PREMILLENNIALISM
Revelation 20 is perhaps the most debated passage in the Bible. However, it should not be. Those who believe Jesus will come back to this earth and reign for 1,000 years base their belief on this chapter. This theory is false for it fails to mention: (1) Christ’s second coming (2) Christ on earth (3) Jerusalem (4) David’s throne (5) A bodily resurrection. Yet, all these points are necessary to the doctrine of pre (before) millennial (1,000) ism (meaning it ain’t so!).
This chapter simply depicts the overthrow of satan who will be destroyed when the gospel is preached and obeyed by men (Rom 1:16). Loyal Christians will enjoy heaven, a beautiful eternal abiding place (Eph 5:22-32). Their names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Others will suffer everlasting punishment. The earth and all therein will be burned up and pass away at Christ’s coming (2 Pet 3:10).
Jesus is reigning now over His kingdom, the church (I Cor 15:23-25). He will not come back to this earth at all (I Thess 4:13-18), but when He comes in the air He will “take the kingdom and deliver it up to God.” There will be no earth to reign on (2 Pet 3) and no righteous or wicked ones here to reign over (I Thess 4; Jn 5:28-29). The kingdom was established in the first century, over which Jesus now reigns as head of His spiritual kingdom, His church (Mk 9:1; Lk 24:49; Ac 1:8; 2:4).
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