Bible study with Dr. Chuck Missler
THE MILLENNIUM (Revelation 20)
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Jesus will rule the throne of his father David (Luke 1:30-33)
When? During the Millennium.
God’s Promise
- The Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:11-16)
- God promised David a royal dynasty (Isaiah 7:13)
- An eternal throne (2 Samuel 7:13-19; 1 Chronicles 17:12; 22:10; Isaiah 55:3; Ezekiel 37:25)
- A political kingdom (Genesis 17:2-8)
- It was even confirmed by oath by God (Psalm 132:11; 89:3-4, 34)
- This cannot be applied to the Church (Ezekiel 37:21-28)
- It was this future throne that was recognized by the First Church Council in Acts 15 (Acts 15:16-18, quoting Amos 9:11-12; Cf. Jeremiah 30:7, 11, 18)
The Millennium is NOT an allegory
History of Amillennialism
Origen
Many prophecies were difficult to understand, given they had not happened yet -- For example, Israel was not a nation yet. This was a key event to pin point end time prophecies. Today, we have the benefit of reading history as fulfillment of prophecies, and so, we can better understand the Books of Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation, etc. For Origen, prophetic books were much harder to understand due to the lack of clues. And so, the only way he could make sense of Biblical events was by allegory.
Augustine
He was heavily influenced by Origen and picked up on Origen's allegorization of Biblical prophecies and coined the term Amillennialism. During this period, the Church had become supported by the State. It was thus difficult to preach from the pulpit how Jesus will return and rid the world of its evil rulers when the pastors were paid by the "evil"rulers"! Allegorization allowed Augustine the wiggle room to survive.
Roman Catholic Church
Amillennialism became the eschatologyical view of the medieval Roman Catholic Church. To this day, Catholics continue to allegorize the Millennium and believe that God has come to rule our hearts but not physically on the Throne.
Reformation
The Reformation era did a great job explaining salvation. This was to combat religiosity of the Roman Catholic Church, who sold "indulgences" for money and such ungodly practices. This era, however, failed to address eschatology. As a result, most Protestant denominations are amillennial and post-tribulational in their eschatological views.
Amillennial Problems
- Messianic promises throughout the Old Testament have to read under a certain light or with a squint to make it fit amillennialism.
- The destiny of Israel in God’s Covenants has not yet been fully fulfilled.
- The promise given to Mary by Gabriel has not yet been fully fulfilled.
- Numerous reconfirmations of the Millennium are found in the New Testament.
The Church has not replaced Israel
- The Church was born in Acts 2, during the Feast of Pentecost
- Israel was born in Exodus 4 – They entered Egypt as a family and came out as a nation
- Israel and the Church have different origins, missions, and destinies.
- Replacement Theology deny Israel its place in God’s plan – This is dangerous water to be treading, because it lays the basis for Christian Anti-Semitism. Worse, it makes God a liar.
- The “70 Weeks” deal specifically with Israel, not the Church
- Paul points out that there are 3 groups of people: Jews, Gentiles, and the Church
When God judges Israel by taking them out of the Holy Land, God see that as a sin against Himself
Ezekiel 36:16-23
Again the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness in my sight. So I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, 'These are the LORD’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.' I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes. For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.
Ezekiesl 37:20-22
Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, ‘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. 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.
Why does God judge Israel? Because they have defiled the Land.
But why does God redeem Israel? Because it was His name that was on the Land Covenant, not because the Israelites deserve it! In a way, it may be helpful to look at it this way: God put His name on the Covenant He made with Israel. God does not break promises. And so, if God does not redeem Israel, He would break His promise to His people, and that would be a sin! And so, God redeemed Israel because God does not break His covenants. It has nothing to do with Israel deserving it.
The Millennium is promised throughout the Bible
- Promised to David (2 Samuel 7:12-17; 23:5), under oath (Psalm 89:34-37)
- Predicted in the Psalms (Psalm 2:110)
- Predicted by the prophets (Isaiah 2:1-5; 4:1-6; 11:1-9; 12:1-6; 30:18-26; 35:1-10; 60, 61:3-62; 6; Jeremiah 23:3-8; 32:37-44; Ezekiel 40-48; Daniel 2:44-45; 7:13-14; 12:2-3; Micah 4:1-8; Zechariah 12:10-14; 21)
- Promised to Mary (Luke 1:32; Micah 5:2; Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 2:44), which was reaffirmed to the apostles (Luke 22:29-30)
- Lord’s Prayer: “Thy Kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10-13; Acts 1:6; Psalm 45-48)
- Rule (Psalm 2:110) with “Rod of Iron” (Revelation 12:5; 19:15) and “every knee will bow” (Philemon 2:6-11)
- The Creation is changed physically (Zechariah 4:9-10; Isaiah 35:1-10)
- The Curse of Genesis 3 is lifted (Isaiah 11:6-9)
- The Creation is redeemed (Genesis 3 vs. Romans 8:20-22)
- The Earth is in full knowledge of the Lord (Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14)
- The Millennium is NOT eternity (Isaiah 65)
- There will be death and sin (Isaiah 65:20)
- Everyone will have their own land (Micah 4:15)
- It will be fruitful (Amos 9:13)
- The Millennium is not Heaven
- The Millennium is not the New Earth (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13 Revelation 21:1)
- The Millennium is not where righteousness dwells; it’s where righteousness will be enforced
- There is limited evil, and it is judged immediately (Isaiah 11:1-16)
- Death is for unbelievers only (Isaiah 65:17) – There is no mentioning of the resurrection of Millennial saints (Tribulation Martyrs complete the First Resurrection” (Revelation 20:4-6)
- There are no Jewish unbelievers (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
- All men have 100 years to accept the Lord (Isaiah 65:20). At the end, those who do not accept the Lord will receive death, which is noted only among Gentiles.
2 Samuel 7:12-15
When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood,and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him,as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.
David’s throne is established FOREVER. This has not happened yet.
Psalm 89:34-37
I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—and I will not lie to David—that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.
Revelation 20:1
Abusso: Where Antichrist came out of (Revelation 11, 17)
Revelation 20:2-3
It didn’t take Jesus to bound Satan. An angel was enough to do it. Point: Satan is not a counterpart to Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ is the CREATOR! He created the angels! Satan is the created!
"The nations shall be deceived no more" – That is, today, Satan is deceiving all nations!
There are 4 classes of God's people (Revelation 20:4)
- The Old Testament Saints (Daniel 12:1-4; Isaiah 25:8-9)
- The Church (Revelation 5:10; 2:26-28; 3:12, 21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Timothy 2:12)
- Tribulation Saints/Martyrs (Revelation 6:9)
- Tribulation Survivors (those who survived the Tribulation without worshiping the Beast) – These are the people who will be repopulating the Earth
The First and Second Resurrections are not events; they are categories (Revelation 20:5)
There are two resurrections (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; Luke 14:14)
The first resurrection of the First Resurrection was Jesus Christ. And along with Jesus, Old Testament Saints were the first fruits (Matthew 27:52-53). This group also includes the Raptured Church and the Tribulation Saints/Martyrs.
The Second Resurrection occurs at the end of the Millennium.
The redeemed are the kings and priests (Revelation 20:6)
Who are the redeemed? Old Testament Saints; New Testament Saints (the Church); Tribulation Saints/Martyrs.
Physical death is the separation of the body and the soul.
Spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God (Revelation 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8; Jude 1:12)
The Millennial Temple (Ezekiel 40-48)
Ezekiel's description of the Millennial Temple was highly detailed, making the Temply highly unlikely to be symbolic – Nothing like it has ever been built before.
- It is not located in Jerusalem but about 40 miles north of it (Ezekiel 45)
- All nations will worship there.
- Offerings and sacrifices are resumed.
- The Temple will open only on the Sabbath Day and New Moons.
Revelation 20:7-8
This is not the same Gog and Magog battle as Ezekiel 38-39. The war of Ezekiel 38 occurs BEFORE the second coming of Jesus.
Revelation 20:9
God will demolish Gog, Magog, and their gang with fire.
Revelation 20:10
The Antichrist and the False Prophet will be tossed into the Lake of Fire BEFORE the Millennium. Satan will be thrown in AFTER. We see here that the Antichrist and the False Prophet will still be there burning after a thousand years when they are joined by Satan! And there they will continue to burn forever and ever.
Revelation 20:11-15
The Dead = all the unsaved.
The saved are either those who are the resurrection bodies or the Tribulation Survivors.
Hell = Hades, which contains a good compartment (Abraham’s Bosom) and a bad compartment (Place of Torment). It is a temporary holding place. Hades also gets tossed into the Lake of Fire. Right now, Hades only has the Place of Torment, because when Jesus was resurrected, He already took those in Abraham’s Bosom "home" (Ephesians 4:7-10; 1 Peter 3:18-20). This was why dead saints were seen walking around after Jesus was resurrected (Matthew 27:52-53).
What happens after death? (Luke 16:19-22)
- The Rich Man in Hades was fully conscious: He had memory; he speaks; he feels pain; he has desires - His eternal destiny was irrevocably fixed – There is no more hope. - He knew what he was experiencing was fair and just – He never complained that he did not deserve this.
- He also knew what his brothers needed to do to avoid his own fate: Repent!
1 Peter 3:18-22
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
ETERNITY (Revelation 21-22)
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Revelation 22:1
This phrase came out of Isaiah 65:17
See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
The Lord will come as a thief in the night (2 Peter 3:10-11)
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
The New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:12-20)
Precious Stones
- Breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:15-21; 31-34; 39:10-14)
- Connected to the Mazzeroth (Zodiac)
Reference:
* Josephu (Ant. iii.7.7)
* Philo (De Monarchia, ii.5; cf. Vit. Mos. iii. 14)
- John’s order is the reverse of the zodiacal order – because the Lion is now in charge!
- Cf. heavenly Eden (Ezekiel 28:13)
- Jasper (iaspis): clear – associated with Pisces, Simeon
- Sapphire (sappheiros): blue – Exodus 24:10, the foundation of God; Moffatt, blue; Pliny, opaque with gold specks; Petrie agrees; associated with Aquarius, Reuben
- Chalcedony (chalkedon): greenish; Roberson, green silicate of copper; associated with Capricoron, Maphtali
- Emerald (smaragdos): green; assoiated with Saggitarius, Asher
- Sardonyx (sardonus): red; Robertson, white with layers of red; associated with Scorpio, Dan
- Sardis (sardios): fiery red; Pliny, red for Sardis; Swete, fiery red; associated with Libra, Levi
- Chrysolyte (chrusolithos): golden yellow; Moffatt, golden hue; Robertson, golden like our topaz; associated with Virgo, Zebulon
- Beryl (berullos): green; Robertson, like an emerald; Pliny, sea green; associated with Leo, Judah
- Topaz (topazion): greenish yellow; Robertson, golden greenish stone; associated with Cancer, Issachar
- Chrysoprasus (chrusoprasos): gold-green; Robertson, a golden leek; International Bible Encyclopedia, sea green; associated with Gemini, Benjamin
- Jacinth (huakinthi): violet; hyacinth; associated with Taurus, Joseph
- Amethyst (amethustos): purple; associated with Aries, Gad
Revelation 21:21-27
Pearl = Church (Matthew 13)
Revelation 22:9
Angels never allow themselves to be worshiped.
Revelation 22:10
This command to John was opposite of the command given to Daniel.
Daniel was told to seal up the book until the time of the end. The fact that we’re beginning to understand the Book of Daniel is a sign that we are nearing the end. There are discoveries about the Book of Daniel that happened in recent years.
7 Glories of the Redeemed
No curse
Throne of God and Lamb
His servants shall serve Him
Eternal vision: his face
His name in their foreheads
Eternal day; no night
Eternal reign
What is the Gospel?
1 Corinthians 15:1-5
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
Paul can use Cephas, the Twelve, the 500 as references of Jesus' resurrection, just as I can use my grandfather as a reference for validating how JFK died. I would never be able to convince you that JFK was shot with an arrow, because there are witnesses still alive today who saw that he was shot with a gun. This is the same situation for Paul here, talking to the Corinthians. There were witnesses of Jesus’ death among them! This is not something people can just make up!
1 Corinthians 20-26
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep,but we will all be changed—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. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable,and the mortal with immortality.
The Plan of Redemption
The First Act of Religion (Genesis 3:7)
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
God’s Plan of Redemption (Genesis 3:21)
The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. God is teaching them that only by the shedding of innocent blood that they would be covered. The ultimate sacrifice was the shedding of the innocent blood of Jesus Christ.
The Scarlet Thread
- From the Seed of the Woman (Genesis 3)
- to the Call of Abraham (Genesis 12)
- to the Tribe of Judah (Genesis 49)
- to the Dynasty of David (2 Samuel 7)
- to the Virgin Birth in Bethlehem (Isaiah 7)
- to another tree in another garden: Where Jesus shed his blood and died on the Cross
The Infinite Love of God
God knew that Man, if left free to choose, would enter a predicament that only the death of God would suffice to extricate him.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
The key point is, burned or not burned, what saves us in the end is Jesus, not our works. However, we will be rewarded based on our works. And if we built our foundation on the wrong works, our works may not survive the fire, but we will still be saved.
Matthew 7:21-23
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
OUR COMING KING by Dr. Chuck Missler
Jesus is…
King of the Jews (racial)
King of Israel (national)
King of All the Ages
King of Heaven
King of Glory
King of Kings
… and Lord of Lords
A prophet before Moses
A priest after Melchizedek
A champion like Joshua
An offering in place of Isaac
A king from the line of David
A wise counselor above Solomon
A beloved/rejected/exalted son like Joseph
The Heavens declare His glory and the firmament shows His handiwork.
He who is, who was, and who always will be; the first and the last. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Aleph and the Tau, the A and the Z. He is the first fruits of them that slept.
He is the “I AM that I AM,” the voice of the Burning Bush! He is the Captain of the Lord’s Host, the conqueror of Jericho. He is enduringly strong; entirely sincere; eternally steadfast.
He is immortally graceful; imperially powerful; impartially merciful.
In Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily; the very God of very God.
He is our Kinsman Redeemer, and He is our Avenger of Blood. He is our City of Refuge; our performing High Priest, our Personal Prophet, our Reigning King.
He is the loftiest idea in Literature; the highest personality in Philosophy; the fundamental doctrine of Theology; the Supreme Problem in “higher criticism”; the Miracle of the Ages; the superlative of everything good!
We are the beneficiaries of a love letter: It was written in blood on a wooden cross erected in Judea 2000 years ago.
He was crucified on a cross of wood; yet He made the hill on which it stood.
By Him were all things made that were made without Him was not anything made that was made. By Him are all things held together!
What held Him to that cross? It wasn’t the nails! At any time, He could have declared, “Enough of this, I’m out of here!” It was His love for you and me.
He was born of a woman so that we could be born of God;
He humbled Himself so that we could be lifted up;
He became a servant so that we could be made co-heirs;
He suffered rejection so that we could become His friends;
He denied Himself so that we could freely receive all things;
He gave Himself so that He could bless us in every way.
He is available to the tempted and the tried;
He blesses the young;
He cleanses the lepers;
He defends the feeble;
He delivers the captives;
He discharges the debtors;
He forgives the sinners;
He franchises the meek;
He guards the besieged;
He heals the sick;
He provides strength to the weak;
He regards the aged;
He rewards the diligent;
He serves the unfortunate;
He sympathizes and He saves!
His Offices are manifold;
His Reign is righteous;
His Promises are sure;
His Goodness is limitless;
His Light is matchless;
His Grace is sufficient;
His Love never changes;
His Mercy is everlasting;
His Word is enough;
His Yoke is easy and His burden is light!
He is indescribable;
He is incomprehensible;
He is irresistible;
He is invincible!
The Heaven of heavens cannot contain Him; Man cannot explain Him.
The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him and soon learned that they couldn’t stop Him.
Pilate couldn’t find any fault with Him; the witnesses couldn’t agree against Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him. The Cross couldn’t hold Him!
He has always been and always will be.
He had no predecessor and will have no successor.
You can’t impeach Him and He isn’t going to resign!
His name is above every name; that at the name of Yeshua, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord!
His is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen!
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