This study argues that the establishment of the millennium binding of Satan and the vindication of the saints in Revelation 20:1â6 are cohesively linked with Jesusâs victorious battle in Revelation 19:11â21. The major implication of this analysis views both these events as consequent effects of Christâs victory at the eschatological battle. Applying systemic functional linguistics and discourse analysis of cohesion, this study advances critical scholarship on the Book of Revelation by offering the first fully sustained answer to this frequently debated question regarding Satanâs binding from a modern linguistic approach.
Alan E. Kurschner, Ph.D. (2020), McMaster Divinity College, is an Instructor of Greek at the Center for Learning Biblical Greek.
Acknowledgments List of Figures and Tables Abbreviations Introduction
1 Approaches to the Millennium Binding of Satan
â1âIntroduction
â2âHistorical-Temporal Interpretations
â3âNon-Temporal Interpretations
â4âCritical Approaches to the Book of Revelation
â5âConclusion
2 A Model of Koine Greek Discourse Analysis
â1âIntroduction
â2âAdvances in Greek Linguistics
â3âDiscourse Analysis
â4âSystemic Functional Linguistics
â5âTextual Meanings
â6âConclusion
3 Cohesive Harmony: Cohesive Ties and Chains
â1âIntroduction
â2âComponential Ties and Cohesive Chains in Rev 19:11â20:6
â3âGeneral Observations
â4âConclusion
4 Cohesive Harmony: Chain Interactions
â1âIntroduction
â2âChain Interactions in Rev 19:11â20:6
â3âModified Cohesive Harmony Index
â4âConclusion
5 Information Flow: Clauses, Sentences, Paragraphs, and Sections
â1âIntroduction
â2âClause Thematization in Rev 19:11â20:6 (Prime and Subsequent)
â3âSentence Thematization in Rev 19:11â20:6 (Theme and Rheme)
â4âSemantic Boundary Markers in 19:11â20:15
â5âTopicality in 19:11â20:6 (Topic and Comment)
â6âProminence and the Binding of Satan (20:1â3)
â7âConclusion
6 Information Flow: Discourse of the Book of Revelation
â1âIntroduction
â2âThe Three Adversaries of God
â3âSatanâs Progressive Banishment
â4âThe Saintsâ Vindication
â5âConclusion
7 Conclusion
Appendix 1: Historical Shifts in the Millennial Debate
Appendix 2: The Identity of Those Seated on Thrones in Revelation 20:4 Bibliography Index
This work is relevant for the academic researcher interested in linguistic biblical studies of the New Testament as well as critical interpretation of the Book of Revelation.