Revelation 20Revelation 20 is one of the most disputed passages in the Bible among students of prophecy. This is especially true when a-millennialists debate pre-millennialists. For those not familiar with the two terms, let me give a brief description. There are actually 3 positions on the "millennium" as follows.
"Pre-millennial" simply means Christ's second coming is "pre" [before] the 1,000 year period mentioned in Revelation 20:2,4,5. This view says Christ will physically rule on earth from Jerusalem with the saints for 1,000 years. After this, there will be the general resurrection and judgment of the dead at the Great White Throne.
"Post-millennial" means Christ's second coming is after the "millennium." This view sees Christianity making great inroads into the governments of the world, with such great social impact, that there will virtually be "peace on earth" while Christians rule for 1,000 years. After this, Jesus will return. This view was popular before the two world wars, but is not held by many today.
"A-millennial" means "no-millennium." This view does not take the 1,000 years literally, but sees this as just a symbolic term to describe a long period of time. A-mills believe Revelation 20 is describing this present age, with the saints ruling with Christ from heaven now. Consequently, they do not think Rev. 20 follows chronologically after Rev. 19 [which describes the second coming]. The strongest point in favor of this view from the text of Revelation, is the Battle of Armageddon in Chapter 19 is believed to be a parellel to the battle mentioned at the end of the 1,000 years in Rev. 20:7-9.
I believe there is a lot of evidence for "pre-mill" elsewhere in the Scriptures. But, Revelation 20 gives "proof" in my opinion. In this article I would like to focus strictly on Rev. 20. The key question is, does Rev. 20 [which describes the Millennium] follow chronologically after Rev. 19 [which describes the second coming of Christ]? If so, then pre-mill must be right. If not, then a-mill or post-mill could be right.
Rev 20:1-6
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.
(KJV)
The crucial point I want you to see, is the ones being raised to reign with Christ were killed for their resistance to "the Beast."
"...which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands..."
The implication is clear that the "first resurrection" includes the martyrs of the tribulation. According to Rev. 13:5, the Beast is allowed to "continue" for 42 months. And, according to Rev. 19:20, the "Beast" is thrown into the lake of fire at Christ's second coming. Therefore, the Beast rules for the last 42 months before Jesus comes. And, since those slain because they refused to worship the Beast or his image, or take his mark, are raised to reign with Christ for 1,000 years, the 1,000 years must necessarily be after the second coming of Jesus. Or, to state it another way, Jesus will come BEFORE [pre-] the 1,000 years, [millennium].
Verse 5 says the "rest of the dead" [those not raised in the "first resurrection"] will be raised AFTER the 1,000 years to stand trial before the Great White Throne.
A-mills point out the similarity of the battle in Rev. 20:7-9 with Armageddon, in Rev. 19. But, they are not the same battle. Why?
Rev 19:19-20
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
(KJV)
Both the "Beast" and the "False Prophet" are cast into the lake of fire at the Battle of Armageddon. But...
Rev 20:7-10
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.
(KJV)
Notice that when Satan is cast into the lake of fire at the battle after the 1,000 years, the Beast and False Prophet are already there! This means they were cast into the lake of fire BEFORE this battle in Rev. 20. This is PROOF that the battle in Rev. 20 is not the same as Armageddon, but follows chronologically after Armageddon. Therefore, the 1,000 years mentioned in Rev, 20 must be between Armageddon and this battle. Consequently, a-mill cannot be correct.