Geneva Bible Reveals Millennial Kingdom Already Happened
AI Overview
The original footnotes of the 1599 Geneva Bible on Revelation 20 offer an interpretation that aligns with Postmillennialism.
The Geneva Bible, sometimes known by the sobriquet Breeches Bible, is one of the most historically significant translations of the Bible into English, preceding the Douay Rheims Bible by 22 years, and the King James Version by 51 years.
King James Bible: Authorized by God? – Library of Rickandria
It was the primary Bible of 16th-century English Protestantism and was used by
William Shakespeare
Oliver Cromwell
John Knox
John Donne and others.
It was one of the Bibles taken to America on the Mayflower (Pilgrim Hall Museum has collected several Bibles of Mayflower passengers), and its frontispiece inspired Benjamin Franklin‘s design for the first Great Seal of the United States.
Miles Williams Mathis: Benjamin Franklin: Premier American (British) Spook – Library of Rickandria
This view essentially suggests that the millennial reign of Christ, as described in Revelation 20, is a period that has already been fulfilled.
Revelation 20 GNV – 1 The Angel 2 bindeth Satan for a – Bible Gateway
Here’s how the footnotes in the 1599 Geneva Bible on Revelation 20 convey this:
Focus on the Church Age:
The footnote to Revelation 20:4 describes the thousand years as a period encompassing the:
“common state of the Church of Christ in earth”
during which the devil was bound.
Revelation 20:2 GNV – And he took the dragon that old – Bible Gateway
Spiritual Resurrection:
The note on Revelation 20:5 explicitly states that the “first resurrection” refers to the spiritual resurrection experienced by the souls of the godly through the illuminating power of the Gospel.
This suggests that the thousand-year reign mentioned in the text is not a future literal, earthly reign but a spiritual one that began with Christ’s victory over Satan.
SATAN: Knowing the Enemy & Not Being Spiritually Sacrificed – Library of Rickandria
Devil’s Binding in the Past:
The notes indicate that the binding of Satan, which marks the beginning of the thousand years, occurred in the early Christian era.
The Fall of Satan – Library of Rickandria
Specifically, footnote 3 on Revelation 20:2 mentions the 36th year from Christ’s passion.
Essentially, the 1599 Geneva Bible’s interpretation sees the thousand-year period as a past event, specifically the age of the Church on earth following Christ’s first advent.
This aligns with the postmillennial perspective that emphasizes the gradual triumph of the Gospel and the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth through the church, according to mattayars.com.
The notes do not describe a future literal millennium on earth but rather see the victory over Satan and the reign of the saints with Christ as a present reality within the Church.
Pre-Millennialism, Post-Millennialism or Amillennialism?, Evangelical Focus
Understanding the Millennium: Postmillennialism, Premillennialism, and Amillennialism – mattayars.com
Yes, the 1599 Geneva Bible footnotes on Revelation 20 interpret the “thousand years” in a way that suggests it refers to a past or ongoing period, not a literal future millennium after Christ’s second coming.
Are the Geneva Bible notes postmillennial? | The Puritan Board
Key Footnotes and their interpretation in the 1599 Geneva Bible:
Revelation 20:2:
The note connects the “thousand years” to a historical period that began around 36 AD and ended with Pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand) in 1073 AD, whom the note calls a “most damnable Necromancer and sorcerer” who Satan used as an instrument to persecute the saints.
Pope Gregory VII (Latin: Gregorius VII; c. 1015 – 25 May 1085), born Hildebrand of Sovana (Italian: Ildebrando di Soana), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 22 April 1073 to his death in 1085.
He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
Revelation 20:4:
This note describes the thousand years as the:
“common state of the Church of Christ in earth in that space of a thousand years, for which the devil was in bonds,”
emphasizing the authority and honor of the godly during this time.
Lesson 3 – The Millennium of Revelation 20
Revelation 20:5:
The note explains the “first resurrection” as the spiritual resurrection of the souls of the godly who rise from their death in sin, contrasting it with the second resurrection when their bodies will rise again.
Revelation 20 – Norris’ Commentary on the Book of Revelation – Bible Commentaries – StudyLight.org
Historical Context:
The translators of the Geneva Bible were English Protestant exiles in Geneva, influenced by Reformed theology, particularly the teachings of John Calvin.
Miles Williams Mathis: John Calvin – Library of Rickandria
This perspective led them to interpret Revelation 20 within a historicist framework, seeing the prophecies as unfolding throughout the history of the church.
The Geneva Bible’s notes emphasize the ongoing victory of Christ and the expanding of the kingdom of God in the present age.
Comparison with other views:
Interpreting the Millennium: Navigating Diverse Views – Mercy Hill Church
Amillennialism:
The Geneva Bible’s interpretation shares similarities with Amillennialism, which views the millennium as a present, symbolic period of Christ’s reign in the church, rather than a literal future thousand-year kingdom on earth.
Geneva Bible – (Intro to Christianity) – Vocab, Definition, Explanations | Fiveable | Fiveable
Some sources suggest that the amillennial view was expressed through Postmillennialism in earlier periods.
Postmillennialism:
While the Geneva notes technically reflect a postmillennial stance in that they see the millennium as having already occurred, modern postmillennialism generally believes in a future “golden age” before Christ’s return, which is not the emphasis in the Geneva Bible notes.
geneva bible notes – revelation
It’s important to remember that there have been diverse interpretations of Revelation 20 throughout history, and different denominations and theologians hold various views on the millennium.
Three Views of the Millennium – GCI Archive
The Geneva Bible’s interpretation represents a specific theological perspective that was influential during its time.
Satan’s Chain and the Saint’s Reign Revelation 20 – Israel My Glory
Geneva Bible Reveals Millennial Kingdom Already Happened
Geneva Bible Reveals Millennial Kingdom Already Happened – Library of Rickandria