LESSON 2 Eschatology Amillennium View
CONTINUED...
From Lesson 1 Part 2…answering the question,
“Can Christ come at any second?”
Lesson 2 …DEFINING TERMS, SYSTEMS AND DOCTRINES…This Lesson: Amillennialism
Read Revelation 20.1-7
So, during these thousand years:
Satan is bound for 1000 years so as not to deceive the nations for 1000 years in the deep, bottomless pit until the 1000 years are ended.
Jesus is “literally” reigning on earth (v4)
The people who died during the tribulation and did not worship the beast during the tribulation came to life (Resurrected) and reigned with Christ.
The rest of the dead didn’t come back until the 1000 years were complete
Variations of the Second Coming of Christ. The 2nd Coming is the event upon which views of the MILLENNIUM are built.
The Millennium (from Latin, mille, thousand) is a 1000-year period associated with the 2nd Coming of Jesus and His reign on “earth” as King, as described in Revelation 20.1-7.
Four Major Variations built upon this event (2nd Coming) and length of time of the Reign of King Jesus (The Millennium):
Here are some “solutions” – systems – doctrines - that have been proposed:
1. Pre-Millennialism
2. Post-Millennialism
3. A-Millennialism
4. “MY-Millennialism” or “YOUR-Millennialism”
Generally, Each position uses the Bible, even the same verses as the other, but propose different positions.
How do you remember which “Millennialism” is which? What is more important than any of them?
Christ’s return!
1. A-Millenniallism = there is no millennium – Christ just comes back after a long period of time (amoral, agnostic, amorphous, atypical, atheist)
2. Post-Millennialism = Christ comes back after the Millennium
3. Pre-Millennium = Christ will come back before the millennium.
Let’s start with AMILLENNIUM
Some “Amillennialist” oppose this label and would rather be identified with the expression: “RealizedMillennialist”…
The Millennium is REAL right now – we’re living it and in the process of REALIZING it right now.
THE MILLENNIUM IS A METAPHOR, SYMBOLOIZING A “LONG TIME”.
1. AMILLENNIUM: The Millennium is a symbol, figure of speach, or Metaphor of Christ’s present, spritiual reign among His people.
The millennial kingdom—which was inaugurated by Christ’s victory at the cross—began at the first coming of Christ and will continue until the time of His Second Coming.
There are only two “ages” or phases in the coming of the kingdom- “This age” and “the age to come”.
This kingdom covers the whole spectrum of time and there is no “intermediate state” called a “literal Millennium”.
The Reign of Jesus is “spiritual”, not literal, and is:
1. In the hearts of His followers and,
2. From where Jesus reigns on His thrown in Heaven.
There is no literal 1000-year reign. One thousand years just represents “a long period of time”.
The Amillennialist SAYS…
There is not enough mention anywhere else in Scripture to support that the millennium is literal.
There is only one passage that talks about this millennium, and it’s embedded in a book that speaks so much about things figuratively and is encircled with so many disputed things.
It’s all apocalyptic language. Don’t you think that God would mention it more clearly in other places?
The millennial kingdom is—and will continue to be—characterized by a mixture of good and evil.
The conflict between good and evil may intensify toward the end of this present age, and the increasing persecution may culminate in the appearance of the antichrist and the Second Coming of Christ. (And…it may not...antichrists are with us now and that’s all there’ll be)
WHAT ABOUT THE GREAT TRIBULATION FOR THE AMILL?
THERE IS NO GREAT LITERAL TRIBULATION.
There is no specified period of Tribulation…no “Great Tribulation”. Christians experience tribulation daily. There will not be a grand finale Seven Year Tribulation.
Tell anyone of these Christians that there is coming a greater tribulation…then, they may ask you…
“How could it get any worse?”
They say that there is not a Great, Specific Tribulation but that tribulation is a normal way of life for the Christian and will be present always until the Second Coming…it’s just going to be that way.
PARENTHETICALLY…
But I believe that there is a Great Tribulation….
The “Great” Tribulation is not to purify and sanctify the church, it is for:
1. The purification and restoration of the Elect Remnant of Israel
Jeremiah 30.7
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s Trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
2. To push Israel to be the gospel bearers for the Messiah to the world as originally decreed.
Back to tribulation…
Tribulation…But they say…
Mt 24:9 ‘‘Then they will deliver you (Christians) up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
John 16:33 I have said these things to you (Christians) , that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.’’
Ro 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Another SIDE NOTE….
But, what about these verses? Are they past?
Mr 13:19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. (Matt 24.21)
Mr 13:20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.
WHAT ABOUT THE BINDING OF SATAN REV 20.2, 7?
Satan is thus presently bound by the power of Christ so as not to deceive the nations with his lies any longer, as he had previously been allowed to do.
To be sure, the Devil is still active and influential, but his previous dominance is curtailed for a time, namely for the “millennium”. This allows the gospel to spread to all nations and through it Christ powerfully gathers in the elect of His Father by the power of His Spirit.
When Christ returns, He will immediately defeat the powers of evil, resurrect the saved and the unsaved, judge them, and deliver them to their eternal destinies.
All prophecies concerning the kingdom are being fulfilled in the inter-advent (1st and 2nd Coming) period spiritually by the church – RIGHT NOW.
This includes all prophecies made to ethnic Israel… they are now being fulfilled in and through the Church –which is “The Israel of God”. (Gal 6.16)
The BINDING OF SATAN IS NOW! Not during a literal millennium.
The binding of Satan is now! Not during a literal millennium. They believe Satan is now bound because …
1. Jesus now reigns in heaven…
Matt 28.18
And Jesus came and said to them, ‘‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
2. Because the gospel is being spread to all the peoples of the world – no longer confined to borders of a specific nation – Israel.
3. Jesus referred to the binding of Satan with the overthrow of his evil kingdom during his own earthly ministry:
Matt 12.28-29
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
4. His disciples rejoiced that the demons were subject to them (Lk 10.17-18)
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’’
5. Jesus said that “NOW” the prince of this world would be cast out, and that when He was lifted up, He would draw all men to Himself (Jn 12.31-32)
6. “Clearly” Satan has been bound so that he cannot continue with his whole-sale deception of the nations. He is not as powerful as he once was.
7. Christ’s kingdom, present age, is spreading through all the nations of the world.
Additional verses on the Binding of Satan:
Colossians 2:15: “When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”
Hebrews 2:14–15: “Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”
1 John 3:8b: “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
They say, “Don’t you see? Satan is defeated!”
Revelation 12:9: “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”
(This verse does not seem to help their position since it takes satan from heaven and puts him on earth. It does not take satan from earth and put him in the abyss.)
But at Pentecost the gospel was proclaimed to all nations and the nations aren’t deceived anymore and look at you. The nations aren’t deceived any longer – that happened during Jesus’ life on earth.
The reference to souls who have been martyred (20.4) are not really in their resurrected bodies but are in heaven in places of honor. The “thrones” in 20.4 are symbolic for places of honor in which the saints who died in this present age have gone on to be with Christ in heaven.
WHAT ABOUT THE FIRST RESURRECTION IN REV 20.5?
The “First Resurrection” in Rev 20.5 is not a PHYSICAL restoration from the dead; it is the SPIRITUAL REGENERATION that takes place when one puts their trust in Christ NOW.
Ephesians 2.5: even when we were dead in our sins, he made us alive together with Christ
The “First Resurrection” in 20.4-6 is not a literal, physical, bodily resurrection, rather, it is symbolic for a renewal of life conversion or to the transfer of the believer’s soul from earth to heaven at death. They use the following verses to support their symbolic posture on the resurrection…
Jn 5.25 - ‘‘Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”
There is only one resurrection at the same time for both righteous and unrighteous
Jn 5.28-29
28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Acts 24.15
having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
We are in the church age – somewhere, then all of a sudden, Christ comes back, and believers and unbelievers are raised –
“The First Resurrection” is a “General Resurrection”, then follows a final judgment and the new heavens and earth begins, finally the eternal state.
The Second Resurrection is when the saints in this present age, after their first resurrection (their salvation), spiritually reigns with Christ on earth – Christ is in their hearts reigning, then they die, and then they experience the second resurrection, going to reign in the heavenly kingdom with Christ…not a bodily resurrection.
Besides, here it is, right here…Jesus says His kingdom is not of this world!
John 18.36
“My kingdom is not of this world…My kingdom is not of this realm.”
WHAT ABOUT THE “STRANGENESS” OF A LITERAL MILLENNIUM?
Things that are just too strange to believe about a literal millennium:
The idea of glorified believers and sinners living on earth during a literal millennium together is too difficult to accept.
It just sounds TOO STRANGE for some occupants on earth to have perfect, glorified, bodies mingling on earth with people who are frail, destitute, feeble, and limited in every way.
It is impossible to accept the thought that sinful humans on this old earth could ever collaborate with heavenly glorified creatures who are part of the new earth.
How could perfect saints live in this unglorified atmosphere among death and decay?
If Christ “literally” comes in glory to reign on the earth, then how could people still persist in sin?
There seems to be no convincing purpose for such a millennium.
Scripture seems to indicate that all the major events yet to come before the eternal state will occur at once.
If you believe in a literal reign of Jesus on the earth and all the glorified saints administering His rule, how could anyone not believe in Him? There He is! GOD ruling from His throne! How could anyone not believe in Him?
THE Amills CONTINUE...
“WHAT MORE COULD ANYONE ASK THAN FOR WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW?“
Our Christian experience right now is too great to imagine that anything could be better.
They state that to have a literal 1000-year reign of Christ in Jerusalem (the Intermediate Phase) would be sadly anticlimactic compared to what the Christian experiences now in the present age and then in the consummation.
In this present age, we are already seated with Him in the heavenly places. (Eph 2.6)
We experience richness of life in the Spirit.
We are already aware that Christ rules over all the nations.
Already we commune in prayer with the “resurrected” and reigning Christ.
What then would be the advantage of an earthly throne from which Christ would subdue His enemies?
The 1000-year reign of Christ is best understood as a description of the NOW Current period of gospel proclamation.
Nothing less than the consummate state would be worth a literal millennium reign.
The Souls of Saints who have died in this age ALREADY reign with Christ.
At the same time, Satan is restrained so that the good news of salvation can spread throughout all the nations of the world.
Some Questions to ask our “AMILL” friends…
They say, “There is not enough mention anywhere else in Scripture to support that the millennium is literal.”
How many times does the Bible have to talk about something for it to be true?
How about the Tower of Babel (Gen 11) Only once spoken of?
There are multitudes of single current narrative events noted only once in Scripture.
Rev 20 is not an obscure passage. It’s pretty clear. What don’t you understand about it? Simple words mean what they say.
It’s not just one passage that speaks of a time that is not like 2021 – the entire Bible speaks of times that are different from today---do we spiritualize everything because things are spoken that are outside our experience?
Isa 65.19-20
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
Isa 65.25
The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,’’ says the LORD.
Zec 14:4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.
See the NT…The rebellious nations are crushed.
Re 2:27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.
Re 19:15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
“How do you know when to spiritualize things in the Bible and when to take them literally?”
“In order to be considered symbolic, the language in question must possess
(a) some degree of absurdity when taken literally and,
(b) some degree of clarity when taken symbolically.”
“It is difficult to imagine why one would consider the ‘thousand years’ in Revelation 20 to be symbolic language, for it possesses neither a degree of absurdity when taken literally, nor a degree of clarity when taken symbolically.”
A little bit more on how to interpret Scripture:
Literal Language – Take the passage in its most simple, direct, and ordinary meaning unless there are compelling reasons to do otherwise.
In other words, predictive passages, like any other human communication, should be taken as literal unless there are compelling reasons to understand them in some figurative sense.
We begin with the assumption that a prediction is to be understood literally.
The literal interpretation gives each word the meaning it would commonly have in everyday usage.
Allowances are made for symbols, figures of speech, and types, of course. It is understood that even symbols and figurative sayings have literal meanings behind them.
So, for example, when the Bible speaks of “a thousand years” in Revelation 20, I interpret it as a literal period of 1,000 years (the administration of the Kingdom), since there is no compelling reason to interpret it otherwise.
There are at least two reasons why Literalism is the best way to view Scripture:
1. Philosophically - the purpose of language itself requires that we interpret words literally. Language was given by God for the purpose of being able to communicate.
Words are vessels of meaning.
2. Biblically - Every prophecy about Jesus Christ in the OT was fulfilled literally. Jesus’ birth, ministry, death, and resurrection all occurred exactly as the OT predicted. The prophecies were literal. They really happened in history - in measured time.
There is no non-literal fulfillment of messianic prophecies in the New Testament.
This argues strongly for the literal method.
If a literal interpretation is not used in studying the Scriptures, there is no objective standard by which to understand the Bible. Each person would be able to interpret the Bible as he saw fit. Biblical interpretation would devolve into “what this passage says to me” instead of “the Bible says.”
Sad to say, this is already the case in much of what is called Bible study today.
Figurative Language
There IS prophecy that is figurative, and one must be able to make the distinction between literal and figurative language. There are three basic guidelines to assist to determine whether prophecy is literal or figurative:
1. Some language is obviously figurative because it would be absurd to understand it literally.
Examples:
Joel 2.31
The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.
Isa 11.1
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. (Prophecy of the Messiah’s genealogy)
(A branch could conceivably grow out of a human being, but not likely)
Zech 4.7
Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’’’
(A literal mountain could be removed, but not likely)
This is “picture” language, and the task of the interpreter is to discover the literal meaning intended in the picture.
Dreams are another way of prophecy and revelation.
Pharaoh dreamed that seven healthy ears of corn would eat up seven blasted ears of corn. (Gen 41) On the surface, it was meant to refer to an ordinary human event. (7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine)
Daniel and Revelation are filled with fantastic animal-like creatures that have never existed. One must find the literal meaning of figurative language.
2. Other figurative language is so identified in the context itself.
Symbolic and typical language is often defined in the context quite clearly.
The interpreter must not impose literal or other meanings on those symbols.
3. Other Scriptures may identify an apparently literal statement as having a figurative meaning…
Such is not a normal rule for understanding human language. It is only valid because Scripture is God-breathed.
See examples…
*Daniel tells us of four great beasts and then tells us what they represent (Dan 7.17)
*Christ stood before the temple and predicted, “Destroy this temple and then in three days I will raise it up.” (Jn 2.19)… could have been literal, but He gave the explanation. “He was speaking of the temple of His body” (v21-22).
*John in Revelation explains the symbols… 7 stars = angels of the seven churches (1.20). The golden bowls full of incense are the prayers of the saints (5.8). This same passage identifies “the lion that is from the tribe of Judah, “the Root of David,” and “the Lamb” as references to Christ.
Those arrayed in white robes are the ones who come out of great tribulation, and the white robes symbolize their forgiveness in Christ (7.13-14).
Jerusalem is figuratively called “Egypt” and “Sodom” (11.8).
The great dragon, the old serpent, is identified as the devil, Satan, and the deceiver (12.9).
The seven heads are seven mountains (17.9).
The ten horns are ten kings (17.15).
The woman is the great city, the capital of the whole world (17.18).
Since the compelling reasons are limited to the above three principles, present-day interpreters are not free to assign figurative or “spiritual” meaning to prophecy.
Scripture itself is the authority, not the interpreter.
Some More Questions to ask our “AMILL” friends…
The literal reading of a thousand years in Revelation 20 makes perfect sense. The only reason it may seem strange to an individual would be because they have a bias, for some reason, against such an understanding.
It doesn’t fit into their system.
There is a “Domino Effect” …if the Millennium is physical and not spiritual, then their whole system comes toppling down. Everything changes…like pulling a loose thread unravels the whole garment.
The 1000 year literal Millennium is that loose thread!
Or, pulling the rug out from under the feet:
Addressing the “The First Resurrection”:
When they came to life that means resurrection – coming to life everywhere means bodily resurrection.
The word “resurrection” never means going to heaven or into the presence of God.
Amill’s are giving meaning to words that don’t have that meaning anywhere else in the Bible.
Rev 20.1 John saw an angel coming down from heaven to earth which means the souls he saw were on earth.
They say that there is “Only One Resurrection”:
This is Hard to accept when Scripture speaks of “The FIRST Resurrection” … There must be more than ONE.
John 5 hints that there will be two resurrections from the dead…
Jn 5.28-29
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
“for an hour is coming” What does “HOUR” mean?
To a Class of students one says, “Your DAY of graduation is coming”. They understand. Some will be graduating this year, some next year…2023, 24, 25…but not all at the same time.
There’s an HOUR coming when you will have to think about your daughter/son getting married – some this year, some in a few years…not meaning that all of you will have to think about it at the same time.
There is a resurrection coming for Believers (First Resurrection), and then Unbelievers (Second Resurrection).
Addressing the “Binding of Satan”:
It appears the binding of satan will be much more extensive than when Jesus was on earth. (Note: that demons were worried that Jesus had come to torture them…they knew that they would be thrown into the lake of fire in the future, and they thought that it was at this time. Torture was their collision course, IT WAS THEIR END, NOT THEIR restraint.
Mk 5.7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, ‘‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.’’
(Do not throw us into the lake of fire)
Lk 4.34-35 ‘‘Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God.’’
Lk 8.30-31
Jesus then asked him, ‘‘What is your name?’’ And he said, ‘‘Legion,’’ for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss.
The references to the abyss in Luke 8:31 and Revelation 9, in particular, indicate that confinement to the abyss entails the complete removal of activity and influence upon the earth.
The “BINDING” was not a nominal restriction or just a partial pass to roam around on earth – it was the FULL REMOVAL FROM EARTH TO THE ABYSS!!
And so “the abyss” ought to mean the same in Rev 20.
To illustrate, “If a warden says that he is chaining and putting a prisoner in solitary confinement in order that he will no longer kill any more prisoners, this does not mean that the prisoner is still free to steal, plunder and destroy or do anything else he wants...but… he just can’t kill.” He is CONFINED! Locked in a gloomy, solitary darkness. He is free to DO NOTHING!
Additionally, of what is a nation made? (satan was bound so as not to deceive the nations)
A nation is made of Individuals!
So, could satan be free to attack individuals but not “nations”? Not possible.
Nations do not exist without individuals – just as households do not exist without family members.
Nations are not saved, but individuals are saved in the nations.
Satan could not be bound to not deceive nations but could be free to “have at it” with individuals when individuals make up nations – makes no sense.
To be bound and confined in the abyss, then, is to be totally cut off from any activity or influence upon the earth. It is absolute confinement.
In contrast to this picture of Satan being bound and imprisoned in the abyss during the thousand years, the New Testament testifies repeatedly that Satan is extremely active on earth during this present age.
1. He entered Judas and influenced him to betray Christ (Luke 22:3; John 13:27).
2. He sought to sift Peter like wheat (Luke 22:31).
3. He filled the heart of Ananias and influenced him to lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3).
4. He sent a messenger to buffet the Apostle Paul (2 Cor 12:7).
5. He thwarted Paul from traveling to Thessalonica (1 Thess 2:18).
6. He snatches the Word of God from unbelieving hearers of the gospel before it can take root (Matt 13:19; Luke 8:12).
7. He tells lies (John 8:44).
8. He has unbelievers under his dominion (Acts 26:18).
9. He tempts believers (1 Cor 7:5).
10. He seeks to take advantage of believers (2 Cor 2:11).
11. He is called the “god of this world” and has blinded the minds of the
unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Cor 4:4).
12. He blinds the minds of the unbelieving (2 Cor 4:4).
13. He seeks to deceive believers as he did with Eve (2 Cor 11:3).
14. He disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14).
15. He is at work in unbelievers to influence them to live as they do (Eph 2:2).
16. He seeks to deceive believers as he battles against them (Eph 6:11–12).
17. He deceives and traps unbelievers (2 Tim 2:26).
18. He holds unbeliever’s captive to do his will (2 Tim 2:26).
19. He prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Pet 5:8).
20. He is the father of those who practice sin (1 John 3:8–10).
21. He holds unbelievers in his power (1 John 5:19).
22. He is called the one who deceives the whole world (Rev 12:9).
23. He will deceive those who dwell upon the earth (Rev 13:14; 18:23; 19:20).
Does any of the previous activities of satan appear as though he is bound?
He appears to be just as “UNBOUND” as he ever was!
Yes, Jesus cast out demons and then by His disciples and yes, the gospel was proclaimed to all the nations…but, when you look at the verses that say he bound the serpent and cast him into the pit for a thousand years – shut it, sealed it, it means that he no longer has any influence in the world today.
“SIGNED...SEALED...DELIVERED!!!”
Any news headline will prove that it is not so that satan no longer has influence today. It looks like there is going to be a future time when satan no longer has influence on the earth. (Includes the demons?? Probably, the implications are that the demons, too, were chained with him)
Acts 5.3
But Peter said, ‘‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
2 Cor 4.4
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1 Pet 5.8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Jn 5.19
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
These verses do not support that satan is NOT bound, thrown into the bottomless pit, and sealed over. There is still a powerful influence of the devil today.
“The imagery of throwing Satan into a pit and shutting it and sealing it over him gives a picture of total removal from influence on earth”
“The elaborate measures taken to ensure his custody are most easily understood as implying the complete cessation of his influence on earth (rather than a curbing of his activities)”
“One cannot have Satan bound and loose at the same time; the logic of language will not permit it”
THEY SAY, “But at Pentecost the gospel was proclaimed to all nations and the nations aren’t deceived anymore and look at you."
That the nations aren’t deceived any longer –
1. This happened during Jesus’ physical presence on earth…not during the metaphorical millennium.”
2. And This is because the Holy Spirit has come, not because satan has been bound –
1 Jn 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Hundreds of years before the first coming of Christ, Satan was found to be “roaming about on the earth and walking around on it” (Job 1:7), and today—hundreds of years after the first coming…Satan still “prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8). Simply stated, Satan is not currently bound and imprisoned in the abyss, and the millennium of Revelation 20 has not yet begun.
Lastly, above all else, I resist giving satan literal or metaphorical power to thwart the work of God The Holy Spirit. It is not the lack of satan’s presence in the world that enables the furtherance of the gospel, rather it is the presence of the Holy Spirit of God that the kingdom grows.
To think that Satan must be bound so that the Gospel will be unhindered is to have too high a view of satan and too low a view of God!
Satan is and has always been “LEASHED” by God and so he is now during this present age.
But, during the millennium, he will be “BOUND” and cast away to have zero influence over the earth.
When God the Holy Spirit today decides to move in the hearts of unregenerate men for salvation, satan has NO rebuttal. He need not be bound. (Matt 16.18)
Satan is not God’s adversary – God has no adversary – no equal/opposite…that is why He is God.
Satan is our adversary, not God’s. (1 Pet 5.8)
One more thing…when the Amills say that Jesus reigns and His kingdom is now present on earth by referring to His statement, “My kingdom is not of this world”, they are taking His statement out of context.
Now, reference the verse that Jesus says that his Kingdom is not of this world…read the whole verse and put it into context…
John 18.36
My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”
He is standing before Pilate on the charge of Sedition or Treason. Pilate wants to know if Jesus was trying to overthrow Rome. Jesus told him that if He was trying to overthrow Rome, then his servants would be fighting now to prevent His capture.
He was not promoting a spiritual kingdom from which He would reign someday.
He was denying the charge of Treason.
Addressing the “Things Too Strange”:
As to the question, “If you believe in a literal reign of Jesus on the earth and all the glorified saints administering His rule, how could anyone not believe in Him? There He is! GOD ruling from His throne! How could anyone not believe in Him?”
Well, if that is your point, then what about…
How could Adam and Eve have sinned? They walked in the very presence of God in the Garden, even when they were sinless.
Judas lived with Jesus for three years and betrayed him.
Pharisees saw miracles and miracles and even Lazarus raised from the dead and still didn’t believe, still hated Him, and conspired to Kill Him.
Matt 28.16-17
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted.
How some can see and persist in unbelief is mind boggling.
Look at satan, who dwelt in the presence of God, but rebelled and was cast away.
Here’s the Big one:
Jesus was here on earth…literally, physically… GOD THE SON…and they killed Him!
There He was, GOD and they didn’t fall at His feet then, rather, they nailed His feet to a cross and killed Him.
Sin does not make sense – it is irrational. Those who try to understand the strangeness of how sinners and resurrected saints could dwell in a world where King Jesus physically reigns and yet rebel…
… are trying to make sense of sin. Let us know when you’ve got that nailed.
Many will believe, and many will not. Ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit that must change people’s hearts.
They say, “But God had the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, the Fall, the Flood, His people, God set the stage for the Messiah, then there was the incarnation, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, The Holy Spirit, the Gospel spread to the nations…it’s all done. Why do you have to insert this 1000-year thing where things are unsettled and temporary.
Everything that needs to happen has happened. There is no purpose for this.
What is the purpose for the 1000-year literal millennium?
There are many.
There is no better explanation than what Scripture clearly lays out. It looks like a literal future resurrection and reign of our King for a thousand years.
It would show God’s purposes for structure of society.
Laws for businesses, criminals, international trade, how government conducts itself…marvelous results in society to vindicate His righteousness, his fairness and justice. Is there anyone who does not dream to see “IT” done right? Government was His idea in the first place.
In The Big picture – it is God’s good purpose to reveal more of his glory over time.
Doesn’t He always answer over time. Prayer He answers over time. The way He created the earth over time. The way He called the Jewish people – Abe, Isaac, Jacob, 12 tribes.
How did He send the Messiah…? He waited for centuries.
Ga 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law…
Eph 1:10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
How does he spread the gospel? – over centuries.
He unfolds the wisdom of His purposes over time to more and more of His glory.
The millennium is the way He may do that. And we’ll see, wow, just how good God is.
Can we ever see too much of God?
Also, it is the time to fulfill the promises He covenanted to Israel…land and peace and restoration.
And one more possibility:
He is proving that even without the devil roaming around, even with a perfect global governing structure, perfect “social” justice, man’s heart is still sinful. No one can blame anyone but their own hearts. It’s not society, law, governing authorities, not any evil influences –just themselves… “mankind liberated from evil influence still retains evil hearts”.
They say, “It’s just TOO STRANGE for some occupants on earth to have perfect, glorified, bodies mingling on earth with people who are frail, destitute, feeble, and limited in every way.”
It does sound a little strange, but Jesus dwelled on earth with his resurrected body for 40 days.
And…other saints as well…
Matt 27.52-53 (Only one verse in the Bible and nothing in church history)
The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (Perhaps a foretaste of glory divine for those who observed)
It’s not impossible.
What ever we grow up with we think is normal. Today kids grow up with computers and smart phones, apps, WIFI, UHDTV and video games.
I can remember a day when we’d carry coins in our pockets to use pay phones and a day when I’d have to go to the library to use a hardback BOOK to study and to use a Xerox machine to make copies and carbon paper for typewriters…I had to get on a bus to go someplace!
What ever we grow up with we think is normal.
I remember going to bed with doors and windows open and car keys left in the ignition.
I remember when we could go for long walks anywhere at any time and never a shade of fear would enter our minds.
I remember when neighbors bought groceries for their neighbors and loaned them cash until they could get back on their feet … and the neighbors would actually pay back the money.
What ever we grow up with we think is normal.
I remember when Dads worked, and moms were home.
I remember when people first got married and then lived together and then had children.
“I remember….” YOU FILL THE NEXT ONE IN…
People at the beginning will see these resurrected bodies among them but will get used to it.
It’s not impossible.
Please do not take offense in the next slides. I am still thinking through it and am pondering its validity.
And am aware of 1 Pe 1:8: “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory…”
The “A-Mill” position may be the “safest” position to take in a world that “shames” and persecutes Christians, since a non-literal, metaphorical, spiritual millennium is hard to refute by unregenerate man…
It seems to take less faith to believe that the millennium is just a metaphorical narrative or a spiritual, non-literal, non-physical event.
In fact, it takes little faith to dwell in a status quo world where nothing supernatural will ever literally, physically happen as far as the eye can see. (2 Pet 3.4)
A metaphorical view is very innocuous and impossible to condemn by unregenerate man because this position is harmless, “invisible” and internal. It appears to be just another “belief” that affects no one other than the believer. This is why it is a “safe” position.
A “Tolerant-forced” society in which we live is culturally condemned if they do not accept the whims and notions that mankind purports.
I have yet to explore any possible allusions or connections of the “non-physical”, metaphorical, spiritual nuances to Gnosticism.
Perhaps there are roots, perhaps there are none.
Next LESSON… POST-MILLENNIUM and PRE-MILLENIUM VIEWS
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