Thousand: Figurative, Literal, Revelation
No. 200
Edwards says that the thousand years of Revelation 20 must be taken literally, for if they are to be understood figuratively, then a much longer period of time is implied. Scripture prophecy often uses smaller time frames to represent longer ones; for instance, a day is a year, a week is seven years, a month is thirty years, and a year is 360 years. Thus, if the thousand years of Revelation 20 is to be interpreted symbolically, it likely signifies a much greater span of time than a literal thousand years, as a thousand years appears long to humans. Similarly, a day, an hour, and a moment are perceived as very brief, and are thus used to refer to any short period of time, such as the brevity of human life. (See WJE 20:50-52 for his eight reasons)
NOTECARDS
None
TERMS & REFERENCES
Term Set A: thousand
Term Set B: literal literally figurative figuratively revelation
Max Distance Between Terms = 6
Reference List A/B
WJEO 4:436 - The Great Awakening
WJEO 5:102 - Apocalyptic Writings
WJEO 5:142 - Apocalyptic Writings
WJEO 5:146 - Apocalyptic Writings
WJEO 5:205 - Apocalyptic Writings
WJEO 5:335 - Apocalyptic Writings
WJEO 9:482 - A History of the Work of Redemption
WJEO 13:167 - The "Miscellanies," a-500
WJEO 13:335 - The "Miscellanies," a-500
WJEO 14:499 - Sermons and Discourses, 1723-1729
WJEO 16:139 - Letters and Personal Writings
WJEO 18:72 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:118 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:296 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:433 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:506 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:508 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 20:50 - The "Miscellanies," 833-1152
WJEO 20:472 - The "Miscellanies," 833-1152
WJEO 22:227 - Sermons and Discourses, 1739-1742
WJEO 22:479 - Sermons and Discourses, 1739-1742
WJEO 23:182 - The "Miscellanies," 1153-1360
WJEO 23:340 - The "Miscellanies," 1153-1360
WJEO 24:1215 - The "Blank Bible"
WJEO 24:1241 - The "Blank Bible"
Reference List B/A
WJEO 5:113 - Apocalyptic Writings
WJEO 5:205 - Apocalyptic Writings
WJEO 5:342 - Apocalyptic Writings
WJEO 5:389 - Apocalyptic Writings
WJEO 5:439 - Apocalyptic Writings
WJEO 9:488 - A History of the Work of Redemption
WJEO 18:118 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 20:50 - The "Miscellanies," 833-1152
WJEO 24:386 - The "Blank Bible"
WJEO 24:1244 - The "Blank Bible"