Some thoughts on Rev 20

I was reading Revelation 20 this morning, and there were some things I saw that I had not noticed before.

As far as the binding of Satan is concerned, the amillennialist wil say that Satan is, indeed bound, but that he has been given a realm of influence upon the earth. They say that he is bound like a dog is tied to a stake, but has a chain, and he can go as far as his chain will let him. I can see why an amil would say this. I used to be one. If you look at the world about you, you would have to assume that Satan still does have a lot of influence. However, let's look instead at Revelation 20.

"(1-3)And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand*. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should decieve the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: after that he must be loosed a little season...(7)And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,..."

*The chain the amils speak of.

From this text we can see that yes, indeed, Satan is bound with a chain. But it is not the picture of a dog bound to a stake, roaming about freely upon the earth as far as his chain will let him. From this text we can see that Satan is not even on the earth. It is the picture of a man in a prison with a chain on his legs. Sure he may be able to stand up and walk a few feet in one direction or another, but he is in a prison. His realm of influence would ONLY be that of those in the prison cell with him. And Satan's "prison cell" is the bottomless pit. I have not done any real study on the bottomless pit Revelation speaks of, but we know that Satan was taken from the earth in order to be tossed in there, so we know that the bottomless pit is not the earth. So, theoretically, while Satan is in his prison, the bottomless pit, he cannot have any direct influence upon the earth. I do not deny however, that he may have demons who do his bidding upon the earth.

Hubby's Blog

Everyone should go read my hubby's blog. He has a great quote from Greg Bahnsen. www.joshbrisby.blogspot.com

Mathison on Amillennialism

"Another matter that amillennialists have not adequately considered is the course of Satan's kingdom prior to the Cross. Was it growing, declining, or holding steady? If, as amillennialism asserts, it is growing during the present age, then what effect did the life, death, resurrection, and ascention of Christ have on Satan's kingdom? If it was growing before the Cross and it is still growing after the Cross, then the life and death of Christ had virtually no effect on the growth of Satan's kingdom. If it was declining or holding steady until the first coming of Christ and then began growing, then Christ's life, death, resurrection, and ascention jump-started the kingdom of Satan. Amillennialism would force us to believe that the work of Christ had either no effect or a positive effect on the growth of Satan's kingdom." -Keith Mathison

Binding A Strong Man

Admittedly, this argument can tend to be philosophical, although not entirely.

Here are two statements from Keith Mathison and Ken Gentry, respectively, that are taken from Thine is the Kimgdom: Studies in Postmillennial Hope Edited by Gentry.

The New Testament repeatedly declares that Satan was decisively defeated and restrained at Christ's first advent (Matthew 12:29, Luke 10:18, John 12:31, Colossians 2:15, 1 John 1:38). Hebrews 2:14 uses even stronger language that Revelation 20, saying throught his death on the cross, Christ rendered Satan "powerless". The binding of Satan dos not mean that his activity completely ceases (1Peter 5:8), but that he can no longer prevent the spread of the gospel to the nations (Revelation 20:3). The revelation that he will be briefly released at the end of the age dissallows any form of perfectionist utopianism. Satan, sin, and death will not be completely destroyed until the Second Coming.

"Christ accomplishes Satan's binding judicially in the first centure". Note that I clearly state that Satan's binding is accomplished judicially by Christ in the first century.
But then I go on to explain the consequences of that judicial action (I am not exegeting Revelation 20:2) "the binding increasingly constricts Satan throughout the Christian era (i.e., the 'one thousand years')". I do believe that Satan's power in the world is being gradually thwarted by the spread of the gospel and as an effect of his judicial binding...This increasing constriction is a consequence of the gradual growth of the kingdom of God throughout the world(e.g.,Matthew 13:31-33) Were Satan not legally boung by God (as per Revelation 20:3) this could not happen. However, Revelation 20 does lay the groundwork for this result by noting that Satan is bound for a particular purpose:"that he should not decieve the nations any longer" (Revelation 20:3). Since he is fully bound do that he cannot "decieve the nations", the gospel gradually goes forth and secures the nations, thereby increasingly constricting Satan in what he can accomplish.

Matthew 12:28-29-(Chrtist speaking)"But if I cast out demons by the spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first bonds the strong man? And then he will plunder (emphasis mine) his house."

What does plunder mean? With all due admiration and respect to my amillennial brothers and sisters, in their view of what will take place in the end times, there is no plundering.

If a thief wants to take a little here or there from a house, why go through the trouble of binding the strong man? In our day, we have lots of theives, but how often do you hear of people being bound in their houses for the purpose of the thief plundering their house? Thieves now days do not plunder houses, they take a little here and a little there. Maybe one or two things from several different rooms, but they also have no need of binding anyone :).

But that is not how Christ decribes the burglary in Matthew. The thief, first binds the strong man, then with no opposition from anyone, he is able to freely plunder his house. That means he goes room by room (nation by nation), taking everything valuable (God's elect) in sight, maybe he leaves the broken TV. The amillennial position would have you believe that with no opposition, the thief (Christ) will go room by room (nation by nation) and only take one or two things (a remnant). This would go against the nature of a thief.


TO BE CONTINUED...

Psalm 2 and Genesis 15-21

All right everyone here we go.

Concerning Psalm 2, I am rethinking this as a proof text for postmillennialism, so I may write about it later, but not at this time.

Genesis 15-21. Sarai is barren, and way past her child-bearing years. Abram is old as well. But God promised Abram that he would have a son. Keep in mind through this study of postmillennialism, that what may seem impossible to man is possible with God. For with God, who cannot lie, all things are possible.

So, God promised Abram that he would have a son, and lo and behold, his wife gave birth to a son at 90 yrs. of age. God promised Abram that his son would be the beginning of descendants more numerous that the stars of the sky. God did not deny Abram a promised son, will he now deny him his promised multitude of descendants?

Gen 15:1-..."I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great..."
15:5-And He took him outside and said," Now look towards the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them,"And He said to him," So shall your descendants be."
17:1b-2- "I am God Almighty;Walk before me and be blameless. I will establish my covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exeedingly."
17:4-6-"As for Me, behold, my covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations...For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you.
18:18-...since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.*

Now fast forward to the New Testament Era, the church is Israel. These promises God made to Abraham, are to be fulfilled in the bride of Christ. Many times in the New Testament we are told those of faith are the seed/descendants of Abraham. I know many of my intended readers agree with this, so I'll only look up and post the references for this if someone asks me to. This may be one of the most important factors to remember as we study postmillennialism. There are three things to remember actually, first, is that the church (spiritual Israel) is the intended recipient of many of Israel's promises, and second, with God all things are possible, and third, God's thoughts and way are much higher than our own.



TO BE CONTINUED...