Then how do you explain the contents of Revelation 20? It specifically deals with the first resurrection of the dead, the 1,000 year reign of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment. It specifically mentions that Satan will be loosed upon the Earth to tempt the nations into rebellion against God once again. It specifically states that the Beast and the False Prophet are already in the Lake of Fire when God casts Satan into it.
How do you explain this passage, if there is no 1,000 year reign of Christ?
Rev 20:7-10 KJV - “[7] And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, [8] And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [9] And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. [10] And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
The way I deal with it is to point out the things it says and the things it doesn’t say. For example, it doesn’t say anything in there about a) the Second Coming being prior to the “thousand years”, or b) Jesus reigning on the earth during the “thousand years.” You can search high and low and you won’t find either teaching.
It says that the purpose of the “binding of Satan” is “so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished.” It says nothing about Satan being totally powerless during the thousand years. The binding has but one purpose. You might compare this binding with the binding of the strongman and the coming of the kingdom that Jesus teaches about in Matthew 12.
Rev. 20 says, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.” The first resurrection is Christ’s resurrection from the dead. All believers have a part in His resurrection, both spiritually and eventually physically.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,This is resurrection language. Spiritual resurrection. All those who have a part in the first resurrection – Christ’s – experience spiritual resurrection from the dead.
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Eph. 2)
There is nothing in Rev. 20 that is inconsistent with the teaching that at the Second Coming comes “the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.” (1 Cor. 15:24)
People presume too much when they read image-filled passages like Rev. 20.
I didn't say there isn't a reign of Christ. I said nowhere in this passage can you find a reign of Christ on the earth prior to the new heavens and new earth.