HoHum:
One day a guy died and went to heaven. He was curious about how God lived and said, “God, how much is a millennium to you?” God said, “One second.” “The man said, “God, how much is $1,000,000,000 to you?” God said, “One penny.” The guy thought for a minute and said, “God, can I have a penny?” God said, “One second.”
WBTU:
I like stories with happy endings, where “they all lived happily ever after.” The book of Revelation is the happy ending of the Bible. Much conflict and trouble throughout the book but it leaves no doubt that Satan’s onslaught will fail. The gospel will advance. At the end, this will happen Revelation 1:7. The final words of Jesus in the book are, Revelation 22:20.
Surprising agreement among Bible believers on these matters but when we come to Revelation 20, the agreement is shattered. The millennium divides us between premillennialists, postmillennialists, and amillennialists. Most in our ranks are amillennialists but back in the 1800’s most among us were postmillennialists and premillennialists. On few other things are the followers of Christ more divided than our views on Revelation 20. Here is the only place where we meet the millennium. How are we to interpret this?
To help us answer 4 questions: 1) Has a key been found to help us interpret this passage? 2) Has the Lord been crowned? 3) Did a trumpet sound? 4) Has the Devil been bound?
Thesis: Let’s talk about these 4 questions in that order
For instances:
Has a key been found?
A sound hermeneutical rule is to take the Bible literally as much as possible. Obviously some things are not literal. We read that God “turned his back” or “wrote with His finger” or shelters us “under His wing.” We get the message without insisting that God has feathers, knuckles or a literal backbone. We can share the joy of Isaiah without insisting that, literally, “the mountains and hills will burst into song... and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12). We can gain insight from Jacob’s parting words to his sons, without limiting him to using only literal terminology. Was Judah in a literal way “a lion’s cub” (Genesis 49:9), or Benjamin “a ravenous wolf” (Genesis 49:27)? Since we should not take these things literally, certainly, in apocalyptic language, Jesus does not have to be on a “horse” or with “a sword in his mouth,” when He comes again. Satan is not a literal dragon with literal frogs coming out of his mouth (Revelation 16:13).
One thousand in other places of the Bible may only be indicating large numbers. In Revelation 20, it may be indicating many years. God owns “the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10). Jehovah keeps his covenant “to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9). Did Peter mean this literally: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” 2 Peter 3:8, NIV.
We must interpret the Bible with the Bible. How long will Jesus reign according to the OT prophets? “Forever” is the word used by Daniel (Daniel 2:44). He foresaw the Messiah receiving “an everlasting dominion” (Daniel 7:14).
What then, is the thousand years? Could they symbolize the indefinite but lengthy church age, of whatever length that may be? Will we reign with Jesus a thousand years, or will we reign with him forever? Both!
We need to realize that Revelation is a cyclical book that takes us from John’s day to the end of time, the events in chapter 19 may not chronologically precede the happenings of chapter 20. These are just different ways of viewing the same scenes.
If we consider the possibility that from the day of Pentecost of Acts 2 to the end of time, those who lost their lives in carrying out the mission are the winners, but in what sense are they “reigning”? John said that they are both “came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4)
The victories experienced on earth will continue to be enjoyed in Christ’s presence.
Transition: It is now time to search the Scriptures for prophetic and apostolic insight into the early church’s concepts about the King and the kingdom.
Has the Lord been crowned?
An important question must be asked: Can we speak today of Jesus’ being King of kings and Lord of lords, or must such terminology be reserved until after the Second Coming? Has the Lord been crowned? Is the kingdom a present or a future reality? Is the missionary efforts of the church on earth the extension of the Messiah’s reign or only its forerunner?
The book of Revelation tells us that it is both. Chapters 4 and 5 use the word “throne” 17 of the 49 times it occurs in the book. Christ’s throne is in Heaven, although His reign extends over all the earth (Revelation 11:15) Throughout the book Jesus is ruler, king, and Lord. He reigns, has glory, power, and the kingdom.
Let’s go to the beginning of Revelation. Revelation 1:5-6 and Revelation 1:9. Remember that Revelation 1:9 is our theme verse. Talked about the suffering and the preaching of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Tonight we are talking about the kingdom.
What do we make of a statement like this: “And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”” Mark 9:1, NIV. The Scripture lets us know when “the power” came. The apostles, after seeing Christ alive following his death and burial, were instructed to “stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”” Luke 24:49, NIV. That power, they were told, would be theirs “when the HS comes on you” (Acts 1:8). On Pentecost Sunday, 30 AD, the Spirit was given as the first act of Christ’s reign. This was Peter’s understanding of that day. Jesus was to sit on the Father’s right hand until all his enemies were the footstool for His feet. The apostles declared that Jesus was “Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Remember the Bible teaching that “the last enemy to be destroyed is death,” and that by the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:26); we are not to look for the kingdom to come at our own resurrection but this is to be the climax of Christ’s reign. It is safe to say that, before the events recorded in Acts 2, the kingdom is spoken of yet to come; but, after that day, it is spoken of as a present reality, having, nevertheless, a future, eternal dimension.
Just as the apostles who walked with Jesus reflect His teaching on when His kingdom would come, so they clarify His thoughts as to its nature. The OT prophecies need to be filtered through the NT. We must understand the OT prophets in an opposite way from the religious leaders of Christ’s place and time. They read Daniel and Isaiah and envisioned an earthly reign: materialistic, Jewish (nationalistic), and utopian. Many leaders of that day would have gladly followed Jesus as their King if Jesus promised them an earthly kingdom. We need to take care lest the “millennium” we envision become more after the mind of the Pharisees than after the mind of Christ.
Jesus said to Pilate: “Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”” John 18:36, NIV. He said this to the Pharisees: ““The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”” Luke 17:20, 21, NIV. or the kingdom of God is among you. Either way when the Kingdom is come it will be within people and among people. Much different from what the Pharisees hoped for.
Sin was defeated at Christ’s cross. Death was brought to naught at Jesus’ resurrection. Having won the victory, Jesus Christ ascended to God’s right hand, where He sat down to reign Under his orders, the church marches across the globe establishing His banner in every locality. During the long duration of the church’s advance (a thousand years?), Satan is powerless to keep the message from being heard.
Did a trumpet sound?
Notice in Revelation 20 that we have two resurrections. Revelation 20:4-6. Are these two resurrections physical or spiritual? If one is physical then the other must be too. If one is spiritual then the other must be spiritual too. That seems strange considering the Gospel of John. In the Gospel of John, John recorded Jesus’ teaching about two births in John 3. Nicodemus was told by Jesus that the natural birth was not enough. Only being born again would bring one into the kingdom of God. John 5 we find Jesus mentioning two resurrections. John 5:24-29. Vs. 25 is talking about a spiritual resurrection. Vs. 28 is talking about a physical resurrection.
What does this mean? If we are born once, we will die twice; but if we are born twice, we will die only once. Those born physically but never born from above of the Heavenly Father (converted to Christ) will experience more than the physical death that befalls all of us. Those not born again, or born the second time, will undergo what Revelation called “the second death” (Revelation 20:14). However, if in addition to the physical birth, there is the spiritual birth of which Christ speaks, then we will die but once. As all men since Adam, Christ’s followers will die, but they will not face the second death, the eternal separation from God.
“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” Romans 6:3-5, NIV. Conversion is a resurrection! The first resurrection of Revelation 20 is spiritual and the second is physical. “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” John 6:39, NIV. Concerning the second resurrection, all will be raised. However, back to John 5:29- “and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.” John 5:29, NIV.
Again we must interpret the Bible by the Bible. When the trumpet sounds what happens? “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52, NIV. “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16, NIV.
Has the Devil Been Bound?
The destruction of Satan is not the question. It is this binding that we are considering. In the first part of the chapter this is preventative, the binding at the end of the chapter is punitive. He who is first “bound” (vs. 1-2) will, in the end, be “thrown into the lack of burning sulfur... and will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Vs. 10). When Paul was in chains, he still had great influence for the cause. Satan’s limited influence is still to be dealt with.
We see the picture in John 20:1. We understand that Satan is a spirit being that no literal chain can restrain. We know God is behind the limitation to come upon the devil, for His servant who will do the binding comes “down out of heaven.” We need literal and symbolic reminders that our opponent is not almighty. We need to reminded that Satan is alive, lest we become too optimistic in this world. We also need to reminded that Satan is limited in what he can do, lest we become too pessimistic or discouraged. If the gangster Al Capone could be said to rule Chicago’s underworld from his jail cell, we should be able to grasp that Satan, even with the restrictions put upon him, is to be recognized. But, restricted he is!
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV. Satan is limited in power.
The concept of the binding of Satan is not new to Revelation. 60 years earlier, Jesus explained that His ability to enter Satan’s realm and free the demon possessed was evidence of His power, surpassing that of the devil. ““Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.” Matthew 12:29, NIV. Jesus ministry and now the ministry of the church is a binding of Satan.
If Satan’s being cast down is the will of God, his loosing “for a short time” (Vs. 3) is also by the permission of the Almighty. Satan cannot break his own chains. In what way has God limited Satan in this age? He has not permitted Satan “to deceive the nations” (Vs. 8) into stopping the church from spreading the message of the cross. When will our opportunity to evangelize be no more? Let the church be busy at our task, while the door is open, for missionary opportunities will not last forever. At the very end, so harsh will be the foe’s final effort that the question is raised, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”” Luke 18:8, NIV. Until that day let the church push the advance of the Gospel.
