Rev. 12 refers to "times, time, and half a time," as well as 7 horns, 10 horns, 7 crowns, 1/3 of the stars, and 1,260 days. When we come to Rev. 13, we find 42 months and the number 666. When we arrive at Revelation 16, we see the 7 bowls are counted off. Revelation 17 describes 10 horns, 7 heads, 10 horns, and an eighth king. There are many numbers in the book and the vast majority of scholars accept those numbers for what they are. They accept the numbers literally.      The Kingdom. So when we come to Revelation 20:1-4, should we reject the number 1,000 years and now make an exception and say that this number does not mean one thousand? Should we say that it does not refer to 1,000 years? The answer is no. The 1,000 years are literal just like the others. With a strictly symbolic approach to interpretation we have confusion. With a symbolic approach everything is suspect and there might really be 101 trumpets or only one seal.      The Holy Spirit is telling us that Satan will be bound for 1,000 years. He will not be allowed to continue his works of evil. Some have said that Satan is bound now and the "kingdom" of God is advancing. They believe the world is getting better and better. They would say that Christianity is gradually taking over the world. How can that be true? The Holy Spirit has told us by the Apostle Paul that an apostasy will come first.     . . . that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first . . . (NASB) 2 Thess. 2:2-3   This means the "kingdom" on earth will almost be destroyed, and then the Tribulation will come. God will destroy those who oppose Him and then establish His kingdom. Then the kingdom will really rule the world.       Notice that Rev. 20:4 tells us that we will reign with Jesus Christ for 1,000 years. Shall we reject the number and say that it is symbolic? If it is symbolic, how much of Revelation shall we say is symbolic? If we do that, then the meaning of Revelation is open to anyone's imagination. Among those who take that position, there are many different meanings, and they significantly disagree with each other. But if we accept all of these numbers literally, then the book is easier to understand. The kingdom is real, and it lasts for 1,000 years. Every Christian returns to life before the kingdom starts, and those who are not Christians do not return to life until after the universe is destroyed.   Conclusion:   Why reject a literal understanding of Revelation? If we understand it literally, we have a wonderful understanding of our coming future. The book of Daniel is probably the greatest support for a literal understanding of this book. Daniel was very literal. It predicted the rise and fall of four kingdoms and the predictions came literally true (see the series of studies in Daniel 2 and 7). Revelation refers back to those predictions in Daniel using even the same symbols (Rev. 13 and 17). This implies that Revelation accepts the literal truth of Daniel. Revelation builds on the book of Daniel. Revelation continues the prophecy. How can we test the truth of the prophet if it is filled with symbolic interpretations? These are great questions to struggle with. The rapture is coming and God's glorious earthly, 1,000 year kingdom follows. Then will come His eternal kingdom. Come quickly Lord Jesus!           < Back
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