|
The
Bible: Sunday Sermon Tape # 77 |
 The
Meaning of the Millennium
Even Lions &
Lambs |
|
The
Bible: Sunday Sermon Tape # 77 |
The
Meaning of the Millennium
Even Lions &
Lambs |
Don't
miss the pictures of the zoo days. The Lord willing, Creation Creature Features
soon.
Review:
See
the previous sermon notes on the Web -
|
|
Every warning, struggle,
temptation, promise, strategy, and victory
in the Revelation can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!
The choice is yours ................
The Text ("Blue Letter
Bible"): Revelation
20
(Strong's numbers, Hebrew-Greek lexicons,
cross references, etc., can be accessed from the above link)
Review: Outline
of The
Revelation: Key verses = Rev 1:8 & 19
I. Character of Christ
for His Father's Glory (Who Was) (Things You've Seen) Chapter 1
What about your character, & your family's character, & that of your
church?
Can other people see Jesus' goodness, unselfishness, & humility through each
one?
A. Introduction (1:1-8) Of Jesus to His servants (1:4 Church)
(see also 6:1 Israel)
B. Post-Incarnate, glorified Jesus (1:9-18)
II. Counsel of Christ
for the Church (Who Is) (Things Which
Are) Chapters 2-3
This counsel also applies to you personally, your family, your local church,
& all of "Christianity".
A. Command to Prophesy (1:19)
B. Seven Churches Counseled (1:20) ESP-TS-PL (Praise
before correction!)
C. Ephesus (2:1-7)
Loveless
D. Smyrna (2:8-11)
Persecuted
E. Pergamos (2:12-17)
Compromising
F. Thyatira (2:18-29) Corrupt
G. Sardis (3:1-6)
Dying
H. Philadelphia (3:7-13) Revived
I. Laodicea (3:14-22)
Lukewarm (no praise)
III. Consequences of Christ
for the Church, Israel & the World Chapters 4-22
(Who is to come again!) (Things
which will happen soon!)
Are you ready for your future? The judgment seat of Christ?
A. Church In Heaven
1. The Rapture (Jesus Rescues His Bride) up to Heaven (4:1)
2. The King & His Bride prepare for the future. (4:1-5:14) (see also Ch 19)
B. Tribulation of Israel (Jacob's) Trouble on Earth (6:1-18:24) (Daniel's 70th Week)
1. Seals (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 6:1-8:2), includes chapter 7's message of encouragement
** Ch. 7 Who Can Stand? Those God Has Chosen, & Who Choose Him
2. Trumpets (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 8-9)
a. The Little Book (Rev 10)
b. The Two Witnesses (Rev 11)
3. Players (Seven) on the Tribulation Stage of His-story (Rev 12-14)
(Woman, Child, Dragon, Michael, 144,000, Sea Beast, Earth Beast)
* These three chapters are an interlude, zooming in for a personal look at the people.
4. Bowls (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 15-16)
5. Babel's Final Fall (Rev 17-18) The Woman Who Rides The Beast
(The Martyr's Motive & Method: Loving Our Enemies Into Our Family !)
C. Christ's Wedding & War
(19:1-21)
(also, Rev 19 & Eph 5,
"Your Marriage Reflecting Christ's Marriage: For God's Glory & Other's
Blessing)
(also, Rev 19:11-16, "The Real Father's Day: The Day of the
LORD)
(also, Rev 19:17-21,
"Millennium Preparation: Cleansing Corrupt Creation"
D. Millennial Kingdom (20:1-6)
E. Final Futile Rebellion (20:7-10)
F. Great White Throne & Second Death (20:11-15)
G. New Heaven & Earth Coming (21-22:15)
H. Jesus' Promise & Warning for YOU, your family,
& your church (22:16-21)
Outline -
The Meaning of the Millennium
Even Lions & Lambs can Live in Peace
Under the Lord's Law of Love
Brief Review of Revelation 19:
Preparation for God’s Millennium
1. Believers are the only ones to enter.
(All unbelieving people & angels are gone.)2. Israel officially acknowledges Jesus! (Zec 12)
(Rom 11:25-26, "all Israel will be saved")3. Yeshua ha Mashiach on David’s throne. (Mat 19:28)
(Consistent literal interpretation of prophecy re: Jesus birth & reign.)
(Luk 1:31-33 Gabriel to Mary re: Jesus literally born & literally one day on David’s throne.)
Background of the Premillennial Position:
Latin = Mille
(1,000) + annum (year); Greek = Chiliasm; Both = to His KGDM over THIS old
corrupt earth!
Six times in Rev 20, the Holy Spirit led John to precisely describe the coming
Kingdom of God to this old earth as 1,000 years.
Jewish Rabbis around 1st century: predicted seven 1,000 yr "days" until Messiah would establish His earthly reign, with the 7th period of 1,000 years being a sabbath time of rest and peaceful harmony.
Church fathers: such as Ignatius, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Melito, Tertullian, , Cyprian, Bohemian Protestants, Waldensians, Wycliffties, Isaac Newton, etc. were premillennial, yet none of them dealt with Dan 9 or other prophetic passages in a comprehensive and systematic manner. Even the reformers like Calvin chose not to dig into the massive volume of prophetic passages (over 25% of the Bible). A comprehensive system of premillennial theology was not developed until modern times. Of course it is also true that no comprehensive systems of eschatology were developed until modern times.
Why might this be so? They doctrine of the Trinity was always true, yet not codified by Christians until well after the first century. Why would eschatology have waited until now for Christians to seriously work on it systematically and comprehensively?
The Lord said in Daniel that in the last of the last days,
"knowledge" would "increase".
This makes since in at least two important ways:
1. Accumulated Knowledge: Many centuries of accumulated iron sharpening study by the church about the prophetic passages would increase our general comprehension of their collective meaning. This is true of any field of study, even technology, etc..
Daniel was told to seal up certain understandings, but that in the last of the last days, "knowledge will increase". Could it be that the church needed the time for an accumulation of iron sharpening knowledge, in order to better comprehend the big picture revealed in the massive volume of prophetic passages (over 25% of the Bible). Even in the field of technology, the accumulation of knowledge year after year has been the key to advancement. Biblical prophecy is like a huge jigsaw puzzle, without the box cover picture. Not only have we now had 2,000 years of accumulated study of God's completed cannon of Scripture, but also the advent of computerized collation and analysis. The PC has made it much easier for many, even average folks like me, to comprehensively compare and contrast the Bible's prophecies, as well as the various interpretive perspectives.
2. It also explains why God might have waited 2,000 years to allow the church to gain a more accurate understanding of these end time prophecies. If it is true that a literal, unexpected rapture (rescue) of Jesus' Bride is to occur, then it makes sense that the church didn't need the information. All the "church" needed to know was that Jesus could come at any time.
If the rapture is followed by a seven year tribulation time ("Jacob's trouble") centered around Israel, then those who need to know the details will be unbelievers who are left behind, especially Jews. The Anti-Christ during the Tribulation will be seeking to deceive, manipulate, and destroy the Jews, so Jesus warned His Jewish brethren to know the season, it's specific indicators, and be prepared to act (Mat 24). In fact, Jesus said that when they saw the abomination of desolation by the Anti-Christ in the temple, the remnant of believers must flee the city until Jesus would come to save them. So it could be that Jesus is giving today, through His Bride, the crucial information needed by those who'll be left behind, that they might know that He is their only hope!
God promised that He would bring out a remnant from Israel (Rom 11:25-26), who would recognize the prophecies about Jesus and call out to Him to save them when all the nations of the world are against them (Zech 12-14; Mat 24). If one of our responsibilities in these last days as the church is to leave behind a clear and comprehensive picture, for those left behind, then we should treat prophecy as a high priority!
Today: Most interpreters, even postmill and amill scholars, agree that if you interpret Rev 20's prophetic passage in a literal manner, then a 1,000 year reign is clear. And most agree that a literal interpretation of Old Testament prophecies paints a clear picture of a premillennial return of Jesus, to reign on this earth:
"Now we must frankly admit that a literal interpretation of the Old Testament prophecies give us just such a picture of an earthly reign of the Messiah as the premillennialists pictures." Floyd E. Hamilton (The Basis of Millennial Faith. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1942. p. 38).
"It is generally agreed that if the prophecies are taken literally, they do foretell a restoration of the nation of Israel in the land of Palestine with the Jews having a prominent place in that kingdom and ruling over the other nations." (Loraine Boettner, The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views, ed. Clouse, p. 95).
Scriptures: sample Old Testament references to the coming Kingdom of God on Earth (Deu 30:1-5; 2 Sa 7:12-16; Psa 2:6-12; Isa 2:2-4; 11:1-10; 12:1-6; 24:23; 32:15-20; 35:1-2; 60:10-18; 65:20-22; Jer 3:14-18; 23:5-6; 30:3; 31:35-40; 33:14-18; Eze 34:23-24; 36:16-38; 37:15-28; Dan 2:44-45; Hos 3:4-5; Joel 3:18-21; Amos 9:11-15; Mic 4:1-8; Zep 3:14-20; Zec 14:9-11).
Mat 19:28 "the regeneration"; Act 3:19 "times of refreshing"; 3:21 "period of restoration"; Rom 8:18-25 "delivered from the bondage of corruption".
Isa
11:1-10
Isa 65:17-25
A picture speaks a thousand words, and 1,000 years!
Millennial Sacrifices? 36-48
Why does Ezekiel describe sacrifices in the Millennial Temple?
First, Ezek 36-37 pictures Israel regathered, but first as a bunch of spiritually dead and dry bones, that only later will become spiritually alive and faithful God. In the interim period, Ezek 38-39 predicts a Gog/Magog invasion against the regathered Israel from a nation far north of them (Russia?), in alliance with Persia (Iran), Libya, and other nations that are now Islamic and rabidly anti-Semitic. By the way, this is possibly how radical Islam might be removed, before anti-Christ tries to establish his new age, new world order religion. This passage says that as they attack Israel, God will wipe them out. This could be a direct and miraculous victory like the Exodus, or God's provision of vastly superior weaponry used by Israel and its allies.
Finally, Ezek 40-48 describes the Millennial Temple along with many, many minute details involving the practice of animal sacrifices. Why would there be sacrifices in the millennium, while Jesus is physically ruling. Isn't Jesus sacrifice on the cross sufficient? Of course the cross was sufficient and complete. These memorial (remembrance) sacrifices would merely be for Israel what the Lord’s Supper is for the Church today. The OT sacrifices were never efficacious for the forgiveness of sins, and neither will these millennial sacrifices be efficacious. Remember, the Lord's Supper is not efficacious for forgiveness either. They all are symbolic acts for remembrance. The OT sacrifices were so the people could remember the horror of sin and God's promise (future) to send Messiah to fix our problem. Similarly, the Lord's Supper and the millennial sacrifices are for the people to remember the horror of sin and the work that Messiah did (past tense), fully revealed and finished on the cross.
Why wouldn't the believers in the millennium use the Lord's Supper? Why does Ezekiel say that that sacrifices will be the ritual for remembrance instead of the Lord's Supper? The answer is because the focus and locus of God's rule on earth in the millennium is the ethnic nation Israel/Jerusalem, not the Church. This is further evidence of the clear distinction in the Bible between Israel and the Church.
Please think about it. If these millennial sacrifices described in minute detail by Ezekiel, are not literal, then what would be their possible allegorical meaning? In all of the books and articles I've read from those who try and allegorize/spiritualize these Jewish Temple sacrifices, I've never seen a reasonable or consistent symbolic meaning. In fact, most of them differ with one another as they try and replace a simple, literal interpretation of real Jewish temple sacrifices with an allegorical assumption applied to the church. The only consistent interpretation I've seen so far is to accept the text at face value naturally and literally. It says what it means and means what it says. It refers to national Israel, a rebuilt temple, and a reinstitution of animal sacrifices as the central ritual of remembrance for the descendants of Jacob, and through Israel to the nations of the world. That's why the prophecies describe the nations coming to Jerusalem to pay homage, and those that refuse will suffer the consequences of drought.
Dr. Walter Kaiser, academic dean and professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, in his book, Back Toward the Future, pp. 129-130, quotes Moses Stuart's insightful critique of the allegorical method of interpreting prophetic passages. Remember from our previous sermons on interpretation, that the allegorical or spiritualizing method assumes and applies a hidden meaning behind the normal historical-grammatical principles of language.
"The moment we assume that there is in Scripture as substantial departure from the usus loquendi [ordinary spoken sense], either in the choice of words, the construction of sentences, or the modes of interpretation, that moment we decide, that so far as this departure extends, they are no revelation. . . . Did ever a considerate father undertake to teach his children, and yet employ language the words and exegetical principles of which were entirely beyond their cognizance? And when God speaks to his erring children, with an intention to enlighten and instruct them, and to reclaim them from their wandering ways, does he employ words in such a manner that no analogy drawn from human methods of interpreting language can enable men to understand what he communicates? . . . We must, therefore, either concede that the usual laws of language are to be applied to the Bible, or else that it is, and can be, no proper revelation to men, unless they are also to be inspired in order to understand it."
Dan 2:31-45 Gentile kingdoms of this age, will be finally overtaken by the Lord’s kingdom in this age.
Zech 14:8; 16-21 ........... & many more. Please read these passages carefully and comprehensivesly.
Reality of God’s Millennium
People? Who’ll be in the Millennium ? He Promised!
The following passages delineate 4-5 groupings of people to whom God promised a place in His earthly reign over this corrupt earth:
Dan 7:27 OT Believers; Mat 19:28 Apostles; 1 Co 6:2 & Rev 5:10 NT Believers of the Church; Rev 20:4 Tribulation Martyrs; and Isa 65:17-25 Tribulation Survivors).
God's promise to NT believers is also seen in 2 Ti 2:12; Rev 2:26; 3:21; 5:10; 6:9; 7:9-17; 12:11.
Only believers will enter the millennium, then some unbelievers will be born to those mortal believers who survived the tribulation physically.
* Yes, both glorified & mortal sinners, just as Jesus walked through walls to visit with mortal men after His resurrection.Jesus is the firstborn of the "first resurrection". Believers from the OT days, the Church, and those believers killed in the tribulation are all included under the heading of "1st Resurrection".
Rev 20:1-6 "came to life" = ezesan, wh/ must be physical since already saved spiritually. Root "zao" used in NT for physical resurrection. (Rom 14:9; 2 Cor 13:4).
So the Bible says that reincarnation & evolution of the soul are lies!!!!
"The rest" who come alive are unbelievers, who are not resurrected until the end of the millennium. They are raised unto judgment and sentencing to "the lake of fire, which is the second death".If you're born twice, you can only die once.
If you're of the 1st resurrection, you'll avoid the 2nd death!
Purpose? Why is the Millennium so important?
Because God's character is proven as He fulfills His promises! He is faithful.
This is especially true regarding God's Gen 15 unconditionally and unilaterally ratified land promise to Abraham. Please see the previous sermon notes on both Genesis and the Revelation that provide the long list of passages where God promises Abraham a legacy of genetic descendants who would rule the world from a specific piece of real estate. Even though various conditional elements were included in this promise through the Mosaic Covenant, the basic core in Gen 15 was and is unconditional. It is dependent on God's sovereign faithfulness, not man's works. Remember, our basic salvation is safe and secure unconditionally, yet we can loose reward (1 Co 3) if our post-salvation works are not of faith (Christ living through us).
Also, this 1,000 period of amazing restoration and rebuilding by the master carpenter, Jesus, will ensure that there will be no excuse when unbelievers and Satan again rebel at its end. They will have lived around glorified people who have the full J.O.Y. of Jesus as Lord, yet these rebels will hate the submission requirement. They will love Satan's lie of "you shall be as God". God's administration of history (His-story) glorifies Himself by saving His elect and by revealing the depravity of sin.
Problem? What problems will occur?
There will be lots of work for restoration of the man-made mess that occurred during the seven year tribulation.
Some of the children born to those mortal believers who enter the millennium will reject Christ and have to be judged. And all of the mortals, both believers and unbelievers, will be sinners who will sin. The administration of God's Kingdom will require swift and sufficient execution of justice, by the Chief Justice, Jesus, and all those under His rule, sharing in His delegated authority.
Plan? How will Jesus overcome?
As a Good Shepherd, with a rod of iron.
He will give grace to the humble, and apply the law to the proud. He will delegate authority/power (exousia) to those believers who proved themselves faithful throughout the past 6,000 years of His-story. Those who were faithful in little responsibilities God gave to them before the millennium, will be given responsibilities to reign with the Lord Jesus for 1,000 years.
Practice? What will it really be like?
Almost Edenic, almost heaven-like.
Long lives, nearly 1,000 years, just like the pre-flood people!No one will live beyond 1,000 years in a mortal body, just as no one since the fall has. Why is 1,000 years the limit? Possibly since the Lord's consequence for Adam was that in the "day" that he ate of the fruit, he would die. And Psa 90:4 along with 2 Pet 3 says that 1,000 years is as a day to the Lord. Apparently this is more than a mere metaphor, but actually a time from the Lord uses for the administration of His-story.
Animals will be at peace, carnivores will become vegetarians just as they were in Eden (Gen 1:26-31), crime will be nearly non-existent. Jesus' Kingdom will involve building and creating beyond any artistry and technology we have yet to see or imagine.
Even in the face of the unimaginable mess made by man during the Great Tribulation, Jesus will lead the world in the most massive, efficient, and effective clean up ever known. What Jesus will do will be impossible for man. Only the pure and perfect God-Man can correct our wrongs, and He will do it flawlessly. He'll do it visibly, physically, and for 1,000 years, as further proof of who He truly is. He is the only Man, who can stand and proclaim, "I AM!". The first Adam tried it and failed. The second and final Adam, Jesus, cannot fail.
But what about the end of the millennium?
Won’t people and Satan finally realize that submission to Jesus is best?
We'll cover this answer next week.
Remember,
every warning, struggle,
temptation, promise, strategy, and victory in the Revelation can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!
The choice is yours ................
What do you need to change?
(The final question to ask God, whenever
you study God's Word)
Lord, how
am I doing on your conflict meter, for your glory?
Giving Up < < < < Standing
Firm > > > >
Blowing Up
Remember there are only two
modes for a believer:
* Marching forward with the gospel.
* Standing firm when conflict arises!
Return to related articles from "The Bible: One Bite at a Time" -
Biblical Prophecy: A Jigsaw Puzzle with Pieces Throughout the Bible
(Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Mat 24, 2 Th 2)
For further study of prophecy:
Prophecy
Today - http://www.gospelcom.net/shofar/pp/htm/report.shtml
Soulcare's
Recommended Materials on Prophecy (books, audios, videos, etc.)
http://www.soulcare.org/Resources_Biblical_Authority.htm#Prophecy
Booklet: The
Rapture,
by Thomas Ice & Timothy Demy
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565073924/qid%3D980349983/104-6768955-3395119
John
MacArthur, D.D., The Second Coming of Jesus: Signs
of Christ's Return & the End of the Age.
- Book: This text is an excellent
overview, placing the puzzle pieces together until the picture is clear.
*- Audio Set (9 tapes): This tape set is the best I've heard
yet. Nothing beats the spoken word for clarity.
J. Vernon McGee, B.D., M.Th., Th.D.,, Thru the Bible Commentary Series,
Revelation. Dr. McGee's commentaries are probably the simplest, most
practical, yet thorough and biblical that are available on the Bible.
_______, Reveling Through Revelation.
Chuck Missler, Revelation
Commentary in MP3 on CD. Chuck's commentaries on Daniel, The
Revelation, etc., on CD not only contain extensive study notes, but also many
hours of audio teaching.
Henry Morris, Ph. D. (Physical Science doctorate), The Revelation
Record. A theologically and scientifically sound commentary on the
book of The Revelation. Dr. Morris explains the amazingly accurate
scientific parallels described in the Revelation that were unknown to the
culture of the first century. Only God's direct revelation to John can
explain such accuracy. For example, the "flaming mountain"
crashing into the sea during the second trumpet judgment. How would John
have known of even the possibility of massive asteroids that would ignite in our
atmosphere as a result of the friction and tremendous speed?
Dwight Pentecost, Ph.D., Things to Come: A Study in
Biblical Eschatology. This is a 600 pp encyclopedic reference
to all of the major passages, topics, and issues involved.
_________ Thy Kingdom Come: Tracing God's Kingdom Program &
Covenant Promises Throughout History. 1995.
Randall Price, Ph.D. Jerusalem
in Prophecy (Th.M. graduate of Dallas Theological
Seminary and holds a Ph.D. in Middle
Eastern Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.
He has done graduate study at the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, and conducted archeological
excavation in Israel with the University of Texas
in conjunction with the teaching of courses in biblical
archaeology and the history and culture of modern
Israel.)
Renald Showers, Th.D., Maranatha, Our Lord, Come! A Definitive Study of the
Rapture of the Church. [Dr. Showers, a graduate of Grace Theological
Seminary, serves with Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, as well as the
Institute of Biblical Studies.]
John F. Walvoord, Every Prophecy of the Bible. This
reference commentary is over 600 pages long and is an invaluable tool for those
studying prophecy regardless of their perspective. When studying
eschatology, nothing is more important that having a comprehensive awareness of
all that the Bible says on the subject. This new work is more than
comprehensive. It is exhaustive. Dr. Walvoord was on the faculty of
Dallas Theological Seminary for 50 years, and is recognized even by those who do
not hold to a premillennial perspective as being one of the most knowledgeable
scholars in the area of prophecy and eschatology.
Audio Message: "The
Rapture: The Great Escape", John Ankerberg
http://www.khouse.org/media/conferences/steeling/stmankerberg98.html
Article: "The
Great Snatch", by Chuck Missler
http://www.khouse.org/articles/prophetic/19950101-35.html
Article: Byzantine
Text Discovery & the Rapture
http://www.khouse.org/articles/biblestudy/19950601-39.html
Revelation
20