A PREMILLENNIAL VIEW ON THE 1000 YEARS OF REVELATION

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A Research Paper
Submitted to
Dr. Brian K. Moulton
Liberty University
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In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for
BIBL 450- B06 Daniel- Revelation

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By
William E. Harris, III
October 8, 2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………3
The Millennium Defined…………………………………………………………………3
Views of the Millennium…………………………………………………………………4 Premillennialism Amillennialism Postmillennialism
Timing of the Millennium……………………………………………………………….6
Duration of the Millennium……………………………………………………………..7
Occupants of the Millennium……………………………………………………………8
Relationship of Israel and the Church to the Millennial Kingdom……………………..8
Personal Approach to the Millennial View……………………………………………..9
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………….10
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………..11
A PREMILLENNIAL VIEW ON THE 1000 YEARS OF REVELATION

Introduction For many Christians, the millennium is a very important doctrine. The question of the differentiating views of the millennial kingdom in Rev 20:1-6 continues to be a source of fascination in evangelical discussion and dialogue. This paper will present the view of the writer as supported according to the scriptures. It will begin by defining the 1000 years of Revelation according to research and translation. It will briefly take a look at Premillennialism, Amillennialism and Postmillennialism the three most supported views of the millennium. A description pertaining to the nature of the 1000 years will be given. The timing as it relates to the Second Coming of Christ will be discussed. There will be consideration dealing with the actual duration of the 1000 years as to whether it is literal or symbolic. It will also show will be present during this period of 1000 years. The relationship of Israel to the church will be taken in to consideration as it relates to the millennial kingdom. There will be support to the belief of the writer while interacting with the various arguments throughout the paper.
The Millennium Defined The word millennium comes from a combination of Latin words.
The word “mille” is understood to mean thousand and “annus” meaning year. The term represents a doctrine that is taken from the book of Revelation 20:1-10. This is a time in which the writer describes the devil being bound and thrown into a bottomless pit for a thousand years. This period of time is said to mark the “removal of satanic influence.” It is described as being a time of peace and prosperity governed by the rule of Christ as king. Elmer Towns defines it as “The one-thousand year period of time when the promise made to Israel for the literal kingdom will be fulfilled on the earth, when Christ will personally sit on the throne of David and reign over the earth from Jerusalem.”
Views of the Millennium Throughout church history there have been several views that have been taken concerning the millennium. The three most prominent would have to be the Premillennialism, the Amillennialism, and the Postmillennialism views. Some would contend that the difference in opinion has to do with the return of Christ but these views far beyond that one discretion. Understanding the differences between the three views will assist in any attempt of supporting or diminishing their individual stances.
Premillennialism
Premillennialism is the belief that Christ’s second coming will be the catalyst to the millennial age taking place prior to its beginning. This view is one of the most widely accepted among those who interpret the scriptures in a more literal sense when at all possible. According to Lahaye, “Early Christians were unquestionably premillennialists.” Though there has been debate over the newness of this view it has been shown to be a fact that this view was held even during the first three centuries of the early church. This would include the beliefs of the disciples and the people that they taught as well. Premillennialists take their stand with “The belief-system that holds that Christ will return to earth and set up a literal, earthly kingdom as promised.”
Amillennialism
There is no literal belief when it comes to the Amillennialist. Their thoughts consist of spiritualizing and symbolizing prophesies when it comes to the subject of the millennium. They believe that the Old Testament predictions of the kingdom were fulfilled in a non-literal way. They see this happening in the present church age or through the kingdom which will be in heaven. According to Towns, “The Amillennial school of interpretation does not believe in a literal or actual future kingdom of peace and prosperity here on earth that will last one thousand years.”
Postmillennialism
The postmillennialist believes that the millennium is an era. During this era Christ will reign over the earth, not from a literal and earthly throne, but through the gradual increase of the gospel and its power to change lives. The perception of an actual one thousand years is not a part of their thinking. They do believe however that after the spread of the gospel Christ will return and immediately usher the church into their eternal state after judging the wicked. Towns defines this school of thought as having a “belief-system that presupposes the continual moral improvement of society under the influence of the church until a millennial kingdom would be established on earth as the world lives in peace.” It is the belief here that Christ will return after the millennium.
Timing of the Millennium
When considering when exactly does the millennium take place all three views have a different take on the topic. Premillennialist believe that the millennium will take place after the Second Coming of Christ. Even though the Old Testament speaks of the “covenants with Abraham and David established unconditional promises of an Israelite kingdom in the ancient land ruled by the ultimate Son of David.” The New Testament writers do not attempt to reinterpret the Old Testament promises instead they choose to write concerning the spiritual blessings that are promised according to the the fulfillment of the covenants. Both Acts 1:6 and 3:21 support the premillennial view with reference to the restoration of the kingdom to Israel taking place at the second coming of Jesus Christ. Romans 11:26-29 speak of the fulfillment of the covenants at the second coming. 1st Corinthians 15:22-23 speaks of a temporary kingdom following Christ's return but prior to the eternal kingdom of God during which Christ will rule and crush all His enemies.
Amillennialist unlike Premillennialist do not believe in a literal kingdom to come on earth so for this reason they perceive that the devil was bound at the first coming of Christ and that at the first coming the millennial process began but this was more than 2000 years ago.
Postmillennialist believe that the Second Coming of Christ will occur after the millennial age but this will be due to a process of gradual evangelism that will result in a world of peace.
Duration of the Millennium
Because of the literal approach to the scriptures, Premillennialist hold fast to the belief that the duration of the millennium is exactly that, 1000 years. Revelation 20:6 says, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (KJV).
Amillennialist, because of their beliefs, adhere to the understanding the Satan has already been bound and that he has very limited by the advancement of the gospel. Hindson says according to this that in order to grasp this perspective and individual must “view the one thousand years as figurative of the entire Church Age.”
Postmillennialist in fact believe that the millennial is 1000 years of the present age with the culmination the entire world being won over for the kingdom. While some Postmillennialists believe that the future golden age of the earth will be literally and precisely one thousand years in duration, many of them see the thousand years as a more expressive way of speaking, and only believe that there will be a lengthy time of peace and well-being on the earth in the future, but not necessarily exactly one thousand years.
Occupants of the Millennium
According to scripture the occupants of the millennium will consist of Christ, Who will rule the world from Jerusalem with a special place given to the nation of Israel who will have been purged and purified during the Tribulation. There will be those believers in their glorified bodies who will reign on earth with Christ. “There will be those believers who are alive at the start of the Millennial Kingdom who will enter with their physical bodies.”
According to the King James Study Bible:
“Christ will rule through three classes of administrators: (1) Old Testament saints, according to Isaiah 26:19 and Daniel 12:2, who will be resurrected at this time; (2) the apostles and the church, according to Matthew 19:28-29; and (3) Tribulation saints according to Luke 19:12-27. Only believers will enter the millennium at its beginning. God’s promises to Abraham and David will be fulfilled.”
Relationship of Israel and the Church to the Millennial Kingdom Though all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are saved by faith through Jesus Christ, there is a clear and permanent distinction between Israel and the church within the purposes of God. The promises of the Old Testament are not fulfilled through the gathering of the church of Jesus Christ from among all the peoples of the earth. These promises are given to an earthly, ethically distinct people, Israel, and they will be fulfilled in a literal manner only during the allowance of the millennial kingdom that follows the present release of the gospel. Premillennialist see the relationship of the church and Israel separated by the promises to Israel in the Old Testament being fulfilled along with the rapture of His Old Testament saints. These are not promises that were given to the Gentiles. Amillennialist do not see the importance of Israel due to the fact that they consider the spreading of the gospel through the current church age as a means of evangelizing the world. Postmillennialist leave their focus on the church believing that the golden age is ushered in by the church through the triumph of the gospel, not only in bringing individuals to salvation, but also in dominating culture. With the Amillennialist and the Postmillennialist there is no focus on Israel at all but the Premillennialist bring a balance between the two.
Personal Approach to the Millennial View It is the belief of this writer that the Premillennial view lines up with his own belief-system. The literal understanding of the scriptures is an approach that best defines the mindset possessed by this writer. Though Satan is limited to what he can do to God’s people this does not support the Amillennial view. If the 1000 years is seen as literal the more than 2000 years that have passed since the first resurrection has run over the millennium concept. The Postmillennial view cannot be support as well due to the fact that the belief in a gradual moral movement is far from being spread in the present age, in fact it appears to be going in the opposite direction.
Conclusion
This paper has presented the view of the writer as supported according to the scriptures. It began by defining the 1000 years of Revelation according to research and translation. It briefly takes a look at Premillennialism, Amillennialism and Postmillennialism the three most supported views of the millennium. A description pertaining to the nature of the 1000 years was given. The timing as it relates to the Second Coming of Christ was discussed. There was consideration dealing with the actual duration of the 1000 years as to whether it is literal or symbolic. It also showed who will be present during this period of 1000 years. The relationship of Israel to the church was taken into consideration as it relates to the millennial kingdom. There was support to the belief of the writer while interacting with the various arguments throughout the paper.

Bibliography
Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.
Hindson, Edward. The Book of Revelation Unlocking the Future. AMG Publishers, 2002.
King James Study Bible. Columbia: Liberty University, 1988.
Lahaye, Tim, and Ed Hindson. The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy. Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2004.
Noe, John. "An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 49, no. 4, 2006: 767-796.
Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today. Mason: Cengage Learning, 2008.

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[ 1 ]. Hindson, Edward. The Book of Revelation Unlocking the Future. AMG Publishers, 2002.
[ 2 ]. Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.
[ 3 ]. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today. Mason: Cengage Learning, 2008.
[ 4 ]. Lahaye, Tim, and Ed Hindson. The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy. Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2004.
[ 5 ]. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today. Mason: Cengage Learning, 2008.
[ 6 ]. Ibid.
[ 7 ]. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today. Mason: Cengage Learning, 2008.
[ 8 ]. Noe, John. "An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 49, no. 4, 2006: 767-796.
[ 9 ]. Hindson, Edward. The Book of Revelation Unlocking the Future. AMG Publishers, 2002.
[ 10 ]. Noe, John. "An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 49, no. 4, 2006: 767-796
[ 11 ]. King James Study Bible. Columbia: Liberty University, 1988.