Revelation 20 - In Depth Bible Commentaries

2301
The genitive singular definite article ôï, tou, “(with) the...” is omitted by Uncial
Manuscript 051, Minuscule 2062 and the “Majority Text” (A). This may only reflect the differing
convictions among Greek writers across the centuries as to whether or not the article should
be used with nouns and names. The omission does not change the meaning of Revelation.
2302
Following the noun ×ñéóôï, Christou, “(with) Christ,” the neuter plural definite article
ta, ta, “the,” is interpolated into the text by Minuscules 1006, 1841, 2030, 2377, the
“Majority Text” (K), and the Harclean Syriac.
At the very opening of Revelation, John mentions "Jesus Christ" three times--1:1, 2,
and 5. Then, John never again uses the phrase--but either speaks simply of "the Christ," (11:
5; 12:10; 20:4, 6) or of "Jesus" (1:9, 9; 12:17; 14:12; 17:6; 19:10, 10; 20:4; 22:16, 20), until
he comes to the very close of his book, where he returns once more to the phrase "Jesus
Christ" (22:21; and here the best manuscripts leave off "Christ").
2303
Aune comments that “This passage is chiefly famous in Christian tradition for mentioning
the thousand year reign of Christ. The period of a thousand years is used in Psalm
90:4 (quoted in 2 Peter 3:8, ‘with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand
years as one day’), encouraging the figurative interpretation of a thousand years. The term
‘millennium,’ referring to this thousand-year reign, is based on the Latin words mille, ‘thousand,’
and annus, ‘year,’ derived from the reference in this verse to ci,lia ev,th, ‘thousand
years’...There are a number of theological positions that are keyed to this passage:
Amillennialism [which] holds that the thousand year reign of Christ is a symbol for the
period of the Christian church (Augustine; Roman Catholic; Reformed; Presbyterian);
Postmillenialism [which] holds that the kingdom of Christ is a reality in the hearts of
Christians and that the conversion of all nations will occur before the return of Christ, though
the term ‘thousand years’ refers to the quality of life and not to a literal length of time (Lutheran);
Premillennialism [which] holds that the return of Christ will occur before the beginning of
the millennium, which is understood as a literal period of a thousand years (Dispensationalism)...
“There have been two major ways of interpreting the thousand year reign of Christ, the
literal or realistic way and the spiritual way. The literal interpretation of the thousand-year millennium
characterized many of the early fathers of the church (e.g., Justin, Irenaeus, Melito,
Tertullian, Hippolytus, Methodius)...
“The second line of interpretation may be called the spiritual view, maintained by both
Clement of Alexandria and Origen. Augustine popularized the view, now called amillennialism,
that the reign of the saints with Christ was not a future expectation but rather the present situation
of Christians who had been ‘raised with Christ’ and ‘enthroned in heavenly places with
Christ’ (Colossians 3:1; Ephesians 2:6).” (Pp. 1089-90)
(continued...)
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