Various other interpretations will be mentioned, as the occasion warrants, but a thorough critique of other views of the millennium question is far beyond the scope of this present paper. Rather, the fundamental purpose of the paper is to give a brief review of the intent of Revelation 20:1-6. The purpose or the intent of this relatively short paper is not to delve into the many and various facets of the millennial question.
(Psalm 90:4 and II Peter 3:8 also mention a "1,000" years, but not in the sense of what is commonly called "the millennium.") In these six verses, the words "thousand years" are found a total of six times. As previously indicated, it is a Latin word meaning "thousand years," and the only specific Scriptures using the term "thousand years" are found in Revelation 20:2-7. It may come as a surprise to some, but the word "millennium" is not found in the Bible, either in the Old or the New Testaments. "Millennium" comes to us from the Latin mille meaning "1,000" and annus meaning "year." Another term for the millennium is chiliasm which is from the Greek chilioi and means "a thousand." The Biblical meaning and usage of the term is often misunderstood today. One time, after purchasing a certain food product, I was informed that I would receive as a gift a book entitled Living the Millennium! To many, the word "millennium" means living the good life. The meaning of the word "millennium" invokes different responses from different people.