Premillennialism – Right or Wrong?

1. Read: Ephesians 4:4-6

2. About the Text:

1) Christians have one hope – the second coming of Christ.

2) The Bible has various things to say about the 2nd coming of Christ.

3) Many of them are very clear and understandable.

4) We have an obligation to handle scripture correctly – 2 Timothy 2:15.

5) We should read the clear and understandable passages of scripture before we begin interpreting the passages that are not as clear and understandable.

6) This involves understanding the difference between literal and symbolic language.

7) Some ignore literal teaching of scripture in favor the symbolic.

8) They end up with doctrines that contradict plain Bible teaching.

9) Premillennialism is one such doctrine.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Abraham’s land promise.

i. Premillennialists hold that Abraham’s land promise was not fulfilled and that therefore it will be fulfilled in the coming kingdom.

ii. The scriptures teach otherwise.

iii. What was the promise? (Genesis 12:7; 15:18; 13:15).

iv. The promise to Abraham was fulfilled.

1) Cities of refuge promise (Deut.19:7-9); cities of refuge fulfilled (Josh.20:7-9)

2) Land fulfilled in Solomon’s extent of land (1 Kings 4:21; 2 Chron.9:26)

3) Nehemiah 9:7-8 states that God “performed his works.”

v. What does “forever” mean in Genesis 13:15?

1) God’s promises are always conditional.

2) Leviticus 18:26-28

3) Leviticus 20:22

4) Joshua 23:16

2. Promise of David’s Throne

i. Premillennialists hold that David’s throne would be literally established upon the earth forever.

ii. The scriptures teach otherwise.

iii. What was the promise regarding David’s throne? (2 Sam.7:12-13; Isa.9:7; Luke 1:32,33)

iv. Was this intended to be a promise regarding a literal throne? No (Jeremiah 22:24-30)

v. We have concerning the reign of Christ the following

1) Hebrews 1:3, 8 “sat down” “throne is forever”

2) Acts 2:30-33 was resurrected to sit on the throne of David.

3) Revelation 3:21 “Sat down.”

3. Many other prophecies which the premillennialists claim are yet to be fulfilled. The key point is that they MUST claim this in order to fit the prophecy with their interpretation of the book of Revelation.

1. Premillennialism holds that the rejection of the Messiah by the Jews was unexpected and unplanned. “It is held that the Old Testament prophets predicted the re-establishment of David’s kingdom and that Christ himself intended to bring this about. It is alleged however, that because the Jews refused his person and work he postponed the establishment of his kingdom until the time of his return. Meanwhile, it is argued, the Lord gathered together ‘the church’ as a kind of interim measure” (Ernest F. Kevan, Wycliffe Dictionary of Theology E.F. Harrison, G.W. Bromiley, C.F. Henry, Eds., Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999, p. 352).

2. Was it really God’s plan for Jesus to be accepted by the Jews?

i. Isaiah 53:1-3 and John 12:37, 38

ii. Psalm 118:22 and Acts 4:11;

iii. Matt.21:33-46 specifically 42

3. Was is really Jesus plan to set up an earthly kingdom?

i. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” (John 18:36).

ii. Luke 17:20, 21 “And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.”

4. Did Jesus fail to set up the kingdom?

i. Daniel prophesied that it would come in the days of the Roman empire; Daniel 2:44.

ii. John the Baptist preached that it was “at hand.” (Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:15)

iii. Jesus preached that the kingdom of heaven was “at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

iv. He told his disciples to preach that it was at hand. (Matthew 10:7).

v. Jesus said that the kingdom would come before some standing around him died (Matt.16:28) and that it would come with power (Mark 9:1).

vi. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said that the power would come when the Holy Spirit came.

vii. We find the Holy Spirit coming in Acts 2:1-4. We can only conclude that the power came and that the kingdom came! And there are those to whom he was speaking standing around ALIVE!!!

viii. Jesus said that the disciples would “eat and drink at my table in my kingdom” Luke 22:30. We see that they indeed ate and drank at His table (1 Corinthians 10:21).

ix. Jesus did not fail to set up the kingdom. It is in existence today and he is the King.

1) Col.1:13 we have been translated INTO the kingdom.

2) Revelation 1:9 John said that he was “in the kingdom.”

1. Premillennialism holds that since the Jews rejected the Christ that he had to set up a temporary measure of last resort until he could come back and establish His kingdom. This temporary measure is said to be the church.

2. That the church was not in God’s plans for all eternity and that she is not the body of all the saved.

i. However, the scriptures teach that the church was part of God’s plan.

ii. That the church was in God’s plan from eternity is seen from Ephesians 3:10, 11.

iii. That the blood of Christ was in God’s plan from eternity is see from Genesis 3:15, Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, 1 Peter 1:19, 20.

iv. Inasmuch as it was God’s plan for Christ’s blood to be shed, it was God’s plan to establish the church. Acts 20:28.

v. That the church is the beautiful perfect bride of Christ is seen from Ephesians 5:25-27.

vi. Hebrews 12:22-24 tells Christians to what they are now come — Mt. Zion, City of the Living God, Heavenly Jerusalem, General Assembly, Church of the Firstborn One, Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant.

vii. Notice Isaiah 2:1-4.

viii. Is the church just an afterthought? Just a temporary measure of last resort because God did not expect Jesus to be rejected by the Jews?

ix. Such a thought blasphemes the omniscience and omnipotence of God.

3. That there is a difference between the kingdom and the church.

i. This is a distinction which Jesus does not make (Matt.16:18).

ii. Mark 9:1, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:4; Acts 2:48 “added to the church daily”

iii. That Peter was given the keys to the kingdom (Matt.16:18) and that he preached the terms of entrance to the church (Acts 2) shows that the kingdom and the church are the same organization.

1. Premillennialism holds that only the saints will be raised during the rapture. The rapture is the time when Jesus will come back to the earth and take the saved into heaven with Him. There will after this point be a great “tribulation” for seven years and after that Jesus will come back to rule on an earthly throne. The wicked will not be raised until some other time.

2. It is false to say that only the saints will be raised when Jesus returns. That is to say that the doctrine of the “rapture” is false.

i. Jesus said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28, 29).

ii. Notice the HOUR is coming. In this one hour two things are going to happen. The resurrection of the good and the resurrection of the evil.

iii. Paul said “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” (Acts 24:15).

iv. Notice that Paul says that there is there is going to be “a resurrection”–singular–not resurrections–plural. This resurrection will be both for the just and the unjust.

v. In the plain teaching of scripture there is only ONE resurrection for both the good and the bad.

3. What about this period of seven years of “tribulation?”

1. Premillennialism teaches that Christ will come back to the earth after the period of tribulation and reign on an earthly throne in Jerusalem with consent of all of the Jews. He will during this time rule all of the kingdoms of the earth and bring them under subjection for 1000 years. Those who were part of the rapture will be given special privileges and governorships to rule with Christ on the earth.

2. Where do they get this teaching from? Revelation 20:1ff.

3. Nowhere in the plain teaching of scripture does it ever say that Christ will return to the earth and set foot on the earth. In fact it says just the opposite.

4. In 1 Thess.4:17 it says that we shall meet the Lord in the air and “so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

5. 2 Peter 3:1-14 (read).

i. Note the number of times it says the earth will be destroyed with fire. Can you even miss that???

ii. The New Heavens and New Earth that Peter talks about is a place of righteousness–no wickedness there, yet premillennialism teaches that wickedness will remain during the 1000 year reign.

iii. Notice also that this “day” will come as a thief; there will be no warning. There will not be righteous people disappearing in the rapture 7 years before. There will not be an earthly king sitting up a throne. There will be NO SIGNS of the 2nd coming of Christ.

iv. Notice Peter’s admonition regarding faithfulness in verse 14. Why be faithful if we will have another chance to repent during the tribulation???

v. Now notice the warning in verse 16–the ignorant and unlearned WREST the scriptures to their own destruction.

6. 1 Corinthians 15:23, 24 “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”

i. Notice, Christ was raised up from the dead and then the next resurrection will be those at His second coming.

ii. What comes next, Paul? Literally, “Then, the end.” When is that, Paul? When he

1) Delivers up the kingdom to God.

2) Puts down all rule and all authority and power.

3) Lastly conquers death.

4) When is death conquered? Notice verses 54 and 55–when the corruptible puts on incorruption and when the mortal puts on immortality. That is when death is conquered–when we are changed into an immortal!

5) The resurrection of the those that are are Christs happens at the same time that death is conquered.

6) So the kingdom being delivered to God and putting down all rule must happen at the same time that death is conquered–at the resurrection–not in 1000 years period of time.

7. Plain passages of scripture teach that the second coming will be the last thing that happens on this earth.

8. Why would we want to take the passage in Revelation 20 literally and distort all of these other plain teachings of scripture?

1. We have studied five fundamental doctrines of premillennialism.

i. Prophecy unfulfilled.

ii. Rejection of Messiah by the Jews

iii. Imperfection of the Church

iv. Only the Saints Raised in Rapture

v. Reign of Christ for 1000 years on the earth.

2. These doctrines if believed will cause one to be lost because they

i. Blaspheme God and Christ

ii. Implies that God was shortsighted in sending Jesus when he did.

iii. Do not believe that Christ is reigning as king right now.

iv. Do not believe in the atoning power of Christ for all mankind.

v. Blaspheme the church, the bride of Christ.

vi. Teach that there is a second opportunity for salvation.

3. Invitation