February 4: SIX-AND-ONE

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison. Revelation 20:7

There is a six-and-one pattern given to mankind from the beginning. Six days of Creation followed by God’s Day of rest on the seventh: a whole glorious day set aside for time with Him. This weekly pattern, unlike other markers of time, is not associated with any heavenly bodies (see Genesis 1:14). The earth’s rotation in relation to the sun marks a day. Its revolution around the sun marks a year. Months are based on the lunar cycle. And the four seasons come each year in accordance with the earth’s tilt on its axis. But the weekly cycle cannot be explained apart from the Biblical account of creation, much to the chagrin of those who deny the existence of God.

Earth’s entire history is also on a six-and-one scale. Peter reminds us: But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8 – see also Psalm 90:4). We are currently somewhere near the end of the sixth thousand-year day of earth’s history. It makes sense that, given the six original days of Creation, the Lord would allow six thousand-year “days” for re-creation. He has graciously offered to re-create hearts for all who desire it! King David expressed it so beautifully: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me … do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” Psalm 51:10,11b,12

The seventh thousand-year “day” is often called the millennium, and it is bookended by the two distinct resurrections. When Christ comes to fulfill His promise to believers made in John 14:3, the first resurrection occurs, marking the beginning of the millennium. Paul’s description of this glorious event is found in 1 Corinthians 15:23,50-58 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Christ’s coming will be the best day thus far for all of the redeemed. Not so for the wicked who are still alive when He returns. This will be the day of their first death (see Jeremiah 25:33). All of the wicked dead will remain so through the millennium, hence Satan’s prison: confined on a desolate earth with no humans alive to deceive.

This seventh thousand-year day—a Sabbath celebrated by the redeemed with their Maker while the wicked are dead and Satan is confined—will come to its prophesied end with the second resurrection: the resurrection of all of the wicked who have ever lived. Thus, Satan’s release from his prison. Isaiah spoke of the confinement of Satan and his demons, and of their future punishment:

They will be gathered together, As prisoners are gathered in the pit, And will be shut up in the prison; After many days they will be punished (Isaiah 24:22).

For a memorable microcosm of the six-and-one pattern, see Matthew 16:27-17:2 and Mark 8:38-9:3.