Revelation 20 Part III
April 22nd 2018
Meat
The primary purpose of our study today is to look into two views of the Millennium that is outside the three well-known camps called “premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism.”
After doing some research it seems there are three non-traditional views in addition to the traditional.
First, there is the position of J. Stuart Russell (dated 1816-1895) which is that the Millennium began in 70 AD and continues until now.
And second, the position of full-preterism, which does not see Revelation 20 as either “a present (ongoing) reality as Amillennialism does or as a future reality as post and premillinnialism, but as having been completely fulfilled in the past.
Let’s first address the first “unorthodox” view which aligns with preteristm and then we will get into the full preterist view.
Simple put, the full preterist view of the Millennium is it took place between 30AD and 70AD, a biblical generation (and we will explain how this interpretation applies later) and are different view that says that the Millennium began in 70 AD and continues out until today.
This latter view was espoused well over a century ago by a guy named J. Stuart Russell (and perhaps before that by others). Again, this view says that the Millennium began in 70 AD following the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple.
This view is quite similar to amillennialism /postmillennialism which generally proposes that the reign of Christ began with His work on the cross.
Some people who support this view, like one Duncan McKenzie, calls it the “Postribulational” (i.e. post of AD 70 when the tribulation ended) Beginning of the Millennium.”
This is because he believes (as do I) that the Great Tribulation (which is described in Matthew 24:21 and Revelation 7:14) took place from early 67 AD—mid 70 AD.
Now, J. Stuart Russell (1816-1895), wrote a classic book called “The Parousia,” and I think it will be helpful to read from his own words (as interpreted and explained through by the modern voice who agrees with him by the name of Duncan McKenzie):
Russell’s position is different from full preterism is that it does not hold that all Bible prophecy was fulfilled by AD 70…
The position of James Stuart Russell offers a third preterist option that is different from full preterism and traditional partial preterism.
Russell’s position is essentially like the full preterist position (i.e. the one and only Second Coming, the judgment and the resurrection happened at AD 70, and the resurrection having an ongoing fulfillment since AD 70.
And Russell’s position also sees us as currently in the new heaven and earth, a symbol of the post AD 70 new covenant order.
Where Russell’s position is different from full preterism is that it does not hold that all Bible prophecy was fulfilled by AD 70… (for instance) Russell saw the millennium as beginning at AD 70, not ending at that time as full preterism demands.
As a result of this view, there will be (not has been but will be) a future end to evil at the end of the millennium (based on what Revelation 20:7-10 says) when Satan will be defeated, but has not yet been.
Herein lies one of the biggest differences between the full preterist view and what I am calling the Russell View.
Russell’s position is that what is being shown in Revelation 20 is not two separate throne scenes and judgments (one in Rev. 20:4 and one in 20:11-15) separated by the millennium, but one throne scene and judgment (composed of Revelation 20:4 and 11-15) with a digression of what will happen at the end of the millennium in between (as seen in Revelation 20:7-10).
Russell’s position is that John begins describing a throne scene judgment at the beginning of the millennium in Revelation 20:4.
At 20:7-10 John digresses about what would happen at the end of the millennium, and then at verse 11 he takes up again the subject of the throne scene judgment he started in 20:4. Russell thus saw the description of the throne scene and judgment that is begun in Revelation 20:4 as being continued in Revelation 20:11.
Therefore the two sections (Rev. 20:4 and 11-15) are thus describing one throne scene judgment (which happens at the beginning of the millennium), not two throne scene judgments (one at the beginning of the millennium and one at its end).
STILL WITH ME?
Russell spoke of Revelation 20:5-10 as “a parenthesis” and says that “the sole instance in the whole book of an excursion into distant futurity are matters still future and unfulfilled.”
At this point Douglas Mckensie, regarding his own overall position on eschatology, meaning, “what he believes has and has not yet been fulfilled, says:”
AND THIS IS IMPORTANT – SO LISTEN:
“Like full preterists,” McKensie says, “I see AD 70 as the time of the Second Coming, resurrection and judgment (with the resurrection and judgment having an ongoing fulfillment since that time).”
(But) “Like partial preterists I see certain prophetic events that still await fulfillment (meaning, the destruction of Satan at the end of the millennium described in Revelation 20:7-10).
While my position is much closer to full preterism, I strongly disagree with its premise that all biblical prophecy was fulfilled by AD 70.
Then he says, “Our approach is most similar to that of nineteenth-century theologian James Stuart Russell. Like full preterists, Russell saw AD 70 as the time of the Second Coming; unlike full preterists, Russell saw the Second Coming as the beginning of the millennium, not its end.
And to add another complexity to the whole study, McKensie says:
“I call this position “premillennial preterism.”
It is premillennial in that it holds that Jesus returned right before (pre-) the millennium.
Unlike futuristic premillennialism, however, it does not see the millennium as a literal 1000-year period.”
He continues, saying:
LISTEN!
“My position is preteristic because it holds that the one and only Second Coming occurred at the AD 70 end of the old covenant age.”
Then he cites the recently deceased Reformed scholar R. C. Sproul book, saying:
“In his book The Last Days according to Jesus, Sproul wrote favorably concerning Russell’s position and his attempt to answer the hard questions related to the New Testament’s teaching of “a very soon (first century) Second Coming.”
By the way, at this point in Douglas McKensies writing he stops and posts all the EXTREMELY CONVICTING passages in the NEW TESTAMENT when Jesus and His Apostles made it supremely clear that His return – HIS SECOND COMING – as close by something that RC Sproul and CS Lewis and other early church leaders could not understand.
Anyway, let look at McKenzie’s discussion as to why the Millennium should be thought of as having its formal and official beginning in 70 AD.
[Revelation 20:1-4] is the famous passage of the binding of Satan and the reign of Jesus and His people. On the surface this passage appears relatively simple; on closer inspection, however, it turns out to be one of the most difficult and debated passages in the Bible. One of the first matters to attend to in understanding the millennium is the question of how it fits in sequentially in relation to the rest of Revelation.
Is the binding of Satan in Revelation 20:1 a continuation of the events of Revelation 19 (the AD 70 fall of Babylon and the Second Coming) or is there a recapitulation (a going back and restating of events that happened earlier)?
Some say that there is a recapitulation here, that Revelation 20 is going back to the time of Pentecost (c. AD 30) or even the beginning of Jesus’ ministry (c. AD 26).
My position is that Revelation 20 is a continuation of the (AD 70) events of Revelation 19, not a recapitulation to the time around AD 30.
In considering the sequence of Revelation 19-20, it is helpful to broaden one’s focus. Here is Revelation 19:11-20:4 without the chapter separation (since chapter separations were not part of the original manuscript).
For brevity I have left out Revelation 19:12-18 which is mostly a description of the One on the white horse (the Word of God, Rev. 19:13).
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True and in righteousness He judges and makes war…And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. Then I saw an angel coming down form heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 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.
20 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 worshipped 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.”
Notice the sequence in Revelation 19-20. The individual beast and false prophet (the one who made people take the mark of the beast, Rev. 13:11-18) are captured at the Second Coming in chapter 19 and put in the lake of fire.
Satan is then taken and thrown in the abyss as the kingdom is established in chapter 20.
Those who had lost their lives for not taking the mark of the beast (cf. Rev. 19:20; 13:15-16) are then resurrected in Revelation 20:4 at the beginning of the millennium.
God was letting His first century audience know that the one who was faithful to Him to the point of death (cf. Rev. 2:10-11) would still get to participate in the soon coming millennial reign (Rev. 2:25-27; 3:21).
Notice the reference to the mark of the beast as a past event in both chapter 19 and 20.
Revelation 20 is a continuation of the AD 70 narrative of the Second Coming, not a recapitulation to AD 30.
Then at Rev. 19:20 the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
Rev. 20:4 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 worshipped 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.
In Revelation 13:1-10 the seven churches were warned about the soon coming individual beast (cf. Rev. 17:18) that would overcome the saints.
In Revelation 13:11-18 they were warned about his mark on the head and hand (cf. Rev. 14:8-11).
These events of the tribulation were to happen in the forty-two month period (of AD 67-70) immediately preceding the Second Coming.
And he [the beast] was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months…It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation…[and] as many as would not worship the image of the beast [were] to be killed (Rev. 13:5, 7,15 brackets mine).
In Revelation 19 we are shown the defeat of the beast by the Second Coming. The saints that had been killed for not taking the beast’s mark are shown among those that come to life in chapter 20 as the millennium begins.
Revelation 20 is thus a continuation of the AD 70 narrative of chapter 19; it is not a recapitulation back to AD 30.
Again, one of the groups that come alive at the beginning of the millennium consists of those who had been killed for not taking the mark of the beast. They had gone through the great tribulation (cf. Rev. 7:9-17) and are being resurrected at AD 70 to participate in the millennium.
The sequence I have proposed above is shown in Daniel 7. 1. The Antichrist (the little eleventh horn, Dan. 7:19-20) overcomes the saints. 2. He is defeated by the coming of God. 3. The court is seated (thrones are put in place as the kingdom reign begins, Dan. 7:8-11) as the saints possess the kingdom.
I was watching; and [1] the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, [2] until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and [3] the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. Dan. 7:21-22
So too, the same sequence that is shown in Daniel is shown in Revelation. 1.
The Antichrist (the individual beast) overcomes the saints (Rev. 13:5-7). 2. He is defeated by the coming of God (Rev. 19:11-21). 3. The saints then possess the kingdom as the millennium begins (Rev. 20:4).
This is a pre-millennial sequence; the Second Coming happens right before God’s people possess the kingdom of God.
This was James Stuart Russell’s position; he considered any attempts to fit the millennium in before AD 70 (which we will discuss next) to be “violent and unnatural.” [J.S. Russell, The Parousia (Baker, 1999), 514].
It is at the AD 70 coming of God that the saints inherited the kingdom. This explains why one of the groups that come alive at the beginning of the millennium consists of believers who had been killed for not taking the mark of the beast. Again, the millennium began right after the great tribulation at the AD 70 Second Coming, not at AD 30 as the full preterists suggest.
Again, (LISTEN) it was at the coming of God (what the NT will show as the Second Coming) that God’s people possessed the kingdom of God (Dan. 7:21-22; cf. Rev. 19:11-20:4).
Now, intrinsic to the full preterist position is the claim that ALL bible prophecies have been fulfilled. All. A full preterist can not accept what is presented here because this view suggests that a few things remain and will occur yet out in the future.
But understand, these few things DO NOT include Jesus return NOR the beginning of the Resurrection.
Both of those have occurred in this view. I have to admit this view does make some great sense.
Long story short, full preterists have to reject an AD 70 beginning to the millennium. In other words, IF the millennium did begin at AD 70 (and Satan has not been loosed yet) it means there is still prophecy yet to be fulfilled (especially Satan’s loosing from the abyss at the end of the millennium, Rev. 20:7-10).
Full preterists are left with a choice of either accepting what Russel and McKensie say about an AD 70 beginning of the millennium (which would be rare) or attempt to separate the millennial kingdom (which they see as being from around AD 26-30 to sometime before AD 70) from the saints possessing the kingdom at the AD 70 Second Coming (Dan. 7:21-22).
Again, we will address how the full preterists see this as happening.
Most full preterists will attempt to differente the beginning of the millennium from the saints possessing the kingdom at the AD 70 Second Coming. Is this possible? We will see.
But if a full preterist acknowledges the start of the millennium as being the same as the AD 70 coming of the kingdom then the basic premise of all prophecy fulfilled by AD 70 is denied – and thus what we call full preterism is impossible.
ACCORDING to Russel and McKensie “comparing Daniel 7 with Revelation 20, it is impossible to make a legitimate case that the AD 70 establishment of the kingdom of God of Daniel 7 (vv. 19-27) and the millennium of Revelation 20 are speaking of two different reigns. “
But listen . . .
Of the AD 70 establishment of the kingdom, Daniel 7:9-10 says “As I watched, thrones were set in place…and “the court sat in judgment.”
Of the millennium, Revelation 20:4 “Then I saw thrones, and two, “those seated on them were given authority to judge.”
McKensie writes:
“I don’t see how one can make these to be two separate events, the first starting at AD 70 the second supposedly starting at AD 30.”
That being said, it seems to me, that while the time stamps may be altered by the full preterist, how they explain the order is:
Jesus introduced a 40 year millennium at His death and resurrection. And that Satan was bound at this time allowing the Apostles to get the good news going.
Then Satan was loosed in 67AD, reaping carnage and havoc through His beast and AntiChrist for 42 months, then Jesus returned with judgement and reward, introduced the continual resurrection of all to life and damnation, and this established the New Heaven and New earth forever more.
Perhaps I am wrong but at this point in my mind, this is how the full preterist would explain their views.
And we have to be fair – if the amillennialist and the Russellian get to mess with the thousand years (which they both do) then full preterists get the same the same leeway.
Okay.
Douglas McKensie, a Russellian continues and writes:
“Despite my disagreements with full preterism, I do agree with many of its conclusions.
Let me list some of these points of agreement:
I agree that the Second Advent (second coming of Christ) happened at AD 70 and that this was when the resurrection and judgment began (it is ongoing from that time.
According to the book of Daniel the resurrection was to begin at the end of the great tribulation; these events were to happen at the AD 70 shattering of the Jewish nation.
At that time [the time of the king of the North’s attack on Jerusalem, Dan. 11:40-45] Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt… Then I saw the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished (Daniel 12:1-2, 7; cf. 7:25-27).
McKensie notes:
“The partial preterist attempt to separate the time of the great tribulation (which they say happened at AD 70) from the time of the resurrection (which they say will happen in the future) does not hold up to scrutiny.
Consistent with Daniel 12:1-7, Revelation 11:15-18 also shows the resurrection beginning at the destruction of those who were destroying the Land of Israel.
This happened at the AD 70 full establishment of the kingdom of God.
Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”
And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:15-18 NASB).
Partial preterists acknowledge that Revelation 11:15-18 is referring to the AD 70 destruction of Israel. Because the creeds do not teach an AD 70 resurrection, however, they maintain that the judgment of the dead in Revelation 11:18 (“and the time came for the dead to be judged…”) is not really the judgment of the dead!
They claim this is just showing an AD 70 reward of the martyrs!
Contrary to what [most] partial preterists teach, the judgment began at the AD 70 defeat of the little eleventh horn (cf. Matt. 16:27-28; 25:31-46).
At this point it is usually assumed by full preterists that because the partial preterist position is shown to be wrong on these issues, full preterism is therefore shown to be correct.
AND AT THIS POINT MCKENSIE MAKES A GREAT POINT, SAYING
“This is an error in logic, however; just because a given position is wrong on a number of issues, that does not mean an alternative position is necessarily right on all points. Daniel 7 cuts both ways. Not only does it show the resurrection and judgment beginning at AD 70, it also shows the millennium beginning at that time (I still think this can be debated but we will see); that the resurrection and the millennium began at AD 70 explains why it is that the martyrs of the beast are shown being resurrected at the beginning of the millennium:
“I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witnesses to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image…And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years…” (Rev. 20:4).
Okay, so that is a position that stand outside of the three main views on the Millennium – Postmillennialism, Premillennialism and Amillenniallism – Russelleniallism – which in large part agrees with full preterism, with the exception on the millennium and the loosing of Satan – notice, NOT the binding – but the loosing.
At this point we will embark on outlining the full preterist view since that is the position that the book of Revelation, thus far, has pointed toward and since chapter twenty is apparently going to seriously challenge this stance.
Okay, let’s begin with a re-read of verses 1-15
Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his 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 the thousand 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 the souls 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 a thousand 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 years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the 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 devil that 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.
11 ¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose 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 were opened: 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 the dead 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.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Of course, full preterism does NOT see Revelation 20 as either a present (meaning an ongoing) reality or one we look forward to in the future.
To a genuine full preterist all that we just read HAS occurred.
C. Full Preterism: One Thousand Years Represents Only 40 Years
Does this work within reason?
[1] According to full-preterism, the period of time designated as “the thousand years” of Revelation 20 (verses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) is representative of the period between Christ’s resurrection (around 30 AD) all the way until Jerusalem’s judgment and destruction in 70 AD 0r Forty years, which is ONE BIBLICAL GENERATION long).
In this way, the thousand years is not a literal 1000 years out into the future (premillennialism), nor is it the nearly 2000 years and counting of this present Church age (amillennialism/post-millennialism, Russellinianism), but it covers the scope of one authenticated biblical generation (about 40 years in length).
This then parallels the one generation that God gave to the Jewish people to repent before judgment came upon their nation.
For the Church in its infancy, it was a generation in which growth and expansion took place.
I am going to pick up on this point – that from the Church-bride and its infancy, it was a generation of great growth and expansion – next week.
