(Revelation 20:1-6)  And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. {2} He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. {3} 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. {4} 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. {5} (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. {6} 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.

One of the popular doctrines among some denominations is the idea that Christ came to the earth with the view of establishing a kingdom on the earth. But this was prevented when Satan caused Christ to be crucified, thus thwarting God’s plan. The church was then set up as a temporary solution until Christ returned to set up the kingdom over which he would reign for 1,000 years.

The first matter has to do with prophecy and fulfillment. We remember that Daniel had a vision that depicted a statue made up of four parts — a head of gold, breast, and arms of silver, belly, and thigh of brass, and legs and feet of iron and clay. Then a great stone rolled down and struck the image’s feet so that it fell and was destroyed.

The four parts of the image represented the Babylonian kingdom in Daniel’s time, followed by the Medo-Persian Empire, then the Greek, and finally the Roman Empire.

God then explains to Daniel the meaning of the vision with respect to the legs and feet of the statue. “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever” (Daniel 2:44).

It is interesting to note that since the days of the Roman Empire there has never been any kingdom or empire that has ruled over the known world as in those centuries.

What happened in the 1st Century, A.D? Christ came to set up or establish God’s spiritual kingdom. Notice the words of Christ himself in Mark 9:1: “And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

Note what Christ was preaching: “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). What does the phrase “at hand” mean? That means near, close, and does not mean “thousands of years in the future.”

Daniel was told that in the days of the Roman Empire God’s spiritual kingdom would be set up. Christ said that within the lifetime of some who were then living the kingdom of God would come with power.

If this did not happen, then we have a problem with Satan having more power than God. Who can believe it? And where are these 2,000-year-old people? Does anyone know where they are? Christ said some then living would not die before the kingdom came. Well, it did come a short time later on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 when the church was established.

Consider a promise God made to Abraham concerning the dwelling place of his descendants. “And it came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, [there appeared] a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates’” (Genesis 15:17-18).

Now read what Allen Ross, a professor at the Dallas Theological Seminary, wrote about this prophecy. “Israel has never possessed this land in its entirety, but she will when Christ returns to reign as Messiah.”

Let’s compare that with what God has said. “Now Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life” (I Kings 4:21). “Now Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. And he was the ruler over all the kings from the Euphrates River even to the land of the Philistines, and as far as the border of Egypt” (II Chronicles 9:25-26).

So, just what is this kingdom that God said was coming to the world? The kingdom is the church. The image of the kingdom refers to Christ’s reign, and we are citizens of this kingdom.

The image of the church refers to us individuals who have been called together out of the world of darkness to be a body of people, the spiritual body of Christ. In fact, the Greek word for “church” is “ekklesia,” which literally means “called out.” The church is a body of people who have been “called out” of the world to be citizens of the kingdom of God.

Christ occupies two positions. He is our high priest, and he is our spiritual king. Notice a prophecy concerning this in Zechariah 6:13: “Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.”‘ Notice that it said that Christ “sit and rule on His throne,” and that “he will be a priest on His throne.” That prophecy says that he will sit and rule on His throne, which is describing a king. And at the same time, he is a priest. This does not say he is a priest now and will be a king later.

We are in the kingdom now. “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13) That’s present tense, not future tense. There is a future that is associated with the kingdom, as Paul explained in I Corinthians 15:24: “then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.” That’s not on the earth but in heaven.

This doctrine is very prominent among the Jehovah’s Witnesses and is also a tenet of Baptist churches and other denominations. While the scriptures clearly refute this idea, one of the strongest arguments against this false doctrine is that it means that Satan has more power than God.

If Satan prevented God and Christ from fulfilling the intent and promise to establish the kingdom when Christ came in the first century, what will prevent Satan from thwarting God’s purpose the second time, or the third time, or whenever? That would make Satan the ruler of the universe rather than God. Who can believe it?

Premillennialism and the Bible

Our nation was shocked, saddened, and angered on September 11, 2001, by the events that transpired in our nation — the cold-blooded murder of thousands. And people wonder, why this hatred, why this insane rage? A few days after the atrocities, I spent some time talking with a peaceful Islamic young woman from Bangladesh that my wife and I have befriended. She asked me the same question, and although she understood some of it, there was a part of it concerning which she had no clue. She has been threatened, with a bloody ax drawn on her whiteboard, and hateful things shouted at her and her friends.

Why do they hate us?

Although there are various underlying causes, two principal things stand out.

1. On May 14, 1948, the U.N. basically established Israel as a Jewish state, and Palestinians were driven out of their homeland. I understand many Palestinians still live in refugee camps 50 years later. This has not set well with Palestinians and their Arab neighbors, most of whom are Muslims. Two of our presidents, Truman and Carter, strongly supported Premillennial views, and thus have strongly supported Israel against the claims of the disenfranchised Palestinians. Thus the hatred for the Israelis, who have not always been good neighbors, also spills over to the US. (And the Palestinians have not always been good neighbors, either.) The Jewish and Premillennial influence upon our congress continues to shape our foreign policy, which is viewed as anti-Arab, and thus anti-Muslim.
2. A second matter has to do with US forces in Saudi Arabia. This is where Mohammed is buried, and where two of Islam’s holiest sites are—Medina and Mecca. The radical Muslims, such as Osama bin Laden, believe that no infidel should set foot in this holy land. Thus, even though Osama is a Saudi, he has denounced the Crown Prince for allowing the infidel Americans to have troops there. So he vowed to drive them out by whatever means of force he can.

Now, What Is Premillennialism?

No two groups teach exactly alike, but all have major points of agreement.

• The kingdom of the Old Testament prophecies has not been established, and we now have the “church phase.”
• God’s promises to Abraham to make his seed a great nation are not yet fulfilled
• Christ came to set up his kingdom, but he was thwarted in this, so set up the church instead, intending to return later to set up his kingdom.
• The Jews as a nation will be converted and restored to Palestine.
• Christ will return to earth, establish his kingdom, and reign for 1,000 years on David’s literal throne in Jerusalem.

There are many other factors, but these are the core ideas that drive Premillennialism.

Thus this theory drives the US government to prop up Israel so that we might help God fulfill his purpose. Nearly every protestant denomination is infested with this teaching — some more so than others. This is a part of the doctrines of Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Jehovah’s Witness, Church of God and Seventh Day Adventist denominations, etc. Radio and TV preachers daily send this error into the homes of the unwary and thus lead them astray. Some, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, send people into homes and further spread this erroneous doctrine. Ergo, we need to understand the Bible, lest we also are misled, and so that we can help others to a correct understanding.

Premillennialism teaches that God has guaranteed to restore the Israelites to Palestine and that not until then will the kingdom of Old Testament prophecy be set up or established.

Premillennialism teaches that the Jews never occupied all the land God promised to them. Therefore, the Old Testament kingdom of Israel will have to be restored with the Jews in Palestine, so that God’s promise can be redeemed and fulfilled. But God’s Word says they did receive the full promise. “So Jehovah gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein” (Joshua 21:43).

Premillennialism teaches that Abraham’s descendants are “in the flesh” rather than “in faith.” But note that the gospel teaches that there is now no more distinction between Jew and Gentile in God’s sight, but that the true descendant of Abraham is the Christian.

In writing of the new relationship that we have with God, the apostle Paul wrote

“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh” (Romans 2:28-29).

The point is carried further in Galatians 3:7: “Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham?”

And later in the chapter, he writes:

“For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one [man] in Christ Jesus. And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:26-29). Paul clearly points out that the true sons of God are now related by a spiritual connection, not by being born into a Jewish family.

Most premillennialist teach that Christ intended to set up his kingdom while on Earth, but the Jews would not allow him to do so. Ergo he returned to the Father, set up the church as a substitute, and when the Jews are ready, he will return and establish the original kingdom.

But look at John 6:15: “Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone.” Actually, the Jews wanted an earthly kingdom and tried to help Christ establish it. But the Premillennial theory denies this.

We see in Ephesians 3:10-11 that the church was in the eternal purpose of God, and not a mere “afterthought” or “substitute.” God has revealed his will “to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Do you see the point? The existence of the church was “according to the eternal purpose” of God. Yet Premillennialism denies this, saying the church would not have been set up if the Jews had only received the kingdom when Christ came.

Note John 17:4: “I glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do.”

Here Jesus claims he accomplished the mission of the Father as prophesied in many Old Testament passages. One of them is Daniel 2:44. As Daniel is interpreting the dream of Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar, he describes the four world kingdoms that succeed one another. The fourth kingdom was to be the great Roman Empire. Look at what Daniel said by inspiration from God:

“And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”

God says that during the Roman Empire, his kingdom would be established. Christ said he fulfilled what he was given to do. But Premillennialism denies this, claiming Christ failed in his mission. Question: If Christ failed the first time, what would keep him from failing the second, third, or fourth time?
If he has all power but didn’t have enough power to overcome Satan then where will he get more power to overcome the next time?

Premillennialism teaches that the righteous dead will be raised when Christ returns and that the unrighteous dead will be raised at the end of his reign, at least 1,000 years later.

There are some serious problems with this idea, and John 5:28-29 points out one such problem.  “Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.”  Christ says all will hear, and all will come forth when the hour (not two hours) cometh. But Premillennialism denies this, separating the coming forth by one thousand years.

Matthew 25:31-34,41 teach that the good and bad are to be judged at the same time. “But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world … Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels.”  Does the picture presented here allow a thousand years between? In no way. But the Premillennial view separates the judgments by one thousand years.

The Premillennialist counters by saying that Matthew 25 refers only to Gentiles and not Jews, therefore there is not one judgment. But Jesus made the gospel for all nations. “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). If the Premillennial theory is true, the gospel is only for Gentiles now, and not for all. Thus we see how Premillennialism tries to patch up its contradiction with one passage and winds up contradicting another, and so it is with all false prophets.

We are taught in Revelation 1:7 that when Christ returns, every eye will see him.

“Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him.” Premillennialism says that when Christ comes only the righteous shall see him first, and the unrighteous later. But this verse says that every eye shall see his return. Which shall we believe?

Premillennialism teaches that after the second coming, Christ and his saints will reign over all the Earth for 1,000 years.

They read in Revelation 20 a one-thousand-year reign.

“And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:1-6).

This is the foundation passage of premillennial theory:

“It is on this passage that the whole doctrine of the millennium as such has been founded. It is true that there are elsewhere in the scriptures abundant promises that the gospel will ultimately spread over the world; but the notion of a millennium as such is found in this passage alone” (Albert Barnes, noted Presbyterian commentator).

I don’t propose to unravel all the mystery of the passage, but consider this: Premillennials admit that many expressions in the chapter are figurative and symbolical and cannot be taken literally, but they insist on a literal one thousand years. The advocates of the theory read many things into the passage that absolutely are not there.

Consider the fact that in the passage there is:

1. No mention of second coming
2. No mention of a bodily resurrection
3. No mention of a reign on earth
4. No mention of a literal throne of David
5. No mention of Jerusalem or Palestine
6. No mention of us
7. No mention of Christ on earth

When theorists read into the passage things that are not there, they add to the Word of God, and are rewarded accordingly.  “I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).

Another Scripture that gives these mistaken teachers a problem is I Thessalonians 4:17. The apostle Paul is writing concerning some false conceptions the readers had about the Lord’s return and assures them:

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:15-17).

These verses clearly teach that those in the graves will be caught up together with the saved of those alive to meet the Lord in the air, and thus ever to be with the Lord. It does not say one word about Christ ever setting foot on this earth, or the saints returning to the earth. But Premillennialism teaches a round trip, saying these shall return to the earth to reign after a short time.

In John 18:36, we see that the Jews in Christ’s time clearly expected an earthly kingdom, with the promised Messiah reigning in the flesh. They hoped he would raise an army, throw off the yoke of Rome and make Israel a great nation again, as it was in the days of David and Saul. When Pilate was questioning Jesus about the charges made against him that he was a king, Christ responded by saying,  “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”

This verse shows that Christ was not anticipating an early rule or an earthly kingdom, and therefore the charges against him were mistaken. If they were mistaken, the modern theorists are also mistaken.

Peter says that the events on Pentecost — the preaching of the gospel and the establishment of the church or kingdom — ushered in a dispensation known as the last days. In responding to the charge that the apostles were drunk, Peter states “but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel: And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:16-17). Thus the age of the last days is not a period of time in the future, and this does not allow the Premillennial idea of an age on earth to follow this present age.

Jeremiah 22:30 deals a deathblow to the Premillennial theory. Let’s read the context (Jeremiah 22:24-30) as God is warning King Coniah that he is the last of the lineage of David that would ever sit on a throne ruling in Judah.

“As I live, saith Jehovah, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence; and I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them of whom thou art afraid, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans. And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die. But to the land whereunto their soul longeth to return, thither shall they not return. Is this man Coniah a despised broken vessel? is he a vessel wherein none delighteth? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into the land which they know not? O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of Jehovah. Thus saith Jehovah, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days; for no more shall a man of his seed prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling in Judah.”

What is the significance of this prophecy? Christ cannot occupy a throne, ruling in Jerusalem in Judah, since he is of the lineage of David and of the tribe of Judah. The first chapter of Matthew goes to great lengths to prove Christ’s genealogy. Now, if Coniah was the last of David’s seed to sit on a throne in Judah, there is no way that those who teach Premillennialism can get Christ to sit on David’s throne and rule for a thousand years in Jerusalem. God says it won’t happen! Rather, Christ is now King of kings and Lord of lords, ruling from heaven.

“I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession; that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in its own times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen” (I Timothy 6:13-16).

Notice that this speaks of Christ’s reigning in the present tense, not in the future as the Premillennial theory would have us believe.

It Minimizes the Church

The premillennial position makes the church a mere accident which is diametrically the opposite of what Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:11. He declared that it was “according to the eternal purpose of God.” A serious consequence of the premillennial doctrine is that it destroys faith in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

R.H. Boll of Louisville, Kentucky, was the leader of the premillennial movement among churches of Christ. He referred to the church as “a new spiritual contingent” (Word and Work, March, 1938). The word “contingent” means “a happening by chance or unforeseen causes” (Webster’s Seventh Collegiate Dictionary, p. 180). According to the premillennial theory, had it not been for the rejection of the Messiah by the Jews, the old literal kingdom of David would have been re-established and the church would never have been brought into existence. Who can believe that the church, purchased by His Son’s blood and filled with His Spirit, is accidental or by chance?^1, 2

In the first place, the Old Testament prophets never foretold an earthly king nor an earthly kingdom. The Jews, including the apostles, were expecting a restoration of the literal kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6) as are the modern-day premillennialists; but Jesus did not come to establish a literal and earthly kingdom.

The kingdom He established began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), the reign of Jesus is spiritual (I Corinthians 15:25-26) and the very nature of the kingdom is spiritual (John 18:36; Romans 14:17). The terms” church” and “kingdom” are used interchangeably in the New Testament (Matthew 16:18-19), and to be in the kingdom is to be in the church (Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:9).

Jesus is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18) and rules over His kingdom (I Corinthians 15:25-26; Revelation 1:6). The idea that the kingdom was postponed because of rejection by the Jews, and the church is an interruption” (“a parenthesis” as expressed by H.A. Ironside) was fathered by J.N. Darby in the latter part of the nineteenth century.

He insisted that the church is distinctly not a part of God’s initial redemptive plan (Clarence C. Bass, Backgrounds of Dispensationalism, p. 27). This idea is generally believed by modern premillennialists. It was promoted in churches of Christ by R.H. Boll (as previously mentioned) and is popularized by C.I. Scofield in the publication of his Bible with premillennial notes. The church was not only in the mind of God (Ephesians 3:11) but is spiritual Israel, fulfilling in Christ the promise to Abraham (Galatians 3). It manifests the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10), is a part of the “mystery” (the divine plan of redemption, vs. 6), and will remain as long as the earth shall endure (vs. 21).

It Minimizes the Gospel

Since the church is a part of the divine “mystery” (Ephesians 3:5-6), if the church is minimized, then so is the gospel; because the gospel is the revelation of the “mystery.” It reveals the salvation of man in the church; therefore, to minimize one is to minimize the other.

It Nullifies God’s Promise

Both John the Baptist and Jesus preached that the kingdom was at hand (Matthew 3:2; 4:17). “At hand” is from the Greek word engizo, and is translated “nigh” or “near.” But if the kingdom was postponed, these prophecies failed and God would not be true to His promise. The result would be that what Jesus preached was not the gospel of the kingdom (Mark 1:14-15), for the kingdom did not come. Multitudes had responded in good faith that the kingdom would come. If it did not come, then God was not true to His promise. It should be noted also that not one word was uttered about national repentance being the condition that the kingdom would come. Furthermore, if God did not know that the kingdom would be postponed when He made His promise, then God would not be omniscient. God announced something that he did not know would be postponed. And, if the kingdom was postponed, then the veracity of Jesus would be impeached because He promised that which did not come. Remember, He even said that some living then would not die before they would “see the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1). Who can believe that God and Jesus made a false promise? Such is the serious consequence of premillennialism.

It Makes the Great Commission Void

Jesus said that all power was given to Him in heaven and on earth and that His apostles were to teach all nations (Matthew 28:18-19). Premillennialists contend that the “nations” referred to by Jesus at the judgment (Matthew 25:31-32) does not mean the Jews, but rather the Gentiles. They think the “nations” mean the Gentiles as distinguished from Israel. But the commission says go and teach “all the nations.” If the term “nations” never refers to Jews, then Peter was preaching in vain to the Jews on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. The consequences are that the great commission is nullified as far as the Jew is concerned. Where is the commission for the Jew? There is none if this contention is correct. And, if Jesus does not exercise all power now, then the great commission is nullified. As to the contention that “nations” refer only to the Jews, is a mistake to begin with; because the Greek word ethnos that is translated “nations” in Matthew 25:32 is also the same form which appears in Luke 24:47 and Acts 17:26. In both verses, the context itself shows that all races are referred to — all men and not only Gentiles. Luke 24:47 is fulfilled in Acts 2 when repentance and remission of sins were preached “in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” The preaching at that time was to Jews; therefore, Jews are included in “all nations.” The gospel is God’s power to save everyone who obeys it, Jews and Gentiles alike (Romans 1:16).

It Denies “The Last Days”

Premillennialists deny that we are now living in “the last days.” They refer to this present period as “the church age” and”the last days” will not begin until after the return of Jesus from heaven. According to them, there are to be a literal one thousand years after the days called the last ones. But Peter identified the time of “the last days” when he declared on the day of Pentecost,”but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel: And it shall be in the last days…” (Acts 2:16-17). Jesus came at the end of the Jewish dispensation (Hebrews 1:1) and the day of Pentecost inaugurated the period known as “the last days,” the age in which we are now living. Peter was referring to this present age, not the end of time, when he referred to “the last days” in II Peter 3:2. Mockers would occur throughout this present age. Paul speaks of “later times” in I Timothy 4:1, referring to this present age when some, would “fall away from the faith“; and then gave specific examples of how they would do so. There is a difference between the expressions “the last day” and “the last days.” Last days mean this present dispensation, whereas “the last day” means the end of it. All the dead are to be raised (both the righteous and the wicked): when Jesus comes the second time (John 5:28-29). This will take place on “the last day” (John 6:44). Here we simply observe that if it is the last day, there cannot be 365,000 more to follow. Note also that the righteous and the wicked will be raised together, at the same time; therefore, there can be no intervening interval of one day between the resurrection of the two classes, much less an interval of 365,000 days as claimed by the premillennialists.

It Demotes Jesus From His Throne

When Jesus ascended to heaven, He occupied His throne, which is said to be forever (Hebrews 1:8). But premillennialists claim that Jesus is not on His throne, but on His Father’s throne. Hebrews 1:3 and 8:1 declare that He is on the right hand of the majesty “on high” and “in the heavens.” This earth is now His footstool (Isaiah 66:1; Acts 7:49); so premillennialism demotes Jesus by bringing Him down to sit upon a literal, carnal, temporal and dilapidated throne on earth. It would bring Him down to His footstool.

That premillennialism demotes Christ, we consider Acts 2:30-32 where Peter said that Jesus was raised up to sit on David’s throne. He sits and rules not only upon His throne but also upon David’s throne. It is on this throne that He now reigns as Lord of lords and King of kings, and He will continue to reign until He has put the last enemy under His feet (I Corinthians 15:25). R.H. Boll is quoted as saying that “Jesus Christ is King de jure et potentia, but not King de facto et actu” (Latin, king by right but not in fact and in act) (See N.B. Hardeman, Tabernacle Sermons, Vol. 4, p. 162; Boles-Boll Discussion, p. 174-75). So, according to this position, rather than Jesus being actually King in fact now; He only rules with the expectation of being King, consequently assuming more the role of a crown prince. It virtually denies that Jesus is, in reality or in fact, reigning now. But in Revelation. 1:5-6 we are said to be a kingdom of priests, and we are now reigning with Him on earth (Revelation 5:9-10). Notice that we were made a kingdom (past tense) and we reign upon the earth (present tense). This present reign with Christ began when He ascended into heaven and will continue until His second coming. This will be the end when the kingdom is returned to the Father (I Corinthians 15:20-25).

It Denies Salvation To Gentiles

Israel became an established kingdom in 1095 B.C. Then the kingdom divided in 975 B.C. Two tribes remained with the house of David (tabernacle of David) and his seed continued on the throne until 586 B.C., when Zedekiah was dethroned. Amos prophesied that the tabernacle of David would be rebuilt (Amos 9:11). Jesus is of the seed of David and He was raised up to sit on the throne of David (Acts 2:30-32). This is a fulfillment of II Samuel 7:12. David had prophesied that “of the fruit of his loins he would set one upon this throne” (Acts 2:30). Why was the tabernacle of David to be rebuilt? The answer is given in Acts 15:13-17, “that the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called.” This is quoted from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Premillennialists say that the tabernacle of David will not be rebuilt until Christ returns, and will be set up on earth. But the tabernacle of David was rebuilt that the Gentiles might seek the Lord. We insist, therefore, that if Jesus Christ is not on David’s throne now, then there is no promise of any Gentile being saved now. The tabernacle of David exists in the church. Christ is on David’s throne in heaven, not on earth. We stress that if the tabernacle, or lineage of David, has not been restored, then Gentiles do not have the privilege of seeking the Lord. Some consequences of premillennialism are that the Jews are not included in the great commission, the Gentiles cannot seek the Lord and, thus, the redeeming purpose and power of the gospel are destroyed.

We do believe that Jesus will return, but we do not believe He is coming to reign on earth for 1000 years.

2 Peter 3:8-13 teaches that the return of Christ will bring the destruction of the earth.

(2 Peter 3:8-13)  But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. {9} The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. {10} But 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. {11} Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives {12} as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. {13} But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18 shows that when Jesus returns the righteous will join Him in the air.

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)  Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. {14} 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. {15} According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. {16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. {17} After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. {18} Therefore encourage each other with these words.

We believe that literal language is not to be interpreted figuratively, but we also believe figurative language should not be interpreted literally.

Revelation 20 is the scripture used by Pre-Mil to establish their doctrine of the 1,000 year reign of Christ. Pre-millennialism is the view of the “last things” which holds that the second coming of Christ will be followed by a period of world wide peace and righteousness, before the end of the world, called “the millennium” or “the kingdom of God” during which Christ will reign as King in person on this earth.” (J.G. Vos)

“By Pre-millennial we mean before the Millennium.  That is, before the period of 1,000 years spoken of in Revelation 20:1-6.  This period is spoken of in others scriptures as the Kingdom, and is described in glowing terms by the prophets as a time when the earth shall be blessed with a universal rule of righteousness.” (Clarence Larken – Dispensational Truth).

We need to see that Revelation 20 does not teach an earthly reign of Christ. Christ is now King, reigning on David’s throne in Heaven.

Teaching of Revelation 20:1-6: What this passage DOES NOT mention:

• A second coming of Christ.
• A bodily resurrection
• A reign on earth.
• The literal throne of David.
• Jerusalem or Palestine
• Us – you and me
• Christ on earth

What passage DOES mention:

Binding of Satan-Key passage (Verse 1-3; Matt. 12:28-29; Heb. 2:14-15)

Souls on Thrones (v. 4), Who were these souls?  Those beheaded for witness of Jesus.  Those who had not the mark of the beast, nor worshipped the beast or his image.

Who was reigning?  These souls were reigning with Christ.  In Rev. 6:9-11, these same souls were under the altar, here they are elevated to thrones (plural).  If the 1,000 years are literal, the beheading is literal and that leaves us out of the millennium.  These souls “lived and reigned,” past tense.  Only those souls “they”, not “we” lived and reigned.

What is the “Thousand Years?”  Thousand is a definite number put for an indefinite.  It is the vision of victory, complete victory.  No reference to time (Psa. 50:10; 105:8; 2 Peter 3:8).  Number denotes completeness, perfection, infinity.

Literal or figurative – which?

Revelation is a book of symbols, figures, and signs. Signs, symbols, and types do not signify, symbolize and typify themselves. It is a violation to make literal application of the figurative imagery of Revelation.

Books like Revelation are clearly figurative in nature (Rev. 1:20).  To say that the “1,000 years” of Revelation 20:1-6 is literal while the “chain,” “dragon,” and “serpent” are said to be figurative is a style of interpretation that does not convict.

Real Story Of A Much Misapplied Text. Context is vital for a proper understanding of Matthew 24.

• The destruction of Jerusalem raises the questions that bring Jesus’ discussions in this chapter (cf. Matt. 23:32-39).
• The Jews mistakenly believed that the temple would not fall until the end of the world, due to a misunderstanding of Psalm 132:13-14.
• This is why Matthew, writing to Jews, records Jesus addressing the separate issues of the fall of Jerusalem and the end of the world.
• The Mark and Luke, writing to Gentiles, do not take up the more complete division of Matthew.
• It is very clear that Matthew changes from events associated with visable signs to happenings for which their would be no signs.

Consider this…

• Verses 4 thru 33 speak of observable events that will clearly signal the need for action (vs. 15-22, 32-33).
• If verses 15-22 refer to the Second Coming, what difference would it make if it were a Sabbath, or Winter, or if women were with child? What good would it do to flee to the mountains?
• Verses 36-51 speak with equal clarity of an absence of signs and, therefore, continual preparedness (vs. 36, 37-39, 42, 43, 44).
• Jesus, Himself, did not know when these things would happen (v.36).
• Of Jerusalem’s fall, Jesus said (v. 34) it would come within the time of the generation then living (cf. Matt. 26:64; Mk. 9:1, note the figurative language of Matt. 26:64 and how it did not rule out an application to the people of Jesus’ day, compare with 24:30).
• Of the end of all the creation, Jesus said He did not know.
• The verses before Matthew 24:34 that many think could only apply to the Second Coming employ typical Apocalyptic imagery that simply refers to the fall of a nation from power (Isa. 13:10; 34:4; Ezek. 32:7-8; Joel 2:10; Isa. 19:1; Ezek. 38:16, etc.).

Conclusion

These are not all, but just a few of the glaring contradictions between Premillennialism and the Bible. Let us not be misled by materialistic, Christ-dethroning, and Scripture-denying theories and speculations of men. But let us serve him who is now King of kings, who is reigning over his kingdom, and preparing a place for his people. (John 14:1-3) By serving him now, we will be prepared for the judgment to come. “And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). There will be no second chance — this will happen once.