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In previous topic (The Kingdom of God) we proved that the
kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom, established by
Christ at His first advent and enables men to reign over
sin, live righteous in this life and that salvation
prepares them for heaven, thus leaving no NEED for a
future millenial earthly reign. However since the
millenial teaching is so prevalent today we will examine
this teaching point by point. The millenial theory teaches
a future period of universal righteousness during which
Christ is supposed to reign on earth for a thousand years.
There are two theories of millenialism taught....pre and
post. Pre-millenialist teach Christ second advent will be
before the supposed thousand years reign. Post-millenialist
teach Christ's second advent will be after the supposed
thousand years earthly reign.
This
teaching is that the world will get better and better,
leading to a worldwide state of righteousness. Anyone
familiar with the daily newspaper can surely see that we
are not heading for worldwide righteousness. We have all
observed the dishonesty in our government officials, the
increase of rape, murder, crime, homosexuality, and other
wickedness. There may be an increase of
"interest" in religious matters, but true
righteousness is definitely unpopular in our world today.
The Bible also declares there will be wickedness in the
last days. In 2 Peter 3:3-4 Peter says--Knowing this
first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers,
walking after their own lust, and saying, Where is the
promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell sleep,
all things continue as they were from the beginning of the
creation. Then Paul gives us a description of
"perilous times" that surely fits our day in 2
Tim 3:1-5--This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their
ownselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without
natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despiser of those that are good,
traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more
than lovers of God; having a form of Godliness, but
denying the power thereof; from such turn away. So we see
that post millenialist is only a theory of men and
definitely not a Bible doctrine.
PRE-MILLENIALISM
Pre-millenialism
is the most popular theory taught today. Thousands of
books have been published propagating this theory. Some
claims it makes no difference whether or not you believe
in a millenium because it does not affect your salvation.
However it does matter and here are some reason why: It is
one thing to receive salvation and another to keep it,
Even though millenialist may not teach second chance
outright, it is implied in their doctrine. Therefore those
who get careless with their experience and are in doubt as
to their standing with God, may rely on the false security
that if worse come to worse, they could get right with
God, or get down to business when they observe that the
so-called "rapture" has taken place. Those who
never really got a true experience of salvation have the
same false security to erase the deep down uncertainty
they feel. Even non-professor who are exposed to this
theory, who perhaps doubt if there is anything to
salvation, soothe their conscience with the thought that
they will wait until they see those they think are true
Christians come up missing at the so-called rapture.Then
of course, if one is looking for a literal kingdom out in
the future he is blinded to the reality of the spiritual
kingdom already in existence.
BRIEF
HISTORY OF MILLENIALISM
The
theory of millenialism was originally borrowed by the
Christians from the earthly minded Jews who rejected and
crucified Christ because He destroyed their carnal hope of
the Messiah establishing an earthly kingdom. However, even
in the history of various heathen nations, such as, Egypt,
Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome can be found some sort of
a theory of a future earthly "golden age". Some
even held it would be a thousand years. The Jewish
concept, of course was mainly based on prophecies found in
the Old Testament; prophecies they interpreted literally.
They desired to see the Messiah defeat the enemies of
Israel, re-establish the throne of David at Jerusalem and
exalt Israel to great glory and splendor. The apostles who
were Jews themselves, were even affected by this theory as
can be seen in their inquiry to Jesus as to what time He
would restore the kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6) However,
after Pentecost we read nothing further about this for the
Holy Ghost cleared up their misconceptions and opened up
their spiritual eyesight. As we later point out, whenever
Jesus or the apostles quoted Old Testament prophecies,
they applied a spiritual meaning to them and applied them
now during the gospel age and not out in the future
somewhere.
EARLY
HERETICS TAUGHT THE MILLENIUM
The
Ebionites, a Judaizing sect, that rejected parts of the
gospel were strong advocates of the millenial theory. A
man named Cerinthus was the first to intoduce the
millenial theory under Christianity. It is notewothy that
John, the beloved disciples, labeled Cerinthus as an
"enemy of the truth", according to Eusebius's
Ecclesiatical History, Vol three chapter twenty eight.
MILLENIALISM
NOT ALWAYS WIDELY ACCEPTED
Millenialism
has had several spasmodic revivals and was held by a few
of the early church fathers. However, until recently it
was not generally accepted in religious circles. The
Apostles Creed, the Nicene, the Constantinopolitian, and
the Athanasian all exclude it by affirming a single
resurrection of the dead, including both righteous and
wicked.
The early
Protestant reformers were not looking way out in the
future for some unknown, mysterious anti-Christ to away
world-wide dominion. They fearlessly proclaimed the Pope
as the "man of sin" and Roman Catholicism as the
beast of Revelation, thirteenth chapter, that "made
war with the saints". It is a fact of history that
the reformation rocked Catholicism to its foundation and
loosed the stronghold of Papal authority.
Those who
teach a millenial reign on earth vary in their belief, but
basically what follows is a fair description of this
teaching.....
SUMMARY
OF THE MILLENIAL THEORY
Millenialist
teach that the kingdom of God is a literal kingdom yet
future as it has not as yet been set up since the Jews
rejected Christ as King. They affirm that the return of
Christ is near and that He will come secretly and raise
the righteous dead and those with the righteous living
will be caught up with Christ in the air. This
ressurrection of the righteous dead they term the
"first resurrection". The righteous are to be
kept in the air (or perhaps heaven) for a period of time
generally believed as from three and one half to seven
years. All this is termed the "rapture". During
these three and a half years (or seven years) a great
tribulation takes place on earth under the rule of a
personal anti-Christ. He is revealed as the "man of
sin". Some say he kills the two witnesses God sends
and sets up his own image to be worshipped etc. Those
believing this theory usually have the "Battle of
Armageddon" (Armageddon is a plain in Galilee) taking
place at this time. At any rate, after this coming of
Christ for His saints, called a rapture, it is held He
comes again with His saints. He then binds Satan for a
thousand year period in which peace and prosperity will
prevail. The literal Jews will be gathered back to
Palestines, the temple rebuilt and temple worship of
ceremonies and sacrifices will be restored. Christ will
literally reign on David's throne and rule over all the
world with special advantage to the Jews. The land become
fruitful, the animals are no longer ferocious, etc. This
period of bliss last for a thousand years and then Satan
is loosed for a short time and goes out to deceive the
nations gathering them to battle and surrounds the saints
in the city of Jerusalem. But God sends down fire from
heaven destroying them and Satan is cast into the lake of
fire. Millenialist who did not have the Armageddon battle
taking place before this now call this the battle of
Galilee. This is where it is alleged that the blood will
flow up to the horses' bridles and Christ will indulge in
carnal warfare to defeat Satan and the host of evil. After
all this the wicked dead shall be resurrected and judged.
This is called the second resurrection. Lastly, the earth
will be burned up, or some say burned over.
MILLENIALISM
NOT TAUGHT IN GOSPELS OR EPISTLES
We might
first point out that neither the gospel nor any of the
epistles contain one word about a millenial reign. The
only text that says anything about a thousand year reign
with Christ is in the twentieth chapter of Revelation.
Granted, one plain text is enough to support a doctrine,
but if it is found in a highly symbolic book, a book many
consider mysterious, it should be interpreted in
accordance with other plain scriptures. A literal
interpretation of Revelation, the twentieth chapter, is
absolutely necessary to attempt to find any supposed
support for millenialism. However the millenialist have no
footing here either.
MILLENIALISM
NOT TAUGHT IN REVELATION 20TH CHAPTER
First and
foremost is that the book of Revelation, including chapter
twenty, should not be taken literally; in fact cannot be
taken literal for it is a symbolic book. Nowhere in the
world are there or have there ever been, animals with the
description given them in the Revelation. In chapter
thirteen there is a seven headed, ten horned, leopard-like
beast with feet as a bear and mouth like a lion capable of
speaking blasphemies. In chapter twelve the dragon also
has seven heads and ten horns and a tail long enough to
reach stars. These are a couple of examples of why the
Revelation cannot be taken entirely literal. We offer a
brief explanation of revelation twenty in a later chapter.
For now, let us show what it does not teach. For the most
part the millenial theory is "read into"
Revelation twenty rather than out of it. First of all,
nowhere in this entire passage is there a single word
about the second coming of Christ. This is only assumed by
the millenialist. Neither does it contain a word about
Christ reigning on earth. The reign is "with
Christ" and He is in heaven. There are also no
ressurrected bodies in this passage. They are
"souls" and only the souls of those beheaded who
are to reign with Christ. What John saw in his vision was
the souls of the martyr of Jesus as they lived and reigned
with Christ in Paradise. That is where the departed souls
of the saints go, to the paradise of God. As we showed in
the previous chapter (kingdom of God), the only reign with
Christ on earth that the Bible teaches is by those who
reign over sin in this life. Then Revelation 20:5 outright
contradicts the millenial theory, for it says--But the
rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years
were finished. This is the "first resurrection."
So here is a resurrection termed the "first
resurrection" that does not take place until after
the thousand years were finished. The millenial teachings
claims that the first resurrection is the literal or
bodily resurrection of the saved at Christ's coming and
that they afterwards reign with Him a thousand years on
earth. Whereas, verse 5 tells of those who experienced a
resurrection after the thousand years were finished termed
the "first resurrection". We might mention here
that the "first resurrection" is of a spiritual
nature and does not refer to the literal or bodily
resurrection. As we will be pointing out shortly, the
scriptures teach there will be only one bodily or literal
resurrection of both the saints and sinner which will take
place at Christ second and LAST coming.
The
"first resurrection" that makes man
"blessed and holy" is the "new birth"
or the spiritual resurrection of the soul received in
salvation. Eph 2:1 and Col 2:13 are two examples of being
quickened or resurrected to life in Christ from being dead
in sin. In Jn 5:24-28, Jesus is teaching two resurrection,
the first being spiritual and the second literal. He is
teaching the first resurrection(the spiritual one) in Jn
5:25. He says--verily,verily I say unto you, the hour is
coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of
the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. That this
is the spiritual resurrection, can be seen from the twenty
fourh verse. In John 5:24--Verily, verily, I say unto you,
he that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent
me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. He goes
on to teach of the literal or bodily resurrection in Jn
5:28-29. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming in the
which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and
shall come forth; they that have done good unto
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto
resurrection of damnation.
So we see
that Rev 20, the "stronghold chapter" for the
millenialist, does not teach an earthly ,millenial reign
at all.
MILLENIALISTS
INTERPRET SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS LITERALLY
The main
error in millenial teachings is in their literal
interpretation of the scriptures. Not only in the
twentieth chapter of Revelation, but in Old Testament
prophecies as well. When Jesus or His inspired apostles
quoted Old Testament prophecies they invested them with a
higher spiritual meaning and applied them now in the
gospel dispensation. In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus quoted part of
the prophecy given in Isa 61:1-5 but He spiritualized it
and applied it to the gospel dispensation. In Acts
15:13-17, the Apostle James quoted Amos 9:11=12, Peter
declares that the Old Testament prophets in their
predictions referred to the things.....now reported unto
you by them that have preached the gospel...On Pentecost
the same apostle quotes the prophet Joel and applies it
now in the gospel dispensation saying....this is that
which was spoken of by the Prophet Joel(Acts2:16) In this
same chapter, verse 29-36, he quotes the prophecy of David
concerning Christ being raised up to sit on His throne,
and he applies that now, in this age, not in some future
millenial era. Then in Acts 3:24 this same Peter makes the
sweeping declaration....and all the prophets from Samuel
and those that follow after, as many have spoken have
likewise foretold of these days. So we see that the Old
Testament prophecies were for our day, the gospel day, and
not for some supposed future dispensation.
MILLENIAL
THEORY CONTRADICTS BIBLE TEACHINGS
To teach
an earthly millenial reign requires a contradiction to
other plain scriptural teachings. For example it requires
two literal or bodily resurrection and two future comings
of Christ.
ONLY
ONE RESURRECTION
The Bible
just does not teach a double resurrection or three advents
of Christ. Acts 24:15 teaches....that there shall be a
resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust.
John 5:28-29 declares an "hour" is coming in
which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice and
shall come forth, both good and evil. Four times in one
chapter (Jn 6:39,40, 44,54) Jesus states that He would
resurrect the righteous at the LAST day. (Not a thousand
years before the last day)
CHRIST
SECOND COMING AND LAST RETURN NOT SECRET
Rev 1:7
teaches that when Christ comes every eye shall see Him,
and they also which pierced Him.(This includes saint and
sinner)1 Thess 4:14-17 teaches that Christ will return
with a shout and with a voice of the archangel, and with
the trump of God. This trump is termed the LAST TRUMP in 1
Cor 15:52. In 1 Thess 4:14-17, by the way, is used by
millenialist in an attempt to teach two future comings of
the Lord. However, these scriptures are only showing that
the righteous dead will be resurrected before the
righteous living are caught up; so all can ascend at the
same time. The wicked are not being considered in this
text. Also, instead of the ascension being for a short
"rapture" period, it says.....and so shall we
ever with the Lord.
THE
KINGDOM DELIVERED-UP AT CHRIST RETURN
1 Cor
15:22-28 teaches that when Christ comes back it will not
be to set-up a kingdom, but to deliver-up the kingdom to
God. Christ is now reigning and will continue to
reign...till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The
last enemy that shall be destroyed is death(1 Cor
15:25-26) The way that death will be destroyed, of course
is by the resurrection. Therefore, the entire reign of
Christ is before the resurrection, for death is the last
enemy that He will conquer. Christ, of course, has
...risen from the dead and became the firs-fruits of them
that slept.(1 Cor 15:20) But we won't be resurrected until
Christ's coming.(1 Cor 15:23) At that time....cometh THE
END when He shall have delivered-up (not set-up) the
kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put
down all rule and all authority and power(1 Cor 5:24) When
the last enemy, death is conquered by the resurrection
is.....when all things shall be subdued into Him, then
shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him, that God
may be all in all.(1Cor 15:28)
The time
when millenialist expect Christ to come, act up a kingdom,
and begin to reign, is the very time Paul points out as
the end of Christ personal redemptive reign, when
He...shall have delivered up the kingdom to God.
BATTLE
OF ARMAGEDDON NOT LITERAL
Here
again the millenialist interprets scriptures literally
that have spiritual application. Armageddon in the Old
Testament was the literal battlefield of several
remarkable battles fought by ancient Israel. This is where
Barak conquered the Canaanites and Gideon overcame the
Midianites. (Judges chapters 4,5,7) This is also where
Saul met death(1 Sam 31) as did Josiah(2 Kings 23) For
that reason Armageddon is used to symbolize a spiritual
warfare in the book of revelation. The Apostle Paul
teaches us that as Christians....the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal(2 Cor 10:4)Jesus told Pilate...My
kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this
world, then would my servants fight...(John 18:36). In the
New Testament, Armageddon is found in Rev 16:16 where it
says "And he gathered them together into a place
called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon". In verse 13
above this, we read "And I saw three unclean spirits
like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of
the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false
prophet. John is talking about spirits, three unclean
spirits. Then in verse 14 it says 'For they are the
spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto
the kings of the earth and of the world, to gather them to
the battle of that great day of God almighty. This battle
of Armageddon is not a literal battle but spiritual
battle. Paul teaches us in Eph 6:12--For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. To
ascribe such a bloody literal warfare as being fought by
Jesus Christ surely goes against other scriptural
teachings of our Lord and Saviour and His followers. Then
from a logical standpoint, with the modern complex warfare
equipment today, to fight a literal battle on that little
plain in Galilee is hardly possible.
RESTORATION
OF JUDAISM UNSCRIPTURAL
Many
things predicted of Judah and Jerusalem have never been
literally fulfilled. Therefore, millenialist insist that
they will be literally fulfilled even if it goes against
logic or other plain scriptural teachings.
That
bloody animal sacrifices should again be offered to God on
an altar for a thousand years, is not only unscriptural
but repulsive. Anyone familiar with the book of Hebrews
and the writings of Paul realize that such sacrifices are
taught as being a shadow of the sacrifice of Christ and as
having passed away when that which they predicted were
accomplished. Hebrews 10:10 says--By the which will we are
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all. (also see verse 14)Then Heb
10:18--Now where remission of these is, there is no more
offering for sin.
We hope
above all that you can grasp this next statement; for
seemingly multitudes are mixed-up concerning this...
THE
LITERAL JEWS ARE NO LONGER GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE.
Many
today are believing that the literal Jews will gather to
what was known under the Law dispensation as the "Holyland".
Every time something political happens to literal Israel
millenial teachers claim it is agreeing with Bible
prophecy. However, this is just a deception to get
people's eyes on the literal and away from the spiritual
application of the scriptures. The Bible plainly teaches
that under the gospel dispensation the literal Jews are no
longer the chosen people of God. Galatians 3:18-29
says--There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male or female: for ye are
all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are
ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to promise. Saved
people, those that are in Christ, whether Jew or not are
Abraham's seed. Romans 4:11 will teach us the Abraham
is.....the father of all them that believe. We learn the
definition of the true or spiritual Israelite from Rom
2:28-29--For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly;
neither is that circumcision which is outward in the
flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and
circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not
in letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
According to Acts 10:34-35...God is no respector of
person: But in every nation he that feareth him, and
worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The plan of
salvation and blessings of the kingdom of God are promised
to "whosoever will". For the literal Jew to
receive any special privilege, to inherit the promises of
God, to be numbered among the chosen people of God, he too
must be born again. The promises to Israel are not to
literal Israel but to spiritual Israel. Romans
11:7...Israel (literal) hath not obtained that which he
seeketh for: but the election (spiritual Israel) hath
obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Rom 9:6 says--they
are not all (spiritual) Israel, which are of (literal)
Israel.
Only
those who have been born again are the chosen people of
God, and only the born again make up spiritual Israel, the
Israel of God. The "called out" nation of Israel
was chosen to be the special people of God for a specific
reason. God, who sees the end from the beginning, called
out and chose a people to "typify" Christian
truths that would come to pass in the Christian or gospel
dispensation of time. Except for spiritual Israel, which
was to be and whom God foreknew, there would have been no
literal Israel.
Most of
the high points of Israel's history is used to typify some
Christian truth. Their deliverance from the bondage of
Egypt by the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea typifies
the deliverance from sin through miraculous salvation.
Their being led by a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire,
being fed manna from heaven and water from the rock are
all "types" of Christian truths. A true
"type" or "shadow" is more than just
illustration of a Christian truth; it is something that
has been foreordained to so resemble a Christian truth.
The Hebrew writer tells us in Heb 8:5 that--Moses was
admonished of God when he was about to make the
tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things
according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount. The
reason of course was that the tabernacle and all the
rituals performed were....serve unto example and shadow of
heavenly things....(also Heb 8:5)
Israel's
ceremonial laws were...a shadow of things to come...(Col
2:17)In Heb 10:1, we read--For the law having a shadow of
good things to come....Paul teaches that Israel's history
was recorded in the scriptures for our example and
learning in 1 Cor 10:11--Now all these things happened
unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our
admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. In
Rom 15:4 he says--For whatsoever things were written
aforetime were written for our learning, that we through
patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Literal Israel as a type of spiritual Israel is constantly
set forth by Paul in the Roman and Galatian letters. The
Israel of God" is not literal Israel, but are those
"new creatures" that are "in Christ".
Gal 6:15-16 says--For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision
availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on
them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Much more
could be said on this subject, but we hope the above will
suffice to show that the literal Jews or literal Israel is
no longer the chosen people of God. For as we have shown,
the chosen people of God are now the "spiritual"
Jews; those who have had the inward work of grace wrought
in their heart by being born again of the Spirit of God.
'For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; But he is a
Jew, which is one inwardly; and the circumcision is that
of the heart, in the spirit...(Rom 2:28-29)
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