The Number 1,000-Literal or Figurative?


The Number 1,000
1,000 in Reference to Time – People or Things
Whenever you see, the number one thousand in reference to time, it is ALWAYS symbolic in scripture. It can represent an indefinite of time or a large quantity of people or things. Below are some Bible passages that include the number one thousand other than Revelation 20:

  •          Deuteronomy 32:30-How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? .(***NOTE: This is figurative because it is describing armies in a poetic manner***).


  •          Amos 5:3- For thus saith the Lord God; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel.(***NOTE: This is figurative. A city definitely has more than just a thousand people***).


  •          Genesis 20:16-And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved (***NOTE: This number is figurative due to the Hebrew expression that relates to atonement. The phrase is “covering of the eyes”-kĕcuwth. This same word is used in Exodus 21:10; Job 24:7***).


  •          Isaiah 7:23- In that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand shekels of silver, will become briers and thorns. (***NOTE: This is figurative due to the overall context of the chapter. Also, it is an allusion to Solomon 8:11-12***).


  •         Isaiah 60:22-A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time (***NOTE: This is figurative. A nation definitely has more than just a thousand people***).


  •          Song of Solomon 4:4-Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men (***NOTE: This is figurative since the context/genre is poetic. Otherwise, this is one ugly woman***).


  •          Song of Solomon 8:11-12- Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred (***NOTE: This is figurative since the context/genre is poetic and the basis on the previous mention of the number 1,000 in Solomon 4:4. We have to be consistent ***).


  •          Psalms 50:10-For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.(***NOTE:We know that there are more than a thousand hills on earth? Does that mean that God does not own the cattle on Hill 1,001? No way. The Lord owns all the cattle on all the hills, not just on a thousand hills. This cannot be interpreted literally***).


  •         Deuteronomy 1:11- May the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as he has promised you!(***NOTE: This is figurative for obvious reasons***).


  •          1 Samuel 18:7-And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.(***NOTE: This is figurative for obvious reasons***).


  •          1 Samuel 18:13- Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.(***NOTE: A thousand would be considered a small army. Israel would have been slaughtered. This is figurative. Does this mean this mean that the 1,001st  soldier of Israel is not under David’s command?! No***).


  •          Judges 9:49 – And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.(***NOTE: This is figurative. The writer is guessing from a large number of people ***).


  •          Judges 15:16 – And Samson said, “with the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.”(***NOTE: This is figurative. Samson doesn’t have time to count every single Philistine he is killing***).


  •          Job 9:3- If he (someone) will contend with him(God), he(someone) cannot answer him(God) one of a thousand(***NOTE: This is figurative. This is about challenging God in a trial setting and attempting to get one word out***).


  •          Ecclesiastes 7:28-Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.(***NOTE: This is figurative. The writer is guessing from a large number of people ***).


  •          Ezekiel 47:3-5- And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. (***NOTE: This is figurative for obvious reasons. It’s talking about the progressive depth of the river***).


  •         Daniel 5:1- Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.(***NOTE: This is figurative. The writer is guessing from a large number of people***).


  •      Daniel 7:10-A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.(***NOTE: This is figurative for obvious reasons***).


1000 in Reference to Time – Days, Years, and Generations-ALWAYS SYMBOLIC
  •          Deuteronomy 7:9-Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations (***NOTE: Taken literally, the 1,001st generation would make God appear unfaithful to his covenant, which is not true***).


  •          1 Chronicles 16:15-Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations (***NOTE: Taken literally, the 1,001st generation would make God appear unfaithful to his covenant, which is not true***).


  •          Psalms 84:10-For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. ***NOTE: This is figurative since Heaven is outside of time and space. ***)


  •          Psalms 90:4 -For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.***NOTE: This is figurative since it is describing how God perceives time differently from humans).



  •          Psalms 105:8-He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. (***NOTE: Taken literally, the 1,001th generation would make God appear unfaithful to his covenant, which is not true***).


  •          Ecclesiastes 6:6- Yea, though he livea thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place? (***NOTE: This genre is poetic and figurative about life expectancy and contentment. ***)


  •          2 Peter 3:8- But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (***NOTE: This is figurative since it is describing how God perceives time differently from humans).

It should be obvious from the above that EVERY occurrence of the word “thousand,”in reference to time is figurative/symbolic. It represents a large number or indefinite period of time. The question is why is the number interpreted literally in the book of Revelation (the most symbolic book in the Bible)? Especially when there is no scriptural basis for doing so?

1000 Year Reign of Christ?
Nowhere in scripture does the phrase “1,000 Year Reign of Christ” or “Millennium” appears in the King James Version. Revelation 20:3-8 is the only passage in that anyone can used to make the claim of a “1,000 year reign.” However, it is not a correct interpretation of the text. First, it should be noted that scripture does not speak of “a thousand year reign of Christ.” Revelation 20:4 says, “…and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God,…and THEY (Saints)lived and reignedwithChrista thousand years.”Notice that it’s NOT Christ that reigns a 1,000 years! It is those who were killed for God’s sake that reign with Christ a 1,000 years. Christ’s reign is forever. For example, Revelation 11:15: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”
For example, consider the following phrase, “John Smith served with President Trump for two years.” Does this mean President Trump served his position for only two years? No, it doesn’t. The president could have served for several years. The point isn’t how long the president served, but how long John served WITH the president? The president isn’t the focus. This is speaking about how long John will serve with President Trump. Likewise, Revelation 20:4 is not about how long Jesus will reign, but how long others will reign WITH Jesus. That’s a significant difference.In conclusion, the number 1,000 represents “represent a large quantity or extended period of time”. This applies both to the Old Testament and the New Testament.


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