When we decide to study the book of Revelation and what is called eschatology, or end times theology, we first need to understand and define our lens or view of Revelation. The best way to do this is first start with the Millennium. The reason for this is because your view of the millennium will color your view of Revelation. So, first before starting with Revelation 1, we actually begin with Revelation 20, the thousand year millennium.
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. Revelation 20:1-3
Many people today avoid the study of Revelation and end times theology. This is unfortunate because when Paul speaks to the elders at Ephesus in Acts 20, he says, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” This means we should consider all that the Bible says and our belief system should and does include what we believe about the last things or end times. You may ask, “Why does it matter?” That is a valid question and should be considered. We will think about this question through this survey of the Millennium. After all, how does my belief about the Millennium affect my daily life? Think about that question.
The word “millennium” comes from two Latin words - “mille” meaning “thousand” and “annus” which means “year”, giving the meaning one thousand years. This period of time, the millennium, is referred to in Revelation 20 and nowhere else in the Bible. It is a valid and appropriate question to ask why this is. Why is Revelation the only place the 1000 year reign of Christ mentioned? Let's take a moment and consider what Revelation 20 says. There are a lot of details so we are going to stay with the main ideas to give an overall picture.
It is very important to the note the book you are reading, the author and the genre. If you don't consider this, it could lead you into error. We are reading Revelation, a book known for its signs, symbols and visions. Looking at the beginning of Revelation the Apostle John tells us, “Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy” (vs. 3) and a few verses down, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches”. (vs. 10-11) So, Revelation is a prophecy that includes a series of visions. This means that the language is highly symbolic. The book of Revelation is considered apocalyptic literature. This genre is prophetic writing that details an author's visions that is usually given by an angel or messenger. While parts of some of the Old Testament prophetic books are considered apocalyptic literature, the entire book of Revelation is in this genre. So what does this mean? Again this means the book and language of Revelation is highly symbolic.
Let me ask you a question, “Does the angel in Revelation 20 have a “real” key and “real” chain. Is is possible to bind a spiritual being with literal keys and chains. If the language is symbolic, then what does this tells us about the 1000 years, the millennium? These are the questions we will be considering as we explore each of the four views of the millennium. Keep in mind that the view you have, what you believe, will affect how you think and live. Nothing is in a “safe zone”. Ideas have consequences.
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