Making Sense Of The Millennium: Resurrection In Revelation 20 -- By: Doros Zachariades

Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 14:2 (Autumn 2001)
Article: Making Sense Of The Millennium: Resurrection In Revelation 20
Author: Doros Zachariades


Making Sense Of The Millennium:
Resurrection In Revelation 20*

Doros Zachariades

Senior Pastor
Woodstock Baptist Church
Somerset, Kentucky

* This paper was originally presented on December 16, 2000 in Nashville, TN at the Evangelical Theological Society’s annual meeting.

I. Introduction

This paper will first deal with background material of Revelation as a whole. Subsequently a more detailed look at Rev 20:1–10 will conclude with observations pertaining to the type of resurrection mentioned in this hotly debated text. Throughout these arguments a position on the millennial issue becomes evident.

II. Genre Background and Structure

The Book of Revelation is complex. A perusal of commentaries and other introductory works warrants this observation. This is further borne out when one attempts to “work through” the actual exposition of the book in the many writings available. Even when a seeming scholarly consensus concerning a particular aspect of study appears to dawn on the academic horizon, dissenters from the group are still to be found.1

A. Genre

On the specific topic of genre, one must be impressed with the sustained efforts to provide definitions and nomenclature that will suffice for all students. This issue has received intense study since the two world wars. An issue of the journal Semeia2 back in 1986 continued the work done collectively by scholars since the early seventies. Based on these types of studies and the general consensus among students of the Apocalypse, it is sufficient to accept the book as having apocalyptic coloring.3 The uniqueness of John’s “Apocalyptic Work” is that it is also Scripture. It cannot fit into any genre wholesale. It is God’s final word to man. The book must be read, not so much in conjunction with other apocalyptic works, as it must be read in light of other scriptural works.4 Both Sola Scriptura and Tota Scriptura are significant for

understanding the Apocalypse of John. Scripture alone is what is definitive for belief and behavior. This necessarily includes the idea that one can understand the Book of Revelation without recourse to extra canonical works. All of Scripture is also needed, as the progress of revelation has been gradual, yet now completed....

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