Revelation 20:1-6 The Millennium

These six verses have, and still do, caused immense controversy, all centred around the millennial kingdom. There are three main views (each having at least fifty seven varieties!):

• amillennialism
• pre-millennialism
• post-millennialism

The first one says there isn't an actual millennium, but sees the church age as fulfilling this. The other two do say there is an actual millennium but differ as to when Christ returns, either before or after the millennium. Now clearly I am not going to seek to explain all aspects of the debate in this blog, nor to offer the previously undiscovered solution! However, I will try and proceed with care, trying to let the text guide us. We should also remember that this is part of the rest of Revelation, and part of the rest of the Bible. It is not six verses hanging detached from everything else.

First we see an angel. He has the key to the Abyss. Satan can do nothing without God's say-so. Job is an illustration of this point. The evil one is given all four titles, dragon, serpent, devil and Satan. He is bound for a thousand years.

Now given the rest of Revelation there is no need to take 1000 literally. It is ten cubed and represents completeness. Satan is completely bound. He is bound up and stopped from deceiving the nations anymore. This happens for a thousand years, then he is set free for a short time. Now this is why I find the amillennial view incomprehensible. Satan is clearly not bound up, and he is clearly still deceiving many people. In fact the New Testament (eg 1 Peter 5:8) speak of him as being active, as does the rest of Revelation! The only way I can see that this could be true under an amillennial view is if it is limited to people being enabled to receive the gospel, having the veil removed from their minds, but that hardly seems to do justice to the text.

Then John sees thrones of judgement. Those seated on them could be those who have died in Christ. Then there is special mention of those who had died for Christ. It specifically speaks of beheading, but it can be taken more generally. However, with the likes of Isis, actual beheading is very much on the agenda. They had remained true to Christ and refused to receive the mark of the beast. Then it talks of them coming back to life and reigning with Christ. The end of verse 6 emphasises that these verses are given as encouragement to those who may have to endure severe persecution.

Now what about pre or post millennialism? There is no mention of Christ's return here, but chapter 19 could be taken as the return of Christ. However, in Matt 28:19,20 Christ does say He is with us until the end of the age and all authority has been given to Him. So it is not absolutely necessary that Christ is physically here for people to reign with Him. However, I tend to favour the pre-millennialism view (the classical view, not the seriously misguided pre-tribulation version!).