Premillennialism Pt. 5: Will Christ Reign For 1,000 Years On Earth?

Premillennialism Pt. 5: Will Christ Reign For 1,000 Years On Earth?

Text: Rev. 20:4

Defining Premillennialism


“Rapture”: Latin rapere in the Latin Vulgate for the

Greek word harpazo [har-pad'-zo] (G726: “To snatch, or catch away”) in I Thess. 4:17,

which isrendered by the phrase “caught up” in most

English Translations.


Intro

What do the Scriptures teach on Christ’s reign?

The Kingdom was established in 1st century (Col. 1:13). Christ is King of kings (I Tim. 6:15). Christians are citizens of the Kingdom (I Pet. 2:9). The Kingdom will stand until the Judgment (I Cor. 15:23, 24). We can enter it now through the New Birth (Jn. 3:3-5; Col. 1:13).

Despite these Scriptures (and many more) teaching Christ

reigns now from Heaven in His spiritual kingdom,Premillennialists teach He will return to

reign on earth for 1,000 years!

Will Christ return to reign on earth for a thousand years?


Premillennialists Teach Christ Will Reign on Earth for 1,000 Years

Rev. 20:4: Only passage mentioning a 1,000 year reign:

After the 7 years of Great Tribulation, Christ will return to end the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:12-16; 20:1-4).

Rev. 20:44. Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I

saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Satan will be bound for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:2): Some groups use Rev. 20:7-10 to say the Battle of Armageddon

will happen after the 1,000 year reign (Rev. 16:13-16). Others say it is the Battle of Armageddon that has Christ binding

Satan for His 1,000 years reign on earth.



Jesus will sit on a literal throne in Jerusalem and rule the

earth for 1,000 years

Rev. 20:44. Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I

saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Peace will ensue that will last till the Day of Judgment

At the end of the 1,000 years the wicked will be raised

And judgment begins (Rev. 20:10-15)



The essential details of this doctrine are missing from

Rev. 20: Christ’s 2nd Coming A reign on earth (No mention of earth at all!) Peace on earth Jerusalem A literal throne A bodily resurrection “All saints” – This passage applies to martyred saints (Beheaded –

20:4)Premillennialists insist that 20:4 be interpreted literally!

Why should that verse be interpreted literally when so

many other things in the chapter and ones before it are

obviously used in a figurative sense?



A white horse and rider – 19:11 Jesus having eyes of flaming

fire – 19:12 Heavenly armies with horses

going to war – 19:14-15 Sword out of Jesus’ mouth –

19:15 Jesus ruling with a rod of iron –

19:15 Jesus treads the winepress –

19:15 Birds eating the bodies of

those slain – 19:17-18

The Beast – 19:19 Mark of the Beast – 19:20 Abyss or bottomless pit – 20:1 Key to pit – 20:1 The great chain – 20:1 The dragon and serpent – 20:2 1,000 Years – 20:2 The beheaded souls – 20:4 First resurrection – 20:5 Second death – 20:6

Here are some figurative things in Rev. 19-20

No one consistently interprets this passage literally (They pick and choose which is symbolic & literal)

If one is going to interpret the 1,000 years literally, then logically everything else must be literal too!


Flaws of Premillennialism Teachings on Christ as an Earthly KingIt makes Jesus a king on an earthly throne It contains the idea that Jesus will found a later kingdom

Mt. 21:6-17: Yet the people welcomed Jesus into the city of Jerusalem! (As king and ushering in kingdom of David!)

Mk. 11:9-10 (Lk. 19:35-41)9. Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: "Hosanna! BLESSED

IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;10. Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!"


Flaws of Premillennialism Teachings on Christ as an Earthly KingIt makes Jesus a king on an earthly throne It ignores Jesus’ rejection of being made a king

Jn. 6:15: He avoided the people trying to make Him a king! Jn. 18:36: Jesus’ kingdom is not a part of this world (Not

physical) Weapons are not carnal (II Cor. 10:3-5) Spiritual battle (Eph. 6:12; I Tim. 6:12; Acts 26:18)

Jn. 6:14-15 (After feeding 5,000)14. Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, "This

is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."15. So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to

make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

Jn. 18:36 (Pilate asked if He was King of the Jews–18:33)

36. Jesus answered, "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."


Flaws of Premillennialism Teachings on Christ as an Earthly KingIt makes Jesus a king on an earthly throne It ignores God’s prophecy concerning Coniah, the last king

of Israel – Jeremiah 22:28-30 Jesus inherited the right to rule on David’s throne through

Joseph, a descendent of Coniah (Jeconiah) – Mt. 1:12-16 Jesus could not sit on the physical throne without violating

Jeremiah’s prophecy!

Jer. 22:28-3028. "Is this man Coniah a despised, shattered jar? Or is he an undesirable vessel? Why

have he and his descendants been hurled out And cast into a land that they had not known?

29. "O land, land, land, Hear the word of the LORD!30. "Thus says the LORD, 'Write this man down childless, A man who will not prosper in

his days; For no man of his descendants will prosper Sitting on the throne of David Or ruling again in Judah.'"

We are presently living in the reign of Christ! (Mt. 28:18; Acts 2:36; Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 1:13; I Tim.

6:15)


The Book of RevelationAs a whole, The Book of Revelation is by means of

signsor visions (1:1: “Signified” – NKJ; 9:17: “Vision”)Consider the visions of Christ Does He literally have a two-edged sword out

of His mouth? – 1:16; 19:15 Is He literally a slain lamb, having seven horns

and seven eyes? – 5:6

Consider other elements in visions throughout the book Will a great star literally fall from heaven to the

earth, without destroying it? – 8:10 Will the terrible locusts be literal? – 9:3 Will the beast of the sea be literal? – 13:1-2 Will the 144,000 be literal men who are virgins? –

14:1-5


The Book of RevelationNote also to whom the book is written, and what is

saidabout the timing of its events Written to seven churches in Asia – 1:4 About “things which must soon take

place” – 1:1; 22:6

About things for which “the time is near” – 1:3

About things not to be sealed, “for the time is near” – 22:10

The book of Revelation is filled with symbols andfigurative language, written mostly to encourage

the earlyChristians about things they were to soon face!

(Rev. 2:10)


The Context of Rev. 20

The idea that the 1,000 year reign of Rev 20 is something

that begins at least 2,000 years after the book is written

is contrary to the very words of the book itself (1:1,3; 22:6,10)The idea that Christ’s kingdom has not yet been

established, that it is to be a physical kingdom where

Christ reigns from Jerusalem, is not taught in Rev. 20, and

is contrary to the clear teaching elsewhere in the N.T.

concerning His kingdom and the events of His 2nd Coming

(I Cor. 15:20-28: He reigns till death is destroyed!)


The Context of Rev. 20

Like most of Revelation, chapter 20 is figurative: It was written to comfort Christians of the 1st century A.D. It provided hope to those who faced great tribulation when Satan

deceived nations (like the Roman empire) to persecute Christians (2:10)

Satan’s power was limited, and He himself would be restrained for a long period of time (1,000 years, figuratively speaking) – 20:3 Notice, it is only his ability to deceive whole nations that is

limited. His ability to deceive individual people remains unchanged.

During that time when Satan’s influence was weakened, those who suffered dearly would be privileged to join Christ in His kingly reign – 20:4-6 (2:26-27)

Reasonable to assume that this reign is in heaven – 3:21; 7:9-17; 15:2-4

The passage does suggest a short period of tribulation when Satan is released where he can deceive the nations again, but will be terminated by the power of Christ’s coming and the final judgment – 20:7-15


The Context of Rev. 20Like most of Revelation, chapter 20 is figurative: They reigned for 1,000 years – 20:4

The 1,000 years is used to describe the present reign of Christ in Heaven (Acts 2:30-33, 36; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3; 12:2).

1,000 is not literal but is used figuratively to refer to the completeness of Christ’s reign.

The number 1,000 is often used figuratively in Scripture: Israelites to keep the covenant for 1,000 generations (Deut.

7:9) Is it literal when God says cattle on 1,000 hills are His? (Ps.

50:10) God will remember His word for 1,000 generations – but no

more? (Ps. 105:8) See Is. 40:8; Mt. 24:35; I Pet. 1:25!Thus a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth is

simply not taught in the N.T.!


Conclusion

What can be said about Revelation 20 (and other highly

figurative chapters)? It is a figurative passage in a book that is highly symbolic! No one interprets the passage entirely literally; everyone

spiritualizes some portion of the book, and even chapter 20! The passage should be interpreted in the context of the book

overall and the rest of the N.T. It provided hope to those who experienced terrible persecution for

the name of Christ! It should encourage us never to despair when facing tribulation

for the cause of Christ today – Christ triumphs over Satan! (Good will win out over evil!)


Conclusion

We can take heart, knowing that even now Jesus is “ruler over the kings of the earth” and we are

also reigning with Him!

Rev. 1:5-65. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of

the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood--

6. and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Eph. 2:4-74. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,5. even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ

(by grace you have been saved),6. and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ

Jesus,7. so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in

kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?”

Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17)

Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24)

Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38)Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom.

10:10)Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16)Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10)

For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9),

Pray (Acts 8:22)

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Premillennialism Pt. 5: Will Christ Reign For 1,000 Years On Earth?