After reading through the first three chapters of Revelation, interpretation of this apocalyptic and prophetic document written two thousand years ago has fallen neatly into four categories:
- Historicist commentators see the fulfilment of Revelation carried out in church history.
- Preterist scholars see John’s Apocalypse as a word to those who lived through the destruction of Jerusalem—possibly also including the downfall of the western Roman Empire.
- Futurist theologians rather see Revelation as a prophetic word yet to be fulfilled.
- Spiritual interpreters look for the universal truths that speak to every culture and age.
But now we have reached the Millennium, possibly one of the most famous passages in the whole of the New Testament after the Gospels. The categories change, here. Instead of four interpretive views, there are really three, as described in the previous post: Premillennial, Amillennial, Postmillennial, and.
Then I saw an angel descending out of the heavens, having the key to the Abyss, with an immense chain in his hand.
And having taken hold of the Dragon—the Serpent, the Primeval One, the one who is the Opposer [Devil] and the Accuser [Satan]—he then bound him for a thousand years.
And [the angel] cast [the Dragon] into the Abyss, shut it then secured it with a seal over him, in order that he would not yet be able to lead the nations astray until the end of the thousand years—after these things he must be set loose, for a little time.
Revelation 20:1-3
Premillennial
The word “Then” (καί | kai, a versatile conjunction that can mean quite a few things, including “and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet”) connects this vision with the one described in the previous chapter of the victorious Christ astride a white steed, the Second Coming. The beast—identified by futurist scholars as the Antichrist—and the false prophet are both thrown into the Lake of Fire. So, the capture and imprisonment of the dragon would naturally come next as the King of kings establishes his kingdom.
Because the archangel Michael, mightiest of all God’s angels, was victorious over Satan in Revelation 12, it seems like the unnamed angel in this passage is one and the same.
The Abyss
First introduced in Revelation 9, it is thought this must be a place somewhere on, or more likely in the earth, having first been formed by a falling star. The falling star, presumably one of those angels cast out of heaven, was given a key to the abyss. But the angel in this passage comes from heaven and already has possession of the key, indicating this angel is from God.
Containment of Satan
The angel seizes the Devil, binds him with massive manacles, and thrusts him into the abyss. Then, he shuts the abyss, presumably locking it with the key, and then seals the door as an added security measure.
Bound and imprisoned, Satan will be prevented from deceiving the people of earth, from consolidating a new power base, from creating new alliances and battle plans for a thousand years. This is not to say sin will be eradicated but rather that the Serpent of old will not be catalyst.
Proof of Future Fulfillment
It is not hard to find it! Satan’s deceptions are rife throughout the world today, making any other interpretation untenable.
We learn secondarily that there will be, astonishingly, still nations left to deceive after that horrific Battle of Armageddon, and the judgment of the Antichrist and false prophet. These people will be Christ’s subjects in his kingdom established on earth. Sadly, their descendants will once again be seduced, a thousand years later, when the Dragon is once again set loose to roam the earth.
Amillennial
“Then” only gives the chronology of John’s visions, not necessarily a chronology of events. Because Revelation 12 is a vision of Jesus’s birth, after chapters describing events though would happen long afterwards, so this chapter is also anachronistic in that it describes the beginnings of the Jesus movement, the birth of the church. The victory that Christ has over Satan was accomplished in 33 CE, when Jesus died and rose again.
It is possible the angel who binds Satan is the archangel Michael, but it is equally possible this is a metaphorical depiction of Jesus, who has defeated the devil. It could also be a picture of Satan’s overthrow as the church is established.
Spiritual Metaphor
Because Satan is a spiritual being, the chain and the locked abyss must be portrayals of a spiritual event. It would not be possible to bind a spiritual being with physical restraints.
By the same token, Satan described as a serpent and a dragon must hold spiritual meaning, because he is not literally a snake or a mythical fire-breathing beast. In the same way, Jesus is described physically as a lamb because he was a pure, innocent, and acceptable sacrifice, not literally ovine. Jesus is also described as having seven horns and seven eyes, a symbolic reference to his omnipotence and omniscience, not to his physical appearance.
That being the case, the abyss, the seal, and the thousand years should also be viewed as metaphorical, as they are in other Bible passages.
Limited Power
The chaining of Satan does not preclude Satan from being active in other ways, but only that he cannot prevent the success of the Gospel, and the advancement of God’s kingdom. Jesus plundered Satan’s household by his divine power and by the truth Jesus taught.
“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered.”
Jesus, in Matthew 12:28-29 (NRSVUE)
By casting out demons, Jesus was demonstrating that he had bound the “strong man,” Satan. The parallel passage in Luke also indicates Jesus stripped Satan of his armor and weapons. The devil is a defeated foe and can never again gain victory over Jesus or his own.
Paul used this same battle imagery, writing that Jesus
disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:15 (NRSVUE)
The writer of Hebrews similarly wrote that
… through death he [Jesus] might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil …
Hebrews 2:14 (NRSVUE, brackets added)
Postmillennial
“Then” is chronological, but the events described ensue because of the Gospel’s victory across the earth. The church is established worldwide, all nations are Christianized and therefore under Christ’s command, thus ushering in Christ’s Second Coming.
There will come a time when Satan’s power is diminished then bound because he will no longer have the ear of humanity. Humankind will have sworn allegiance to Jesus, and the Devil, substantially weakened in persuasive power, will simply not have the ability to deceive those who belong to the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Symbolic Time
A “thousand years” refers to this future time when all earth will be the Lord’s through the preaching of the gospel. Unlike amillennialists, postmillennialists see a steady progression towards good in human cultures and governments as a result of the gospel’s influence, culminating in a golden age of Gospel goodness. All world affairs will be brought under the dominion of Christ.
The three millennial views are taken from Revelation: Four Views A Parallel Commentary, edited by Steve Gregg
