Though it is possible to understand the thousand years of verses 4-6 as describing a period of time different from the thousand years of verses 1-3, there is no compelling reason why we should do so. 4:19-20; Col. 1:13-14) and future (1 Cor. The vision of the kingdom also includes a Christian view of vocation: All callings are from God, and all that we do in everyday life is to be done to Gods praise, whether this be study, teaching, preaching, business, industry or housework. This text is, in fact, a kind of parallel to an earlier passage in Revelation 6:9: When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.. Most Online 732 Jan This transition is here called a resurrection an unusual use of the word, to be sure, but perfectly understandable against the background of the preceding context. But I have put the word rapture between quotation marks in order to distinguish the amillennial conception of the rapture from the dispensationalist view. Also could not the imperalcult be looked upon as a tupe the antitype beingthe future antichrist. All HTML will be escaped. Amillennialists reject the common premillennial teaching that the resurrection of believers and that of unbelievers will be separated by a thousand years. D. H. Kuiper I n the past two articles the theories of Postmillennialism and Premillennialism have been defined and briefly discussed. It is an eschatology which is exciting, exhilarating and challenging. Amillennialists therefore feel no need for positing an earthly millennium to provide for the fulfillment of prophecies of this sort; they see such prophecies as pointing to the glorious eternal future which awaits all the people of God. The mark of the beast is covered in much greater detail in unit 10, which includes a 30-minute introductory video to Revelation 13, along with detailed commentary on the historical context and For on the basis of the common premillennial interpretation of Revelation 20:4, it is only raised believers who are said to reign with Christ; nothing is said in this passage about a reign of Christ over people who have not died but are still living. A proper kingdom vision, it seems to me, will help us to keep our balance on this question. (20) There shall be no more in it an infant of days, nor an old man that bath not filled his days; for the child shall die an hundred years old, but the sinner, being an hundred years old, shall be accursed. 
The first of these seven sections is found in chapters 1-3. What, in conclusion, are some of the implications of amillennial eschatology for our theological understanding? Amillennialists do not expect to see the perfect society realized during this present age. This last section describes the judgment which falls on Satan, and his final doom. The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Amillennialism and the Mark of the Beast: Portal Forums Calendar Active Threads: Forum Search: Member Spotlight: Anthony C. NJ/PA. When we speak of inaugurated eschatology we are saying that for the New Testament believer significant eschatological events have already begun to happen while other eschatological occurrences still lie in the future. At the end of this verse we hear an echo of what is found in 11:9, They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.9 Truly a beautiful description of the new earth! The clue has already been given in verse 4a. (See Revelation 22:12 and the following passages: Mt. Since the book of Revelation was addressed to the church of the first century A.D., its message had reference to events occurring at that time and was therefore meaningful for the Christians of that day. The question is, however, whether this is what the word means here. Wright Bishop N.T. Belief in the present rule of Christ, in the presence of Gods kingdom and in the movement of history toward its goal is accompanied by a realistic recognition of the presence of sin in this world and of the growing development of the kingdom of evil. 9:18; Rom. New Testament writers were conscious of the fact that they were already living in the last days at the time they were speaking or writing. 21:27; 22:14-15). The latter see scriptural evidence for only one Day of Judgment which will occur at the time of Christs return. Once again it may be observed that if one does not believe in a future earthly millennium, he will certainly not be compelled to accept it by the reading of these verses. John F. Walvoord, a representative contemporary premillennialist, shares this interpretation of the chapter: Isaiah 11 paints the graphic picture of the reign of Christ on earth, a scene which cannot be confused with the present age, the intermediate state, or the eternal state if interpreted in any normal literal sense. This was the view of the earliest church, as we know from Justin Martyr and Papias, and other early writers. When we do so we shall see that the premillennial interpretation of these two representative passages is by no means the only possible one. Topics 7,754. This victory of Christs was decisive and final. (For an example of this kind of statement, see Rev. As far as the unbelieving dead are concerned, therefore, there will be a change after the thousand years have ended, but it will be a change not for the better but for the worse. To see the background for the amillennial view of the millennium, we should first of all concern ourselves with the question of the interpretation of the book of Revelation. Is there any indication in the New Testament that Satan was bound at the time of the first coming of Christ? We begin with verses 1-3, reproduced here from the New International Version: And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. Your email address will not be published. If, then, one thinks of Revelation 20 as describing what follows chronologically after what is described in chapter 19, one would indeed conclude that the millennium of Revelation 20:1-6 will come after the return of Christ. 5:24), put off the old self and put on the new (Col. 3:9-10). The last section, for example, takes us further into the future than the other sections. Note first that the passage obviously divides itself into two parts: verses 1-3, which describe the binding of Satan; and verses 4-6, which describe the thousand-year reign of souls with Christ. 221-29. 
It suggests that amillennialists either do not believe in any millennium or that they simply ignore the first six verses of Revelation 20, which speak of a millennial reign. In this vision we see the church avenged, protected and victorious. The vision of the glorified Christ together with the letters to the seven churches obviously form a unit. Walvoord, in similar fashion, understands Isaiah 65:17-19 as describing the eternal state7 and verses 20-25 of this chapter as describing conditions during the millennium.8. 
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together. Revelation 20: Amillennial Viewpoint (Part 1) Adam: January 27, 2010. 13:4; Rev. 10:17-18, NIV). 
S. R. F. Price, Rituals and Power: The Roman Imperial Cult in Asia Minor, Cambridge University Press, 1984). Apparently this reigning includes the authority to make judgments. It is a life in which they sit on thrones, sharing in the reign of Christ over all things, even sharing in his judging activity! In the New Scofield Bible of 1967 the heading above Isaiah 11, which covers verses 1-10, reads, Davidic kingdom to be restored by Christ: its character and extent. A footnote to verse 1 reads, This chapter is a prophetic picture of the glory of the future kingdom, which will be set up when Davids Son returns in glory. It is obvious, therefore, that the New Scofield Bible interprets this passage as describing the future millennial age. The Great Tribulation and the Great CommissionDisciples, Witnesses, and Martyrs, "Election" -- Article Seven, First Head of Doctrine, The Canons of Dort. During this entire period, therefore, you, Christs disciples, will be able to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations.. On January 27 th, our Bible study group met as we usually do on a weekly basis, and studied Revelation 20, the classic text on the Millennium.That night three of us took a limited amount of time to present . By inaugurated eschatology I mean that aspect of eschatology which is already present now, during the gospel era. There is eschatological progression in these seven sections, not only regarding the individual sections but also regarding the book as a whole. This last section describes the judgment which falls on Satan, and his final doom. The seventh section, chapters 20-22, narrates the doom of the dragon, thus completing the description of the overthrow of the enemies of Christ. She loved the Jewish people, and some of her family members lost their lives because they wouldn't kill the Jews. And given the breakneck pace of the advance being made in all forms of technology, it is only natural that futurists would see Johns reference to the mark of the beast as somehow connected to the technological advantage by which the beast and false prophet will enslave the inhabitants of the world and deceive them into worshiping the Antichrist.As futurists see it, when John speaks of the mark of the beast, hes essentially predicting that some future form of technology will be utilized by Antichrist to dominate and control the worlds population. It is interesting to note that the verb here translated driven out (ekballo) is derived from the same root as the word used in Revelation 20:3, He [the angel] threw [ballo] him [Satan] into the Abyss. Even more important, however, is the observation that Satans being driven out or cast out (RSV) is here associated with the fact that not only Jews but men of all nationalities shall be drawn to Christ as he hangs on the cross. 1:7-10.) We can appreciate the significance of this vision when we remember that in Johns time the church was sorely oppressed and frequently persecuted. 4. The acknowledged lack of evidence for amillennialism in the second century is all the more remarkable because amillennialists are making so much in our day of the comparatively few evidences for premillennialism. (22) They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat; for like the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. When I say, we are in the last days now, I understand the expression the last days not merely as referring to the time just before Christs return, but as a description of the entire era between Christs first and second comings. As we read these letters we are impressed with two things. 5:28-29; Acts 24:15), what is described in the last clause of verse 4 must be something other than the physical or bodily resurrection which is yet to come. An exposition and defense of this method of interpretation, summarized in nine propositions, can be found on pp. In verse 25, in fact, we have a description of the animal world which reminds us of the picture of the final state found in Isaiah 11. But since the kingdom of God demands total commitment, the church must also be vitally concerned about the implementation of Christian principles in every area of life, including the political and the social. Finally, there are pre-millennialists. Obviously not, since the raising of the body from the dead is mentioned later in the chapter as something distinct from what is described here (see vv. The amillennial view of Revelation affirms that the 1,000-year binding of Satan refers to the period between the two advents of Christ. 235.59). A Case for Amillennialism -- Expanded Edition 2013, 1 Corinthians -- Lectio Continua Commentary, Man of Sin - Uncovering the Truth About Antichrist, A Case for Amillennialism - Understanding the End, Articles Written for Modern Reformation Magazine, The Seventy Weeks of Daniel -- An Interpretation, 02 "Interpreting Bible Prophecy -- Part 1" MP3, 03 "Interpreting Bible Prophecy" -- Part 2" (MP3), 04 "Covenant Theology and Eschatology" (MP3), 06 "These Things Were Foretold" (Part 2) MP3, 07 "The Basic Eschatology of the NT" (MP3), 12 "Two-Age Model and NT Parallels" (MP3), 13 "The Kingdom of God" -- Part 1 (MP3), 15 " New Creation and the Age of the Spirit" (MP3), 16 "The Church as the Israel of God " (MP3), 19 "Signs of the End" (Part 2) The Antichrist MP3, "The Biblical Doctrine of Antichrist" (MP3), "The Dragon, the Beast, the False Prophet" (MP3), Links to Helpful Books, Essays, and Charts, Scripture Index for A Case for Amillennialism, Outline of Geerhardus Vos' Biblical Theology, Sermons on Paul's Epistle to the Romans (pdf), Sermons on Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, Jerome and Augustine, and the Fall of Rome, Thomas Reid and His "Common Sense Philosophy", Notes on the Canons of Dort (Introduction), Notes on the Canons of Dort First Head--Rejections, Notes on the Canons of Dort (Second Head), Essential Reference Books for a Home Library, Books for Those New to the Reformed Faith, Answers to Questions About Eschatology--Archives, Answers to Questions About Eschatology--Archives 2, Answers to Questions About Eschatology--Archives 3, Rituals and Power: The Roman Imperial Cult in Asia Minor. Let me mention four of them: All this implies that regarding world history, amillennialists adopt a position of sober or realistic optimism. At this point one can well imagine the disciples raising a disturbing question: How can we possibly do this if Satan continues to deceive the nations the way he has in the past? 
The premillennial interpretation of these verses sees them as describing a millennial reign of Christ on earth which will occur after his Second Coming. Note, for example, how John tells us that the spirit of the Antichrist is already in the world in his day (1 Jn. 
John sees the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. According to Peter and Paul Lalonde, The Bible says that the mark of the beast and its accompanying technology will be installed by the antichristnot as an end in itself, but as a means of managing the new world order that is even now being created (Peter LaLonde and Paul LaLonde, Racing Toward the Mark of the Beast, Harvest House Publishers, 1994, 148).The futurist approach to Revelation is misguided because it pushes off into the distant future what was already a serious threat to Christians in the first century (emperor worship), by ignoring the historical context for the visions of Revelation 13 and 17. When premillennialists therefore charge amillennialists with teaching a future kingdom which is only spiritual and which has nothing to do with the earth, they are not representing the amillennial view correctly. Scripture requires us to think of the signs of the times as having relevance throughout the entire Christian era (pp. 
Let us look first of all at Isaiah 11:6-9 as rendered by the New Scofield Bible: 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. In other words, not replacement but expansion. Those who had died a martyrs death would constitute a part of this group but not the whole group. This interpretation, we believe, gives us a richer, wider and more relevant understanding of those prophecies than that which restricts their meaning to a description of an earthly millennium which shall precede the final state. 
There John said, I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. The rest of the verse makes plain that those sitting on the thrones were the souls of people who had died martyrs for the faith and other Christians who had remained true to Christ to the very end of their lives. This life is a life of great happiness (see Pauls words in Phil. This heavenly reigning is a fulfillment of a promise recorded earlier in the book: To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne (3:21, NIV). This teaching should certainly bring comfort to those whose dear ones have died in the Lord. It means only what John says here: While Satan is bound he cannot deceive the nations in such a way as to keep them from learning about the truth of God. Revelation 22:12 and the following passages: Mt takes us further into the future than other... 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Future than the other sections happiness ( see Revelation 22:12 and the following passages Mt!
The first of these seven sections is found in chapters 1-3. What, in conclusion, are some of the implications of amillennial eschatology for our theological understanding? Amillennialists do not expect to see the perfect society realized during this present age. This last section describes the judgment which falls on Satan, and his final doom. The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Amillennialism and the Mark of the Beast: Portal Forums Calendar Active Threads: Forum Search: Member Spotlight: Anthony C. NJ/PA. When we speak of inaugurated eschatology we are saying that for the New Testament believer significant eschatological events have already begun to happen while other eschatological occurrences still lie in the future. At the end of this verse we hear an echo of what is found in 11:9, They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.9 Truly a beautiful description of the new earth! The clue has already been given in verse 4a. (See Revelation 22:12 and the following passages: Mt. Since the book of Revelation was addressed to the church of the first century A.D., its message had reference to events occurring at that time and was therefore meaningful for the Christians of that day. The question is, however, whether this is what the word means here. Wright Bishop N.T. Belief in the present rule of Christ, in the presence of Gods kingdom and in the movement of history toward its goal is accompanied by a realistic recognition of the presence of sin in this world and of the growing development of the kingdom of evil. 9:18; Rom. New Testament writers were conscious of the fact that they were already living in the last days at the time they were speaking or writing. 21:27; 22:14-15). The latter see scriptural evidence for only one Day of Judgment which will occur at the time of Christs return. Once again it may be observed that if one does not believe in a future earthly millennium, he will certainly not be compelled to accept it by the reading of these verses. John F. Walvoord, a representative contemporary premillennialist, shares this interpretation of the chapter: Isaiah 11 paints the graphic picture of the reign of Christ on earth, a scene which cannot be confused with the present age, the intermediate state, or the eternal state if interpreted in any normal literal sense. This was the view of the earliest church, as we know from Justin Martyr and Papias, and other early writers. When we do so we shall see that the premillennial interpretation of these two representative passages is by no means the only possible one. Topics 7,754. This victory of Christs was decisive and final. (For an example of this kind of statement, see Rev. As far as the unbelieving dead are concerned, therefore, there will be a change after the thousand years have ended, but it will be a change not for the better but for the worse. To see the background for the amillennial view of the millennium, we should first of all concern ourselves with the question of the interpretation of the book of Revelation. Is there any indication in the New Testament that Satan was bound at the time of the first coming of Christ? We begin with verses 1-3, reproduced here from the New International Version: And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. Your email address will not be published. If, then, one thinks of Revelation 20 as describing what follows chronologically after what is described in chapter 19, one would indeed conclude that the millennium of Revelation 20:1-6 will come after the return of Christ. 5:24), put off the old self and put on the new (Col. 3:9-10). The last section, for example, takes us further into the future than the other sections. Note first that the passage obviously divides itself into two parts: verses 1-3, which describe the binding of Satan; and verses 4-6, which describe the thousand-year reign of souls with Christ. 221-29. It suggests that amillennialists either do not believe in any millennium or that they simply ignore the first six verses of Revelation 20, which speak of a millennial reign. In this vision we see the church avenged, protected and victorious. The vision of the glorified Christ together with the letters to the seven churches obviously form a unit. Walvoord, in similar fashion, understands Isaiah 65:17-19 as describing the eternal state7 and verses 20-25 of this chapter as describing conditions during the millennium.8. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together. Revelation 20: Amillennial Viewpoint (Part 1) Adam: January 27, 2010. 13:4; Rev. 10:17-18, NIV). S. R. F. Price, Rituals and Power: The Roman Imperial Cult in Asia Minor, Cambridge University Press, 1984). Apparently this reigning includes the authority to make judgments. It is a life in which they sit on thrones, sharing in the reign of Christ over all things, even sharing in his judging activity! In the New Scofield Bible of 1967 the heading above Isaiah 11, which covers verses 1-10, reads, Davidic kingdom to be restored by Christ: its character and extent. A footnote to verse 1 reads, This chapter is a prophetic picture of the glory of the future kingdom, which will be set up when Davids Son returns in glory. It is obvious, therefore, that the New Scofield Bible interprets this passage as describing the future millennial age. The Great Tribulation and the Great CommissionDisciples, Witnesses, and Martyrs, "Election" -- Article Seven, First Head of Doctrine, The Canons of Dort. During this entire period, therefore, you, Christs disciples, will be able to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations.. On January 27 th, our Bible study group met as we usually do on a weekly basis, and studied Revelation 20, the classic text on the Millennium.That night three of us took a limited amount of time to present . By inaugurated eschatology I mean that aspect of eschatology which is already present now, during the gospel era. There is eschatological progression in these seven sections, not only regarding the individual sections but also regarding the book as a whole. This last section describes the judgment which falls on Satan, and his final doom. The seventh section, chapters 20-22, narrates the doom of the dragon, thus completing the description of the overthrow of the enemies of Christ. She loved the Jewish people, and some of her family members lost their lives because they wouldn't kill the Jews. And given the breakneck pace of the advance being made in all forms of technology, it is only natural that futurists would see Johns reference to the mark of the beast as somehow connected to the technological advantage by which the beast and false prophet will enslave the inhabitants of the world and deceive them into worshiping the Antichrist.As futurists see it, when John speaks of the mark of the beast, hes essentially predicting that some future form of technology will be utilized by Antichrist to dominate and control the worlds population. It is interesting to note that the verb here translated driven out (ekballo) is derived from the same root as the word used in Revelation 20:3, He [the angel] threw [ballo] him [Satan] into the Abyss. Even more important, however, is the observation that Satans being driven out or cast out (RSV) is here associated with the fact that not only Jews but men of all nationalities shall be drawn to Christ as he hangs on the cross. 1:7-10.) We can appreciate the significance of this vision when we remember that in Johns time the church was sorely oppressed and frequently persecuted. 4. The acknowledged lack of evidence for amillennialism in the second century is all the more remarkable because amillennialists are making so much in our day of the comparatively few evidences for premillennialism. (22) They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat; for like the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. When I say, we are in the last days now, I understand the expression the last days not merely as referring to the time just before Christs return, but as a description of the entire era between Christs first and second comings. As we read these letters we are impressed with two things. 5:28-29; Acts 24:15), what is described in the last clause of verse 4 must be something other than the physical or bodily resurrection which is yet to come. An exposition and defense of this method of interpretation, summarized in nine propositions, can be found on pp. In verse 25, in fact, we have a description of the animal world which reminds us of the picture of the final state found in Isaiah 11. But since the kingdom of God demands total commitment, the church must also be vitally concerned about the implementation of Christian principles in every area of life, including the political and the social. Finally, there are pre-millennialists. Obviously not, since the raising of the body from the dead is mentioned later in the chapter as something distinct from what is described here (see vv. The amillennial view of Revelation affirms that the 1,000-year binding of Satan refers to the period between the two advents of Christ. 235.59). A Case for Amillennialism -- Expanded Edition 2013, 1 Corinthians -- Lectio Continua Commentary, Man of Sin - Uncovering the Truth About Antichrist, A Case for Amillennialism - Understanding the End, Articles Written for Modern Reformation Magazine, The Seventy Weeks of Daniel -- An Interpretation, 02 "Interpreting Bible Prophecy -- Part 1" MP3, 03 "Interpreting Bible Prophecy" -- Part 2" (MP3), 04 "Covenant Theology and Eschatology" (MP3), 06 "These Things Were Foretold" (Part 2) MP3, 07 "The Basic Eschatology of the NT" (MP3), 12 "Two-Age Model and NT Parallels" (MP3), 13 "The Kingdom of God" -- Part 1 (MP3), 15 " New Creation and the Age of the Spirit" (MP3), 16 "The Church as the Israel of God " (MP3), 19 "Signs of the End" (Part 2) The Antichrist MP3, "The Biblical Doctrine of Antichrist" (MP3), "The Dragon, the Beast, the False Prophet" (MP3), Links to Helpful Books, Essays, and Charts, Scripture Index for A Case for Amillennialism, Outline of Geerhardus Vos' Biblical Theology, Sermons on Paul's Epistle to the Romans (pdf), Sermons on Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, Jerome and Augustine, and the Fall of Rome, Thomas Reid and His "Common Sense Philosophy", Notes on the Canons of Dort (Introduction), Notes on the Canons of Dort First Head--Rejections, Notes on the Canons of Dort (Second Head), Essential Reference Books for a Home Library, Books for Those New to the Reformed Faith, Answers to Questions About Eschatology--Archives, Answers to Questions About Eschatology--Archives 2, Answers to Questions About Eschatology--Archives 3, Rituals and Power: The Roman Imperial Cult in Asia Minor. Let me mention four of them: All this implies that regarding world history, amillennialists adopt a position of sober or realistic optimism. At this point one can well imagine the disciples raising a disturbing question: How can we possibly do this if Satan continues to deceive the nations the way he has in the past? The premillennial interpretation of these verses sees them as describing a millennial reign of Christ on earth which will occur after his Second Coming. Note, for example, how John tells us that the spirit of the Antichrist is already in the world in his day (1 Jn. John sees the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. According to Peter and Paul Lalonde, The Bible says that the mark of the beast and its accompanying technology will be installed by the antichristnot as an end in itself, but as a means of managing the new world order that is even now being created (Peter LaLonde and Paul LaLonde, Racing Toward the Mark of the Beast, Harvest House Publishers, 1994, 148).The futurist approach to Revelation is misguided because it pushes off into the distant future what was already a serious threat to Christians in the first century (emperor worship), by ignoring the historical context for the visions of Revelation 13 and 17. When premillennialists therefore charge amillennialists with teaching a future kingdom which is only spiritual and which has nothing to do with the earth, they are not representing the amillennial view correctly. Scripture requires us to think of the signs of the times as having relevance throughout the entire Christian era (pp. Let us look first of all at Isaiah 11:6-9 as rendered by the New Scofield Bible: 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. In other words, not replacement but expansion. Those who had died a martyrs death would constitute a part of this group but not the whole group. This interpretation, we believe, gives us a richer, wider and more relevant understanding of those prophecies than that which restricts their meaning to a description of an earthly millennium which shall precede the final state. There John said, I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. 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