08/26/2021
Has God hidden in scripture a spiritual truth theory other than the physical 1,000-year future reign theory that is taught by mainline denominations? The 1,000 years, what I understand about it, is broken down into 3 events all taking place at the same time.
In posting these three events, the physical theory reign is not part of my post, so withhold all comments about it. I’ve heard enough of those debates to last me a life time. These post are about a spiritual truth in scripture.
Chapter 20 of Revelation is thought by some to be the darkest part of all prophecy. Some say that what it contains are not yet fulfilled.
There is (1) the binding of Satan for a thousand years, (2) the reign of the saints with Christ during the same time, (3) the loosing of Satan, and the conflict with the believers after that time, and then the day of judgment
It is not likely that the number, a thousand years, is to be taken literally here. The doctrine of the millennium, or of believers reigning on earth exactly a thousand years with Christ as their head, has been defended by many Christians who believed the millennium was at hand; and its beginning has been expected in every century. Those predictions have always been in vain.
Yet there is no doubt that the earth is in a state of progressive moral spiritual decline. Christianity is slowly darkening on earth and will continue to decline as the number of Gentiles comes closer to fulfillment. There are three main schools of thought concerning Revelation 1,000-years:
Premillennialists–They see the passages as future prophecy, in which Christ’s second coming precedes the millennium and he reigns from the present Jerusalem. But according to Paul, the Jerusalem which now is, is in bo***ge under the law (slave Hagar) and belongs to those in that bo***ge. Being under the law then would resurrect the sacrificial offerings.
The second objection to this idea is that Jesus came to deliver his people from the law, not place himself and them back under the law (Jerusalem).
It must be noted that neither Jesus nor any of the apostolic letters speak of a period of a literal thousand-year kingdom on this present earth prior to a new earth and a new heaven. This is a thought not supported by scripture.
Postmillennialists–Postmillennialists see the passages as the world getting better and better with time. They believe the world will continue to improve until the world turns into God’s kingdom: heaven. Then Christ will come. They do not believe in a tribulation or a literal1,000-year kingdom.
Amillennialists–Amillennialists see the whole passage as a symbolic description of the present age, in which Satan is already bound and the dead in Christ are already reigning with him starting at Pentecost to his second advent. He said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but my kingdom is not from here.” This is in harmony with scriptures.
Satan spiritually bound during the spiritual new covenant age. Revelation 20:1-3
Then Apostle John saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
FIRST EVENT
This event is of the redeeming fullness of time of Satan being spiritually bound with chains. His binding has its roots in the binding of the strong man, who must be bound before his goods (human souls) can be plundered. Humanity all their lives were subject to bo***ge of sin, over which he had the power of death.
Christ Jesus’s victory over Satan in the wilderness by commanding Satan to depart and his exorcism of demons demonstrated that he had bound the strong man, and that Satan was powerless to prevent the coming of the kingdom of heaven.
Our gospel is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age (Satan) has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them…. The veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
The words thousand years denotes the beginning of what I call the spiritual new covenant age during which time Christ Jesus destroyed the power of death over his chosen people so that the gospel can be spread throughout the world.
Here is how I believe the first three verses could read… Then John saw Christ Jesus (an angel) coming down from heaven, having the key to the limitless and never-ending power (bottomless pit) and a great restraint (chain) in his hand.
He laid hold of the dragon, that deadly, subtle, malicious spirit (serpent) of old, who is the slanderer and accuser (devil) and adversary (Satan), and set spiritual limitations and restrictions (bound) on him for the spiritual new covenant age (thousand years); and Christ Jesus cast him into the limitless and never-ending (pit), and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the spiritual new covenant age (thousand years) were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
This is the first of three-post dealing with the 1,000-years.