Continued from previous post - (Revelation 20)
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Jerusalem in 70 AD. However, with regard to Revelation 21-22, partial preterists typically stand with dispensationalists and what some might believe is a more “historic orthodoxy,” viewing these chapters as a picture, cast largely in OT language, of the glorified Church situated in the glorified World to Come.
However, regarding Revelation 20, there are serious differences of opinion between these groups. Since this is where we have landed in this chapter and book (Revelation 20), let’s try to understand the various eschatological views, especially as they relate to the word Millennium.
The basics of the millennial view of Revelation 20
We have those who identify the Millennium with the entire Church Era. In this view, the binding of Satan is a work of the Spirit made possible by the Cross of Christ. Because of these two great redemptive events, Satan can no longer deceive the nations so as to prevent the ingathering of the elect, nor can he launch the Last Battle until God so decrees (which we will read about in Chapter 20 Verses 1-3). The First Resurrection and the reign of the saints is a spiritual occurrence rather than physical and (perhaps) heavenly rather than earthly (20:4-6). Revelation 20:7-10 gives us the book’s one and only prediction of the Last Battle against the Church, in which the antichrist, who has already come (in the person of Nero), plays no part.
Other texts in the Revelation that seem to predict the Last Battle were actually fulfilled during the Great Tribulation of 66-70 AD when the Church was persecuted by Israel and Rome (11:7-10, 16:12- 16, 19:19- 21). As for 20:11-14, it gives us the Revelation’s one and only description of the Last Judgment at the end of the world. This is the fundamental millennial view of Revelation 20.
The Post-Millennial View
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For post-Millennials, the Millennium is a Golden Era still out in the future to us. Therefore, the binding of Satan has yet to occur (but will happen) perhaps when ethnic Israel at large turns to Lord (Romans 11:15). This will bring about “the first resurrection” and “the reign of the saints,” and these events will burst forth with a gospel of vitality that will fill the earth, not only with multitudes of devoted Christians, but also with widespread Kingdom right- eousness, peace, and joy.
Here, the Golden Era will indeed be marred by the release of Satan and by a final rebellion against Christ and His faithful remnant (which we will read about in 20:7- 9). This mysterious reversal will be offset by the fact that the Lord himself will immediately come again, visibly, in power, and with great glory (20:9), to raise the dead, judge the world in right- eousness, and bring in the new heavens and the new earth (20:10-15).
Note that for all partial preterists, Revelation 20 (alone) gives us the supernatural Parousia of Christ, the bodily resurrection, and the Last Judgment. But all the other texts that seem to predict that these things were actually fulfilled in 70 AD (6:12-17, 11:11-19, 14:14-20, 16:17-21,19:11!) To me, this makes the partial preterist view nonsensical, for how could we have passages in Revelation 6, 11, 14, 16, and even 19 fulfilled when they are clearly describing events that would occur only at the very end and total consummation of the age? So, entering into Chapter 20, I personally stand with the idea that thus far, Chapters 1-19 have been fulfilled, and the ques- tion remains, can we reasonably read Chapters 20-22 in the same light?
If not, then partial preterism is not a reasonable response because elements of partial preterism suggest fulfillment of verses where fulfillment is impossible if He hasn’t returned. Having come this far in the study of the Revelation, it seems that a proper escha- tology of the book can only be full preterist or perhaps some form of the historicist view.
