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Note: This Interruption will make better sense if you read #701 first. Remember, eliminating confusion is not necessarily an objective of Interruptions! But we do try to be helpful in clearing mental cobwebs.
Okay, now begin #702…
And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be released for a little while (Revelation 20:2-3, ESV).
I believe that we are in the end-times.
That loud sound that you hear today – could be the trumpet call of God with Jesus returning in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
All the prophecies in the Bible (close to 600) about the second coming are fulfilled or very close to being fulfilled.
David Reagan recently wrote a book entitled, What’s the Difference In A Millennium and A Millipede? His point – most people don’t know the difference.
The Millennium, or the 1,000-year timeframe of the rule of Christ, is the focal point of end-times teaching in the Bible (Revelation 20:6). There are three main thoughts about the Millennium…
- Premillennialism
- Amillennialism
- Postmillennialism
Read Dr. Reagan’s book for a thorough examination of the differing viewpoints – or just accept my ideas in this Interruption!
Premillennialism, while not negating figurative language, views the 1,000 years and other prophecies of the end-times as actual events.
Amillennialism seeks to spiritualize the 1,000 years. This viewpoint believes in a millennium, but it is a spiritual rule of Christ over the church.
Postmillennialism holds that the church will gradually evolve into the predominant social-political force in the world – then the church will present the world to Christ when He returns.
Let’s review:
- Pre = Jesus coming back before the millennium and ruling for 1,000 years.
- A = Nothing. No actual millennium.
- Post = Jesus coming back after a literal and victorious reign of the church over the world. The actual 1,000 years is figurative language for the timeframe.
I believe that the Premillennial viewpoint is more scriptural. Why?
Having been raised in a church with amillennial theology, I changed my mind when I began to see that the prophecies about the first coming of Christ were literally fulfilled, so it made sense to me that the second coming prophecies should have a literal fulfillment as well.
Another reason – the Bible prophetically talks about a victorious church, saints reigning with Christ, the curse being removed from creation, the world experiencing peace, and the blessings promised to the Jews fulfilled.
This all happens in the millennium!
There are a lot of nuances to the premillennial viewpoint. Like the rapture and the seven-year tribulation and whether the rapture occurs pre, mid, or post-tribulation.
However, David Reagan has 166 pages of further explanation and I have only 600 words in each Interruption.
When considering the end-times, let’s remember Paul’s exhortation to Timothy…
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).
Note: All who have loved His appearing!!!!!
When we have expectation, we are prepared.
Interruptions will feature the Book of Revelation in 2022. Read #280, #281, #295, #307, #316, #333, #343, #364, #380, #395, #406, #432, #433, #559, #566, #596, and #701 at grantedwardsauthor.com for previous blogs on Revelation. I’m writing 12 more blogs on Revelation this year.