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Home , Great Apostasy, Lake of fire

Essential Theology—What Christians Believe and Why Session 36 ~ The Millenium ~ ( Doctrine—Chapter 321)

Introduction—We have come to the final section of systematic theology known as , the study of the end times, matters pertaining to the return of Christ. This study requires that we become familiar with terms often heard but not easily understood, such as the millennium, from a word meaning “one thousand years.” It occurs repeatedly in 20:

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the and , and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection! Over such the has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”

“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, , to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the and sulfur where the beast and the were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

1 Wayne Grudem (Ed. Jeff Purswell), Bible Doctrine, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1999. “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the . And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20.1-15

• The term millennium refers to a thousand year reign of Christ upon the earth prior to final judgment and the commencement of the eternal state.

I. There have been four main systems of interpretation. Generally, they take their point of departure from how the millennial period relates to the return of Christ.

A. The pre-millennial position believes Christ will return pre or before the millennium. There are two very distinct varieties of this view:

1. Classic (or historic) . This view is favored by W. Grudem.2

2. Dispensational premillennialism has been popularized in the “Left Behind” novels (Tim LaHaye) and “The Late, Great Planet Earth” (Hal Lindsey).

B. The post-millennial view takes the position that Christ will return post or after the millennium.

C. The a-millennial position does not expect a literal thousand year reign of Christ, but equates this period with the present church age.

II.

2 Ibid, p. 447.

A. Understands Revelation 20.1-10 to describe the current church age.

B. Understands the binding of Satan to have occurred during Jesus’ earthly ministry (Matthew 12.29; Mark 3.27). Purpose: that Satan may not deceive the nations any longer (20.3).

C. Sees the order of events in Revelation 20 as follows:

1. Satan bound (20.2) 2. Millennium (20.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) 3. Satan released for a “little while.” (20.3, 7) 4. 2nd coming of Christ and resurrection of all the dead (20.11-12) 5. Final judgment (20.12-13)

D. Believes Scripture teaches only one resurrection. (Pre- requires two resurrections separated by 1000 years.)

E. Would see the periods of “the great ” (.3), “the ” (.15-30), the reign of the anti- Christ (2 Thessalonians 2.1-5) and Satan’s release “for a little while,” (Revelation 20.3, 7) as referring to the same brief period immediately preceding the return of Christ.3

III.

Not widely held at present, but for much of the church’s history it was the majority report. Millard Erickson presents the following motifs of this position.4

A. The kingdom of God is a present reality, not something to be introduced cataclysmically at a future date (as in premillennialism).

3 William Hendriksen, The Bible on the Life Hereafter, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, 1959, p. 126. 4 Millard Erickson, A Basic Guide to Eschatology, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 1998, pages 55-58.

B. Expects to see the nations converted prior to the return of Christ.

C. Expects a long period of earthly peace that is virtually equated with the idea of the millennium. Does not take the thousand years as literal but as a long period of time, extending from the time of Christ’s passion to His coming.

D. Expects the gradual growth of the kingdom of God as described in some of Christ’s parables.

E. Does expect a period of apostasy and evil in connection with the revelation of the anti-Christ followed by the personal, bodily return of Christ.

F. The Lord’s return will be followed immediately by the resurrection of all and the final judgment.

IV. Historic Premillennialism

A. Christ will return before the inauguration of the millennium.

B. There will then be a one thousand year reign of Christ on earth in which He is bodily present. (Revelation 20.4)

C. This period will be preceded by a great tribulation. Then, Christ returns. At the onset of the millennium Satan will be bound for a thousand years, but near the end of this period he will be released briefly and launch a rebellious struggle, be defeated, and then finally cast into the lake of fire.

D. There will be two resurrections. The first for believers only (Revelation 20.4) followed by the millennium. Then, the resurrection of unbelievers for the purpose of judgment (Revelation 20.12-15).

E. Many Old Testament passages that don’t seem to fit with the present age or the eternal state are thought to occur during this millennial period. (e.g. Isaiah 11; 65.20)

V. Dispensational Premillennialism

A. Christ will return before the millennium and before the period of great tribulation.

B. Christ’s return will occur in two stages. First, Christ will return for His saints in a secret (I Thessalonians 4.16-17). This will be followed by the great tribulation. Then, at the close of this seven year period, Christ will return with His saints to begin His millennial reign.

C. In dispensational premillennialism a sharp distinction is maintained between Israel and the church. God has two peoples, His natural people Israel and His spiritual people, the church. Their destinies proceed along parallel lines. What happens today regarding the nation state of Israel and the Jewish people is extremely significant for the church.

D. Biblical prophecies, including and especially those in the Old Testament, are to be interpreted literally wherever possible.

E. Christ can return at any time to rapture His church. (I Thessalonians 5.2)

Suggestions for further reading:

1. The Meaning of the Millennium, Editor Robert G. Clouse, IVP, 1977. 2. A Basic Guide to Eschatology, Millard Erickson, Baker Books, 1998. 3. The Bible on the Life Hereafter, William Hendriksen, Baker, 1959. 4. The Bible and the Future, Anthony Hoekema, Eerdmans, 1979