1,000 Years Of Revelation, 20: 1-6, The Millennial - Research Paper Example

1,000 YEARS OF REVELATION, 20 6, THE MILLENNIAL A Research Paper Submitted to Dr. Brian K. Moulton Liberty In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for Course: By John Q. Public CONTENTS Introduction 3 The Nature of the Millennium 3 The Timing of the Millennium 5 The Duration of the Millennium 6 The Occupants of the Millennial Kingdom 6 Israel and the church 9 Conclusion 10 Bibliography Appendix Introduction The final book of the Bible, the revelation to the apostle John was given to him through the operation of God’s (Jehovah: Psalm 83:18) Holy Spirit and for the purpose of a witness to Jesus, which is what inspires prophesying (Re 19:10). John received this vision through an angel of Jesus Christ’s while he was in exile on the isle of Patmos in the year 96 C.E. (Re 1:1) The book is the last in the bible by arrangement. Its name Revelation is a translation of the Greek word apocalypse, meaning ‘an uncovering’ or ‘a disclosure’, and is sometimes called the Apocalypse of John. The book was written as a letter to seven congregations and the number seven, denoting completeness, is used to refer to various symbols; seals, plagues, trumpets, lampstands, stars and more. It also signifies completeness indicating that this final book and its visions bring to completion God’s message, his sacred secret. (Re 10:7) The purpose of the visions, received in order, was to reveal events that “must shortly take place” and to give hope to the faithful and chapter 20 reveals the 14th and 15th visions. (Re 1:1-3). The Nature of the Millennium Chapter 20 of Revelation reveals to John a time when Satan, the original devil and serpent (Re 12:9) and his demons, will be held captive for 1,000 years in an abyss while Christ rules. It will be a period of peace, cleansing and judgment during which the earth will be restored to its original intended state, a paradise. And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 And he hurled him into the abyss and shut [it] and sealed [it] over him, that he might not mislead the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After these things he must be let loose for a little while. (Re 20:1-3,7) And the fifth angel blew his trumpet. And I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to the earth, and the key of the pit of the abyss was given him (Re 8:2, 9:1,11) Jesus and his fellow rulers, the 144,000, will be judges (Re 20:4) during that period. During this time mankind will return to a perfect physical state of health and well-being, as originally intended by our Creator. During the millennium, mankind will also gain further education about God’s ways and over this time right-hearted ones will attain perfection. (Lu 22:30, Mt 19:28,1 Co 6:2) According the God’s Word, those alive during the millennium will also experience a great resurrection. Those resurrected will be judged by “the One on the great white throne. Death and Hades are cast into the lake of fire.” (Insight, Vol. 2, pg. 801) At the end of the millennium, Satan will be released for a short while and will attempt to again mislead mankind. He and those who choose to follow him will be destroyed for all time. (Rev. 20: 7 – 10). The Timing of the Millennium Bible scholars generally acknowledge that the answers to spiritual questions lie within the Bible itself. The apostle Paul stated in 1 Corinthians, “These things we also speak, not with words taught by human wisdom, but with those taught by [the] spirit, as we combine spiritual [matters] with spiritual [words].” (1 Co 2:13) “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36 According to Bible prophecy, we are living in the time directly preceding the Millennium, the last days of this system. Though no man knows, nor will be allowed to know the exact time of God’s day, the war of Armageddon, Jesus did give his disciples many signs to watch for. In Matthew chapter 24 Jesus tells his disciples to beware of those who will claim to be him and that there will be wars, hunger and earthquakes. His disciples reveal their understanding of his presence, that it will be at this time, the conclusion of the system of things, Satan’s system. Jesus also warns them that his faithful followers will endure persecution, as will he, and that there will be a preaching of the good news of the kingdom in all the inhabited earth “and then the end will come”. (Mt 24: 4-14) In “A History of the End of the World” by Jonathan Dirsch, the author explains the philosophy regarding the second coming of Christ prescribed to by those calling themselves premillennialists. For these believers the description of Christ’s presence is literal. “They are convinced that they will behold with their own mortal eyes the sight of Jesus Christ descending from heaven on a cloud, seating himself on an earthly throne, and reigning over a kingdom of saints for a thousand years.” (189) The Duration of the Millennium By definition, the millennium will be for a period of 1,000 years. According to the Bible it will be a time of accomplishment; judgment, resurrection, and restoration of earth to a paradise condition. The ending will be marked by the release of Satan for one final time before he is finally eliminated, no longer to plague God’s creation. The Occupants of the Millennial Kingdom Revelation 20:4 refers to when Jesus told his followers in Luke that they would be rulers with him and sit upon thrones. And I saw thrones, and there were those who sat down on them, and power of judging was given them. Yes, I saw the souls of those executed with the ax for the witness they bore to Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had worshiped neither the wild beast nor its image and who had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand. And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for a thousand years. (Re 20:4) Where will these thrones reside and what is symbolized by the wild beast? The wild beast is identified in Revelation as receiving its authority from Satan. This indicates that the wild beast is in opposition to Jehovah’s will for peace. This would indicate that unbelieving, non-Christ-like people will personify the wild beast. The term thousand could be symbolic, and has been used that way in other parts of the Bible. In 1 Samuel 21:11 the word is translated as myriads or, a great many. But here, Revelation 20:5-7, the use of the Greek work  meaning thousand, is used three times and indicates a literal millennium of one 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 Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years. 7 Now as soon as the thousand years have been ended, Satan will be let loose out of his prison The Bible has also educated us regarding God’s viewpoint on time and that his span of one thousand years greatly differs from our own. 1 Pet. 3:8 However, let this one fact not be escaping your notice, beloved ones, that one day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. Re 13:4 And they worshiped the dragon because it gave the authority to the wild beast, and they worshiped the wild beast with the words: “Who is like the wild beast, and who can do battle with it? Revelation 12:9 identifies the dragon as Satan: “So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.” We understand the scripture at Acts 1:9 to describe the ascension of Jesus into heaven where he joined his Father and to sit at his right hand. (Psalms 110:1) This indicates that the 144,000, who will be judges along with Christ, will also reside in heaven upon thrones, or positions of authority. (Col 1:16) Those residing on earth will be the great crowd of survivors of Armageddon, and the remnant bride class, 9 After these things I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. 10 And they keep on crying with a loud voice, saying: “Salvation [we owe] to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Rev 7: 9, 10) Chapter 12 of Revelation tells us of the war in heaven when Satan was thrown down to earth and as the cause for the many atrocities mankind is suffering in these last days. Verse 17 reveals that there is a remnant of his spiritual seed that gets special attention from Satan. Since these are humans, it is possible that an unknown number of them will still be alive at the beginning of the millennium. Dr. Barbara R. Rossing published her belief in “The Rapture Exposed, the Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation.” Dr. Ross referred to the time of Ancient Rome when the majority of Christians living in Ephesus, a major trade center, were slaves. As their reward, Ross believes that the scripture written by John indicates that during the millennium, all the faithful will rule as royalty. (157) Israel and the Church Again, we look to the scriptures to reveal to us their meaning. The scriptures tell us that Jehovah God promised to make Abraham’s seed into a great nation. (Genesis 15:5) God kept his promise, but by the time Jesus arrived on earth, the priests had begun to incorporate their own traditions into the law given to Moses. It was no longer the exact word of God. Matthew 21:43 This is why I say to you The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits Scriptural teachings and baptism were gradually made available to the nations and through Peter to whom three keys were given from Jesus. (Matthew 16:19) 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, and whatever you may bind on earth will be the thing bound in the heavens, and whatever you may loose on earth will be the thing loosed in the heavens The first of these keys was used at Pentecost 33 C.E. to pour God’s Holy Spirit out to thousands of Jews and proselytes. (Acts 2: 1-41) The result was that about 3,000 were baptized that day and became “prospective heirs of the Kingdom”. (WT 56) The second key was used to open the Kingdom to a group of Samaitans who had been recently baptized, but now, through Peter, received Holy Spirit. (Acts 8: 14-17) The third key was used to open the way to the Kingdom for uncircumcised Gentiles. In 36 C.E., Cornelius, an Italian military officer, became the first Gentile to accept Christ. (Acts 10:1-48) Dr. Rossing refers to New Jerusalem as a place that we each experience in our own way, an “Aha” moment when we will know we are in God’s presence. New Jerusalem is the bride and Revelation leads one on a spiritual journey that can also be experienced through song, prayer, scriptural readings and communion. At the end of this journey Rossing expects to eat from God’s Tree of Life, the one that was forbidden to Adam and Eve. Conclusion The inspired book of Revelation’s 20th chapter is a message of hope. Though it is the last book in the Bible, it signifies God’s complete message to mankind and points us toward the future. What could be better than to have the earth rid of all evil influences? Not only that, we are told that we will have 1,000 years to restore the earth to a paradise with the help of God’s Holy Spirit. We have a hope of life for at least 1,000 years, or forever, due to His undeserved kindness and if we stay faithful. (John 17:3) We will be given a heavenly judicial system that will be honest, incorruptible, and eternal. (Dan. 2:44) Not all scholars agree on the interpretation of Revelations visions, but in the Bible it states that those desiring accurate knowledge will be enlightened by God’s Holy Spirit. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Kirsch, Jonathan. A History of the End of the World. San Francisco: Harper Collins Publishers, 2006. 2. New World Bible Translation Committee. New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., 1984. 3. New World Bible Translation Committee. The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures. Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., 1969. 4. Rossing, Barbara R. The Rapture Exposed, the Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation. Boulder: Westview Press, 2004. 5. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Bearing Thorough Witness about God’s Kingdom. Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., 2009. 6. An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon: Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989. 7. Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 2. Brooklyn, N.Y.: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., 1988. 8. Watch Tower Publications (1950-2010). Watchtower Library 2010, Version 12.0 Build 3228, Research library: English. NY: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2011. APPENDIX Introduction Daniel 8:19 - And he went on to say: “Here I am causing you to know what will occur in the final part of the denunciation, because it is for the appointed time of [the] end. Revelation 22:10 - He also tells me: “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, for the appointed time is near. Matthew 24:3 - “While he was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: “Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?” The Nature of the Millennium (John 5: 28, 29; Rev. 21: 3, 4) Daniel 7:14 - “And to him there were given rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him. His rulership is an indefinitely lasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be brought to ruin.” Matthew 20:21 - He said to her: “What do you want?” She said to him: “Give the word that these my two sons may sit down, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Matthew 25:31 - “When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne.” Luke 18:29 - He said to them: “Truly I say to you, There is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God Luke 22:30 – “…that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.” 1 Corinthians 6:2 – “Or do you not know that the holy ones will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you are you unfit to try very trivial matters?” Revelation 20:4 – “And I saw thrones, and there were those who sat down on them, and power of judging was given them. Yes, I saw the souls of those executed with the ax for the witness they bore to Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had worshiped neither the wild beast nor its image and who had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand. And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for a thousand years.” The Occupants of the Millennial Kingdom Matthew 19:28 - ‘Jesus said to them: “Truly I say to you, In the re-creation, when the Son of man sits down upon his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also yourselves sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’ “ 1 Corinthians 6:2 - “Or do you not know that the holy ones will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you unfit to try very trivial matters?” Revelation 2:26 - “And to him that conquers and observes my deeds down to the end I will give authority over the nations,” Revelation 3:21 – “To the one that conquers I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, even as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation 20:6 – “Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years.” Israel and the Church Matthew 8:12 – “…whereas the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the darkness outside. There is where [their] weeping and the gnashing of [their] teeth will be.” Matthew 22:9 – “Therefore go to the roads leading out of the city, and anyone you find invite to the marriage feast.’ “ Hebrews 8:9 - “not according to the covenant that I made with their forefathers in [the] day of my taking hold of their hand to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant, so that I stopped caring for them,’ says Jehovah.” Read More