Revelation Chapter 20 Commentary

Full Preterism is the view that the consummation of everything discussed in the Old and New Testaments is complete, having occurred in 70AD at the destruction of Jerusalem. For a full preterist, the “last days” are the last days of the Mosaic Covenant, contained in the (brief) period between Christ’s ascension and his (spiritual) parousia (or return) and completed with reward and judgment upon Israel.   During that time the whole (Jewish and Roman) “world” was evangelized, the fullness of ethnic Israel came in, the Antichrist (i.e., Nero) arose to power, and the Great Tribulation (which lead up to Titus’ invasion of the Great City Jerusalem) occurred and then in 70 AD, the actual parousia (or return of Christ as promised) took place and the Last Judgment of all took place.  This also initiated the resurrection of the dead.

Unlike most full preterists I submit that this all took place actually and physically where most full preterists believe it all took place spiritually instead of physically.  At this time the Kingdom (in its spiritual fullness) appeared with the new heavens and the new earth arriving (spiritually) with the New Jerusalem (as opposed to the OLD) being established in heaven rather than on earth.

Since then, according to Full Preterists, believers, at their death, are spiritually resurrected into the kingdom world to Come; unbelievers, at their death, are resurrected into the Lake of Fire: spiritually, rather than physically.   I tend to believe that the Lake of Fire is a purgative and temporary passing-through of any or all souls seeking entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven above instead of a punitive destination and I suggest this because it is “in the presence of the Lamb and His angels” and because it was made for Satan and his angels – and not Man.

People wonder, “Well, what lies ahead for the physical remains of the Saints like you and I and/or for our sin-cursed earth?”  To me what lies ahead is what has lied behind for 2000 years.  God calling, true-seekers responding, and God adding to His Kingdom Sons and Daughters while the faithless will enter a heavenly realm that are outside the walls of the New Jerusalem, which appear to be some sort of realm of darkness.

The Kingdom then, from this view, is the direct reign of God, through Christ, by the Spirit in and through those who are His Sons and Daughters; this kingdom is entered into through faith in Christ; and is, in essence, the promise of the Eternal Covenant. 

Critics of Full Preterism maintain that the last days are not the last days of the Mosaic Covenant but rather these are the days in which the New Covenant has been manifested in the earth.  These suggest that these last days all began at Christ’s incarnation and will conclude at his Parousia, which awaits the world.  Let’s talk for a minute about partial preterism.

Regarding chapters 1-19, partial preterists are in accord with full preterists: all is focused on the Jewish/Roman persecution of the Church, the rise of the Beast (Nero), and the Destruction of 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 and 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 Amillennial view of Revelation 20

We have those who identify the Millennium with the entire Church Era.  On 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 are spiritual 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 amillennial view of Revelation 20.

The Post-Millennial View

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 righteousness, 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 righteousness, 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 non-sensical for how could we have passages in Revelation 6, and 11, and 14 and 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 question 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 eschatology of the book can only be full Preterist or perhaps some form of the historicist view.