The vision of the millennium in the Book of Revelation is not intended to offer comfort to Christians in a time of persecution, but to serve as a warning to them not to be too ready to participate in the life of their pagan environment, for such participation is not possible without contact with the cult of pagan gods. However, he who is contaminated by the pagan cult will not be part of the Resurrection and the Thousand Year Reign but at the Last Judgement will suffer the Second Death in the pit of fire and sulphur.

Thomas Johann Bauer, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen.