It has been observed that more has been written about the first ten verses of chapter 20 of the book of Revelation than any other text in the book. With the abundance of ink spilled on these verses, one might suppose that this is the single most important section of the book. For almost 2000 years, it has become the tendency of most commentators and preachers to spend considerable time serving as an apologist for a particular millennial view. To be sure, as with any Bible passage, these verses are significant; however, they should not be elevated above the essential repeated themes emphasized in the book – namely, the return of Christ, the final judgment of all wickedness, and the beauty and splendor of eternity. On Sunday we will spend a brief amount of time considering the various millennial views and most of our time expositing the text, considering its place in the storyline of Scripture as well as the history of God’s people.
In the chapters leading up to chapter 20 of Revelation, we see the demise of the false prophet and the beast (or Antichrist), leaving us with one member of this “unholy trinity” left to vanquish – Satan, the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil. Chapter 20 does not disappoint, beginning with a majestic vision of an angel who binds Satan, casting him into and sealing him in a bottomless pit for 1000 years (a millennium). Clearly Satan’s activity and power to deceive are completely taken away from him as he becomes the object of God’s personal and unrelenting judgment. Presumably, some of the people who did not follow the beast during the period of his deception become the subjects of Christ’s kingdom during the millennium. Satan will be utterly unable to interfere in the affairs of the nations during this period.
Also, during this time, the kingdom of God is visibly consummated on earth, and the people are ruled by the only righteous king, Jesus Christ. Justice and righteousness now prevail as was oft promised in the Old Testament (Is 9:7, 11:3-5, 16:5 and many more!). The earth returns to the condition in which God created it before the fall of Adam and Eve. Reigning with Christ are those martyrs who were “beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image …” (v. 4). The final bodily resurrection of unbelievers does not coincide with the resurrection of the martyrs, demonstrating that there are two distinct resurrections separated by the millennial period.
While there are varied interpretations to this passage, rather than dividing us, we all can enjoy and anticipate the glorious time that this passage describes as part of God’s plan culminating in a new heaven and a new earth.