We Will Reign With Christ (A Really Long Time) [revelation 20:1-10] Series

Today, we have the privilege of studying a passage, Revelation 20, that's been sharply debated by Christians for at least 1700 years. It's been understood, and applied, in shockingly different ways. I'm guessing that those of you who lean nerd, and are really into end times stuff, have been looking forward to what I do these verses for weeks. And truthfully, the approach I thought I was going to take, I ended up abandoning.

What I've decided (following Craig Koester and Mitchell Reddish, more or less), is that people have made a mess of this chapter by over-interpreting it. In today's verses, John "sees" lots of things. But what he sees, is a partial glimpse into our future. That's how his vision works-- it's a partial glimpse. And so what we see, when we read Revelation 20, looks like a half-finished painting. There's lots of details we find ourselves wanting to fill in. We want to grab lots of verses, from lots of other places in the Bible, and color outside the lines. But I would argue that when God gives people visions, it's what they see, that matters. Not what they don't see. God shows people what's important. And we are better off sticking to what God shows, and what John sees, than reaching for our crayons, to color in the white spaces.

The other thing that trips people up here, is that they try to read things over-literally. We read chapter 20, and we try to read it literally, and chronologically. We think that Revelation 20 follows Revelation 19. And 21 comes after both of those. But Revelation itself signals that the truth is more complicated.

Let's read from four different verses, to get this clue. As I read, ask yourself one question: What is the fate of the nations?:

Revelation 19:17-21:

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and their riders—flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to wage war against the rider on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who had received the brand of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were killed by the sword of the rider on the horse, the sword that came from his mouth, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

All the kings of the earth come to fight Jesus, and all the kings of the earth, along with everyone else, gets killed by the sword coming out of Jesus' mouth, and get eaten by birds.

Now let's read four verses from today's passage. Revelation 20:7-10 (NRSV updated no reason):

7 When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, in order to gather them for battle; they are as numerous as the sands of the sea. 9 They marched up over the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from heaven[b] and consumed them. 10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

On the far side of the 1000 years, the nations still exist. Satan gathers this huge army made up of people from the four corners of the earth, and the army gets consumed by fire.

Now let's read from Revelation 21:22-24 (NRSV updated no reason):

22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.

In chapter 21, the nations still exist, and are still wealthy. They bring their wealth to the city of God, and walk in the light of God and the Lamb. Global society is perfectly ordered, and works in line with God's purposes.