LITERAL 1000 YEARS?

[Bubba]

Do you not find it strange that there is only one place in all of Scripture where one may surmise that there will be a literal 1000 years on earth? Would it be more correct to assume that since most of the Book of The Revelation is symbolic in nature that just like Satan’s chain (Rev.20:2) the 1000 years is also symbolic?

Bubba

 

[ÃÂoppleganger]

Revelation is not so much symbolizism as allegory. Peter has references to it. And Isaiah is full of them. And others scattered throughout the Bible.

 

[Bubba]

From Webster Dictionary: allegory
1 : the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence; also : an instance (as in a story or painting) of such expression
2 : a symbolic representation

Considering that most who would say that Revelation chapter 20 is referring to a literal 1000 years, even if allegory mean't something other then symbolic, it would not matter.
Bubba

 

[Bubba]

David J. Engelsma writes:

The Meaning of Revelation 20
"A thousand years" is a figurative, or symbolical, description of the entire age of the new covenant. The number 1,000 is a symbolical number, made up as it is of the number 10. In the Bible, 10 is the number of completeness. The symbolical nature of the thousand year period is in harmony with the symbolical character of the book of Revelation, e.g., the depiction of Satan as a great red dragon ( Rev. 12). It is also in harmony with the obviously figurative character of the binding of the spirit, Satan, with a great chain. In addition, Revelation 20 is a vision ("and I saw," vv. 1, 4), not historical observation.

The binding of Satan represents the sovereign control and restraint of the devil by the Lord Jesus that prevents him from deceiving the nations. During the present age, Satan cannot unite the nations under Antichrist. This restraint is related to the "withholding" and "letting," or restraining, of II Thessalonians 2:6, 7 that assures that the man of sin, "that Wicked" (v.8), will be revealed in his proper, God-appointed time (v.6).

Throughout this same age, the martyrs - those who were beheaded on account of the witness of Jesus and on account of the Word of God - live and reign in heaven with Christ. The vision of the thrones in Revelation 20:4-6 refers to what theology calls "the intermediate state," that is, the life and glory of elect saints at death and until the second coming of Jesus.

This is plain.

John sees "souls" sitting on the thrones. Earlier, in Revelation 6:9, the apostle spoke of the souls of the martyrs under the altar in heaven. Those souls in heaven were distinguished from humans dwelling on earth (v.10). The "souls" of Revelation 20:4-6 are those men and women who had been beheaded for their faithful confession of Christ in time of antichristian persecution throughout the present age.

At the instant of death, the martyred saint is taken up in his soul to be with Christ in heaven, and there he lives and reigns with Christ.

Living with Christ in heaven in the soul at the instant of physical death is the "first resurrection" (v. 5)... .
The taking up to heaven of the soul of the believer at death is, indeed, resurrection. There is an act of the risen Christ upon the soul at the instant of death purifying it from all sin and transforming it from a soul adapted to earthly life into a soul adapted to heavenly life. There must be this resurrection of the soul by Christ if the soul is to be with Christ in heaven. Souls do not automatically fly away to heaven at death. Souls of believers do not naturally fly to heaven. The Heidelberg Catechism indicates Christ's raising of the soul of the believer at death in Question 57: "my soul after this life shall be ... taken up to Christ its head."

The saint goes to heaven by resurrection, and only by resurrection. There are two stages. The first is the resurrection of the soul. This is the resurrection of Revelation 20:5. The second is the resurrection of the body. This is the second resurrection, implied by the first resurrection of Revelation 20:5.

Accordingly, the first death of the reprobate ungodly is the suffering of God's wrath in his soul at the moment of physical death. The second death will be his suffering of God's wrath in hell in soul and body after the final judgment (see Rev. 20:6, 14).

At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be loosed for a short time (vv. 3, 7). The one who "letteth," or restrains, will be taken out of the way (II Thess. 2:7). This enables Satan to establish his world-kingdom under Antichrist. The result is the final, all-out assault upon the true church and her living, faithful members (vv. 8, 9). The "beloved city" represents the church. The "saints" are all those whom the Spirit of Christ has sanctified through faith in Christ.

After a short time of intense persecution of the church - the "great tribulation" of Matthew 24:21 and the "time of trouble" of Daniel 12:1- fire from God will devour the ungodly in the second coming of Christ (cf. II Thess. 1:6-10).

Then follow at once the final judgment and the eternal state, heaven and hell (Rev. 20:1 1ff.).

 

[Bubba]

Again I would ask all who read this post, why does not Scripture in other places speak of a literal 1000 year period, if so many have made this literal interpretation doctrinal? Should not all positions of doctrine be compared with the whole of Scripture (like 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and Matthew 24 and 25).
Bubba

 

[ÃÂoppleganger]

Ok, you caught me playing both sides of the court! LOL! Anyways!

2Pe 3:6-10 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

World that was, wrath being stored up, a 1000 years, the day of the Lord.

2Pe 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Most prophecy is fulfilled literally despite its allegorical and symbolic representation!

 

[tim-from-pa]

And to those who wonder about the literal 1000 year reign of Christ, I always point out that at some point in time Christ has to take the throne of King David.

This is an earthly, literal throne that has always existed.

There is too much "spiritualizing" these days where the actual physical (earthly) and spiritual (heavenly) is separated, or I should say, the latter replaced the former. Not so. They work together---- earth is a pattern and parallel to what goes on above, there has always been and will always be the pair together.

This earth has to be restored again to become what it was supposed to have been had Adam not sinned.

 

[Bubba]

Sorry Tim,
Scripture already says Amos 9:11-12 was fulfilled with the addition of the Gentiles in Acts 15:13-18. May be spiritualizing verses is exactly what James did. As with The Revelation many places we should also. Did you know that over half of the verses in The Revelation are from Old Testament Scripture,many which have already been fulfilled?
Grace, Bubba

 

[Bubba]

WHAT THE SCRIPTURES TEACH

1. A SINGLE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND UNJUST: Jn 5:28-29, Acts 24:15. References to the resurrection of the just (Lk 14:14, 20:14, Phil 3:11 and 1 Thess 4:16) have been taken to imply two resurrections. But nowhere in Scripture, except Rev 20:4-6, are two resurrections mentioned. Amillennialists argue that the "first resurrection" is a metaphor for something other than physical resurrection, and that we must abide by the clear teaching of the other passages that there is one resurrection.


2. ONE RETURN OF CHRIST, ONE JUDGMENT


2 Thess 1:5-10 speaks of final, eternal punishment of the wicked and simultaneous relief given the saints, both occurring at Christ’s return. Hence, Christ’s coming for his saints (the rapture), and his coming in judgment upon the rest of the world, are one and the same event.


3. THE RESURRECTION/GLORIFICATION OF THE BODY, JUDGMENT, AND RENEWAL OF ALL CREATION AS SIMULTANEOUS EVENTS (NO INTERVENING MILLENNIUM)

a. Rom 8:17-23 gives no hint of a 1000+ year gap between the saints’ resurrection and the final restoration of all things.
b. 2 Pet 3:3-14 identifies Christ’s coming (4, 10), the judgment ("day of the Lord" in vv. 7 and 10-12), and the renewal of creation (13) as contemporaneous events.

c. 1 Cor 15:22-26 indicates the same.

 

[tim-from-pa]

Sorry Tim,
Scripture already says Amos 9:11-12 was fulfilled with the addition of the Gentiles in Acts 15:13-18. May be spiritualizing verses is exactly what James did. As with The Revelation many places we should also. Did you know that over half of the verses in The Revelation are from Old Testament Scripture,many which have already been fulfilled?
Grace, Bubba

Sorry Bubba. This does not mean it is totally fulfilled. The passage in Acts is referencing the Gentiles being included, a precursor of things to come. What James was quoting was an end-time verse that included the Gentiles, and thus he associated that fact with the possibility that Gentiles were included with the gospel message as well (only Paul originally knew that gentiles, non-Israelite) were included. The other apostles went to the "Gentiles" which were the lost house (tribes) of Israel. The fallen tabernacle of David is the physical location in Israel that would be restored.

The throne of David is an earthly, physical throne an indisputable fact based in genealogy. Sure, there's a spiritual fulfillment, I will not disagree, but that is not the total fulfillment in this age.

When we look at things only "spiritually" we are playing with half a deck.

 

[Guest]

Bubba - this is my take on it:

http://www.the-highway.com/amilc_Hoekema.html

I thought it better to post what someone has already explained much better than I could.

 

[Bubba]

Sorry Bubba. This does not mean it is totally fulfilled. The passage in Acts is referencing the Gentiles being included, a precursor of things to come. What James was quoting was an end-time verse that included the Gentiles, and thus he associated that fact with the possibility that Gentiles were included with the gospel message as well (only Paul originally knew that gentiles, non-Israelite) were included. The other apostles went to the "Gentiles" which were the lost house (tribes) of Israel. The fallen tabernacle of David is the physical location in Israel that would be restored.

The throne of David is an earthly, physical throne an indisputable fact based in genealogy. Sure, there's a spiritual fulfillment, I will not disagree, but that is not the total fulfillment in this age.

When we look at things only "spiritually" we are playing with half a deck.

Actually, Acts 15:16-17 was a fulfillment of Amos prophecy in totality. We who are the Church are the rebuilt temple and Jesus is the cornerstone of this temple. 1Peter2:4-10 is very clear in using terms that were once directed at national Israel is now the church. No spiritualizing, just plain simple language of a transformation. In regards to spiritualizing the Scripture, I spiritualize where it is appropriate and literalize when appropriate. Sure, I am subject to mistakes and certainly, eschatology is not an exact science.

I believe everything in the Old Testament except the New Heavens, New Earth, Judgment and physical 2nd Coming of Jesus was fulfilled at Jesus’ 1st advent. Everything in the Old Testament is typology and shadows of the substance that is now Christ and the Church. The book of the Hebrews explains the far better provisions now offered in the New Covenant. There is no second plan of salvation for Jews it is Christ alone, “for there is no other name in which one can be savedâ€Â.

Considering one person has described the whole of the Old Testament as “a dimly lit room†where the New Testament is “a greater light†added to that room, why would you or anyone else settle for the shadows. Where in the New Testament is there a mention of Davidic throne occupied by Jesus and a need to rebuild a literal Temple, especially since Christ and The Church are considered that temple?

I once believe in this whole menagerie of “dispensational†thought, but thankfully, a pastor challenged me to investigate the other positions and in particular what Scripture said in the New Testament in regards to the Judgment, 2nd Coming of Christ, and the New Heavens and Earth†and guess what, the New Testament is strangely quiet about the “Dispensational†view. One has to incorporate literalism of the Old Testament; they simply have no choice, because the New does not support their views.
Bubba