The Millennium

Responding to Ron Rhodes’ The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy

Debate 7: Ron Rhodes asks, ‘Which View of the Millennium Is Correct?’ and looks at Amillennialism, Postmillennialism and Premillennialism.

The Millennial Views

The term millennium means 1000 years and, concerning the Bible, relates to Revelation 20 that says ‘they will reign with him for a thousand years.’ Interpretations of this chapter have brought about three very different millennial views.

Postmillennialism is the belief that Christ will return after a literal 1000 year period at the end of this Church age in which Christian ethics are practiced in a so-called ‘golden age’.

Premillennialism is the belief that Christ will return before a literal 1000 year period to reign on earth in a ‘golden age’ of peace.

Amillennialism is the belief that the 1000 years in Revelation 20 is to be understood figuratively rather than literally. In other words, no literal 1000 years was intended by the author.

My aim here is to show that the Amillennial view is the natural outcome when interpreting Revelation in its genre. At the same time, it will become clear that the Amillennial view is perfectly congruent with the rest of the New Testament.

Sadly, what will become clear is that many have been robbed of the blessing of understanding the meaning of the 1000 years that was given to the Church for her encouragement as she engages with this world.

They Will Reign With Him for a Thousand Years

‘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’ (Revelation 20:6).

Interpretation:

‘the first resurrection’ – Consider ‘God…made us alive in Christ, even when we were dead in our sins’. Also, Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

‘Over such the second death has no power’ – Having been ‘dead in our sins’, a spiritual death that came upon all humanity as a result of Adam’s transgression, we were raised to life to ‘never die’ again.

‘they will be priests of God and of Christ’ – Consider that Revelation began with the statement, ‘To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood, who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever!’ This clearly speaks of the role of all who are in Christ’s Church. After all, concerning our priestly work, Scripture speaks of ‘God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.’

‘and they will reign with him’ – This speaks of the Church age where its members reign with Christ by way of their priestly role. Remember, Jesus was given all authority in heaven and on earth and we are ‘seated with Him in heavenly places.’ Furthermore, concerning the reality of Christ’s priestly kingdom in this world, Revelation begins with ‘I, John, your brother and partner in the … kingdom …’

‘for a thousand years’ – This, therefore, is the period that the Church reigns with Christ.

The Case for Amillennialism

Amillennialism means there is no literal 1000 years. This interpretation is derived from recognizing the use figurative language throughout Revelation, which includes the numbers that are used. In my post, Numerology in The Revelation, I argue that numbers should be considered figurative if –

the literature is apocalyptic (a genre that uses symbolic and allegorical language)
there is clear use of numerology
numerology is used at the outset
numbers associated with Biblical numerology are used
numbers associated with Biblical numerology are used throughout
only numbers associated with Biblical numerology are used throughout
credible Biblical meaning is consistently the outcome of interpretation
multiple cases in the text make putting it to chance an impossible explanation

Revelation ticks all of the above, therefore, it is imperative that we interpret the figurative meaning of the numbers in Revelation rather than their literal meaning.

Previously, I showed how the number 144000 in Revelation is a numerological construct of the numbers 12, 2, 10 and 3 and explained that these numbers held symbolic meaning in Judaism and in the early Church. Therefore, by interpreting them together, they could understand what was being communicated by the number 144000.

Similarly, the number 1000 would have been recognized as a numerological construct of the numbers 10 and 3, where their meaning was jointly the key to understanding the number 1000.

1000 Years:

10 x 10 x 10 = 1000

10³ = 1000

Meaning:

10 = quantitative fullness

3 = God (Trinity)

1000 years is to be interpreted therefore as the full quantity of time (10) that is given by God (3) for the church to reign with Christ in a priestly kingdom, doing the work of reconciliation. During this time, Satan is ‘bound’ by Jesus ‘so that he might not deceive the nations any longer.’ This symbolically means that Satan’s sway over the souls of men is restricted so that he cannot prevent the salvation of those who are being saved through the Gospel.

‘When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations …to gather them for battle’. They will surround ‘the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire’ comes down from heaven and consumes them. And, ‘the devil who had deceived them’ is ‘thrown into the lake of fire’.

Conclusion

In short, the 1000 years is symbolic of the period from the Church’s inception and commissioning as priests under Jesus Christ, who has all authority in heaven and on earth, until this age given for the salvation of mankind is over. Then, Satan is released and is quickly destroyed along with all who follow him.

Rob Morley

Responses To Ron Rhodes’ ‘The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy’: