Revelation Survey Part 4

Introduction

English Standard Version Chapter 20

The Thousand Years

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

This week we reach our final part in our survey of John’s Apocalypse. It’s been my goal to point out the major themes present in the book, and to show how those themes are played out in its storyline. This week I want to conclude with one final point, and one last theme, and that is the triumph and reign of Christ with his saints.

Judgment

Previously, we looked at the expectation of judgment against apostate Israel found in the NT. That Jesus’ Olivet Discourse even prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in his disciple’s own generation. That John later picked up this thread in Revelation 1:7, that “behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those pierced him, and all the tribes of the land will wail on account of him.” That the judgement against apostate Israel is central to the storyline of John’s Apocalypse. That Revelation is intended to prophesy these events that would soon take place in John’s day. These events that would avenge the blood of Christ and his prophets.

Redemptive history

We also looked at how the storyline of Revelation carried redemptive history forward. That while the earthly Jerusalem was condemned the heavenly Jerusalem was being revealed from heaven in chapter 21, that while apostate Israel, described as a harlot in chapter 17, is put away, the heavenly Jerusalem is revealed from heaven as the bride of Christ, without spot or blemish. That the old covenant had become obsolete and a new and better covenant had come. That the temporal scaffolding of the old covenant has given way to Christ himself. That something greater than the Temple had come, that Christ had come. That through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. (Heb. 9:11-12)

War against the saints

Then, the following week, we looked at Satan’s war against the saints. That at the first advent of Christ war broke out in heaven, that Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil. Then the dragon was defeated and thrown down to the earth, and a loud voice came from heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come!” All of heaven and earth rejoiced, but chapter 12 also says, “But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows his time is short!” (Rev. 12:12). While the dragon and his angels had been thrown down he turned to make war against the saints, those who kept the commandments of God and held to the testimony of Jesus. And to do so, Satan gave his authority to two beasts, a beast that rose out the sea and a beast that rose out of the land. And it was these beasts, the Roman Empire and Apostate Israel that would persecute the first century church. That, a major theme present within John’s Apocalypse is that of persecution, and that the judgments portrayed in the book are meant to avenge the blood of Christ and his servants.

Christ’s triumph and reign

And it’s in light of those themes that we come to our final point, the triumph and reign of Christ with his saints as it’s portrayed in Revelation chapter 20. This particular chapter is undoubtedly one of the most challenging chapters in John’s Apocalypse, and probably the entire Bible. It’s the only place in scripture from which we find this idea of a millennial kingdom. All of the millennial positions find their distinctions at this point, premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism. All of which hinge on what they believe the 1,000 years to describe in Revelation chapter 20.

And let’s begin by reading the first six verses of chapter 20,

English Standard Version Chapter 20

The Thousand Years

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Now, most of us have probably always understood this text to be describing a future earthly millennial kingdom that begins at Christ’s second coming, a one thousand year reign. However, given the context of what’s come before chapter 20, John’s use of apocalyptic language, and John’s insistence that these things mush shortly take place I’m compelled to think otherwise. Rather than describing a future earthly reign of Christ, I think this text is describing Christ’s triumph and reign as a result of his first coming. That the 1,000 years described here is symbolic of a vast amount of time, that Christ’s kingdom is going to persist.

At first, this assertion might seem shocking, but give me a minute to explain. At first, it’s important to realize that the number 1,000 is used repeatedly throughout Scripture, that it’s not unique to Revelation 20. For example, when listing the ten commandment, Exodus 20:6 says that God shows “steadfast love to a thousand generations.” And I don’t think anyone would argue that the 1,001st generation won’t be shown steadfast love, that’s not what’s meant here. In Deuteronomy 1:11 God tells the Israelites that he multiplied them, and that now they are as numerous as the stars of heaven, but “may the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you.” Most of us are familiar with Psalm 50, verse 10, “for every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.” Obviously, the psalmist isn’t limiting the amount of cattle that are the Lord’s to 1,000, rather he’s saying that he owns them all. We’re also all pretty familiar with Psalm 84:10, when the psalmist writes, “for a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.” And it’s not only in the OT, the Apostle Peter, when describing God’s patience in 2 Peter 3:8, he writes, “but do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and thousand years as one day.”

My point here is that we have scriptural precedence which indicates that the number 1,000 is frequently used within the Bible to describe symbolically a vast, undefined quantity, therefore, in a highly symbolic book like John’s Apocalypse it’s not a stretch to conclude that 1,000 is being used similarly to describe a vast, undefined amount of time.

Satan bound

Therefore, what I think is meant to be understood here is that upon Christ’s ascension and his triumph over Satan, his rule began. This is also why we see the devil being bound there in verses 1-3. As Christ triumphs over devil, and ascends to his throne in heaven, the dragon is cast out and ultimately bound. And this immeasurably good news for the church in John’s day who was suffering under immense persecution.

English Standard Version Chapter 20

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer,

This fits well with what we’ve seen already in the chapters leading up. In chapter 6 we see “the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.” Those that “cried out with a loud voice, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then they were given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were killed as they themselves had been.” (Rev. 6:9-11) These are the martyrs that have come as a result of the beasts in chapter 12, the Roman Empire and Apostate Isreal. The dragon had come down to make war against them, and therefore had given his authority to these beasts to destroy the church. However, by the time we reach Revelation chapter 20 the number of martyrs is complete, and these beasts have since been judged, and thrown into the lake of fire. The only loose end that remains is the binding of the dragon himself, which is what’s described here in verses 1-3. And you can imagine the impact of these visions upon the church in John’s day. They’re called to endure the wrath of these beasts, for a little while longer, but not without knowing that the dragon who empowers them will finally be bound, that they will be vindicated, and that they will reign with Christ for a thousand years.

Casting out demons

Now, Revelation 20 isn’t the only place we find this language and imagery of Satan being cast out and bound. We saw him being thrown down back in Revelation chapter 12, but we also see this imagery early on in the Gospels, during Jesus’ ministry. We all know that he was known for having authority over demons. In Mark chapter 1, at the outset of his ministry, he heals a man with an unclean spirit, and we read in verses 23-27,

English Standard Version Chapter 1

23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

And we know that Jesus repeatedly cast out demons throughout this ministry, in fact, you might say this was one of the hallmarks of his ministry. At one point he describes the casting out of demons as the kingdom of God coming upon them, that the casting out of unclean spirits was the result of the kingdom of God coming near. The casting out of Satan had begun even at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and these were signs of an even greater turn of events. The casting out of demons was the beginning of Satan’s demise and a curtailing of Satan’s power, that the gospel of kingdom might advance. As the kingdom of God moved in, the kingdom of darkness was pushed out, and souls that were once in bondage were set free.

In fact, at one point, Jesus describes this as plundering Satan’s goods. During an interaction with the Pharisees Jesus said in Matthew 12:28-29,

English Standard Version Chapter 12

28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.

Jesus, of course, is describing the necessity of binding Satan in order to plunder his house, so whenever he casts out an unclean spirit, he is, in effect, binding Satan that he might walk off with the devil’s property (those who were once demon possessed). This binding was intended to clear the way for the spread of the gospel, and this was seen in Jesus’ ministry when he cast out demons wherever he went. And I think I think it parallels what we read in Revelation 20 when Satan is ultimately bound from deceiving the nations.

Later, in John 12:31-32, when Jesus speaks of his crucifixion and ascension, he says,

English Standard Version Chapter 12

31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

You see, the successful proclamation of the gospel required that the ruler of this world be cast out.

And more than that, this same authority over spirits was given to his disciples, we read in Luke 10:17-20,

English Standard Version Chapter 10

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

This treading on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy continued, even after Jesus’ ascension, at the hands of his disciples until Satan himself was bound in Revelation chapter 20.

And not only in the Gospels, but the other NT writers speak like this. The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians 2:14-15,

English Standard Version Chapter 2

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Paul describes the death of Christ’s and his resurrection as the event that “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in the cross. The rulers and authorities that Paul speaks of here are demonic and spiritual.

Hebrews 2:14-16 puts it like this,

English Standard Version (Chapter 2)

through death he ... destroy[ed] the one who ha[d] the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver[ed] all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Satan’s binding partial

Now, it’s important at this point to understand that though Satan has been bound, that his binding is not total. You may have noticed there in Revelation 20, verse 3, that it says that the angel,

English Standard Version Chapter 20

threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer,

The idea here is that Satan is bound from a certain activity, that is, the ability to deceive the nations any longer. This is important because the NT clearly teaches that the devil remains active today. The Apostle Peter instructs the church in 1 Peter 5:8 to be sober-minded, to be watchful, for your adversary the devil prowls around like a lion, seeking someone to devour, and that we should resist him, firm in our faith. Jesus also teaches us to pray in Matthew 6:13, “and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” It’s clear that Satan’s activity is not altogether restrained, but that he has been restrained so as not to deceive the nations.

But what does this restraint look like? What does it mean that he has been bound from deceiving the nations? Well, to answer that question, I think we can begin by seeing what it looks like when Satan does have the power to deceive the nations, and I don’t think we have to look any further than the Book of Revelation. When there is war in heaven, and Satan is thrown down to the earth, and makes war against the saints, he does do by giving his authority to two beasts, the beast that rises out of the sea and the beast that rises out of the land. These beasts represent Satan’s ability to deceive the nations on a global scale in order to attack the people of God. He is able to deceive the nations and leverage their power to make war against the church.

Satan’s authority and dominion

The scriptures seem to indicate that he was given this authority and dominion over the pagan nations from the very beginning. In fact, at the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry when Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, we read a passing remark that provides us with some insight. So, if you would, turn with me to Luke 4, verse 5. This is the devil’s second attempt to entice Jesus into sinning, and we read,

English Standard Version Chapter 4

5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”

What’s particularly interesting here is that Satan acknowledges that he has authority over the nations because it has been given to him, that he has a unique ability to hold them captive to his will, he has authority over them. And he proceeds to tempt Jesus with them. He says, “to you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” The idea here is that Satan possess something that Jesus has come to take for himself, by the means of his death and resurrection, but Satan says that if he will worship him that he’ll give them over without a fight, Jesus can avoid the cross and still possess the nations. Of course, Jesus answers him, and says there in verse 8, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” Jesus doesn’t take the bait, he doesn’t forsake his mission, but we can see that up until Christ’s triumph over devil at the cross Satan had been given authority and dominion over the nations. It was him that inspired their pagan worship, it was the devil who empowered nations like Egypt, Assyria and Babylon.

Israel the exception

The only exception was that of covenant Israel, a people that God had set aside for himself. In one sense, this is obvious, but it’s why we read texts like Exodus 19:5,

English Standard Version Chapter 19

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

or Amos 3:2, when speaking of Israel,

English Standard Version Chapter 3

2  “You only have I known

of all the families of the earth;

or in Psalm 147:19-20, when the psalmist writes,

English Standard Version Psalm 147

19  He declares his word to Jacob,

his statutes and rules to Israel.

20  He has not dealt thus with any other nation;

they do not know his rules.

All authority in heaven and earth

The idea here is that while God, at first, dealt primarily with with Abraham and his descendents, his ultimate aim was that of all the nations of the earth. Therefore, what Jesus says to his disciples, after his death and resurrection, in Matthew 28 should be particularly powerful in light of this redemptive backdrop. Starting in Matthew 28:18 Jesus says to his disciples,

English Standard Version Chapter 28

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Notice that phrase, “all authority has been given to me” in light of what we are told that Jesus’ death and resurrection accomplished. That he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, triumphing over them by his cross, that through his death he destroyed the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and delivered all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Christ’s death and resurrection resulted in the binding of Satan, and giving Christ all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, he tells his disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations!” Or to say it another way, the strong man has been bound, go therefore and plunder his house. The deceiver has been bound, therefore take the gospel to the nations!

This is why the Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 49:6 in Acts 13 after the Jews have rejected the Gospel, and he says,

English Standard Version Chapter 13

“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

And in a very real and tangible way we can see how this kingdom of God has spread throughout the whole world on a scale the disciples could never have imagined. It has impacted hundreds of nations around the world, and millions of people, over the last 2,000 years, despite the persistence of wickedness throughout the world.

It’s easy to wonder how mankind has lasted this long upon the earth, with nations rising against each other, multiple world wars, modern warfare, and the rise of tyrants like Stalin, Hitler, and Mao, but the answer is simple, the world continues because Satan has been bound from deceiving the nations, great restraint has been put upon the devil that the Gospel might advance to the ends of the earth. Or as the prophet Habakkuk put in in Habakkuk 2:14,

Habakkuk 2:14 ESV

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Conclusion

Therefore, one of the primary themes in the Book of Revelation is the triumph and reign of Christ with his saints. That while their days may seem dark and formidable in the face of these seemingly invincible beasts, Christ has triumphed over the spiritual rulers and authorities that animate them, putting them to open shame, and in just a little while he will seize the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bind him for a thousand years, and throw him into the pit, so that he can no longer deceive the nations.

In the same way that this book was meant to give that early church hope in the face of these beasts, it’s meant to give us hope in the face of our wicked rulers today. First, because there is no beast that can stand in the way of Christ’s kingdom and its influence, and second, because the devil has been restrained from deceiving the nations any longer, the strong many has been bound, therefore we’re commanded to plunder his house. We ought to be emboldened to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to observed all that Jesus commanded. Much of our teaching related to eschatology today results in the church shrinking back in the face of wickedness, having as it were a defeatist outlook, until Christ returns, but Jesus did not mean for this to be the case, rather he told his disciples that because all authority and heaven and on earth have been given to him, that we should to go.

Prayer