Rev 20 is one of the main keys of the whole structure of understanding prophecy for me. Closer examination will reveal that the Gog and Magog in Ezek 38/39 and in Rev 20 only have the names in common. They are really typical of each other. The events described are really distinctly different. The results are the same, the opponents of God and of His Christ will be destroyed.

The "multiple fulfillment" characteristics of previous Bible prophecies of this type can help us understand what to look for in future "multiple-fulfillment" types.

Multiple fulfillment prophecies do not have identical characteristics as they are similar and typical of each other. For example, John the Baptist was said to be the Elijah that is to come for those who received him. Yet Malachi 4.5 tells of a different Elijah, and the great and dreadful day points out that the circumstances will be quite different from John. That is why Gog and Magog in Ezek 38 is similar to but not identical with Gog and Magog of Rev 20.

The commonly held view is that the tribulation before the bodily return of the Lord would certainly have all the characteristics of being the worst time in human history up to that time. This is based on Matt 24:21, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, NOR EVER SHALL BE."

Even so in Rev 20:8, it seems strange to read their number described as being as the sand of the sea after 1000 years of the Kingdom of Christ, yet we read that it is to happen. Is it too much to expect that there may be an application of the book of Revelation connected with so large an army in opposition to Christ's rule on earth? Surely some having experienced the Kingdom of God on earth will be opposed to take part in yet another battle against Christ? Will they experience tribulation for their opposition? If so could this be greatest ever to occur?

The dual aspect would have an application of a Tribulation at both ends of the 1000 years. What I mean by this is, it is likely since there will be a battle with the followers of Satan at both ends of the 1000 years, it is also likely that there are some prophecies that can be applied to both.

Here is where there is room for a discussion. Provided we are all patient about it, the likely result will be a deeper understanding regarding what God is telling us in prophecy. The following is the reason why I think that it is really the opposite. It is the "NOR EVER SHALL BE" applied to the return of Christ that gives me a problem. Here is why I say this:

I expect a short tribulation now, this comes from the words of Jesus in the Mt. Olivet prophecy. See Matt 24:21-22, and Mark 13:19-20. Except those days be shortened, no flesh saved. The process of shortening suggests a short period of time.

See Ezek 39:11-16 it will take seven months to bury the dead from the destruction of the first Gog described in Ezek 38. This agrees with Zech 14:16-19 everyone left will come up to Jerusalem yearly to worship the King, the Lord of hosts. They both indicate that there will be some survivors.

See Jer 25:30-33, here is a description of the Lord treading the grapes. See Rev 16:15, here he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of almighty God.

See Luke 4:18-19, Jesus stopped at the comma because the day of vengeance of God was not then, so he could not say that it was fulfilled in their hearing.

Since there will be survivors, thus the last half of Jer 25:33 "they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground" cannot apply to the return of Christ. It is mortals that lament the death of friends and loved ones. It is mortals that gather and bury other mortals.

See Rev 20:14, death is cast into the lake of fire, since mortals die, the destruction of death means no more mortals. Thus the last half of Jer 25:33 is directly connected with Rev 20:14. They both refer to the end of dying mortals or death.

Since the Mt. Olivet prophecy says, "Except those days be shortened, no flesh saved." This means that the Tribulation period just before the return of Christ is shorter than the one at the end of the Millennium as there are to be some survivors.

Since there is to be no mortal survivors left at the end of the Tribulation connected with the last battle of Satan and those deceived by Satan, this one will be able and even is likely to last for a longer period of time and could be expected to be much more intense than the one 1000 years before. Thus the tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, NOR EVER SHALL BE." -Matthew 24:21. This is really the second Tribulation which is able to be the worst ever, since it does not have to have any survivors.

This opens some real holes in present interpretation of prophecy. Does this mean that the whole book of Revelation can be expected to be able to be applied to the end of the 1000 years, perhaps more correctly and literally than we do to the days we are living in? If the whole book has a more correct and literal application to the end of the 1000 years. Does this mean, that the one at the end of the 1000 years does not have the identical characteristics as the previous fulfillment?

Does this mean that we have been incorrectly trying to apply things that are to occur 1000 years from now to the now expected return of Christ? Perhaps only part of Revelation applies now Could this require a serious re-examination of application to our days? It appears that the plagues and other things will be much worse up to the point of death at the end of the 1000 years. See Rev 6:11 "until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." This suggests that the second Tribulation will be the worst one.

If I am right about the significance of Rev 20, we may have a lot to discuss. I think that there is room for us to check out something that most people may miss by trying to completely apply Revelation to the return of Christ. These are some of my thoughts, would you like to discuss it further? Please, if I am overlooking something try to show how it could be better understood. I am looking forward to hearing from you about it!

Multiple Applications
Since many prophecies found iin the Bible have multiple applications, understanding Bible prophecy requires allowing for multiple applicaiton.

Sequence of events at the return of Jesus Christ.
Here is a likely sequence of events leading up to the physical return of Christ and events as his kingdom is being setup with his world capital in Jerusalem. The survivors of the nations of the earth shall travel to the temple he will have built in Jerusalem.

The nearness of the return of Jesus Christ.
While we have been told that we do not know the exact day or hour of his return, there are some things which indicate that it may be nearer than we think.

Last modified on August 23, 1998