Rev 20:3 question

[wiggbuggie]

As a Catholic I believe the Millenium refers to the Church age. This verse says that Satan will be bound and unable to deceive the nations (Gentiles?) During this period. Clearly this is not the case. How do we explain this discrepancy?

your view is correct, my NAB footnote says that chaining up satan is symbolic for Christs ressurection victory over sin and death. Also the 1000 years is not a literal number just means a long time between christs ressurection/ascension until his second coming. The gospels tell a similar account when the 77 discples returned and Jesus say he saw satan fall from the sky meaning satans grasp weakened at the start of Jesus’s ministry and salvation work

 

[Deacon_Yuhanna]

My own view is that we don’t know which period that verse is referring to, except to say that it clearly isn’t now for the reason given. This brings into play a principle of interpretation which I call “discerning application”: judging the intended application of scripture and considering it accordingly. Something that relates to me now I deal with closely. Something of no relevance to me now (e.g. the superseded ceremonial law) I have read but don’t study.

Further, it seems to me that because we know only that this passage has a future reference (not a present one), we should not try to fix a particular meaning. It will explode into significance at the right time. In fact, the very lack of clarity and the major disagreements are further reasons I think that this is not the time it refers to. To me, the principle of “discerning application” is an extension of what Our Lord meant when he said “You know not the time”. Yours in Christ, (Maronite) Deacon Yuhanna