Podcasts about amillennial

Dr Michael Svigel and Dr Josh Howard discuss Michael's latest book, "The Father's On The Future", taking a look at early Church Fathers and their views on the future and the end times, or eschatology. Was the early church Premillennial? Amillennial? Postmillennial? Or some combination thereof?

Dr Michael Svigel and Dr Josh Howard discuss Michael's latest book, "The Father's On The Future", taking a look at early Church Fathers and their views on the future and the end times, or eschatology. Was the early church Premillennial? Amillennial? Postmillennial? Or some combination thereof?

In Revelation 19:6–20:15, we witness a climactic shift—from Babylon's fall to the Lamb's victory. Heaven erupts in celebration as the Bride of Christ is made ready, and the conquering King rides forward to defeat evil once and for all. Then comes the millennium: one of Scripture's heavily debated passages. Yet amid the mystery, one thing is clear—Christ reigns, Satan falls, and the second death has no power over God's people. This isn't escape from reality. It's a reorientation to what is ultimately real. Jesus will return. Will we be ready?Key Themes:· The Marriage of the Lamb: Heaven rejoices as Jesus receives His Bride, the Church—radiant and pure, clothed in righteousness. Every earthly wedding points to this ultimate union. (Revelation 19:6–9)· The Warrior King: Christ appears on a white horse, Faithful and True, to make war on evil and sin. His robe is dipped in blood; His name is the Word of God. He alone wins the battle. (Revelation 19:11–16)· Final Judgment for Evil: The beast and false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire. There is no burial, no honor—only ruin for those who defy the Lamb. (Revelation 19:17–21)· The Millennium Debate: Premillennial, Amillennial, or Postmillennial—theories differ. But what unites us is this: Jesus will return, and His reign will be complete. (Revelation 20:1–6)· The Second Death Defeated: Satan's final uprising is crushed, and those whose names are in the Book of Life reign with Christ forever. (Revelation 20:7–15)Reflection:The vision of the Bride and the Rider confronts us: Are we seduced by Babylon's promises or awake and ready for our King? Do we live with loyalty to the Lamb or drift in compromise? The time is urgent…it's now. The Lamb is worthy. He will return to wed His Bride and wage war on evil. May we be found faithful.Key Texts:· Revelation 19:6–20:15· Hosea 2:19· Isaiah 54:5· Matthew 22:1–14· Ephesians 5:31–32· Romans 10:9–11· Revelation 20:6, 15Support Our Mission:Your generosity helps us proclaim Christ as King and equip disciples to make disciples.https://alloflife.churchcenter.com/givingVisit Our Website:www.alloflife.church#Revelation19 #Revelation20 #BrideOfChrist #JesusIsKing #FinalJudgment #FaithfulAndTrue #EndureInFaith

Jeremy responds to some portions of the recent Evening of Eschatology that took place in Louisville, KY, while also examining an old X post from Joel Webbon. It gets lively—and it all fits together. Just trust the process.   Watch the Evening of Eschatology (2025) in full here: https://youtu.be/GQlqARfSEJA?si=Z0UkAprssng0BDTn  Watch the original Evening of Eschatology (2009) in full here: https://youtu.be/4S0TQ2dXnms?si=yiR_zkuP0V0_pNTJ  Dr. Alan Kurschner's critique of the Amillennial recapitulation theory: https://www.alankurschner.com/2025/02/17/a-critique-of-the-most-common-amillennial-recapitulation-argument-in-the-book-of-revelation A link to Jeremy's book, in which Appendix A lists one- and two-passage doctrines: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A95UzZpUXBrRu8b8t7n2yGWbGksXjYfL/view    0:00 Introduction 1:13 The Evening of Eschatology 7:10 Weirdness Is Not a Good Reason 13:40 Is Revelation 20 a Clear Text? 16:55 Premillennial Hermeneutics 19:22 Can Revelation 20 Alone Prove Premillennialism? 24:09 Postmillennial Hermeneutics 27:00 Problems with Postmillennial Hermeneutics 32:04 Amillennial Hermeneutics 33:30 The Recapitulation Theory 36:05 What about Zechariah 14? 40:49 Failure to Embrace the OT Prophets  46:51 Joel Webbon Post 51:19 My Repost and Its Replies 55:47 Concluding Encouragements

Dr. Alan Kurschner critiqued the most common Amillennial argument in the book of Revelation using Greg Beale's restated argument from William Hendricksen. Amillennialists believe that Revelation 20:1–6 recapitulates Revelation 12:7–11 as occurring during the interadvent period. Beale proposes seven parallels that he thinks make this argument (see the Table below). Dr. Kurschner criticizes each supposed parallel one by one and demonstrates that not only are these not viable parallels, but they instead argue for progression.   ------------- TABLE 41. Greg Beale's Supposed Amillennial Parallels outlined. Excerpt from A Linguistic Approach to Revelation 19:11—20:6 and the Millennial Binding of Satan (page 163) by Alan E. Kurschner TABLE 41. Greg Beale's Supposed Amillennial Parallels outlined. Excerpt from A Linguistic Approach to Revelation 19:11—20:6 and the Millennial Binding of Satan (page 163) by Alan E. Kurschner     Become a monthly supporter: https://www.alankurschner.com/partner/

Dr. Alan Kurschner critiqued the most common Amillennial argument in the book of Revelation using Greg Beale's restated argument from William Hendricksen. Amillennialists believe that Revelation 20:1–6 recapitulates Revelation 12:7–11 as occurring during the interadvent period. Beale proposes seven parallels that he thinks make this argument (see the Table below). Dr. Kurschner criticizes each supposed […] The post A Critique of the MOST Common Amillennial Recapitulation Argument in the Book of Revelation appeared first on ESCHATOS MINISTRIES.

PASTOR WILLIAM'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Justi... Disagree, agree, or have a question: Contact us through the contact page on our website; http://www.biblebulldog.com , if we use your question on the podcast, we'll send you a free hat! Proposition #1: The Church Of Jesus Christ Embraces Both Jews And Gentiles As Part Of The Messianic Kingdom. The Messianic Kingdom Includes Jewish And Gentile Believers As Citizens On An Equal Basis. “In Jesus Christ, a Jew is no longer distinct from a gentile as far as religion is concerned. In fact, since AD 70 when the temple was destroyed, true religious Judaism ceased to exist. The Gentile in Christ is no longer distinct as far as his spiritual condition is concerned. For those in Christ the only identity that matters is their identity in Him. There is no Jewish or Gentile Christianity, white or black Christianity, male or female Christianity, free or slave Christianity. Our Lord has only one church. The new person in Christ is not simply a Jew or gentile who now happens to be a Christian. He is no longer a Jew or gentile but only a Christian.” John MacArthur How does MacArthur's perspective on the end of "true religious Judaism" in AD 70 impact his eschatological view? Does it align more with a premillennial or postmillennial perspective? “The Lord by His declaration of peace affects the creation of a third race of men—neither Jew nor gentile but Christian.” UTNT “This is ‘the third race' which is different from both Jews and Gentiles.” Word Biblical Commentary So, the “third race” is called Christian? How does the concept of a "third race" relate to the distinction between Law and Grace? Does it imply a new legal or spiritual status that transcends both? How do Reformed Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism interpret the concept of a "third race"? Does it align more closely with one perspective than the other? SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS! Calvinism,Zionism,Palestinian,Tribulation,O. Palmer Robertson,Amillennial,Abrahamic,Covenant,Dispensational,Premillennial,Antisemitism,Replacement,Theology,Israel,Gaza,Hamas,Armageddon,Revelation,Prophecy,Prophetic,Supersessionism,Judaism,Jerusalem,Israeli,Islam,Church,Christianity,Jews,Gentiles,War,End-times,Holy,Trinity,1948,1967,Christ,Bible,woke,catholic,protestant,best podcast,christian,torah,old testament,prophet,trump harris,reformed,apostlic,Jesus,Tel Aviv,John MacArthur

Dan Jarms and John Gardner discuss different end times views, focusing on the amillennial and postmillennial views. These different views come from different interpretations of Revelation 20:1-6, which describes a thousand year period of peace and Jesus' return. Postmillennialists envision a golden age of Christian rule before Jesus' return while amillennialists see the Millennium as a long, ongoing period of gospel spread, that takes place between Christ's first and second coming—in other words, that we are currently living in the "millennium". They also discuss the continuity of promises from the Old Testament to the New Testament, emphasizing that these views are interpretive differences within the Church and not barriers to fellowship or membership at Faith.

Understanding when Jesus sits on David's throne (is it now, at the Father's right hand in heaven, or still awaiting the supposed earthly Millenial reign of Christ from Israel?) is a significant watershed for many regarding Dispensational and Covenantal theologies. [To remove a potential confusion from the title of this message, it is possible to hold the Amillennial view, which our teaching team favors. This view says that Jesus reigns on David's throne in heaven today, which is itself the heavenly Millennial reign of Revelation 20.] You can watch this message here.

In this second interview with Dr Sam Waldron by pastor Chris Barlow, they discuss the corporate nature of the Great Commission, a victorious view of eschatology and the Church from an Amillennial perspective, the parable of the wheat and the tares, the trouble with Premillennialism and the confessions, the book of Revelation and more.Watch all of our videos and subscribe to our channel for the latest content >HereHere

Christian Ashley joins Joshua Noel and TJ (Tiberius Juan) Blackwell to discuss what the Bible says about the end times, what various theories there are of when and how Christ will come back, and whether or not Christians will endure Tribulations during the apocalypse of Revelation. We will discuss the books of Daniel, Revelation, and more. We will also explore the differences in Pre-Trib, Mid, and Post-Tribulation beliefs, as well as Premillennial, premillennial dispensationalism, Amillennial, and Postmillennial beliefs!.What is Eschatology? What is the theory of millennialism? What do Premillennialists believe? What are the signs that the end is near? What is it called when Jesus comes back? What are the signs of the 2nd coming of Jesus? What is the meaning of postmillennialism? Is amillennialism a preterism? What do Amillennialists believe? What are the three types of millennialism? What is the difference between historic Premillennialism and amillennialism? What is the tribulation in the Bible?.In this episode, we will:Explore the different theories of end times theologyExplain our views on Premillennialism and AmillennialismDeconstruct the purpose of Apocalyptic literatureExamine the difference in different theories of the Second ComingAsk why unity is so difficult around this subject.Support the show on Captivate or on Patreon, or by purchasing a comfy T-Shirt in our shop!.Join in our conversations on our Discord Server and Facebook group!.Hear all of the AMP Network shows:https://anazao-ministries.captivate.fm.Listen to every episode in this series:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/4f2184c4-1b7d-48fc-9c81-15f0a0c2679c.Check out "Let Nothing Move You" with Christian Ashley:https://let-nothing-move-you.captivate.fm.Listen to every episode of Systematic Geekology with TJ:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/f4c32709-d8ff-4cef-8dfd-5775275c3c5e.Check out Joshua's other show, "Dummy for Theology":https://player.captivate.fm/episode/1a27a558-5de8-4f4b-bdd0-7f104805a2efMentioned in this episode:Easily subscribe to our show wherever you listen!https://the-whole-church-podcast.captivate.fm/listenCheck out the other AMP Network shows!https://anazao-ministries.captivate.fm . https://open.spotify.com/show/725pdvTzkle0fDWK2sdxnD?si=e317918366e04338

Micah and Nathan are joined by Dr. Sam Storms; a self-proclaimed "Amillennial, Calvinistic, charismatic, credo-baptistic, complementarian, Christian Hedonist who loves his wife of 50 years, his two daughters, his four grandchildren, books, baseball, movies, and all things Oklahoma University." While some of those labels seem contradictory on the surface, Dr. Storms provides helpful context and Biblical support for his beliefs. In this episode, the discussion shifts to focus on Christian Hedonism and what "enjoying God" looks like on a practical basis. 

In this episode Dr Clark looks at Romans 12:3–8 and considers how grace makes us gracious. He answers a question from Kevin about those Dispensationalists who agree with the Reformed on Matthew 24 and being "left behind." He answers a text from Kaleb, who asks what, according to the Amillennial view, has to happen before Christ returns. He interacts with a comment by J. P. on why Dr Clark is skeptical that Romans 11 promises a future ingathering of Jews. The opening features Chris Gordon of the Escondido United Reformed Church. This episode of the Heidelcast is sponsored by the Heidelberg Reformation Association. You love the Heidelcast and the Heidelblog. You share it with friends, with members of your church, and others but have you stopped to think what would happen if it all disappeared? The truth is that we depend on your support. If you don't make the coffer clink, the HRA will simply sink. Won't you help us keep it going? The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All your gifts are tax deductible. Use the donate link on this page or mail a check to Heidelberg Reformation Association, 1637 E Valley Parkway #391, Escondido CA 92027. All the Episodes of the Heidelcast Resources On Romans Subscribe To the Heidelcast On Twitter @Heidelcast How To Support Heidelmedia: use the donate button below Subscribe in Apple Podcast Subscribe directly via RSS New Way To Call The Heidelphone: Voice Memo On Your Phone Text the Heidelcast any time at (760) 618–1563. The Heidelcast is available everywhere podcasts are found including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Call or text the Heidelphone anytime at (760) 618-1563. Leave a message or email us a voice memo from your phone and we may use it in a future podcast. Record it and email it to heidelcast@heidelblog.net. If you benefit from the Heidelcast please leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts so that others can find it. Please do not forget to make the coffer clink (see the donate button below). SHOW NOTES Resources on Eschatology Heidelblog Resources The HB Media Archive The Ecumenical Creeds The Reformed Confessions Heidelberg Catechism (1563) Recovering the Reformed Confession (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2008). What Must A Christian Believe? Why I Am A Christian Heidelblog Contributors Support Heidelmedia: use the donate button or send a check to: Heidelberg Reformation Association 1637 E. Valley Parkway #391 Escondido CA 92027 USA The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

A new MP3 sermon from Duluth Bible Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: 05 - A Dispensational Response to the Amillennial Recapitulation View of Rev. 19-20 Speaker: Mike Stallard Broadcaster: Duluth Bible Church Event: Conference Date: 10/4/2023 Length: 57 min.

Episode Synopsis:The first time I heard the term “optimistic amillennarian” was in seminary, when a student asked one of the professors whether they were postmillennial or amillennial.  The professor said he admired much about postmillennialism, but thought amillennialism was the biblical view.  But after saying that, he blurted out, “well, maybe, I'm optimistic Amillennial.”  That started quite a discussion among the students, with the postmillennial students pressing the amillennial students to give up their “pessimistic eschatology” and do as the professor had done, declare themselves to be eschatological optimists, presumably the first step on the way to becoming postmillennial.  I was one of those present who still hadn't figured out how my newly-found Reformed convictions were going to influence my views on eschatology.  The only thing I was sure about was that I could not remain a dispensationalist.I did indeed give up my premillennialism and dispensationalism for amillennialism and have spent much time writing, teaching, and discussing why I made the move.  Over time I thought that I had managed to distance myself from my dispensational past, and I worked hard to replace my dispensational hermeneutic with a covenantal approach to Scripture.Yet there was one tie which still bound me to dispensationalism–the postmillennal charge that both schools of thought (amillennial and dispensational premillennialism) were intrinsically “pessimistic,” while only postmillennarians have an eschatology of “essential optimism.”  This always struck me as odd, since as an amillennarian I believe that the kingdom of God is victorious over unbelief and all the forces of the devil, that the gospel will spread to the ends of the earth because God is sovereign over all things.  But I remain pessimistic about the city of man which will destroyed in the end when Jesus returns to raise the dead, judge the world, and make all things new.Both amillennialism and postmillennialism contend that the scene in Revelation 20:1-10–the only place where a period of a thousand years (or a millennial age) is mentioned in Scripture–occurs before Christ returns, not after, as in premillennialism.  This means that structurally speaking, amillennialism and postmillennial are very similar.  The two views have coexisted from time of the apostolic age, usually identified as non-chiliastic (non-millenarian).  It wasn't until early in the 20th century that the two views (amillennialism and postmillennialism) were distinguished from one another as distinct eschatological positions.  Both have existed together from the time of the Reformation–the differences centering around the timing, duration, and character of the millennial age.  As we will see, in the 1970's things changed.  So where did the optimism-pessimism categories come from?  Do they accurately describe the three main eschatological schools of thought?  Might they even be misleading?  And therefore not helpful?  That's my take . . .  For show notes and other recommended materials located at the Riddleblog as mentioned during the Blessed Hope Podcast, click here: https://www.kimriddlebarger.com/

11 October, 2023

In Episode 113 of Theology In Particular, Dr. Daniel Scheiderer returns to make a case for Amillennialism. It was in episode 80 that Dr. Scheiderer provided us with an overview of the various eschatological positions on the millennium. Here he presents two arguments against mellennarianism in its various forms and five arguments for the Amillennial position.  Links: International Reformed Baptist Seminary: irbsseminary.org If you have feedback, questions, or suggestions, please email Joe at: tip@irbsseminary.org Recommended Resources: A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times, by Kim Riddlebarger On The End Of The World And On Hell – Theological Commonplaces,  Vol. 32-33, Pages 129-36, by Johann Gerhard, Institutes Of Elenctic Theology, Section 20.3, by Francis Turretin.

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Chris Date on the topic of Eschatology, or the End Times. They explore the ins and outs of various views of the end times, before discussing more deeply the view that Chris holds on the subject. A very helpful and informative conversation!www.chrisdate.info0:24 - Intro to Chris Date2:43 - An update on Chris and his wife's treatment5:07 - What is eschatology?6:47 - Chris' work and engagement on the subject9:44 - Why should anyone care about end times study?15:00 - Encouragement for those overwhelmed by the topic17:57 - Advice for people having discussions on end times24:23 - An overview of end times views29:45 - What is the most popular view historically?37:01 - The history of dispensational millennialism 43:06 - Is “the rapture” biblical?50:40 - The preterist view52:06 - Partial or full preterism?1:11:15 - How does one properly think about their view of end times?1:16:08 - What's up with 666?1:23:10 - Resources recommended for further study Resources:Premillennial vs Amillennial on Christ's Return: Daniel Goepfrich & Chris Date on Unbelievable with Justin Brierley - https://a315.co/3Pn5vZyOverview of End Times Views - by Gregg Steve - https://a315.co/45SdzXv Four Views Of Revelation - https://a315.co/3R54YNeThe Last Days according to Jesus: When Did Jesus Say He Would Return? By RC Sproul - https://a315.co/3R1dA7xIt's Not the End of the World! By DeeDee Warren - https://a315.co/47VihFVBefore Jerusalem Fell: Dating the Book of Revelation by Kenneth Gentry - https://a315.co/45zPN30Four Views on the Book of Revelation by C. Marvin Pate, General Editor - https://a315.co/3qVPSiiBooks by Chris Date:Is Jesus Human and Not Divine? A Debate by Chris Date and Dale Tuggy - https://a315.co/45zNoFsRethinking Hell: Readings in Evangelical Conditionalism edited by Chris Date, Gregory Stump and Joshua Anderson - https://a315.co/3P4kKoKA Consuming Passion edited by Chris Date and Ron Highfield - https://a315.co/3o3lL7dDoes God Predetermine the Eternal Destiny of Every Individual Human Being? A Debate by Chris Date and Gil VanOrder, Jr. - https://a315.co/3W9Xc5e================================We appreciate your feedback.If you're on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

What is Amillennialism? If you were asked to define it, where would you start? In this episode, Pastor Brandon gives some overarching contours for understanding the Amillennial position.  For more information from the Amillennialist Perspective, see:  Critical Questions of Postmillennialism by Cincy Reformed Understanding Revelation 20:1-15 - The Millennial Reign of Christ and the Binding of Satan by Cincy Reformed  Theonomy and Eschatology: Some Reflections on Postmillennialism by Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.  Revelation: A Shorter Commentary by G.K. Beale  Revelation (Reformed Expository) by Richard Phillips  Revelation (Lectio Continua) by Joel Beeke The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation by Vern Poythress A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times by Kim Riddlebarger Amillennialism by Anthony Hoekema   Amillennialism - Part 1 by Robert Strimple  Amillennialism - Part 2 by Robert Strimple  The Great Hope of Amillennialism by Pierce Taylor Hibbs  Theonomy: A Reformed Critique ed. by William Barker and W. Robert Godfrey Revelation (Gospel Coalition) by G.K. Beale and Thomas Schreiner   The Gospel and Eschatology by Westminster Faculty 

The Messianic Banquet is an intriguiging aspect of end times studies. It comes after the arrival of the kingdom and marriage of the Lamb. Along with the Messianic Banquet is the war against Gog and Magog. In this study, we clearly show how all these events line up during the endtimes.This study presents major challenges to the Amillennial and Dispensationalist views.of the endtimes, dispels the idea of rapture and shows that the battle of Gog and MaGog in Revelation occurred in connection with the Roman invasion of Jukdea. It is hope that the listener will pay careful attentioni, take notes and check the Scripture references and reason logically. Check Us Out Our On YouTube channel to leave us questions or comments.

A new MP3 sermon from Grace Community Bible Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: #43 Revelation 20: An Amillennial View Subtitle: The Bible and the Future Speaker: James Flaherty Broadcaster: Grace Community Bible Fellowship Event: Bible Study Date: 2/26/2019 Bible: Revelation 20:1-10 Length: 38 min.

Steve Swartz, "Alternate Views, Part 1: Amillennial and Postmillennial Views " (Selected Scriptures) from the Millennium: Alternate Views series.More sermons available online at www.gbcob.org.

Steve Swartz, "Alternate Views, Part 1: Amillennial and Postmillennial Views " (Selected Scriptures) from the Millennium: Alternate Views series. More sermons available online at www.gbcob.org.

Steve Swartz, "Alternate Views, Part 1: Amillennial and Postmillennial Views " (Selected Scriptures) from the Millennium: Alternate Views series. More sermons available online at www.steadfastinthefaith.org.

Steve Swartz, "Alternate Views, Part 1: Amillennial and Postmillennial Views " (Selected Scriptures) from the Millennium: Alternate Views series. More sermons available online at www.steadfastinthefaith.org.

"One of the ways God will make all things new is by completely, totally, eternally, ending evil." Impacted? Let us know: Creekside.Me/Respond Miss a sermon in this series? Watch them all at Wilsonville.Church/AllThingsNew

Idleman Unplugged is a program of Westside Christian Fellowship. To listen to more sermons or to hear more about Westside Christian Fellowship, please visit our website: WestsideChristianFellowship.org Also, visit Pastor Shane's personal website to see his special guest appearances on Fox News, as well as personalized articles on Biblical matters: ShaneIdleman.com

A new MP3 sermon from Household of Faith in Christ is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: End of World as We Know It - Amillennial View Subtitle: The Faith Debate Speaker: Troy Skinner Broadcaster: Household of Faith in Christ Event: Radio Broadcast Date: 5/16/2021 Bible: Acts 2:16-21; Joel 2:28-32 Length: 25 min.

In this episode we hop on the phone with Dr. Sam Storms. He's the pastor emeritus at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City and author of multiple books including Practicing the Power : Welcoming the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in your life.  He is the founder of Enjoying God ministries, is an Amillennial, Calvinistic, charismatic, credo-baptistic, complementarian, Christian Hedonist who loves his wife of 50 years, his two daughters, his four grandchildren, books, baseball, movies, and all things Oklahoma University. This episode Erika and I ask Dr. Storms some questions that we regularly ask ourselfs and wrestle with. How do we know if all these gifts are for today? How do we know we have operated in them or have just deceived ourselves? Tune in to hear our thoughts and Dr. Storms responses!

Josh Monday Christian and Conspiracy Podcast Episode 94 Please follow me on Instagram @Joshmonday_Podcast To all of our current and future subscribers thank you for your time, we appreciate you. Please do us a favor subscribe, hit that bell, share, like and comment below. Please leave us a 5-Star review on Apple and Spotify. This week we have returning Guest Dave Gardner. In this show Dave shows us a Non dispensational AMillennial interpretation of the Modern-day Isael. By not only using scripture but also using nondisclosed history to back his claims up. We get into World War 1 and the Bolshevik revolution. We get into the Rothchilds and the international bankers roll in Modern Day Israel. We get into who funded the Nazi's. We get into a bunch of scriptures that show that we the church are the Israel of the bible. We get into the Scholfield bible and how dispensationalism was used by the seminaries to have the church accept Modern Day Israel. We get into when Jesus was calling out the Pharisees and how what Jesus was referring too still applies to the religious Jews of today. We get into how the New World Order is trying to bring about a one world religion. We get into a whole bunch more tune in to find out. Thank you, God, and every one that subscribed to you tube we just hit 1000 subscribers let's try to hit 10,000. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/josh-monday/support

We discuss some practical takeaways for Amillennial theology and then spend most of our time discussing final judgment in Scripture at the Great White Throne. We argue that all of humanity, not just unbelievers, are present at this judgment. On question in particular that is address is: Why is final judgment "according to works" if we are saved by grace? You can watch the message here.

This chapter is surrounded by controversy. The controversy swirls around the use of the words “thousand years” in verses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The controversy concerns the 1,000 year period we call the Millennium.       There are three dominant views concerning the nature of the Millennium. 1.)  Postmillennialism - This view says that the world will get better and better and when the world has reached the proper stage of perfection, Jesus will return and establish His kingdom on earth. This was a very popular view prior to World War II.  Nearly anyone can look at this world and all the wickedness and evil and see that the world is getting worse and not better. This is a false view of the Millennium.  2.)  Amillennialism – There are several variations of this view. The primary version says that there is no literal millennial kingdom. The kingdom of God is spiritual in nature and we are really in the kingdom age right now. Many who hold this view believe that Satan is bound right now. The Amillennial view spiritualizes these verses. This is also a false view of the Millennium. (Ill. A branch of Amillennialism known as Preterism believes the Tribulation has already occurred and that Jesus has already returned. The Preterist believes that Jesus returned in 70 AD and established His kingdom then. Their belief system is far more complex than that, but that is the gist of it.) 3.)  Premillennialism - This view holds that humanity will continue to degenerate; the world will go through a literal Tribulation; Jesus will return and defeat the Antichrist and establish a literal kingdom on the earth and reign here for 1,000 years. This is the only view that takes these verses literally. It is my opinion that this is the only true view of the millennium.        It is my belief that these verses comprise the fulfillment of many great Old and New Testament promises and prophecies. It is my belief that these verses tell us about a literal 1,000 kingdom that will exist on this earth. It is my belief that these verses describe the final kingdom that will exist in time.       Why is there even a need for the millennium? Why not just wind it all up, judge sin and sinners and let the redeemed enter into eternity? The millennium will allow the Lord to accomplish some much needed goals. Among other things, the millennium will allow the Lord to: ·         To fulfill His Old Testament promises of a kingdom to Israel. ·         To put Jesus, in all His glory, on public display. ·         To answer the prayer, “Thy Kingdom come.” ·         To fulfill the promise that the saints will reign. ·         To bring about the complete redemption of nature. ·         To give man one final test under the sovereign rule of the Lord Jesus Christ. While there are many great truths associated with the millennial kingdom, too many to share in one message, let me share a few of the things that will be a reality then. ·         Peace – All wars will cease. (Isa.2:4; 9:4-7; 32:17-18; 33:5-6; 55:12; 60:18; Eze.28:26; 34:25, 28; Hos.2:18; Micah 4:2-3; Zech.9:10) ·         Joy – The King's subjects will be happy. (Isa.12:3-6; 14:7-8; 25:8-9; 61:7,10; 65:18-19; 66:10-14; Jer.31:18-19; Zeph.3:14-17; Zech.10:6-7) ·         Holiness - This kingdom will be a holy kingdom. There will be rebellion, but King Jesus will rule with a rod of iron, Rev. 19:15. Capital punishment will be enforced. (Isa. 31:6-7; 35:8-9; 60:21; 61:10; Eze.36:24-31; 37:23-24; Zech.8:3; 14:20-21) ·         Glory - This kingdom will be a glorious kingdom, with the glory of God in full display. All the citizens of the world will be able to travel to Jerusalem and see the glorified Savior face to face! (Isa. 4:2; 35:2; 40:5; 60:1-9) ·         Comfort - Jesus will fully minister to every need, so that there will be no want anywhere on the earth. (Isa 12:1-2; 30:26; 40:1-2; 49:13; 51:3; 66:21-23; Jer.31:23-25; Zeph.3:18-20) ·         Justice - Perfect justice will be administered to every individual. (Isa. 9:7; 32:16; 42:1-4; 65:21-23; Jer.23:5.) ·         Fullness Of Knowledge - An increase in the teaching ministry of the Holy Ghost  will result in enhanced mental capabilities. (Isa. 11:1-2, 9; Isa. 41:19-20; *54:13*; Hab.2:14) ·         Instruction – King Jesus will instruct His people in the ways of God. (Isa. 2:2-3; 29:17-24; 32:3-4; Jer.3:14-15; Micah 4:2) ·         The Removal of the Curse - In Gen. 3:17-19, God placed a curse upon the earth. This curse will be removed; resulting in an increase in the productivity of the earth, and in wild animals will losing their ferocity and ability to injure or kill. (Isa 11:6-9; 65:25). ·         Sickness Removed - The King will be a healer, so that sickness and death will vanish from the earth. Death will only exist as a punishment for extreme sin. (Isa 33:24; Jer.30:17; 33:6) ·         Healing of the deformed - All deformity will be healed. (Isa.29:17-19; 35:3-6) ·         Protection - There will be a supernatural preservation of life during the millennium. (Isa.41:8-14; 62:8-9; Jer. 23:6; Joel 3:16-17; Amos 9:15; Zech.9:8; 14:10-11) ·         No Oppression - There will be no social, political, racial or religious oppression in that day. (Isa.14:3-6; 42:6-7; 49:8-9; Zech.9:11-12) ·         No Immaturity - It seems that there will be no mental retardation or dwarfed bodies, extreme longevity will also be restored. (Isa.65:20) ·         Reproduction by the Living People - The living Tribulation saints and believing Jews who enter the millennium will reproduce. The population of the earth will soar. Yet, all children will be born with a sin nature, and will therefore need salvation. (Jer.30:20; 31:29; Eze.47:22) ·         Labor - A perfect economic system, in which all needs will be met by the labor of men under direction of the King. It will be a fully industrialized world. (Isa. 62:8-9; 65:21-23; Jer.31:5) ·         Economic Prosperity - The perfect labor situation will produce economic abundance, so that there will be no want. (Isa.35:1-2, 7; 30:23-25; Jer.31:5; 12; Eze 34:26; 36:29-30; *Joel 2:21-27* *Amos 9:13-14*; Zech.8:11-12) ·         Increase of Light - The will be an increase in solar and lunar light, this will produce longer growing seasons, accounting for the increase in productivity. (Isa.30:26) ·         Unified Language - All language barriers will be removed. (Zeph.3:9) ·         Unified Worship - The entire world will worship God through the Lord Jesus Christ. (Isa.45:23; 66:17-23; Zeph.3:9; Zech.14:16; 8:23; Mal.1:11) ·         The fullness of the Spirit - All who are subject to the King will experience divine enablement and presence. (Isa.44:3; Eze.36:26-27; 37:14; Joel 2:28-29)       Those are just a few of the glories of that future kingdom. Let's take a few minutes to study these verses today.

The Book of Isaiah is filled with complex messages that combine warnings, prophecies and encouragements. Today's passage is foundational to understanding the Book of Isaiah and includes warnings about abandoning the Covenant with God and the Coming Day when He will establish a New Kingdom for His covenant people. DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. Isaiah 2 is looking far down the timeline of history. According to verse 1, when will these things take place? 2. Verse 2 starts out talking about the “last days”. If you have time, glance at Ezekiel 38:16, Hosea 3:5 and Micah 4:1. When will these prophecies take place? However, the authors of Acts 2:17 and Hebrews 1:2 indicate that they were in the last days. Based on all of these verses, when are the last days? The podcast mentioned the principle of prophetic mountain ranges. What is that principle and how does it relate to this verse? 3. Read over verses 2 & 3. How do these verses characterize the last days? 4. According to verse 4, when these events take place, what kinds of things will the Lord be doing? What will the nations not be doing? Why? 5. In verse 5, Isaiah calls the people to walk in the light of the world. What “light” (so to speak) were they walking in verses 6 to 8? 6. What impact did their sins have on the overall society, as exemplified in verse 9? 7. In verses 10 & 11, when the Day of the Lord takes place, what will happen to the people? How will the Lord be exalted? 8. Read over verses 12 to 21, what kinds of things will happen on that “day”? 9. This chapter ends with a sudden exhortation in verse 22. In light of the judgment to come, what should our view of “man” be? Why? 10. Take a moment to reflect on the kind of kingdom described in Isaiah 2. How is this different than the “kingdoms of men” that we live in today? The Key Chapters Bible Podcast is a daily, 15ish minute podcast that goes over the key chapters of the Bible, one per day, explaining how it fits into the overall message of God and how it relates to our lives now. Jump in today or start back in Genesis 1! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Available on all major podcast platforms, and now on YouVersion Bible App Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

When The Saints Come Marching In! And that's exactly what we see happen in Revelation 20: six times in 7 verses, six times in 233 words, it refers to Christ's upcoming 1,000 year reign on earth. Read Revelation 20:1-6 When the Saints Come Marching In! Let's Pray! The Word Millennium comes from two Latin words: “Milli” means a thousand and “annum” means year. Millennium means a thousand years. The Three Main Millennial Views: 1. The Amillennial view – There is NO 1,000 year reign of Christ in earth. 2. The Postmillennial view – Jesus' 2nd Coming is AFTER the “millennium.” 3. The Premillennial view – The millennium is AFTER the 2nd Coming. Turn to Acts 1:6-8. In Acts 1:6-8 Jesus affirms two things: there is a time coming in the future set to restore the Kingdom to Israel (in fulfillment of Old Testament promises), and that in the mean-time His disciples are to be witnesses (the church age). The Two Great Truths for Earth During the Millennium: 1. Satan won't be around! V. 1-3 2. Jesus will be on earth during the millennium! V. 4-6 I think it is God's plan to bring the saints of all time together during this millennium in preparation for eternity together. We will all experience 1,000 year ‘Holy Land Experience.' Isaiah 2:1-4 tells us earth will flourish with the knowledge of Jesus during this time, and people will stream from the nations to worship Jesus in Jerusalem! Jesus will settle any disputes among the nations and there won't be any war.

In part three of our latest Off Topic series of Talks, Pastor Josh and Alton are joined by pastor Jeremy Berry to discuss the Amillennial view of the end times. If you would like to contact us, you can find us at the following places: Instagram - @talksatnewhaven Email - newhavenwv@gmail.com Website - www.newhavenwv.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Episode 931 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com Questions in this Episode 1. Can the mentally ill be saved? I have schizophrenia, bipolar, and PTSD. 2. I wanted to know what you consider to be the right eschatology. I lean amillennial and that Christ has fulfilled it all. What is your view? 3. My son is struggling with the idea that an all-knowing God would allow evil and suffering. What should I say to him? 4. How can I witness to my anti-semitic family member? 5. How should we understand predestination? Today's Offer Revelation Bible Study Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone. Want to partner with us in our work here at Core Christianity? Consider becoming a member of the Inner Core.

Sam storms is a pastor, author and podcaster. He's been the lead pastor at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City since 2008, an author of several books on various topics, including spiritual gifts, eschatology and personal devotions, and host to the Exploring Word and Spirit podcast. In this episode we discuss the amillennial viewpoint. We get into the ideal view of the book of revelation, the binding of satan, the first resurrection, Israel and the fullness of the gentiles, Gog and Magog, the mark of the beast, Daniel's 70th week, the antichrist and more! Guest Website: https://www.samstorms.org Previous Episode: https://anchor.fm/theweirdchristianpodcast/episodes/32--Sam-Storms---Spiritual-Gifts-Tongues--Prophecy--Healing-e181ivj Buy Kingdom Come Book: https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Come-Amillennial-Sam-Storms/dp/1781911320/ref=sr_1_9?crid=3KESBYSKRCJ8G&keywords=kingdom+come&qid=1643680259&sprefix=kingdom+com%2Caps%2C412&sr=8-9 YouTube: https://youtu.be/qoIF3_RQq_o Email Host: theweirdchristianpodcast@gmail.com

We are BACK with prophetic scholar Amir Tsarfati in his BEST episode yet, to look at more of your questions about the End Times. This episode covers the two main schools of thought about the Millennial Kingdom: Pre-millennialist + Amillennial theology. We consider: •Will Jesus will have a literal reign on earth? What does the Bible actually say about it? •What happens to Christians during the tribulation? •What is “kingdom now” theology and how is it different from manifestations of the Holy Spirit on earth now? •Where is deception occurring and what role of influence does our beloved charismatic church play? •Why is there confusion around the sequence of events? •How can we *know* what is true, based on scripture. What should we look for next? There is a lot to be said and while we can't be exhaustive we hope to at least keep you tethered to both New and Old Testament, and the clear words of Jesus to help clarify. Finally Esther offers some of the key arguments in scripture and logic that have informed our conclusions. And of course, why eschatological theology MATTERS!

Dr. Sam Storms is an Amillennial, Calvinistic, charismatic, credo-baptistic, complementarian, Christian Hedonist who loves his wife of 47 years, his two daughters, his four grandchildren, books, baseball, movies, and all things Oklahoma University.  In 2008 Sam became Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Sam serves as a member of the Council of The Gospel Coalition. Sam is a past President of the Evangelical Theological Society, and currently serves on its Executive Committee. Mentioned in this episode: Understanding Spiritual Gifts: A Comprehensive Guide by Sam Storms I Corinthians 12:7-10 I Corinthians 14:3 I Corinthians 12:28-30 I Corinthians 13 Romans 12:6-8 Ephesians 4:11 I Peter 4:10-11 I Corinthians 14 I Corinthians 12:9 I Corinthians 12:28-30 Connect with Ruth here: Website Instagram  Facebook Connect with Pat here: Website Facebook  Instagram  Connect with Sam here: Website Facebook Please share Rootlike Faith with your friends!   This podcast is produced and edited by Angie Elkins Media, Inc. 

Debate has raged over the timeline of Christ's return. Daniel Goepfrich holds to 'premillennialism' - that Christ will return before a 1000 year reign of peace, Chris Date holds to 'amillennialism' - that there will be no literal 1000 year reign. For Chris Date https://rethinkinghell.com/ For Daniel Goepfrich https://www.theologyisforeveryone.com/ • For exclusive resources and to support us: USA http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Rest of the World: https://resources.premier.org.uk/supportunbelievable • For our regular Newsletter https://www.premier.org.uk/Unbelievablenewsletter • For more faith debates: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable • Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UnbelievableJB • Twitter https://twitter.com/unbelievablejb • Insta https://www.instagram.com/justin.brierley

In this 2 hour episode of CSG Justen Simpton, Luke Huck and Robert Wiesner join the discussion about the last thing's to happen before Jesus comes back! Three views are presented: Premillennialism, Postmillennialism & Amillennialism!

This week’s episode is the third of three shows tackling questions about the most commonly held biblical positions on eschatology (the study of last things).  Part one focused on Postmillennialism.  Part two focused on Dispensationalism.  Amillennialism is the focus of this episode. The panel: Troy Skinner.  Pastor of Household of Faith in Christ.  www.HouseholdOfFaithInChrist.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Revelation 20:1-6 Series: Just Conquer #56 # Introduction Many years ago at a Shepherds' Conference I heard John MacArthur describe the work of John Calvin in a way that planted a mental seed which still bears fruit every week as I study the Bible. John Calvin wrote his _Institutes of the Christian Religion_ fairly early in his life (27 years old). He continued to revise it, editing and adding, for the next two decades until his death. His work explained the theology that the Reformers believed, and were willing to die for. By the time Calvin's earthly ministry was finished, he had also published verse-by-verse commentaries for almost every book of the Bible. MacArthur commented something to the effect that Calvin dragged his theology through text after text of Scripture which sharpened his theology and kept it driven by the Word. At a different level, we all have some sort of "theology" when we come to read whatever book we pick up, including the Bible. With the Bible, though, we want to constantly, intentionally, submit ourselves to it. We don't need to claim that we come without any assumptions, but we must be willing to have our assumptions challenged, if not rebuked and corrected, depending on what we read. It is a process, and that's *good*. God's revelation was progressive, so is our understanding of it. One reason I wanted to preach through the Apocalypse is because I wanted to drag my own notions of eschatology through every seal, trumpet, and bowl. It's true, I also wanted to drag you all (and your theological assumptions) along together. Being honest with our assumptions is tough, and it is even tougher to willingly barrage those assumptions with questions to see what still stands. Preaching through Revelation has been the most difficult series for me, not necessarily because of the apostle John's visions, but because of trying to consider some of the interpretations of those visions by those with a different approach. This can be done charitably, not building figurative bunkers about eschatology. Some of my closest friends are *wrong*. It's also been difficult because eschatology seems to be one of the most dualistic doctrines by default. What I mean is, the way I've heard Revelation talked about is more for bunker-builders than bold conquerors. If the world is going to hell in a handbasket, as is often talked about, then we should hunker down until the rapture. But I wanted to drag my Kuyperianism through these chapters to see what would come out. As we like to say, we are Reformed and still reading Revelation (ha!). No, we're “Reformed and still reforming,” which includes reading the verses in Revelation for themselves, which promise blessing (Revelation 1:3), rather than assuming what they *can't* mean because of our "theology." Also, for what it's worth, John Calvin never wrote a commentary on Revelation. Who knows what might have happened if it had been otherwise. We've looked at the first two paragraphs in Revelation 20, paragraphs that repeatedly refer to the “thousand years.” Satan is bound for a thousand years (verses 1-3), some group of people are resurrected and are said to reign for a thousand years (verses 4-6). After the thousand years, Satan is released for a little while and then is finally defeated (verses 7-10). I have mentioned some of the categories, but have tried to drag us through the verses first. If the eschatology of Revelation were a vision chart, and Jesus is the big “E” on the top line, we have some among us who've never looked closely at any of the lines below, and others who are arguing over the fine print of copyright information. And great. Today I want to get a higher perspective with some of the theological categories, show how they are understood to fit in Revelation (and a “thousand” millennial misunderstandings, which shows that I realize a “thousand” can be figurative), and then finish with some of my pastoral burden for why it matters. # The Millers Perhaps you've heard this before, I don't know who first said it, that the Millennial Kingdom is 1,000 years of peace that Christians like to fight about. The millennium refers to a thousand. I don't have exact figures, but whole denominations defend that a thousand means a thousand and other denominations say that thinking that a thousand means a thousand is indefensible. At the beginning of our study in Revelation I gave four approaches to the book: Preterist, Historicist, Idealist, and Futurist. These do not directly map onto the three main explanations of the millennium, but they are often related close. *Usually* the Historicist and the Idealist think 1,000 is symbolic, and the Preterist *must* think it's symbolic since we're *in* the millennium now. I don't know if there is any benefit to being a Futurist who isn't Premillennial, but, for example, Abraham Kuyper is a Futurist A-millennialist. What's different about each of these *millers*? Is it okay to be *any* one of them? A **Postmillennialist** *typically* believes that the thousand years is symbolic of a long time, perhaps thousands of years. For example, Doug Wilson, who is probably the most well-known Postmillennialst in our group, teaches that the "thousand years" is the time between Christ's first coming and His second coming. When considering Revelation 20, the dragon is bound *now*, and Christ's second coming is *post*/after the thousand years. The “first resurrection” is spiritual life, and the reigning with Christ includes political and cultural gospel-progress and success. Some Postmillennials think that a "golden age" of the kingdom, where the gospel has more widespread acceptance, is still to come, and they call that time the millennium. But it's still not a 999+1 years, and it still happens before Christ returns. There are good things for the Post-Millers, especially in their emphasis on the power of the gospel and the Lordship of Christ over all things, along with obeying Christ as Lord with a generational mindset. An **Amillennialist** *typically* believes that the thousand years is symbolic of a long time, and is currently in effect as well, both with great blessings and great trials. (Kuyper is odd, believing that the "thousand" is still future, but that it may only be a few days.) The emphasis for an Amillennial is that Christ is *currently* reigning (with all authority, Matthew 28:18), seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 8:1; 12:2), and that both gospel fruit and wicked rebellion will increase until some point in the future when God ushers in the eternal kingdom. There will be no “thousand years” before the new heavens and the new earth. All those who have died in Christ are reigning with Christ, we who are still alive on earth and those who have died with Him in the heavenly places. There are good things from the A-Millers, especially in their emphasis on the authority of Christ and the need for faithfulness to Christ amidst suffering. A **Premillennialist** *typically* thinks that the thousand years is *not a figure* for a long time, but that "thousand" is the shorter way to say ten centuries or one-hundred decades. A Pre-Miller understands the Rider on the white horse to come and defeat the kings of earth and then establish His reign on earth. They take chapters 19 and 20 consecutively, battle on earth then kingdom on earth then a final battle on earth then the new heavens and new earth. At the beginning of this thousand years, believers will be resurrected with their glorified bodies and will participate in the reign *on earth*. There are (at least) two subsets of Premillennialism: Historic and Dispensational. **Historic Premillennialism** holds that the thousand years is future, not symbolic, and that the focus of Christ's reign will be the *church*. Most likely the church will go through the Tribulation, and then the church will be the primary vehicle or institution through which Christ reigns during the millennium. Many of the early church fathers were Premillennialists of this type, including Augustine, until he turned toward Amillennialism and the church followed him in that for a thousand (and more) years. **Dispensational Premillennialism** holds that the thousand years is future, not symbolic, and that the focus of Christ's reign with be the *nation of Israel*. Most Dispensationalists think that the church will be raptured before the Tribulation (note that there is no talk about "church" after Revelation 3, though there are Mid-Trib and Post-Tribers, too), and then "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:25) and Jesus will reign from the throne of David in the city of David, Jerusalem. # Every Miller Can't Be Right Both Post-Millers and A-Millers share a symbolic take on the "thousand years,” which is because both Post-Millers and A-Millers share a (mostly) symbolic take on the book of Revelation. Both Post-Millers and A-Millers think that Revelation repeats, or "recapitulates," such that, for example, the battle in 19:17-21 and the battle in 20:7-10 are the *same*, that the battle is *spiritual*, and that the millennium is in between (20:1-6) only as a *vision*, not as an actual kingdom. Pre-Millers get defensive about overly-sprititualized interpretations (arguing that a "thousand years" is plain), about non-sequential reading of the book (i.e., battle, binding, resurrections and reigning, battle). As a Dispy Pre-Miller, I believe that it takes less gymnastics to accept it in the order it's presented and with the more "surface" or “natural” reading, even while acknowledging a high amount of figurative language in John's visions. And while we all believe that God is faithful to His promises, a Dispy Pre-Miller is distinguished from all of the other categories in terms of God's love and plan for the nation of Israel. # A Thousand Ironies I also believe in a double-irony (not a literal thousand). The first irony is that a Dispy takes "covenant" more consistently than most capital-C Covenantalists. The second irony is that most Dispies live inconsistently with their own theological consistency. As for a more consistent hold on the covenant, Dispies maintain that when God said "all Israel will be saved" that God meant Israel, the nation, not a redefined group (see especially Jeremiah 31:31-40). I keep reading about "replacement" theology, where the church replaces Israel. Some want to call it "fulfillment" theology rather than replacement, so they say that the church is the fulfillment of the promises. Others reject the label "replacement" because they say that Old Testament Israel *was* the church in an earlier stage of God's redemptive plan, so it's the same thing, so the New Testament church can't “replace” it. But a Dispy says that the gospel is the power of God to salvation for the *Jew first*, that God's promises to the nation of Israel that were unconditional and that are unfulfilled must be fulfilled otherwise God's faithfulness is in question (which is the reason for Romans 9-11). He promised Israel new hearts, land, a rebuilt city, He promised them blessing. He promised them the Messiah in flesh, and the throne will be in Jerusalem. A number of the visions in Revelation fit with the fulfillment of promises to the *nation*. The 144k are from the tribes of Israel (7:1-8), distinguished from the “great number from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (7:9). The two witnesses are in Jerusalem (11:1-13). There are some of the "woman," who is identified as Israel, who are spared from the pursuit of Satan (12:1-6, 13-17). The final battle (20:7-8) is outside of Jerusalem. The fulfillment of God's “new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 31:31) is upheld and exalted by Dispies. Dispies have failed badly, however, and ironically, to be Kuyperian. To the degree that Augustine turned to Amillennialism in the 5th century he also promoted dualism. He blamed his move on bad-apple Pre-Millers. Eusebius and Augustine were repulsed by visions of gratuitous, gluttonous behavior in the thousand years kingdom as apparently taught by some. But why would glorified, let alone sanctified believers, abuse the good gifts? The Israelites were not too spiritual for Deuteronomic blessings. The kingdom conquerors in Hebrews 11:33 didn't wish they had been the ones sawn in two, as Hebrews 11:37. Dispy Pre-Millers have built too many eschatological bunkers, and read our rapture novels. We have been dualists, watching for the figurative rapture helicopter out of the figurative Vietnam of tribulation. We have the principle that God will show His faithfulness through spiritual and material blessings on earth in history, but we often do not live in practice consistently with our principle. Ironically, the Pre-Millers, who are supposed to not love symbols and spiritualization, have defined themselves out of any material and physical blessings, while still expecting it, reserving it, for Israel. The Post-Millers have taken physical and left out Israel. The A-Millers leave out Israel and physical. # Conclusion Just as Arminians must reckon with words such as “elect” in the Word, so Christ's reign is called a “thousand years” no matter how we try to define it. The millennial categories provide alternatives for how to understand the “thousand.” As for consistent Dispy Pre-Millers, we share the optimism of the power of the gospel with the Post-Millers, we share the concern over the increase of evil on earth with the A-Millers. And a future kingdom of saints reigning with Jesus does not eliminate current responsibilities of the saints for Jesus. A Kuyperian Dispensationalist *magnifies* his ministry in order to make the Jews jealous (like Paul described in Romans 11:11, 13-14) with the result that they would turn to Christ. Here is the place and now is the time for us to glorify the Lamb as He blesses us in our succeeding and in our suffering, and we trust that God has ordained to use us in part to turn Israel to her Messiah for when He returns to reign on earth. ---------- ## Charge By His grace you have turned to the sun and the Son, you have considered your jealous-making ministry in the story of human history on earth, you have been made fat in faith. What grace He has given, and now He promises His powerful grace as you go. ## Benediction: > May [you] have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. > Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:18-21, ESV)

Revelation 20:1-3 Series: Just Conquer #54 # Introduction Of the reasons that I chose to preach through the book of Revelation, a fair summary would be that I thought it would be good for us. It's not that I have end-times fever. There was a decent amount of eschatology talk among us *before* 2020, and it's easy to see how numerous events, and some of the commentary on those events, have promoted heightened apocalyptic awareness. I thought Revelation would be good before all of that. I thought it would be good because many Christians disagree about the end-times within orthodoxy, among denominations, and even within our relatively small flock. That is *fine* because it is good practice to lock arms with some with whom we may lock heads. The way we learn to get along is not by ignoring all the tricky or difficult or personal subjects. This mindset is out of step the society around us, which makes it unique and important, even if not easy. Another reason it's good practice is to read the book of Revelation itself. It is possible to have very strong convictions based on very little details like those "without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions" (1 Timothy 1:7). Evolution is a great story, until you have to answer all the questions. COVID-19 has a higher survival rate than the COVID vaccine promises, and the prevalence of masks means that our culture has a high immunity from paying attention. My point is that it's easy to get uptight about eschatology without wrestling with the inspired prophecy. Maybe we can't answer every question, but we ought to try our best. We also want to practice not being embarrassed. Revelation is revelation for our blessing and for our *boldness*. It is written that we might see the parody and envy of the false trinity, that we might recognize the tactics of deceit that are already at work today, let alone that will dominate in the Great Tribulation, and that we might *love* the Lamb and spend our lives for Him, even if it costs us our temporal comfort. The book of Revelation corroborates from beginning to end that we have no need to be embarrassed about holding fast to Christ, to the Word of God, and to all that He has told us. His first coming scandalized the expectations of many, it won't be surprising if the details about His second coming do likewise. So I'm about to get us to look together at the Millennium. Of the 22 chapters in the Apocalypse, chapter 20 may provoke the most emotions (though the 666 and mark of the beast are particular attractions). There are camps based on the Millennium, and you should have an idea about them, not because this is a seminary class, but because we should all want the profit from this part of God's inspired word, equipping us for every good work in *our part* of God's story. It's okay that people have questions, and there will be more questions about the Millennium answered in the upcoming paragraphs. Also some of the difficulty comes from a failure of asking enough questions or being satisfied to easily with a "sense" or a system rather than what can be seen. Let's read verses 1-3, observe what is written, then see if we can interpret what sort of bind the dragon gets into and what the thousand years means. > Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. (Revelation 20:1–3) Verse one introduces the prophet's vision, **And I saw**, that introduces us to the first main character, another **angel**. Though we are not told his name, the descriptions of where he came from, what he carries, followed by his conduct in verses 2-3, show him to be a supernatural individual. He's not a human messenger, and nothing suggests that he represents a human or a collective group (especially of humans). He is **coming down from heaven**. Scenes have shifted between earth and heaven in Revelation. We are getting another act on earth, even as the flesh on earth was eaten by the birds in the previous paragraph (19:17-21). The angel is holding two things: a **key** and a **chain**. The key opens and closes the “abyss” (NASB), the **bottomless pit**, from which demons came out in Revelation 9:1. The chain is used in the next verse. The second character is re-introduced in verse 2, with all the names and descriptions used for him previously in the book: **the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan**. The **dragon** is his most frequent title in Revelation (Thomas), a devouring creature, having lost a war in heaven to Michael and been thrown down to earth (Revelation 12:7-8). The **ancient serpent** identifies him as the creature as far back as Genesis 3 in the Garden of Eden, also the one who has tried to sweep away the Messianic people (Revelation 12:15). The **devil** is the accuser (Revelation 12:10), and **Satan** is his name. Jesus was tempted by the devil; God's people have been hunted by the devil (Revelation 12:15). The devil is “the deceiver of the whole world” (Revelation 12:9), and he gives his delegated power to the beast in order to deceive the nations (Revelation 13:2). He is also a supernatural individual, connected to lies and sinful rebellion, not merely a figure of an evil force. He is the ultimate face of evil, and he does not easily give up. There are five things the angel does to the devil: 1) seized, 2) bound, 3) threw, 4) shut, and 5) sealed. A couple things come together here that need to be considered. Is this binding a symbol? If yes, a symbol of what? If Satan is not a symbol, then why would his being bound be a symbol? The objection is that angels are spiritual beings, including Satan, so some interpreters say that clearly an actual **chain** wouldn't be effective; chain must not refer to a chain. And likewise, pit can't be a place that contains spiritual beings, and there would be no door to shut and a seal would be useless. As for the binding, does the angel *limit* the dragon's influence, or *eliminate* the dragon's influence? Some interpreters think Satan is like a dog on a long chain, even if the chain is metaphorical. But seized, bound, threw, shut, and sealed are too graphic and emphatic to apply to today or even to be satisfied as putting a damper on his deceiving. The location is different than earth, the locking keeps him away from the nations on earth; shut de door on the devil. “The text does not say that Satan will deceive the nations *less* than he did in the past—it says that he will deceive the nations *no longer*” (Waymeyer). This is a real bind, as in, the dragon seems to be in a real bind, and the descriptions put the interpreter who takes it all as symbols in a real bind. Look at the purpose of the binding and im-pit-ting: **so that he might not deceive the nations any longer**. Deceiving the nations has been part of Satan's work through the beast and false prophet since he was thrown down from heaven (chapter 12:9). That deception has taken a variety of forms, and had varying levels of success. But those who read the binding as limiting, rather than eliminating, either think that we are currently enjoying this reality (most amillennialists) or that this will be a gradually recognized state on earth as the gospel spreads with success (postmillennialists). Here's a postmillennial example: > “The devil was the spiritual being that gave the beast its great power. So when he was bound, this meant that he would not be able to prevent the successful evangelization of the Empire, which in fact he was unable to prevent.” (Douglas Wilson. _When the Man Comes Around_) While there is no doubt that the world was changed in radical ways when Jesus took on flesh, and when He dies and rose from the grave, Easter was not the angel's chaining of the dragon. The apostles continued to acknowledge Satan's authority and work on earth post-Jesus' resurrection (Satan is “the god of this world” 2 Corinthians 4:4; “the prince of the power of the air” Ephesians 2:2, “the evil one” with “flaming darts” Ephesians 6:16, and more). How can Satan be bound and in the pit now, and prowling about like a lion seeking prey (1 Peter 5:8)? Is it simply that he can't deceive "the nations"? Are we supposed to think that he can't deceive governments but he can deceive persons? That would give us a new way of presenting the gospel and a new word: an angel-who is Jesus-chained up Satan so that Congress won't believe lies, though, of course, *you* still might. The end of verse 3 adds a limit to the binding: **After that he must be released for a little while**. To do what? If he's merely restricted, we're supposed to believe that **released** is merely a dramatic word for less restricted. We find out in verse 7-8 that he is released to deceive the nations again. The dragon's time in the pit didn't diminish his wrath. It's more interesting to think about *why* this is *necessary* (that **he *must* be released**), but before that theological question, we're supposed to think that the first coming of Jesus changed the devil's deceptive global influence and also that this happened chronologically before all the problems of chapters 6-19 (since they all happened post-resurrection)? The kings had just gathered to make war against the Rider. They had been deceived into it, so chapter 16:13-16. How did that happen, though, since chapter 20 says Satan *couldn't* do that very thing? Or, the alternative is that this binding by an angel Satan hasn't happened yet. We are still anticipating it. Which gets us to a phrase used six times in the chapter. It is a piece of eschatology that's only found in Revelation 20, at least in these specific terms: **the thousand years**. - bound (the dragon) for a thousand years (verse 2) - until the thousand years were ended (verse 3) - reigned with Christ for a thousand years (verse 4) - until the thousand years were ended (verse 5) - reign with him for a thousand years (verse 6) - when the thousand years were ended (verse 7) The Latin word for *thousand* is * mille* (the VLG has *per annos mille*). The Greek word is χίλια (*chilia*), which gave rise to the pejorative term Chialists. The meaning of the 1,000 years is where Premillennial, Postmillennial, and Amillennial (or “inaugurated millennialism” Beale) come from. There are sub categories and nuances within each, but broadly, a Premillennialist believes that Christ returns in the final parts described in chapter 19 and reigns for a thousand years on earth. A Postmillennialist thinks that the return and reign of Christ happens after the millennium, which probably just means a long time. An amillennialist understands the time between the first coming and the second coming as the millennium, no matter how many calendar years it ends up being. Here is an amillennialist explanation: > “the descending angel in 20:1 introduces a vision in vv 1–6 going back before the time of the final judgment in history, which was just narrated in 19:11–21. The time span of the vision will be seen to extend from Christ's resurrection until his final parousia.” (Beale) Christ restrained Satan at His resurrection and is reigning *now* in heaven in the spiritual realm and the saints with Him, and to a lesser extent through Christians in the church on earth. The binding of Satan is a reduction on his work, but not a removal of his presence, because evil increases alongside the spread of the gospel. Usually Post- and A- have a symbolic reading of 1,000 and the Pre- usually understand it as measurable by the almanac. If it is symbolic, **the thousand years** could actually mean *thousands* of years (as Beale), or it could mean a few days (Kuyper, see his quote below). We will need to deal with the millennial implications of resurrection and reigning as well as location of that reign in the next paragraph (verses 4-6). But for now, consider, is every number in Revelation literally useless, as in, no use for the cardinal number? Many (beloved) interpreters point to Psalm 90:4 (and 2 Peter 3:8) to show that a thousand years is figurative. > For a thousand years in your sight > are but as yesterday when it is past, > or as a watch in the night. > (Psalm 90:4) But that observation about God's eternal nature is impressive *because* the 1,000 years is a knowable, countable time. It takes over 14 lifetimes to get that far (unless you lived before the flood like Methuselah). To God's existence it is a drop in the bucket. That is not the same thing as saying that God doesn't count. Numeric prophecies about sojourning in Egypt, exile in Babylon, were true in years. Specific details about the first coming of Jesus were demonstrable (even if confusing to the first ones who heard), why not His next coming? What is absurd about an actual millennial binding of Satan and ruling of Jesus? --- Before I finish for today, I thought I would take opportunity to point out that two of the men who God has used most to help me understand the world are decidedly opposed to what I've said already about what will happen in the world. I've already given one alternative provided by Doug Wilson, here's another: > “I take the one thousand years of Satan's binding to be a symbolic representation of the Church age, from the time of Pentecost to the Second Coming. The one thousand years represents the fullness and completeness of Christ's reign, not a literal one thousand times around the sun.” (Douglas Wilson) Abraham Kuyper has nothing good to say about Chialists, even though he is a futurist amillennialist, as in, he thinks most of Revelation is yet to happen, just not like it says. In his commentary on Revelation Kuyper writes that Chialists offer an “untenable representation,” that is, an impossible to hold or defend position. He claims the only way to interpret 1,000 as ten centuries is to “set aside” the context or treat the rest of Revelation “as though it had not been written.” There is “literally nothing (that) would have happened and nothing would have been accomplished to justify this uncommonly long delay.” It makes it a “futile interval,” and “ten centuries of long, if uninteresting history.” Kuyper was not merely an amillennialist, he was a committed *anti-Chialist*. > “We can not reckon here with years, yet, if for one moment we might indulge in a play of imagination, we might readily picture to ourselves that the binding and incarceration of Satan were to last but a few days….Thousand then merely means that there is no more reckoning with human data.” (Kuyper) This is all good, though, because we can talk about it to recognize different positions, including those that are *very* critical of our own. We can talk about it and recognize that we don't have to agree with someone on everything to be blessed by them. We can talk about it because **Satan is our enemy** and accuser and deceiver, not brothers in Christ who love Christ and the glory of Christ and the Lordship of Christ who claims sovereignty over every thumb's width in the domain of human existence. # Conclusion At the start of Revelation 20 we see *Who*: an angel and the dragon. *What*: binding and sealing in the abyss. *Where*: from earth to the pit. *When*: a thousand years. *Why*: no deceit among the nations. Is Satan bound now? If he is, then we could be in the millennium, and both Post-mills and A-mills typically understand it that way. I believe that puts them in a real bind, because if it's all symbol, then (among other problems) it's hard to say why Christ and resurrection aren't also a symbols. Again, there is more about the Millennial Kingdom in verses 4-6, and we'll keep trying to answer what a thousand years looks like in Jesus' sight. ---------- ## Charge If the devil works to deceive, our response needs not just to be to find the truth, it needs to be to *believe*. “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16). Resist deception not primarily with cynicism, or skepticism, but with *faith* in the greater Lion (Revelation 5:5). Trust Him, trust His Word, and He will establish you. ## Benediction: > Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:8–11, ESV)

By What we have presented so far throughout this class focused on historical events such as the covenants God made and their significance. In this session, we will look at the future and see what things are yet to come from a New Covenant Theology perspective. “Eschatology” — from Greek eschatos meaning “last” and logos meaning “the study of,” and Continue Reading

We have Dr Keith Sherlin back as a return guest to discuss his beliefs on the millennia and how we can keep from letting these types of debated keep us from greater Church unity. Dr Sherlin brings a friend too! He brought on Pastor Brannon Poore to represent a different side of the debate. One of them believes in a Pre-tribulation millennia and the other believes in an Amillennial view. How do these doctrines impact our other beliefs? Why is it important to debate this topic at all? And most importantly how to unite and show unity through even our disagreements! . Rate us & leave a review: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-whole-church-podcast-104837 (https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-whole-church-podcast-104837) . Sign up for our newsletter: thewholechurch@gmail.com . Follow us on Social: facebook.com/thewholechurchpodcast Twitter @thewholechurch Instagram @wholechurchpodcast . Make a one-time donation: Cashapp $wholechurch . Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/thewholechurchpodcast . Subscribe to our show: https://the-whole-church-podcast.captivate.fm/listen (https://the-whole-church-podcast.captivate.fm/listen)

In this episode we address the subject of chiliasm, popularly known as millennialism. Though there are few references in the Scriptures outside of Revelation 20 to "a thousand years", chiliasm is seen in various Jewish apocalyptic texts. This created fertile ground for chiliasm to take root in the early church after the Revelation given to the apostle John. Though chiliasm has become a point of contention in various theological traditions today, our proclamation of the gospel should remain consistent with the apostles' emphasis on the cross and the return of Jesus.

Welcome to the fourth part of our Eschatology series: A look at the end times. In part 1, we covered WHY you should care about Eschatology and why it’s worth spending our time on. Then in part 2 we covered the Premillennial viewpoint and part 3 we covered the Amillennial viewpoint.  Now we are going to deep dive into the Postmillennial viewpoint. Then we will wrap up the series with a Q&A episode (and where do we go from here)?  Let’s dive in! Listen to the Podcast: And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. A note on this series: In no way are Jason and I an expert in this topic. But we’ve greatly enjoyed diving into eschatology this year and are excited to share what we’ve learned. We are covering the 3 main views of the end times, but even within those 3, there are countless smaller viewpoints of those. So what we are attempting to do here is a broad overview of each point. Please forgive us if we over generalize any areas or if we make a mistake on any of these. Please come dialogue with us on Instagram if you want to share anything! Overview of the Postmillennial Viewpoint: This is the view that Christ will return after the Millennium here on earth (hence the post part). This is a partial preterest viewpoint which means that they view many of the events prophesied in the book of Revelation as already have happened (i.e. the great Tribulation, the Antichrist and so forth). Because of this (and Bible verses from both the Old and New Testament), they take the most optimistic view of human history. They believe that the Gospel will flourish (from the times of the Apostles and the Early Church) now through until when the Millennium is ushered in here on earth. They think the world will get "better and better" because of the triumph and influence of the Gospel in the world. They see the world becoming more and more Christian until even the nations bow to Christ. Once the Gospel has spread that far, the Millennium here on earth will be ushered in and Christ will return after that. Graphs from The Blue Letter Bible Proponents of Postmill: Rousas J. Rushdoony, Greg L. Bahnsen, Douglas Wilson. Jeff Durbin, James White, Kenneth L. Gentry Jr., David Chilton, Gary North, Eusibius, Athanasius, Samuel Rutherford, John Owen, Isaac Watts, Jonathan Edwards, Richard Sibbes, John Cotton, BB Warfield, Loraine Boettner, Iain Murray, Ligon Duncan. Postmill resources: The Puritan Hope by Murray, Iain H. Eschatology of Victory Kik, J. Marcellus He Shall Have Dominion: An Eschatology of Victory Gentry Jr., Kenneth L. Millennium Boettner, Loraine. Postmillennialism: An Eschatology of Hope Mathison, Keith A. Before Jerusalem Fell Kenneth Gentry Allie Stuckey Relatable Episodes with Jeff Durbin (Part 1 and Part 2) Postmill documentary: On Earth as It Is in Heaven

Welcome to the fourth part of our Eschatology series: A look at the end times. In part 1, we covered WHY you should care about Eschatology and why it’s worth spending our time on. Then in part 2 we covered the Premillennial viewpoint and part 3 we covered the Amillennial viewpoint.  Now we are going to deep dive into the Postmillennial viewpoint. Then we will wrap up the series with a Q&A episode (and where do we go from here)?  Let’s dive in! Listen to the Podcast: And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. A note on this series: In no way are Jason and I an expert in this topic. But we’ve greatly enjoyed diving into eschatology this year and are excited to share what we’ve learned. We are covering the 3 main views of the end times, but even within those 3, there are countless smaller viewpoints of those. So what we are attempting to do here is a broad overview of each point. Please forgive us if we over generalize any areas or if we make a mistake on any of these. Please come dialogue with us on Instagram if you want to share anything! Overview of the Postmillennial Viewpoint: This is the view that Christ will return after the Millennium here on earth (hence the post part). This is a partial preterest viewpoint which means that they view many of the events prophesied in the book of Revelation as already have happened (i.e. the great Tribulation, the Antichrist and so forth). Because of this (and Bible verses from both the Old and New Testament), they take the most optimistic view of human history. They believe that the Gospel will flourish (from the times of the Apostles and the Early Church) now through until when the Millennium is ushered in here on earth. They think the world will get "better and better" because of the triumph and influence of the Gospel in the world. They see the world becoming more and more Christian until even the nations bow to Christ. Once the Gospel has spread that far, the Millennium here on earth will be ushered in and Christ will return after that. Graphs from The Blue Letter Bible Proponents of Postmill: Rousas J. Rushdoony, Greg L. Bahnsen, Douglas Wilson. Jeff Durbin, James White, Kenneth L. Gentry Jr., David Chilton, Gary North, Eusibius, Athanasius, Samuel Rutherford, John Owen, Isaac Watts, Jonathan Edwards, Richard Sibbes, John Cotton, BB Warfield, Loraine Boettner, Iain Murray, Ligon Duncan. Postmill resources: The Puritan Hope by Murray, Iain H. Eschatology of Victory Kik, J. Marcellus He Shall Have Dominion: An Eschatology of Victory Gentry Jr., Kenneth L. Millennium Boettner, Loraine. Postmillennialism: An Eschatology of Hope Mathison, Keith A. Before Jerusalem Fell Kenneth Gentry Allie Stuckey Relatable Episodes with Jeff Durbin (Part 1 and Part 2) Postmill documentary: On Earth as It Is in Heaven

Welcome to the third part of our Eschatology series: A look at the end times. In part 1, we covered WHY you should care about Eschatology and why it's worth spending our time on. Then in part 2 we covered the Premillennial viewpoint. Now we are going to deep dive into the Amillennial viewpoint. The next episode will feature Postmillennialism. We will wrap up the series with a Q&A episode! Let's dive in! Listen to the Podcast: And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. A note on this series: In no way are Jason and I an expert in this topic. But we’ve greatly enjoyed diving into eschatology this year and are excited to share what we’ve learned. We are covering the 3 main views of the end times, but even within those 3, there are countless smaller viewpoints of those. So what we are attempting to do here is a broad overview of each point. Please forgive us if we over generalize any areas or if we make a mistake on any of these. Please come dialogue with us on Instagram if you want to share anything! Overview of the Amillennial Viewpoint: This is the view that there is no earthly millennium. Rather, the millennium is a Spiritual one that is currently taking place in Heaven. We have been in the millennium since Christ ascended into Heaven and will remain until He comes back again. They believe the 1000 years is a figurative term to mean a really long time. Believers who have already died and die today will be in Heaven immediately experiencing the millennium. The Kingdom of God (proclaimed by Jesus and his apostles) is synonymous with the millennial kingdom of Revelation 20:4-6. This is a very simple and straightforward look at our present age and Christ returning. They are partial preterists and interpret many of the prophecies in Revelation to have already happened in the first century (i.e. antichrist, great tribulation, etc). Preterism - An eschatological viewpoint that places many of the eschatological events in the past, especially during the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. - What Does the Bible Teach About the End Times?  Graphs from The Blue Letter Bible Amill Resources: What Does the Bible Teach About the End Times? The Bible and the Future by Hoekema, Anthony A case for Amillennialism – Kim Riddlebarger More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation by Hendrikson, William Triumph of the Lamb by Dennis Johnson Sam Storms video The Preterist Approach to Revelation - Ligioner Ministries eCourse: The Last Days According to Jesus by R.C. Sproul

Welcome to the third part of our Eschatology series: A look at the end times. In part 1, we covered WHY you should care about Eschatology and why it's worth spending our time on. Then in part 2 we covered the Premillennial viewpoint. Now we are going to deep dive into the Amillennial viewpoint. The next episode will feature Postmillennialism. We will wrap up the series with a Q&A episode! Let's dive in! Listen to the Podcast: And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. Right click here and save-as to download this episode to your computer. A note on this series: In no way are Jason and I an expert in this topic. But we’ve greatly enjoyed diving into eschatology this year and are excited to share what we’ve learned. We are covering the 3 main views of the end times, but even within those 3, there are countless smaller viewpoints of those. So what we are attempting to do here is a broad overview of each point. Please forgive us if we over generalize any areas or if we make a mistake on any of these. Please come dialogue with us on Instagram if you want to share anything! Overview of the Amillennial Viewpoint: This is the view that there is no earthly millennium. Rather, the millennium is a Spiritual one that is currently taking place in Heaven. We have been in the millennium since Christ ascended into Heaven and will remain until He comes back again. They believe the 1000 years is a figurative term to mean a really long time. Believers who have already died and die today will be in Heaven immediately experiencing the millennium. The Kingdom of God (proclaimed by Jesus and his apostles) is synonymous with the millennial kingdom of Revelation 20:4-6. This is a very simple and straightforward look at our present age and Christ returning. They are partial preterists and interpret many of the prophecies in Revelation to have already happened in the first century (i.e. antichrist, great tribulation, etc). Preterism - An eschatological viewpoint that places many of the eschatological events in the past, especially during the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. - What Does the Bible Teach About the End Times?  Graphs from The Blue Letter Bible Amill Resources: What Does the Bible Teach About the End Times? The Bible and the Future by Hoekema, Anthony A case for Amillennialism – Kim Riddlebarger More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation by Hendrikson, William Triumph of the Lamb by Dennis Johnson Sam Storms video The Preterist Approach to Revelation - Ligioner Ministries eCourse: The Last Days According to Jesus by R.C. Sproul

Evangelical Community Church (ECC)

Evangelical Community Church (ECC)

Notes:1 Corinthians 15Romans 11:17-24Romans 11:25-261 Thessalonians 5:9-11Revelation 4:1*The book I mentioned was "Three Views On the Rapture: Pretribulation, Prewrath, or Posttribulation" by Craig Blaising, Alan Hultberg and Douglass J. Moo

Amillennialism with Dr. Sam StormsIn this episode, Dr. Sam Storms discusses the Amillennial perspective of the end times. He begins by clarifying that “Amillennial” is a bit of a misnomer – since he does, in fact, believe in a Millennium. It just looks different than the “literalistic” view of Historic Premillennialism. On that note, he talks through the hermeneutic to employ when interpreting apocalyptic literature—how do we know when to understand things literally or figuratively? Dr. Storms responds to the major objections to Amillennialism, he explains in detail why he is not Premillennial, and he makes a biblical case for Amillennialism. All of this is couched in his own personal journey away from Premillennialism (which his seminary taught strongly) and toward Amillennialism. If you're interested in the end times and want to understand the biblical teaching more, you won't want to miss this episode. Even if you don't agree with all of Dr. Storms' points, you'll certainly find that he goes to the Bible to support his beliefs.____________________________________________________________________________________Help Support The Channel through a one time gift or a monthly contribution.https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GC2Z86XHHG4X6____________________________________________________________________________________

Noted theologian and author Sam Storms joins the podcast to explain how he went from devotee of the pretribulational, premillennial dispensationalist view of the end times to a fierce defender of the amillennial perspective.For those a little rusty on their eschatology, Sam runs through the main distinctions between the schools of thought and points us back to Scripture throughout the episode. This is a great place to start if you're curious about "the other" views of the end times. If you're flipping out over something that was said on the podcast or you want to share a flip-flop/180 story, leave a voicemail or text the Flip Phone at 323.999.1802. Follow Sam @Samuel_Storms and find his writing at samstorms.org. His book Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Sam-Storms-ebook/dp/B00CLRRBO8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+amillennial+alternative&qid=1588276986&sr=8-1 Follow @180cast to keep up with the podcast and hear soundbites. Follow me @georgi_boorman for uncensored opinions on politics and culture from a Christian perspective. You can find most of my writing at The Federalist, where I am a Senior Contributor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Noted theologian and author Sam Storms joins the podcast to explain how he went from devotee of the pretribulational, premillennial dispensationalist view of the end times to a fierce defender of the amillennial perspective. For those a little rusty on their eschatology, Sam runs through the main distinctions between the schools of thought and points us back to Scripture throughout the episode. This is a great place to start if you're curious about "the other" views of the end times. If you're flipping out over something that was said on the podcast or you want to share a flip-flop/180 story, leave a voicemail or text the Flip Phone at 323.999.1802. Follow Sam @Samuel_Storms and find his writing at samstorms.org. His book Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Sam-Storms-ebook/dp/B00CLRRBO8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+amillennial+alternative&qid=1588276986&sr=8-1 Follow @180cast to keep up with the podcast and hear soundbites. Follow me @georgi_boorman for uncensored opinions on politics and culture from a Christian perspective. You can find most of my writing at The Federalist, where I am a Senior Contributor. #millennium #pretrib #posttrib #dispensational #premil #amil #postmil #gospel #theology #eschatology #Christianity #Christian #evangelical #calvinist #reformed

Reflections on the ordination process from the EFCA’s first ordained, amillennial pastor. For a full transcript of today's episode - including the entire section of Benjamin's paper under Article 9 of the EFCA's statement of Faith ---> https://edamove.com/an-amillennial-ordination-in-the-efca/

We get caught up in day-to-day survival with little thought about the future. But behind the craziness of our day-to-day existence God is patiently and powerfully moving the world toward His desired end. His plan to rescue a people for Himself out of a sinful world is happening whether we realize it or not. The question is, will you be part of that redeemed community? The world is coming to an end. Sin and moral darkness are spreading like wildfire. A day is coming when Jesus will return to the earth. The righteous will enter His eternal kingdom. The wicked will be judged and cast into an eternity of suffering for willfully rejecting Jesus Christ. God's judgment is near. That day will come suddenly, like "a thief in the night." In this series we'll discuss what the Bible says about the events leading up to that day and how God expects us to live. Are you ready for THE END? Pastor Jeff, Lead Pastor

Sunday School session on the end times. Various Texts

A new MP3 sermon from Grace Community Bible Fellowship is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: #43 Revelation 20: An Amillennial View Subtitle: The Bible and the Future Speaker: James Flaherty Broadcaster: Grace Community Bible Fellowship Event: Bible Study Date: 6/13/2016 Bible: Revelation 20:1-10 Length: 39 min.

In today’s episode we have our first guest interview. Evangelist and author Brother George Battey (my father) joins us to discuss the Book of Revelation. Brother Battey is currently writing a commentary of the Book of Revelation and shares with us some helpful historical and theological information regarding this challenging book of the Bible. Topics discussed include: The historical background of each of the major interpretive approaches to the Book of Revelation and their origins Distinctions between Historical and Dispensational Premillennialism Distinctions between Moderate and Full Preterism Distinctions between Premillennial, Postmillennial, and Amillennial views of the Millennium Authors to avoid in your studies How the different interpretive approaches to Revelation have affected churches of Christ historical and which ones pose the greatest threats in the present.  Be sure to join us again next week for part two of this interview where Brother George will review both helpful and problematic commentaries on the Book of Revelation.

Our God is a King over a Kingdom. Let us not hinder, minimize, and box-in our relationship with Christ as merely being saved, and just spend the rest of the life trying to study Him. Yes we ought to read our Bibles, pray, and know Him, but the knowledge that we have in knowing Christ should produce action. *Recording is of Pastor Kevin's practice-sermon prior to Sunday Morning's service.

We're so excited to share our first "Believer's Perspective" discussion with a friend who holds the Amillennial eschatological viewpoint. We welcome our friend Tim to EschatoloShe!

Pastor Dan and Brian jump into a new topic in our jaunt through Systematic Theology, the issue of Eschatology, or the study of last things. Where is this thing called reality going? Who's in charge? Can I get a refund?(Ok, no to that last part)Listen in for all your Premillennial, Amillennial, and Postmillennial needs!

Pastor Dan and Brian jump into a new topic in our jaunt through Systematic Theology, the issue of Eschatology, or the study of last things. Where is this thing called reality going? Who's in charge? Can I get a refund?(Ok, no to that last part)Listen in for all your Premillennial, Amillennial, and Postmillennial needs!

Dana Burkinshaw continues his analysis of the three major millennial views (Premillennial, Amillennial, Postmillennial) and reviews how the concept of a future Millennial Kingdom has been regarded throughout church history

We briefly define the various eschatological views and then get into the importance of having a gospel-centered eschatology and addressing those who differ from our eschatological perspective with charity and understanding.  Oh, and Drew couldn't resist inserting brief arguments for the Amillennial perspective. Show Notes: The End Times Made Simple and More End Times Made...... Continue Reading →

sermon transcript Introduction Revelation 20:1-10 covers the topic of the Millennium, the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth, which we started looking at last week. Today we will gain more clarity about the Millennium, and though we will move forward next week I will continue studying it. In John Calvin’s introduction to his commentary on Romans, he used a phrase that stuck with me. He was seeking, he said, to achieve “lucid brevity” — clarity and briefness — that I seek to emulate this morning. I want to briefly and clearly explain what I think is happening in these incredible words. As we study the Bible week after week, I am more and more in awe of this book. By any definition, it is a miracle. It is an encounter with the living God. There is no human explanation for this book. It contains predictions about the future that were made centuries before which have now been fulfilled. It is a supernatural book because it goes outside of nature. James reminds us that we do not know what will happen even tomorrow, so how much more do we not know what will happen centuries in the future. But this book predicted the first coming of Christ in great detail — aspects of his genealogy, where he would be born, what his life would consist of. Every one of those has been fulfilled in every detail. Revelation is a book unlike any other in this library of books, which the Bible really is — 66 books, written from the mind of God through various authors at different times. It borrows heavily on Old Testament prophecies and language, but it has a new word to say, and it teaches us details about the Second Coming of Christ and about the events that precede the Second Coming. We believe that this world is poisoned and dying with sin, and it will take a series of cataclysms such as we can scarcely imagine to draw out the elect, the chosen, from this horrible sin-wracked world and get us into a New Heaven and New Earth in our resurrection bodies. This is a very painful perilous journey. Many of the things we have been studying have not yet happened, perhaps have not even begun. Some general signs have happened, but they have been happening for 20 centuries now: wars, rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes in various places. But there are cataclysmic events recorded in Revelation that we have never yet seen on earth. Revelation 8 and 9 bring the seven trumpet judgments in which the ecology of the earth is ripped apart — a third of the sea turns to blood, a third of the sea creatures die, a third of the green plants and all of the grass are burned up, and a third of the fresh water is poisoned. That is only the first round. In the second round in Revelation 16, the seven bowl judgments are poured out — the entire sea turns to blood and every living thing in the sea dies. We have not seen anything like that ecological disaster. These things are yet to come. In Revelation 13, we see the reign of Antichrist, this terrible one-world ruler that by deception takes over the military levers of power of human government all over the world. He wields his authority in an overpowering way. Soon after, the false prophet comes along to shift the whole thing to a religious focus, setting the Antichrist up as a god whom people worship. People all over the world are compelled by the force of military might and the police state to receive a mark, the mark of the beast, without which they cannot buy or sell. Most people accept it willingly and worship the beast. God, through all of this, protects a remnant of His own, Jews who at last, in the final act of redemptive history, will see in Christ their Savior, their Messiah, their Son of David. At last, they embrace him. Zechariah tells us that they will weep for him as for an only son, and Paul says in Romans 11 that they come to him in faith and “…all Israel will be saved.” The Antichrist mobilizes his forces militarily from across the surface of the earth to come wipe out the followers of Christ — not just the Jews, but specifically those in Palestine. The great battle of Armageddon ensues, predicted in Revelation 16 and again in Revelation 17. This is the context of the Second Coming of Christ in Revelation 19. Jesus returns with the armies of Heaven and slaughters this vast army that comes to wipe out his people. Three Views on the Millennium As we come to Revelation 20, we need to review some theology and church history. There are three basic views on the Millennium. One, I believe, has been so vigorously discredited by the unfolding of history that I do not mention it much, namely Post-millennialism. This is the idea that the Gospel will so saturate the world that everything will get better and better, and people will come more and more to faith in Christ, and then Jesus will return. I do not see that happening. The last century has been rough on the planet. It is right for us to marry together current events and Scripture. Jesus told us to do that with the abomination of desolation — when that happens, then the prophecy of Daniel has come true, and those alive at that time should run for their lives. Thus, I have set that aside. I respect those that view Post-millennialism as a reasonable view, but that leaves me, as an evangelical, two views on the Millennium. The Millennium refers to Revelation 20:1-10, which talks about the thousand-year reign of Christ physically on earth. There are two views on this time period that square with being evangelical. The Amillennial view teaches that Revelation 20:1-10 is a recapitulation of what we have already covered in church history and the spread of the Gospel, that Satan has been bound in some way, restricted to keep him from deceiving the nation so that the Gospel can spread. In Matthew 12, in his analogy about the strong man, Jesus says that no one can plunder his house unless he first bind the strong man; then he can plunder his house. The Amillennial view says this refers to the spread of the gospel for a thousand years, that 1000 is just a symbolic number, like when God claims in Psalm 50 that He owns “the cattle on a thousand hills.” Clearly that verse is not literal but poetic. The question we have to ask though is, is the number, 1000, spiritual or poetic? And here in this text, that's the question you have to ask. I have been exhorted to read the text and preach accordingly. The alternate view treats the text as innocent until proven guilty, to take it that it will happen unless some compelling reason proves otherwise. That is the Premillennial view, that the Second Coming happens before the Millennium. Jesus returns with the armies of heaven, destroys Satan’s army led by the Antichrist, and slaughters all of them in vast carnage. After that he sets up his thousand-year reign on earth. Just as I have studied these two different views, I commend them to you to continue to study them as well. In a broad general way, the Amillennial view does well in the entire New Testament but not so well in Revelation 20:1-10. Premillennialism does not fare well in all of Paul’s epistles, but it does a good job of explaining these 10 verses. I am a verse-by-verse expositor, so I have to adopt the Premillennial view today, because as I go through these verses, it is hard to explain it from the Amillennial view. It starts: “I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil or Satan and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the abyss and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. And after that, he must be set free for a short time.” The Amillennial view does not have a good explanation for the details of those verses, specifically the word “Abyss”. This word refers to a specific place mentioned in various passages in the New Testament, especially with the demoniac of the Gadarenes in whom there was Legion, 6000 demons inside him. A simple reading of Revelation 20:1-10, as you compare Satan and Jesus, shows the infinite gap of power between the two — Satan is nothing compared to Jesus. Inside the man in Luke 8, the demons are terrified of Jesus; they plead with him not to throw them into the Abyss before their time. The Amillennial view of the chaining of Satan is that it has to do with evangelism and missions. Those who ascribe to this view acknowledge that Satan is out and about, prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. They agree that we need to be strong in the Lord and His mighty power and to put on the full armor of God, because our struggle is against the devil and his demons. But they say the binding is really focused on keeping the devil from deceiving people about Jesus. When you share the Gospel with a co-worker, if that co-worker is elect and God is using you to bring that person to faith in Christ, Satan will be blocked or bound to some degree from that interaction. Your witness will be effective to rescue them from the dominion of darkness and bring them over into the kingdom of light by the power of the Holy Spirit. I say “Amen”, but I do not think that is what the Abyss is about here. We would not imagine that Satan is bound with a great chain and thrown in the Abyss as believers are sharing the Gospel, leading others to Christ in the break room or East Asia or Africa. No, he is still prowling around like a roaring lion at that moment. Looking at these verses, I have a hard time accepting that exegetically. Premillennialism does well here in verse-by-verse exposition. If I were preaching 1 Corinthians 15, I would have a hard time with Premillennialism, because I do not see the Millennium in anything Paul writes about the resurrection. In sharing the Gospel in this current age, I do not see how Satan is bound with a great chain and thrown into the Abyss, which is locked and sealed over so he cannot deceive the nations. A more natural reading is that this capture of Satan is yet to come. The Millennial Kingdom A (Somewhat) New Earth If you accept that, then you will have many logistical and practical questions. Is it a kingdom? Yes, it is. Revelation 20:4-6 “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” Those who resist during the Great Tribulation will come to life and reign with Christ physically on earth. This would be the Millennial kingdom. Picture what it would be like when Christ returns. The earth will be a smoldering pile of wreckage — the sea is blood, everything in it is dead, there is no fresh water, there has been a massive worldwide earthquake from which the cities of the earth are destroyed — piles of rubble. It will be a massive rebuilding project; it is unimaginable what Jesus will have to do to rebuild planet earth. He can do it. His Heavenly Father created everything through him. John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made…” Colossians 1:16 says, “…things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” He has all resources at his disposal. I am reminded of Nehemiah when he heard from his brother that Jerusalem was filled with rubble. He asked for and was granted permission from the king to go back to rebuild the wall, which he and his cohorts did in a short amount of time while the enemies of the Jews looked on. This was done by God. How could we give Nehemiah greater place than Jesus? Jesus can do it. Who are Christ’s Subjects and Enemies During the Millennium? Who is on Earth? The next practical question is, who is he reigning over? I do not know, but we can imagine some possibilities. It is possible that all of Jesus’ enemies, those who did not believe in him at the Second Coming, died in the final battle. Revelation 19:17-18 says, “And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, ‘Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.’” This could mean that everybody who has not believed in Jesus up to the moment when they see the sign of the Son of Man in the clouds will mourn because they know they will die. Every single unbeliever will die, and the birds will eat their flesh. Or it is possible that those who are part of the army assembled to fight against the people of God, the battlefield participants, are the ones who will die. That would leave a population of unbelievers whom then Jesus will rule over with a rod of iron. If that is the case, they had better behave themselves. Thus, the two possibilities for the human starter set for the Millennial population are either all genuine believers in Christ, not yet resurrected, still in their physical bodies, who have been through a horrific time, along with those beheaded during the Tribulation that are going to be raised to reign with them; or a mixed group of believers and unbelievers. Jesus will rule the unbelievers with a rod of iron, settling disputes between the nations. They will come to Zion, to Jerusalem, to have those disputes settled, and if they do not obey, they will suffer consequences such as no rain in their land, according to Zechariah. There are many images from the Old Testament which could possibly apply to this mixed population during this Millennial time. I prefer at this point to interpret that all the unbelievers die, leaving only genuinely regenerate, born again but not yet glorified believers. Many of those will be Jews, but I do not think that it will be only Jews, because it says that Satan can no longer deceive the nations. I think there will be Gentile believers there too. These are generally called tribulation saints, who are converted during the final era of history. It is interesting that they will need to be ruled over. Verse 4-6, “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” There is an Amillennial interpretation of this, that these are the martyrs who reign in Heaven — absent from the body, present with the Lord. Let’s set that aside for now and zero in on the Pre-millennial approach. There are two options for who these people are. One, they are all who have ever believed in Christ, including the martyrs, but who had died before that point. The ones who are still alive are the starter set of that population. Everybody else is up in Heaven, not only those who died in the tribulation. Everybody is raised physically — we get our resurrection bodies at that point. We sit on thrones and we judge. Who Will Be Judged? Who will we judge? We will judge the not-yet-glorified, not-yet-resurrected believers. We may wonder why thrones and judgments are needed. If you believe in the Millennium — the literal thousand years — those in the starter set are not yet glorified. They are believers like you and me with an internal sin nature. They will have children, and they will get old and die. Their children will have an advantage as to believing the Gospel. There will be no Satan to tempt them; he is locked up in the Abyss. There will be no evil world system set up by Satan, as 1 John 5 says, that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one. When he is gone along with the world system he set up, all children will have godly parents. In addition, they will have Jesus reining physically on earth in a glorified state, and they will have the resurrected people sitting on thrones to help them come to faith in Christ. But amazingly, not all of the subsequent generations will be believers in Jesus. Isaiah 65 says, describing Millennial life, that one who dies at 100 will be seen to have died early. Most, then, will live to 125 or 150. That will be from seven to ten generations during the thousand years. Not all the descendants will be believers in Christ. The resurrected glorified saints will sit on thrones and judge the population and settle disputes under Jesus. Those who judge must be a narrow set of people. The Gospel has done very well over the last 20 centuries — Revelation 7 emphasizes “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language.” Imagine being part of the remnant that survived the Second Coming, being judged at a 10:1 ratio of resurrected glorified not resurrected or glorified people. In terms of sanctification and holiness, I cannot resolve that dynamic. The glorified, resurrected believers who are perfect and never sin will judge those who are struggling and muddling through. If that will literally happen, it must be a narrow set; hundreds of millions are not needed. The text says specifically that those who are raised are the ones who have been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and the Word of God. They will not have worshiped the beast or his image, nor received his mark or their foreheads or hands, meaning they will have lived during the time of the beast. They will have had the possibility of receiving or refusing the mark of the beast — they will choose to refuse, and will have paid for it by being beheaded. This is a very small group, and they receive the honor, the privilege, of this early resurrection to reign with Christ physically on earth. Most Millennialists agree that is what is happening here. They will sit on thrones and reign with Christ. Verse 5 says, “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.” In the Amillennial view, that would be all of the reprobates who are given resurrection bodies and sent to Hell. It may also include the rest of us who are absent from the body, present with the Lord during the whole thousand years, in Heaven doing whatever we will do — likely celebrating and worshiping God — while the Millenial kingdom is happening. The rest of the believers will be on earth during the Millennium. Logistically, it is a difficult issue to resolve. Those in Heaven will come to life and receive our resurrection bodies in a second phase. The first resurrection will include the special ones who are chosen. “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them…” The second death is Hell, which we learn in the rest of Revelation 20. Those in the first resurrection will not be subject to Hell. The second death will not have power over the rest of the saints either, but the reprobate will certainly be subject to it. This smaller set of believers will come to life to reign with Christ for a thousand years, and they will be priests of God and of Christ. There will be a Millennial religion, which will be focused on worshiping Jesus, the Savior and the King. Animal sacrifice will have no part in it. I would urge you to read the book of Hebrews and come to the conclusion that God will never again accept blood sacrifice of animals. Fundamentally, the religion will be a spiritual one of following Jesus. He is at that place now in redemptive history, reigning bodily in glory; and in the. Millennium, these resurrected glorified saints will be priests of God and reign with Christ on earth. Why a Literal Millennium? That is not the end of the story. This is remarkable. Some of you want to understand and have your questions about this time answered, and some of you are ready to skip the Millennium and go straight to Heaven, where there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain. Either way, the next logical question is, Why would God do this, if this what will happen? Satan’s Last “Tour” Revelation 20:7-10: “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth — Gog and Magog — to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. To some degree, if you believe in the Millennium, it seems almost unbelievable that this would happen. After the thousand years, the binding is done, and the devil comes up out of the Abyss where he was thrown. Parenthetically, I think it is a very hard verse for Amillennials to explain — What does he come up out of at the end of the thousand years? There is no explanation in a metaphorical framework. Satan is unbound, on the loose at the end of the thousand years. What does he do? It is like Napoleon on an incomparably larger scale. Napoleon was exiled to Elba after losing a series of battles. When he was later released and returned to France, instead of the French immediately arresting him and throwing him back in prison, they followed him into one more battle — Waterloo — where more of them were slaughtered for Napoleon’s tyrannical ambitions. Satan has been exiled for a thousand years, locked in the Abyss. When released, he rallies a large number of followers to fight Jesus. The insanity of it is staggering. The Millennial kingdom has been beautiful — well ordered, well governed, fruitful, magnificent. Jesus has reigned with a rod of iron, which results in peace and beauty, with no disputes, no wars. Satan, the instant he is released, is able to gather together from Gog and Magog (language from Ezekiel 38 and 39, meaning rough, distant Gentile nations) for one more battle. Satan’s Army Defeated by Fire From Heaven Those who follow Satan are like the sand on the sea shore. It is tragic. They come across the breadth of the earth to the camp of the people that God loves, perhaps Jerusalem, to attack the people of God one more time. There is very little description about this, but it is obvious who wins. Fire comes from heaven to burn them up, and that is that. In 2 Kings, a wicked king sends 50 men to arrest Elijah, the prophet, who is sitting on a hill. The captain orders, “Oh, man of God, come down.” Elijah replies, “If I am a man of God, may fire come from heaven and burn up you and your 50 men.” Immediately the men were burned up. They're dead. A second captain with 50 men tries again, with the same results. My favorite is the third captain, who humbles himself to say, “Oh, man of God, please, if it is not too much trouble, I would like to ask that you have mercy on my life.” The Lord tells Elijah to go with him, and Elijah gives the king a prophetic message that he will die, which is fulfilled soon thereafter. That was Elijah. This is Jesus. You do not come after Jesus, lay hold of him and topple him from his throne. Psalm 2:6 says, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” He will not be conquered. When they come this last time, fire comes from Heaven, and rebellion on earth is ended. The Education We Always Wanted In the Garden, at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, we desired an education — we wanted to know. In February 1970, undergraduates at Harvard University were told that their tuition would increase the next year by $200, from $2400 a year to $2600 a year. Two years ago, it costs $45,270 for one year, all costs. Since 1970, if it had kept pace with inflation, it would cost $15,700. Education comes at a high cost. The students at Harvard that year did not realize how much the cost would continue increasing for that education. That is a picture of redemptive history. We wanted an education in good and evil, and we have had six millennia of such an education. During all those millennia, sin has proven to be exceptionally stubborn to eradicate; our education has been very costly. Romans 5 helps answer the question of why God would set up a physical Millennium in this way. (Of course, whether we hold the Pre-millennial or Amillennium view, we will not be excluded if we have subscribed to the wrong view on this point. God will decide, and we will all be there.) Romans 5:12 says, “…just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men because all sinned.” Through Adam, we sinned; through Adam, death entered the world. But then Paul says in Romans 5:19-20, “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.” [You may read right over that and not give it any thought. Why would God add the law of Moses so that the trespass would increase? That would be like firefighters spraying kerosene on a house fire.] But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life [not thousand-year life; eternal life] through Jesus Christ our Lord.” What has been going on for six millennia has been a clear display that the only force in the universe that can conquer sin is the sovereign grace of God in Christ. It must go to the nth degree; He must get inside my soul, mind, and heart, take out the heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh, and more than that. He must glorify me or I will sin. Oh, unglorified but sanctified and justified, saved people. You know exactly what I am talking about. Paul talks about it in Romans 7:15, 17, 24: “…what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do… [Why?] … it is sin living in me… What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Death’s Final Defeat When we at last are delivered from death, we will have been delivered from sin. Those happen at the same time. Death is the final enemy. When death is finally gone, then sin will be finally gone and vice versa. If there will be a starter set of unglorified but truly justified saved people whom he rescues, when they die, they will be absent from the body, present with the Lord just like us. They will go to Heaven. Their children, if they believe in Jesus, if they trust in him as their personal Savior, will have their sins forgiven, and then they will also go to Heaven after much better lives than we are living. They will die at age 137 after having been abundantly blessed in their labors. But if their children do not believe in Jesus, despite all of the evidence, they will die and go to Hell. If they should be living at the end of the thousand-year reign, Satan will call and they will listen and hear, and they will come together under Satan to fight Jesus. That will be the final display of the wickedness of sin. Romans 5 also tells us that step by step, from Adam until Moses, sin reigned, which means death reigned. Death reigned from Moses to Jesus’ first coming, and sin and death has continued and will continue to reign in some way on until the Second Coming. After the Great Tribulation, there will be one more thousand-year reign for sin and death, and then Jesus will finally bring us into Revelation 21, where there'll be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. We will be glorified. We will be able to look back and remember how we got what we asked for — a costly education in evil — but we will love righteousness and hate wickedness, just like Christ. That is all I can say about the millennium. If in the end, the Amillennial view is true, then praise God for the limited binding of Satan. Go out and evangelize. Be involved in missions. Share the Gospel with your boss or your neighbor or classmate or suitemate or total stranger, or an unreached people group on an overseas mission trip. Watch God bind Satan right in front of you. Watch Christ rescue souls. In the meantime, know that someday we will get to a world, the New Heaven and New Earth, which will last not a thousand years but forever — not long life but eternal life. Disease and sickness and death and sorrow will all be gone, and we will go there someday. Applications If you are here today because someone invited you, or you walked in off the street, you may be confused, wondering what all this is about. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, the resurrection chapter, “…what I received I passed on to you as of first importance [top priority for you] that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” And John 1:12: “…to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” You do not need to do any works, you only need to trust in Jesus who was crucified for sinners like you and me, then buried and raised from the dead on the third day. Trust in Him and you will be forgiven of all your sins. Closing Prayer Close with me in prayer. Father, we thank you for the two weeks we have had to look at this difficult topic. It is not easy to understand the Millennium and all of the ramifications. We look forward to the time when Satan will be not merely bound but thrown into the lake of fire, not to trouble us ever again. Lord, in the meantime, help us to be bold with the Gospel. Help us to be courageous, to take risks for the gospel, to be willing to go overseas as missionaries, to walk across the office to a cubicle to talk to somebody, maybe a new employee at the company. O Lord, help us to be bold in witnessing on college campuses, at Duke and UNC and NC State and Central. Help us to be involved in seeing people cross over from death to life. Help us to be bold. We thank you for the things we have learned. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

sermon transcript Introduction Ever since Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden of Eden and a Cherubim was put at the entrance with a flaming sword flashing back and forth to prevent access to the Tree of Life, the human race has yearned to get back to that place. We have in our hearts a sense of a perfect society in a perfect world, including a perfect government with a perfect economy with perfect human relationships, no war, perfect prosperity and peace, harmony with nature, perfect beauty. Philosophers, artists, political dreamers, and theorists, religious cult leaders and many others have concocted their own views of what this perfect world would look like. People have been dreaming and writing about this for a long time. In 380 B.C., Plato wrote a book entitled The Republic in which just city states were ruled by philosopher kings bringing in a perfect society. Within a few decades after Christopher Columbus discovered the new world, Sir Thomas More wrote a book called Utopia — meaning literally “no place,” or sometimes “good place” in the Greek — in which he posited an island in the new world in which there was a perfect ideal society. In the 19th century, as America expanded westward, more and more attempts toward creating idealized societies popped up all over the landscape, especially after the Second Great Awakening. These groups were communistic in nature, seeking to create a perfect society in their own space. In 1905, H.G Wells wrote a book called A Modern Utopia. He created the ideal setting on another planet, but with a portal, a doorway in a valley in the Swiss Alps through which one could enter the perfect world. The Bible has its own ending of the story of mankind after the fall and eviction from the garden in Revelation 20-22. After the Second Coming of Christ, one of two things will happen. Either there will be a thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ physically on the earth, leading ultimately to an eternal state called the New Heaven and the New Earth, or immediately after the Second Coming of Christ on Judgment Day, the New Heaven and the New Earth will be set up. The thousand-year reign is known as the millennial kingdom, during which Christ reigns physically on earth, a concept which many Christians say is taught in these verses. Satan will be bound for a thousand years and righteousness and blessings will flourish. People will experience lavishly blessed, healthy, long, successful lives. There will still be birth, aging, death, and sin, but those will be reduced and reined in. At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released for one final battle. These verses speak to this but say nothing beyond naming it as the final battle, Gog and Magog. Immediately following the battle, Judgment Day and the New Heaven and the New Earth will follow. Either this Millennial kingdom will occur, OR Christ will return, win the battle of Armageddon, and we will go immediately to what is known as the Great White Throne Judgment in which all nations gather and Christ separates the sheep from the goats. Satan and his demons and all the reprobate — the unbelievers — will be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire at once. The righteous will receive their glorified resurrection bodies at once with no possibility of a future fall and sin, and the New Heaven and the New Earth will appear. The first Heaven and the first earth will pass away in a conflagration of fire, Peter tells us, and we will come into the eternal state. Of the two scenarios, I am not sure which I subscribe to. I always seek to settle every text in the overall corpus of Biblical teaching. I believe in the law of non-contradiction. There is harmony with all of the things God said to us in His Word, and theology is a task of harmonizing everything we read into a growing body of truth and non-contradiction. This is where things get challenging. The word “millennium” comes from the Latin, meaning “thousand years.” It comes right from this text. Christ’s eternal physical reign on earth in a wonderfully blessed world surrounded by the redeemed from every nation on earth will happen with either scenario. Bible-believing Christians agree that Revelation 21 and 22 describe that. The question is, what is happening in these verses in Revelation 20. The physical world that we will enjoy in the New Heaven and New Earth, in which we will be in physical bodies, or a “spiritual body” as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, is not depicted here in Revelation 20. If anywhere, it is described in Old Testament visionary passages in books such as Isaiah or Ezekiel. Perhaps those passages describe the Millennial kingdom, or perhaps the eternal kingdom, or even the spiritual blessings of the Gospel. Physicality is not what differentiates the Millennium from eternity. If there is to be a physical Millennium, there is a vast difference between now and that time. The Millennium will be a greatly enhanced blessed world that still includes birth, sin and death, none of which will be included in the eternal state. Now, Christ is reigning physically in Heaven, where he ascended. He is now sitting at the right hand of God, and “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…” (1 Peter 1:8). Now, Christ rules his invisible spiritual kingdom by the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of converted people. In the Millennial kingdom, Christ will be reigning physically on earth, settling disputes among the nations — necessary because sin nature will still be present. He will cause people to live at peace with one another. Now, Satan is roaming the earth with his demons continually tempting us to sin. In the Millennium, he will be locked up in a prison, unable to deceive the world. Now, the world system that Satan has set up is continually alluring and enticing us to sin. In a physical Millennium, with Christ reigning on earth, there will be no alluring world system pulling us toward evil and sin. Now, the world is groaning in bondage to decay and corruption and a cycle of death. In the Millennium, the effects of sin, Adam’s sin will be greatly reduced, but not totally removed. Now, the work that we do is under the curse of Adam. We wrestle with the ground, and it produces thorns and thistles. In the Millennium, labor will be lavishly blessed and fruitful, providing deep satisfaction though not yet perfection. Now, our bodies are racked with pain and sickness, and all of us will die, probably on average around age 80 or so. In the Millennium pain and sickness are reduced though not removed; people are more robustly healthy. Death is deferred, though not entirely removed. People will still die, but on average, they will die much at a much later age. Revelation 20 does not provide this information about rich blessing and lavish agricultural and long life. In Revelation 19, Christ returns, then in Revelation 20 he binds Satan for a thousand years. During those thousand years, Christ is reigning over the nations; those alive at the time will be occupied in some way. To understand the lavish blessing of having Christ on earth as king, we must look mostly to Old Testament visionary passages like Isaiah 65:17-25. Interpreting the book of Revelation as a whole, and this particular passage in detail, is challenging. There are not many passages that clearly depict Millennial life that cannot be referring to the New Heaven and the New Earth, or the spiritual blessings of the Gospel, but that refer exclusively to the Millennium. A passage in the Old Testament which describes lavish agricultural blessings on a previously barren land in Isaiah may be referring to the blessings of salvation by faith in Christ, like the outpouring of the Spirit. Jesus frequently used agricultural analogies: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” [John 15:5] Descriptions of lavish agricultural blessing may be spiritual rather than literal. We know that Jesus is not literally a vine. He is using agricultural images to teach us the blessings of the Gospel. That passage might be referring to spiritual blessings, or to the blessings of the restoration of Israel from exile to Babylon, or to the blessings of Millennial life, or to the blessings of the New Heaven and the New Earth. The answer to the question “What will millennial life be like?” requires Scripture that cannot refer to the other categories of blessings. Isaiah does the same thing. For example, Isaiah 44:3-4 says, “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.” Which of the four categories of blessings does that passage cover? It could be any of the four or all of them. Is Isaiah talking about God literally turning the desert into a paradise, or is he speaking of the effects of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on people? Whole books, 450-500 pages long, have been written about the Millennium. The topic has been debated throughout history. Augustine debated in his day with Chiliasts, or Millennial thinkers; Calvin and Luther did as well. Jonathan Edwards, following the Calvinist/Augustinian pattern, spiritualized the Millennium, seeing it as the advance of the Gospel throughout church history and the overthrowing of the false Roman Catholic system. The two views have been in opposition of each other for a long time. I have gone back and forth on the topic, sometimes on Monday one thing and on Tuesday the other. Unlike any other theological topic, the more I study it, the more difficult it gets for me to resolve. In 2002, I was with a friend of mine at the Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis, Tom Schreiner, who wrote a very long commentary on the Book of Romans and is a professor of New Testament at Southern Seminary in Louisville. He is, in my opinion, one of the leading New Testament scholars in the world. At this convention, when we were talking about the Millennium, I was in the process of working out my views at the time, leaning toward Amillennialism. This is the view that the thousand years is symbolic language for the spread of the Gospel throughout the church age, which is recapitulated in the battle of Armageddon ending, or Gog and Magog. In this view, Satan is bound by the spread of the Gospel. The other option I was considering was Pre-millennialism. Most evangelicals are pre-millennial, they believe in the thousand year reign. Just going back over it, and he said he was a pre-millennialist This view has to do with the timing of the Second Coming relative to the Millennium, meaning Jesus comes back prior to the Millennium, the thousand-year reign of Christ on Earth. In that conversation, Tom said he was pre-millennial because of the apparently chronological order of the chapters in Revelation, which seem to be unfolding the story of God’s judgment on earth, with Revelation 17 and 18 as an aside describing Babylon. Jesus’ Second Coming is described next, followed by the Millennium, followed by the eternal state. Given his input, I decided that I most agreed with the Pre-millennial view. Years later, as I was writing my commentary on the book of Isaiah, I came to Isaiah 65:17-25. “‘Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. [This sounds like the eternal state in Revelation 21, the New Heaven, New Earth, no more weeping. But listen to verse 20:] Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. [In the New Heaven and New Earth, there is no more death, mourning, crying or pain, but here in verse 20 we see birth (implying marriage) aging, death. Jesus told us in that in the Kingdom, there will be neither marrying nor giving in marriage.] They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands. They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,’ says the LORD.” This passage is key for descriptions of Millennial life and is a doorway to look to other similar passages in Isaiah with other aspects of the Millennial kingdom. It is hard enough to preach or have a conversation about it, but when publishing a commentary, there must be some resolution. So I called Tom Schreiner, described my dilemma with this passage in Isaiah, and asked for his input since he was Pre-millennial. In the middle of my synopsis, he stopped me and said, “Actually, Andy, I’m Amillennial now.” I could have dropped the phone. I am not the only one who is unresolved on this issue. I am not seeking to confuse you, and I know that some of you are resolved on it. In the history of evangelicalism, some have thought that holding an Amillennial view implies that one is a theological liberal. However, that is ignorant of church history: John Calvin, who was Amillennnial, had a high view of Scripture. Currently, for the most part, either of these views is acceptable among evangelicals, less fundamental than inerrancy of Scripture regarding bodily resurrection in a resurrected world. If you are active in putting sin to death, growing in holiness, and sharing the gospel, then what you believe about the millennium will not affect your spiritual walk. We ought to work at it because it is in the Scripture, but with the understanding that the answer will not be finally resolved until it happens. If you are Amillennial and there is a literal Millennium, you will not be left out. You will be where you are supposed to be. If you are Pre-millennial and we go straight to the eternal state, you will not be sad or disappointed. Sometimes a Pre-millennial view may cause one to focus more on the Millennium the eternal state. Certainly we will be in the Millennium for a while, if there is one, but the eternal state will be for eternity, so we must spend more time on that. Revelation 21-22 clearly describes aspects of the eternal state. The best I can do to help us figure this out is to read the Scripture and preach it. Romans 4:3 admonishes, “What does the Scripture say?” We will walk through this together through two sermons to do our best to understand it. To any here who are unbelievers, it really does not make a difference what you believe about the Millennium. What matters is that your sins are forgiven through faith in Christ. First we need to review for context. Revelation 20 will not make much sense if we do not look at where we have been. Revelation is an unveiling of the invisible spiritual world, but also of the future. Revelation 1:1 tells us that Jesus Christ is revealed, given to show his servants what must “soon” take place. The word “soon” means soon in His economy — the next thing that will happen. So this book is given to unfold the future. In Revelation 4, John goes up through a doorway by the power of the Spirit into Heaven, where he sees God on His throne. The central reality of the universe is God enthroned. We see through John’s eyes a heavenly vision of concentric circles of thrones and worship for God, the Creator. In Revelation 5, we see a scroll in the right hand of the one seated on the throne; the scroll is sealed with seven seals. Jesus the Lion and Lamb, takes that scroll. He has the authority, the right to open it. In Revelation 6, Christ breaks open the seven seals. Each seal contains a judgment sent from Heaven to earth. In Revelation 7, we see a multitude greater than anyone could count from every tribe, language, people, and nation that are redeemed by the blood of Christ. The redemption of lost people from all over the world is the point of the entire story. Revelation 8-9 bring seven trumpets judgments which devastate a third of the ecology and economy of the earth. They are so grand and vast and devastating that it is not possible to spiritualize them or say they have already happened. Nothing like these judgments has ever been seen. Since he is telling us what must soon take place, they have not yet happened. Revelation 12 shows us, behind the scenes, the serpent — the dragon —mentioned in our text in Revelation 20, who is Satan. We see clearly his hatred for the people of God and for Israel. He desires to pursue and kill the children of the woman who is Israel, as well as believers who follow who follow Christ and obey His commandments. This satanic attack on the people of God on Earth is happening now in the invisible spiritual realm. In Revelation 13, Satan’s final phase is a devastating attack on the church: he brings forth the Antichrist, or the Beast from the Sea, the one-world ruler who is coming. After that, the Beast from the Earth, who is the false prophet, arises, enabled to do miraculous signs and wonders to deceive the nations. He causes all people to bow down to an idol, a statue of the Antichrist, establishing a wicked one-world religion. As a sign of loyalty to the Antichrist, he causes people to receive a mark on the forehead or on the hand. Those who do not receive it cannot buy or sell, resulting in economic strictures and persecution of people who will not worship the beast. Revelation 14 says that those who do receive the Mark of the Beast will spend eternity in Hell. There is a clear demarcation of believers and unbelievers. The elect, the true followers of Christ, will not bow down, and therefore must run for their lives. It will be a very difficult time. Revelation 16 depicts the final bowl judgments poured out on the ecology of the world. This time it is not a third but the entire sea turns to blood and every living thing in the sea dies. At the end of Revelation 16 is the battle of Armageddon. Lying, deceiving spirits go around the world and gather everyone together for a climactic battle. Amillennials see this as the same battle as the one in Revelation 20, Gog and Magog. Pre-millennials see it as an additional battle. Revelation 17 shows the kings of the earth under the Antichrist gathering for this battle with one purpose to give their power to the Antichrist. They gather to fight for him to slaughter the Jews who now believe in Christ, so all Israel will be saved, as Romans 11 says. The kings are coming to Palestine, to Armageddon, ultimately to try to get to Jerusalem to slaughter all of the Jews that are now believing in Christ as their Messiah. They think it will be an easy battle, but they do not understand with whom they are dealing. In Revelation 19, the Bridegroom returns — the Second Coming of Christ — to rescue his Bride. He wreaks carnage on his enemies — dead bodies everywhere, a river of blood. This climactic battle brings us to Revelation 20, beginning with the binding of Satan. Satan is Bound The Millennium Starts with the Binding of Satan Revelation 20:1-3 says, “And I saw an angel coming down out of Heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.” The chapter opens with a powerful decisive action, the binding of Satan. A single angel, who has the key to the Abyss, comes down from Heaven to bind him. The word “abyss” in the Greek literally means bottomless, so he is thrown into a bottomless pit. Other texts also mention the Abyss as a pit of punishment for demons. Revelation 9:1-3: “The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.” Satan is identified as the king of the Abyss. Revelation 9:11: “They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.” Both those words mean “destroyer”. Revelation 9 provides an image of billowing smoke as out of a smoke stack, bringing locusts which plague the earth. 2 Peter 2:4 says that “God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them down into Tartarus [in Greek mythology, a deep pit] and delivered them to be kept in chains of darkness until judgment.” This is the same idea, a pit with chains, but those demons were locked up in an earlier time. Some scholars think it was demons that fell right before Noah’s flood, but we do not know. Jude 6 says, “…the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home — these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.” This covers the same thing — demons that fell in some previous time, locked in a pit with a chain. During Jesus’ ministry on earth, his miraculous signs and wonders included healing people who were possessed and controlled by demons. One was the demoniac of the Gadarenes — naked, howling at the moon, breaking chains — a terror to the entire population of the surrounding countryside. Luke 8:30-31: “Jesus asked him, “‘What is your name?’ ‘Legion,’ he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.” They plead with Jesus not to send them prematurely to their prison; they want to retain their freedom to roam about causing trouble. After he drives them out, they inhabit a herd of pigs, which go mad and rush into the sea and die. We can imagine that as they are begging not to be sent to the Abyss, they have in mind the other demons who were sent there. Here, Satan is seized by this angel with a commission from God, bound with a great chain and thrown into the Abyss. Jesus Binds Satan Key to the Amillennial position is the idea that when Jesus came to earth the first time and began preaching the Kingdom of God, to some degree he bound Satan. Jesus’ enemies — Scribes, Pharisees, and other unbelieving Jewish leaders — claimed that he was a deceiver and was driving out demons by Beelzebub, the king of demons. In reply, Jesus described what he was truly doing. Matthew 12:29 says, “…how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.” The strong man is Satan; Satan’s possessions are people. The one stronger than the strong man is Jesus, who overpowers this strong man and ties him up, enabling him to steal people from Satan’s dark kingdom. The Amillennial view says that is what the thousand years is all about. The binding of Satan is a provisional binding to keep him from deceiving people in reference to the Gospel, so that the Kingdom of God can advance. Another passage like this, Luke 11:21-23, says, “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.” In other words, gathering and assembling the Kingdom of God is an act of spiritual violence. He is conquering a wicked king, plundering his kingdom, building the kingdom out of plundered living stones that have been quarried from a dark kingdom, sending his church over the walls of Hades — the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. We undertake a rescue mission into dark territory to rescue living stones; we plunder and Satan cannot stop us. This has been going on for 2000 years. Colossians 1:13 says, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” We have been rescued from that dark kingdom, and Jesus bound the strong man to make that happen. The Purpose and Result of Binding The purpose and result of the binding is clear. Revelation 20:3 says, “He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended.” The essence of Satan’s power and reign is lies. This is how he deceives the nations and rules his kingdom. When God said to Eve in the Garden, “What have you done?” she replied, “The serpent deceived me and I ate.” Jesus said of His enemies, who hated the Gospel, in John 8:44: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Satan’s deception of the nations has been essential to his kingdom. It is what he does. He deceives every generation through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life. “Sin won’t damage you. It’s fine.” He deceives people into false religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam are all constructs of the Devil. He is lying to their adherents and to atheists and other philosophical systems. All are included in the system of lies and deceptions. The greatest deception ever will come from the reign of Antichrist. 2nd Thessalonians 2 says, “He will send them a powerful delusion.” This will come through the whole story of the Antichrist, by the fact that he and the false prophet are able to do miraculous signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, Jesus said, if that were possible. It is not possible, but that is a powerful delusion. If there is a literal Millennium, the people who live on the earth at that time will come to faith in Christ, like all of us did. Likely, there will not be a different system of justification then, meaning those in that generation must also believe in Jesus, but it will be very different than it was for us. They will have the tremendous advantage of not having to overcome Satan with his system of lies in the world, having to overcome false religions. I imagine there will not be any. They will believe in a literal, physical Jesus right in front of them, just as people — like the thief on the cross, Peter, and others — in Jesus’ age did. That does not mean that every single solitary person in the Millennium will be a believer in Christ. There will be some unbelievers, and they will be the ones gathered at the end to fight that final battle. The “Thousand Years” and Other Numbers All we can say about the number 1000 is that it is ten times ten times ten — ten cubed, a perfect number. Just because it is a perfect number does not mean it is not a literal number. Symbolic and literal are not mutually exclusive. Frequently in the Bible, the word thousand years can mean a long time, as in 2 Peter 3:8: “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” Psalm 90 says, “A thousand years in your sight are like an evening watch that goes by.” This could refer to a long time or a literal thousand years. How “Bound” Is Satan? Is He Bound NOW? The question in front of us that Amillennials must struggle with is whether Satan is bound now. In Revelation 20, Satan is locked up, wrapped up with a great chain and thrown and sealed into the Abyss. He is not limited or blocked in that verse; he cannot be more bound than that. But we do not see that either scripturally or experientially. Right now, Satan is fighting everything we are trying to do. Many verses in the New Testament say that. For instance, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed seed — some seed fell on the path and the birds came and ate it up. When one hears the word and does not receive it, Satan comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. That is happening all the time. Satan follows behind preachers like me, and if people do not have a soft heart, he plucks away immediately any impact of what they have heard. Satan is active. Ephesians 6 admonishes us to put on the full armor of God, not because Satan is locked up, chained in the bottom of a pit, but because “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” We are told in 1 Peter 5:8-9, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” That is not restrained, chained and thrown in a pit. No, he is out and about. We need to be aware of what he is doing. 1 Corinthians 5:5 says, “…hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.” Satan is not bound and thrown in a pit. He was active in Corinth in this man’s life; Paul said to hand him over to the unbelievers, the wicked surrounding satanic world. When he repented, Paul said to welcome him back (2 Corinthians 2:11) “…in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” Paul recognized that he is always fighting Satan. “For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.” [1 Thessalonians 2:18] This is a strong argument then for the Pre-millennial interpretation of Revelation 20:1. I cannot leave it like that. Next week we will go to the other side to balance our understanding. I will make the quick point that I do not accept a literal Millennium outright without question because The biggest problem I have is that it does not seem to be taught clearly anywhere else in the New Testament. For example, the Apostle Paul does not seem to acknowledge it. In 1 Corinthians 15, when Paul talks about the bodily resurrection, you would think he would mention a thousand years in which there is a partial resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15 makes us long for our full resurrection body. Christ is the first fruit of resurrection, then when he comes, believers will be resurrected, but will it be only partial? I think these questions are worth asking, but they are not ultimate or fundamental questions. We all have eternal souls, and as I said, the next thing that will happen after the Second Coming is either this or that. No matter what happens with the Millennium, it is appointed for each one of us to die unless we are in the final generation. After death, we face judgment. If you have not come to faith in Christ, you will be lost. If you came here today as an unbeliever, perhaps you are confused about what you have heard. Perhaps you want to know how your sins can be forgiven. Maybe you are feeling guilty for the ways that you violated your conscience or feeling lost with no purpose or feeling desperate. It is my joy, my duty and my responsibility to tell you that there is good news in Christ. The Millennium is not the most important thing I have to say to you. No, the most important thing is that Christ died for your sins according to the Scriptures; He was buried and He was raised from the dead on the third day. If you repent — turn away from your sins and trust in Him — you will have eternal life. Lord, thank you for the time we have had to consider the difficult, challenging topic of the Millennium. We thank you, Lord, for the provision that you have made for sinners like us at the cross, for the empty tomb, and for Christians to commemorate that through the Lord’s Supper. We ask now that You would bless us with your presence, and that you would strengthen our faith and help us to partake in a manner worthy of the Lord. We pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

There are 3 prophetic camps depending on one's view of the Millennium (Pre-, A-, or Post-Millennial). Literal Interpretation requires Premillennialism, for both the Old and New Testaments teach a future Messianic Age, when Christ will reign on earth for 1000 years, after a time of Tribulation (Birthpains).

There are 3 prophetic camps depending on one's view of the Millennium (Pre-, A-, or Post-Millennial). Literal Interpretation requires Premillennialism, for both the Old and New Testaments teach a future Messianic Age, when Christ will reign on earth for 1000 years, after a time of Tribulation (Birthpains).

Metal Chick Podcast Episode 020 - From West Hollywood to Milwaukee to Fond du Lac, Tom Gehde & Michael Gualderama of Amillennial. In this double musician interview we're talking to an original thrash band that's been around for a while, they tell us their story or growing up with a love of music, how each made the transition to the heavier side of metal and how Amillennial came to be. And then I learn I've been pronouncing the band's name incorrectly for years - but the guys don't care, they tell the story of their first show and the guy who tried (and failed rather spectacularly) to pronounce it. Plus they share what their ideal "metal scene" would be. Amillennial Links: Facebook ReverbNation Walleye Weekend

Have you heard Charles Spurgeon's Ezekiel 37 Dry Bones Can Live, Premillennialistic, Christo-centric, Calvinistic, Gospel-centric sermon- You need to- If your theological, eschatological, spiritual bones feel a bit dry and dead, these truths will revive you and get you moving for Christ's glory in the redemption of sinners. I believe even my dear Amillennial and Postmillennial brethren will be blessed. You can find and read C.H. Spurgeon's full sermon here -http---www.spurgeongems.org-vols10-12-chs582.pdf-. How did I end up preaching Spurgeon's sermon- I was going to quote a few lines to flesh out my own Ezekiel 37 sermon, but I fell in love with Spurgeon's message and had to share it with the Christ's Church.

Looking Forward to the Heavenly City Well, this morning, you've already heard the text that Chris read. We're going to look at one of the most provocative and powerful sections of Isaiah's prophecy, the vision he had concerning the future universe as recreated in Christ, the new Heavens and the new Earth that are coming. The aspects of it here seem like it might be discussing elements of what theologians call the Millennium or the Millennial kingdom. And so we're going to have to look at that as well and try to understand it. No matter what we end up believing this passage is the truth and tells us in some kind of language of a glorious future that should fill all of us with hope, and joy. And that's the outcome, the ultimate outcome. My desire is to create in each one of you who listen to me today a forward-looking perspective, that you're going to be looking forward to what is coming. Colossians Chapter 3, verse 1-4 says, "Since then, we have been raised with Christ. Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things for you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." So, set your minds on things above, and clearly in that text, things to come. When Christ appears, the Second Coming. Hebrews 11:10 says that Abraham was "looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." Looking forward, that's a faith perspective. Again, 2 Peter 3:13, it says, "In keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new Heaven and a new Earth, the home of righteousness." So this looking forward, this forward-looking perspective, can only be done by faith, really can only be done in Christianity. We have a supernatural religion based on prophecies given to us by the eternal mind of God. And there's no other religion in the world that has this, predictive prophecy of what is yet to come. And so only by revelation, only by the unveiling that Scripture does, can we see both the invisible God and the invisible world that he is promising us. Faith is the eyesight of the soul, and God is the revealer of the unseen. Faith comes from hearing the Word. So my desire is that your faith will rise from an exposition of Isaiah 60:5, and your eyesight will get clearer, and that you will see the unseen, the invisible, the invisible God and the invisible coming worlds. I. Dreams of a Perfect World Now we all have, I believe, within our hearts, dreams of a perfect world. Throughout recorded history, mankind has imagined perfect world, perfect societies. This is all over the world. People do this. Since the fall of Adam into sin, the world has been cursed. In Genesis 3, to Adam God said, "Because you listen to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, you must not eat of it, cursed is the ground because of you. Through painful toil, you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow, you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust you will return." So that's the curse. So both the Earth itself and human labor on the Earth was cursed there. And the struggle for survival was on, the bitter struggle for survival was on, and it is bitter. Life on Earth became an instant grief to the human race. Ecclesiastes 1:2-4, "Vanity of vanities... Vanity of vanities. All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation comes, and a generation goes, but the Earth remains forever." Sense of emptiness, of vanity to our labors in our life, doesn't mean anything. And creation itself has been groaning under this, the burden of this curse. Death has been rampant, constantly threatened, both for man and for beast. Ecclesiastes 3:19-20. It says, "Man's fate is like that of the animals. The same fate awaits them both. As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. All go back to the same place. All come from dust, and to dust, all return." Ecclesiastes 3. Now, human hearts and therefore human society, was corrupted to the core by sin, by the sin of Adam. We are corrupted in our hearts. Adam and Eve, as soon as they ate from the tree, their eyes were open. They realized they were naked, and they hid from each other in shame and they made fig leaves to cover their shame. It wasn't long after that that Cain killed his brother Abel, the very next chapter. So we see an expansion of sin. And by the time of Noah, the contagion of sin had spread to epic levels. All over the world, all the thoughts of human hearts were only evil all the time. And the link between human sin and nature's groaning is clearest in the flood. All the air-breathing animals that were not on the ark were killed, swept away because of human sin. Man sinned, animals died. So, this lamenting, this groaning pain-filled seemingly meaningless existence seems so wrong to us, doesn't it? Something's wrong here. We have a sense of a perfect world I believe, imprinted in our souls, like paradise in our souls. And mankind has always yearned for it and imagined it. Authors and poets, cult leaders and statesmen, conquerors and song writers, scientists and architects have all yearned for a paradise, have used their skills to kind of describe it if they can, some kind of a utopia that could be ushered in, a golden age free from this frustrating curse. Plato's Republic written around 370 BC, is one of the oldest efforts in human literature, to capture this desire for a golden age, a perfect society. About 150 years before Christ, a Greek merchant, Iambulus, wrote a book called Islands Of The Sun describing a perfect society in some distant island, in the Eastern sea. In the year 421, after Christ, a Chinese writer named Tao Yuanming wrote a fable called the Peach Blossom Spring in which a fisherman accidentally sailed up a river into a forest made entirely of blossoming peach trees. The river, led to a grotto with a narrow passage way through which he was able to squeeze and there he found a village, with animals and people of all ages. The villagers were shocked to see him but they were friendly. It was an ideal society cut-off from the outside world. He left and marked his path with signs so he could find his way back, but he could never find it again. A yearning for a perfect world, a perfect society. In 1516, Sir Thomas More in England, coined the term utopia by writing a book with that same name, the word, literally means no place. And it describes an island in the recently discovered new world, Columbus had discovered the new world just a few decades before that. And in that island there was a perfect society. Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver's Travels, HG Wells kind of expands it out to other planets. So we're going to be moving through the cosmos finding a planet with a perfect society. The quest goes on and on. It's deeply rooted in our hearts. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "God has set eternity in the hearts of men," but I think he's also set paradise there too, a sense of a perfect world, free from this curse. However, no vision is better than the Bible's, amen? We just heard it sung, we've read it again and again in Revelation 21, and 22, and when we come to Isaiah 65:17-25, we come to Isaiah's vision of that future perfect world. God alone has, if I could use this word, the imagination and the mental power to create a perfect world, in terms that we understand. God alone can work out all the details of that world in a way most glorifying to him and most perfectly satisfying to us. The Bible actually does describe a perfect ideal world, in which people live in harmony with nature and with each other. And it's coming. It's not just an idea, it's actually a prophecy, it's coming. Many passages in this book of Isaiah describe it so also does the book of Revelation. The Power of Predictive Prophecy So we come to Isaiah 65:17:25, and we come to an unveiling of God's perfect future world. "Behold," says God, " Behold," right at the beginning, "Behold me, and my perfect world." And then the questions that all Christians struggle with in understanding not just this perfect world, but we are so curious, "I want to know the details," and friends the details are going to probably just kill us as I walk through it in this text, but we'll do the best that we can. I was talking to somebody recently about this sermon, I have been working on this sermon for two months that's why it's, you know, an hour and a half long, it just keeps going on and on and on. It actually was going to be two sermons in one, we were going to do some Isaiah 65. We're going to spend a bunch of time in Revelation 20, and this morning I said, "Okay, we're not doing that." I think all of us, everyone, not just some of us, all of us are like, and please forgive this geeky illustration, but we're like circuit breakers. We can only take so much current flowing through and then we trip over. And the amount of information that you all... That we all can handle is limited. And so I'm going to do my best to make it clear, to try to just walk through Isaiah 65 and explain these words, and to try to explain, especially verse 17, and verse 20 and how hard they are to harmonize and to describe the Millennium whatever that means, and to do it in a way that helps all of us. Now, as I said, what we're doing here as Christians is something that we're the only ones that can do, it's the only religion in the world they can do this. We're looking at predictive prophecy. We're looking at words written by God that tells us what's going to come, what's coming in the future. God again and again claims to be the only one that can do this. Isaiah 46:9-10, he says, "I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is none like me, I make known [listen to this] the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say my purpose will stand and I will do all that I please." So God has pleased to think of the end and now he is sovereignly going to bring it about. Questions of the Millennium! So we come to this and the questions of the millennium. Isaiah 65 is going to bring us to ask some of the most exciting and debated questions there are in Christian eschatology, the study of the end of the world, that's what eschatology means. Age old debates about the possibility of a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth after his second coming, the possibility of a greatly enhanced life on earth, something that's free, essentially, for the most part, from the curses that we labor under, in which the effects of sin and death are greatly reduced though not totally removed. That's the essence of the Millennium verses the Eternal State. These questions will come up not naturally from Isaiah 65, but from the Bible as a whole, with Isaiah 65:17-25 as a key reference text. If there will be a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth before the Eternal State, the new heavens and the new earth, and if life in that Millennial kingdom, is described anywhere in the Bible, it is almost certainly described in this text here. Now that's a lot of careful speaking, isn't it? If and if. But if there is going to be a Millennium it's described here. Either way, either whether there's going to be a Millennium or not, Isaiah 65:17-25 is legitimate prophecy for us as Christians. It's either going to come true in the Millennium or in the Eternal State, either way we get it and we're blessed and we should be happy and filled with hope. Now, I have a certain level of uncertainty in this, I suppose you can already tell. It's not a good thing. No topic in theology that I've studied for decades has so eluded final resolution as this one for me. I stand before you today like a theological ping pong ball. And you might ask, "What side are you on today?" Well, today I'm essentially amillennial. I don't know if I will be at the end of this sermon. Something might happen in the middle, and some new aspect of 1 Corinthians 15 or Revelation 20 or something will hit me and I'll ping back again. This is bad, this is not a good thing, this is a bad thing. Howard Hendricks said to all preachers, "A mist in the pulpit is a fog in the pew." Now, we have decided with our worship services to avoid smoke machines, we don't want the fog machine wafting from the front across the congregation, so, we walked out in a total fog. I don't want that, but I'm going to do the best that I can. II. Isaiah 65: God Says “Behold Me... and My New Universe!” First let's get a little context in Isaiah 65, this is my second sermon in this chapter, I preached the first last week and we followed the keyword as you remember, behold, behold, that word of unveiling. And I gave you a four-part outline to the whole chapter. We did the first three parts last week, now the fourth. So it began with the word behold, that archaic word, that unveiling word. "Behold me," says God, God's humble self-revelation to Gentiles, remember we peered through the Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul said, "This is the Gentiles." Isaiah 65:1, "I said behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name." Those are the Gentiles. So God stands in the gospel before Gentile nations around the world and says, "Behold me, look at me," and that's through Christ, through the Gospel. Secondly, "Behold my judgments," verses 2-7, God says, "Behold it is written before me, I will not keep silent, I will repay." And there the context Paul tells us is unbelieving Jews who've had the rich blessings of the Mosaic covenant, but who are Pagans, essentially pagans, living a Pagan life. And then thirdly, we saw, behold my servant singing while the wicked are shamed and excluded. And so God speaks to the wicked as outsiders telling them the blessings that he's going to give to his servants. Verses 13 and 14, "Behold my servants shall eat but you shall go hungry, behold my servants shall drink but you shall be thirsty, behold my servants shall rejoice but you shall be put to shame, behold my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of heart and wail for breaking of spirit." And he does this now in the text to warn outsiders to stop being outsiders, but to come in while there is time so that they can feast at the end of the world. III. Walking Through the Text, Weighing Its Promises But now, we look to verses 17 and following, "Behold, I will create a new heavens and a new earth." And then again in verse 18, "For behold, I create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy." So those are last two beholds. So there's this unveiling of the new heaven and the new earth, and an unveiling of the new Jerusalem. Let's just walk through the text and let's just weigh its promises. What is described here is an idyllic experience of rich blessing, never yet seen on this sin-cursed earth. This was not fulfilled after the exile to Babylon ended, nothing like this happened at all. So this is as yet unfulfilled, we are still waiting for this. This is a future prophecy. Listen to the text again verse 17 and following, "'Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for behold, I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands. They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,' says the LORD." Alright, let's look at key points, verse 17, God declares that he will create a new heavens and a new earth. The future creative work of God similar to Genesis 1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," but greater, better. It will be so radically different it will drive out all the thoughts of the old world so radically improved. Verse 17, "For behold I will create new heavens and a new Earth. The former things shall not be remembered neither shall they come to mind." Notice that it begins with the words, "For behold." Verse 17, the word "for" which doesn't show up in some other translations but all of those that are precise have the word "for," it causes us to look back at least one verse, verse 16, alright, and verse 16, it says, "Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth. He who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth, for the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes, for behold, I will create a new Heavens and a new Earth and the former things will not be remembered." So that's the whole thing. You're not going to remember the past things, all of the past sorrows and grief. Now, as we read this obviously Revelation 21:1-4, comes to mind. There it says, "Then I saw a new heavens and a new earth, for the first heavens and the first Earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband, and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, now the dwelling of God is with men and He will live with them, and they will be his people and God Himself will be with them and be their God, and He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there'll be no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain. For the old order of things has passed away." Do you not see the beautiful harmony there between Revelation 21 and Isaiah 65? They come together. Now the new heavens and the new earth in Revelation 21 is what most people just simply call heaven. But I think we forget the new earth part. Can I just say this right now? If you vigorously believe, as you should, in a coming physical new earth and a spiritual new heaven that is harmonized in Christ, with the throne of God on that new earth, and you will walk on that new earth in a resurrection body and you are eager for that future world to come, it doesn't make a difference what you believe about the Millennium. It won't affect your missions at all, it won't affect your prayer life at all, it won't make any difference whatsoever in your marriage, in your parenting, in your church membership. None of it matters. The only reason we care is we're trying to be faithful to the text and understand it, "But what... Pastor, you're saying that this actually won't make a difference, your sermon will not be applicable at all." I'm not saying that. I want you to set your mind on eternity, the blessings that are described here could be begun in the Millennium and perfected in heaven. Set your heart on the new heavens and the new earth, that will affect how you live. That will affect your marriage, it will affect your parenting, it will affect your prayer life, it'll affect everything. But the precise difference between the two? It won't matter, if you vigorously believe in a new heavens and new earth, and they are coming. So now you can check out some of these like, "I don't need to wander through the Millennium," stick with me. There's good things yet to come. The new heavens and the new earth in Revelation 21, what most people simply call the Eternal State or heaven, there, clearly all death and misery are gone forever. They're gone. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Now, back to Isaiah 65 it says verse 18, it will be a place of eternal joy, where people will have cause to rejoice forever. The naming of the city of Jerusalem and her people is a source of eternal joy. "Behold I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy." So it's a place of delight, joy, satisfaction. Verse 19, God declares that he will rejoice over Jerusalem, eternally, and the sounds of weeping and mourning will never be heard in it again. Do you see that in verse 19? Now we get to verse 20. Let tell you something about verse 20. Verse 20 is one of those amazing moments. You know those trendy expressions like this one, "Wait, what?" You ever heard that one? What is... What happens? What is, "Wait, what?" It's like we're going along and then something happens like, "Wait a second, what just happened?" Verse 20 is like that. It's maybe one of the greatest, "Wait, what," moments in the whole Book of Isaiah. Look what it says, "Never again will there be an infant... " Wait a minute, what? "An infant who lives but a few days or an old man," wait what was that? An old man? "Who does not live out his years. He who dies at 100 will be thought a mere youth and he who fails to reach 100 will be considered accursed." Like, okay, I thought we were in the new heavens and the new earth. That's what verse 17 said, right? Now we've got birth, aging, death and curse? What about Revelation 22:3 which says, "No longer will there be any curse"? What about Mark 12? It says, "When the dead rise, they neither marry nor given in marriage," there's no more procreation, no more infants. So the seeming existence of birth and death in verse 20 are the very things that makes some people think this must be the Millennium. That's the difference between the Millennium and the Eternal State is the presence of birth, aging and death and sin. And the rest of the chapter tells us the rest of the aspect of the Millennium, a greatly enhanced experience in which your works are blessed and will not be frustrating. You'll build things and they will work out and you'll plant things and you'll get a full harvest. So that's the enriched experience of life. But still, there's birth, aging death and sin. That's the essence of what the Millennium is all about. Verse 21 through 23, it says, "They will build houses and dwell in them. They will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plants and others eat. For as in the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people. My chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune, for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them." This lavish language here, Old Covenant images I think, the blessing of the Earth, the rich harvest, the curse is either completely removed or at least greatly reduced. Verse 22, an unusually long life like the redwood trees, living just centuries old. "As the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people," but trees do die. Even redwoods die. So there's the sense of long life. The overall language as I've said if you're familiar with Old Covenant blessings and curses language, which is in the Book of Deuteronomy and then in the prophets, this is just like it. Agricultural rich blessings. Verse 23, "They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune, they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them." Verse 24 promises amazing access and intimacy with God. "Before they call I will answer. While they're still speaking I will hear." There's that intimacy with God. And then verse 25, a repeat of earlier language on the amazing supernatural piece that comes on earth by the transformation of animals. So the animals have basically, essentially a different nature, different than what we've known. Look at verse 25, "The wolf and the lamb will feed together and the lion will eat straw like the Ox, the dust will be the serpent's food, they will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord." It reminds us distinctly of Isaiah 11:6-9, which says, this should sound very familiar, "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together and the lion will eat straw like the ox, the infant will play near the hole of the cobra and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest, they will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea," that's Isaiah 11:6-9, very similar language. This seems to be talking about an idyllic relationship with the animal kingdom. No more of an adversarial predator-prey type of relationship. Wolves will stop acting like predators against lambs. Leopards will be the same toward goats. Cows will stand side-by-side next to lions, with no fear, the carnivorous destructive nature of the animal kingdom will be changed. What Alfred, Lord Tennyson, called nature red in tooth and claw, all that mindless ripping and shredding that animals do with each other. That seems to be done, gone, even the serpent, the cobra and the viper is transformed from an enemy to a friend, or humbled in some amazing way, the infant has nothing to fear at least. And then in Isaiah 11, there's that universal knowledge. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. To sum up it seems that this section of scripture speaks of a stunning level of blessing on earth so great that it has never been seen in the history of the world. It comes under a title in verse 17 of new heavens and new earth that God will create, it's centered in Jerusalem. It involves such amazing joy that the sounds of mourning will not be heard in it at all, it involves rich agricultural blessing, sowing and reaping, no crop failure at all, building houses, other structures, no destruction at all, work is lavishly therefore blessed and successful. There seemed to be no enemies, no danger, no sorrow but there is birth and death, there are infants there and people live unnaturally long lives. So the combination of the term, new heavens and new earth with the presence of birth and death is problematic for every Christian interpreter of this passage. No one knows what to do with those two things. There's not an interpreter on earth that's totally comfortable with 17 and 20. People try to harmonize as best they can. Now I heard a preacher say years ago, there's not a preacher, on earth that hasn't at least once been tempted to give God advice on how it would have been better for him to have written this text. So Lord, if you don't mean a Millennium why did you give us verse 20? Can I just make a suggestion? But listen, who has ever given counsel to the Lord, that the Lord should listen to him. God knows exactly what he's doing and he wants us to wrestle and so we wrestle, and do the best we can. A word about Premillennialism and Evangelicalism We need a little bit of history about Millennialism, pre-millennialism, evangelicalism just to know where we're at in our context. First of all, what do I mean by the Millennium? The word literally means the 1000 years, 1000 years. Mille is the Latin for 1000, annus, mille, annus 1000 years. That idea comes only in one place, the literal 1000-year citation as such, but what we're talking about here is only found in one place in the whole Bible: Revelation 20, it's no where else. Ideas concerning it are debatably in other texts as we're looking at today, but the Millennium itself is only found in Revelation 20. Now, in the 20th century, biblical Christians fought a battle against modernism or theological liberalism, in which there were severe questions raised about the Bible. Post-Darwinian evolution and all that, they were just questions raised about the inerrancy of the Bible, the truthfulness of the Bible and that battle was fought, frequently called "The Battle of The Bible" began with the fundamentalists at the beginning of the 20th century. And at that time, DL Moody, other evangelists kind of link themselves together with a certain eschatology involving prophecy. And they basically said, "If you're Evangelical, if you're a Bible believer you're going to believe in the literal 1000-year reign and the premillennial coming. Jesus is going to come back and then the 1000 years, and that's almost a litmus test of whether you believe the Bible or not. Unfortunately, it got linked with other completely vital and valid issues such as the virgin birth, the substitutionary torment of Christ, his bloody death on the cross, his atoning sacrifice for our sins, his bodily resurrection from the dead, his actual working of literal miracles in space and time all of those things were part of the fundamentalist movement, part of biblical conservativism, but premillennialism got woven in there as well, and I think it shouldn't have. And so it came to the point where if you didn't believe there was going to be a literal 1000-year reign of Christ after the second coming, you didn't believe the Bible. And that is really just not true and it doesn't show much knowledge about history. Some of the most passionate inerrantists passionately committed to every word of the Bible, were amillennial, they didn't believe in a literal reign of Christ, physical reign of Christ on earth in this pattern. So I think we just separate them. People, pastors lose their jobs over this. I hope I'm not going to, I hope we don't have a growing premillennial, kind of faction in the church. I think it's possible to believe every word of the Bible is God's word. But recognize that prophetic literature and apocalyptic literature are hard to interpret. We just do the best we can to interpret them. III. Could This Be the Millennium? So, could this be the Millennium? Well, the word 1000 years comes from Revelation 20:1-6, which mentions the 1000-year period, seems after the second coming of Christ, if you take a consecutive order there in which the devil is bound with chains somehow, thrown in a pit and some, if not all, of the saints are resurrected to reign with Christ. After the 1000 years, the devil's set free. That's where it comes from, Revelation 20. The idea of a period of rich blessing during that time is not found in Revelation 20. You don't get any of that there. It's just the binding of Satan so that he should not deceive the nations anymore and the raising up of souls that were beheaded during the reign of the Antichrist and they are resurrected and reign with Christ for a thousand years. At the end of the 1000 years, the devil is released and apparently he causes trouble again. So in Revelation 19, we have a clear description of the Second Coming of Christ in which Jesus comes back, destroys the beast, the Antichrist and his army, this huge army. Destroys the beast, throws the beast into hell, into the lake of fire. Huge carnage at that point. Then you got Revelation 20, which is 1000 years. Satan is bound so he cannot deceive the nations. Martyrs slain by the beast are raised from the dead and sit on thrones and reign with Christ for a thousand years. At the end of the thousand years, Satan is released from his prison. He goes once again on the Earth and deceives people. Gathers them for one final battle. The evil army of rebels is massed and marches against the city of God's people, but God destroys them with fire from heaven. Then at last, the devil is cast into the lake of fire to be tormented forever. After that comes the Great White Throne Judgment in which all human beings that have ever lived are judged by the books of God. Everyone whose name is not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life is thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20. Then Revelation 21, you heard sung so beautifully for us today. That's the New Heaven and the New Earth. I've already read it. Descends from heaven, you have the Eternal State. Revelation 21 and 22 seems to be heaven, the Eternal State. So the sequence is important for premillennialists. They think first the Second Coming in Revelation 19, big battle, Second Coming. Then the 1000 years, that's the premillennial. Then the eternal state. Alright. The Case For Premillennialism Why do premillennialists have a good case? What are arguments for it? Why do I act like a ping pong ball, back and forth? Alright. Well, the sequence of chapters in Revelation 19, 20, and 21 seems pretty weighty. And it was very weighty for a counselor of mine who is a teacher at Southern Seminary who I asked advice on this when I had to write this chapter or commentary. And he had switched from being premillennial to amillennial in the three years that I had talked to him. That was not helpful. I was very disappointed. I wanted some premillennial help and he said, "Sorry. I can't help you. I'm an amillennial now." Maybe he switched back in the last month. I don't know. But I had to write the chapter. So the sequence is determined if he told me that. And he said it's first, the Second Coming, Revelation 19, then the 1000 years, and then you've got the Eternal State. Secondly, the binding of Satan. So apparently, he has no ability to roam or to deceive the nations is troublesome for amillennialists. because we know that Satan is very active on planet Earth. It says in 1 Peter 5, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour." Seems like he is free to roam, free to deceive, free to tear people apart. So it seems like the vigorous binding that's described, that is the essence of the 1000 years there, is not happening now, so it must be in the future. Also, the Millennium seems to be the best way to understand Isaiah 65:20. I don't know how else to... What do you do with this incredibly, richly blessed world in which there's birth, life and death? I don't know. If there's not going to be a Millennium, I don't know what to do exactly with those words. And then one final argument for premillennialism is, it seems to make sense big picture. Redemptive history. What was it all about? You know what I think it was all about? At the garden, the human race through Adam and Eve wanted an education. Do you remember? It was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So we wanted an education in evil. Well, we've gotten one. And what's it been like? At every level of redemptive history, I'm not a dispensationalist, but at every unfolding of God's redemptive history, as more blessings have been poured out on His people, sin has stubbornly remained and made it difficult, including right now. Do you know what I mean? We have Pentecost blessings, we have the Indwelling Spirit, we're adopted as sons and daughters, and still we wrestle every day with sin. And it's like kind of like the final step of that drama is Jesus physically reigning on Earth, having already come and all that and still there's sin. It makes sense, doesn't mean it's true, but it does make sense. The Case For Amillennialism What about amillennialism? First of all, amillennialism is a misnomer. It means like there's no Millennium. Amillennials don't believe that there is no Millennium. It's just that it's a symbolic number in the Book of Revelation. 10 cubed. 10 times 10 times 10. There's a lot of this cubing thing. I'm about to preach through the Book of Revelation all the way through to the end. So I've got a long time to figure out what I believe about Revelation 20, so you can pray for me. Also, I want you to know this is the very topic I'll be discussing on Wednesday night at 6:30 up in the Upper Room in Acts. We're right here in our eschatology study, Millennium. So come and argue with me, debate with me, whatever you'd like to do. That's a good format for that. Amillennialists don't believe there's no 1000-year binding of Satan. We just think the binding is going on now in a limited sense. It's specific. He's bound so that he cannot deceive the nations to the end that they would mass together and to attack the people of God wholesale and try to destroy them. That seems to be the way the binding is. Or you could say he's not able to deceive the elect of the nations concerning Christ. When Jesus came in Matthew 12, he's talking about driving out demons. Remember that? And they said it's by Beelzebub that he drives out demons. How can Satan drive out Satan? You want to know what's really going on here? Matthew 12:29. He says, "How can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house." So that's a huge verse for amillennialists. They're saying the binding happened at the First Coming of Christ so that he cannot deceive the elect of the nations and believe in Jesus. It's not incredibly convincing when you read Revelation 20, but it's at least a possibility. Another reason for amillennialism. It's just the simplest answer for everything. Ever heard of Occam's rule? Just choose the simplest answer. Alright. The next thing that happens after escalating tribulation and the Antichrist is the Second Coming of Christ, all of Jesus' enemies are destroyed, all of his elect are resurrected, judgement happens then an Eternal State. For me probably the weightiest reason why I believe that amillennialism is the way to go is because it says in 1 Corinthians 15, that at the second coming of Christ He will destroy all his enemies not some of them, and the last enemy to be destroyed is what? Death, death. So after his second coming, there can be no death. I think that's a very strong argument. Sam Storms who's probably the most articulate advocate of this position said, that if you're a premillennialist there are several things with which you have to reckon. Number one, you must necessarily believe that physical death will continue after the second coming of Christ. Secondly, you must necessarily believe that the natural creation will continue beyond the time of Christ's second coming to be subjected to the curse in some measure of the fall of man. After the second coming that curse is going to continue, they'll mitigate it. Thirdly, you must necessarily believe that the new heavens and the new earth will not be introduced until 1000 years subsequent to the return of Christ. Fourthly, you must necessarily believe that unbelieving men and women will still have the opportunity to come to saving faith or reject Christ for at least 1000 years after his return in kingly glory. Fifth, you must necessarily believe that unbelievers will not be finally resurrected until at least 1000 years subsequent to the return of Christ. And sixth, you must necessarily believe that unbelievers will not finally be judged and cast out into eternal punishment until at least 1000 years after the return of Christ. So what's wrong with this? Well, it seems the New Testament explicitly denies each of those six things. It just seems the second coming is when it happens friends. At the second coming all... Everything is settled. 1 Corinthians 15, 22 and following: "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive but each in his own turn, Christ the first fruits then when he comes those who belong to him," do you hear that? That's the timing. When he comes, "Then the end will come when He hands over the Kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until He has put all His enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death." And then again, 1 Thessalonians 4, "We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." Jesus is coming back, he's descending from heaven, in the clouds, he's going to bring with him those who have fallen asleep, those are the dead in Christ. So Jesus will descend, the voice of the archangel, the trumpet call of God, the second coming of Christ and the dead in Christ will rise in resurrection bodies and they'll go up and be caught up together with the Lord in the clouds. And then those who are still alive and are left will also be caught up and in a flash, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet they will be resurrected and at that moment all of the believers in Christ will have resurrection bodies and then he descends, finishes his judgment on all his enemies and the Eternal State comes, that's the way the amillennialist sees the order. V. Applications So my evaluation? It really doesn't matter, what does matter is, do you believe in the new heavens and the new earth? And are you preparing yourself for it? That's the thing. 2 Peter 3, says, "The day of the Lord will come like a thief, the heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and Godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed it's coming. Be holy, be evangelistic, internal journey, external journey, be holy as you look forward to the day of God and speed it's coming." That's what Peter tells us to do in light of what's coming. I would add one other thing, Peter would not mind I don't think, be hope-filled, be filled with hope about all this. This is a glorious chapter. Do you see the beauty of this? All difficulty between verse 17 and 20, set it aside for a moment, the radiant beauty of what's coming should fill you with hope. Let your hope shine to lost people around you, let them see the hope that you have, let them see how optimistic and joyful you are. You don't get dragged down into the current events, you are floating above that to some degree, very aware of what's happening but so filled with hope and let that joy give you a platform for explaining the Gospel to the lost. My final word is to those of you who are lost and you know that you're outside of Christ, please don't leave this place lost. God our Heavenly Father, who set all of this up, sent his Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lived a sinless life, who died on the cross, a bloody death in your place as a sinner, you have violated God's laws, you have broken the 10 Commandments, you've broken the two great commandments, we all have, all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. God sent his son to save sinners like you and me, don't leave this place unconverted. Call on the name of the Lord, trust in him, just look to Christ, look to him and all of your sins will be forgiven and then this beautiful promise will be yours as it belongs already to all of us. Close with me in prayer.

Andy Davis preaches a verse by verse expository sermon on Isaiah 65:17-25. The main subject of the sermon is the promise of the New Heaven and Earth and the time timing of Christ's coming.

Welcome to the thirtieth episode of Equipping You in Grace. Twice a week, I have conversations with Christian authors and thought leaders for the purpose of helping Christians develop a biblical worldview in a conversational tone about issues inside and outside the Church. Today, I'm joined by Dr. Sam Storms, author of Packer on the Christian Life: Knowing God in Christ, Walking by the Spirit. What you’ll hear in this episode: Dr. Storms life, ministry, marriage, and his current ministry projects. The life, ministry, and legacy of Dr. J.I. Packer How Dr. Packer handled controversy in his ministry. Lessons Pastors and ministry leaders can learn from Dr. Packer's ministry. The contributions of Dr. Packer to the study of theology. How his teaching on holiness can help Christians. His upcoming writing projects. Three of his favorite Amillennial theologians. Recommended books for learning more about Dr. Packer. About the Author: Sam Storms (PhD, University of Texas at Dallas) has spent more than four decades in ministry as a pastor, professor, and the author of more than two-dozen books. He was visiting associate professor of theology at Wheaton College from 2000 to 2004, and is currently senior pastor at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is the founder of Enjoying God Ministries and the author of numerous books, including Chosen for Life, Tough Topics: Biblical Answers to 25 Challenging Questions, Kept for Jesus, and Packer on the Christian Life. Subscribing, sharing, and your feedback You can subscribe to Equipping You in Grace via iTunes, Google Play, or your favorite podcast catcher. If you like what you’ve heard, please consider leaving a rating and share it with your friends (it takes only takes a second and will go a long way to helping other people find the show). You can also connect with me on Twitter at @davejjenkins, on Facebook or via email to share your feedback. Thanks for listening to this week’s episode of Equipping You in Grace!

Rock, Punk, Metal show listing for February 2015 and how much fun I had at the Crush Point/Amillennial New Years Eve show at Ziggy's in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Cancerslug Northside Creeps Billy Dreamer Tiger Driver RatBatSpider Heaven & Hell Hellion Bray Road Slug Shell Rictus Grin Bad Medicine Crush Point Cinderuse Amillennial Collysion Thrasher Imperial Fall ADD The Metal Men Marilyn Manson Machine Head

Session 01 of why study bible prophecy. In our introduction we see that Jesus gives Himself a sobering insight into the destruction of Jerusalem that was coming at the hands of the Romans in 70AD. Saying, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things [which belong] unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.” Luke 19:42 What is the Lord talking about here on Palm Sunday. We look at an overview of Daniels 70th week and outline things that we will look at. It matters what you think about the End Times. Shalom, Keith

The New Covenant with Israel. Wednesday, March 26, 2008 a. The Abrahamic covenant emphasizes the Jewish race. b. The Palestinian covenant emphasizes the land for Israel. c) The Davidic covenant emphasizes the promised seed. The New Covenant guarantees Israel a converted heart as the foundation of all her blessings. The New Covenant promised to Israel is stated in JER 31:31-34. These are provisions for Israel, who are the people of the New Covenant who have believed in Christ alone, by faith alone. 1) It is an unconditional-grace covenant resting on the five "I will's" of God. In EZE 16:1-7, God affirms His love for Israel in her infant stage. In EZE 16:8-14, God reminds Israel that she was chosen and related to Jehovah by marriage, but in EZE 16:15, she played the harlot. Their beauty went to their head and they became a common whore, grabbing anyone or anything coming down the street and taking them into their bed or their place of intimacy. Therefore, the punishment of dispersion was dealt to Israel, in EZE 16:35-52. However, this is not the final setting of Israel since there will be restoration, EZE 16:53-63. The restoration is based on the promise, EZE 16:60-62. ROM 2:4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? One of those incredible gifts is the insight into our sorrows and difficulties and trials and how all divine discipline is administered in grace. 1.) The New Covenant is an unconditional-grace covenant resting on the five "I will's" of God. 2. The New Covenant is an everlasting covenant or is eternal. This is closely related to the fact that it is unconditional and made in grace, ISA 61:8; EZE 37:26; JER 31:35-37. EZE 37:26 “And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever.” 3. The New Covenant also promises the impartation of a renewed mind and heart which may be called regeneration, JER 31:33; ISA 59:21. 4. The New Covenant provides for restoration to the favor and blessing of God, HOS 2:19-20; ISA 61:9. 5. Forgiveness of sin is also included in the covenant, JER 31:32. 6. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is also included in the New Covenant. Not permanent indwelling, like the Church-age believer, who has God the Father, Son and H.S. within, but the indwelling of the H.S. to teach the believer, JER 31:33-34; EZE 36:27. 7. There will be materialistic blessings for Israel in the land according to the provisions of the New Covenant,JER 32:41; ISA 61:8; EZE 34:25-27. 8. The sanctuary will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, EZE 37:26-27. 9. War shall cease and peace shall reign according to HOS 2:18. The fact that this is also a definite characteristic of the Millennium, ISA 2:4. 10. The blood of TLJC is the foundation of all the blessings of the New Covenant, ZEC 9:11. ZEC 9:11 As for you also, because of the blood of {My} covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. The New Covenant, then, was made with the Jewish people. Confirmation of this covenant is given in the statement in ISA 61:8-9, where it is called everlasting, and again in EZE 37:21-28. a) Israel is to be re-gathered. b) Israel is to be one nation ruled by one king. c) Israel is no longer to be idolatrous but to be cleansed and forgiven. d) Israel is to dwell forever in the land after the re-gathering. e) The covenant of peace is to be “everlasting”. f) God's tabernacle is to be with them, i.e. He will be present with them in a visible way. g) Israel is to be known among the Gentiles as a nation blessed of God. This covenant is a gracious covenant that depends entirely upon the five “I wills” of God for its fulfillment inJER 31:31-34. This covenant amplifies the third great area of the original Abrahamic covenant i.e., the area of blessing. The blessing is emphasized in the New Covenant. Covenant theologians and the Amillennial view teach that the reference to the New Covenant in the N.T. is proof that the church is the New Israel. This covenant was made with Israel, the physical seed of Abraham according to the flesh, and with them alone: JER 31:31, ISA 59:20-21, JER 32:37-40, JER 50:4-5, EZE 16:60-63, EZE 34:25-26, EZE 37:21-28. The scripture clearly teaches that the Mosaic covenant or the Law was made with the nation Israel only, ROM 2:14, GAL 3:24-25, LEV 26:46, DEU 4:8. The Law pertains to Israel only, and since this old covenant was made with Israel, the new covenant is made with the same people, JER 31:35-37! The sequence of events set up by the prophet Jeremiah in JER 32:37-41 is that Israel will first be re-gathered and restored to the land, and then will experience the blessings of the New Covenant in the land. 1) The re-gathering of Israel 2) Their spiritual rebirth 3) The return of Christ, ROM 11:26-27. This New Covenant will be realized in the Millennial age, JER 31:34; EZE 32:25; ISA 11:6-9. They are to be fulfilled because of the faithfulness of the One making the covenants, not the ones to whom the covenant is made! 1) A nation forever 2) A land forever 3) A king forever 4) A throne forever 5) A kingdom forever 6) A new covenant 7) Abiding blessings.

This episode of CS is titled “Augustine – Part 2.”Augustine wrote a work called Retractions in which he lists the many books and treatises he'd penned. Each work is given a summary and additional notes are added charting the development of his thought over time.He wrote some 113 books & treatises, close to 250 letters, some of which are treatises themselves, and 500 sermons.Here's a rundown on some of them …The best introduction to Augustine's thoughts is his Enchiridion – also known as On Faith, Hope, & Love.  The section on faith is an exposition of the Apostle's Creed. Hope is captured in the Lord's Prayer, while Love is the summary of the Commandments.On Christian Teaching is Augustine's theology of Scripture; what it teaches, how it ought to be understood, and a practical theology on how to share it. It's here he developed the foundational principle of the analogy of faith. It establishes the rule that no teaching which is contrary to the general tenor and story of the Scriptures can be developed from any particular passage. The history of heresy and pseudo-Christian cults makes clear most of them violate this basic rule of hermeneutics.On Catechizing the Uninstructed gives both a long and short form for how to deal with inquirers.Augustine's On the Good of Marriage affirms the benefits of marriage as bringing children into the world, protecting fidelity, and serves as a picture of Christ and the Church. Although, keeping with the sensibilities of the time, it made clear the superior position of celibacy.Shortly after arriving back home in Tagaste, around 389, Augustine wrote what is probably his most famous work – Confessions. The word meant more then than it typically does today. Yes, it bears his confession of sin, but Augustine also meant the word as his profession of faith and a declaration of the goodness of God. Com­pleted by 401, it lays bare his soul. He describes his life before conversion, the events leading to his conver­sion, and his path back to North Africa. The Confessions of St. Augustine is counted as one of the greatest autobiographical works of all time. It contains the oft-quoted “You have made us for Yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee" in the first paragraph. Scholars & students of ancient literature are moved by Augustine's remarkably candid and perceptive analysis of his struggle with sin. At one point he shares the struggle he had with lust this way. He cried out to the heavens, “Give me chas­tity and holy desire; Only—not yet.”After the Confessions, Augustine's most important work, and one he labored on for 14 years is The City of God. This is arguably the climax of Christian Latin apologetics and became the blueprint for the Middle Ages.It began as a response to the Sack of Rome by the Goths in 410. Though Rome was no longer the capital of the Empire, it remained the enduring symbol of it. Pagans loudly protested Rome was sacked because the old gods were furious they'd been forsaken; thrown over for this new deity out of the Middle East name Jesus.Augustine began the work as a reply to this damning charge. It grew into a comprehensive philosophy of history; an eloquent apologetic for what would come to be known as the Providential View of History.Augustine posited 2 cities; One of the world, the other of Heaven. These 2 cities are the result of 2 kinds of love; the love of self and the love of God. It begins with a negative and apologetic part that attacks paganism and its claims against the Faith. The next section is positive and describes Augustine's philosophy of history. He describes the origin, progress and terminus of both cities. When I say “city” think society, for that is what Augustine meant.Such a description as this, and most others may make it appear Augustine posits the 2 cities as ever distinct. That's not the case; rather, they are, at least as they are manifest in the world, always confused and mixed; yet ever at odds.In earlier works, Augustine laid out a pattern for history as progressing from . . .Before the Law,Under Law,Under Grace,& In Peace. These corresponded to the individual believer's spiritual path as well. Augustine also charted 7 periods of history based on the Creation-week. Five of them fell under the Old Testament, one in the new, and the 7th was the Millennium, which in this earlier work he described as coming after Jesus' Return.But in The City of God, Augustine's idea of history was Amillennial. He cast the 1000 years of Rev 20 as symbolic either of the Church age or the ultimate summation of history. THAT view replaced the prior, literal millennial eschatology that had been the position of the Church to that time. The Amillennial position became the dominant view in Western Christianity thru the Middle Ages and beyond.The City of God is so noble in its treatment of theology and philosophy it's endured as a classic statement of Christians' views on a wide range of topics. Augustine treats with such subjects as rape, abortion, and suicide.Many historians consider Augustine the most important and influential Christian thinker from the Apostle Paul to the Reformers Luther and Calvin who both drew heavily from his work.When he became Bishop at Hippo, the Donatists still thrived in North Africa, in some places forming the majority. Augustine supported the Roman position against them.By way of review, the Donatists argued for a pure church, one led by bishops who'd not caved to persecution, recanted their faith, or surrendered Scriptures to be burned, then, when persecution passed, were allowed to return to their post. Rome said such lapsed bishops and priests could be restored. The Donatists said they could NOT and that any service they performed was invalid. The Donatists were deeply upset that the Bishop at Rome welcomed these lapsed priests back into their positions as leaders.Augustine argued against the Donatists, saying that according to Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares, the Church was a mixed multitude; holding both the lost and saved.Now: I have to admit I'm at a loss to see how that justified allowing apostates to regain leadership positions in the church.Let's cast that in light of a far sometimes problem today. Should a pastor who commits adultery, and is caught in it, not from which he repents before being caught; should he be allowed back into his role as a pastor just because he breaks up with his mistress?For Augustine, the issue wasn't so much that these lapsed priests and bishops were allowed back into their roles; it was the question of whether or not their religious service held any efficacy for those they were served by; things like Communion and baptism.Augustine differed with the Donatists on the validity of these baptisms and communion served by lapsed priests. Donatists claimed an apostate had lost authority to administer these rites. Augustine said the moral and spiritual standing of a priest wasn't important, only that he be aware he bestowed God's grace on others by baptizing and serving communion.While no doubt many of us would agree that it isn't the moral excellence of the officiating minister that determines the value of communion and baptism, what surely some of our listeners will find difficult is the idea that a special grace is communicated BY a priest, through these rituals.You see, this brings us right up to a much later controversy that will surface during the Reformation. Do the sacraments convey grace or are they meant to be memorials that point to a historical event we renew our faith by? Notice I did NOT say, they are MERELY memorials, for that goes too far and misrepresents the position of the radical Reformers, But that is a subject for a much later episode.Augustine's argument at this point laid the foundation for the Roman Catholic Church's doctrine that an ordained priest becomes the channel of grace to church members. Next stop on that train is Sacramentalism and Sacerdotalism.Augustine's support of the Roman church and Bishop in the Donatist controversy included the use of force to suppress rivals and coerce them to accept church policy. In another example of his misuse of Scripture, he quoted Luke 14:23, wherein the parable of the banquet the host said: “Compel them to come in.” Augustine used this to justify forcing opponents to comply. This again seems an odd application of a passage that's self-explanatory. For the servants of the host didn't go out into streets and beat people; driving them with whips into the banquet.Now: I recognize the historic weight and significance assigned to Augustine of Hippo. He was a towering intellect who made a major contribution to Christian theology. There's no denying that. But there's much in his work that seems to some, and I am one, that is inconsistent, even contradictory. For instance, a moment ago I mentioned Augustine developed the hermeneutical principle of the Analogy of Faith, a rule he shatters by justifying the use of force to compel adherence to church policy by using Luke 14:23.Following his refutation of Donatism, Augustine turned his impressive intellectual attention to the teaching of a British monk named Pelagius. Pelagianism was a Christianized form of Greek stoicism. Pelagius said humans aren't sinners by nature; that they're free moral agents who become sinners by sinning and that it was possible to live without sin apart from the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Pelagius believed Jesus's death atoned for sins but that humans possessed the power in themselves to live holy lives. Augustine's own experience with sin proved Pelagius wrong and he argued forcefully against his ideas. Augustine said the entire human race was in Adam so that when he fell, all fell with him and sin passed to everyone. Sinners, Augustine argued, are not only saved by God's grace, but they're also kept by it and can only live God-honoring lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. He taught that God chooses only some to be saved and bestows this saving grace through the church by baptism and communion.This is another example of Augustine's confusing theology. He said only those who joined the visible church receive grace, then turned around and said salvation is a private matter between God and the individual. It was the former idea that laid the Roman Church's claim to being the sole agent of bestowing grace, and the later teaching that formed the Protestant Reformation's view of salvation. One has to wonder what Augustine thought the unmerited favor of grace was if joining a church, being baptized and taking communion acquired it.He helped develop the doctrine of pur­gatory and so emphasized the value of baptism and communion as means of bestowing grace that the false doctrines of baptismal regeneration and sacramentalism were logical outcomes of his views.As Augustine neared his final days, the Vandals who'd sacked Rome, crossed the Straits of Gibraltar and swept East to lay siege to Hippo. Two months into the siege Augustine died & a year later when the city finally fell, the Vandals entered to find everyone either dying or dead from hunger. Though they destroyed most of the city, out of respect for the renowned Augustine, they left his church intact.