495 – The Return of Christ and the Millennium

SEMESTER 6

495 – The Return of Christ and the Millennium

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY VI LESSON # 95
THE RETURN OF CHRIST AND THE MILLENNIUM

Read Rev. 19:1 – Rev. 20:6

INTRODUCTION:

1. This lesson is focused upon a threefold issue central to all es­chatology.

i. That Jesus Christ will physically return to this earth.
ii. That there will be a millennium (a literal 1,000 year reign on earth).
iii. The chronological relationship between these two biblical events.

2. The purpose of this lesson is not to explore all various theories at issue.
3. It is simply to focus upon the fact that Scripture teaches the following.

I. THE LORD WILL PHYSICALLY RETURN TO THE EARTH

1. This promise was clearly made when He ascended. (Jn. 14:1-3, Acts 1:9-11)
2. Promises of His return to earth saturate all of Scripture. (Dan. 7:13, Jn. 14:3, I Thes. 1:10, 4:16-17, II Thes. 1:10, Mk. 14:62, I Pet. 3:22, Jude 1:14, Rev. 19:11)
3. The apostles looked for Him. (I Cor. 15:23, I Thes. 4:15, 2:19, 3:13, I Tim. 6:14, II Tim. 1:10, 4:1, 4:8, Titus 2:13, 1 Jn. 2:28)
4. John sees it in his heavenly vision of end time events. (Rev. 19:11-16)

II. THERE WILL BE A THOUSAND YEAR EARTHLY REIGN

1. Capable men have made arguments against a literal reign on this earth.
2. Men who believe it have been referred to as Millenarians & Chiliaists.
3. Some able soteriology teachers have taken great issue with mil­lenarians.
4. The real issue is not what do the best educated men think, but what do the Scriptures teach on this matter.
5. If we believe Revelation 20 is literal, we are mil­lenarians. (Rev 20:1-7)
6. Common arguments against this are as follow:

i. Satan who is a spirit cannot be literally bound with a chain.
ii. A “bottomless pit” is not a realistic restraint against a spirit.
iii. The Greek term for thousand here is plural, and thus should be rendered thousands, and would be indefinite.

7. We millenarians understand that this is a vision and symbols are in­volved.
8. We believe, however, that the symbols point to a 1,000-year, earthly reign.
9. Passages like Isaiah 2:4, 11:1-10 and Micah 4:3 point to this reign of peace.
10. It seems to me that the Amillennialists ultimately (Rev 20:1-7) mean nothing.
11. I believe Scripture surely teaches a literal, 1,000-year, earthly reign.

III. HIS RETURN TO EARTH WILL PRECEDE THE MIL­LENNIUM

1. Three basic theories of this chronological relativity exist.

i. Amillennialists teach that the reign I have described will not occur.
ii. Postmillennialists teach that it occurs before the return of Christ.
iii. Premillennialists believe it occurs after and because of Christ’s return.

2. Postmillennialism views the gospel as the means of the millennium being brought in.

IIIs: By the “latter day glory” and historical updates on evangelical progress.

3. “Gospel millennialism” is a simple variation of postmillennialism, often holding some doctrines of Amillenialism.
4. Some Amillennialist teach a literal and imminent return of Christ, and a heavenly kingdom.
5. Some of these may deny being either pre, post, or A, but it cannot be.
6. Do not confuse variations within these with the chronology they hold.
7. Scriptures teach that Christ returns to an earth at war with God. (Rev 19)
8. Revelation 20, a continuation of Revelation 19, indicates the Millennium is subse­quent.
9. Roman Catholic “Kingdom of God” definition necessitates Amil­len­nialism.
10. I believe that reading Scripture without the “benefit” of the books by the Catholic reformers will make us Premillennialists.