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TEXT: Revelation 20
SUBJECT: Last Things
Over the next two or three weeks (God willing) we will complete that theological series I began a few months ago. We opened the study with the "first things" such as the existence of God, the Trinity and so on. We close, appropriately enough, with the "last things", what theologians call "eschatology".
Today's subject, as you may have surmised from our text, is "the millennium". But about this, note: this is not an exposition of Revelation 20 per se', but a survey of millennial thinking.
Now, about the "millennium", I ought to add a cautionary note: the proponents of each view differ from one another in many important respects. But their differences are not nearly as numerous--or important--as the things they have in common. All of the major views accept the following doctrines:
1.The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
2.The resurrection of the dead
3.The final judgment
4.The coming of a "world wherein dwelleth righteousness".
Considering therefore, what we have in common with all Christians, we ought to be more charitable toward our brethren who see things differently than we do.
Here, it seems to me, we can learn from those "hair-splitting" Puritans. These men loved clear definitions and preached without ambiguity. Yet when it came came to the doctrine of the millennium, the Puritans adopted very general--even vague--language. Why? Because they realized that, on this subject, even the clearest thinker "sees through a glass darkly".
Men of impeccable Reformed credentials have differed widely on this question.
1.The Dutch are usually amillennial (e.g., Kuyper, Hoeksema, van Til).
2.Those from the English/Scottish traditions tend more toward postmillennialism (Owen, Edwards, Warfield).
3.Reformed Americans have often adopted premillennialism (Gordon Clark, Barnhouse, James Montgomery Boice).
The same is true of the great Baptists:
1.John Gill was premillennial.
2.J.P. Boyce was amillennial.
3.B.H. Carrol was postmillennial.
4.And Charles Spurgeon was "all of the above!"
The sum of what I am saying is this: we ought to carefully study the doctrine of the millennium and form our beliefs on the teaching of the Bible. But, at the same time, we ought to conduct our studies with humility and extend our love and appreciation to those who differ with us.
1.What is the "Millennium"?
a.Latin word, "Mille" and "Annum".
b.Revelation 20 is the only place in the Bible that decisively teaches a "millennium". According to that Scripture, its elements are:
1.The binding of Satan, v.1. (What this includes, v.3).
2.The reigning of Christ and His saints, vv.4,6.
c.About this glorious era, other Scriptures add various details:
1.Isaiah 35:1, i.e., "The desert shall blossom as the rose".
2.Isaiah 11:6, i.e., lion/lamb.
3.Habakkuk 2:14
4.Micah 4:1, "Mountain of the lord established, etc.
d.Let me summarize in a homespun way, "the millennium is a little bit of heaven on earth".
2.Premillenialism.
a.Its basic teaching: The millennium will follow the Second coming of Christ. The age will be largely Jewish; the Temple will be rebuilt, the ancient sacrifices restored; Christ shall rule over His people upon the throne of David. Following this glorious age, Satan will be loosed for a season and will once again threaten Christ and His people; but happily, God will intervene, and save the Lord from defeat.
b.Its critique:
a.According to the Bible, the second coming of Christ is the end of history, and not merely an act in history.
b.Moreover, Israel is only a secondary concern to God. His eternal purpose is fulfilled in the church, Eph.3:11.
c.Premillennialism assumes a second humiliation of our Savior, cf. Philippians 2.
d.But the biggest promblem with premillennialism is this: it underestimates the glory and work of Christ in the present age. Our Lord Jesus has already:
1.Bound Satan
2.Ruling the world.
3.Filling the world with His knowledge.
3.Postmillennialism.
a.Postmillennialism is, in some ways, the opposite of premillennialism. It teaches that the millennium will precede the Second Coming of Christ.
b.Through the preaching of the Gospel and the fresh outpourings of the Holy Spirit, the world will become increasingly Christian. Both more and more people will be saved and the saved will grow increasingly devoted to their Savior. It is, in other words, a "Golden Age".
c.Its critique:
1.Postmillennialism, it seems to me, is sharply superior to premillennialism. It accepts, for example, the present binding of Satan, our Lord's exaltation, and appreciates the "power of the Gospel". But it too is problematic. My chief objection to this point-of-view is this:
a.It would seem to exclude or diminish the unpopularity of Christianity. If it is true that the vast majority of the world will one day be Christian, then where does Christian suffering come in?
1.How can the "Millennial Christian" enjoy the beatitude, "Blessed are you when men revile you and say all manner of evil against you..."
2.How does he get into the kingdom without passing through "much tribulation"?
3.How does he fulfill his "pilgrimmage"? (Heb.11:3, etc.).
4.Amillennialism.
a.Its basic position on the millennium is entirely negative: "There is no millennium. These marvellous promises are fulfilled only in heaven and never (and in no way) on earth".
b.Its critique:
1.The problems with Amillennialism, it seems to me, are similar to those of premillennialism. There is a great undervaluing of the present work of Christ.
5."Realized Millennialism".
a.Its basic idea: There is a millennium. It is glorious. It is enjoyed "this side of heaven". And it is now!
b.All of the requirements are presently met:
1.Satan is bound.
2.The saints are reigning (and on earth!) (Eph.1, Romans 8).
3.The world is being filled with the knowledge of God.
4.The lion is lying down with the lamb (see Saul of Tarsus, for example).
c.This view, it seems to me, avoids all of the problems presented by the others.
1.It does not lead to carnal excitement (as premilliennialism tends to do).
2.It does not lead to black pessimissim (as Amillennialism often does).
3.It does not lead to naive optimism, only to end in disillusionment (as postmillennialism does).
d. It seems, unlike the other positions, eminently "realistic". It does justice to our Lord's full triumph over the world but does not forget the power of remaining sin.
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