This is the third post covering several issues (the Tribulation, the Rapture, the Millennium) that I couldn’t address in my current message series called “blockbuster ENDINGS”. Today, I will be discussing one of the most debated and questioned parts of Revelation – the Millennium. The Millennium is a term used to describe a 1,000 year period in which Christ and the saints rule over the Earth. However, “Are those thousand years literal or symbolic?” is a question in which centuries of debate has as yet to answer conclusively.
The only place in all the Bible we can find the 1,000 year reign is in chapter 20 of Revelation. “Most Christians have believed that this chapter refers to the same period as that depicted in many Old Testament passages describing the golden age of the Messiah.” (Revelation Four Views-by Steve Gregg)
There are THREE basic views about the Christian Millennium.
- Premillennialism – Is a belief that the 2nd Coming of Christ will happen BEFORE His Millennial reign. Jesus and the saints will rule the Earth for a thousand years. At the end of that time the Devil will be loosed for a brief time and then the final judgment and the new Earth and new Heavens will come.
- Postmillennialism – Is a belief that the 2nd Coming of Jesus will happen AFTER the Millennial reign. This position holds to the ideal that church and Gospel of Christ will be so successful in evangelism that it will bring about this 1,000 years of relative peace on the Earth. (note: not everyone will be a Christian, but society as a whole will be Christian)
- Amillennialism – Is the belief that the 1,000 years in Revelation 20 is a SYMBOL for an “indefinitely long period of time”. This “indefinitely long period of time” covers the time from the first coming of Christ until His second coming. Those in this camp “find most of Revelation 20 (like most aspects of Revelation) to be symbolic not literal.” (Revelation Four Views-by Steve Gregg)
My observations: I’m going to be honest here and it might offend some people so beware. I can’t believe Christians spend so much time and energy arguing or trying to prove their view point is right. With all the hurting people and needs of the world I think we could spend our energy more wisely. Don’t get me wrong, I like learning and discussing theology. I believe that followers of Christ should love God with their minds as well as their hearts. However, all three views hold to the same basic tenants: Jesus is coming back; Christ will rule; The saints will be with Christ; and the devil is defeated and God wins!
Which leads me back to my overall premise for the series blockbuster ENDINGS, “Are we asking the right question?” Do we get so caught up in the specifics that we get distracted from the main reason God gave us the book of Revelation (so we could be prepared & hold on). My humble opinion is that Revelation is primarily about about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God loves us and pursues us. Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and He’s coming back. All wrong will be made right and humanity will be accountable for how they used their gift of life. Death and evil are defeated and God and His people will be together forever.
Again, no matter what position you hold to my hope and prayer is that it causes you to love God and love others.
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