Reading
Revelation 19:1-20:15
Keys to the Text
The Millennium: This is the thousand-year reign of Christ over the earth (20:2-7). There are three main views regarding the duration and nature of this period:
(1) Premillennialism says Christ will return before the thousand-year reign and sees this as a literal thousand-year period during which Jesus Christ reigns on the earth, in fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies (for example, Psalm 2; Isaiah 11:6-12; 24:23; Hosea 3:4-5; Joel 3:9-21; Amos 9:8-15; and Zechariah 14:1-11). Premillennialism says that Christ will return after the events of the Great Tribulation but before the final judgments and the establishment of the new heavens and new earth. Using the same general principles of interpretation for both prophetic and non-prophetic passages leads most naturally to premillennialism. Another strong argument supporting this view is that many biblical prophecies have already been literally fulfilled, suggesting the future prophecies will likewise be fulfilled literally.
(2) Postmillennialism says Christ will return after the thousand years and understands the reference to a thousand-year period as only symbolic of a golden age of righteousness and spiritual prosperity. It will be ushered in by the spread of the gospel during the present church age and brought to completion when Christ returns. According to this view, references to Christ's reign on earth primarily describe His spiritual reign in the hearts of believers in the church. Postmillennialism essentially teaches that the church, by preaching the gospel, will "Christianize" the world and usher in a worldwide era of peace commonly called the "millennium." Following this Golden Age, Christ will return and eternity will begin.
(3) Amillennialism understands the thousand years to be merely symbolic of a long period of time. This view interprets Old Testament prophecies of a millennium as being fulfilled spiritually now in the church (either on earth or in heaven) or as references to the eternal state. But, using the literal, historical, grammatical principles of interpretation so as to determine the normal sense of language, one is left with the inescapble conclusion that Christ will return and reign in a real kingdom on earth for a thousand years. There is nothing in the text to render the conclusion that "a thousand years" is symbolic. Never in Scripture when "year" is used with a number is its meaning not literal.
1. Why is it so important to interpret all of Scripture by the same method?
2. List different beliefs about end time events that stem from each of these views.
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1 comment:
1. It's important because if you use two or even three different methods it's like saying well I believe this half of revelation is right, but not this one. You can't just think some is right and come up with what you "feel" is right for the rest.
2.
a.Premillennialism- this believes that Christ is coming before the 1000 year reign and that it really means 1000 years.
b. postmillennialism- Christ will return after the 1000 year reign but 1000 is is only symbolic for another amount of time (like how some people think that the seven days of creation wasn't actually seven years but the seven days was "symbolic" for another amount of time.)
c. Amillennialism- believes that the 1000 years is symbolic and the 1000 years has already started (this one is kinda cunfusing i think this is what it means).
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