PMW 2025-004 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Revelation 20 is not only a hotly debated passage in a hotly debated book, but it is a passage that has greatly impacted the eschatological debate. And unnecessarily so! According to Warfield, Revelation 20 is the tail that wagged the dog. And he is correct.

Revelation 20 has given the name to the several eschatological schools: premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism. Each name has “millennium” (which means, “thousand years”) in it, which is obviously drawn from Revelation 20. This text’s outsized impact on the eschatological debate is unfortunate for several reasons: (1) the idea of a thousand year reign of Christ is only found in one book; (2) it is only found in one chapter of that one book; (3) it is only found in one-half of that one chapter of that one book; and (4) that book is the most symbolic book in all of Scripture.

But here we are. Right in the midst of the eschatological debate regarding the millennium. The debate over the 1000 year reign of Christ has been raging for almost 2000 years (whether you count leap years or not; and whether you engage in Daylight Saving Time: you can’t escape!). And like Yogi Berra said: “It ain’t over til it’s over.” So we had better hunker down for the extremely long run. (But frankly I would rather walk.) [1]

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The full passage on the millennium reads:

“And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:1–6)

In Revelation 20:1–3 we witness the binding of Satan for a thousand years. This immediately raises the millennial debate. I maintain the Augustinian view on this portion of the chapter. That is, I believe that the thousand years is a symbolic time frame covering Christian history from the first century down to the end. And I also believe that it teaches that Satan is bound in his mission to “deceive the nations” (Rev 20:3). In other words, Satan has been bound since the first century (cp. Mt 12:28–29).

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However, I am no longer a Revelation 20 Augustinian across the board. In fact, an enormous change has recently occurred in my views regarding the next three verses, Revelation 20:4–6. The changes have resulted from my deeper analysis of Revelation as I work on my full commentary. Consider the following three major changes in my understanding. These three issues are important in the millennial debate, as well as in the flow and meaning of Revelation.

To be continued.

Note

[1] In fact, my doctor told me I need to exercise more. He asked: “Do you like to walk?” I responded: “Yes. Because if I didn’t, I would always be at the same place.” My doctor retired right there on the spot.

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