Revelation 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Revelation 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
What is in question here, is the little season meant in Revelation 6:11 the same little season meant in Revelation 20:3? If they are, and can be shown that they are, that could only mean one thing, this debunks Premil, thus proves Amil sinnce Premil couldn't possibly work if the little season in both verses are speaking of the same era of time. No one would argue that the little season meant in Revelation 6:11 is meaning during a time post the 2nd coming. It is obviously meaning a time prior to the 2nd coming. And if the little season in the latter is the same little season in the former, that obviously means Premil can't work.
I tend to think these are not the same little season, thus two eras of time that happen at different times, and will try and show some reasons why I conclude this.
If we start with Revelation 6:11, what should be noted is this, this same little season the souls in heaven are told to rest during, this little season is also in effect back on earth, where during it the following occurs---their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be fulfilled. Now we have to look for Scriptures showing how and when these in question are killed, keeping in mind that a little season obviously implies a short period of time as opposed to a long period of time. For example, in Revelation 20 there are two eras of time in view, a thousand years and a little season. No one should remotely think the little season represents an era of time equal to or greater than a thousand years. No one should remotely think the little season parallels the thousand years, the fact the text makes it crystal clear that the thousand years has a starting and ending point, and that it is not until it's ending point that the little season begins.
As to the little season in Revelation 6:11, since we are looking for Scriptures speaking of a short period of time as opposed to a long period of time, it seems to me that Revelation 13:5 has the short era of time that we are seeking.
Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
42 months compared to a thousand years, for instance, would certainly be a shorter period of time. Another place where we see a possible short period of time as opposed to a long period of time is per the following.
Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Let's entertain the idea of Amil for a moment. If Amils believe this short time began 2000 years ago, and most of them do, if not all of them, and that they also think this little season in Revelation 6:11 parallels this past 2000 years, what they have done is turn a short period of time into a long period of time. Revelation 20 already proves that a thousand years is a greater period of time than a little season is, and that this little season can never parallel the time of this thousand years, yet Amils apparently think the little season meant in Revelation 6:11 is a long period of time rather than a short period of time if they have this same little season paralleing the past two thousand years, where this past 2000 years is meaning the thousand years in Revelation 20 to them.
Like I have pointed out numerous times in the past, Amil consists of one contradiction after another, too many to keep up with. I probably shouldn't have said that since this will likely be the main focus of my post by them, how dare I suggest Amil consists of one contradiction after another. It's not like I'm just saying it without showing why, and continue to show why as I type out this OP.
The following is one of the main reasons why the little season meant in Revelation 6:11 can't be the same little season meant in Revelation 20.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Let's focus on this part---and I saw the souls of them---which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands. The fact we are already told this before satan is ever loosed after the thousand years, this obviously means these saints are martyred during a time prior to the thousand years expiring. That means one of two things. Either they are martyred during a period of time before the thousand years begin, or they are martyred during the thousand years. There are no other choices. It has to be one of these.
It is obvious that when they are martyred it is meaning during the following period of time---their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled--where we are told that that happens during a little season. And the fact Revelastion 20 shows that a little season can never parallel the thousand years, the same has to be true in this case, thus telling us that the little season these are mayrtyred during is before the thousand years begin since it can't be during the thousand years nor after.
Clearly, the martyrs recorded in Revelation 20:4---which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands---are martyred during the events recorded in Revelation 13, which obviously means the beast has to ascend out of the pit first, before any of these recorded in Revelation 20:4---which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands---can even be martyred for the reasons they are martyred. They are martyred because they refused to worship the beast that had ascended out of the bottomless pit. This exposes yet another contradiction in Amil, since Amils insist that the beast doesn't ascend out of the pit until after the thousand years expire, regardless that Revelation 20:4 and everything else I presented proves that is not even remotely true.
This OP ended up lengthier than I planned. I better stop here. I have shown reasons why these little seasons happen in different eras of time. Those that might disagree, thus conclude they are referring to the same era of time, need to show why and how that is so.
I've never imagined Revelation 6's witnesses who were to be martyred as NOT referring to those who are said to have been beheaded in Revelation 20. At the close of Revelation 20 we don't see anyone being martyred for faith in Jesus. We only see the Gog/Magog rebellion being stopped by fire come down from God out of heaven and consuming them.
Your post prompted me to look at the Greek words for short time, little time, little season etc:
Revelation 6:11
"And white robes were given to each one of them. And it was said to them that they should rest yet for a little (mikrós) time (chrónos), until both their fellow servants and their brothers (those about to be killed as they were) should have their number made complete."
μικρός mikrós
apparently a primary word;
small (in size, quantity, number or (figuratively) dignity):--least, less, little, small.
(The English word micro obsiously comes from the above).
χρόνος chrónos
of uncertain derivation;
a space of time.
Revelation 20:3
And he cast him into the abyss and shut him up and set a seal on him, that he should deceive the nations no more until the thousand years should be fulfilled. And after that he must be loosed a little (mikrós) time (chrónos).
The words used in Revelation 6:11 and Revelation 20:3 above are the same words, but are different to the words used in Revelation 12:12:
Revelation 12:12
"Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and those tabernacling in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and in the sea! For the Devil came down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a little (olígos) time kairós."
ὀλίγος olígos
of uncertain affinity;
puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); especially neuter (adverbially) somewhat:--+ almost, brief(-ly), few, (a) little, + long, a season, short, small, a while.
καιρός kairós
of uncertain affinity;
an occasion, i.e. set or proper time:--X always, opportunity, (convenient, due) season, (due, short, while) time, a while.
For me it's simply a case of: Does Revelation 20 give the reason why the souls John as having been beheaded, were beheaded?, and if so, who was responsible for their beheading?
The clue is the reason why they were beheaded. There are two reasons given, which are part of the same thing: their actions (their witness to Christ) and their non-actions (they refused to worship the beast or his image or receive his mark or the number of his name).
To me no one who puts the ascension of the beast from the abyss at the close of the Age soon before the return of Christ can logically place this at the close of the millennium, because these martyred souls, who were beheaded, were seen by John living and reigning with Christ a thousand years, while the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This statement also implies that the martyred souls, who were beheaded for these reasons, lived again.
I believe the devil's 'short time' in Revelation 12 is the time in-between (a) The time when he was cast out of heaven (which the passage implies was immediately after Christ had been caught up to God and to His throne); and (b) the time he is bound.
The question I would ask is this: When Satan was cast out of heaven and to the earth, would he not have known that at the close of the Age very soon before the return of Christ, he would be given a short time during which he would reign in the world through the beast of Revelation 13 which Satan gives its seat, power, and great authority?
So to me, when the dragon was cast out of heaven, he probably knew he would be given a short time at the close of the Age
starting with the time when he would be handed the key to the abyss to open the abyss. I do not believe that he is bound up till now, but until he is handed that key to open the abyss, his short time has not started in earnest. All he can do is to go around deceiving as best he knows how - and we are told by Jesus and by the apostles that this is exactly what he is doing, for now.
