2 Peter 3:7-13 and Revelation chapter 20 reference the 1,000 years in regard to Christ’s return. The two passages have many points in common. The following is a brief overview.

Peter refers to “the day of the Lord” when he is present. He describes a disintegration of society in symbolic terms – note the verbs “dissolve, melt, and burned up.” He further explains that after the symbolic burning and dissolving a “new heavens and new earth wherein dwells righteousness” is established. 

Revelation 20 begins with an “angel (Jesus) that came down from heaven”. The Revelator describes this time from the perspective of the spiritual battle between Christ and Satan – “laid hold on the dragon…bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him…” John says when Satan is in the bottomless pit, “he will deceive the nations no more.”  What a wonderful purifying of society that will be!  While both 2 Peter and Revelation 20 refer to a ”day of judgment,” Revelation adds that mankind will stand before the “great white throne.” This is not a literal throne, but symbolizes God’s justice.

Both Peter and Revelation include details the other does not. Revelation speaks of the reward of the saints – “they live and reign with Christ during the thousand years.” [An important note: verse 5 “but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished” is not found in ancient manuscripts of the Bible. It is an addition that should be ignored.] Revelation also explains that the judgment during the thousand years is based upon works (verse 12) ending when Satan is loosed from the pit. This test will prove who loves evil in their hearts and who will follow the Devil. These will be destroyed in the second death symbolized as “the lake of fire.”

Peter describes the responsibility of the saints to develop a holy and godly life (verse 11). If we are to live and reign with Christ we must be in harmony with him. Peter also describes God’s purpose of the thousand years. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise … but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish but that ALL should come to repentance [or reformation]” (verse 9).

God’s purpose is to “have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth. [How?] For there is one God and one mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified [or demonstrated during the 1,000 years] in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:4-6

The thousand years is also described as the “times of restitution of all things which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Acts 3:21 This time must be very important if it was declared by all the prophets.

For further study download the free PDF:  "God's Grand Plan of the Ages" , chapter four “Epoch's of Time in God's Plan”.