Without question, the book of Revelation is difficult to understand. Questions about the anti-Christ, the Millennium, and many others a are sharply disputed among Bible teachers today. But there is one question that seems to be overlooked in our search for signs of the end-times: When was the book of Revelation written? In this message, [...]
Revelation 20
The Lost Thousand Years Between Two Resurrections by Rev. Nollie Malabuyo
In the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds (or tares) in Matthew 13:24–30 (with its interpretation in Matthew 13:36–43), Jesus explains that the Son of Man sows good seed—the children of the kingdom—in the world. But the devil came at night and sowed weeds—the children of Satan—among the good seed. At the close of the [...]
So, What Do You Believe About Revelation 20?
As an Amillennialist it never fails – any time I have a conversation with a Dispensationalist within the first 3 minutes I get the same question, “So, what do you believe about Revelation 20?” They aren’t typically amused when I tell them that I believe it comes directly after Revelation 19 and just before chapter [...]
The Thousand Years of Revelation 20 – Part I by Fernando Saraví
It is my contention that present Christian teaching concerning the last things relies too much on the belief of a future earthly millennial kingdom. Therefore, it may be profitable to see whether the idea that the thousand years mentioned by John refers to a future kingdom is consistent with what the NT , and Revelation [...]
The Thousand Years of Revelation 20 – Part II by Fernando Saraví
In the first part of this essay one of the outstanding events that occurs during the thousand years, namely Satan’s binding, was analyzed and interpreted within the framework of NT teaching. Now it is the turn of the remaining major event, namely the resurrection and reign of the saints. This is what the text , [...]
The Thousand Years of Revelation 20 – Part III by Fernando Saraví
4. The final rebellion (Rev 20:7-10) Again, I provide a literal translation along with the NIV text. “And when the thousand years are finished, Satan will be set loose out of his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them in [...]
Reformed Amillennialism – Revelation 20 by Prof. David J. Engelsma
The name by which the distinctively Reformed doctrine of the last things is known is “amillennialism.” This name derives from the 20th chapter of Revelation. Six times in verses 1-7 is mentioned a period of “a thousand years.” An angel binds Satan for “a thousand years” (vv. 1, 2). The result is that Satan cannot [...]
Revelation 20: Part I – The Premillennialist Case by Cornelis P. Venema
NO BIBLICAL TREATMENT of the subject of the millennium can avoid directly addressing the teaching of Revelation 20:1-11, and especially of verses 1-6. This is the one passage in the Bible that explicitly speaks of the millennium, using an expression which literally means a ‘thousand years‘, and it does so no less than six times.1 [...]
Revelation 20: Part II – The Millennium is Now by Cornelis P. Venema
We have observed that a key issue in the interpretation of this passage is that of the relation between Revelation 19:11-21 and Revelation 20:1-11. If Revelation 19 is a vision of the second coming of Christ at the end of the present age, and if Revelation 20 describes events which occur after this event, then [...]
Revelation 20: Part III – The Binding of Satan by Cornelis P. Venema
The vision of Revelation 20:1-6 is divided into two sections. The first, in verses 1-3, describes the binding of Satan for a period of one thousand years. The second, in verses 4-6, describes the reign of the saints with Christ during this millennial period and includes a reference to the saints who participate in the [...]
Revelation 20: Part IV – The Believer’s Reign with Christ by Cornelis P. Venema
We move on now to take up the second part of the vision in Revelation 20:4-6. This focuses on the reign of the saints with Christ during the millennium. In particular their participation in the first resurrection, so that they are not liable to the second death, is portrayed. Though it may be unsettling to [...]
Revelation Twenty – Introduction by William E. Cox
Without agreement on some basic premises, there can never be a proper exegesis of any passage of Scripture. Therefore, before beginning the actual exegesis of Revelation 20, we make the following observations. The passage itself gives no explanation of John’s meaning. Therefore, one must interpret this scripture by other scriptures. There is a definite rule [...]
Revelation Twenty – The Binding of Satan by William E. Cox
‘And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut it [...]
Revelation Twenty – The Millenial Reign by William E. Cox
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead [...]
Revelation Twenty – The Loosing of Satan by William E. Cox
‘And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall come forth to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they [...]
Revelation Twenty – The General Judgment by William E. Cox
‘And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, [...]
Revelation Twenty – Conclusion by William E. Cox
Far from being a key, Revelation 20 is a recapitulation of many clear teachings of the Bible. While its language is apocalyptic, it does not contradict the clear passages. It reiterates those teachings. In studying the Revelation one needs constantly to keep in mind Paul’s admonition that the letter kills while the spirit gives life. [...]
