Will Christ Have a Physical Earthly Reign?

Transcription

1 Will Chri Have A Physical Early Reign? Will Chri Have a Physical Early Reign? Michael is e evangeli for e church in Blue Springs, Missouri, having labored wi em since February of He attended e Norside School of Preaching and has labored wi churches in Louisiana and Missouri. He is a fellowlaborer in e International Bible Studies lectures and e Mid- We School of Biblical Studies. He and his wife Thelma have ree children, all grown. INTRODUCTORY MATTERS Possibly one of e mo popular doctrines in regards to eschatology (end time udies) is e doctrine at Chri will once again come to is ear and eablish a physical early rone upon which He, wi e saints, will reign for 1000 years. There may be different flavors such as pre-millennial or po-millennial and so for (in fact one article has suggeed at ere are as many as 20 different brands of premillenial inking) but regardless of e variations all are agreed at Chri will reign upon a physical early rone. An article The Millennial Kingdom Reign of Jesus Chri, which can be found at and is written by Matew McGee presents e following common premillenial view. After e rapture of e church, after e seven year tribulation (e pre as opposed to po millennial view, mph), and after e second coming, Jesus will reign in His Kingdom. He cites Revelation 20:1-10 as his proof text ating at One of e mo concise and informative passages on e kingdom occurs in Revelation. He en proceeds to claim (base upon is as his foundational text) e following, at during at time animals become peaceful (Isa. 11:6-9), life spans increase (Isa ), ere will be and end to wars (Mic. 4:3; Isa. 2:4), He will exercise judgment over e nations (Rev. 19:15), He (Chri, mph) will during at physical early reign reore e judges to Israel (Isa. 1:26; Mat. 19:28), e fea of e tabernacles will be observed by e Gentiles (Zech. 14:16-19), ey will need to travel to Jerusalem in order to do so (Eze. 43:7), e temple and e law will be reored along wi e sacrifices and e priesood (Eze ), ere will be tremendous geographical changes to Israel an earquake will split e mount of Olives in two (Zech. 14:4-5), and ere will be living waters flowing out of Jerusalem from two directions (Zech. 13:1, 14:8; Eze. 47:1-7). He en warns again an allegorical interpretation of any of ese passages. The fallacies of e above and e misuse of e scriptures are too many to deal wi in one singular lesson, however note what is said in an article entitled The 1000 Year Reign found on The Bible Research Library Topic page located at Then Come The End 21 Annual Mid-We Lectures Page 1 not be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Chri, Ea 39 Street, Independence, MO

2 Will Chri Have A Physical Early Reign? The ousand years appears nowhere in e sixty-six books, 1,189 chapters, 31,173 verses of e Bible except in is one passage where it occurs six times in six consecutive verses. It is not solid udy to build an entire syem of beliefs about e end of e world, and e atus of e kingdom on such a highly symbolic passage. More especially when at interpretation conflicts wi oer plain passages of scripture. In an article found at entitled There Is No Thousand Year Reign of Chri on Ear, e auor, Todd D. Dennis cites two basis upon which is teaching (premillenialism) is derived. 1. The promises to e Jewish nation are unfulfilled and 2. The promises of an everlaing land of possession relate to e temporal land of Paleine. There is also a ird basis upon which is false doctrine is predicated. It is e belief or premise at Chri failed during His advent to eablish e promised kingdom because of e rejection of e Jews. Gene Fadely writes; Many people teach at Chri did not usher in His reign in e fir century as He and e Apoles taught He would. They teach at, because of e rejection by e Jews, God became angry and He poponed His plans. Their teaching is at Chri set up e church as an afterought until He can come back to set up his kingdom. (Fadely, 1) Solomon wrote ere is no new ing under e sun (Ecc. 1:9) and at is certainly true in is case. A man named Cerinus who was a contemporary of John e Apole was e fir to espouse e idea at Jesus would return to eablish an early rone. An intereing article entitled Hiory of e Millennium recounts an intereing piece of hiory concerning is apoate and e apole John whose writings proportedly support is doctrine. Cerinus lived in e days of e apole John. We will now call your attention to e attitude of e beloved apole toward is millennial teacher. Irenaeus, who was born about 120 AD and was acquainted wi Polycarp, e disciple of John, (Eusebius s Eccl. Hi. V. 24) ates at while John was at Ephesus, he entered into a ba to wash and found at Cerinus was wiin, and refused to ba in e same ba house, but left e building, and exhorted ose wi him to do e same, saying, Let us flee, le e ba fall in, as long as Cerinus, at enemy of e tru, is wiin. Eusebius s Eccl. Hi. III. 28. Let is be a rebuke to modern Millennial advocates. They claim eir doctrine is well founded in e Apocalypse of John. But John called e founder of eir eory at enemy of e tru. (Riggle) Mr. Riggle continued to point out in his article at according to Gregory and Ruter s church hiory, Cerinus taught his followers to obey e Mosaical, yet to regulate eir lives by Chri s example and at after e resurrection Chri would reign upon is ear, wi His faiful disciples, a ousand years, which would be spent in e highe sensual indulgences. Then Come The End 21 Annual Mid-We Lectures Page 2 not be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Chri, Ea 39 Street, Independence, MO

3 Will Chri Have A Physical Early Reign? In 1645 Robert Baylie, a minier at Glasgow wrote a book entitled, A Dissuasive From e Errours Of e Time: Wherein e Tenents of eir principall Sect, especially of e Independents, are drawn togeer in one Map, for e mo part, in word of eir own Auours, and eir maine principles are examined by e Touch-one of e Holy Scriptures. Chapter XI of is book is subtitled The ousand years of Chri his (sic) visible Reign upon ear, is again Scripture He writes; Our breren s mind in is point, as I conceive, ey have Printed; is is, That in e year 1650, or at fure, 1695, Chri in his human nature and present glory is to come from heaven unto Jerusalem where he (sic) was crucified; at at time e heaven and ear and all e works erein are to be burnt and purged by at fire of conflagration, mentioned by Peter, 2 Epile, Chapter 3. AT e same time all e Martyrs, and many of e Saints, bo of e Old and New Teament are to rise in eir bodies; The Jews from all e places where now ey are {225} scattered shall return to Canaan and build Jerusalem: in at City Chri is to reign for a full ousand years; from ence he (sic) is to go our in person to subdue wi great bloodshed by his own hand all e disobedient Nations; when all are conquered, except some few lurking in corners, en e Church of Jews and Gentiles shall live wiout any diurbance from any enemy, eier wiout or wiin; all Chriians en shall live wiout sin, wiout e Word and Sacraments or any Ordinance: ey shall pass ese ousand years in great worldly delights, begetting many children, eating and drinking and enjoying all e lawful pleasures which all e creatures en redeemed from eir ancient slavery can afford. In is Early happiness shall e Church continue till e end of e ousand years when e relics of e Turkish and Heaenish Nations shall besiege e ne Jerusalem, and Chri wi fire from heaven shall deroy em: afterwords (sic) followe e second resurrection of all e dead good and bad for e la judgement. Thus far e Independent Preach and Print: furer Cerinus himself went not, if you will except e Polygamy and sacrifices of e old Israelites: What tru may be in ese ings, let argument which are usually brought, eier pro or contra declare. (Page numbers unknown) We will present in e balance of is paper two arguments to show at Chri will not eablish, because He will not need to, a physical early kingdom. The fir will be e argument at Chri did not fail, but at He eablished His kingdom and erefore His reign. The second will be e argument at ere will be noing remained of e physical realm for Chri to eablish a kingdom upon when He returns. CHRIST DID NOT FAIL One of e fir ings at we need to underand is at e Kingdom promises did not have to do wi an eternal early kingdom. On at lea two different occasions e scriptures make it very clear to us at it was not Jesus intent or purpose to eablish and early kingdom. The fir time is after he fed e 5,000, (John 6:14-15 KJV) "Then ose men, when ey had seen e miracle at Jesus did, said, This is of a tru at prophet at should come into e world. {15} When Jesus erefore perceived at ey would come and take him by force, to make him Then Come The End 21 Annual Mid-We Lectures Page 3 not be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Chri, Ea 39 Street, Independence, MO

4 Will Chri Have A Physical Early Reign? a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone." The queion at e premillenniali mu deal wi in is case is is. If it were Jesus purpose to eablish an early kingdom en why did He not take e excellent opportunity at was laid before Him at is time. Remember e argument is at He failed because of rejection. He was certainly not being rejected here. In fact he intentionally departed to avoid such an event. The second is found when He is before Pilate, (John 18:33-36 KJV) "Then Pilate entered into e judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art ou e King of e Jews? {34} Jesus answered him, Saye ou is ing of yself, or did oers tell it ee of me? {35} Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and e chief pries have delivered ee unto me: what ha ou done? {36} Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of is world: if my kingdom were of is world, en would my servants fight, at I should not be delivered to e Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." Here Jesus makes it perfectly clear to all poerity at His kingdom was not of is world. Had it been e intent of Chri to eablish an early kingdom, it is ludicrous and even disrespectful to God to suppose and sugge at He would fail upon e basis of e whim of men. In is passage He makes it quite clear at had His kingdom been of is world en His servants would have fought, but notice what He told Peter at His arre, (John 18:10-11 KJV) "Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote e high prie's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. {11} Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up y sword into e shea: e cup which my Faer ha given me, shall I not drink it?", (Mat 26:51-52 KJV) "And, behold, one of em which were wi Jesus retched out his hand, and drew his sword, and ruck a servant of e high prie's, and smote off his ear. {52} Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again y sword into his place: for all ey at take e sword shall perish wi e sword." Chri makes it very clear at He had no intent of setting up and early rone/kingdom, yet when His cousin John began to prepare e way for Jesus, his preaching was a message of e kingdom of Heaven being at hand. (Mat 3:1-2 KJV) "In ose days came John e Bapti, preaching in e wilderness of Judaea, {2} And saying, Repent ye: for e kingdom of heaven is at hand." Jesus message also was at e kingdom was at hand, (Mat 4:17 KJV) "From at time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for e kingdom of heaven is at hand.", (Mark 1:14-15 KJV) "Now after at John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching e gospel of e kingdom of God, {15} And saying, The time is fulfilled, and e kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe e gospel." When Jesus sent e disciples out, e message at ey were to preach was at e kingdom was at hand, (Mat 10:5-7 KJV) "These twelve Jesus sent for, and commanded em, saying, Go not into e way of e Gentiles, and into any city of e Samaritans enter ye not: {6} But go raer to e lo sheep of e house of Israel. {7} And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." During Jesus miniry He called people to Him, along wi His disciples and told em at ey needed to take up eir cross and follow him (Mark 8:34-35) and at some of em would not die Then Come The End 21 Annual Mid-We Lectures Page 4 not be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Chri, Ea 39 Street, Independence, MO

5 Will Chri Have A Physical Early Reign? until ey saw e kingdom come wi power, (Mark 9:1 KJV) "And he said unto em, Verily I say unto you, That ere be some of em at and here, which shall not tae of dea, till ey have seen e kingdom of God come wi power." (Mat 16:28 KJV) "Verily I say unto you, There be some anding here, which shall not tae of dea, till ey see e Son of man coming in his kingdom." An intereing ing to notice about e passage in Matew is at is was said immediately following His promise at He would build His church, at e gates of hell would not prevail again it and en told Peter at he would be given e keys to note is now e kingdom. It should be easy to see e connection at is point between e church and e kingdom. Anoer ing at mu be clear is at if e kingdom is not yet eablished and is yet some time in e diant future, ere mu be somewhere in e world people who are nearly two ousand years old. This is more an twice e age of Meuselah e olde person in hiory. If ere are not en eier Jesus was a false prophet and a liar, or e kingdom already exis and has done so since e time of ose disciples to whom He was speaking. It is of course e latter at is true, ere are no two ousand year old people today and Chri eablished His kingdom ju exactly e way He intended and said He would. Note e following scriptures. 1. (Col 1:12-13 KJV) "Giving anks unto e Faer, which ha made us meet to be partakers of e inheritance of e saints in light: {13} Who ha delivered us from e power of darkness, and ha translated us into e kingdom of his dear Son:" 2. (Col 4:11 KJV) "And Jesus, which is called Juus, who are of e circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto e kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me." 3. (1 Th 2:12 KJV) "That ye would walk wory of God, who ha called you unto his kingdom and glory." 4. (Heb 12:28 KJV) "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably wi reverence and godly fear:" 5. (Rev 1:9 KJV) "I John, who also am your broer, and companion in tribulation, and in e kingdom and patience of Jesus Chri, was in e isle at is called Patmos, for e word of God, and for e teimony of Jesus Chri." Every one of ese passages refer to a kingdom at exied in e fir Century at e auors and readers alike were part of. That same kingdom exis today and its citizen s are all ose at have been added to e body of Chri by Him as a result of eir obedience to His will, (Acts 2:47, Col 1:18, Eph 1:22-23, Mat. 7:21). We are taught by e scriptures at Chriians comprise a holy nation, (1 Pet 2:9 KJV) "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; at ye Then Come The End 21 Annual Mid-We Lectures Page 5 not be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Chri, Ea 39 Street, Independence, MO

6 Will Chri Have A Physical Early Reign? should show for e praises of him who ha called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" Furer udy reveals to us at Chriians are to be found in e church, (Acts 2:47 KJV) "Praising God, and having favour wi all e people. And e Lord added to e church daily such as should be saved." It should be relatively easy to see en at if Chriians are an holy nation and at Chriians are in e church at e church and e nation (kingdom) are one and e same. We also need to recognize at Chri NOW has all e powers and auority of a potentate and is not waiting for a kingdom to rule, but is already ruling in a kingdom. 1. (Mat 28:18 KJV) "And Jesus came and spake unto em, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in ear." 2. (Col 1:18 KJV) "And he is e head of e body, e church: who is e beginning, e firborn from e dead; at in all ings he might have e preeminence." 3. (Eph 1:22-23 KJV) "And ha put all ings under his feet, and gave him to be e head over all ings to e church, {23} Which is his body, e fulness of him at fille all in all." Chri did not fail, but accomplish ju exactly what was intended from before e foundation of e world, (1 Pet 1:18-20 KJV) "Forasmuch as ye know at ye were not redeemed wi corruptible ings, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your faers; {19} But wi e precious blood of Chri, as of a lamb wiout blemish and wiout spot: {20} Who verily was foreordained before e foundation of e world, but was manife in ese la times for you,", He eablished His kingdom! (Eph 1:3-12 KJV) "Blessed be e God and Faer of our Lord Jesus Chri, who ha blessed us wi all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Chri: {4} According as he ha chosen us in him before e foundation of e world, at we should be holy and wiout blame before him in love: {5} Having predeinated us unto e adoption of children by Jesus Chri to himself, according to e good pleasure of his will, {6} To e praise of e glory of his grace, wherein he ha made us accepted in e beloved. {7} In whom we have redemption rough his blood, e forgiveness of sins, according to e riches of his grace; {8} Wherein he ha abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; {9} Having made known unto us e myery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he ha purposed in himself: {10} That in e dispensation of e fulness of times he might gaer togeer in one all ings in Chri, bo which are in heaven, and which are on ear; even in him: {11} In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predeinated according to e purpose of him who worke all ings after e counsel of his own will: {12} That we should be to e praise of his glory, who fir trued in Chri." NOTHING WILL BE LEFT TO ESTABLISH THRONE UPON Then Come The End 21 Annual Mid-We Lectures Page 6 not be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Chri, Ea 39 Street, Independence, MO

7 Will Chri Have A Physical Early Reign? Chri will not eablish an early rone upon His return because ere will be noing let in is physical realm at His return. We are told at e saints will ascend to be wi e Lord, (He will not even set foot upon e ear), (1 Th 4:13-18 KJV) "But I would not have you to be ignorant, breren, concerning em which are asleep, at ye sorrow not, even as oers which have no hope. {14} For if we believe at Jesus died and rose again, even so em also which sleep in Jesus will God bring wi him. {15} For is we say unto you by e word of e Lord, at we which are alive and remain unto e coming of e Lord shall not prevent em which are asleep. {16} For e Lord himself shall descend from heaven wi a shout, wi e voice of e archangel, and wi e trump of God: and e dead in Chri shall rise fir: {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up togeer wi em in e clouds, to meet e Lord in e air: and so shall we ever be wi e Lord. {18} Wherefore comfort one anoer wi ese words." Actually a search of e scriptures will reveal at no where in e Bible does it ever indicate at Chri will set one foot on is ear again. The saints will have to rise in order to meet Him. Upon His return, and I believe in conjunction wi it, e physical realm will cataclysmically cease to exi. Note Peter s words in is regard. (2 Pet 3:3-14 KJV) "Knowing is fir, at ere shall come in e la days scoffers, walking after eir own lus, {4} And saying, Where is e promise of his coming? for since e faers fell asleep, all ings continue as ey were from e beginning of e creation. {5} For is ey willingly are ignorant of, at by e word of God e heavens were of old, and e ear anding out of e water and in e water: {6} Whereby e world at en was, being overflowed wi water, perished: {7} But e heavens and e ear, which are now, by e same word are kept in ore, reserved unto fire again e day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. {8} But, beloved, be not ignorant of is one ing, at one day is wi e Lord as a ousand years, and a ousand years as one day. {9} The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing at any should perish, but at all should come to repentance. {10} But e day of e Lord will come as a ief in e night; in e which e heavens shall pass away wi a great noise, and e elements shall melt wi fervent heat, e ear also and e works at are erein shall be burned up. {11} Seeing en at all ese ings shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, {12} Looking for and haing unto e coming of e day of God, wherein e heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and e elements shall melt wi fervent heat? {13} Nevereless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new ear, wherein dwelle righteousness. {14} Wherefore, beloved, seeing at ye look for such ings, be diligent at ye may be found of him in peace, wiout spot, and blameless." Note e following at is learned from is passage; 1. God is outside of time and does not look at it as we do. 2. Our Lord is not slack concerning His promise of coming back (John 14:1-3)., but is giving men every opportunity to repent and turn to Him. 3. His return will be unexpected. Then Come The End 21 Annual Mid-We Lectures Page 7 not be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Chri, Ea 39 Street, Independence, MO

8 Will Chri Have A Physical Early Reign? 4. At His return e heavens will pass away wi a great noise. 5. The elements will melt wi fervent heat. 6. The ear and her works will be burnt up, (a word at means to consume wholly). 7. The heavens shall be dissolved and e elements will melt. Please note at e concept of e word dissolve involves a breaking down into component parts. This of course indicate at everying will be reduced to e basic elements of which ey are made, en ose elements emselves will melt. The word used for melt is one at means to completely burn up. These elements will burn wi a fervent heat. The dead saints will rise, e live saints will rise, en is physical realm will quite literally cease to exi. There is obviously not going to be anying upon which to eablish a rone nor to reign over in is physical realm. Chri will not eablish an early rone, because He will not did to. He did not fail, but eablished His kingdom e fir time ju and He and His Faer, our Faer, intended. It is a holy nation at consis of ose who have committed eir lives fully, wholly, and completely to Him in obedience to His will. It is a kingdom, which as has already been noted, Chriians have been translated into. It is a kingdom at you can and should be part of if you are not. WORKS CITED Baylie, Robert, A Dissvasive From e Errours of e Time, printed 1645, Dennis, Todd D., There is No Thousand Year Reign of Chri on Ear Fadely, Gene, Did dea of Jesus cause God to popone His plans? Hiory of e Millennium Alone Wi God McGee, Matew, The Millennial Kingdom Reign of Jesus Chri The 1000 Year Reign The Bible Research Library Then Come The End 21 Annual Mid-We Lectures Page 8 not be be sold. For information contact e 39 Street church of Chri, Ea 39 Street, Independence, MO