Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Then Comes the End - Millennium

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:22-24 ESV)
We read in this verse that we have the resurrection of believers when Christ returns. Did you notice what happens after that? "Then comes the end". You will also notice that when the end comes Christ destroys all powers and authorities. This is clearly laid out in Rev 19:11-22. This event is vividly described by Peter as well in 2nd Peter chapter 3.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (2 Peter 3:10 ESV)
We see that the coming of Christ will be immediately followed by the dissolving of the earth and the works in it. Where does that leave a literal 1000 year reign as some interpret Rev. 20:1-6? It doesn't, so there isn't.

There is a major problem with premillennialism in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 1 as well.
since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 ESV)
We see very clearly in these verses the second coming of Christ. When he does come "on that day" he will punish unbelievers. These texts leave no room for a premillennial return of Christ.

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