1. UNDERSTANDING “THE MILLENNIUM” REVELATION 20:1-6

2. WHAT IS “THE MILLENNIUM”? From a Latin word mille – “1000” Refers to the 1000 years Satan is bound & martyrs reign with Christ Rev. 20 = only place in Bible where 1000-yr reign is mentioned, so its interpretation is important The most controversial part of Revelation; several widely varying views of what “the millennium” is Some use their interpretation of Rev 20 as the key to understanding the entire Bible!

3. 1. PREMILLENNIALISM By far the most popular understanding of Rev 20 “Pre” means 2 nd Coming occurs before the 1000 yrs Millennium = a literal 1000 yrs, Christ & followers reign on earth Jesus will rule from Jerusalem, sitting on David’s (literal) throne in a restored Temple 2 Varieties of Premilliennialism: -- Historic: (a) Takes Rev 20 literally (b) Jesus reigns on earth for 1000 yrs (c) afterward, Satan & the lost thrown into the lake of fire (d) view held by most early Christian writers (Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus) -- Dispensational: (a) most popular today (b) Israel central to God’s plan (c) church not originally part of the plan (d) all Jews eventually saved (e) “Rapture” for 7 yrs at end of “church age” (f) multiple judgments after 1000 yrs (g) Jesus not yet King & church not His kingdom (h) often focused on predicting the end

4. PREMILLENNIAL PROBLEMS NT never says Jesus will set foot on earth Requires some details in Rev to be literal, others symbolic Unbiblical view of God’s original plan (“failure doctrine,” no church) Teaches a low evaluation of the church Materialistic concept of “the kingdom” Rev 20 doesn’t mention Jesus’ return No mention of Jerusalem or David’s throne Israel’s role not mentioned in Rev 20 No mention of “the Rapture,” either here or elsewhere in Scripture This system obviously doesn’t come from Rev 20!

5. 2. POSTMILLENNIALISM 2 nd Coming will be after (post) the 1000-yr reign Not a literal understanding of the “reign” 1000-yr reign is a long period of human progress Culminates in a “golden age of the church,” during which Jesus “rules” through His people Following this “golden age,” Christ returns in person

6. POSTMILLENNIAL PROBLEMS Closely tied to a view of gradual human progress & improvement Too much emphasis on the human element vs. the divine Ignores Rev 20’s suggestion that the “reign” is in heaven, not on earth Very popular during late 19 th /early 20 th Centuries (period of “Industrial Revolution”) “Progress” during that era not as great as supposed (e.g., child labor, etc.). Worked for some but not for others WWI & WWII shattered people’s dreams of a “kingdom on earth” Not many adherents today, though still some who hold to a modified view

7. 3. AMILLENNIALISM A misnomer, since 1000-yr reign not denied; just not taken as literal The Millennium = symbolic of the Christian era (“last days”) “1000 yrs” = a lengthy (unspecified) period during which Satan’s power is limited (“bound” by the work of Christ) Martyrs (“souls,” not resurrected bodies) reign with Christ in heaven. [“Thrones” mentioned 47 times in Rev. All are in heaven except those of Satan & the Beast] Christian dead share in this “first (spiritual) resurrection”; bodily (“second”) res. later (Jn 5:29) So, 1000-yr reign is now. John assures readers that Christ is reigning, in spite of opposition, & Christian dead are with Him

8. AMILLENNIAL PROS & CONS Hard to see that Satan isn’t “deceiving the nations” today (though we now have an option through the gospel) Doesn’t explain why or in what sense Satan will be released after 1000 yrs (but neither do other views) Not the understanding of earliest Christian (post-NT) writers (but they weren’t inspired) Has the advantage of not requiring imposition of concepts from outside Rev 20 (e.g., Rapture, David’s throne, role of Israel, etc.) Overall, more consistent with symbolic nature of Rev

9. LESSONS FOR TODAY 1.We must be careful to read our faith ______ ____ Scripture, not _________ it. 2.Regardless of how we interpret Rev 20, God is still in ___________. 3.Satan’s power is ___________ by the cross of Christ! 4.Once we are at home with the Lord, Satan cannot __________ us.