The millennium defines many eschatologies. Futurists divide over pre, mid, or post tribulation view for a rapture, and the pre or post millennial return of Christ.
Many ascribe aspects to the Millennium, saying that they are part of it, but the only real, sure reference to it is found here, in Revelation 20:1-6. While many well meaning scholars have tried to describe what this time will be like, let us not forget that what the Word says of it is fairly slim. Any attribution of any specific passage to this time period is therefore interpretation, and must be supported on the broader scope of the facts of the Word.
As per this interpretation, the Millennium was not all that. It simply was what we call the Middle ages. The dragon alone was imprisoned at the fall of Rome, and was released at the beginning of the Reformation, most likely due to the corruption of the church, its alliance with political and economic forces, and it’s departure from Christ.
As stated elsewhere, the image could be that of a mafia crime circuit. If the ring-leader is caught and imprisoned, those under him will continue, but will not be able to coordinate. So too, the demonic forces have been at work, but they were not able to work towards seducing the nations to war.
Further, if you realize that what man calls “civilization”, God, in Daniel 7 calls a series of four beasts, and what man calls the “Dark Ages” is called that in reference to the “light of Rome”, we have to realize that our perspective is skewed by the world when we approach history. The rebellion and anger of the dragon, when he was released, was witnessed through the time of the Renaissance, and the separation of “science” and “knowledge” from God’s Word, the Bible. Since that time, man has slowly attempted to elevate himself, higher and higher, achieving greater and greater things, all in the name of self. But, for a thousand years, behold, there was no great beast ruling over the Earth, only a little rock, made without hands, that grew and filled the whole Earth. And, the nations today revile it, tell lies about it in that period, and do all manner they can do to discredit it.
But, the evidence is right there in history. From the fall of Rome, all four previous world empires disintegrated, and only the church has been in power over the whole Earth since then. And, while the world is seduced into hating the church, and hating Israel, we see the progression towards the war of Gog and Magog, all the time seeing the regathering of the Jews to their homeland and the promise in the Spirit of their full acceptance of Christ as their Messiah on the near horizon, in fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39.
After this, we know there is at least seven years, where they use the weapons for fuel, and then, as Revelation 20 describes, the next thing that happens, however long that is, is the return of Christ. Indeed, many of the things expected in the Millennium, which are not in the Eternal state, would happen there, right where you would expect it, with the Heavenly Kingdom of God ruling and manifesting through national Israel, right there in their own little country. As it is written, “The LORD dwells in Zion”.
All rule and dominion will be made fully subject to the Lord, and the last enemy to be defeated will be death. Jesus Christ will then hand the Kingdom back to the Father, and the end of this age, the end of the world, will be upon us.