An amillennialist does not interpret the 1,000 years of Revelation 20 literally. Instead, it is viewed as the entire time between the first and second advent of Christ. The reign of the saints is equated with the spiritual Kingdom in place on earth now in the hearts of believers. Satan's binding at the beginning is seen as having occurred at the cross, the first resurrection is the spiritual raising from the dead of individual believers. At the end of this time period (however long it may be) Satan will be released, bringing the world into the tribulation, which precedes and ends with the return of Christ.

Main Arguments

1. In several cases "1,000" is used in Scripture with reference to God in a symbolic way; usually to denote "all" (1 Chron. 16:15; Psalm 50:10).
2. It removes the difficulty of having Satan deceive the nations twice, having two resurrections, having two "final" battles (and separating Armageddon from the battle of Gog and Magog), and having multiple judgments (John 5:28-29; Luke 20:35; Ezek. 38-39; Dan 12:2; Acts 24:15).
3. It removes the difficulty of deciphering who is "left" to enter the millennial Kingdom if believers have been raptured and the evil are judged and in the lake of fire (typical Dispensational approach).
4. It removes the difficulty of having some in the eternal state with Christ on earth while others are not.
5. The New Testament interprets passages related to the coming Kingdom as being present spiritually (2 Sam. 7:16 cf. Acts 2:30-31; Psalm 2:7,16:10, Isa. 55:3 cf. Acts 13:32-37; Matt 12:28; Luke 17:20; Romans 14:17; 1 Cor. 15:50).
6. Christ's Kingdom is always pictured as being eternal and all encompassing, not 1,000 years long with a rebellion at the end. (Daniel 2:44-45, 4:3, 7:27; Psalm 145:13).
7. On the Day of the Lord the world will be destroyed…where does an earthly Kingdom fit in? (2 Pet. 3:10)
8. If the "first resurrection" is taken literally, then ONLY the souls of martyrs will be a part of it (Rev. 20:4 - for examples of our spiritual life in Christ now see: John 5:25; Eph. 2:6).

1. It spiritualizes not only what John said would happen, but when it happens and in what order.
2. It ignores God's promises to Israel that have not yet been fulfilled (Isa. 11 & 35).
3. Nowhere in Scripture is a "resurrection" considered spiritual (i.e. Rev.2:8; Luke 24:5; 2 Cor 13:4).
4. The hardening of Israel would last until the end, without them becoming saved (Rom.11:25-26).
5. This view has its origin in the teachings of Augustine, who did not believe in literal prophecy.