Millennial Madness
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Grappling with the millennial reign of Christ
Text: Rev. 20:4-6
Date: 02/05/2012, the Evening service.
Series: "Revelation" Part 52
Description:
In this message we will explore the single most hotly debated issue in the book of Revelation-- the millennial reign of Christ. The belief in an independent segment of time during which Christ will reign physically on earth was evident in the interpretations of the early church fathers but then disappeared for hundreds of years. In our time, this interpretation (known as chiliasm or millennialism) has become dominant-- even among careful scholars. The resulting sensationalism can only be described as "millennial madness"! As we work our way through this passage, we will concentrate on the text in as non-technical a manner as possible. We will look at the words and phrases at the root of the controversy and try to show both sides of the issue. Finally, we will step back from the text and consider the "entire forrest" rather than just the trees and determine what the message of the passage is from both a millennial and a non-millennial perspective.
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Rev. 20:4-6.
A. Context
1. Recapitulation.
2. The incarceration of Satan.
3. The meaning of the 1,000 years.
B. Identifying the thrones and "souls", vs. 4a.
1. Where are the thrones? (vs. 4a, Rev. 2:13, 3:21)
2. Who is seated on the thrones? (1Cor. 6:2-3)
a. Starting with Daniel, Dan. 7:9, 22.
b. The meaning of "to judge".
c. Exploring the possibilities.
i. The martyrs, Rev. 6:9.
ii. The 24 elders, Rev. 4:4.
iii. The court of heaven.
3. Who are the "souls" John sees and what state are they in?
a. Defining "souls".
b. Identifying the owners of the "souls".
i. A single group-- the beheaded martyrs.
ii. Two separate groups.
iii. A single group-- the saints.
C. The hugely debated phrase, "come to life", vs. 4b-5.
1. The thousand year reign of Christ, Rev. 12:5, 10, Matt. 16:18.
2. Understanding the "first resurrection".
3. Literal and figurative interpretations, Rev 2:8, 13:14, Matt. 9:18, Luke 15:24.
4. A spiritual resurrection of the saints.
a. The regeneration of the saints, Eph. 2:1, Rom. 6:4.
b. The spiritual resurrection of the saints, John 11:25.
5. Building disagreement.
6. Identifying the "rest of the dead".
a. Who is included?
b. The resurrection of unbelievers, John 5:28-29.
7. Summation and reasoning.
a. The paradoxes of the Apocalypse
b. the use of the word "first".
D. The fifth beatitude, vs. 6.
1. Understanding the "second death".
2. The double blessing, 1Pet. 2:9.
III. Considering both scenarios.
A. The "millennial" interpretation.
B. The "non-millennial" interpretation.
IV. Conclusion
