This article seeks to put forward the so called "pre-millennial" case for a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ and His people on the Earth. This will take place between the Tribulation and the dissolution and replacement of the present world, the Great White Throne, and the eternal state. This is a minority view in professing Christianity as a whole, and probably even among evangelicals. Several lines of support will be briefly developed later, but first the Scriptural position should be considered primarily from Revelation 20.1-10.
The Scriptural Position
The simplest and arguably the most logical way to interpret the book of Revelation is to treat it as chronologically and literally as possible. With this in mind the sequence of the book moves from the present (chs.1-3), to the Lord Jesus Christ invested with the title deeds to the universe (chs.4-5), the Great Tribulation period (chs.6-19), followed by the millennial Kingdom and final judgment (ch.20) and the eternal state (chs.21-22). Those of us who believe in a pre-tribulation Rapture see it pictured through John hearing and experiencing the call, "Come up hither" (Rev 4.1-2).
It is true that the 1,000 year period is only mentioned in Revelation 20, but there it is referred to 6 times in the first 7 verses and used for 3 purposes. First, the period of Satan being bound; second, the period of reigning; and third, the period between the resurrection of the just and of the unjust previously mentioned in Daniel 12.2 and John 5.29. Now why should the 1,000 years not be taken literally as with most, if not all, of the other time periods in the book?
The most commonly held alternative view to Pre-millennialism is Amillennialism dating back to Augustine around the 4th Century. This idea proposes that Satan was bound at the cross, thus commencing the reign of Christ and His Church which has been resurrected to new life and will spread the Kingdom until it achieves worldwide acceptance prior to Christ’s Second Coming. The theory fitted in nicely with the spread of religious Rome which continued even after the demise of secular Rome. No doubt the fact that this waned significantly around the end of the first millennium AD led to the period being spiritualised to represent a longer period of time (now 2,000 years and still going). Even a superficial look at this poses some very serious questions. Has Satan been bound and therefore ineffective since the cross? The New Testament makes it clear he is still very active in the world and among God’s people. He is seen as an "adversary", as a "roaring lion" (1 Pet 5.8), and as the "prince of this world" (Jn 12.31; 14.30; 16.11). These are hardly terms applicable to one who was "bound" at the cross. In fact, it would be easier to argue that his influence is spreading and increasing over time! The supposed "reign" of Christ and His people now is also very questionable. The spread of organised religion seen figuratively in Babylon (Rev chs.17-18), and literally through Rome and its subsidiaries, may well have occurred, but much of it is false and in no way representative of Christ, considering the evils and excesses it has practised through the ages. Sadly, though the reformers recognised the evil of this system, they did not reject its amillennial teaching, although, as the gospel spread following the Reformation, some developed the post-millennial view. This propounds that the world will be Christianised bringing a long period of peace and prosperity prior to Christ’s Second Coming. While this is a noble thought, sadly it has floundered after the last century of wars and misery followed by the huge rise in secularism, atheism, humanism, the occult, and Islam. Rather than ascending into a period of theocratic rule, our world is descending into sin and chaos, and moving towards impending judgment.
While differing greatly, the alternative views to the pre-millennial position are united in a fierce refusal to accept a clear distinction between God’s earthly people Israel and the Church. In order to support the belief that all the Old Testament promises and prophesies pertaining to God’s people are to be fulfilled in the Church alone they must spiritualise and explain away anything which requires a literal fulfilment involving Israel. This brings us to some supplementary points.
Sovereign Promises
Consider God’s sovereign promises. In common with a noted commentator of our present day I find it astonishing that my "reformed" brethren who so vigorously insist on proclaiming God’s sovereignty in salvation seem content to lay it aside when it comes to the nation of Israel. They talk repeatedly of "covenant theology" but seem happy to explain away many of the Old Testament covenants of God with Israel and its representatives. Space would preclude a detailed consideration here, but J Dwight Pentecost’s book, Thy Kingdom Come, clearly emphasises that most of the Old Testament Covenants are unconditional. In particular the covenants, or promises, made to the patriarchs (especially Abraham) and David regarding the land and the throne are irrevocable. Romans chs.9-11 makes it abundantly clear that "the gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Rom 11.29). When God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would occupy the full extent of the Promised Land, He meant it! When He promised David that he and his descendants from Judah would occupy the throne, just as Joseph’s would inherit the Land, He also meant it. So, even though Israel today are a wicked, unbelieving people often oppressing their enemies even as others oppress them, God has still preserved them despite man’s continued efforts to wipe them out. Why? Because He still has His sovereign purpose to fulfil with them.
Specific Prophesies
Consider further the specific prophesies made to and through many of them. Are all Isaiah’s details of peace and prosperity to be explained away in the Church? Was the poor man, who suffered so much, being duped as he clearly looked for a literal fulfilment? Surely his last 9 chapters can only be fully realised in a literal earthly kingdom? Was Jeremiah deluded when he purchased the field (ch.32), or will he actually one day see that land repossessed by Christ? Why is Ezekiel inspired to write his final 9 long and detailed chapters describing intricately a temple never yet built, and all its associated regulations, if it never will be built? Are all Daniel’s very specific prophesies for his nation to be explained away along with all the rest of the writings of the prophets who tell us of geographic details, social conditions, life expectancy, health, government, and administration. They all centre their inspired prophesies on Israel, Jerusalem, David, Olivet, the Land etc. Is all this, perhaps as much as one third of our Old Testament, to be spiritualised away or will it have a literal detailed fulfilment after Christ’s Second Coming just as many other prophesies, coming through the same men, were fulfilled at His first coming?
Sabbatical Principle
Finally, consider the possibility of a sabbatical principle. Just as God provided a 7th day and year of rest, could it be He will do the same in millennia? It appears to the present writer that man has had six thousand years of misrule on this planet, and perhaps we now stand on the brink of a millennium of Christ’s perfect rule. This sad creation groans in anticipation (Rom 8.18-22) of a time when all the issues men so vainly try to address today will be resolved. Could I encourage the reader to further study in order to observe from Scripture that in this literal 1,000 year period Christ will address the issues of righteousness, justice, peace, oppression, old age, famine, natural disasters, health care, animal welfare, false religion, unitarian worship, pollution, global warming, poverty, and many more.
Christ will reign for 1,000 years and finally prove that man’s rebellion is not merely a consequence of his environment. This will be seen when Satan is loosed and men will briefly rebel again before the final judgment. This fits in with the teaching of 1 Corinthians 15.20-28 that Christ will reign until the last enemies, death and hell, are defeated, and then hand over the Kingdom to God when righteousness then dwells rather than reigns (2 Pet 3.13). This dwelling is the eternal state of Revelation chs. 21-22 where there is no longer any opposition to subdue and reign over, but a perfect, sinless new heaven and earth where God and Christ dwell eternally in righteousness and peace with the redeemed alone. Well might we proclaim, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Mt 6.10), and exclaim, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev 22.20).
To be continued.
