What about Pan-Millennialism?

[Bruce_Leiter]

Fellow believers in Jesus: I tend to believe one of the millennialisms, but prophecies are very hard to interpret before they are fulfilled.

In seminary, our New Testament professor told us about five major interpretations of the Book of Revelation. As a result, I read it with those in mind and arrived at one of them. However, it was only a tentative arrival, so to speak. I think we should all put our egos aside and admit that God JUST MIGHT fulfill his prophecies the way he wants to, not the way WE want them to be.

Therefore, I think that we should add another interpretation of all the predictions about Jesus' Second Coming. It is called (by me) PAN-millennialism; it will all PAN out the way God wants it to! Your brother in Jesus' love, Bruce_Leiter.

[Diamond]

On 9/2/2024 at 12:27 PM, Bruce_Leiter said:

it will all PAN out the way God wants it to!

I tend to believe according to your faith, so be it. Matthew 9 29. Pre will go pre, mid will go mid and post will go post. 

[Luther]

On 9/2/2024 at 12:27 PM, Bruce_Leiter said:

Fellow believers in Jesus: I tend to believe one of the millennialisms, but prophecies are very hard to interpret before they are fulfilled.

In seminary, our New Testament professor told us about five major interpretations of the Book of Revelation. As a result, I read it with those in mind and arrived at one of them. However, it was only a tentative arrival, so to speak. I think we should all put our egos aside and admit that God JUST MIGHT fulfill his prophecies the way he wants to, not the way WE want them to be.

Therefore, I think that we should add another interpretation of all the predictions about Jesus' Second Coming. It is called (by me) PAN-millennialism; it will all PAN out the way God wants it to! Your brother in Jesus' love, Bruce_Leiter.

Yes. I think with this logic the emphasis will always be God's will be done. I believe we just need to be ready now because "now is the day of salvation." It's good to have that conviction regarding the different timings. 

[JohnD]

Revelation 20 speaks of the millennial kingdom as being not 1,000 years reign but "thousands of years reign" as the Greek word for millennium (chillioi) is a plural word.

The chapter like much of the Bible jumps prophetically back and forth through history. This is a style familiar to Middle Easterners. When we Westerners who tends more towards linear / progressive thinking and story telling apply this to Middle Eastern texts we end up with confusing interpretations. 

The thousands of years reign is the current era we live in (which began at the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus) which Revelation 20 refers to as the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:5–6
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 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 for thousands of years.

Notice that we are already priests and reigning with him now:

Revelation 1:6 (KJV)
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10 (KJV)
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

1 Peter 2:3–9 (KJV)
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

The Hebrew mindset expressed in Greek language is actually a kingdom of priests. We ARE a kingdom of priests envoys of King Jesus.

What the rebellion of Exodus 32 denied God (when only the Levitical tribe was set aside for priesthood) the desire he had in Exodus 19:6, Jesus granted on the cross:

Exodus 19:6 (KJV)
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Those martyred in Revelation 20 will be martyred during the first half of the 70th Week of Daniel (which is a seven year period of TWO three and a half year tribulations: the believer's tribulation when Satan declares global war on the Church, followed by the Great Tribulation when God executes war on the devil and the world). The rapture will immediately precede the Great Tribulation and only a few believers deep in hiding will have survived to that point.

Then Jesus will return with his saints raining judgment down first on those who threaten the remnant of Israel and then the dead will all be raised to either eternal life or judgment and eternal damnation.