Recapitulation lens is what the Amillennialists or Anti-premillennialists use when they are reading the book of Revelation. According to Sam Storms in The Amillennial View of the Kingdom of God [accessed May 15, 2017],
“the structure of Revelation does not relate consecutive events but frequently covers the same ground from different perspectives.”
He gave the seven sections as: (1) Chapter 1-3; (2) chapter 4-7; (3) chapter 8-11; (4) chapter 12-14; (5) chapter 15-16; (6) chapter 17-19; (7) chapter 20-22 and went on to say that,
“Revelation 20:1 is not to be thought of as following in chronological order chapter 19 (which describes the Second Coming of Christ). Rather, it takes us back once again to the beginning of the NT era and recapitulates the entire present age.”
The problem with this Recapitulation eisegesis is that it blurs your understanding of the entire book and you severely miss its authorial intent. You will not find John saying that he was writing a “progressive parallelism.”
In fact, John was told to write the things he has seen, the things that were, and the things that will take place later (Rev. 1:19) which, for all intents and purposes, a chronological purpose for his book.
And there is this heavy use of “then I saw” or “then I heard” clauses which goes in accordance with the instruction in Rev. 1:19:
Then I turned to, Rev. 1:12. Then I saw, Rev. 5:1. Then I looked, Rev. 5:11. Then I saw, Rev. 7:2. Then I saw, Rev. 8:2. Then I looked, and I heard, Rev. 8:13. Then I saw, Rev. 10:1. Then I saw, Rev. 13:11. Then I looked, and behold, Rev. 14:1. Then I saw, Rev. 14:6. Then I looked, and behold, Rev. 14:14. Then I saw, Rev. 15:1. Then I heard, Rev. 16:1. Then I heard, Rev. 19:6. Then I fell down, Rev. 19:10. Then I saw, Rev. 19:11, 17. Then I saw, Rev. 20:1, 4, 11. And I saw, Rev. 20:12. Then I saw, Rev. 21:1.
So what gives? Where did they get this recapitulation view? Sam Storms went on to say,
Revelation 20:1 is not to be thought of as following in chronological order chapter 19 (which describes the Second Coming of Christ). Rather, it takes us back once again to the beginning of the NT era and recapitulates the entire present age.
Who gave them such an instruction?
The “then I saw” clauses found in Rev. 19:11, 17 and then in Rev. 20:1, 4, 11 actually give us indications that the author saw visions in progressive succession.
First, in Rev. 19:11-16, John saw Jesus coming in clouds with great power and glory (c.f. Mat. 13:26; 24:30; Lk. 21:27).
Second, in Rev. 19:17-21, he saw the carnage that followed his coming: death and destruction of the Beast and his armies led by the kings of the earth (c.f. 2 Thes. 2:8-12).
Third, in Rev. 20:1-7, he saw the Millennial Kingdom which is placed between two resurrections, or between the binding and loosing of Satan. It is wrapped up with the final defeat of Satan along with the armies he deceived from four corners of the earth (Rev. 20:8-10).
Fourth, in Rev. 20:11-15, he saw a great white throne where those who did not belong to the first resurrection were judged (Rev. 20:13), when the earth and sky are no more (Rev. 20:11).
And fifth, in Rev. 20:1-4, he saw a new heaven and new earth, the holy city Jerusalem coming down from heaven, and God finally dwelling with his people.
Saying Rev. 19:17-21 is recapitulated in Rev. 20:8-10 is like saying the feeding of the five thousands (Mat 14:13-21) is recapitulated in the feeding of the four thousands (Mat. 15:32-39).
Rev. 19:17-21 is about the coming of the Son of Man from heaven, destruction of the Beast, and the binding of his source of power, Satan (Rev. 13:4). Whereas Rev. 20:8-10 is about God himself defeating Satan with finality after he was loosed at the end of the thousand years.
I do hope they have a Return Warranty for their lens, it’s broken.
Remember Rev. 21:5 which says, “these words are trustworthy and true.” If it’s trustworthy and true, why rearrange the author’s ordo-eschaton? Do they not fear the Warning Label in Rev. 22:18 that says, “if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book”?