We’re going to continue our revisit of the end this week, starting with the events of the 1,000 years spoken of in Revelation 20. As we go through it, we need to remember some key points from last week. First, we figured out that the number 1,000 is a number representing fullness or completion rather than a literal 1,000 earth years. Second, we’ve got some time clues in other parts of Revelation that indicate much of what John was seeing would take place in short order after he saw it, rather than after hundreds, or even thousands, of years, as some might believe.
One thing additional on that second point, which is appropriate to mention here, is what seems to be a glossed-over or ignored phrase in Revelation. John is told NOT to seal up the book of Revelation (Revelation 22:10). Why? Because “the time is near.” Is there another prophet that received similar instruction after receiving his vision? That’s right! Daniel! When receiving his vision about certain future events, he was told TO seal up his book, because those events were not going to happen any time soon (Daniel 12:4). If Daniel got the instruction to seal his book because the prophecy wasn’t going to happen for a long time, but John got the instruction not to seal his book because the time was near, shouldn’t we use that as a clue to the fact that what John saw was supposed to be fulfilled shortly after he saw it rather than hundreds or thousands of years later?
In fact, Daniel’s prophecies can be very helpful in interpreting John’s vision because they are both written in apocalyptic Hebrew language. What we know was fulfilled in Daniel’s prophecies can show us what we should be looking for in the fulfillment of John’s vision. But for now, let’s get back to this 1,000 years of Revelation 20.
Another thing we have to remember from last week was that Yeshua is the messenger that had the key to the abyss and binds Satan in it (Revelation 20:1-3). Do you happen to remember anything Yeshua might have said about binding something or someone? When confronted by the Pharisees about what power He was using to drive out demons, He talked about a house not being able to stand if it is divided against itself (Matthew 12:25-30, Mark 3:23-27).
Right after that, Yeshua talked about having to “bind the strong man” before his house can be plundered. Sounds a bit like Revelation 20, doesn’t it? Remember that the word “satan” is a transliteration of the Hebrew word for enemy. Sometimes it is used in scripture as the general term enemy, like demons and the like being enemies of Yeshua and His people, and sometimes it is used in the proper noun form to speak of the leader of the enemy, which we know as the fallen angel we call Satan. In this passage, Yeshua was saying that in order for the enemy’s “house” to be plundered, the enemy needed to be bound. In other words, his power to protect his “house” needed to be removed.
If you could pick just one thing, out of all the things that Satan and his crew have available to them, that is able to exert the most control, motivation, and power over people what would you pick? Fear, of course. But more specifically, the fear of death. People…that is, most people…will do almost anything if they think it will help keep them from dying. Yeshua’s resurrection removed that tool in the enemy’s tool bag, binding him and fulfilling Revelation 20:2. That’s how believers were able to live and reign with Yeshua. They were able to rise from their previous abode of death and join Yeshua (more on this in a minute). This also gives us, those who haven’t yet died, hope by knowing there is something for us after death. So, Yeshua is plundering the enemy’s “house” of all his “possessions” (i.e. people).
The other way Satan was bound was through Yeshua’s death. Previously, Satan was able to bring accusation against man based on sin. He had a basis to do that because man was sinful and there was no way for that sin to be removed. Once Yeshua died, He provided atonement for all sins to those who believe in Him. Satan no longer has basis for accusation against believers, which further binds him because he can't take advantage and enact any consequences as a result of that sin.
So, as you can see, there is a strong case to be made that we are currently in the events of Revelation 20. Now, we don’t really know at this point exactly what part we’re in. There’s a few major segments of these events, including when Satan is completely bound, when he’s released “for a little while” to deceive the nations, when he’s tossed into the lake of fire, and when the scrolls are opened and the rest of the dead are judged.
Some argue all these events happened from the time of the crucifixion to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD. Personally, I’m not sold on that, but one of the verses they point to as support is from Daniel’s prophecy. Some of the things written in Revelation 20 (Revelation 20:6, 14-15) sound a lot like statements in Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 12:1-2). However, based on the context in Daniel, the events surrounding these statements, I believe they more closely align with some of the more cryptic events recorded in the gospels during Yeshua’s death and resurrection. Daniel doesn’t say everyone who slept in the earth awoke, he only says “many.” There’s a lot we don’t know or understand about some of the things only written in Matthew’s account, but it does say “many” saints were raised and appeared to people (Matthew 27:52-53). I believe that this was the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy, and that those events are a precursor (the “firstfruits”) of a future fulfillment of the events at the end of Revelation 20 (1 Corinthians 15:22-26).
But wait just a minute…these saints “lived” with Yeshua, right? Why don’t we see them walking around today? Where are they? They’re in the same place as Yeshua of course! In order to reconcile this, we have to take a deeper look at death and what it actually is.
At its very core, death is simply a separation from YHWH. You can see this from the very beginning in the garden of Eden. What did YHWH tell Adam would happen if he ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge? That he would die “in that day” (Genesis 2:17). What do we see happened though? Neither Adam nor Eve physically died after eating that fruit (Genesis 3:4-7). In fact, the only reason Adam and Eve died physically is because they no longer could eat of the tree of life (Genesis 3:22-24).
However, shortly after them eating the fruit we do see an interaction that tells us what death YHWH was talking about. Adam and Eve experienced a spiritual separation from YHWH, which resulted in them no longer feeling the safety with Him they felt before. They felt shame and hid (Genesis 3:8-10). Not only does this tell us that the spiritual separation was built inherently into YHWH’s creation, since it happened instantaneously and without outside intervention, the complete picture tells us that physical death as a result of sin was actually a judgment imposed, since it was enacted by YHWH preventing access to the tree of life.
So, if we put together the fact that we know sin resulted in spiritual death as a law of creation, and that Yeshua’s death atoned for all sin, what does that mean happened at His death and was subsequently fulfilled at His resurrection? Those dead who were righteous as a result of obedience to YHWH, and therefore had their sins covered, were now absolved of those sins and had the ability to be reconciled with YHWH and “live.” Their separation from YHWH, spiritual death, was no more, and they were spiritually resurrected to live with Him. Whereas once they were forced to be separate from Him in death, in the abode of the ead, Sheol (Ecclesiastes 9:10), now they were able to be resurrected and unite with Him in heaven!
Now, Peter’s words about Yeshua preaching to the “imprisoned spirits” are making some sense (1 Peter 3:19), aren’t they? Yes, Yeshua went to Sheol after death just like every other person throughout history. Because of His sinlessness, Sheol wasn’t a prison though. He had the power to leave it and bring the other righteous dead with Him. In fact, Yeshua even told us what Sheol was like before His death (Luke 16:19-31) and it also lines up with a curious event recorded in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 28:7-20).
Maybe some of Yeshua’s words also make sense when we look at them through this context. He made many different references to death that are quite confusing without it. For instance, how can the “dead bury their dead” (Matthew 8:21-22, Luke 9:59-60)? Well, the same way the gospel is preached to those who are dead (1 Peter 4:6). Peter said those who were dead were still physically alive. How confusing!
That’s right, both Yeshua and Peter were talking about those spiritually dead but physically alive. It’s the same reason Yeshua said those who believe in Him will live (spiritually) even though they die (physically), and those who live (physically) will never die (spiritually) (John 11:25-26). Without that context, His statements make no sense.
That about does it for this week, but hopefully you’ve gained some further insight into some of the detail that helps us interpret Revelation 20. We’ll continue with a revisit of the end next week, starting with continuing the look at death and resurrection, getting some additional context from some of Paul’s writings. Until next time, Shabbat shalom and YHWH bless you!
-Rob and Sara Gene
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