We continue with,

The Millennium and the End of Sin

In our previous post we noted that our Adventist friends quote Rev 20:1-6 in explaining the millennial age and what is to occur. The problem however is in how they have interpreted this text and the erroneous conclusions which they have gleamed from it. Therefore, we deem it expedient to reexamine the text for ourselves. We have decided to concentrate on Verses 4-6 first and save 1-3 until later when we get to the part where they bring up the subject of Satan being locked up.  

Note: In Chapter 20 there are five views of the millennium each taken from a different perspective, but presently we are more concerned with the first.

1) The Millennium and the “Devil”

2) The Throne of Judgement

3) The New Order

4) The bride –The New Government

5) Food, Water, and Light in the Kingdom

The first of these views can likewise be divided into two parts.

“Verses 1-3 look at the thousand years in terms of ruler replacement. Their whole purpose for being is to state that the old ruler who had made life so very difficult will be inoperative.

Verses 4-6 look at the thousand years in terms of WHO WILL RULE INSTEAD.

THRONES symbolize the authority of judgment — not just kingship. At times the millennial rule is shown by a single throne (as in Rev 20:11 and 3:21.) At times (here in Rev 20:4 and Matt 28:18 for example) it is shown by multiple thrones. The concept and harmony is this: there is ONE RULE but shared by many in harmony. It is very much the thought of John 17:21.

The first sentence of Verse 4 poses a translation problem. It reads (NAS), “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them” The KJV is similar. The Bible does NOT DO THIS TO US! We have pronouns here (viz., I, they, them) without antecedents! Any time this MIGHT appear in the scriptures, something is wrong with the translating. Clearly, when we read this sentence, our immediate response is,

“WHO is on the thrones? To WHOM is judgment given?”

The translators in both KJV and NAS then begin (in the second sentence of Verse 4) by adding “. . . I saw.”

The word “And” in this sentence is a part of the MS. The words “I saw” are not.

(Note that words “I saw” are written in italics which indicates that it is supplied by the translators.)

This however does not clarify the matter. Their solution is no solution; it is confusion!

The NKJV changes the word from “And” to “Then”, “Then I saw…” which likewise fells to fix the problem either, in fact it actually makes it worst. It makes it appear as though first John saw thrones and someone (who knows?) sitting on them, and then looking again he saw something else, the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God…”

The answer to the problem is to simply translate the Greek word “and” (Strong’s # 2532: kai) as “even” — a correct and acceptable translation of the word.

The result is as follows:

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them — even the souls of those who had been beheaded . . .”

This way we KNOW who the “they” and the “them” are who are sitting and judging.

“SOULS” (as in Rev 6:9) is a Revelation SYMBOL; for the remembered lives of saints who are dead. This is an important point and will help us to understand the end of Verse 4.

The thrones we see are present as the thousand years begin in 1874 A.D. however they are not yet actually occupied by anyone, by new creatures yet. They are however ASSIGNED to them, all who have made their calling and election sure; hence, they (the “souls”) are said to SIT on these thrones and have the occupation as judges assigned to them.

Skip the middle of the verse temporarily — those things which describe the character of these “souls.”

Now the NAS excels the KJV in its translation:

“ . . . judgment was given to them, even the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, . . . AND THEY CAME TO LIFE and reigned . . .”

This is an accurate translation. “And they lived and reigned” (KJV) is NOT the thought. This verse is talking about the FIRST RESURRECTION. These saints have been “under the altar” (Rev 6:9, The symbol for faithfully completed sacrifice) since making their calling and election sure. They are still dead in 1874 when the thousand years commences; but they DO have these thrones of judgment promised to them and assigned to them. In 1878 A.D. (at the time of the rising of the sleeping saints) they COME TO LIFE and begin their reign with him. As Verse 5 says (without its spurious part): “THIS IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION.”

We continue with our next post.