The 1000 Years of Revelation 20:1-6
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
What is the Millennium? 2
Post-Millennialism 2
Amillennialism 4
Premillennialism 5
Bibliography 8
THE 1000 YEARS OF REVELATION 20:1-6
Introduction
There has been great confusion on eschatology, or the theological study of future events, since the early church. The millennium, or the 1000 years, in Revelation 20:1-6 has not escaped this confusion. To develop the understanding of the topics under discussion in this paper, the main passage under consideration reads as follows in the New King James Version (NKJV):
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Through history, scholars have not been able to agree on one interpretation of the millennium, the outcome intended of this paper is to provide the reader with adequate understanding of the interpretive issues of this passage. Through a review of the main
Introduction 1
What is the Millennium? 2
Post-Millennialism 2
Amillennialism 4
Premillennialism 5
Bibliography 8
THE 1000 YEARS OF REVELATION 20:1-6
Introduction
There has been great confusion on eschatology, or the theological study of future events, since the early church. The millennium, or the 1000 years, in Revelation 20:1-6 has not escaped this confusion. To develop the understanding of the topics under discussion in this paper, the main passage under consideration reads as follows in the New King James Version (NKJV):
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Through history, scholars have not been able to agree on one interpretation of the millennium, the outcome intended of this paper is to provide the reader with adequate understanding of the interpretive issues of this passage. Through a review of the main
Bibliography: Clouse, R.G. “Views of the Millennium.” In Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd Ed., ed. Walter A. Elwell, 770-774. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2001. Goorick, Edward W. and John R. Kohlenberger III. The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999. Hinson, Edward. The Book of Revelation: Unlocking the Future. Chattanooga, TN: Scofield, 2002. Hoekema, Anthony A. “Amillennialism.” In The Meaning of Millennium, ed. Robert G. Clouse. Downers Grove: IL Intervarsity, 1977/ Kim, Marion. Interview with a Postmillennialist -- Dr. Kenneth Gentry, The Christian Post, Internet http://www.christianpost.com/news/interview-with-a-postmillennialist-dr-kenneth-gentry-7627/ , Accessed March 4, 2012.