by Sean Cavender
Synopsis: Amillennialism recognizes the use of figures and symbols in the book of Revelation and how God, through Jesus Christ, has established His kingdom, defeated Satan, and gives hope to faithful saints.
People are often captivated by various teachings about the end of time, the return of Christ, and the kingdom of God. Many people expect that God still needs to complete His promises regarding the land that He would give to Israel, as well as the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. Millennial doctrines often assert that the kingdom of God will be established in Jerusalem. They also interpret the 1,000 years of Revelation 20 in a literal way, expecting Jesus will reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem for a literal 1,000 years.
Famous authors like Hal Lindsey, Tim LaHaye, and Jerry B. Jenkins have sensationalized the “end times.” The popularity these authors have may give the appearance that amillennialism is a fringe theory. However, amillennialism has been the dominant way to understand Revelation 20 and other passages throughout much of “church history,” with Origen, Augustine, Luther, and Calvin all taking an amillennial interpretation of the book of Revelation (Elwell and Yarborough, 361).
Both pre- and post-millennial theories argue for an earthly kingdom of God. The amillennial view, and the teaching of Scripture, denies an earthly kingdom. Instead, amillennialism emphasizes the nature of the millennial kingdom. Baker’s Encyclopedia defines amillennialism as: “The amillennial (no millennium, at least of a visible, earthly nature) interpretation stresses the symbolism of Revelation and holds that now, during the present age, Satan is bound and the church is experiencing the millennium” (Elwell and Beitzel, 1460). Koester offers this brief comment: “Amillennialism describes theological systems that do not include an explicit thousand year period…” (Koester, 180). So, we see that an amillennial interpretation of the book of Revelation opposes millennial concepts of an earthly and nationalistic Messianic kingdom that will exist for a literal 1,000 years.
Various interpretations about the 1,000-year reign are derived from the text of Revelation 20:1-6. Amillennialism denies assertions of a literal 1,000-year reign of Jesus on the earth because Jesus affirmed that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). Christ did not teach that His kingdom would be established in Jerusalem after His second coming, where He would reign for 1,000 years on the earth. Jesus said that His kingdom would exist, i.e., “come with power” within the lifetime of His generation (Mark 9:1). In the preaching of the apostles, they make it clear that Jesus was reigning as king over His kingdom (Acts 2:33, 36; 8:12, 35). They announced that Jesus is seated in heaven at the right hand of God. He is king over His kingdom, and He established His kingdom after His earthly ministry (cf. Matt. 16:18). The kingdom of God is not something that will be established on earth at the second coming of Christ because it has already been established. All who are saved by the blood of Christ are citizens of His kingdom (Col. 1:13).
One of the first keys to an amillennial interpretation is first understanding the literary context in Revelation. The book of Revelation is from the apocalyptic literary genre. Apocalyptic literature frequently used various signs, symbols, and numbers that represent real circumstances experienced by the original audience. The figurative imagery and symbols used are not to be interpreted as if they would literally come to pass. Apocalyptic writing also gives a glimpse into things that would shortly come to pass (Rev. 1:3). While apocalyptic books, like Revelation, can and do at times provide insight into the future, final judgment, that is only secondary to its purposes. Its primary function was to explain the present reality to whom the message was initially given.
Revelation 20 is used by those who argue for a literal 1,000-year reign of Christ on the earth. However, we want to examine Revelation 20 in light of what the Bible teaches. We must remember that we must allow clear and straightforward passages of Scripture to explain more difficult and figurative passages of Scripture.
Revelation 20 opens with the devil cast into the bottomless pit, or the abyss, and bound for 1,000 years. Readers must identify the abundant use of figures in the chapter. Satan is described as a “dragon,” “the serpent of old,” and “the devil” (Rev. 20:2). This is a reminder of the terrible things that Satan did in waging war against Christ and the church through the violent persecutions against Christians (Rev. 6:9-11). Revelation 20 reminded the suffering saints that the devil has been judged and defeated by Jesus.
Christ came to earth to bind the devil and to destroy sin and death (Mark 3:27; 1 John 3:8; Heb. 2:14). Since the devil has been defeated, the kingdom of God has come and has been established (Matt. 12:28). Satan’s defeat is associated with the inauguration of the kingdom of God. Revelation 20 describes God’s judgment and the binding of Satan. This has been accomplished through the work of Jesus.
Revelation 20 not only considers Satan’s defeat but also describes the victory given to faithful Christians! Brother Dan King makes the point that Revelation 20 does not depict the so-called “1,000-year reign of Christ”; the chapter actually describes the reign of the martyred saints with Christ for 1,000 years (King, 319).
Jesus is presently reigning as King and has been since He ascended to be at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33-36; Eph. 1:20-23; Rev. 3:7, 21). Revelation 20 offers vindication and hope to those who have been loyal and devoted servants to King Jesus, even at the cost of their lives. The martyred saints have hope because they have taken part in the “first resurrection,” having been raised in newness of life (John 5:25-27; Rom. 6:3-6). This “first resurrection” is associated with salvation; it does not refer to the bodily resurrection at the end of the age. Those who have taken part in the “first resurrection” have nothing to fear in eternity since “the second death has no power” over them (Rev. 20:6).
Numbers in the book of Revelation are highly symbolic. Large numbers appear in Revelation to describe something vast and innumerable (Rev. 5:11; 7:4, 9). The number 1,000 is used throughout Scripture to be inclusive and exhaustive of particular items. In Psalm 50:10, the parallel statements, “every beast of the field” and the “cattle on a thousand hills,” emphasize that every creature belongs to God. The use of 1,000 is not meant to limit the number of cattle that belongs to God to only those on a thousand hills. Rather, it is used in a fuller sense to describe all creatures that belong to God. Also, God assured Israel that He would bless them to the thousandth generation if they would be faithful to His covenant (Deut. 7:9). The number 1,000 depicts the defeat of Satan. By contrast, the 1,000 years is a symbol to faithful saints, assured of total victory for being loyal to Christ.
Amillennialism looks to the Scriptures to see how God has been faithful to His covenants and has established the kingdom of promise by setting His Son, Jesus Christ, upon the throne of David to rule over the everlasting kingdom. Praise to God that the kingdom has been inaugurated, the New Covenant established, and that King Jesus offers forgiveness of sins and citizenship in His kingdom (Col. 1:13).
Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. “Millennium.” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988.
Elwell, Walter A., and Robert W. Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament: A Historical and Theological Survey.Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013.
King, Sr., Daniel H. I Saw the Heaven Opened. Athens, AL: Truth Publications, 2018.
Koester, Craig R. Revelation and the End of All Things.Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2018), 180.
Author Bio: Sean has worked with the Bald Knob church of Christ in Bald Knob, AR for four years. He and his wife, Kristin, have two children. The church website is bkchurch.net. He can be reached at spcavender@gmail.com.
