God's followers who will be living on earth at the end of the Millennium, according to this "solution". That means that Satan will be given a second chance to deceive Christ's people who have already been faithful unto death once.

To think that Satan would get a second chance at God's people after their deaths is possible - but it stands opposed to the entire New Testament witness, and everything; else the gospels have to say about the life after death:

Hebrews 9:27: "It is appointed for men to die once and after that comes judgement."

Rom 6:7: "For when a person dies, he is set free from the power of sin."

etc. etc. etc.

Although this explanation is offered by many, it is contrary to the rest of the New Testament and would stand all alone. (1 Cor 15:23-28 is sometimes claimed to support this view of the end - but re-read it and you will see that it does not.)

b) The second problem with this first solution is that it mixes up prophetic expectations with apocalyptic expectations. In the prophets, the expectation clearly is that God's (human) Messiah - like - David will begin the New Age of Shalom here on earth after defeating the enemies of Israel. History as we know it would continue - but the world would be perfect.

In apocalyptic, the expectation clearly is that this world and this entire Age is so evil that it will need to be utterly destroyed. The New Age, will be utterly, completely different from this one.

These two expectations cannot be combined: either the New Age will result from the utter destruction of history and this earth or the New Age will be a continuation of this earth as we know it, only perfected.

c) This view treats "1000" as a human number - and there is no reason to assume that this number would be less symbolic than all of John's other numbers except 666. So, considering the problems with understanding "the Millennium" in this way, lets lock at the second solution offered.

2: The second solution (also offered by many denominations) is that The Millennium is the present history of the Church on earth. Church history = the millennium, according to this view.

This understanding first surfaced under Constantine, when Christianity was made the official religion of the Roman Empire. Augustine first popularized this understanding; it was held until the Reformation without interruption; most of the Protestant reformers held this belief. (Including Luther)

Unfortunately, this belief is not based on sound Biblical exegesis anymore than the first. (Note: "exegesis" means "studying scripture and hearing what it says rather than what you wish it said.) The Bible itself does not support this solution because to completely accept this solution means to equate the Kingdom of God with the Church on earth. The Church on Earth is a sign of the Kingdom of God; it is a manifestation of the Kingdom of God - but the Church on earth is not the entire Kingdom of God.

3: The third solution is the one that is very Popular with Christian scholars of scripture across nearly all denominational lines. This explanation (with which I agree) is that The Millennium is the period both on earth and in heaven between the time of the Resurrection of Christ and the beginning of the New Age.

This view is sound for several reasons:

a) It does not confuse prophecy with apocalyptic.
b) It does not equate the Visible Church with the Kingdom of God.
c) It takes the witness of scripture about the meaning of Christ's Resurrection seriously.

What is the witness of scripture about the meaning of Christ's Resurrection?

1) That with the Resurrection Christ was enthroned eternally as the King of Kings and Lord of lords. (1 Pet 1:21; 1 Pet 3:21-22; Phil 2:9; Heb 2:5; Eph 1:21; Col 2:15; 1 Cor 15:24-28; etc.)

2) That with the Resurrection, Christ opened the Kinqdom of Heaven to all believers. (Heb 10:20; John 10:10; John 14:19-20; 2 Cor 4:14; Eph 2:5-6; Col 2:12; 3:1; etc)

3) That with the Resurrection, The New Age has begun to break into and destroy this present age. (Col 1:18; John 11:24-25; 2 Cor 5:27; 1 Pet 1:3; Rom 8:30; 1 Pet 5:11; Heb 6:5; John 5:24; 1 John 3:14; etc)

4) That at the End of this Age, those who are dead will be raised while those who are still alive will be changed. (1 Cor 15:52; Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29; 6:39-40; 6:44, 6:54; 11:24; Luke 14:14)

5) And just as Christ's reign has begun with the resurrection, the rule of those who die in him has also begun with that moment. (However late in time is the moment of our death, we are in union with Christ now and share now in fullness of this victory and reign.) (John 1:26; John 14:23; Eph 2:5-6; Col 2:12; 3:1; 1 John 4:9; 2 Cor 4:10-11; 1 Cor 15:17; etc) (Aside: We become participants in this victory through Baptism: Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12; 1 Pet 3:21; etc.)

Vs. 3: Consequently "the 1000 years" = The Millennium = the period of time between the time of Christ's Resurrection and the beginning of the New Age.

Now that we have understood John's meaning for "'the 1000 years" we have found the key which unlocks this vision of Satan being cast into the bottomless pit and the verses which are to follow.

This vision of Satan being cast into the bottomless pit is another picture of Michael casting Satan out of heaven.

That Satan is bound is an explanation of why he would have to work through agents (The Beast of the Sea, The Beast of the Land) and give his power to them (12:17 - 13:2).

Satan himself could not. "deceive the nations" but has to work through these agents during the Millennium.

At the end of the Millennium he is released - to participate in Armageddon and be destroyed.