We are told in Scripture that an angel will unlock the Abyss and locusts will cover the earth. When the Abyss was opened, smoke poured out as though from a huge furnace and sunlight and air was darkened by the smoke. Revelation 9:2 “When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.”

It is presumed that Satan will enter the Antichrist as he did in Judas Iscariot as described in Luke 22:3. Satan, the prince and power of the air has his followers at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. Ephesians 2:2 “You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.” NLT 2 Corinthians 4:4 “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”

Revelation 20:1–3 “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.”

Prior to Christ return to earth to rule, Satan has freedom to roam the earth where he declares war against all who keep God’s commandments and confess to belonging to Jesus. He is being removed from this earth so that he can no longer deceive people. The battle at Armageddon did not kill the entire population of the earth. There will be unbelievers who continue to live. In addition, some believe that there will be some born during the 1000 years while Christ reigns, will deny Christ. They will be able to rebel against God even without Satan’s deceptive influence.

Generation after generation will be born and the earth flourishes as it did in Eden before Satan tempted Adam and Eve. It shall be like heaven on earth. Scripture tells us this many times. At the end of the 1000 years, Satan is let out of his imprisonment in the Abyss and unbelievers will accept him and go with him to war against Christ seeking a better life or more material things. They will be so depraved that their final punishment is the ‘Lake of Fire’ along with Satan and all his followers. Then a new heaven and a new earth will appear after the 1000 years.

Revelation 20:4–6 “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”

Some Arab fundamentalists believe that if a person is beheaded it separates the soul from the body forever and those individuals will never be resurrected. Jesus will return at the end of the Tribulation to save the world from being destroyed. Many believe the church will be taken out of world in the Rapture prior to the Tribulation. Others think the Rapture will occur after the first three and a half years and others at the end of the Tribulation.

It is believed that when Christ comes back to rule, the saints who have died will come with Him. This includes the Old Testament saints and all saved in the Tribulation period. Non-believers who have died since Adam will not be raise to live in the 1000 years. But after that time, they will face the Judgment and the ‘Lake of Fire’. Those who have been saved will be judged by their deeds and their rewards will be given to each.

It is believed during the 1000 years, the first three curses will be as the ecology and environment will return to pre-flood conditions. After those years, the Bible tells us a new heaven and a new earth comes. Revelation 21:3–4 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Why would anyone not want to be with God and Christ throughout eternity?