Evidence of a 1000 years rest

[Sister]

 

Please respond to my above question.

 

Bo peep.

 

It's pretty straight forward and really needs no interpretation.  There is no symbolism there.  What you have read is a snippet of the future, but did you read it? or are you just concerned what someone else has to say about it?

If you don't know what it means that's fine just say so.

I'm trying to show you to look for yourself,.... agree or disagree if this has anything to do with the topic.

[missmuffet]

 

 

Please respond to my above question.

 

Bo peep.

 

It's pretty straight forward and really needs no interpretation.  There is no symbolism there.  What you have read is a snippet of the future, but did you read it? or are you just concerned what someone else has to say about it?

If you don't know what it means that's fine just say so.

I'm trying to show you to look for yourself,.... agree or disagree if this has anything to do with the topic.

 

I asked you what those words mean to you.

[Sister]

 

 

 

Terese,

 

Some more scriptures for you to ponder on Sister.

 

 Isaiah 65:18   But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

  Isaiah 65:19   And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

  Isaiah 65:20   There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

  Isaiah 65:21   And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

  Isaiah 65:22   They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

  Isaiah 65:23   They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

  Isaiah 65:24   And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

  Isaiah 65:25   The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Why don't you tell us what those scriptures mean to you instead of just posting scripture?

 

Bo peep.

 

Can you do this one thing please?  Have a read for yourself what God is showing us, ....without going to the the internet, and tell me what YOU see in HIS Word alone.

I am curious how you would perceive it by going straight to the source?

 

 

 

Ahhh   - but isn't just reading for ourselves how error creeps into our understanding, for if we have no understanding of the culture, the times, the languages, the idioms, etc affecting the particular passage we read,  how do we possess the knowledge to come away from what we read with a right understanding?

 

Are we able to understand the scriptures infallibly?

 

What do we measure our understanding against?

 

Terese

 

Do you trust Christ that he can feed his own sheep?

Did he not say that he will send the comforter, even the spirit of truth?

That's the job of the holy spirit, to show us things to come.  To give us understanding directly.  From God through Christ to us. To be on that same frequency.

This cannot come from man or even me, but I can guide you to what scripture speaks of it, and you yourself can judge what God is speaking about, If I provided proof or not.

I can pick things in that scripture that has never happened before ever.

[missmuffet]

 

 

 

 

Terese,

 

Some more scriptures for you to ponder on Sister.

 

 Isaiah 65:18   But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

  Isaiah 65:19   And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

  Isaiah 65:20   There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

  Isaiah 65:21   And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

  Isaiah 65:22   They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

  Isaiah 65:23   They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

  Isaiah 65:24   And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

  Isaiah 65:25   The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Why don't you tell us what those scriptures mean to you instead of just posting scripture?

 

Bo peep.

 

Can you do this one thing please?  Have a read for yourself what God is showing us, ....without going to the the internet, and tell me what YOU see in HIS Word alone.

I am curious how you would perceive it by going straight to the source?

 

 

 

Ahhh   - but isn't just reading for ourselves how error creeps into our understanding, for if we have no understanding of the culture, the times, the languages, the idioms, etc affecting the particular passage we read,  how do we possess the knowledge to come away from what we read with a right understanding?

 

Are we able to understand the scriptures infallibly?

 

What do we measure our understanding against?

 

Terese

 

Do you trust Christ that he can feed his own sheep?

Did he not say that he will send the comforter, even the spirit of truth?

That's the job of the holy spirit, to show us things to come.  To give us understanding directly.  From God through Christ to us. To be on that same frequency.

This cannot come from man or even me, but I can guide you to what scripture speaks of it, and you yourself can judge what God is speaking about, If I provided proof or not.

I can pick things in that scripture that has never happened before ever.

 

Nothing you have said made sense to me.I will leave it at that.

[thereselittleflower]

 

 

 

 

Terese,

 

Some more scriptures for you to ponder on Sister.

 

 Isaiah 65:18   But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

  Isaiah 65:19   And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

  Isaiah 65:20   There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

  Isaiah 65:21   And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

  Isaiah 65:22   They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

  Isaiah 65:23   They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

  Isaiah 65:24   And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

  Isaiah 65:25   The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Why don't you tell us what those scriptures mean to you instead of just posting scripture?

 

Bo peep.

 

Can you do this one thing please?  Have a read for yourself what God is showing us, ....without going to the the internet, and tell me what YOU see in HIS Word alone.

I am curious how you would perceive it by going straight to the source?

 

 

 

Ahhh   - but isn't just reading for ourselves how error creeps into our understanding, for if we have no understanding of the culture, the times, the languages, the idioms, etc affecting the particular passage we read,  how do we possess the knowledge to come away from what we read with a right understanding?

 

Are we able to understand the scriptures infallibly?

 

What do we measure our understanding against?

 

Terese

 

Do you trust Christ that he can feed his own sheep?

Did he not say that he will send the comforter, even the spirit of truth?

That's the job of the holy spirit, to show us things to come.  To give us understanding directly.  From God through Christ to us. To be on that same frequency.

This cannot come from man or even me, but I can guide you to what scripture speaks of it, and you yourself can judge what God is speaking about, If I provided proof or not.

I can pick things in that scripture that has never happened before ever.

 

 

 

I am in agreement with you to a point.   However,   even if the Holy Spirit shows us something, can we be absolutely 100% sure we understand Him rightly?

[missmuffet]

 

 

 

 

 

Terese,

 

Some more scriptures for you to ponder on Sister.

 

 Isaiah 65:18   But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

  Isaiah 65:19   And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

  Isaiah 65:20   There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

  Isaiah 65:21   And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

  Isaiah 65:22   They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

  Isaiah 65:23   They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

  Isaiah 65:24   And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

  Isaiah 65:25   The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Why don't you tell us what those scriptures mean to you instead of just posting scripture?

 

Bo peep.

 

Can you do this one thing please?  Have a read for yourself what God is showing us, ....without going to the the internet, and tell me what YOU see in HIS Word alone.

I am curious how you would perceive it by going straight to the source?

 

 

 

Ahhh   - but isn't just reading for ourselves how error creeps into our understanding, for if we have no understanding of the culture, the times, the languages, the idioms, etc affecting the particular passage we read,  how do we possess the knowledge to come away from what we read with a right understanding?

 

Are we able to understand the scriptures infallibly?

 

What do we measure our understanding against?

 

Terese

 

Do you trust Christ that he can feed his own sheep?

Did he not say that he will send the comforter, even the spirit of truth?

That's the job of the holy spirit, to show us things to come.  To give us understanding directly.  From God through Christ to us. To be on that same frequency.

This cannot come from man or even me, but I can guide you to what scripture speaks of it, and you yourself can judge what God is speaking about, If I provided proof or not.

I can pick things in that scripture that has never happened before ever.

 

 

 

I am in agreement with you to a point.   However,   even if the Holy Spirit shows us something, can we be absolutely 100% sure we understand Him rightly?

 

If you pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and direct and you have faith that the Holy Spirit will do just that then yes.

[Sister]

Terese

 

I am in agreement with you to a point.   However,   even if the Holy Spirit shows us something, can we be absolutely 100% sure we understand Him rightly?

 

 

This is what Jesus said below. Do you understand his speech sister?

 

John 6:31   Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

 

Jesus answered them;

John 6:32   Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

John 6:33   For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

John 6:48   I am that bread of life.

 

 

John 6:51   I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 6:53   Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

 

John 6:55   For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

John 6:56   He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

 

 John 6:63   It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

 

Luke 4:4   And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

 

1 Corinthians 11:26   For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
1 Corinthians 11:27   Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:28   But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

1 Corinthians 11:29   For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
1 Corinthians 11:30   For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

 

Many will read this and say, Yes Jesus died for our sins, I am saved.  By his death and all that he did I am free.  Doesn't matter if I sin, I'm covered.  He did all the hard work, he's the one that died for me.

Well if this is true, then how do we get converted then into servants of righteousness?  If we don't learn what he's teaching, then how can we follow in order to change and be accepted?

He's looking for quality not quantity.

Christ's death mean't alot and we do not take this away. He did die for us.  His resurrection completed his testimony and we testify of that too.

but if we really look deeper into what Jesus is actually saying above he is trying to tell us something else very important, something very deep.

Even his apostles were confused at the time he spoke these words, and I admit I was myself at first.

 

Jesus is that bread from heaven which gives life.

We don't eat his actual flesh as some teach.  They have communnion and they picture the wafer as eating Jesus, and the wine as drinking his blood.

Jesus flesh is meat.  Food from heaven.  Spiritual food.

His meat is spirit, his spiritual food is in his words.  If we eat this bread, his meat he will feed us.

Jesus was the one that was sent to give this meat.  Not anyone else.  It comes from him.

If we concentrate on what HE is actually speaking through his WORDS, we are eating his flesh.

If we eat his flesh he will dwell in us.  Eat his words.

If we eat someone else's word we will be eating strange flesh.

Man thinks that we have to go through man to understand scripture,

Jesus said we have to eat his flesh, and if we don't we will have no life in us.

so if his spirit will not dwell in us because we have not eaten his flesh, then we will not be shown things.

For this reason many are sick and asleep (in the spirit)

Christ's teachings are in his Word. Not anyone else's.

He is the Word of God after all.  Doesn't that title say it all?

He is the bread of God and the bread of Life and his WORDS are recorded for us to learn and follow.  We must follow his instructions.

 

If we do this, whatever he instructs he will show us everything.  It's so simple but many miss it.

The road is narrow and few find it.

 

[Serving]

Hi Sister,

 

SORRY .. I just can't help myself .. I love the book of Isaiah and just can't hold back.

 

So if you don't mind .. let me decipher what you are saying through Isaiah .. I'll keep it brief okay?

 

 

Isaiah 66:15   For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

 

2nd coming .. destruction of the armies at Megiddo (Armageddon)

 

 

Isaiah 66:16   For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

 

Here the picture jumps forward a little from the last event to expand to ALL flesh .. all the wicked & proud around the world, by hailstones the weight of a talent 40kg among other things ..

 

 

Isaiah 66:17   They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.

 

LOL .. Doctrines .. of the bad type .. "swine's flesh" & "the mouse" are strange flesh .. not the flesh of Christ. 

 

 

Isaiah 66:18   For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

 

The armies again .. armies represent their nations .. all nations & tongues turn against Israel .. which reason God used to gather them there initially .. but suddenly & abruptly, things rapidly turn into the above scenario .. when Christ returns in His glory to destroy them .. whose discernment is backed up by the below verse: 

 

 

Isaiah 66:19   And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

 

A small remnant of that entire army group will be as witnesses as to what happened, telling all as they make their way back to their lands .. since ALL technology / infrastructure will be destroyed by Christ .. word of mouth regains it's place.

 

 

Isaiah 66:20   And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

 

Showing that THESE Israelites make their way by foot / beast etc .. obviously not "raptured" & changed into spirit but still very human .. so they were not Christian at the 2nd coming event .. YET are being shown grace .. & are obviously being ACCEPTED.

 

Notice how the Israelites will be like unto an offering .. a present .. makes sense .. for what else could they offer the Lord? .. I think it's called "brownie points" that they are after. Lol.

 

 

Isaiah 66:21   And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

 

Since the resurrected saints teach the human Israelites, the Israelites themselves in turn must teach the other humans outside the kingdom area .. this is where they become called  (by those outside) Ministers of the Lord .. Levites gives it away.

 

 

Isaiah 66:22   For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

 

The new heavens & earth are still yet future even at that stage ("shall remain before Me", though tricksy in His delivery of the wording) so shall their seed remain (continuing generational progression until 1000k ends) and their name.  

 

 

Isaiah 66:23   And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

 

"New moon" & "Sabbath" being used as markers that Israelites would have back then & still do understood / understand today (since this is aimed at them).. in other words .. continuously. A continuous flowing into the kingdom to give due homage before the Lord.

 

 

Isaiah 66:24   And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

 

The bodies of the armies that are heaped together into that large & extended (at the earthquake) chasm known as Tophet .. the valley of slaughter.

 

So I agree with you sister .. we don't need outsiders, just the written word & the dedication / sincerity to seek these things out .. do this, and all things will be added & more.

 

God bless you.

Edited July 24, 2015 by Serving

[Last Daze]

 

 

 

There will be no demon activity at all during the 1,000 years.

 

I'm inclined to agree but am more interested in how you substantiate that statement.

If Satan is bound, do you really think that God will allow his minions to roam free?  While we are not told that Satan and all of his evil spirits and demons are bound during the Millennium, it is implied by fact that their prince or ruler is bound.  Therefore all his servants are also bound.  There can be absolutely no sin and evil during the Millennium, otherwise it would not be the Millennium.

 

 

 

How is it that they roam free instead of having their power limited?

 

 

I don't think that anyone is advocating that they roam free.

[thereselittleflower]

 

 

 

 

There will be no demon activity at all during the 1,000 years.

 

I'm inclined to agree but am more interested in how you substantiate that statement.

If Satan is bound, do you really think that God will allow his minions to roam free?  While we are not told that Satan and all of his evil spirits and demons are bound during the Millennium, it is implied by fact that their prince or ruler is bound.  Therefore all his servants are also bound.  There can be absolutely no sin and evil during the Millennium, otherwise it would not be the Millennium.

 

 

 

How is it that they roam free instead of having their power limited?

 

 

I don't think that anyone is advocating that they roam free.

 

 

 

Well, the idea being promoted is that during the millennium, satan and all his forces are completely, totally removed from the scene, so there is no more sin.   Sin literally means 'to miss the mark,' the mark being perfect obedience to God, so if there is no more sin, then there is no more missing the mark, and hence there is perfection in obedience to God.   We are told there will be no more sin because satan, and all his hosts, will be bound for the 1000 year millennium.  So in the millennium, according to what is being said here, there will be no more sin and thus everyone will live in perfect obedience to God.

 

I used to believe the same.

 

What I have found, after very careful examination of the scriptures, is that we tend to overlook what is in the very passages we use to substantiate such a belief, that actually directly contradicts that belief.

 

For instance, we have been looking at passages in Isaiah that  are being held forward as being about this future, sinless millennial period.     Is it sinless?   Does this passage actually advocate the idea of sinlessness during such a period of time?

 

In taking another look, the answer is no:

 

Isaiah 65:18   But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

  Isaiah 65:19   And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

  Isaiah 65:20   There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

  Isaiah 65:21   And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

  Isaiah 65:22   They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

  Isaiah 65:23   They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

  Isaiah 65:24   And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

  Isaiah 65:25   The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

 

 

During the same period of time this passage tells us there will be no longer an infant deaths, but a baby shall live to be 100 years old, it is telling us that there will also be sinners who live to be 100 years old.  These two concepts are being paired together.  If a baby living to 100 years old is a promise of this millennium, then also is the fact that there will be sinners as well.

 

Since there will be sinners, this presents a very direct problem of contradiction to the notion that the binding of satan and his hosts means their complete and utter removal from the scene so they can no longer induce people to sin.

 

If we pair this passage to the binding of satan, then it would clearly mean that the binding of satan is more along the lines of a chain being put on a dog to RESTRICT its movement/power, but not prevent it from having any interaction with anyone.  Someone who stands outside of the reach of a dog on a chain can't be touched by that dog, but if they move within reach of it, then the dog can essentially do what it wants.

 

Is the dog bound?  Absolutely.    Is the dog still able to cause injury?  Absolutely.   But the scope/range of its influence is greatly restrained.

 

 

So back to this whole concept of satan being bound, a 1000 year millennium, and the sinless of those inhabiting the earth during that time

 

This passage demonstrates it is not promoting a concept of the absence of sin.  It clearly states there will be sinners, and they will be accursed.

 

This means that satan's binding does not result in an absence of sin.

 

This means satan's binding is not so total as to remove him, and his hosts, from man's sphere of influence.

 

 

I have been advocating that

 

• since the only place that speaks of this millennial time period, "a thousand years," is in the book of Revelation,

 

• and since the book of Revelation is of the highly symbolic literary genre known as "apocalypse"  that was very popular for a space of a few hundred years at the time the Apocalypse of John was written,

 

• and since this would mean the imagery and numbers used in the vision are symbolic, as they are in all apocalyptic literature of the time, and not literal depictions,

 

• and since this would then mean the phrase "a thousand years" is also symbolic and not meant to be understood as a literal 1000 years,

 

• and since at the very beginning of the book of Revelation, before the apocalyptic portion starts, John tells us Christ is reigning over the kings of the earth now, 

 

• THEN there is no reason to believe that this is about some future, literal, 1000 year time frame, but rather that it is figurative, and no reason to believe we are not in that time now where satan is restrained, bound, though not completely removed from the scene, because of the work of Christ, the establishment of his Church, and his reigning over the kings of the earth now.

 

 

That this passage does not actually include the concept of sinlessness, but actually tells us there will be sinners, means it 100% contradicts the argument put forth that 1)there can be no sin during the millennium, and so 2) the presence of sin is proof that the millennium has not happened yet.

 

Instead, it actually supports what I have been saying about the extent of satan's binding during the "a thousand years,"  not necessitating the complete and total removal of his sphere of influence among men, but instead is a restricting of power and influence over the earth, and most especially those who belong to Christ.  Like a dog on a chain  - only those who put themselves inside his sphere of influence can actually be touched by him.

 

If this passage is about the millennium in John's Apocalypse, then this means there will be sin in the millennium.

 

If there will be sin in the millennium, then there is no reason to discount the possibility the millennium is now rather than a literal future 1000 years, on the basis of the presence or absence of sin.

 

In fact, since there will be sinners in the millennium,  this strengthens the interpretation of John's "a thousand years"  being symbolic thus actually meaning a great expanse time, and understood to be in place as of the time John penned his Apocalypse.