Christian Perspectives The End Times Ratio Christi at Texas A&M Zachary Lawson & Caroline Turpen

Amillennialism v Premillennialism Roadmap Background Amillennialism v Premillennialism Discussion

Background

Addressed throughout the Old and New Testaments Eschatology The study of last things Addressed throughout the Old and New Testaments Primarily focused on Book of Revelation Background

Written by John 69-96 A.D.* Genre Book of Revelation Patmos, to the 7 Churches 69-96 A.D.* Genre Epistle Prophecy Apocalypse Book of Revelation

Interpretative Approaches Preterist - Mostly about the past; fulfilled in 70 A.D. Historicist - Charts entire Church History until Christ’s return Futurist - Everything past chapter 3 is set in the future Futurist - Everything past chapter 3 is set in the future Idealist - No historical referents; symbol of God’s fight with evil Iterist - Covers the entire interadvent period Iterist - Covers the entire interadvent period

Interpretative Charts Source: Hebrews-Revelation by Michael Kruger, Reformed Theological Seminary 2015

Revelation 20 The Millennium Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time… Revelation 20

Millennial Views Premillennial - Christ returns before the millennium Postmillennial - Christ returns after the millennium Amillennial - The millennium is the interadvent period Amillennial - The millennium is the interadvent period

Millennial Charts Source: Hebrews-Revelation by Michael Kruger, Reformed Theological Seminary 2015

Amill vs Premill

Premillennialism

What Is Premillennialism? Basic Contentions 1. The Millennial Kingdom has not happened yet. 2. The Millennium will begin after Jesus’s second coming 3. It will last for a literal one thousand year period

Biblical Support for Premillennialism Matthew 25:31-34 Zechariah 14:4-9 Matt (NASB) But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Zech (NASB) In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him! In that day there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. For it will be a unique day which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at evening time there will be light. And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter. And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one.

Amillennialism

Amillenialism in 30 Seconds Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” John 18:36

The Iterist Approach Revelation deals with issues contemporary with John and future Symbols have multiple historical referents Recapitulation / Progressive Parallelism Two divisions in the book (1-11 and 12-22) Specific time periods are identical (42 months, 1260 days, etc) Seven seals, Trumpets, and bowls match up Daniel, Ezekiel, and other Apocalyptic literature exhibit parallelism one could view this as a combo of the other interpretations without the weaknesses, however, it doesn’t mean it’s the latest view chapter 8-11 has duration of 42 months and ch 12-14 is same length intuitive - Chapter 19, everyone is dead but another battle starts up shortly, how many times can the stars fall from the sky?

Interpreting Revelation 20 Non-sequential relationship between Ch 19 and Ch 20 Recapitulation in Revelation lends itself to thinking this is a “restart” section 19:17-21 and 20:8-10 use same language from battle in Ezekiel 38-39 Millennium begins during Church Age with binding of the satan* “key to the abyss” is same terminology used in each recapitulation Millennium is marked by reign of saints in heavenly realm (20:4- 6) “I saw the souls” really undercuts the idea of an earthly reign “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him (38:1)…You and your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land (38:9)…I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals (39:4)…I will send fire on Magog (39:6)”

Binding of the Satan High view of the atonement - a whole lot changed at the cross Revelation 12:9 - victory of Christ over the satan When - at Christ’s first coming Matt 12:29 - “the kingdom of God has come upon you” - ekbalo Luke 10:17 - “I saw the satan fall from Heaven” Mark’s depiction of Christ’s temptation - “the kingdom of God is here” John 12:31 The satan can no longer deceive the nations Compare the situation today to the spiritual darkness of the Old Testament Decrease in activity in the world Millennium begins during Church Age with binding of the satan “key to the abyss” is same terminology used in each recapitulation

Summary Genre indicates that Revelation is not to be taken strictly literally nor chronologically The millennium appears to be marked by the reign of the saints and Christ in the heavenly realms, not on earth. When is the satan bound? It appears during Christ’s earthly ministry

Amillennialism Critique

Problems with Amillennialism Should these verses be allegorized? Is the satan bound? If so, why all the evil in the world? Is God done with the Jews?

Premillennialism Critique

Problems with Premillennialism The second coming of Christ + final judgement seems to come together as a unit. There does not seem to be warrant to divide it with a 1,000 year block The genre of Revelation (especially numeric symbolism) does not seem to bear the weight of a literal 1,000 year period The genre seems hard pressed to support a “history in advance” view.

Discussion