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A Critical Analysis Ofthe Millennial Reign of Christ in Revelation 20: 1-10

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A Critical Analysis Ofthe Millennial Reign of Christ in Revelation 20: 1-10 A critical analysis ofthe Millennial reign ofChrist in Revelation 20: 1-10. BY REV. HUMPHREY MWANGI WAWERU Submitted in fulfilment ofthe Requirements for the Degree ofMaster of Theology (New Testament biblical studies) In the faculty ofHumanities School ofTheology, University ofNatal, Pietermaritzburg. January 2001 Supervisor: Prof. Jonathan A. Draper. ABSTRACT This thesis addresses the issue ofthe millennial reign of Christ in Revelation 20: 1-1 O. It is an attempt to investigate whether the millennium is a future event or already inaugurated. The Apocalypse has been the focus ofattention ofmany end time movements down through the ages. This thesis picks up one ofthe most popular issues out ofsuch a focus. One ofthe issues in the Apocalypse of John is the expectation ofa thousand year reign of Christ. During the period of early Christianity up to the middle ages the question ofthe nature ofthe millennium has been controversial. Recently the debate over the millennial reign of Christ in the Apocalypse has intensified more than ever before. Three major views have been advocated and such views have brought in a greater dilemma, since the reader ofthe Apocalypse has to choose one ofthe views. Having grown up in an evangelical religious background, which places emphasis upon apocalyptic ideologies; I found myselfbecoming more and more attracted to this debate. At last I have entered the wagon with a view to demonstrate, in my own way, that the millennial reign is already actualised rather than expected. This sounds very controversial compared to what has always been thought by many Christians since their early days ofSunday School. This 'territory' has been trod by various scholars so much so that I am not in a position to claim to be a pioneer in this investigation. I endeavour to re-examine the issue of millennium in the light of a sociological analysis from my own perspective. I intend to perceive the other side of the mountain that has been hidden from me all along ( as a hidden transcript ofthe Apocalypse). After having established the task ofrethinking millennium. I wish to go further and look at the East African concept ofmillennium, even though no comparative study is intended at this level ofmy research, apart from laying bare the framework, such is very importantfor the inculturation of theology today. This thesis will be tabulated into three main parts, the first deals with sociology of sects and the Apocalypse, in this part a model will be formulated, which will be applied in the delineation ofthe Apocalypse community in chapter three. The second part deals with the concept ofmillennium within the Bible and ends up with an exegesis ofthe passage that clearly mentions this term. The third part deals with the East African concept ofmillennium and the conclusion ofthe whole thesis. All Biblical quotations are from the Revised Standard Version Bible, while all the abbreviations follow Killian (1985). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I owe thanks to many people for their encouragement during the period I did this work, first to the Bishop ofthe Diocese ofMt. Kenya South. The Rt. Revered Peter Njenga Karioki who gave me a study leave, without which this study would not have been possible. And also to Mrs Patricia Bruce for accepting to read this thesis. I sincerely wish to thank Prof Jonathan Draper for his constructive supervision, stimulating critique and dialogue that sharpened my focus and approach to this project. He always reminded me two things, not to be judgmental and not to be emotionally involved in my critical analysis, by so doing he inculcated in me a sense ofacademic discipline in biblical scholarship. 11 DEDICATION To my wife Catherine Muthoni, daughters Wambui Mwangi, Wanjiru Mwangi, and Waithira Mwangi. They have shown patience and encouragement throughout the academic pursuits. Thanks for all the prayers and support. 111 DECLARATION I, Rev Humphrey Mwangi Waweru, candidate for the Master of Theology Degree (Biblical studies) in the School of Theology, University ofNatal, Pietermaritzburg hereby declare that: Except for the quotations specifically indicated in this text, and such help as I have acknowledged, this thesis is wholly my own work and has been submitted for the degree purposes ofthe above mentioned degree. University ofNatal Pietermaritzburg, October 2000 IV TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract Acknowledgments 11 Dedication 111 Declaration IV CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.0 The major task ofthis chapter 1 CHAPTER TWO: SOCIOLOGY AND THE APOCALYPSE OF JOHN 2.0 Introduction 8 2.1 The major task ofthis chapter 9 2..2 Sociology 9 2.2.1 Sociology of Sects 11 2.2.2 Models 14 2.2.3 A critique 15 2.3 Responses to the world 16 2.3.1 Charisma 17 2.3.2 Bryan Wilson's typology 21 2.3.3 Apocalypse community as a millennialist sect 26 2.4 A profile ofa millennialist sect 29 2.5 A model for this thesis 32 2.6 Conclusion. 33 V CHAPTER THREE : APOCALYPSE AND MILLENNIALISM 3.0 Introduction 35 3.1 The major task ofthis chapter 35 3.1.1 Defining Apocalyptic and Millennialism 36 3.2 Apocalyptic literature 42 3.2.1 Sources ofapocalyptic thought 43 3.2.2 Characteristics ofapocalyptic literature 47 3.3 Social background to the Apocalypse 49 3.3.1 Social identity ofthe author 49 3.3.2 When was the Apocalypse written? 53 3.3.3 Social setting ofApocalypse 59 3.4 The Johannine Apocalypse community 62 3.5 Millennialism in the early church 65 3.6 Exegetical observations 68 3.7 Conclusion 71 CHAPTER FOUR: THE CONCEPT OF MILLENNIUM 4.0 Introduction 73 4.1 The major task ofthis chapter 73 4.2 Millennium 74 4.2.1 Modem approaches to the millennium 75 4.2.2 Various interpretations 78 4.3 The concept ofmillennium in the Old Testament 82 4.4 Millennium in Jewish apocalyptic thought 89 4.5 The concept ofmillennium in the New Testament 91 4.5.1 The millennium already as a Christ event 93 4.5.2 Millennium is now as a period for the Church 97 VI 4.5.3 Millennium inaugurates judgment 99 VI 4.6 Apocalypse as a response to suffering and hope 101 4.7 Conclusion 105 CHAPTER FIVE: EXEGESIS (Rv 20:1-10) 5.0 Introduction 108 5.1 Translation 108 5.2 The major task ofthis chapter 109 5.3 Satan's imprisonment (Rv 20:1-3) 111 5.3.1 The reign ofthe saints (Rv 20:4-6) 116 5.3.2 Satan is set lose (Rv 20:7-10) 125 5.3.3 Revelation 20:1-10 and the millennialists 127 5.4 Summing up the exegesis 129 5.5 Conclusion 130 CHAPTER SIX: EAST AFRICAN CONCEPT OF MILLENNIUM 6.0 Introduction 132 6.1 The major task ofthis chapter 132 6.2 East African concept oftime 134 6.2.1 East African concept of God as a future King 137 6.2.2 East African concept ofhistory 138 6.2.3 East African concept ofJudgment 139 6.2.4 East African concept ofresurrection 140 6.3 The millennium discovered within East African 142 6.4 Why millennial groups may survive for a long time 147 6.5 The power ofthe Apocalypse 149 6.6 Conclusion 152 vu CHAPTER SEVEN: CONCLUSION 7.0 Conclusion 154 7.1 Resolution 157 CONSULTED WORKS 159 viii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 The major task of this chapter The major task ofthis chapter is to define what is expected from this study, beginning with the first chapter which will be the introduction and finishing with the last chapter which will be the conclusion of our study. The whole thesis will be comprised of seven chapters which will be detailed below. The chapter will also highlight what is expected in the whole thesis and the steps to be taken in achieving the best results. The Apocalypse of John, which has been a favourite subject of millenarian movements and recently to a number ofNew Testament scholars, became a favourite ofmine during the last five years (1995-2000). I was a priest in a Parish ofthe Diocese ofMt. Kenya South and, this affinity was as a result of views which were presented to me by various groups of people, who were moving from one place to another predicting the end ofthe world, as I will explain later. I then became more eager to learn more about the Apocalypse. The topic that struck me most in the Apocalypse was that ofthe millennial reign of Christ in Revelation 20:1-10. I therefore started looking for an opportune moment to probe into the nature ofthe millennium in the Apocalypse, an opportunity which was realised early this year (2000). The issue of the Millennial reign of Christ in the Apocalypse of John has of late become so popularised that it has even induced suicides in order to actualize it. This has made the Revelation ofJohn one ofthe most disturbing and puzzling books ofthe New Testament. The climax ofthe whole issue ofthe Apocalypse ofJohn is the'day ofthe Lord', when the messianic kingdom of a thousand years is established on earth, and the enemy is chained and locked in the bottomless pit. To an oppressed society nothing else would have brought hope to them more than the realisation that soon they would be more than conquerors. The main reason why John repositioned the issue ofmillennium to the end ofhis Apocalypse is in itself not amazing, because in the Apocalyptic tradition which John must have inherited, the tribulations of the present world were often understood as climaxed by the beautiful description ofthe Lord's day, when the Messiah would start his reign on earth. The message ofthe Apocalypse is simple and clear; the introduction and the conclusion ofthe book stresses that the reader must be watchful, for soon God will come and pass judgement on the world and the saints shall be rewarded while the wicked will be destroyed.
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