Future History 101 Part 7: The Millennial Reign

Transcription

1 WHAT IS THE MILLENNIAL REIGN Future History 101 Part 7: The Millennial Reign + The period of time associated with Revelation 20:1-6 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for 1,000 years. He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the 1,000 years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the people who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of God s word, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with the Messiah for 1,000 years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of the Messiah, and they will reign with Him for 1,000 years. -Revelation 20:1-6 HCSB + The Millennial reign is by far the most debated subject in Eschatology A short passage in the book of Revelation has been the subject of vast eschatological investigation. It is the passage that speaks of a millennium. Whole systems of eschatological thought have been labeled and identified in accordance with the place the millennium holds within each system. -R.C. Sproul, The Last Days According to Jesus p. 193 WHAT ARE THE MAJOR VIEWS OF THE MILLENNIAL REIGN + Premillennialism Future History 101 Powell 68

2 Pre (Before) Millennium (1,000 year reign) Premillennialism is the belief in a 1,000 year reign of Christ on the earth will follow the Second Coming and precede the Eternal State (New Heavens and New Earth.) History: Premillennialism is the oldest view of eschatology according to church history. All of the early church fathers were premillenialists. The view was known as Chiliasm (Millennium.) The early church believed in an earthly kingdom reign of Christ following the Second Coming but preceding the Eternal State. See below the following comments by early church fathers: Clement of Rome (AD ) and Justin (AD ) And the fact that it was not set of the seventh day equally with the other days, and there was evening, and there was morning, is a distinct indication of the consummation which is to take place in it before it is finished, as the fathers declare, especially Saint Clement, and Irenaeus, and Justin the martyr and philosopher. -Justin, Fragment XV comments by Anastasius. emphasis added Papias (AD 70?-155) That there will be a period of a thousand years after the resurrection from the dead when the kingdom of Christ will be set up an material form on this earth. -Papias, Fragments of Papias 3.12 Irenaeus (AD ) But when this Antichrist shall have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for three years and six months, and sit in the temple at Jerusalem; and then the Lord will come from heaven and the clouds, and the glory of the Father, sending this man and those who followed into the lake of fire; but bringing in for the righteous the times of the kingdom, that is, the rest, the hallowed seventh day; and restoring to Abraham the promised inheritance, and which Kingdom the Lord declared that many coming from the east and from the west should sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. -Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book V Chapter XXX. emphasis added Hippolytus (AD ) Future History 101 Powell 69

3 And six thousand years must needs be accomplished, in order that the Sabbath may come, the rest, the holy day on which God rested from all this works. For the Sabbath is the type and emblem of the future kingdom of the Saints, when they shall reign with Christ, when he comes from heaven, as John says in his Apocalypse. -Hippolytus, On the HexaËmeron, Fragments from Commentaries. emphasis added Two Major Types of Premillennialism: Dispensational Premillennialism: Dispensationalism maintains a strong distinction between Israel and the Church. Popularized in the mid 1800s by John Nelson Darby and in the early 1900s by C. I. Scofield, Dispensationalism has shaped several generations of Pastors and Theologians (See Part 6: Old Testament Portrayal of Christ, Section C.) Classic Dispensationalism teaches that there are two separate covenant peoples of God: Israel and the church. The view of pretribulational rapture found its start in Dispensationalism. Dispensationalists see that the church must be removed for God to begin working with Israel as a covenant people again. Dispensationalists teach that once the church is raptured, the tribulation will begin along with the revelation of the Antichrist. Dispensationalism is a system of theology primarily concerned with the doctrines of ecclesiology and eschatology that emphasizes the historical grammatical meaning of Old Testament prophetic passages and covenants, a distinction between Israel and the church, and a future salvation and restoration of the nation of Israel in a future earthly kingdom. -Michael J. Vlach, Dispensationalism: Essential Beliefs and Common Myths p. 50. emphasis added The pre-trip rapture view has traditionally been an important part of Dispensationalism. It may even be the most recognizable facet of dispensational theology. -Michael J. Vlach, Dispensationalism: Essential Beliefs and Common Myths p. 56 Historic Premillennialism: Historic Premillennialism gets its name from the History of the Early church. Historic Premillennialism was the eschatology of the early church (the people closest to the Apostle s teaching.) As it is probably obvious at this point in the work, Historic Premillennialism is the position to which I personally hold and believe. All of the rebuttals Future History 101 Powell 70

4 given toward other positions in this work are offered from the Historic Premillennial position. On most major points Historic Premillenialists find themselves in agreement with Dispensationalists, but there are significant differences. The greatest difference is in the understanding of the covenant people of God. Historic Premillenialists argue that there is one not two covenant peoples. Historic Premillenialists do not believe that the church has replaced Israel (Replacement Theology,) rather they believe that gentiles have been grafted into the covenant promises with believing Israel. They also believe at the end of the seven-year tribulational period, Israel as a nation will be re-grafted into the covenant with gentiles and believing Jews, when they call out to Jesus as their Messiah. Because Historic Premillenialists do not maintain a hard distinction between Israel and the church, they do not hold to a pretribulational rapture. Historic Premillenialists see the church going through the Great Tribulation and being raptured just prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, when God will reveal his wrath against unbelieving humanity. The posttribulational rapture was the position of the Church fathers. The early church placed the return of Christ after the period of great tribulation. This is called a posttribulation position. -Gregg Allison, Historical Theology p. 685 Historic Premillenialists accurately cite there is no promise in the New Testament that teaches the church will not go through the Tribulation. The rapture is the resurrection of the saints of God, and Revelation 20:5 clear states that the Dawn of the Millennium will coincide with the First Resurrection. If the rapture (a resurrection) occurs at the beginning of the Great Tribulation, how could the resurrection at the beginning of the Millennium be called the first. Also, Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 confirms several things will happen before the rapture: the apostasy, the revelation of the Antichrist, and the Abomination of Desolation. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were completed. This is the first resurrection. -Revelation 20:5 HCSB emphasis added Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, brothers, not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has come. Don t let anyone Future History 101 Powell 71

5 deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God s sanctuary, publicizing that he himself is God. -2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 HCSB emphasis added Pretribulationalists are quick to point out that the rapture will come like a thief in the night. They say if the rapture occurs at the end of the tribulation, how could the rapture come like a thief? Two verses are cited to make this point: Now concerning that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, except the Father only -Matthew 24:36 HCSB For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. -1 Thessalonians 5:2 HCSB In response to using the preceding verses to point to an imminent rapture, the verse should be read in context. That day in Matthew 24:36 is not referring to a pretribulational rapture but the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of the Great Tribulation. In 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Paul is saying that the Day of the Lord will surprise unbelievers but not believers. Believers will be able to discern the times and know when the return of Christ is imminent. No one will know the day and hour, but believers will know the return is close. Just as Jesus told his followers in Luke 21:28 HCSB, But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near! Immediately after the tribulation of those days: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Now learn this parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, at the door! I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. Now concerning that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, except the Father only. -Matthew 24:30-36 HCSB emphasis added Future History 101 Powell 72

6 About the times and the seasons: Brothers, you do not need anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. When they say, Peace and security, then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains come on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. -1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 HCSB emphasis added Pretribulationalists will also say that the early church believed the coming of Christ to be imminent, and therefore, point out that the pretribulational position is the only position that can maintain imminency. Consider this quote by Dr. Gregg Allison: Many Christians believed Christ s return to be imminent, as Cyprian expressed: Already his second coming draws near to us. The sense of imminency was not equated with immediacy, however. According to Cyprian, Christ gave instructions about events that must proceed his return in order to prepare the church to be strong in perseverance, lest an unexpected and new dread of mischief would shake the church. He underscored Jesus is teaching that wars, famines, earthquakes and pestilence would arise everywhere, and adversity would increase more and more in the last times. This fact made the return of Christ imminent, not in the sense of immediate, but as not far off. -Gregg Allison, Historical Theology p. 684 emphasis added Descriptions of the Millennial Reign: 1. The Kingdom will last a literal 1000 years Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the people who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of God s word, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with the Messiah for 1,000 years. -Revelation 20:4 HCSB 2. Jesus will physically reign from Jerusalem with his glorified Saints Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Festival of Booths. Should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, rain will not fall on them. Future History 101 Powell 73

7 -Zechariah 14:16-17 HCSB 3. The kings of the earth will come to offer tribute to Jesus In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more. He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts. All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him. -Psalm 72:7-11 NIV 4. The curse of the Fall will be reduced In her, a nursing infant will no longer live only a few days, or an old man not live out his days. Indeed, the youth will die at a hundred years, and the one who misses a hundred years will be cursed. People will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build and others live in them; they will not plant and others eat. For My people s lives will be like the lifetime of a tree. My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor without success or bear children destined for disaster, for they will be a people blessed by the LORD along with their descendants. -Isaiah 65:20-23 HCSB 5. Nature will be dramatically altered The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fatling will be together, and a child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze, their young ones will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. An infant will play beside the cobra s pit, and a toddler will put his hand into a snake s den. -Isaiah 11:6-8 HCSB On that day there will be no light; the sunlight and moonlight will diminish. It will be a day known only to Yahweh, without day or night, but there will be light at evening. On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea, in summer and winter alike. On that day Yahweh will become King over all the earth, Yahweh alone, and His name alone. -Zechariah 14:6-9 HCSB Future History 101 Powell 74

8 6. It will be a time of unparalleled peace In the last days the mountain of the LORD s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. All nations will stream to it, and many peoples will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about His ways so that we may walk in His paths. For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. -Isaiah 2:2-3 HCSB In the last days the mountain of the LORD s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. Peoples will stream to it, and many nations will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about His ways so we may walk in His paths. For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will settle disputes among many peoples and provide arbitration for strong nations that are far away. They will beat their swords into plows, and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war. But each man will sit under his grapevine and under his fig tree with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has promised this. -Micah 4:1-4 HCSB 7. The entire world will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord None will harm or destroy another on My entire holy mountain, for the land will be as full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is filled with water. -Isaiah 11:9 HCSB 9. Near the end of the Millennium, Satan will be loosed and deceive the nations and bring them against Jerusalem When the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. -Revelation 20:7-8 HCSB 10. God will destroy His enemies and cast Satan into the Lake of Fire forever They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came Future History 101 Powell 75

9 down from heaven and consumed them. The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. -Revelation 20:9-10 HCSB 11. At the End of the Millennial reign Jesus will hand the kingdom over to God the Father But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He abolishes all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He puts all His enemies under His feet. -1 Corinthians 15:23-25 HCSB 12. After the millennial reign God will completely restore all of creation wiping away death, sorrow, pain, and tears forever. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. Then the One seated on the throne said, Look! I am making everything new. He also said, Write, because these words are faithful and true. -Revelation 21:1-5 HCSB Future History 101 Powell 76

10 + Amillennialism Amillennialism is the belief in no millennium. A (no) Millennium (1,000 year reign) Amillennialists teach that there will be no future millennium, and that there will only be one future resurrection, including both believers and unbelievers. Amillennialists interprets Revelation 20:1-6 to be allegorical rather than literal. Amillennialism is by far the simplest view to understand. History: Amillennialism was first promoted by Augustine (AD ) Augustine established the amillennial understanding of Revelation 20. Specifically, he linked the binding of Satan for a thousand years (verses 2-3) with Jesus words about binding the strong man (Mark 3:27.) -Gregg Allison, Historical Theology p. 688 Amillennialism has been the majority view of the Christian church, and it still remains to be the majority view to this day. Amillennialism is the primary position of the Roman Catholic Church. Variations from Amillennialism: Full-Preterism: The belief that all prophecy was fulfilled in AD 70, including the Second Coming of Christ and the Resurrection. Future History 101 Powell 77

11 Partial-Preterism The belief that nearly all prophecy was fulfilled in AD 70, including the reign of the Antichrist and the time of Great Tribulation, but Partial-Preterism believes the Second Coming of Christ and the Resurrection is still Future. Main Points: 1. There is no future Millennium, the thousand-year reign refers to the Church Age. -Amillennialists point out that the Millennium is only explicitly mentioned in Revelation 20:1-6. They cite that basing a doctrine on one location in the Bible is not sound. 2. The first resurrection referred to in Revelation 20:6 is a spiritual resurrection rather than physical one (referring to Christians who are now in heaven reigning with Christ.) -Amillennialists hold firm to the belief in only one resurrection. Meaning, no future rapture of believers, rather a resurrection of both believers and unbelievers at the same time. Three passages are often cited to show just one resurrection: Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to shame and eternal contempt. -Daniel 12:2 HCSB emphasis added Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of judgment. -John 5:28-29 emphasis added And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. -Acts 24:15 HCSB emphasis added 3. The church age began at Pentecost, and upon its conception, the church replaced Israel as God s covenant people (Replacement Theology.) -Amillennialism teaches that all of the Old Testament promises to Israel are fulfilled by Christ s relationship with the church. 4. Satan was bound at the beginning of the church age Future History 101 Powell 78

12 -Amillennialism teaches that Satan was bound that, he may no longer deceive the nations. Therefore, because Satan is currently bound, the Gospel will go forth unhindered. Amillennialists teach Jesus when he began the church, bound Satan the strong man. Amillennialists also refer to Jude 1:6 showing that all of the fallen angels are currently bound. How can someone enter a strong man s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. -Matthew 12:29 HCSB emphasis added And He has kept, with eternal chains in darkness for the judgment of the great day, the angels who did not keep their own position but deserted their proper dwelling. -Jude 1:6 HCSB 5. The Eternal State will begin at the second coming of Christ, at the immediate close of the Church Age. -Because Amillennialism teaches there is no future millennium, the eternal state (New Heavens and New Earth) will begin immediately after the second coming of Christ. Responses to the Main Points: 1. The Bible only explicitly mentions the Millennium in Revelation 20:16, but the Bible does not have to mention truths multiple times to make the passage literally true. Also, Revelation 20 is a natural place to find the teaching of the Millennium (At the end, where it will occur.) The Bible only needs to say something once in order for it to be true and something that we must believe. The story of the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel, for example, is only taught in Genesis 11:1-9, yet we believe it to be true because Scripture teaches it. Similarly, even if only one passage taught a future millennial reign of Christ, we still should believe it. -Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology p Every other instance in the New Testament where the word resurrection (anastasis) is used, it always refers to physical resurrection. Anastasis- resurrection from the dead -Fredrick Danker, A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament p The church age did begin at Pentecost, but the New Testament does not teach that the church has replaced Israel. Rather Paul teaches us in Romans 11, that gentiles have been grafted into the promise given to Israel by Jesus Future History 101 Powell 79

13 Christ, and at the end of the Church age the Israel will call out to Jesus as their Messiah. God will graft Israel as a nation back into the promise. (See Part 3: The Covenants and Part 4: The Fullness of Time) 4. The New Testament teaches elsewhere that Satan is not currently bound. Consider the following verses: Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. -1 Peter 5:8 HCSB emphasis added -How can Satan be bound in the bottomless pit and prowl around like a lion? How could Christians resist a bound foe in the bottomless pit? For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. -Ephesians 6:12 HCSB emphasis added -Our battle is against Spiritual forces of evil. How can all the demons and Satan be bound if we are battling against them? But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now. -1 John 4:3 HCSB emphasis added -The spirit of Antichrist (the spirit of Satan) is at work in the world. How can Satan be bound in the bottomless pit and be at work in the world as well? 5. If there is no Millennium, what happens to the promises made in the Old Testament about the coming kingdom age? Jesus taught his disciples there was coming a day when the kingdom will be restored to Israel. -God promised a day where the effects of sin would be removed and a golden age for the people of God. Compare the following verses: In her, a nursing infant will no longer live only a few days, or an old man not live out his days. Indeed, the youth will die at a hundred years, and the one who misses a hundred years will be cursed. -Isaiah 65:20 HCSB emphasis added He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous Future History 101 Powell 80

14 + Postmillennialism things have passed away. -Revelation 21:4 HCSB emphasis added -Revelation 21:4 is clear there will be no more death in the New Heaven and New Earth. Isaiah 65:20 still speaks of an age with death but in a limited form. Isaiah cannot be referencing the New Heavens and the New Earth, he is pointing to the future Millennial kingdom of God. -When the Disciples asked Jesus if he was going to restore the kingdom to Israel at the time of his ascension, Jesus did not deny the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. Jesus simply told them now was not the time. So when they had come together, they asked Him, Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time? He said to them, It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. -Acts 1:6-7 HCSB emphasis added Postmillennialism is the belief that Jesus will return after the Millennium. Post (after) Millennium (The Church Age) Postmillennialists teach that Jesus will return for his church after the millennium and after Gospel has Christianized the world. Postmillennialists interpret Revelation 20:1-6 to be allegorical rather than literal. Postmillennialism is a very optimistic view of the future of the world. History: During the first Great Awakening, Jonathon Edwards is noted as being one of the earliest promoters of postmillennialism. Edwards along with others during his day were seeing mass conversions of people being saved by God. It Future History 101 Powell 81

15 was a position that was later adopted by Charles Finney and other Charismatic leaders during the Second Great Awakening. Since, postmillennialism is the belief that the world will become increasing more Christian, it was the catalyst for several Christian movements pushing for social, moral, and political reforms. It (Postmillennialism) was fueled by the prosperity and expansionism during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. It also led to Christians championing numerous reform causes like the abolition of slavery, the prohibition of alcoholism through the temperance movement, and the suffrage movement to give women the right to vote. -Gregg Allison, Historical Theology p. 694 The popularity of Postmillennialism has waned through the years. After the twentieth century brought forth two world wars, widespread secularism, the rise of Islam, the general acceptance of Darwinian evolution, and the sexual revolution, many postmillennialists began to reexamine their eschatology. Main Points: 1. The Great Commission portrays that the Gospel will go forth unto all the nations until the entire globe has become Christianized, and then the end will come. 2. Because postmillennialists believe that the world will become largely Christianized, they believe that the world is currently becoming more Christian. Responses to the Main Points: 1. The Great Commission does command believers to take the Gospel to the entire world, but Jesus told his disciples that the majority would reject the Gospel. Jesus called the Gospel the narrow way and stated that few would find it. The Gospel will go forth, but the world will not be Christianized until the Millennial Reign of Christ (Premillennial view,) when the entire world is filled with the knowledge of the Lord. Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. -Matthew 7:13-14 HCSB emphasis added 2. No one is going to deny that the church is growing today and more people are coming to Christ today than any other time in History. However, just as the church is growing, evil is growing as well through: false religion, secularism, materialism, immorality, and liberalism. Jesus promised in Future History 101 Powell 82

16 Matthew 16:18 the gates of hell would not prevail against his church, but he did not promise that the church would expand until it converted every soul on earth. In fact, Paul taught there would be a falling away from the faith in the last days in the following passages: Don t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. -2 Thessalonians 2:3 HCSB emphasis added Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. -1 Timothy 4:1-2 HCSB emphasis added But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people! -2 Timothy 3:1-5 HCSB emphasis added CONCLUSION The Millennial Reign concludes Future History 101. Feel free to refer back through the work, as Future History 201 is built on the foundational principles found here in this study. Future History 201: Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4: Part 5: Part 6: Part 7: The Seventy Weeks of Daniel The Times of the Gentiles The Seventieth Week The Beast The False Prophet The Abomination of Desolation The Second Coming Future History 101 Powell 83