“But Dad, it’s not my favorite!” This is the daily declaration my three-year-old makes when she doesn’t want to eat lunch or do as she has been told: “It’s not my favorite.” Hannah and I have tried to explain to her that we often, more often than not, “do” things we’d rather not do. It is the rare occasion that we find ourselves in a situation where all of our options are our “favorite”. Hannah and I keep telling her that we must have other motives for “doing” in life besides what is and isn’t our favorite thing to do.
Today I write the following, not because I’m passionate about discovering the fine details of the reign of Christ. To be honest (just gonna be real) I have heard and been involved in so many discussions on the hallowed “Millennial Kingdom” that I’d rather just not even go here. To sum up my discouragement on this topic I will quote Pastor John from down the street. He once told me, “The people that want to study Revelation are the ones who think they already know what it means.” That hits the nail on the head. A particular view of the 1,000 year reign of Christ has become so dominant in our country, to the point of assuming it to be true with little questioning. There is a great lack of humility and teachability in this discussion. I have a good friend who won’t even discuss their differences of beliefs in front of family for fear of being written out of the will (now that might be exaggerating a little, yet you know that person who gets up in arms when a different perspective on just one detail is given). I’ll summarize with this and move on to the discussion: The Millennial Reign of Christ has become a golden calf for American Evangelicalism. We enjoy conversation which focus more not he reign than we do Him Who Reigns.
With that off my chest, and some context created as to how I approach this chapter, and if you are still reading after what I said above, allow me to express why I am yet writing on Revelation 20:
- The 1,000 year Reign of Christ is the next step in the blog. I anticipate blogging about the new creation (Rev. 21-22) yet this is the step before. I hope this will be something of a summary of the previous posts on the “Binding of the Strong Man”.
- All of scripture is profitable. Revelation 20:1-6 is God breathed. God is revealed there in and it is profitable for “teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” I hope that the discussion informs our thinking and forms our hearts.
- I’m forced to delve deeper. On a personal note my love for Revelation has pressed me into Rev. 1-5, yet not so much in the latter chapters. Blogging six observations on these six verses makes me think on a topic I would not have given as much attention to.
Six Key Phrases to Consider
- “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven”: The Relationship between Revelation 19:11-21 & 20:1-6. As I mentioned and explained in the previous post, I believe Revelation to be broken up into seven parallel narratives. In other words, I and many throughout the past 2,000 years, do not read Revelation 6-22 as one consecutive account, but instead see the same events spoken of from seven different angles (see link above). In that system Revelation 20:1 begins a new cycle of events. This is in contrast to a popular view (premillennialism) which understands the events of Revelation 20 to follow chronologically from Revelation 19. I believe that the literary structures of the book as a whole, along with repetitious events, lead to the conclusion that Revelation 20:1-6 is speaking of a current reign.
- “So that he might not deceive the nations any longer”: The Result of the binding. You might have just been asking if I have watched the news recently or where I live in this chaotic world. How can I believe Jesus is reigning and Satan bound? Here is where I would give a friendly push to my premillennial brethren who often say, “I just believe what Revelation says.” I do not quote you in mockery but with respect. I admire that mentality. However, I now ask you to look at what Revelation does in fact say explicitly about the binding. He is bound “so that he might not deceive the nations any longer.” We see the evidence of such binding from the beginning of Acts as the nations are brought into the church. In the words of Matthew, “those who had walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Think on it in this way: Before Jesus came to earth the only people who were in relationship to God were the Jews. In Acts, and unto today, we begin to see the nations, the people of the earth encountering the light of the gospel. This coincides with Satan’s binding “so that he might not deceive the nations any longer.” What is a reason that mission work sees success? Satan is bound from deceiving the nations. To be clear he is active and yet deceiving individuals as the epistles speak of, but the power he had before Jesus came has been greatly reduced, immensely so.
- “For a thousand years”: The Reign’s length. I have intentionally referred to the 1,000 year reign because the text no where says “Millennium”. True enough that in theology we at times create words so as to identify concepts (i.e. Trinity). I have no qualms with that. However, the danger in Revelation is that the numbers carry symbolic meaning. Here are a few examples. Revelation 3:1; 4:5; 5:6 speak of the Seven Spirits of God. Are you ready to take that number at a literal face value meaning? Do we have One God in Three distinct Persons or a Seven Spirited God? We agree that God does not have seven spirits, but that the number is representative. In Jewish and Apocalyptic writing seven represents the idea of fullness or totality. The seven spirits is pointing the reader to the idea of the fullness of God. The significance of a number must not be glossed over. In this case we must be careful to remember that Revelation 20 does not speak of a “millennium” (1,000 consecutive years in time made up of 365 days each), but speaks of “one thousand years”. Because much of the book is made up of pictures and symbols that communicate truth and realities it is possible that Revelation 20 is not referring to a millennium but a time of God’s work being brought to completion through his perfect and balanced work (meaning of 1,000) from his throne in Heaven.
- “Then I saw thrones”: The Reign’s location. I speak of God’s work from his throne because that is where this reign is occurring: from the throne room of “he who is seated on the throne and of the Lamb.” In Revelation 20:4 John says, that he saw thrones. Every reference in the book to throne or thrones occurs in Heaven. We have no reason to believe that this reign is primarily on earth. Those who reign with Christ are reigning with him from where he is now seated. To argue that this reign is from earth and not heaven would require one to prove that John is speaking of a throne on earth. That would be a hard idea to sell since every reference elsewhere in Revelation to a throne is clearly in heaven. In light of that I believe we have reason to say Jesus and his saints are reigning with him from his throne.
- “They came to life and reigned with Christ”: A Resurrection so as to Reign. The topic of the resurrection put forward by John is a key portion to give thought to. Hear me out. Based on John’s writing in his gospel and epistles (author’s other writings are always helpful) we can understand this resurrection as: 1) Regeneration (being born again with life from above to our souls [John 5:25-26]); 2) Life after death for the believer before Jesus returns to earth to set up the New Heavens and New Earth [ John 11:25]; OR 3) the last day when all are resurrected [1 Cor. 15 & 1 Thess. 4]. John speaks of resurrection in these ways throughout his writings. Now, what is he speaking of here? It is commonly held that this is the day of final resurrection at the end of time. I see the plausibility of the argument. I would be quick to agree if it were not for the other content here and the content of John 5. Another view, although less common, but has been seen off and on over history, is that this refers to the life after one dies. After all to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. However, another view is that this is speaking of Regeneration, the new birth. I believe that the reign involves the regenerate on earth and in heaven for these reasons: 1) John 5:25-29 uses “resurrection language” to describe both regeneration (5:25) and the final resurrection (5:28-29). It is plausible that “the first resurrection” is in fact regeneration since it comes first, before our bodily resurrection. 2) The description of those who partake in this first resurrection (“blessed and holy”) is a description used in Revelation for believers in general. 3) Not only does John speak of new life in such dramatic and present terms but so does Paul (Eph. 2:6), “and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” In a mysterious yet plain statement Paul speaks of our present condition as being enthroned with Jesus. Are we not the body of Christ? Are we not joined to him by faith? Are we not his bride, one flesh with him? Does John in his gospel not write of how we are in him and he is us? Are we not with him on his throne in the way Paul speaks yet also his Spirit dwelling in His body on earth? Christ is reigning from his throne through his body on earth. The seat of authority is in heaven from which it will come to earth in the New Creation.
- “They will be priests”: A Role of the saints in Christ’s Reign. Finally, the role that the saints have in Revelation 20 (i.e. priests) is constantly testified to by the New Testament writers as being the present role of the disciple of Jesus (1 Cor. 3, 6; 2 Cor. 6; Eph. 2; 1 Pet. 2). That is not to say that we will not be priests in the New Creation, yet at the same time we are acting out in this role now. We lead the nations toward forgiveness and pray for the light of the gospel to go forward. This was the role of the priests and temple from the beginning (Gen. 1:27-28; 1 Kings 8). This is how we live as saints in this 1,000 year reign of Christ.
Conclusion
Obviously a lot went unsaid. Large books have been written on these six verses. Although this is my view on the text, along with many other brethren, I love and appreciate those who hold other perspectives. The teaching on the 1,000 year reign and binding is dear for it is a part of the breathed out Word. Let us hold tightly to what we know the scriptures to be saying beyond a doubt. Let us guard ourselves from going further than the text allows. In humility may we remember that ten’s of thousands of godly saints have held other views on this text than what you may personally hold (premill, amill, postmill).
Also we need to not see such texts as second rate since it doesn’t contribute to “evangelism.” The mindset that says, “Let’s just focus on the gospel (death, burial, resurrection) and not worry about how it ends.” My dear friend I carefully say you have missed the big picture of the gospel. In your mind you have a truncated gospel. This text weighs into life and true evangelism no matter which camp you land in on understanding the timing and nature of the millennium.
The Premillennialist may hope amid trial for a glorious day to come. In evangelism he may tell others of the glories that await those who follow Christ in the kingdom to come.
The Postmillennialist anticipates what will one day be ushered in by the gospel and church spreading. He may tell his neighbor that Jesus is king and must be submitted to in repentance and belief.
The Amillennialist wakes up in the morning remembering that the sovereign Savior is seated and in absolute control over the day ahead. He tells the lost soul to bend the knee to the reigning King Jesus.
No matter your perspective, these six verses impact your today. Let us not neglect them.
The Reforming Raker 