Other reasons Amillennialism is correct?

Question
Thanks for your answer on symbolism. That make sense. Besides symbolism is there any other reason to interpret the book of Revelation in a Amillennialism fashion?
Answer
Thanks. Yes, there are many reasons why only Amillennialism is the only interpretation of the book of Revelation that stands up to Scriptural scrutiny.

(1) The Conjunction "and" — The Pre-Mill interpretation of Revelation 20:1-6 understands it following Revelation 19:11-21 chronologically in time. In other words, the millennium (Rev. 20:1-6) follows the battle and the throwing of the Beast and False Prophet into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:11-21). Many base their argument for the chronology of these two chapters on the single word "and" (Greek, kai) in Revelation 20:1, which in the Greek reads, "Kai eidon," or "And I saw." They see this as an inseparable link between the Revelation 19 and 20.

However, the conjunction "and" does not always refer to chronological sequence. As matter a fact, in Revelation 19 it normally acts as a transitional word. Only three to four times (Rev. 19:20, 21a, 21b, and perhaps Rev. 19:14) out of thirty-five occurrences of the conjunction "and" in Revelation 19:11-21 clearly indicate a sequence in historical time. The remainder (Rev. 19:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) serve as visionary linking devices. (see Greg Beale, in The Book of Revelation (The New International Greek Testament Commentary, Eerdmans).

(2) Nations — If according to the Pre-Mill view, Revelation 20:1-3 chronologically follows Revelation 19:17-21, then the two chapters lack proper cohesion. There would be no reason in protecting the nations from deception by Satan in Revelation 20:1-3, seeing that they were already deceived earlier by Satan (Rev. 16:13-16; 19:19-20) and destroyed by Christ at his return (Rev. 19:11-21; cf. Rev. 16:15, 19).

(3) Ezekiel 38-39 is — alluded to in Revelation 16, 19, and 20. "That day" (Ezek. 38:10, 14, 18, 19; 39:11, 22), "latter days" (Ezek. 38:16) and "the day" (Ezek. 38:18; 39:8) all refer to the "battle of the great day" (Rev. 16:14); "war" (Rev. 19:19); and "the battle" (Rev. 20:8).

(4) Ezekiel 39 Chiasm — God is glorified in his justice (cf. Rom. 9:17). God will make known his name to everyone during the battle of Gog and Magog. In Ezekiel 39, we see a chiasm emphasizing the battle of Gog and Magog, surrounded by God glorifying his name in Israel:

  • A. my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel (Ezek. 39:7)
    • B. nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One (Ezek. 39:7)
      • C. the battle and judgment (Ezek. 39:8-20)
    • B'. And I will set my glory among the nations (Ezek. 39:21)
  • A'. house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God (Ezek. 39:22)

In the process of God making his name ("glory," Isa. 42:8; cf. Psa. 66:2) known to Israel and the nations, the battle of Gog is catalogued for us in Ezekiel 39:8-20 (part "C" above). As Ezekiel says, "Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God" (Ezek. 39:28).

Observe that in Ezekiel 39:7, 22 - Israel (part "A" and "A' " above) - is highlighted sandwiching the battle of Gog and Magog (part "C" above). Likewise, spiritual Israel (Acts 7:38; Rom.2:28-29; Gal. 6:16; 1 Pet. 2:9) is seen glorifying God in Revelation 18:20-19:10 ("A" below) and in Revelation 21:1-22:27 ("A' " below):

  • A. Spiritual Israel "saints and apostles and prophets" (Rev. 18:20-19:10)
    • B. the battle and judgment (Rev. 19:11-20:15; cf. Rev. 16:14; 19:19)
  • A'. Spiritual Israel's New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:1-22:27)

So, as in Ezekiel 39:7-22, spiritual Israel acts as bookends for the battle of Gog and Magog as in Revelation 18:20-19:10. God is being gloried by spiritual Israel. Therefore, they are speaking of the same battle and judgment!

(5) Language — Revelation 16:12-16; Revelation 19:19-20; and Revelation 20:8 use similar language in describing the "leaders," and the "gathering together" of forces for "the war:" They each refer to "nations" or "kings," which have kingdoms (nations):

Revelation 16:14
Revelation 19:19
Revelation 20:8
the kings of the whole world the kings of the earth the nations that are at the
four corners of the earth

They each refer to an "assembly," or "gathering:"

Revelation 16:14
Revelation 19:19
Revelation 20:8
assemble them their armies gathered gather them for battle;
their number is like the sand of the sea

And Revelation 16:14; 19:19 and Revelation 20:8 all refer to "the" battle or war (the Greek in all three texts read, ton polemon, meaning "the" battle or war):

Revelation 16:14
Revelation 19:19
Revelation 20:8
ton polemon = the battle ton polemon = the battle ton polemon = the battle

(6) Deception — related to (2) and (5) above, Satan "will come out to deceive the nations ... to gather them for battle" (Rev. 20:8) is the same event as the deception of the nations in Revelation 16:12-16, where demons assemble "them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty" (Rev. 16:14) and Revelation 19:19-20, where "the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war" (Rev. 19:19). Note, the demonic association within each verse; Satan, demons, and Beast (cf. John 10:10).

These links, including the symbolism used in the book, between Ezekiel 38-39, Revelation 16:12-16, Revelation 19:17-21, and Revelation 20:8-10 serve to reveal to us the inescapable conclusion that they all speak of the same event, the same battle, and the same Day of the Lord.

Revelation 20:1-6 refers to the entire period of the church age. This precedes the final judgment in Revelation 17-19. As we proceed to Revelation 20:7-15, it recapitulates the description of final judgment in Revelation 16:14-21 and Revelation 19:11-21.

Related Questions:

Revealtion 20 - Literal or Symbolic - Interpretation?

Answer by Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr.

Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr., D.D., M.Div. is the Theological Editor at Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill).