Revelation 20 is not . . . Revelation 20 is not . . .

Armageddon almanac Calculation manual for number of

people in heaven

Rv.20 uses symbolsRv.20 uses symbols

Jesus:Lamb

Church:Lampstand

Satan:Dragon

Key Great chain Pit

Yet 1000 years is

literal?

Passage does not explain itself;must compare it to other Scriptures

1. Explain obscure passages by clear ones1. Explain obscure passages by clear ones Do symbols of Rv.20 explain rest of

the Bible?

Lion, Gn.49:10 Fox, Lk.13:32

Wolves, Mt.7:15 Dogs, Ph.3:2

‘Consistency is a rare virtue’Lindsey:

1.1. CloudsClouds (1:7): saints

2.2. Ten daysTen days (2:10): eras of persecution

3.3. StarsStars (6:13): meteors or orbital bombs

4.4. LocustLocust (9:3): mutant locusts or helicopters

5.5. Fire & brimstoneFire & brimstone (12:15): nuclear war

So much fo

r the lit

eral appro

ach!

1. Explain obscure passages by clear ones

2. Written to comfort persecuted Christians2. Written to comfort persecuted Christians

We can understand it only by learning what these symbols meant to people of that day

Greek plays:do not focus on props and

scenery, but message

Eusebius slams Papias

“I suppose he got those ideas through a misunderstanding of the apostolic records, not perceiving that the things said by them were said mystically in figures. For he seems to have been of very limited understanding”

What does Revelation 20 teach?

I. The Deceiver Is Doomed, 1-3

Rv.20:1-2

Angel to bind satan (Jg.16) 1000 years: Not time, but totality

He is totally bound. Beast and false prophet are ‘totally gone’; no more help from them.

Satan works in other ways (1 Pt.5:9)but is bound for 1000 years . . .

Bound for 1000 years = Rome is gone (ch.19) Common idioms

Job 9:3 = neverPs.50:10 = everythingPs.84:10 = incomparablePs.105:8 = forever (10)

Rv.20:3

Abyss: Lk.8:31 Sealed: Dn.6:17 Not deceive: no allies (Rv.19:20)

I. The Deceiver Is Doomed, 1-3

II. The Victims Are Victorious, 4-6

Rv.20:4

Scene: thrones, souls reign w. Christ

1. Victory! Once persecuted, now, exalted. Dn.7:…21-22, 26-27

2. In this society, truth prevails, not sin & error as earth

Rv.20:4

They reign w. Christ 1000 years Throne in heaven (3:21; 4:2; 7:17)

Rv.6:9-1120:4

1LivedLived (= 1:18)2ReignedReigned (ch.18-19:1-3)

Who are these souls?

People who were . . . BeheadedBeheaded (no resurrected bodies) Not worshippers of the beastNot worshippers of the beast OvercomersOvercomers, Rv.3:21; 2:26, 11

Faithful unto death (2:10)

Faithful until death (14:13)

Rv.20:5, this is the first resurrectionfirst resurrection

Has to explain it: figurative (cf. 1:20) Already raised to life once (Ep.2:5-6);

died for Lord Now transferred to be w. Christ

(lifelife, 2:7,10, etc.). Lk.16

The very act that premillenialists claim The very act that premillenialists claim defeated Him, proves He is Kingdefeated Him, proves He is King

The rest of the deadThe rest of the dead… (5)

OvercomersOvercomers reign w. Christ The restThe rest: servants of satan (1 T.5:6);

they don’t go to be w. Christ

Blessed, holy (6)

BlessedBlessed:: Rv.14:13; 2:11; Lk.16 HolyHoly:: Rv.21:2; 2 Pt.3:13; Hb.12:14

I. The Deceiver Is Doomed, 1-3

III. The Trio Are Tormented, 7-10

II. The Victims Are Victorious, 4-6

After 1000 years,Satan on the loose (7)

Premillennial problems:

1. Evil present during millennium? (Is.11!)

2. Saints apostatize? (Is.11!)

Children born during this period will not truly believe in Jesus and will follow satan after he is loosed – LGPE, 166

Gog, Magog, & Waterloo (8-10)

Loosing restores power to deceive Gog & Magog: innumerable (8); all that

opposes God; the final attack Defeat predetermined. Rv.11:5; 2 K.1 Satan’s: torment. Mt.25:41, 46

I. The Deceiver Is Doomed, 1-3

II. The Victims Are Victorious, 4-6

IV. Men Meet Their Maker, 11-15

III. The Trio Are Tormented, 7-10

Great white throne (11)

GreatGreat: powerful, awesome (Mt.25:31) WhiteWhite: pure, 1:14; 7:14; 19:11, 14 ThroneThrone: contrast thrones of v.4

A scene so awesome,A scene so awesome,heaven and earth fleeheaven and earth flee

The books (12)

Books openedBooks opened: :

Book of lifeBook of life:: 3:5

Old & NewCovenants?

Record ofour lives?

General judgments followsgeneral resurrection (12-15)

No accident can prevent our appear-ance before the Judge (2 Co.5:10)

Judged according to works Good:Good: 2:2, 26; 3:2; 14:13 Bad:Bad: 18:6

Lake of fire (10) . . . second death

20:14-15: doom of the wicked doom of the wickedCh.21-22: bliss of the blessed bliss of the blessed

What do we know?

1. Other judgment passages agree w. Rv.20:11-15

2. All admit Rv.20:1-2 are figurative

3. If we cannot find premillennialism in this chapter, we won’t find it

1 Co.15:24-28