Revelation 20--Revelation 20:1

Day 1

I have no business here in this part of the Bible.

I do not belong.

The Psalms are beautiful and Proverbs are useful. 

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is critical and what I learn from Paul after the Gospels is the blueprint of my life.

The eschatology then, of the Bible in the Book of Revelation–the study of the end times, including the rapture of the saints (or not), the Second Coming of Christ, the future resurrection, the final judgment, and the eternal state–is a fever dream of images and symbolism that makes no sense.

(Back in April, I wrote a reflection series on the Rapture, which is part of the eschatology of Revelation, and I sort of landed on Amillennialism as any good Catholic would, which states that Christ’s Millennium reign is happening NOW.  My wife, Karen, is a Dispensational Premillennialist, which means she believes there will be a Rapture before the Tribulation, followed by a millennium long reign of Christ)

But now? 

Can I honestly say that Satan has been bound like in the first few verses of Revelation 20?

I don’t know.

And why bother with this loud, confusing calliope of images and apocalyptic word salad anyway?

Matthew Waymeyer writes in  Revelation 20 and The Millennial Debate:

“Although many people are fascinated with the study of eschatology for the wrong reasons, there are many profitable reasons for engaging in such a study. The most significant one is that a contemplation of future events in God‘s plan fosters an expectancy that prepares one‘s heart for a life of worship, joy, and obedience”

I do feel that expectancy in my life.  I should be aware of what futures are foretold so I can stare my post-operative pain down and keep my head up.

Just like doing my exercises prepares my knee and leg for the next day, the next weeks, looking into the prophecies of Revelation helps calibrate the intensity of any one emotion I’m feeling at any given time.

So I’ve decided to move through Revelation 20–verse by verse–to contemplate the events foretold by the Apostle John.

And Revelation 20:1 is a doozy:

Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.

I like chunky Scripture like this.

There is an angel holding a key to the Abyss and a great chain.

Without looking ahead to the next verse, I wonder WHY the angel has a key to the Abyss.  I also wonder WHO the angel is?  Is the angel Michael?  Jesus?  Or just an angel from Central Casting?

Me?  I think the angel is Jesus Christ.  He’s ready and He’s the only one I think who is really able to hold power over the Abyss.

Francois Moller describes verse 1:

“An angel came from heaven, having the keys of the Abyss. These keys are symbolic and indicate the exceptional power of the angel over the Abyss as the ‘home’ of evil powers and spirits. The great chain in his hand is also symbolic and suggests in context his great power to restrict Satan and his evil works. It is symbolic, because Satan is a spiritual being and cannot literally be locked up or being chained.”

Satan cannot continue his wicked activity during Christ’s reign.  They cannot coexist–even though Amillennialism sort of suggests that.

Charles Swindoll in Living Insights:  New Testament Commentary on Revelation writes that Satan is presently allowed to have his way:

“Satan is not a myth or a symbol for humanity’s bad choices or corrupt systems, he is a real spirit being who holds sway over many facets of the world’s culture, society, politics, economics, and religion.  For the world to be turned right side up, Satan must be dethroned.”

Ergo, the angel with the key and the chain.

Satan is fixing to get his.

I don’t think Satan is going to transition from power peacefully either.

LIke C.S. Lewis writes in On Living In An Atomic Age–I”ve got my own issues to deal with: 

“If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.” 

My Ohio State Buckeyes are already facing Armageddon today–Satan will have to get in line.  🙂

Lord, we recognize that the angel, the key to the Abyss, and the great chain are symbols of Your authority, power, and triumph over evil.

Lord, we pray for the strength to face the challenges in our lives, knowing that You hold THE KEY to every instance.

Amen