Millenium Theology

[OneAccord]

I guess I'm still trying to get a grip on prophecy...........

A major theme that eschatology centers around is the millenial reign of Jesus Christ.

I've spent the entire summer reading all the Old Testament prophets and nowhere in the Old Testament do I see this millenial reign.

The only place I can find it is in the Book of Revelation. So it seems like all Old Testament prophecy is now seen through the lens of the 1000 year reign, and then one last battle, and then eternity.

Do the Jewish scholars have any concept of the millenium in their interpretations of the Old testament or is this only with Christians?

Is there some 'formula' for deciding when a prophecy in the Old Testament is meant for during the 1000 years or after?

Are there any theologians out there that question the millenium concept entirely and perhaps have a different interpretation of the Revelation verse?

[BlindSeeker]

I guess I'm still trying to get a grip on prophecy...........

A major theme that eschatology centers around is the millenial reign of Jesus Christ.

I've spent the entire summer reading all the Old Testament prophets and nowhere in the Old Testament do I see this millennial reign. . . . .

Try reading Hosea -

• Ho 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.
  2 After two [millennial] days will He revive us: in the third [millennial]day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.
  
  
  Also . . .
  
  • Heb 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
    

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I guess I'm still trying to get a grip on prophecy...........

A major theme that eschatology centers around is the millenial reign of Jesus Christ.

I've spent the entire summer reading all the Old Testament prophets and nowhere in the Old Testament do I see this millenial reign.

The only place I can find it is in the Book of Revelation. So it seems like all Old Testament prophecy is now seen through the lens of the 1000 year reign, and then one last battle, and then eternity.

Do the Jewish scholars have any concept of the millenium in their interpretations of the Old testament or is this only with Christians?

Is there some 'formula' for deciding when a prophecy in the Old Testament is meant for during the 1000 years or after?

Are there any theologians out there that question the millenium concept entirely and perhaps have a different interpretation of the Revelation verse?

Hello One Accord

You seem to have problems with the concept of the millenial reign of Jesus? What is it that causes you to have doubts?

All praise The Ancient of Days

[OneAccord]

Not so much that I have problems with it, only that I don't see it anywhere in the Old Testament.

Was this part of the mystery that Paul refers to, or some sort of new revelation that could only be understood after Jesus came the first time?

It also puts a great challenge on interpreting OT prophecy if you have to try to figure out if certain events happen during the milleniel reign or after.

(Gee, I hate spelling milleniel, I mean, milennial....)

[OneAccord]

]

Try reading Hosea -

• Ho 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.
  2 After two [milleneal] days will He revive us: in the third [milleneal]day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.
  

Blind Seeker:

With that reasoning, I suppose you could say the (millenial) Day of the Lord throughout?

[eve]

Greetings all:-

Hope the following helps - what I've learnt from various sources:-

Rev 20 reveals that there will be a 1000 year period when the saints will reign with Christ. At the end of the Millennium, there will be a final test of mankind's obedience to the Messiah. This test will be Satan's final temptation of the mortals born during the Millennium. The final rebellion is described as the War of Gog and Magog and this battle is NOT identical with the war described in Ezkiel 39 and 39 which will occur during Daniel's last 7 years. It differs in every area including: weapons, nations involved, purpose, leadership and outcome - the only similarity is the name "Gog and Magog". This indicates that the nations represented by "Gog and Magog" will participate in these 2 battles that will occur over 1000 years apart!

The curse of sin will be lifted from the earth when Satan is bound for 1000 years after he is defeated by Christ at the Battle of Armageddon. Christ will heal the planet's wounds when He establishes His MILLENNIAL KINGDOM ON EARTH.

Ezekiel 47:1, 9, 10 describe the restoration of planet earth beginning with Israel.

Ezekiel 47:12 says they "will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month..........."

Isaiah 11:6, 7 says "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat................"

Isaiah 11:2-4, 4-5 describe the righteous government of Christ who will rule as absolute Monarch. So, during the Millennium rule of Christ's government, there will still be some limited expression of sin but evil actions, open rebellion and sin will be dealt with immediately by Christ, the Righteous Judge ruling with a "rod of iron" as "He shall slay the wicked." However, once Satan is cast in to hell at the end of the 1000 year Millennium, sin will never exist in the NEW Earth and Heaven and be removed from the universe throughout ETERNITY. And finally, there will be no need for "a rod of iron" as God will transform our inner hearts forever.

Isaiah 42:6 says Israel will return to the Promised Land under the rule of the Messiah to enjoy the blessings of her beloved Messiah and thus will fufil the words of prophet Hosea 1:10. See also Hosea 6:1,2 which could allude to the time of the final restoration of Israel.

Isaiah 11:16 describes the time of millennial peace when ALL THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM will dwell in peace! The armies of the Middle East will finally put down their weapons!

Isaiah 62:2, 4 say that Israel will become the preeminent nation on earth during the Millennium and will bless all of the Gentile nations. Also Zechariah 8:13. And Jerusalem, the city where Christ was accused, will become the Holy City again and will be the seat of government and the center for the worship of God not only for the Jewish race but for all the nations of the earth. She will be extended and made more glorious. Representatives of countries around the world during the Millennium will honor Christ on the throne within its gates and will bring teasures from their lands to Jerusalem, not so much to glorify the City as to exalt the King. God's laws will go forth from it, making her the praise among the nations. Nothing short of divine holiness will be the standard of this Holy City. Even the houses and their furniture will be consecrated to God, the pots in which the food will be cooked, and the common domestic utensils will be stamped with the insignia: "HOLY TO THE LORD". - Zechariah 14:20.

Other verses alluding to the Millennium in the OT:-

Isaiah 2:11 " The Lord alone shall be exalted in that day."

Zechariah 14:1 to 20 especially vs 16 "Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after yar to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate te Feast of Tabernacles."

Psalm 24 - The King of Glory reigning as King over al the earth, as Jesus was "born to be King" as stated by the wise men at His Birth.

Psalm 2 "Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion."

Isaiah 24:23 describes how "the Lord of hosts wil lregin on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and His glory will be before His elders."

Isaiah 9:6 refers to the World government as a whole passing to Christ as also Zechariah 14:9 "The Lord will be king over al lthe earth...."

Psalm 48:1-2 describe His Reign as great and glorious.

Psalm 110:2-3 describe His Rule as strong in righteousness and His enemies will lick the dust.

Psalm 72:17 says "Men shall belessed in Him."

Psalm 72:16 - Nature will be redeemed from the curse when Jesus reigns.; there will be a marked increase in fruitfulness of the ground. Corn will grow in abundance, even on top of mountains.

Isaiah 53:2 describes that Christ who "will have no beauty that we should desire Him" will then become "the desire of all nations" Haggai 2:7

Malachi 4:2 "When the Sun of Righteousness aries with healing in His wings", the whole earth will at last be filled wiwth the knowledge of God and will rise to receive His blessings.

God bless.

:a2:

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Hello OneAccord

Not so much that I have problems with it, only that I don't see it anywhere in the Old Testament.

Well you are correct that the specific duration (1000 years) of the reign is not mentioned but I believe this scripture may refer to it:

Ezekiel 37

15 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 16"As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: "For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, "For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.' 17Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.

18"And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, "Will you not show us what you mean by these?'-- 19say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand."' 20And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.

21"Then say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. 23They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

24"David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. 25Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. 26Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 28The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.""'

It also puts a great challenge on interpreting OT prophecy if you have to try to figure out if certain events happen during the millennial reign or after.

You got that right Sister. That

[OneAccord]

Hello OneAccord

Not so much that I have problems with it, only that I don't see it anywhere in the Old Testament.

Well you are correct that the specific duration (1000 years) of the reign is not mentioned but I believe this scripture may refer to it:

Not only is the 1000 years not mentioned anywhere in the Old Testament, but the DAY OF THE LORD seems to be one event.

The concept of the millenium suggests that

(1) The Lord returns (second coming)

(2) Sets up a kingdom on the earth for 1000 years, but doesn't cleanse it from all sin, yet

(3)Then the final confrontation, Gog/Magog, Satan's last hurrah

(4) Then the New Heaven and the New Earth of Revelation

So the Day of the Lord, rather than being one catalysmic set of events is another long drawn-out process that won't reach it's fulfillment until Satan is permanently incinerated.

Apparently there will still be sin present, and still a need for temple sacrifices according to Ezekiel's temple.

Meanwhile no one is too sure where the saints are during this. Some say they are in a heavenly kingdom, while Israel is in the earthly kingdom during this 1000 year reign.

More questions:

When does the Great Judgement occur--at the beginning or end of the millenium?

When does the passing away of the old and the creation of the brand new heaven and earth occur---at the beginning or end of the millenium?

When does the resurrection of the dead in Christ happen? At the beginning or end?

Do you see how complicated it is to try to fit all these events into the 1000 year timeline rather than a more singular event?

Quote from Eve's post:

"This indicates that the nations represented by "Gog and Magog" will participate in these 2 battles that will occur over 1000 years apart!"

Here's a good example of trying to make one event fit at both ends of the 1000 years, because it is difficult to be sure about whether it occurs in the beginning or the end.

(Eve, thank you, by the way, for your post and the time you took to type all that out and look up all the scriptures. )

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Hello Sister One Accord :il:

I love your posts Sis. your really hungry for understanding aren

[OneAccord]

Thanks Adstar. You give good, solid, concise answers.

It's hard for me to picture this millenial time. It seems it will be a massive rebuilding project on the charred remains of the apocalypse. Ezekiel's vision of piles and piles of dead bodies and crews out there burying them in mass graves, etc. A huge mop-up job.

Here's where the beauty from ashes scripture will really be vivid.

I just have a hard time picturing Christ reigning over these ruins and desolations. Do you imagine some kind of supernatural restoration as well?