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Introduction

Message

Interpretation

Authorship

Structure

Historical

References

Comparison

Chap 1

Chap 2

Chap 3

Chap 4

Chap 5

Chap 6

Chap 7

Chap 8

Chap 9

Chap 10

Chap 11

Chap 12

Chap 13

Chap 14

Chap 15

Chap 16

Chap 17

Chap 18

Chap 19

Chap 20

Chap 21

Chap 22

Amillennialist Interpretation:

Satan is bound for a thousand years which represents the current gospel age during which his kingdom is plundered as people hear the gospel and respond. The first resurrection is the new birth in which a person is raised with Christ and reigns with Christ. The second resurrection is the general resurrection which occurs at the end of the thousand years at Christ's second coming when Satan is finally defeated. This passage is a parallel passage to Rev 19 which shows the defeat of the beast and the false prophet, this passage concentrates on the demise of Satan.

The argument for an amillennial interpretation.

1. This is the only place in scripture that depicts a millennial reign of Christ, the rest of the NT is silent about it.
2. Should one take ones theology from a symbolic book?
3. The battle with Gog and Magog seems to be the same battle as in Rev 19:19 in which birds gorge themselves with the flesh of generals and mighty men, both refer to Ezek 38 and 39.
4. The NT shows the saints reigning with Christ now, the saints are now raised with Christ, the first resurrection is the new birth.
5. This section 20:1-10 should be viewed as parallel to the other passages describing the destruction of Babylon the great (Ch 17 & 18) and the destruction of the beast and false prophet (Ch 19).
6. . The Second Coming is the termination of history, not the beginning of a whole new phase. This is clear from 1 Cor.15: 23-28.
7. 2 Pet 3:10 warns us that on the day of the Lord 'The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.' Hardly time for a millennium here.
8. Scripture is clear that the Second Coming, the resurrection of the dead, the rapture and the final judgement occur closely together. Mat 13:40-42, 16:27, 25:31-33, John 5:28,29, Acts 17:31, 1 Cor 15:23-26, 1 Th 4:16-17. There is no interval of a thousand years. The ungodly are to be judged at the Second Coming 2 Thess.1:7-9, 2 Pet.3:9-10, Jude 14-15, Rev.1:7. The judgement is at the end of the age Mat 13:40-41, 49.
9. The elect are complete at the Second Coming, John 17:2,24, John 6:39,44, 1 Cor.15:23.
10. Believers are encouraged to persevere unto the day. 1 Pet.4:12-13, 1 Peter 1:13, Luke 12:35-37, 1 John 2:28, Col. 3:4-5, 2 Tim.4:8; Phil.3:20; 1 Cor.1:7-8; Luke 19:13; 1 Thess.5:23; Phil.1:16; Phil.1:9-10; 1 Thess.5:9-10; 1 Cor.11:26.
11. The Great Commissions ends at the very end of the age (Mat 28:20).
12. The means of grace end at the Second Coming 2 Peter 1:19, 1 Cor 11:26

See also A Critique of the Premillennial View of Scripture and Review of its Historical Development with a consideration of Revelation 20:1-6. By Alan Nairne.

The nature of the first resurrection:

(Rev 20:4-6 NIV) I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. {5} (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. {6} Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

There are two basic options if we adopt an amillennial position.

1. We take part in the first resurrection when we are born again (Malcolm Smith, Cox and Hughes). Hughes takes a different view in that the first resurrection must be a bodily resurrection and that can only refer to that of Christ, which we believers participate in as a result of our union with Christ. This makes sense because the second resurrection is also a bodily (general) resurrection. It also makes sense because it gives us a clear start to the millennium, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our participation with this union occurs when we are born again see Eph 2:6 ' And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus'. This is also found in Col 2:12 ' having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.' Col 3:1 gives a similar picture 'Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.'In John 5:24-29 Cox in "Amillennialism Today" points out that Jesus refers to two resurrections, the first one is present, spiritual and restricted to believers and the second is future, physical and universal. Against this view is the reference to martyrs.
2. We take part in the first resurrection when our soul departs the body to be with the Lord (Hendriksen, Lenski, Morris, Beale). Scripture makes it clear that we go to be with the Lord when we die (2 Cor 5:6, Phil 1:23), but we get our new body at the Second Coming (1 Th 4:16, 1 Cor 15:52). We are reunited with our body at the second (general) resurrection. This also makes sense because of the reference to martyrs (beheaded) and souls in 20:4, compare to the souls of the martyrs under the altar in the fifth seal 6:9. Living and reigning with Christ is also mentioned in 2 Tim 2:11-12.

When was Satan Bound?

It is clear from scripture that Satan was bound during the ministry on earth of Jesus. This was legally secured by his death (Heb 2:14) and we see that at his resurrection he was raised far above all rule and authority, power and dominion (Eph 1:21, also Phil 2:9).

The same word used to bind Satan in 20:2 (deo:G1210) is also used for the binding of Satan in Mat 12:29, Mark 3:27. Jesus is referring to the casting out of spirits from the demon possessed; he says that first the strongman must be bound and then you can plunder his goods. In Luke 10:17 the seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." Jesus responds by saying "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." Shortly before his death Jesus said:

(John 12:31-32 NIV) Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. {32} But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

We should notice the connection here between the prince of this world being driven out and drawing all men to himself. In John 16:11 Jesus says that the prince of this world now stands condemned. In Acts 26:17 Jesus commissions Paul to go to the Gentiles and Jews to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. In Col 1:13 Paul tells them that they have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness.

This means that Satan was bound during Jesus' ministry and especially at his resurrection for the purpose that the gospel can be successfully preached to all nations.

The next three sections are based on Hendriksen.

Where does the thousand year reign take place?

(Rev 20:4 NIV) I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

1. It takes place where the thrones are. All but three of the 44 mentions of thrones in Revelation refer to thrones in heaven. See 2:13, 13:2, and 16:10; which refers to Satan's throne and the beast's throne. In 4:4 we find the twenty-four elders, who represent the church, seated on twenty-four other thrones surrounding the throne at the centre. We also find the twenty-four elders seated on their thrones in 11:16.
2. It takes place where the disembodied souls are. He saw the souls of the martyrs, he did not see bodies, they had been beheaded. Only after the soul and body is reunited do they reign forever and ever (22:5). Where do the dead in Christ go? In 6:9 we find the souls of the martyrs under the altar, in 8:3 we find that the altar is before the throne. In 7:9 we find the great multitude standing before the throne. In 14:3 we find the 144,000 standing before the throne. In 15:2 we find those who are victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name standing besides the sea of glass. In each case the dead in Christ are in heaven.
3. It takes place where Christ lives: We read that they reigned with Christ and according to Revelation Christ reigns in heaven.

NT theology:

The amillennialist interpretation takes note of the NT theology in which we have been raised with Christ now and reign with Him now. Note in the Eph 2:1-6 passage

Eph 2:1-6 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

1. We were once dead in transgressions and sins, v1.
2. We followed the ways of the world and the Devil, v2.
3. God made us alive with Christ, v5.
4. He raised us up with Christ where we are seated with him in the heavenly realms, v6. In the light of these NT scriptures this satisfactorily depicts Rev 20.

John 5:24 indicates that we have crossed over from death to life when we believe.

John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

Rom 5:17 clearly shows that we reign with Christ now.

Rom 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Col 1:13 to 3:4. This section most accurately describes what Rev 20 is saying, this refers to the triumph over Satan on the cross, the new birth, i.e. the resurrection of our spirit, which was dead to God and is now alive. The other scriptures on the resurrection (1 Cor 15:12, 1 Cor 15:35, Phil 3:11, 1 Thess 4:17, ) refer to the resurrection of our body at Christ's second coming. We reign now with Christ in the heavenlies where the Devil has been defeated. Colossians depicts the situation as with Ephesians for all Christians now, we were raised with Christ at the new birth when we became Christians and we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies, our bodies are on the earth, but spiritually we dwell with Christ in the heavenly sphere, later at the resurrection of our bodies we will join him in heaven.

1. The plundering of the Devils kingdom happens when the gospel is preached and people respond.

Col 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

2. We have already been raised with Him, made alive with Him, later our bodies will be raised like His in glory at his second coming, this is the second resurrection.

Col 2:9-14 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Col 3:1-4 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

3. He disarmed the powers and authorities at the cross.

Col 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

4. The method of plundering Satan's kingdom, is through the gospel.

Col 1:23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

(Acts 26:17-18) delivering you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, {18} to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'

Other aspects of NT theology:

The power of God for salvation is the Gospel, Rom 1:6:

Rom 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Christ was elevated far above every power and dominion at his resurrection, Eph 1:21:

Eph 1:19-22 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,

Therefore we do not fight the Devil we stand our ground, Eph 6:13:

Eph 6:11-13 Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

We resist the devil by standing firm in the faith, the context is persecution, 1 Pet 5:9:

1 Pet 5:8-10 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

The believers in heaven overcame the devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, 12:11.

Rev 12:11 They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

The argument of parallelism (Hendriksen).

If chapter 20 forms a new section that is parallel with other sections that all begin with the start of the church age and end with the judgement then it follows that Rev 20 covers the current church age and not a special period after the second coming. The book of revelation consists of seven parallel sections that cover the current Church dispensation. i.e.

1. Christ in the midst of the lampstands (1:1-3:22)
2. The vision of heaven and the seven seals (4:1-7:17)
3. The seven trumpets (8:1-11:19)
4. The persecuting dragon (12:1 - 14:20)
5. The seven bowls (15:1-16:21)
6. The fall of Babylon (17:1 - 19:21)
7. The great consummation (20:1-22:21

Hendriksen observes that there is a striking parallel between chapters 11-14 and chapter 20. The following table shows some parallel situations regarding the Devil in Revelation.

We should note that the thousand years ends with the final judgement, but the final judgement is found elsewhere in Revelation. For example the sixth seal, 11:18, 16:20.

Commentary (amillennial):

20:1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

20:4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Rev 20:7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth--Gog and Magog--to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

v1 - And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. - This introduces a new section with 'I saw an angel coming down out of heaven', note there is no 'then I saw' to link it in time sequence with the previous passage. This is not the same angel from the fifth trumpet, 9:1. Notice the similarity with Jude 6 in which the fallen angels are bound with chains until judgement day. However it is more likely to be a good angel who binds Satan.

v2 - He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. - In Luke 11:21 Jesus is talking about plundering the strong man, Satan and taking away his goods, but first the strong man must be bound by someone stronger than him, i.e. Christ. This is what is happening in the Gospel age, Satan's goods are being plundered. Whenever the gospel is preached and men are converted then the devil's goods are plundered, they know the truth that sets them free. Some of those who once worshipped the beast are now found in heaven, i.e. every tribe and language and people and nation. The preaching of the gospel coincides with Satan fall from heaven, Luke 10:17. The binding of Satan here is the equivalent to other passages in Revelation: 12:7, 12:10, compare with Luke 10:18. This took place during the ministry of Jesus but was legally secured at his death, Heb 2:14.

v2 - the thousand years - Not literally a thousand years but a complete period of time (10*10*10). Comparing the battles of Rev 19:19 and 20:8 they are the same battle. Therefore the thousand years refers to the gospel age.

v3 - He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. - In the gospel age the gospel will give light to the Gentiles. In the OT the gospel was to the Jews, now in the NT it is to be for all mankind and therefore Satan's kingdom is to be plundered. The beast out of the earth deceives the nations elsewhere in Rev. But Satan does only when the thousand years are over. The Devil is known as the deceiver because he deceived Eve (2 Cor 11:3). All other references in the NT refer to people as deceivers apart from 1 Tim 4:1.

v4 - I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. - John saw the souls of those beheaded e.g. John the Baptist. This could indicate the start of the millennium, since John was the last of the pre-gospel age, he is the most famous figure in scripture for being behead. He saw souls not bodies so it is likely they are in heaven and not on the earth, just as he saw the souls of the martyrs under the altar in heaven. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years, we are told in the next verse that this is the first resurrection (of the righteous).

v4 - I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. - Where are these thrones? All but two of the 44 mentions of thrones in Revelation refer to thrones in heaven. See 2:13 and 13:2; which refers to Satan's throne and the beast's throne. In 4:4 we find the twenty-four elders, who represent the church, seated on twenty-four other thrones surrounding the throne at the centre. We also find the twenty-four elders seated on their thrones in 11:16.

v4 - They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands - They are to be contrasted with those who worshipped the beast.

v4 - And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. He saw souls not bodies so it is likely they are in heaven and not on the earth, just as he saw the souls of the martyrs under the altar in heaven. The mention of beheaded reminds us of John the Baptist the last of the prophets. In John's theology the NT martyrs are a continuum of the Old Testament prophets who were martyred see Rev 16:6, 18:24. He saw souls rather than bodies, Hendriksen reminds us that the soul is not reunited with the body until after the resurrection, which occurs at Christ's second coming.

v4 - They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. - The context indicates that this reign is in heaven, he saw the souls of those beheaded. The word Martyr means witness, we are all witnesses but not all will suffer the death of the body as a witness. Rom 5:17 indicates that we reign in life with Christ now in this life. But note that Rev 5:10 indicates that the saints will reign on the earth. They came to life spiritually refers to the new birth formerly they were dead in trespasses and sin, the new birth is the first resurrection of the spirit, the second resurrection is of the body. Hendriksen also points out that they live and reign with Christ who according to Revelation is in heaven.

v5 - (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. - The first resurrection is the new birth. The second is a general resurrection for the righteous and wicked, (Acts 24:15) it will be a bodily resurrection. The rest of the dead come to life on the last day (Dan 12:2, 13), see Rev 20:12-15. Hendriksen has a different view and says that the first resurrection is the translation of the soul from this sinful earth to God's holy heaven.

v6 - Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. - Looking at Rev 20:14-15 then by definition those who are in the book of life take part in the first resurrection. Remember God's promise to the church at Smyrna to those who overcome, they will not be hurt by the second death (Rev 2:11).

v7-8 - When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth--Gog and Magog--to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. - - He must be set free for a short time v3. After his release he goes out to deceive all the nations as before v3. The expression 'four corners of the earth', this simply means the entire earth. As Hendriksen points out it is a battle between the world lead by Satan against the church. We should note that in this last little season for Satan he personally takes charge, just as he personally entered Judas in his final onslaught against Christ. Now he is preparing for the final battle against the church. So he gathers up the full force of the world in order rally them to fight against the church. However we know that Christ will build his church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (Mat 16:18), how often do we forget that all important word not.

v8 - Gog & Magog - This seems to be the same battle as in Rev 19:19, both passages are supported by the same Ezek Ch 38 and 39 passages, it is Satan's final little time. Compare Ezek 39:17-21 with Rev 19:17-18, See also Rev 9:1, 11:7, 16:14, 19:19. Magog is first mentioned in Gen 10:2 as a son of Japheth, a son of Noah, then in Ezek 38:2 as Gog of the land of Magog. Gog is frequently referred to in Ezek 38 and 39 and nowhere else except Rev 20.

v8 - to gather them for battle - See Zech 14, this is quite clearly connected with the second coming of Jesus, see also Rev 16:14. Hendriksen points out that the word battle is used not war. It is the same battle as described in 16:14 as well as in 19:19. The Greek word polemos:G4171 is used in 16:14, 19:19 and 20:8 (however the Greek word can mean single or multiple battles and can be used of war also as in 12:7, 12:17 and 13:7.

v8 - In number they are like the sand on the seashore - not only are they from the whole world they are countless, cf. Gen 22:7, 41:49, Josh 11:4.

v9 - They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. - The breadth of the earth emphasises once more that they come from the whole earth. The city he loves would be Jerusalem. Is this a period of intense persecution against God's people, possibly, but there is no actual battle. Camp refers to the camp in the wilderness, Ezek 38:16. He is using an expression for the OT people of God and applying it to the church. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them, Ezek 38:22, 2 Thess 2:8, Dan 12:1. As in 19:19 they gather together to do battle, but as in 19:20 there is no battle. So the next time anyone tells you about the battle of Armageddon, remember the battle never actually happens, not one shot has been fired against God's people.

v10 - And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. - The completes the destruction of this trio, 19:20, the beast and false prophet are also thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, all his enemies have been destroyed (1 Cor 15:23-26). According to this verse there is a time sequence between the beast and false prophet having been thrown into the lake of fire and the devil being thrown into the lake of fire. Just as he accused the believers day and night, 12:10, he will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Contrast his fate with that of the Seraphim who worship God day and night, 4:8.

• Introduction
• Premillennial intepretation