Defining The Meaning Of 1,000
As Found In Revelation 20
Does The Plural 1,000 Mean An Unknown Length Of Time?By Pastor G. Reckart
Copyright 2002 All Rights ReservedNote: You can sniff out an Amillenialist by questioning about the literal meaning of the number 1,000 in Revelation chapter 20. When they deny it is literal and use the claim it is an unknown plurality of years and then quote the Greek; you have discovered an Amillennialist. They need not confess this heresy to wear the identity. No eschatological group denies the millennial to follow the future tribulation other then an Amillennialist. When anyone claims they are unsure of the millennial but then they teach the amillennial stance on the number 1,000, they have only one reason for doing so, THEY ARE AMILLENNIAL.
Stating the problem: Amillennialist claim that the word "thousand" in Revelation chapter 20 comes from the Greek "chiloi" and the interpretation given by Greek amillennial scholars is that it is a "plural of uncertain affinity." This gives them the authority to claim that "thousand" in the text is not exactly 1,000 but can mean a long period of time (Blume's interpretation). This gives them the authority they think to spiritualize 1,000 into what ever length of time that fits their scheme of eschatology. What is the solution? Is there a solution that does not flow through the mind and pen of an amillennialist? Yes! Here is the solution as it flows through the mind and pen of Pastor Reckart, president of Apostolic Theological Bible College.
Mike Blume wrote:
"Smith says that 1,000 means a plural of uncertain affinity. That is the greek note of the term used in Rev 20."Pastor Reckart Response: This is where a novice approach will make a mind run wild. Most of the commentaries you will read on this will agree with you. But then they are amillennialist and have a purpose for the rendering. Here is the truth. 1,000 by its nature of having a plural of 1 makes it a plural number the same as 2 is the plural of 1. Therefore we would expect 1,000 to be describe as a whole and as a plural. It could not be otherwise. To say it is just a plural number and then run wild and say the whole of 1,000 must then be interpreted as a plural of another X factor is plain out mysticism. We have no scripture to give us the slightest hint of this broad application. It is not used in any other instance in the whole Word of God. When we see 490 years of the 70 weeks we have a plural in 490 and also a plural in 70 weeks. There is no need to claim these plural numbers represent an "uncertain pluralistic affinity." In none of this is there a need to mysticize. Here is the Strong's rendering: #5507--plur. of uncert. affin.; a thousand years. Strong was an amillennialist. The words "uncertain affinity" are his opinion. Anyone who states this is stating an opinion. The number one thousand is a plural by number of 1. Any more said then that is man's opinion. When we add the word "years" we get the message there is 1,000 plurals of a year. Collectively, this 1,000 plural makes the term "years" a plural. Together the phrase one thousand years sets forth the plural number of years, each passing into eternity in the form of the digit 1 until the whole number has been expired. The same with the 490 years and 70 weeks. I do not accept the manipulation by the master Greek experts who twist word to fit their amillennial bias. For instance, if the word "thousand" was a plural number of uncertain affinity in any place it would mean the same in every place it is found. The amillennial bias in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the possessors of the MSS, can make this word anything they want to make their theory more acceptable. Here is the break down of the word "thousand" in the book of Revelation:
Rev 5:11--"thousand" Greek "murias" #3461--ten thousand
Rev 7:4,5,6,7,8--"thousand" Greek "chilias" #5505--one thousand (chiliad) thousand
Rev 9:16--"thousand" Greek "murias" #3461--ten thousand
Rev 11:3--"thousand" Greek "chilioi" #5507--plur. of uncert. affin.; a thousand, thousand
Rev 11:13--"thousand" Greek "chilias" #5505--one thousand (chiliad) thousand
Rev 12:6--"thousand" Greek "chilioi" #5507--plur. of uncert. affin.; a thousand, thousand
Rev 14:1,3--"thousand" Greek "chilias" #5505--one thousand (chiliad) thousand
Rev 14:20-"thousand" Greek "chilioi" #5507--plur. of uncert. affin.; a thousand, thousand
Rev 20:3,4,5,6,7--"thousand" "chilioi" #5507--plur. of uncert. affin.; a thousand, thousand
Rev 21:16----"thousand" Greek "chilias" #5505--one thousand (chiliad) thousand
We get our word "kilo" meaning 1,000 from the Greek "chilioi." We take this "kilo" to mean literally 1,000. If this word had been taken from the Greek "chilias" we would have "kila" or "kilas." This is at least one instance where the plural use dictates a singular and definite number.
Interesting that the word "chilioi" in Rev 20:3,4,5,6,7 is made to be a plural of uncertain affinity (or length of time), but when we get to the use of this word in Rev 11:3 we do not make it of uncertain affinity but an exact number:
Rev 11:3--And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand (chilioi) two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth (1,260).
The same in Rev 12:6--And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand (chilioi) two hundred and threescore days (1,260).
If you know of any Bible scholar who makes this "THOUSAND" any longer then 1,000 exactly, please forward to me his name, telephone number, email address, and or the name of the book he wrote such claim in. I have read hundreds of books on eschatology, even by amillennialist, and not one of them pluralized the "thousand" in these text to be an uncertain length of time! If the amillennialist theory is not applied in these two text, why should we allow them to work their sorcerey in Revelation chapter 20?
We already know by hermenutics that if "chilioi" does not mean an indefinite plural in the first texts it is used in the Revelation of John that it must mean an exact number making up the plural of the digit 1 in the text to follow. The breakdown in the text in Revelation 11:3 and 12:6 is by scores (20s), hundreds, and then thousand. That is the sequence and they can mean nothing but the values assigned.
If "chilioi" does not mean an unknown indefinite number in Revelation 11:3 and 12:6, then it cannot be given this interpretation when we get to chapter 20.
It is interesting to observe that since the amillennialist of many centuries knew the Church would exist an unknown duration of time, and since they applied the millennial to this time period, how they could give 1,000 a definition to match their doctrine on the duration of the Church. The length of time would be of uncertain affinity, hence 1,000 years of the millennial would be of uncertain affinity.
It is also interesting to observe that there is no grammatical need for a plural number of 1,000 in the text where it is now found. In other words, the text that have "chilias" have no grammatical difference then the text with "chilioi". If there was a grammatical necessity for a plural description of a number, to give the meaning of an unknown quantity, there is no need for a number. We find this expressed in Rev 5:11--ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. The latter clearly describes a plurality of unknown quantity. And look at the Greek word here "chilias." When we have an actual case of an unknown quantity in the plural number they do not use the Greek "chilioi."
My conclusion here is that "chilio" means then as I have describe previous. It is not a number of unknown quantity, but rather the plurality of it is correct, must point to 1,000 being the plural of 1 just as 2 is the plural of 1. But the 1,000 as in the case of the 2, means the whole quantity of the plural 1s added make the whole of the number. I will never accept any other interpretation since the use of the Greek words cannot but bear this out.
I have tried to find Greek uses of "chilioi" where it could mean unknown quantity and cannot find a single case. I have written to Greek professors and linguist to give me some examples, and they have none and do not know of any. This tells me something is rotten in Denmark!
I also searched the records of the early so-called fathers to find a single place were those who were known chiliast were attacked or accused of giving this number a definite value of 1,000 when it was an indefinite unknown value in the Greek use. I could not find a single reference. The use of this "plur. of uncert. affin" sprung up within the Catholic Church and this has been passed around until it has become the rule of interpretation. As usual, I reject this manipulation of the facts.
As for the 1,000 years. I believe it is an exact time period of that length. But saying that, I also know that there remains time after the 1,000 years are finished. This unknown time period before the physical end of the world is mention in Rev. 20:7-10. I do not know the length of this time outside and beyond the 1,000 years limit of time.
If you have come to the truth on the millennial, and I believe you are not there yet, I suspect you will get a new revelation.
Brother Reckart