Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 135:537 (Jan 1978)
Article: Premillennialism in Revelation 20:4-6
Author: Jack S. Deere

BSac 135:537 (Jan 78) p. 58

Premillennialism in Revelation 20:4-6

Jack S. Deere

[Jack S. Deere, Instructor in Semitics and Old Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary.]

Introduction

Many will concede that a prima facie reading of Revelation 20:4–6 and its context yields the doctrine of an intermediate Messianic kingdom, i.e., a kingdom inaugurated by Christ at His second advent and terminating or merging with the eternal state. In fact, such a doctrine was held by the majority of the early church fathers.1 In the third century the formidable Alexandrians, Dionysius, Clement, and Origen, declared war on premillennialism.2 The doctrine was attacked with ad hominem arguments, accused of being Judaistic, and chided for using a literal hermeneutic.3 With the coming of Augustine and his development of the amillennial interpretation, the doctrine of premillennialism was all but obliterated, and only rarely did anyone venture to put forward a premillennial interpretation of Revelation 20:4–6.

However, the present day has witnessed a reversal in the interpretation of John’s millennial vision. Hanns Lilje, T. F. Glassen, Albrecht Oepke, Austin Farrer, C. B. Caird, R. H. Charles, and Mathias Rissi, without necessarily embracing premillennialism, all understand John to be describing an intermediate Messianic kingdom

BSac 135:537 (Jan 78) p. 59

in Revelation 20:4–6.4 Yet not all the commentators just mentioned think John was correct in his view of the millennium or consistent with other New Testament writers. For instance, Farrer says:

But why did St. John believe in a millennial standstill, if St. Paul did not? It seems that the doctrine established itself in rabbinic theology towards the end of the first century A.D.; St. Paul would not have learnt it at the feet of Gamaliel, the Seer of Revelation might well learn [sic] it at whose ever feet it was he sat.5

According to John, however, the confirming authority for his doctrine of the intermediate kingdom was not found in Rabbinic theology, but in a vision (cf. Rev 20:4, καὶ εἶδον) which was given to him by the Master of that kingdom (Rev 1:1). This does not mean that Rabbinic theology or intertestamental literature is not ...