J-6. The LITERAL 1000 YEAR REIGN of Jesus! DOWNLOAD to SAVE as a PDF Doc to read OFFLINE. J-6. The LITERAL 1000 YEAR REIGN of Jesus!
In the book of Revelation chapter 20, we see that there are 1000 years that we, as Christians, will live and reign with Jesus and that the second death will have no power over us. But we are not specifically told in this chapter when this 1000 year reign of Jesus will begin. Therefore, we must INTERPRET the “WHEN” of the beginning of the 1000 year reign of Jesus. In other words, has 1000 years already begun? Or will it yet begin in the future? The Christians who teach that we are already living in the 1000 years are called “Preterist” whether they believe everything that the Preterist Christians teach or not. Their teaching is called “Preterism”. Please read the studies list under the subject heading called >>>X-0. PRETERISM<<< And those who teach that the 1000 years are yet future are called “Futurists” also known as “Dispensationalism”. We will cover briefly these terms further on in this study but for now, the questions at hand are:
#1. Are the 1000 years LITERAL or is it SYMBOLIC for an indefinite span of time? #2. Are we living in the 1000 year reign of Jesus right now? And thus, will Jesus return after this present age of the 1000 years being an indefinite span of time has been completed? Or, #3. Is the 1000 year reign of Jesus yet in the future and will begin when Jesus returns? In other words, is this present world a different age or dispensation from the world to come which will be the 1000 year reign of Jesus?
For the sake of my readers who have little to no understanding of the end times, I will use the terms Millennium, Millennial and even the Messianic kingdom, which simply mean that these terms mean 1000 years in the world to come. These are simply other ways to say the 1000 year reign of Jesus or the 1000 years described in Revelation chapter 20 called the world to come by Jesus in Mark 10:30.. So then, there are basically two major views on when Jesus will come again. And those two views are the pre-Millennial position and the post Millennial position. The prefix “pre” means before the 1000 year reign of Jesus. Therefore Christians who say that they are pre-millennial believe and teach that the second coming of Jesus will be before the 1000 years. The prefix “post” means after the 1000 year reign of Jesus. Therefore, Christians who believe that Jesus will come again after the “invisible” 1000 year reign of Jesus would be considered as post Millennialists whether they call themselves that or not. You see, all pre-Millennialism Christians do not teach the same exact things concerning the coming of Jesus and the rapture of the church. And likewise, all post-Millennialism Christians differ in what they teach concerning the coming of Jesus. About the only thing that ALL Christians agree upon, concerning the end of days, is that Jesus will indeed return like he said he would. In other words, almost all Christians believe that the second coming of Jesus is yet FUTURE. Even those Christians who believe that Jesus has already returned INVISIBLY still believe that after their “interpretation” of a NON-LITERAL 1000 years that Jesus will return visibly. So then, the difference is HOW we INTERPRET the 1000 years in the book of Revelation chapter 20. If one interprets the 1000 years as being LITERAL then they understand the 1000 years to be yet FUTURE. And thus they believe that Jesus will return AFTER this PRESENT age and right BEFORE the world yet to come actually begins. The world to come is another way to say the 1000 year reign of Jesus. But if one believes that the 1000 years is NOT literal then they believe that Jesus will return AFTER the 1000 years. And thus, to THEM, this PRESENT world IS the 1000 years which they define as being an unspecified span of time that is not known to us as to how long it will be.
Now in order to believe and teach that the second coming of Jesus is after the 1000 year reign of Jesus, then one MUST believe and teach that the 1000 year reign of Jesus is NOT a LITERAL 1000 years. Or they must teach that Jesus is reigning invisibly up in heaven. And thus, they also MUST believe and teach that we are living in the 1000 year reign of Jesus RIGHT NOW waiting for Jesus to return after the 1000 year period of an unknown specified amount of time has ended. In other words, they must INTERPRET the 1000 years to mean something other than a LITERAL 1000 years or their theory of Jesus returning AFTER the 1000 year reign falls apart and is proven to be a false teaching. They must teach that 1000 years is symbolic and could mean 10,000 years or more. However, on the other hand, if one believes that the 1000 years is yet future, then it does not matter if the 1000 years is actually a literal 1000 years. What I mean by this is that pre-Millennial Christians do NOT have to try to explain away a LITERAL 1000 years to mean that it is some indefinite span of time. Pre-Millennialism Christians do not have to be dogmatic to teach that the 1000 years dogmatically means 1000 years down to the exact second either. But I will say that most Christians, who believe in pre-Millennialism, do believe and teach that the 1000 year reign of Jesus is a literal 1000 years in length and NOT some unknown specified length of time. The only reason that some pre-millennialism Christians ALLOW for just a little bit more time than exactly 1000 years to the second is that the wrath of God and Satan being turned loose for a LITTLE season has to fit somewhere in the timeline. And some premillennialist Christians do not agree where these two events fit in the timeline. In other words, some Christians believe that IMMEDIATELY after the rapture of the church the 1000 years begins. And thus, for them, the wrath of God must be included within the 1000 years. I personally disagree and you will see why as you continue reading this study in God’s word. Let us begin this study in God’s word by reading Revelation chapter 20 and then we will examine the arguments from both sides in the light of the whole word of God and you can draw your own conclusions as to which arguments make the most sense to you. Personally, I do not see either viewpoint as a matter of salvation. But, oh how good and sweet it is when we all dwell in unity and speak the same things.
Psalm 133:1.
“A Song of Degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Please read Revelation chapter 20:1-15 to refresh your memory even if you have it memorized and then we will cover the whole chapter verse by verse as we cover the arguments for why some Christians insist that the 1000 years is either LITERAL or it is NOT literal.
Revelation 20:1-15.
“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 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. 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 worshiped 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. (Notice that these Christians DIED and then they LIVED and reigned WITH Jesus for 1000 years. And Jesus will not raise the dead in Christ until his coming which is AFTER the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation. So to ME, this does NOT fit the post Millennial coming of Jesus) 5. But the REST of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6. Blessed and holy is he that has a part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign WITH him a thousand years. 7. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8. And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9. And they went up on the breadth of the earth and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13. And the sea gave up the dead which was in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which was in them: and they were judged, every man according to their works. 14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire”
So then, we see this phrase “thousand years” six times in the book of Revelation one time in each of the six verses in Revelation 20:2-7. We do not read anywhere here in Revelation chapter 20 that states as a fact with no interpretation needed, that this 1000 year reign is a literal 1000 years. And therefore we must INTERPRET the phrase “thousand years” to either mean a literal 1000 years. Or it must be interpreted as meaning an indefinite span of time such as a figure of speech. For example, “If I told you once, I told you a thousand times” does not mean a literal thousand times. But rather it is a figure of speech referring to an indefinite amount of times. I might also add that by interpreting the 1000 years as an indefinite span of time, then one would be saying that there is NO LITERAL Millennium which is called Amillennialism. So then, in this study, let us just say that for all practical purposes Amillennialism teaches the same things as post Millennialism even though they differ slightly. But they both teach that the SECOND coming of Jesus is AFTER this PRESENT age. And thus, to THEM, there will NOT be a yet FUTURE 1000 years for a mortal kingdom. And, therefore, to them when Jesus returns this present world will be destroyed and God will create a new heaven and earth where only the righteous will inherit. Here are the arguments used to teach that the 1000 years is an indefinite number of years and therefore it is not a literal 1000 years.
#1. Jesus said that the TARES will be taken FIRST which contradicts all pre-millennial teachings. #2. The book of Revelation is filled with SYMBOLIC language. #3. We have ALREADY been RESURRECTED to live and reign with Jesus when we were born-again. #4. Today is the day of salvation and the premillennial view sounds like a SECOND CHANCE for those who do NOT believe in Jesus when he returns and there is NO second chance for those who have died without believing in Jesus as the atonement for their sins. #5. The KINGDOM of God’s Son comes to an END when DEATH is destroyed and as soon as a person is born again that pass from death to eternal life and the second death has no power over them. #6. We are already living and reigning with Christ NOW in his kingdom. And teaching that we will not reign with Christ UNTIL he returns BLINDS the church to the truth that we are ALREADY IN the Kingdom of God. #7. Paul says that the END comes WHEN Jesus returns to JUDGE the world. EVEN preMillennialists teach that DEATH is destroyed AT the SECOND coming of Jesus and Paul teaches that WHEN DEATH is destroyed that will be the END of the Kingdom of God’s Son and the new heaven and the new earth would be created. #8. The new heavens and the new earth are directly connected to the second coming of Jesus because this present earth passes away AT his coming at the end of this present age. Therefore it is impossible to have a LITERAL 1000 year reign on the earth with mortal humans who can still sin after Jesus returns because the earth will melt with fervent heat and pass away AT the second coming of Jesus. #9. The Bible teaches us that AFTER the 1000 years, God will create a new heaven and a new earth because the earth and heaven fled away AT the coming of Jesus which proves that the 1000 years cannot be a LITERAL thousand years yet in the future that will BEGIN AT the second coming of Jesus. #10. Jesus separates the sheep from the goats WHEN he returns and the goats are judged and cast into the lake of fire and we go straight into the new heaven and the new earth leaving NO time for a LITERAL 1000 year reign AFTER the second coming of Jesus. #11. Jesus will return in FLAMING FIRE to execute VENGEANCE upon the wicked and disobedient to the gospel which is the WRATH of God. And since there can only be ONE wrath of God which is clearly seen AFTER the 1000 year reign of Jesus. The Bible makes it very clear that the earth will pass way WHEN Jesus returns to execute the WRATH of God AT the END of the 1000 years. #12. Jesus will tell his angels to FIRST gather and bind the TARES or the wicked to be BURNED and THEN gather the wheat or the RIGHTEOUS into his barn or eternal kingdom, the new heaven and the new earth WHEN he RETURNS. Now we will cover all of these TWELVE arguments one at a time right after we cover the TEN MORE arguments used by the post-Millenialist to try and show that the arguments used by the preMillennialists are not logical. And therefore according to the post-Millennialist, all their arguments PROVE the pre-Millennial INTERPRETATION of Revelation chapter 20 to be in error. Here are ten MORE post Millennial arguments against the pre-Millennial interpretations of Revelation 20 which I myself disagree. Because to ME, all the post Millennial arguments are not SOUND BIBLICAL interpretations. Now, while they may seem logical to some Christians they are NOT logical to ME when they are correctly interpreted in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. So right after each of these ten more post-Millennial arguments, I will say if I agree or disagree. And then, further on in this study, I will explain WHY I disagree.
#1. The second coming is still yet future. I agree. #2. The 1000 years is not literal but a rounded indefinite span of time not known. I disagree. #3. The FIRST resurrection is the new birth hence we, who are Christians, have gone through or experienced the first resurrection. I disagree. #4. It is the SOUL that is resurrected at the FIRST resurrection. I disagree. #5. The second death is condemnation. I disagree. #6. The 1000 years is the redemptive reign hence we are already reigning with Jesus right now. No, and yes and then NO! No, the 1000 years in Revelation is NOT this present redemptive church age. And YES, most definitely we are to be reigning over our enemy Satan, the devil, IN this present world. And then NO again to the new birth being the FIRST resurrection. We are only likened to be resurrected to the resurrection of Jesus when we are born again. I will explain this in detail shortly. #7. Satan being bound means limited restraint. I disagree. #8. Satan being loosed means no restraint. I disagree. #9. The second resurrection is our bodily resurrection. I disagree. #10. Jesus returns after death is forever destroyed. I disagree.
Here is why I disagree with all of these post Millennial and Amillennial arguments, except for the second coming of Jesus still being YET FUTURE. Let me start with #10. Jesus returns AFTER death is forever destroyed. Jesus returns to first be glorified in his saints and then execute the wrath of God. Jesus is coming to rule with a rod of iron over the DISOBEDIENT to the GOSPEL. And us who ARE Christ’s AT his coming who will then rule and reign WITH Jesus during the 1000 year reign of Jesus in the world to come over the mortals down on the surface of the earth. The world to come is NOT the ages to come after God creates the new heavens and the new earth. The world to come will only be 1000 years long. Whereas the ages to come after the 1000 year reign of Jesus will go on for all eternity. We are simply not told very much about those ages to come. Jesus will sit on his throne of glory WHEN he COMES or when he returns and his return is still yet FUTURE.
Let us begin by reading Matthew 19:28.
“And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That you which HAVE FOLLOWED me, IN the regeneration WHEN the Son of man SHALL sit in the throne of his glory, you ALSO shall sit upon twelve thrones, JUDGING the twelve tribes of Israel.”
The disciples asked Jesus right before Jesus ascended into heaven WHEN he would restore the Kingdom to Israel. In other words, they were asking WHEN would be the restoration of the Kingdom to gather Israel together to inherit the promises given to Abraham to dwell safely in their promised land.
Please read Acts 1:3,4.
“When they, therefore, had come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7. And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power.”
Now this verse alone and by itself does not prove that Jesus is not restoring the kingdom to Israel over thousands of years but this is not the only verse in the Bible on the subject of the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. We must interpret the verses in question in light of the WHOLE word of God. So let us compare scripture with scripture.
Please read Acts 3:19-21.
“Repent you, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20. And he SHALL SEND Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21. Whom heaven MUST receive UNTIL the TIMES of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
The Greek word translated as “restitution” means reconstitution or to restore again. Therefore, Jesus is NOT restoring the kingdom to Israel IN or DURING this PRESENT age. The word of truth is very clear to say that Jesus MUST remain IN heaven UNTIL the TIMES of restoring ALL things. And it should be perfectly clear to all who have eyes to see and ears to hear that Jesus is still IN Heaven and that he has NOT returned. His COMING is still FUTURE. And, therefore, his 1000 year reign is still FUTURE. Now, the disciples were just asking WHEN the kingdom would be restored TO Israel. The Jewish people were expecting their Messiah to be a mighty warrior to free Israel from Roman oppression so they wanted to know when the nations would serve Israel as the prophets foretold? Please notice that the TIMES of restitution are PLURAL.
Read Acts 3:21 again.
“Whom heaven MUST receive UNTIL the TIMES of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
In other words, one should not try and dogmatically demand that restitution means God creating the new heavens and the new earth. Keep in mind that the post Millennial and Amillennial views argue that Jesus could be restoring the kingdom over a LONG period of time of thousands of years and thus the restoration of all things does not demand an instantaneous complete restoration of all things all at once. And, therefore, the 1000 years could span many thousands of years while Jesus is slowly restoring the kingdom of God to Israel in this present age. And thus, in the same manner, it cannot be dogmatically demanded to mean that the DAY of the Lord is a literal 24 hour day. The truth of the whole matter is that the DAY of the Lord is the LITERAL 1000 year reign of Jesus and not just a 24 hour DAY. And this is why it says TIMES PLURAL rather than TIME singular. I will explain what I mean by this in more detail shortly. Now, you can argue that Jesus says IN the regeneration he will sit in his throne of glory means right now in this present age because when we are born again we are REGENERATED by the Holy Spirit and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son but that is NOT what the Bible itself teaches. First, we must understand that there is more than just ONE kingdom. It is the SAME kingdom that comes in STAGES. The first stage has already come WITHOUT observation to most people. This first stage of God’s kingdom is the kingdom WITHIN the BELIEVER only. The next stage of God’s kingdom is the world to come, the 1000 year reign of Jesus which will be followed by yet another stage of God’s kingdom which will be the NEW Heavens and the NEW earth. Next, we must understand that the word translated as regeneration means TWO things, it means SPIRITUAL regeneration but it ALSO speaks specifically of the restoration of the kingdom to Israel that is also called the Messianic kingdom where Jesus will rule and reign for 1000 years. So then, we must interpret which is the correct interpretation by the context of the verse in question and then by comparing scripture with scripture. This means we need to read the other verses describing the COMING of Jesus WHEN he will sit on his throne of glory and the twelve apostles will be there WITH him JUDGING the twelve tribes of Israel.
Please read Matthew 25:31.
“WHEN the Son of man SHALL COME in his glory, AND all the holy angels WITH him, THEN shall he sit upon the throne of his glory”
Plain and simple, Jesus has not yet returned WITH his twelve apostles and all his holy angels. So, therefore, the 1000 year reign of Jesus is NOT this present world that is called the redemptive reign by those who deny that the 1000 year reign of Jesus is a LITERAL 1000 years. Also, notice in Acts 3:21 that the restoration of all things is spoken of by the mouth of the prophets and when we read those prophecies that teach us what the Millennial restored kingdom will be like, we can clearly see that this present world is NOTHING like what the 1000 year reign of Jesus will be like in the world yet to come. And one of the things that will take place during the 1000 year reign of Jesus is that the people living, during that time, will not learn WAR any more. And the weapons of war will be burned with fire for seven years and the spears will be beaten into plowshares or farm implements.
Please read Ezekiel 39:9.
“And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows, and the arrows, and the hand staves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:”
What some Christians have failed to see is that Ezekiel 38 and 39 are prophesying TWO WARS. Ezekiel chapter 39 describes the FIRST war BEFORE the 1000 year reign of Jesus and chapter 38 describes the 1000 year reign of Israel over their enemies when they shall dwell SAFELY in their land and also the war AFTER the 1000 years. Take the time to read both chapters for yourself but for now, let us read where the children of Israel and their sworn enemies the Islamic Muslims will NOT learn WAR anymore and the spears and weapons of war will be beaten into plowshares or farm equipment.
Please read Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3.
“And he shall judge AMONG the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
Micah 4:3.
“And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
So as long as there is WAR on the earth then we can KNOW that Jesus has NOT yet returned and that we are NOT living in the 1000 year reign of Jesus. This alone is more than enough of SOUND Biblical evidence that the 1000 year reign of Jesus IS INDEED a LITERAL 1000 years and thus the PRE-Millennial teaching is the correct sound Biblical teaching. But some may argue that their interpretations are just as equally sound. Well, let us take Revelation 20 verse by verse to see if their interpretations agree with all of God’s word or if they contradict other parts of God’s word.
Revelation 20:1-3.
“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 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.”
So then, one of the things that MUST happen BEFORE the 1000 year reign of Jesus begins is that Satan will be BOUND with a great chain and cast down into the BOTTOMLESS PIT where he cannot DECEIVE the NATIONS anymore for 1000 years. And then, AFTER the 1000 years has ended, it has been decreed that Satan MUST be let loose, out of the bottomless pit, so he can DECEIVE the nations once again to make WAR with God’s people, Israel. Now, those who teach that we are living in the 1000 years now INTERPRET the word “BOUND” to mean that at the cross Jesus LIMITED Satan’s power to deceive Christians and that LOOSED means that at the very end of this present world that LIMITING of Satan’s deception will be removed and Satan’s wrath will be great. Then they quote Revelation 9:1-6 to try and support their INTERPRETATION of Satan being LOOSED out of the bottomless pit. You see they must explain these clear verses of Scripture another way so that their interpretation FITS their theology that the 1000 years is NOT a LITERAL 1000 years.
Please read Revelation 9:1-6.
“ And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to HIM was given the key of the bottomless pit. (Now, they interpret the pronoun “HIM” that refers back to the star that falls from heaven being given the key to the bottomless pit as being Jesus letting LOOSE Satan from the bottomless pit. But the Scripture ITSELF says that this star FELL from heaven, down to the earth, was GIVEN the key to the bottomless pit. So, this star falling from heaven cannot possibly be Jesus. In other words, when does the Bible itself ever teach us that Jesus will FALL from heaven? It does NOT! But Jesus does teach us that he saw Satan FALL, like lightning from heaven. And the angels are also referred to as “stars”. So, the symbolic language here clearly speaks of Satan being cast down, out of heaven, where he is presently ruling as the principalities of the AIR, the sky, the first heaven. And then, at that time when Satan will be cast down to the earth, he will be ALLOWED to open the bottomless pit to let some of his buddies out of the bottomless pit) 2. And he (Satan) opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4. And it was commanded to them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, nor any tree; but only those men which have NOT the seal of God in their foreheads. (Now, BOTH the war BEFORE the 1000 years and the war AFTER the 1000 years will be waged against God’s people Israel and the city of God. But, what is coming out of the bottomless pit in these verses are attacking ONLY those who have NOT the seal of God in the foreheads. This is one of the plagues that will come upon the Islamic Muslims, who will be seeking to wipe Israel off the face of the earth in the last days. When SATAN is CAST DOWN, out of heaven, down to the earth he will know that he has but a short time before he will be BOUND for 1000 years. This passage of Scripture has nothing to do with Satan ascending out of the bottomless pit, AFTER the 1000 years has ended, to DECEIVE the NATIONS to make war against God’s people, Israel.) 5. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented for five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when he strikes a man. 6. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.”
Let us continue with Revelation 20:4-6 to see how those who teach the post Millennial and the Amillennial positions, try and explain away those verses, by placing their OWN personal INTERPRETATION on some words that CONTRADICT the very clear meaning to many other Christians, who interpret those same words in the LIGHT of the whole word of God. For example, we have already covered the words bound and loose just briefly and saw, very clearly, that the scriptures they used to try to support their interpretation were not what those verses were saying at all. So for me, that becomes a strike AGAINST their INTERPRETATION as not even being close to the correct interpretation. In other words, their interpretation starts to lose credibility. And the more strikes against their faulty interpretation, the less credible their THEORY becomes. So, let us continue to see if their credibility to interpret scriptures correctly goes up or if it continues you go down.
Revelation 20:4-6.
“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 worshiped 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. 5. But the REST of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the FIRST resurrection. 6. Blessed and holy is he that has a part in the FIRST resurrection: on such the second death hath NO POWER, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
Now, in their argument #4, they start by saying that this verse says that it is the “SOULS” that are resurrected. And then, they INTERPRET that the FIRST resurrection in verse 5 is speaking of the new birth of born-again believers in Jesus Christ. In other words, they INTERPRET that the SOUL being resurrected from SPIRITUAL death is the FIRST resurrection being spoken of in Revelation 20:4-6. And then, they quote all the verses relating to the new birth to try and prove their interpretation by their saying that sinners being resurrected from SPIRITUAL death when we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit is the FIRST resurrection. And thus, according to THEIR interpretation of the FIRST resurrection being the NEW BIRTH, we ARE REIGNING right now WITH Jesus in this present world which they claim IS the 1000 year reign of Jesus. But since Jesus has been in heaven for almost 2000 years they must REDEFINE the 1000 years to be an INDEFINITE number of years. No one can dispute all the verses used to support the new birth but we can argue against the INTERPRETATION of the new birth BEING the FIRST resurrection that is being spoken of here IN Revelation chapter 20. Again, while this interpretation may sound logical to some, I myself see many flaws in their line of reasoning which do not AGREE with all of God’s word. Again, there is no doubt that the new birth is LIKENED to being raised from the dead. And there is no doubt that we were once spiritually dead. However, the new birth is NOT the FIRST resurrection being spoken of in Revelation 20. Let me explain what I mean and then you can decide which interpretation makes more sense to you. Please read the context of being resurrected from spiritual death.
Romans 6:1-7.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2. God forbid. How shall we, that are DEAD TO sin, live any longer therein? 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized INTO HIS DEATH? 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism INTO death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in the newness of life. 5. For if we have been planted together in the LIKENESS of his death, we shall be also in the LIKENESS of his resurrection: 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7. For he that is dead is freed from sin.”
Can you not see my dear brothers and sister in our Lord Jesus Christians that being DEAD here in this passage of scripture has nothing to do with being SPIRITUAL dead because OF sin? The death in these verses speaks about CONSIDERING our self to be dead TO SIN so that SIN will not have dominion over us. Again, every time a Christian uses verses taken OUT of their CONTEXT to TRY and prove their doctrine, then that just LOWERS the credibility of their INTERPRETATION of being the correct interpretation. So now, to ME, postmillennialism has two strikes against their INTERPRETATION of the 1000 years NOT being a LITERAL 1000 year reign of Jesus. Once again, if the new birth is the FIRST resurrection, then we are already resurrected from this DEATH being spoken of in this passage of Scripture being misused to TRY and prove that this LIKENESS of his resurrection is the first resurrection. But in truth, we must REMAIN DEAD to SIN in order to be FREED from sin. This passage of scripture is not our being resurrected from spiritual death but rather we are to RECKON ourselves DEAD to SIN, so that, we will walk in NEWNESS of life without sin. The ONLY way for the post-millennial interpretation of the new birth being the FIRST resurrection is for the false doctrine of once saved always saved to be sound Biblical teaching. Please read the study F-2. Is ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL? But for now, let us move on to the next point about the SOUL being resurrected in the new birth. Those who teach that the second coming of Jesus is after the 1000 year reign of Jesus claim that the FIRST resurrection is when we were resurrected from SPIRITUAL death. But the Scripture ITSELF says that these souls were BEHEADED. Not just beheaded or killed, but rather, they will be killed FOR being a follower of Jesus! And the “spiritually dead do NOT follow Jesus. So then, their interpretation of the souls here, being resurrected as being the new birth, CONTRADICTS what the very context of this verse ITSELF teaches us in simplicity. These souls, here IN the CONTEXT, are NOT spiritually dead people being resurrected to a new life in Christ. But rather, they are literally being resurrected from PHYSICAL death, as their reward, for faithfully FOLLOWING Jesus unto the end, even being BEHEADED for the WITNESS of Jesus. THINK this through for yourself. How can those beheaded for being a FOLLOWER OF Jesus be resurrected to rule and reign with Jesus if so be the FIRST resurrection is the NEW BIRTH to BECOME a follower of Jesus? They were beheaded FIRST for the very reason of being FOLLOWERS of Jesus. And then as their reward, they will be resurrected to rule and reign WITH Jesus DURING the 1000 year reign of Jesus BECAUSE they were FOLLOWERS of Jesus. Can you not see that the FIRST resurrection comes AFTER being a FOLLOWER OF Jesus? So then, now we have three strikes against the credibility of their INTERPRETATION being the correct interpretation. Let us move on to another point that I see that their INTERPRETATION in this next argument as being a flaw. We also see that JUDGMENT was given unto them. You can read Psalm 149 to see that the honor to execute VENGEANCE is given to the saints. Know you not that we shall even judge the angels? The days of vengeance and judgment are yet to come in the future. Remember the words of Jesus, where the twelve apostles will sit on twelve thrones JUDGING the twelve tribes of Israel. So, it is quite clear to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, that this honor of the JUDGMENT has NOT YET been given to us. Israel is NOT living safely in PEACE. We have not yet executed the WRATH and VENGEANCE of God with Jesus which takes place AT his coming. Therefore, the 1000 year reign of Jesus is still yet FUTURE. Now, we have four strikes against the credibility of the INTERPRETATION being the correct interpretation. Let us move on to the next flaw that I see in their interpretation. Then in Revelation 20:5, we see that the REST of the dead lived not UNTIL the 1000 years are finished. It does NOT say that the rest of the “person” will be resurrected after the 1000 year reign of Jesus in order that the resurrection of the SOUL from spiritual death at the new birth is the FIRST resurrection. And THEN, in the second resurrection, there will be a resurrection of the SAME people to give them a new immortal body in order for the second resurrection to be their physical bodies being resurrected. But the Bible ITSELF says the REST of the dead will be resurrected. This teaches us that there will yet be TWO and only TWO resurrection and that the FIRST resurrection is our BLESSED HOPE. Blessed and holy is he who has a part in the FIRST resurrection because THEY and ONLY they will be given eternal life to rule and reign WITH Jesus and the second death will not have any more power over us anymore. The truth of the matter is that ONLY those who ARE Christ’s AT his COMING SHALL BE resurrected to become part of the FIRSTFRUITS and thus the FIRST resurrection will take place AT the SECOND COMING of Jesus.
Please read 1 Corinthians 15:21-28.
“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. (The subject at hand is the RESURRECTION of the DEAD. Which INCLUDES, the resurrection of Jesus being resurrected from the dead, to BECOME the FIRSTBORN from the dead, thus to become the FIRST of the FIRSTFRUITS. So, this has nothing to do with being resurrected from SPIRITUAL death. The resurrection in this passage of scripture is speaking of our BODILY resurrection. Jesus was given a new glorified IMMORTAL body after his resurrection to become the FIRST of the FIRSTFRUITS unto God) 22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; (Jesus was resurrected before John was given the vision to write the book of Revelation to teach us about the two remaining resurrections. Jesus is the FIRST human being to be resurrected from the dead AND be given the divine nature of IMMORTALITY. That is why Jesus is called the FIRSTFRUITS) afterward they that ARE Christ's AT his COMING. (Please notice that the ONLY ones who will be resurrected ALREADY are born-again believers. In other words, no one becomes a part of the FIRSTFRUITS until the BODILY resurrection, when they are given their new glorified IMMORTAL body. This will be the FIRST resurrection, AT his COMING, where ONLY those of us who ARE Christ’s AT his COMING will be resurrected and given new glorified immortal bodies in order to become a part of the FIRSTFRUITS with Jesus. Remember that Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren, the firstborn from the dead, and the firstborn of every creature. In other words, in the ORDER of men becoming FIRSTFRUITS, Jesus was the FIRST. The SECOND group that will become FIRSTFRUITS will be ONLY those of us who ARE faithful believers IN Jesus Christ AT his COMING. THEN the THIRD group that will become FIRSTFRUITS will not take place until the END of the Millennium. And at the END of the 1000 years is when DEATH, the LAST enemy is DESTROYED for ALL of mankind and there will be NO MORE death. And please understand that NOT ALL of mankind will BELIEVE the gospel of Jesus Christ to be saved) 24. Then comes the end, (Speaking of the end of the 1000 year reign of Jesus when the REST of the dead are RESURRECTED and judged. This is when those who are found to be righteous DURING the 1000 year reign will ALSO become a part of the FIRSTFRUITS. But again, there will be some who will be deceived to rebel and thus be lost during the 1000 year reign of Jesus. The Children of Israel were the FIRST chosen people of God. The gospel was preached FIRST to Israel, but Jesus said that they would enter his kingdom LAST. Jesus said that some of the FIRST shall be LAST and the LAST shall be FIRST. So then, when does the Bible ITSELF say that the END will come) when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25. For he must reign, till he has put all enemies under his feet. 26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (The last enemy, death, is not destroyed until the 1000 years are finished. There will be physical death and spiritual death during the 1000 year reign of Jesus. So, ONLY death for the BELIEVER IN Jesus will be swallowed up in victory AT his coming WHEN this MORTAL shall put on IMMORTALITY. One MUST ALREADY BE a believer in order for death to be swallowed up in victory which is WHEN ONLY the believers in Jesus receive our IMMORTAL bodies. Also, there is going to be another war, after the 1000 years are finished, and God will send fire down from heaven to destroy the wicked. And then, after this, the REST of the dead will be resurrected. Some to eternal destruction, to be burned in the lake of fire and some to eternal life. This is the END spoken of in verse 24, which is when the REST of the dead are resurrected and THEN death and hell or the grave will be cast into the lake of fire to be destroyed. The end is NOT at the second coming of Jesus but rather the END is after the 1000 year reign of Jesus, which is WHEN heaven and earth shall melt with fervent heat and pass away) 27. For he has put all things under his feet. But when he says all things are put under him, it is manifest that except for Him, (Speaking of EXCEPT Yahweh the Father who will put all things under the feet of His Son, Jesus) which did put all things under him. 28. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”
Now, some of you may be thinking that I am wrong, because 2 Peter clearly teaches us that heaven and earth will be on FIRE at the second coming of Jesus. Yes, this is true. BUT what some Christians have failed to see is that Peter warned us NOT to be IGNORANT so that we would be sure to UNDERSTAND that one day with the Lord is as a THOUSAND years and a THOUSAND years is as ONE Day. This means that the DAY of the Lord is a 1000 year long day for us. However, with the Lord a 1000 years is one DAY.
Please read 2 Peter 3:3-18.
“Knowing this FIRST, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (Is this not exactly what those who teach that the coming of Jesus is after the 1000 year reign of Jesus are saying? They scoff and mock Christians who teach that the coming of Jesus is very near at hand) 5. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: (In other words, they mocked Noah because of their understanding of the earth being watered by the DEW. They had never heard of RAIN before because they had never had rain before. So HOW could dew flood the earth was their line of reasoning for mocking the preaching of Noah?) 6. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the DAY of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, be NOT IGNORANT of this one thing, that ONE DAY is with the Lord as a THOUSAND years, and a THOUSAND years as ONE DAY. (There is going to be a judgment right BEFORE the 1000 year long DAY of the Lord and there is going to be a judgment at the END of the 1000 year long DAY of the Lord but to God, it is just ONE DAY) 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10. But the DAY of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which, the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (In other words, the 1000 year long DAY of the Lord will BEGIN with God’s WRATH to put an END to a great WAR being waged against God’s people, the Jews, and the Christians. God will have mercy and lift his wrath and then the 1000 year reign of Jesus will begin with Satan being BOUND so that he cannot tempt and deceive the nations for 1000 years. And after the literal 1000 years are finished, Satan must be let loose for a short time, so he can DECEIVE the NATIONS one final time to make WAR against God’s people Israel. Thus, the 1000 year reign of Jesus will also END with the final part of God’s WRATH to put an end to the final war and destroy the wicked so that they will never rise again. So then, Jesus will come in FLAMING FIRE to take vengeance but God will show mercy and lift his wrath lest all flesh be destroyed. Then, Jesus will bind Satan in the bottomless pit so that he cannot DECEIVE the nations to make war DURING the literal 1000 years when Jesus will reign with no war among the nations, being the King of PEACE. And after the 1000 years comes to an end Satan will be allowed to deceive the nations one final time. I personally believe that God is allowing Satan to deceive the nations one final time in order to prove that God has every right to destroy him and all the fallen angels. God will then send FIRE down from heaven in order to destroy those making WAR. And that is when the heavens and the earth will pass away and melt with fervent heat. It will not be a “snap your finger” type event. I myself am seeing that the REST of the dead will be raised and judged and then the WRATH of FIRE will DEVOUR the wicked. In other words, the PASSING AWAY of heaven and the earth melting with fervent heat IS the LAKE of FIRE. The RIGHTEOUS will be safe in the city of God, the New Jerusalem, WHILE God is creating the new heaven and the new earth. It will be just like the righteous IN Christ that will be safe with Jesus IN the AIR during the second coming of Jesus, right BEFORE the 1000 year reign of Jesus. To say this another way, no one will be taken to heaven for 7 years and then come back down to the earth at the second coming of Jesus before the Millennium. And the end of the 1000 years will be very similar to the event right before the Millennium. What I mean by this is that there will be TWO raptures but NOT two “second” comings. Once Jesus returns AT his second coming to rapture the church BEFORE the literal 1000 years he will NOT LEAVE and come back. But rather, Jesus will remain IN the AIR in the city of God during the Millennium. The first rapture will be AT the second coming BEFORE the 1000 years. And the second rapture for Israel and those of the other nations will take place after the 1000 years have ended. You see, a remnant of Israel and a remnant of the nations will REPENT at the coming of Jesus BEFORE the 1000 years. They will be saved alive in their MORTAL bodies and they will NOT be given eternal life AT the coming of Jesus. And thus they will go into the Millennium in the MORTAL bodies to be taught of the Lord. And then, if they are found to be worthy at the final judgment at the END of the 1000 years they will receive eternal life. In other words, there will be another rapture at the end of the Millennium where the righteous dead in Christ will rise from the dead. And ONLY the righteous dead along with the LIVING righteous will take part in the second rapture that will be after the 1000 years has ended. Again, the FIRST shall be LAST and the LAST shall be FIRST. In other words, those who take part in the second rapture at the end of the 1000 years will be the THIRD group to partake of the FIRSTFRUITS. So then, to deny the LITERAL 1000 year reign of Jesus is to deny that God will turn to his people Israel a second time. For you see, without a literal 1000 year reign of Jesus there would be no place or period of time for God to turn to the remnant of Israel a SECOND TIME so that they can become a part of the FIRSTFRUITS. What I mean by this is that IF there is no LITERAL 1000 year reign of Jesus then there can be NO RIGHTEOUS people raised in the “REST of the dead resurrection” that takes place at the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus. But the Bible ITSELF teaches us that ANOTHER book will be opened which is the book of LIFE. This teaches us that there will be TWO harvests. There will be one harvest of the firstfruits BEFORE the 1000 years for CHRISTIANS ONLY. And then there will be one final harvest of firstfruits AFTER the 1000 years for ISRAEL. And in this final harvest of firstfruits, those that are left of the nations who are found worthy DURING the 1000 year reign of Jesus will be raptured with those of Israel found worthy DURING the 1000 years. The DAY of the Lord is 1000 years long but the earth passing away does not happen until the END of that 1000 year long DAY of the Lord.) 11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the DAY of God, wherein the heavens being on FIRE shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (So there will be FIRE both at the beginning or right BEFORE the 1000 years and right AFTER the 1000 years. There will be TWO WARS. One right BEFORE the 1000 years and one right AFTER the 1000 years. The earth will not be on fire for 1000 years. The 1000 year reign of Jesus will be a reign of peace, to NOT learn war any more, to prove that mankind can live without sin when Satan is NOT around to deceive them. Please be patient and all will be clearly seen from the scriptures that the PRE-Millennial and POST-tribulation rapture teaching is the only sound Biblical teaching that considers ALL the verses in the Bible having no contradictions with any verses whatsoever.) 13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. 14. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you; 16. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable, wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17. You, therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness (It is important to KNOW and understand that the DAY of the Lord is as a THOUSAND years and a THOUSAND years is as ONE DAY. Be assured dear children of God that the 1000 year reign of Jesus is a LITERAL 1000 years) 18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”
Before we move on to the next set of verses in Revelation chapter 20, I want to cover one more argument used by those who wrongly teach that the second coming of Jesus is after the 1000 year reign of Jesus. They argue that the SOULS are resurrected AT the new birth and that the born-again regeneration is the FIRST resurrection and that the second death is CONDEMNATION. In other words, they TRY and make the second death to be condemnation by claiming that condemnation has NO POWER over a born-again believer. To say this another way, in order to FIT their INTERPRETATION they must CHANGE the MEANING of the second death to mean CONDEMNATION as opposed to meaning the LAKE of fire WHICH IS the SECOND DEATH according to Revelation 20:15.
Revelation 20:15.
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This IS the second death.”
Now the Bible itself interprets itself. And Romans 8 teaches us that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ, who walk NOT after the flesh but who walk AFTER the Spirit. So then, so long as a born-again believer is OBEDIENT to the leading of the Holy Spirit, then they will have no condemnation. But as soon as we as Christians sin we are condemned or convicted of sin. And, therefore, we must repent and believe that we are forgiven before that conviction or condemnation leaves us. So, condemnation still yet HAS power over us but it is a GOOD power. For you see, IF a Christian should die while living in sin, then they will be judged and CONDEMNED as a sinner. They will LOSE their salvation and NOT be granted eternal life in the world to come. In other words, the only way that the INTERPRETATION of the born-again or new birth being the FIRST resurrection could even be remotely possible, is that the once saved always saved eternal security doctrine MUST be a sound Biblical teaching. And since the eternal security doctrine is NOT a sound Biblical teaching and the second death still has POWER over born-again Christians UNTIL we actually RECEIVE our reward of eternal life in the world to come, then the FIRST resurrection cannot possibly be the new birth being resurrected to a new life in Jesus Christ.
Please read Mark 10:28-31.
“Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed you. (Notice that we are rewarded for FOLLOWING Jesus) 29. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30. But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; AND IN the world TO COME eternal life. (So then, we do NOT actually RECEIVE our reward of eternal life UNTIL the world that is to COME which will begin AT the COMING of Jesus) 31. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.”
I was reading one argument by those who teach that the COMING of Jesus is AFTER the 1000 years which says that every Christian knows or should know that death is swallowed up in victory AT the RESURRECTION, which is WHEN we receive our new glorified IMMORTAL body. And I thought to myself that is exactly correct. It is AT the second COMING of Jesus that the FIRST resurrection will take place. And blessed will be THEY, as in, ONLY THEY who take part in the FIRST resurrection. For you see, it will ONLY be the THEY, as in, ONLY THEY who take part in the FIRST resurrection who will live and reign WITH Jesus for a thousand years. But the REST of the dead will NOT be resurrected UNTIL after the 1000 years has expired. Then ANOTHER book of life will be open. And judged out of THAT SECOND book of life will the REST of the dead be judged. Can you not see that there are TWO DIFFERENT groups of people being resurrected in TWO DIFFERENT resurrections. Jesus said that the FIRST shall be LAST and the LAST shall be FIRST. You see the gospel was preached to the Jews FIRST and THEN God turned to a people who were NOT his people to provoke his people Israel to jealousy. And you can bet that the children of Israel will weep and gnash their teeth when they are NOT allowed to enter into the city of God AS they see the Christians going into the kingdom BEFORE them, just like Jesus prophesied or warned them would happen.
Please read Matthew 21:28-44.
“But what think you? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. (The gospel is to the Jews FIRST but only some received Jesus as their Messiah while others will repent and follow Jesus only after they see him coming in great clouds of glory. The point of this parable is that ONLY those who repent will inherit the kingdom. One group will inherit the kingdom first AT the coming of Jesus BEFORE the 1000 years. And then the other group will inherit the kingdom of heaven last while some who enter the 1000 years in their MORTAL bodies will not inherit the kingdom of heaven at all.) 29. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30. And he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31. Which of the two did the will of his father? They said unto him, The first. Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God BEFORE you. (ONLY those who ARE Christ’s AT his COMING will be given eternal life in the world to come. We, as Christians, will go into the city of God BEFORE the children of Israel. We will rule and reign WITH Jesus OVER the twelve tribes of Israel DURING the 1000 year reign of Jesus. This does NOT happen IN this present world. It happens IN the world yet to come, the LITERAL 1000 year reign of Jesus. Those who pierced Jesus will WEEP and gnash their teeth. The children of Israel and those left alive of the nations will be JEALOUS of us, who will be given eternal life and granted the right to enter into the New Jerusalem, the city of God, up in the AIR, while they are left down on the surface of the earth) 32. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and you, when you had seen it, repented not afterward, that you might believe him. 33. Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34. And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, so that they might receive the fruits of it. 35. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. (It was the Jews who had Jesus crucified) 40. When the lord therefore of the vineyard comes, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41. They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. (This is God turning to the Gentiles who were NOT his people. And those who BELIEVE and follow Jesus unto the end will receive eternal life IN the world TO COME) 42. Jesus said unto them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? (Jesus is the stone that the Jews as a nation REJECTED, but God promises that he would turn to them a SECOND TIME, which proves that the 1000 year reign of Jesus is a LITERAL 1000 years. When Jesus sits on his throne of glory to JUDGE the twelve tribes of Israel and those left alive of the nations to see if they will allow him to rule over them) 43. Therefore, say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”
This present world is the church age, the age that God is dealing with the Gentiles. And when the FULLNESS of the Gentiles has come in, then God will focus his attention on his people, Israel, a SECOND time. According to the Bible, wickedness will increase more and more until not one more Gentile will seek God to be saved. God will know the hearts of the unsaved and when not one more Gentile will be saved before they SEE Jesus coming and God's WRATH is upon them. Please read Isaiah 11:1-12 which is a prophecy of BOTH the first and SECOND coming of Jesus.
Isaiah 11:1-2.
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: (Jesus being born in the lineage of David, the son of Jesse) 2. And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; (Speaking of Jesus being baptized with the Holy Spirit, power and being taught by God to understand that the Scriptures spoke of him as being the Messiah) 3. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4. But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. (Speaking of the second coming of Jesus to execute the wrath of God before the 1000 year Millennial Kingdom) 5. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. 6. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 9. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (Verses 5-9 are describing what it will be like DURING the literal 1000 year reign of Jesus) 10. And in that DAY (Speaking of the 1000 year long DAY of the Lord, the Millennial reign of Jesus) there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. (Those who are IN Jesus Christ, AT his second coming, shall REST from all their labors. And DURING the 1000 years, those left alive of the nations will seek to learn of the Lord but some will be deceived when Satan is loosed to tempt the nations one final time) 11. And it shall come to pass in that day, (the 1000 year reign of Jesus and the time of Jacob’s trouble that ushers in the day of the Lord) that the Lord shall set his hand again the SECOND TIME to recover the remnant of his people, (Ask yourself what takes place right BEFORE the 1000 years? What takes place right AFTER the 1000 years? And what takes place DURING the 1000 years? All THREE events, before during and after the 1000 years are a part of the “IN that DAY” that God will turn to his people Israel a SECOND time to recover a remnant of Israel) which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. (Only a REMNANT will be left alive when Jesus returns. We know for sure the 144,000 children of Israel will be sealed right before Jesus executes the WRATH of God. But there may be more than just the 144,000 of the people of Israel who will be left alive to go into the 1000 years, in the MORTAL bodies.) 12. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”
The OUTCAST of Israel is the natural-born of the nation of Israel. They will be gathered together from their captivity and from all over the world so that they can inherit the land promised to them. The dispersion of Judah can mean two things. This can mean natural born of the tribe of Judah. Or, Judah can be SYMBOLIC for the church who are Christ’s, the lion of the tribe of Judah. The Jews that are in the land of Israel right now are NOT the gathering of Israel being prophesied here in Isaiah 11:12. Israel gathered itself in 1946 to become a nation once again, in May of 1947. But that gathering of Israel gathering themselves in 1947 is not the gathering spoken of AT the second coming of Jesus.
Please read Isaiah 54:15.
“Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.”
In other words, this gathering is not the gathering into the land prophesied that they would dwell SAFELY for 1000 years. Israel will be taken captive by their enemies one final time and THEN God will deliver them AT the coming of Jesus. And then Jesus will set the children of Israel to be OVER their enemy. The Scripture says that the older shall serve the younger. In other words, those of the seed of Ishmael and Esau will serve the children of Israel DURING the 1000 year reign of Jesus. Let us read one more passage of scripture before we move on to finish Revelation 20:7-15.
Please read Ezekiel 34:22-31.
“Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey, and I will judge between cattle and cattle. (Separating the sheep from the goats DURING the 1000 year reign of Jesus to see who will allow Jesus to rule over them) 23. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. (The only span of time that allows for Jesus to rule and reign over the children of Israel, the SHEEP, and the seed of Ishmael and Esau, the GOATS, is during the LITERAL 1000 year reign of Jesus) 24. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. 25. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. 26. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in its season; there shall be showers of blessing. 27. And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. 28. And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid. (The 1000 year reign of Jesus will be the RESTORING of the kingdom to Israel) 29. And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the heathen any more. 30. Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, says the Lord GOD. 31. And you, my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, says the Lord GOD.”
But Israel will not know their Messiah until AFTER God provokes them to JEALOUSY by his choosing a people who were NOT his people and WE go into the Kingdom, in our glorified IMMORTAL bodies, 1000 years BEFORE them.
Now let us continue with Revelation 20:7-15.
“And when the thousand years are EXPIRED, Satan shall be loosed out of his PRISON, (Speaking of the bottomless pit where he will be BOUND to prevent him from DECEIVING mankind for 1000 years) 8. And shall go out TO DECEIVE the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (This is the SECOND WAR that is described in Ezekiel chapter 38. When you read the description of this second war, please notice that Israel will be dwelling SAFELY in the land) 9. And they (Speaking of those left alive of the nations at the second coming of Jesus, who are of the seed of Ishmael and Esau, who will be DECEIVED by Satan after the literal 1000 year reign of PEACE and NOW war between the promised seed and the seed of Ishmael) went up on the breadth of the earth and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; (This is the second and final resurrection when the REST of the dead will be resurrected after the 1000 years is finished) and the books were opened: and ANOTHER book was opened, which is the book of life: (This is not the Lambs book of life but rather it is ANOTHER book of life that teaches us that the mortals who are righteous during the 1000 year reign of Jesus will also be granted eternal life in order to enter into the next age to dwell on the new earth when the New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven. In other words, there are TWO books of life which again proves that the 1000 year reign of Jesus is a LITERAL 1000 years) and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13. And the sea gave up the dead which was in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which was in them: and they were judged, every man according to their works. 14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
So it is made clear to us that in the second and final resurrection, at the end of the 1000 year reign of Jesus, that BOTH the righteous and the wicked will be judged. Whereas, in the FIRST resurrection, ONLY the RIGHTEOUS IN Jesus Christ will be resurrected and given eternal life to rule and reign with Jesus over the mortal on the earth. Then after the 1000 year reign of Jesus and the final judgment, heaven and earth pass away and God creates a new heaven and a new earth. The word translated in Psalm 105:1-11, as a generation, means a span of time or age. So then, the covenant being given TO 1000 generations is more accurately understood as the covenant is given TO the children of Israel for the age of 1000 years. Literally, it reads that the covenant is given to 1000 revolutions of time. In the Bible, a revolution of a TIME is one year? You see, a Time, Times and dividing of time means 3 ½ years. So then, a revolution of a single time is one year. Therefore, a THOUSAND revolutions of TIME is 1000 years. It takes the earth 1 year to REVOLVE around the sun and a thousand revolutions of the earth around the sun is the same as 1000 years. You see, the children of Israel, for the most part, rejected their Messiah at his first coming. So, God turned to the Gentiles to provoke the children of Israel to jealousy. God prophesied that he would turn to his people Israel a SECOND time. That second time will be during the 1000 year reign of Jesus but there will be a pleading for Israel to turn to him during the last half of the 70th week of Daniel. Please read the study J-32. WHEN is the MIDST of the 70TH WEEK?, where you can learn that we are IN the MIDST of the 70th week right now in this present world. The MIDST of the 70th week of Daniel BEGAN when God turned to the Gentiles. The first half of Daniel’s 70th week was fulfilled when the gospel was preached to the JEWS FIRST. Let us now move on to take a closer look at some points concerning the 1000 year reign that proves, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that the Millennial reign of Jesus is yet future. It should be clear to all, who have eyes to see and ears to hear, that there has been NO period of time on the earth where all of these things have taken place. And the world is only growing worse and worse just like Jesus said it would before he returns. Jesus even asked himself the question, “Shall I find faith on the earth when I come”. Here are some SUMMARIZED arguments that support the PRE-MILLENNIAL view of the second coming of Jesus. I have already given you the SOUND BIBLICAL evidence for all 12 of these arguments listed below in the study above. But I have listed some verses as well for further evidence.
#1. During the 1000 year reign of Jesus, there will be NO WAR. See Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3. #2. The children of Israel will dwell safely and in peace. See Jeremiah 23:5,6; 32:27 and Ezekiel 28:26. #3. The desolate places will be rebuilt. See Ezekiel 36:36 and Ezekiel 28:26. #4. The children of Israel will rule over the Muslims. See Genesis 25:25, Psalm 83, Isaiah 34, and Ezekiel 35:1-15. #5. There will be no premature death and the age of those during the 1000 year will be 100 years of age. Interesting that 10 generations of 100 years each = 1000 years. Isaiah 65:20, and Psalm 105:8. #6. There will be ONE shepherd over the twelve tribes of Israel and those left alive of the nations. Ezekiel 34:23 and Ezekiel 37:24. #7. All the weapons of war will be burned as fuel for heat for seven years. Ezekiel 39:9, Psalm 46:9, and Zechariah 9:9,10. #8. Everyone will know that Yahweh is the one true God. Jeremiah 31:34. #9. God will pour out his Spirit upon all flesh. Zechariah 12:9-14. #10. The animals will be tame. Isaiah 11:6-9, Isaiah 65:25, Ezekiel 34:25, and Hosea 2:18. #11. Everyone left of the nations will come up from year to year and worship Jesus at Jerusalem and keep the feast of tabernacles. And if any family disobeys this commandment during that 1000 year reign of Jesus, that family will have no rain on their crops. Zechariah 14. #12. It will take seven months of continuous employment to bury the dead. And a sign is to be placed by any bones that are found and someone would come and bury those bones. Could be radiation hazard, otherwise why not just bury it? Ezekiel 39:11-16. Zechariah 14:12 certainly seems to be a nuclear war and a radioactive hazard to me. And Revelation 11:15-18 teaches us that God will destroy those who are destroying the earth.
Let us go ahead and read Revelation 11:15-18.
“And the seventh angel sounded; (This is the seventh and LAST trumpet sound which is WHEN the rapture of the church will occur AT the second coming of Jesus.) and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ (Or AND of his anointed ones, speaking of us who ARE Christians, AT his coming, who will be BLESSED to take part in the FIRST resurrection, to become FIRSTFRUITS, to rule and reign WITH Jesus for 1000 years); and he shall reign forever and ever. (Or he shall reign into the eons of eons. There will never be another age like the 1000 year reign of Jesus.) 16. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God, 17. Saying, We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which are, and was, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned. 18. And the nations were angry, and your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward unto your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.”
Now that we read the prophecy in the Old Testament, such as in Isaiah 9:6,7, we see that it is a prophecy of the coming Messiah, Jesus. But we also understand that not ALL of that prophecy was fulfilled AT the FIRST coming of Jesus during the days of his flesh. We also see that some prophecies have a DUAL fulfillment, where one fulfillment has already taken place shortly after the prophecy was given and that is a shadow or type or figure of yet a future fulfillment. Well, the book of Revelation is no different. So, we need to read the book of Revelation describing TWO events that are very similar, almost as if history will repeat itself, separated by a span of time. Those who teach the PRE-tribulation rapture have erred by trying to force the great tribulation to be a seven year span of time that separates the ONE rapture into TWO raptures. For you see, they argue that since the church is NOT appointed to the WRATH of God, then to THEM that proves that the church will not go through the great tribulation. But yet they teach that the so-called tribulation saints will go through the great tribulation and only the tribulation saints will be raptured at the second coming of Jesus when he comes to execute the WRATH of God. You see how their interpretation of the Scriptures makes no sense? They are in error to call the great tribulation the WRATH of God. It is the wrath of Satan and not the wrath of God. Jesus is coming to rapture the church AND ALSO execute the WRATH of God IMMEDIATELY after the tribulation of those days, according to Matthew 2:29-31. Please understand that the great tribulation is NOT the WRATH of God. The honor is given to ALL of the SAINTS to execute the WRATH of God WITH Jesus according to Psalm 149:9 and Revelation 18:4-6. And also understand that the wrath of God that comes in one DAY is divided into two HALVES. For you see, that DAY is 1000 years long. The first HALF of God’s wrath is executed by Jesus, AT the second coming, BEFORE the literal 1000 year reign of Jesus. And, AT the COMING of Jesus, we who ARE Christ AT his COMING, will take part in the FIRST resurrection to become part of the FIRSTFRUITS unto God along with Jesus who has already become the FIRST of the FIRSTFRUITS unto God. We are BLESSED because we will get to rule and reign WITH Jesus for 1000 years over the twelve tribes of Israel and those left alive, of the nations, who will be in the natural MORTAL bodies. God lifts his wrath lest all flesh is destroyed and no remnant of his people, Israel is left alive and then the children of Israel are gathered into their promised land. The sheep will be separated from the goats. In other words, the NATIONS will serve Israel. The ELDER shall SERVE the YOUNGER. There has been no time in history where this has been fulfilled which is another proof that the 1000 years is a LITERAL yet a FUTURE 1000 years. Satan will be BOUND during these 1000 years and these two seed lines will learn to live in PEACE with one another. Then, AFTER this literal 1000 years of living in PEACE and safety with NO WARS, Satan will be let out of his PRISON so he can tempt and deceive the NATIONS to make war with Israel one final time. Again, read Ezekiel 38 and 39 to see BOTH wars, the war BEFORE the 1000 years, the reign of PEACE and safety, and then the war AFTER the 1000 years of peace and safety. Those who deny the LITERAL 1000 year reign of Jesus, deny the opportunity for the remnant of Israel to be SAVED. You deny that there is ANOTHER book of LIFE at the END of the 1000 years. All Christians agree that Israel is NOT a part of the church because they are NOT IN Jesus Christ. And we know that ONLY those of us who ARE Christ’s AT his COMING will be granted ETERNAL LIFE. Therefore, IF the heavens and the earth pass away AT the SECOND COMING of Jesus and God creates the new heavens and the new earth, AT the coming of Jesus, then WHEN will Israel be given the opportunity to become a part of the FIRSTFRUITS? If Israel repents BEFORE the coming of Jesus, then they become part of the church. If they repent after the rapture of the church, then it will be too late to take part in the FIRST resurrection. And, IF the second coming is at the END of the 1000 years when the earth passes away and God creates a new earth, then when will there be any time for Jesus and his twelve apostles and us to rule and reign over the twelve tribes of Israel? When will they be filled with the Holy Spirit and learn of the Lord? When will there be a time for Israel to be SAVED? If they are saved BEFORE the rapture, then they become a part of the church. So, there can be NO ANOTHER book of life at the END of the 1000 years. There is the LAMB’s Book of Life and then there will be ANOTHER book of LIFE. Plain and simple, there MUST be a LITERAL 1000 year reign of Jesus. So for ME, the POST tribulation, the PRE-Millennial position is the only SOUND BIBLICAL teaching that does not contradict any other part of God’s word. Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus. So, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading >>>D-0. THE BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of JESUS!<<< And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading >>>C-0. THE TRUE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH!<<< This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
To learn more TRUTH, then please return to
VERSES USED TO TEACH THAT JESUS PREEXISTED!
To me, the best way to know the ONE true God in ONE person is to know who Jesus TRULY is according to the WHOLE word of Almighty God. So please read ALL of the studies under the heading >>>N-0. WHO is JESUS ACCORDING to the BIBLE?<<< and you will see that the Bible itself teaches us that Jesus was CREATED by his God and Father. And if you have any questions related to the correct meaning of certain verses of Scripture on this subject of who Jesus is please read all the studies under the two headings >>>U-0. VERSES used for THE TRINITY!<<< and >>>V-0. VERSES used to TEACH that Jesus PRE-EXISTED!<<< These two headings have ALL of the studies that I have on who Jesus truly is according to what the Bible itself teaches us in simplicity. I compiled these three headings to make it easy for my readers to send just one, two, or three links to those you desire to help understand what the Bible itself teaches concerning who Jesus is in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me. My contact email is MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail .com. Thanks again for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.
Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
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