Revelation 20, the Millennium

THE THOUSAND YEARS

REVELATION 20

I. Interpretations.

A. Traditional Postmillennialism.

1. The world will gradually be converted to Christianity which will bring the beginning of the millennium.

2. The binding of Satan is absolute.

3. Literal 1000 years.

4. It will be followed by a brief period of rebellion and evil.

5. Then comes the second return of Christ.

6. Then comes the New Jerusalem and eternity.

B. Premillennialism.

1. The world will gradually become more evil, leading to a final evil world system.

2. Jesus will return, defeat the evil system, and set up his kingdom on earth.

3. The Millennium will follow the second coming of Jesus. He will on earth on the Davidic throne in Jerusalem for 1000 years.

4. The binding of Satan is absolute.

5. A literal 1000 years.

6. There will be a short period of rebellion and evil at the end of the millennium.

7. God will defeat this rebellion and the final judgement will follow.

8. Then comes the New Jerusalem and eternity.

C. Amillennialism.

1. The millennium corresponds to the Christian age, from Jesus first coming to his second.

2. The binding of Satan is limited.

3. The 1000 years is a figurative, symbolic number.

4. Jesus is ruling over his spiritual kingdom in heaven now.

5. The world will gradually get worse, culminating in greater evil as the end approaches.

6. Jesus will return after the millennium.

7. This will be followed by the final judgement.

8. Then comes the New Jerusalem and eternity.

D. Endmillennialism.

1. The millennium is before the second coming of Jesus, but does not cover the entire Christian age.

2. The binding of Satan is more complete, but probably not absolute.

3. The 1000 years is a figurative, symbolic number.

4. Jesus will rule in a spiritual sense in heaven.

5. The world will gradually get worse, culminating in greater evil as the end approaches.

6. Jesus will return after the millennium.

7. This will be followed by the final judgement.

8. Then comes the New Jerusalem and eternity.

II. The binding of Satan. Revelation 20:1-3.

A. Complete or partial binding.

1. 2 Thes. 2:7 says the power of lawlessness is at work, but is being restrained. This suggests a partial control.

2. Job 1 and Revelation 12:7-12.

Job pictures Satan as being present in heaven in some sense and Satan brings accusations against Job.

Rev. 12 talks about Satan accusing brothers before God. But Satan is thrown out of heaven.

This suggests a lessening of Satan's power, a partial limitation.

He is still working on the earth.

3. He cannot accuse Christians directly before God, but he can work on earth to lead people astray.

4. Revelation 20:3 gives a specific reason for the binding: "to keep him from deceiving the nations any more."

The Gospel is now open to gentiles. The Greek word for "nations" also means "gentiles".

5. There is no reason to reject a partial or limited binding of Satan.

B. Binding of Satan associated with Jesus' first coming.

1. Matt. 4:1-1. Jesus overcame Satan's temptations in the wilderness.

2. Luke 10:17-20. Jesus sees Satan falling from heaven in conjunction with his disciples having power to cast out demons.

3. John 12:20-32. The driving out of Satan is associated with Gentiles wanting to see Jesus and his drawing ALL men to him.

4. Colossians 2:9-15. Jesus "disarmed the powers and authorities" when he was nailed to the cross.

5. 2 Thessalonians 2:7. The power of lawlessness is being restrained.

6. Revelation 12:4-9. The fall of Satan from heaven is associated with Jesus' first coming.

7. Revelation 20 fits in very well with these other scriptures. It is completely consistent with these other scriptures to understand Revelation 20 as describing a partial binding of Satan at the time of Jesus' first coming.

III. The Kingdom: Reigning with Jesus. Revelation 20:4-6.

A. The kingdom of God, the reign of Jesus, is now!

1. Luke 17:20-22. The Kingdom of God cannot be seen, because it is within you.

2. John 18:33-36. Jesus' kingdom is "not of this world", that is, not a physical, earthly kingdom.

3. 1 Peter 2:9. Peter is describing Christians in the church as being "a royal priesthood, a holy nation.

4. Revelation 1:4-6. John, in describing himself and his fellow believers, says that Jesus "has made us to be a kingdom and priests...."

B. Revelation 20:6 uses language similar to 1 Peter and Revelation 1 to describe those who have part in the first resurrection. Just as in 1 Peter and Revelation 1, Revelation 20:6 is describing Christians in the present age reigning with Jesus in a spiritual kingdom.

C. Jesus will not be reigning over a second rate, limited earthly kingdom.

1. Jesus himself said his kingdom was not a physical, earthly kingdom. Luke 17:20-21, John 18:33-36.

2. The church is a worldwide spiritual kingdom transcending all earthly kingdoms. Why would Jesus take a step backwards to reign over a physical kingdom.

3. The Old Testament prophesies which are used to support the idea of an earthly kingdom all talk about Israel having the land forever and the kingdom enduring forever. However, the millennial kingdom which lasts for 1000 years and then is attacked by Satan and his forces, is not a kingdom that lasts forever. This kingdom would not possess the land forever. Gen. 17:7-8; Amos 9:14-15.

4. The church on the other hand, which began as a spiritual kingdom on the day of Pentecost, and will continue in the New Jerusalem into eternity, fits the Old Testament prophesies perfectly.

IV. The Battle. Revelation 16:14; 19:19; 20:7.

V. Summary of chapters 12-20.

A. The theme of the book:

The Victory of Christ and his Church over the Dragon and his Helpers.

B. The opponents of Jesus introduced.

1. The Dragon - 12:3.

2. The Beast from the sea - 13:1.

3. The beast from the earth - 13:11.

4. The people with the mark of the beast - 13:16.

5. Babylon - 17:1-6.

C. The demise of the opponents of Jesus.

1. The people with the mark of the beast - 16:2-10.

2. Babylon - 18.

3. The beasts - 19:20.

4. The Dragon - 20:10.

D. Chronological or Parallel?

These are not chronological visions, but parallel visions. Each vision has the purpose of explaining the demise of one of Jesus' opponents. The destruction of all five of these opponents occurs at the same time - the second coming of Jesus.

THE EVENTS OF

REVELATION 20

The First Resurrection: Spiritual resurrection, salvation, becoming a Christian.

The Second resurrection: The bodily resurrection at the return of Christ.

The first death: Each person's physical death (separation of body and soul).

The Second Death: Eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire.