ESCHATOLOGY

OBJECTIVES

After completing this segment, you will be able to:

1. Articulate the importance of Eschatology.

2. Describe the basic terminology that relates to the topic under investigation.

3. Compare and contrast the various opinions on the topic of Eschatology.

4. Explain what the various sections of the Bible say about the Eschatology.

5. Correlate the gathered biblical information to create scriptural conclusions. Also, you will use the formulated conclusions to assess the various perspectives and to identify the correct view.

6. Utilize the tool of apologetics to defend the biblical view of Eschatology.

7. Apply the acquired truths with the aim of glorifying God.

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I. IMORTANT QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

1. Why is it important to study the topic of End Times?

2. What kinds of questions come up when discussing End Times?

3. In your opinion, is Jesus and/or the church the fulfillment of the OT nation of Israel? When will the rapture take place? When does the millennium reign of Christ occur? What will happen during the Great Tribulation?

4. In your opinion, how should the End Times be explained chronologically?

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II. TERMS

1. Abomination of Desolation - This idea appears four times in the OT (Dan 8:13; 9:27; 11:31; and 12:11); it is expressed verbatim 2 times in the NT (Matt 24:15; Mark 13:4). Biblically, the word abomination usually occurs in the context of idolatry and sacrilege. This phrase refers to the spiritual and/or physical desolation of a significant religious object or place. Most commentators identify this event with one of more of the following: Antiochus IV, pagan king of Syria, sacrificed a hog on the holy altar before the Temple of Jerusalem (165 B.C.), the desolation of Jerusalem and its temple (1st Century), an event at the end of time.

2. Antichrist – This word means “against Christ.” The exact word only occurs 4 times in the Bible, all in the epistles of John (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7). John talks about both the Antichrist and many antichrists, for “as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come” (1 John 2:18).

3. Bema (Judgement) Seat – This refers to the time when Christ will judge believers according to their works. This evaluation does not determine whether a believer receives admission into heaven, for Christ alone is the foundation of salvation; this judgement is focused on eternal rewards (Rom. 14:10-11; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:9-10; 1 John 2:28; Rev. 3:11-12).

Some commentators argue that this will occur at the rapture and/or at the second coming; the judgment of unbelievers will occur 1,000 years later. Other commentators argue that this evaluation takes place at the same time as the judgment of unbelievers.

4. Eschatology - This “ology” refers to the study of end times (Greek word eschaton = last).

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5. Great Tribulation– The word tribulation refers to a trial or hardship. The Great Tribulation refers to a severe trial that individuals will undergo directly prior to the Second Coming of Christ (Matthew 24:21-22)

6. Great White Throne Judgment – This event is described in Revelation 20:11-15. Some interpreters believe that the unsaved will be resurrected and judged after the millennium at this event; others believe that this judgement will happen with the Bema judgment during the Second Coming.

7. Historical-Grammatical Method - This method seeks to extract the “plain” meaning out of any given text, which is found by understanding the author’s intent. The author’s intent is discovered by using the normal principles of language and by understanding the historical setting that the author existed in.

8. Intermediate State – The Bible affirms both that the resurrection will occur at the end of time (Matt 22:23-30; Luke 14:14; John 5:28-29) and that when believers die they are immediately in God’s presence (Luke 23:43; Phil 1:20-24; 1 Thess 4:14). This phrase describes the era of existence between death and the future resurrection; believers will consciously exist as a disembodied soul in the presence of God.

9. Kingdom of God – The sovereign activity and reign of God in the lives of His people; this kingdom is “here and not yet.” The Kingdom of the Son precedes the Kingdom of the Father. Jesus will reign until he places every enemy under his feet; he will then “be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all” (1st Cor 15:28).

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10. Millennium – This Latin word means “one thousand years.” It is mentioned six times in the Book of Revelation (20), and it describes the reign of Jesus and the binding of Satan. Scholars debate on whether the millennium is currently in operation or whether it will begin after the Second Coming.

11. New Covenant Hermeneutic – This interpretive method believes that the mystery of certain Old Testament verses was not unlocked until the Spirit gave understanding to the New Testament writers. Therefore, one must use the New Testament in order to properly interpret certain OT predictive prophesies.

Example: Typology occurs when NT interpreters find events, objects, and ideas represented in the Old Testament that anticipate God’s activity later in history, especially in the person of Jesus.

12. Recapitulation (Genre) – This genre occurs in the Scriptures when a biblical author repeats certain truths in various ways in order to bring a comprehensive understanding of the motif to his audience.

13. Rapture – This term comes from the Latin word rapio, which means to be “caught up.” The Bible does not use this term, but the Greek word harpazo carries a similar connotation (1 Thess 4). Scholars disagree on whether the rapture will occur before the great tribulation (pre-trib), during the great tribulation (mid-trib), or at the time of the Second Coming (post trib).

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14. Resurrection – This word is most frequently used to describe a divine miracle in which God awakens dead physical bodies to life. Jesus is called the “first fruits” because he was the first one to be resurrected (Lazarus was merely resuscitated). The bodies of both believers and unbelievers will be raised in the future. The physical bodies of believers will be upgraded and raised imperishable. The bodies of unbelievers will be raised for judgement. Less frequently, the Bible describes a spiritual resurrection that converts experience in Christ (Colossians 3:1)

15. Second Coming – This event describes the physical return of Christ. The Bible uses the words coming, appearing, and revelation to describe this incident. Scholars disagree on what actions will take place during this occurrence.

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III. SHARED CORE TRUTHS

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IV. DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

I. Overview of the Discussion

THE STARTING POINTEcumenical Chart

THREE MAIN ISSUES:

The Kingdom of God

The Millennium

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The Consummation (all-inclusive word that includes the rapture, Second Coming, judgment of believers, judgement of unbelievers, etc.)

4 MAIN VIEWS – OVERVIEW CHARTS

Historical Premillennialism

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Dispensational Premillennialism

New H/E

Amillennialism

Postmillennialism

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Reign of Jesus

New H/E

II. Dispensational Premillennialism

1. Key Adherents- John Darby (19th

Century) – First major proponent of this view. - C.I. Scofield- Henry Ironside- Wm. Blackstone- A.C. Gabelein- D.L. Moody- William Criswell- Normal Geisler- Dave Hunt

- Thomas Ice- John Hagee- David Jeremiah- Tim LaHaye- Hal Lindsey- John MacArthur- Charles Ryrie- Chuck Smith- Charles Swindoll- Jack Van Impe- John Walvoord

2. Story Line of the View- God has two separate plans: one for Israel and one for the church.- In the OT, the Israelites continuously rebel against God; however, God makes an unconditional promise pledging to regather the Jews to Canaan, send the Messiah, and set up a global theocratic government for the Jewish people.

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New H/E

- In the NT, God sends Jesus to the Jewish people in order to offer them the promised theocratic Kingdom. - The Jews fail to recognize their king and thus are not given the kingdom. However, God is faithful; he simply postpones the gift of the kingdom until the millennium. - About half-way through his earthly ministry, Jesus reveals a new plan – a plan for the church, a heavenly people. - Traditional Dispensationalists insist that this new plan is entirely a mystery; the OT prophets did not foresee this event. It is first revealed by Christ after the Jews reject him. - The church era will end when Christ secretly raptures the saints for the marriage supper. - After the rapture occurs (Bema Judgement), the great tribulation will begin. During this time, the 144,000 converted Jews will share the gospel with every nation. To oppose this, the Antichrist will step onto the scene midway through the tribulation. Believers will endure fierce persecution, and God will pour out his wrath on evil doers. This era will end after the Battle of Armageddon. - When Christ physically comes back with the elect, he will judge the living Gentile nations and bind Satan for 1,000 years. - Jesus will reign on and over the earth from Jerusalem during the millennium. A temple and sacrifices will be re-established to commemorate the work of Christ. During most of this era, peace, prosperity, and righteousness will prevail. Towards the end of the millennium, Satan will be released, and he will deceive the nations (unbelieving children of unglorified believers). Jesus will intervene to destroy his enemies, cast Satan into hell, and raise the millennial saints from the dead. - Then, Jesus will raise all unbelievers and judge them (Great White Throne).- Finally, God will create the new heavens and the new earth, which will be the eternal home for all believers.

3. Key Arguments and Verses i. The OT Kingdom Promises were made to the Jewish people (see underlines words in point 2), not to the church.

ii. The OT Kingdom prophetic descriptions are physical and global; this has not yet occurred. God is faithful; thus, these fulfillments will come to pass in the future before the New Heavens and the New Earth.

Isaiah 2:1-5 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3 Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us

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go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Isaiah 59:19-21 - From the west, people will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along.20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.21 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

Ezekiel 37:21-28 - ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. 24 “‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. 25 They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. 27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’”

Amos 9:11-12: “In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be, 12 so that they may possess the

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remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the Lord, who will do these things.

iii. A Premillennial view is implicitly taught in the Old Testament and explicitly taught in Revelation 20.

Isaiah 65: 18-25: 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. 19 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. 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; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach[a] a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 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 work of their hands. 23 They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.

CHRONOLOGICAL ARGUMENTRevelation 19 – Describes the 2nd ComingRevelation 20 – The MillenniumRevelation 21 – The New Heavens and the New Earth

iv. During the future millennium, God will fulfill the OT Kingdom Promises.

vi. A pre-trib rapture is logically necessary in order to ensure that non-glorified (natural) believers will enter the millennium. If the millennium only consists of glorified believers (who cannot have children), it would be impossible for a rebellion to occur at the end of the millennium.

“Only righteous, glorified and nonglorified, enter the kingdom (millennium), but later in the period those in nonglorified bodies will procreate normally. Some of their offspring will not believe. Therefore, the wicked or rebellious in the kingdom, as the period progresses, are the unbelieving children of believing

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parents. This alone can harmonize all that Scripture says on the matter.” – Paul D. Feinburg

vi. A pre-trib rapture is taught in the Scriptures.a. God promises to exempt His children from divine wrath

1st Thessalonians 1:8-10: Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

1st Thessalonians 5:9-11: For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

b. God promises to exempt His children from the time of wrath

Revelation 3:9-10: I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

c. A few Scriptures separate the rapture event from the Second Coming event

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1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 - 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

John 14: 1-4 - “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

4. Strengths and Weaknesses - Discussion

III. Historic Premillennialism1. Key Adherents- Papias - Irenaeus- Tertullian- Montanists- Many Anabaptists- D.A. Carson- Wayne Grudem- Jim Hamilton- George Ladd- Al Mohler- John Piper

2. Story Line of Historic Premillennialism

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- The storyline of this view is similar to the dispensational view except on the following points.

Difference #1Historic premills believe that the Old Testament Kingdom Promises are fulfilled in the Church Era, the Millennium (after Christ comes back), and the New Heavens and the New Earth. On the contrary, the Dispensational View believes the Church Era is an interpolation in the plan of God. The Old Testament Kingdom Promises are only fulfilled in the Millennium and the New Heavens and the New Earth.

Difference #2The rapture or calling up happens at the same time as the 2nd Coming; historic premills believe in a post-trib rapture.

3. Key Arguments for a Post-Tribulation View i. The post-tribulation view is the unanimous view of the church before the 19th Century

The blessed hope of the early church in all known writings is the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth, not a pre-tribulation rapture into heaven. This is more fully developed in the following section using Biblical texts, but for now the extra-biblical Christian writings of the first and second century will be observed, that it might be made known what the belief was of the disciples of the apostles. The Didache is called the first Christian catechism by many and even considered canonical by some early Christian Fathers. This compilation of Christian doctrine was written close to the end of the first century, and the

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sixteenth chapter included a call for the church to prepare themselves to go through the tribulation, that they might not succumb to the deception of the antichrist. Furthermore, early Christians including Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, the Shepherd of Hermas, and Hippolytus, have written documents which warn of the Antichrist and his kingdom persecuting the church during the great tribulation. Irenaeus even clearly states that the resurrection of the church takes place after the coming of the Antichrist. - Donovan Neufeldt in The Case for a Post-Tribulation Rapture

ii. The Bible indicates that the timing of the rapture of the church will occur after the Great Tribulation

1st Thessalonians 4:15-5:2: According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until 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 one another with these words. 5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Matthew 24:29-31: Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4: Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless (or until) the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness[b] is revealed, the son of destruction,[c] 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

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iii. The positive arguments for a pre-trib rapture are exegetically weak.

John 14:3:1-4 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

Response: “The pretribulational interpretation would require us to believe that the Church will occupy heavenly mansions for a short period of seven years, only to vacate them for a thousand years” (Stanley N. Gundry).

1st Thessalonians 4 - 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

Response: This verse is placed after the great tribulation in Matthew 24; also, this is not a secret event, for the trumpet call of God will go forth. The dispensational view is guilty of spiritualizing the text.

Revelation 3:10: Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

Response: 1. This promise was made to the church in Philadelphia, an actual historic church. The “hour of trial” could refer to the Roman persecution that broke out. The phase the “whole world” is, at times, hyperbolic in nature. For example, Colossians 1 states that just as the gospel is bearing fruit in Colossae, “In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world” (1:6).2. The Greek word “tereo ek” means to keep someone from the dangers of tribulation, not from the presence of tribulation. There is only one other time that “tereo ek” is used in the Scriptures; it confirms this interpretation. "My prayer is not that you take them out of (ek) the world, but that You shouldprotect them from (tereo ek) the evil one” (John 17:15).3. The idea of God protecting His people from the dangers of tribulation (as opposed to the time period) is consistently taught in the Bible.

Example: Noah and the Universal FloodScripture: Isaiah 26:20-21: “Go, my people, enter your roomsand shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while

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until his wrath has passed by. 21 See, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer.”

Revelation 6-18: No Mention of the Word Church

Response: “It is often argued because the Greek word ecclesia (church) is not used in many of the main passages dealing with the great tribulation, namely Revelation 6-18, that members of the church are not involved because they have been raptured before the events take place. The places where the terms; saints, elect, believers, the righteous, etc. are mentioned (Revelation 5:8, 8:3, 8:4, 11:18, 12:17, 13:7, 13:10,14:12, 15:3, 16:6, 17:6, 18:24) are then taken to mean Jews or in some cases tribulation saints (a new class of believer who is not part of the church and cannot receive the Holy Spirit nor the full benefits of the cross) … One main problem with this is that in passages like the Olivet discourse Jesus was speaking to Christian believers who built the church in the second person plural you. Another is that both the terms, saints and elect are used about fifty times each in the New Testament to refer to the church. Additionally, the word church is not used in six of the epistles (2 Timothy, Titus, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 2 John, and Jude). A consistent hermeneutic would demand that these are applicable to only Jews living after the rapture of the Church. Furthermore, Revelation 6-18 describes what is happening in heaven as well as what is happening on earth. One must then conclude that the Church is not in heaven either during this time. Finally, Rev. 14:2 explicitly shows that Christians are on earth during the tribulation.” - Donovan Neufeldt in The Case for a Post-Tribulation Rapture

Left Behind Verses (Matthew 24:40-42; Luke 17:34-36)

Response: “Many think that the people taken while in the field, at the mill, or sleeping in Matthew 24:40-42 and in Luke 17:34-36 are suddenly raptured, but is that what the text is even talking about? Matt 24:39 reveals that they will be taken in the same way that the wicked were taken by the flood in the days of Noah. Genesis 7:23 makes it clear that Noah and those in the ark were the only ones left behind. This is why when the disciples ask Jesus where these people are taken, Jesus answers by saying, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather" (Luke 17:37). These people are obviously

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taken in judgement and death. With this understanding, all Christians will be left behind and will be thankful because of it.” Donovan Neufeldt in The Case for a Post-Tribulation Rapture

4. Strengths and Weaknesses

IV. Amillennialism1. Key Adherents - Clement of Rome (died 99)- Polycarp (69-155)- Authors of Didache (written late first century)- Caius of Rome (died 296) - Hippolytus (170-235)- Origin (AD 185-254) - Eusebius (AD 260-340)- Augustine (354-430)- Majority position between 5th century – 18th century (“Traditional View”)- Majority position among the Reformers- Greg Beale- Mark Dever- Floyd Hamilton- Anthony Hoekema- Dennis Johnson- Kim Riddlebarger

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- Sam Storms- Rodman Williams - Dean Davis

2. Story Line of Amillennialism

3. Key Arguments and Scriptures i. God’s people should use a New Covenant Hermeneutic on the OT Kingdom promises, which affirms that all OT promises are fulfilled in either the church age or the new heavens and new earth, not in future

a. Scriptures that support a New Covenant Hermeneutic

1 Peter 1:10-12 - 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

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Millennial Reign of Jesus

New Heavens/Earth

Ephesians 3:2-6 - Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (there … but hidden).

Augustine – “The Old Testament is the New Testament Concealed; the New Testament is the Old Testament Revealed.”

“All evangelical Christians are accustomed to viewing the Old Testament sacrifices and feasts and ceremonies as being types, that is, teaching tools pointing forward to the work of Christ. Why then should the elements that we will consider now – the land of Canaan, the city of Jerusalem, the temple, the throne of David, the nation Israel itself – not be understood using the same interpretive rights that we use in interpreting the sacrifices and ceremonies?” Robert B. Strimple

b. The New Testament on the Old Testament Kingdom Promises

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ii. The New Testament presents the 2nd Coming as All Encompassing the Grand Finale, which necessarily disallows for a future millennium.

“Not only does the NT not teach a future millennial kingdom, in what it teaches about the second coming, the NT rules out an earthly millennial kingdom following Christ’s return, because the NT reveals clearly that the following events are all concurrent; that is, all will occur together in one cluster of end time events, one grand dramatic finale of redemptive history: the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of believers (and the “change” of living believers, 1 Cor 15:51), the resurrection of the unjust, judgement for all, the end, the new heaven and the new earth, and the inauguration of the final kingdom of God, the blessed eternal state of the redeemed.” – Robert Strimple

John 5:28-30 - “Do not be amazed at this (Son has power to judge), for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

2nd Thessalonians 1:5-10 – 5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and

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to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.2 Peter 3:3-14 - Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 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. Instead 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 done 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, where righteousness dwells. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

1st Corinthians 15:20-26, 51-52: But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 T hen the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet . 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death . 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all…. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

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Revelation 20 – At the end of the millennium, “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death” (14).

iii. Revelation 6-20 should not be read in a strict chronological fashion; this section contains 5-6 divisions that include repetitious and complementary truths.

Example #1 - Binding of Satan (Church Age): Revelation 20:1-5 & Revelation 12, Jude 6, Luke 10:18-19

“First, in v. 3, John says that Satan was bound “so that he should not deceive the nations any longer.” Then secondly, in v. 8, John tells us that upon his release from the abyss Satan will come out “to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war.” Note well what John does and does not say. He does not say that Satan was bound so that he should no longer persecute Christians, or so that he should no longer prowl about “like a roaring lion” (1 Pt. 5:8) devouring believing men and women. He does not say that Satan was bound so that he should no longer concoct schemes to disrupt church unity (2 Cor. 2:11), or so that he should no longer disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). He does not say that Satan was bound so that he should no longer hurl his flaming missiles at Christians (Eph. 6:16), or so that he should be kept from thwarting the plans of the apostle Paul (1 Thess. 2:18).”- G. R. Beasley-Murray

"In Rev. 20:1-3 the binding of Satan and the fact that he is hurled into the abyss to remain there for a thousand years indicates that throughout this present Gospel Age, which begins with Christ’s first coming and extends nearly to the second coming, the devil’s influence on earth is curtailed so that he is unable to prevent the extension of the church among the nations by means of an active missionary program. During this entire period he is prevented from causing the nations---the world in general---to destroy the church as a mighty,

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missionary institution. . . . By means of the preaching of the Word as applied by the Holy Spirit, the elect, from all parts of the world, are brought from darkness to light. In that sense the church conquers the nations, and the nations do not conquer the church.“ – Hendrickson

Example #2 - Heavenly Millennial Reign of Christ with Departed Saints (Church Age): Revelation 20:4-6 & Revelation 6:9-11, John 5:24-28

Example #3 - Final Battle Before the Second Coming: Revelation 20:7-10, 19:11-21, 16:12-16“In both Rev. 16:14 and 19:19 the campaign against Christ and his people is designated as the war. The definite article in both texts draws our attention to the distinctive identity of this war as the eschatological battle which brings the present age to its end. It seems only reasonable to conclude that the use of the definite article in 20:8 is anaphoric. The war of 20:8 is the war of 19:19 and 16:14. This point is confirmed when one observes the absence of the definite article in 9:7,9; 11:7; 12:7,17; and 13:7.” – Sam Storms

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