The Binding of SatanRevelation 20:1-6The Millennial of Revelation 20
1. A belief in a millennial reign of Christ is rooted in Revelation 20:1-10.
“And I saw anangel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain inhis hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till thethousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw thesouls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ athousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 7 And when the thousand yearsare expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive thenations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather themtogether to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up onthe breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devilthat deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever
.2. This is the only New Testament passage that refers to a millennial reign. But what does itmean?3. In considering this passage, whatever it might teach it does not describe thedispensational concept of the millennial for nothing is said about national Israel, thethrone of David, the exaltation of the Jews, Jerusalem, or the Temple.4. In considering this passage a harmony must be found between it and other end timechronology verses that are clearer. For example Jesus taught in John 5:28-29 a generalresurrection. Christ said,
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good,unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
The more obscure texts must be interpreted in light of clearer texts.5. The clearest texts reveal some grand concepts that must not be pressed for details if noneare given.
The apostle Paul teaches that the end of time follows the resurrection of Christians at the Lord’s Second coming
.
1 Corinthians 15:22-24 For as in Adamall die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order:Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24
Then cometh the end
, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; whenhe shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
Note:
The Second Coming of Christ is not in phases or stages. Jesus Christ will returnin the same manner in which He went away.
Acts 1:11 [The angels stood by] Whichalso said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus,which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seenhim go into heaven.
Jesus taught that this resurrection will occur on the “last day”,
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believethon him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jesus also taught that the resurrection of His people will occur at the same timewith the resurrection of the wicked
. Paul and Daniel taught the same. On this pointthere is a divine consistency throughout
Scripture. John 5:28-29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are inthe graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good,unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompensetribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, whenthe Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not thegospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shallcome to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (becauseour testimony among you was believed) in that day. Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some toeverlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
An “hour” is coming, a specific point in time, when “all” will come forth from thesphere of the dead. The resurrection of the righteous and the resurrection of thewicked will not be separated by a thousand years or even by one week. Both occur onthe Last Day.
The general resurrection marks the defeat and destruction of the Last Enemy,which is Death.
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.1 Corinthians 15:54-55 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the sayingthat is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? Ograve, where is thy victory?
John teaches that the destructive of the Last Enemy (Death) takes place at theGreat White Throne judgment
.
Revelation 20:11-14 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, fromwhose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books wereopened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up thedead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
The Second Coming of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment cannot logicallybe separated by an expanse of time of a 1,000 years for both occur on the Last Day,the day of the general resurrection, the day when death is destroyed.
On the Last Day, not only will there be a general resurrection of all who are inthe grave, the Great While Throne judgment, and the abolishment of death, butthere will be the turning over of the kingdom to the Father.
1 Corinthians 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he [Christ] shall have delivered upthe kingdom to God, even the Father; when he [Christ] shall have put down all ruleand all authority and power.
The Last Day is not the time when Christ receives the kingdom. It is when He handsthe kingdom over to the Father. Therefore, the messianic kingdom must be prior tothe Last Day, when the Lord Jesus comes again the second time for all who believe(Heb. 9:28).6. The Dispensational expectations of a Jewish millennial age which separates the SecondComing of Christ and the Great White Throne judgment cannot find support in the NewTestament picture of the last days.7. If Revelation 20:1-10 does not teach a thousand year period between the Second Comingand the Final Judgment, what period of time does it describe?
Search History:
Result 00 of 00
00 results for result for
p.
More From This User
Notes
Load more
