“The Thousand Years” (Revelation 20:1-6)

What this episode covers

The Thousand Years The Thousand Years Brad Mills / General Revelation / Millennium / Revelation 20:1–6 In Adolph Hitler’s first speech as the German Fuhrer, he assured the nation that Nazi Germany would last a thousand years. He believed that Germany needed to return to its roots in the Holy Roman Empire which inspired visions of “agriculture virtue, simplicity, community, and social harmony.” In other words, it was an inspiring and idealistic view of the future. Hitler often riled up his troops with references to the Thousand Year Reich. That, together with a cocktail of methamphetamines, was how they endured tireless ground and air combat. Fortunately for the rest of the world, Hitler’s reign only lasted 11 years. Although Hitler’s reference to a thousand year reich is quite famous, it pales in comparison to the popularity of the thousand years reign of Jesus Christ and his saints found in Revelation 20:1-6. This is the only passage that speaks of a millennial reign, but it has possibly been the subject of more books and articles than any other passage in Revelation. There are three basic ways of understanding the Millennium: 1. Premillennialism: Christ returns and establishes his reign on earth (XR > MR > GWT). We could add a distinction betwen Classic Premillennialism and Dispensational Premillennialism, but the basic view of when the Millennium takes place in reference to Christ’s second coming is the same. 2. Postmillennialism: The Church enjoys peace and prosperity and expansion at the end of this age, then Christ returns (MR on earth > XR > GWT). 3. Amillennialism: Symbolic of present age between Christ’s first and second coming (MR from heaven > XR > GWT). There are representatives of each one of these views among us today. Even the leadership of the church is not in full agreement (last I checked). It’s perfectly okay to differ on this fairly minor point of doctrine. All of us agree that Christ will return and have the victory at the end of this age. This is not worth dividing the church over. Read Revelation 20:1-6. The millennium is about the victory of suffering saints. Those who have died with Christ will live with him (2 Tim 2:11-12). Those who endure through a life of trials and temptations—and by his Spirit persevere—they will reign with Christ. The death of believers brings us into a state of reigning with Christ from heaven. › But, in order to get to the reign, we must begin with… I. The Binding of Satan (1-3) Another angel comes down from heaven marking a new phase in John’s vision (1). This angel is seen with “the key to the bottomless pit”. The angel also had “a great chain” with which he would bind the dragon, Satan, for a thousand years (2). Satan was thrown into the pit where he was locked away, unable to deceive the nations any longer (3). This period of binding will end when Satan is released to deceive the nations once again, gathering them for the battle of Gog and Magog, which will mark the time of his final defeat (7-10). Everyone acknowledges that Satan is or will be bound, but the question is: (1) when did/will that binding take place? and (2) to what extent is he bound? Premillennialism: Christ will bind Satan upon his return so that he is utterly incapable of interfering with God’s purposes. They tend to read Revelation in chronological order. Since the previous chapter depicted the judgment that accompanies Christ’s return, the next vision must depict the next stage of history. There are several reasons to question this assumption: • “Then” (Καὶ) can link a sequence of visions as well as provide historical sequence. However, angelic descent always reflects a break in historical sequence (7:2; 10:1; 18:1; 20:1). “I saw an angel coming down from heaven” is a key phrase in determining where recapitulation is occuring in John’s vision. • The final battle has been repeatedly and clearly portrayed at several points prior to this passage (16:14, 16; 17:14; 19:11-21). All the enemies are cast in

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