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Text: Revelation 20:1-6
I. INTRODUCTION: The word “millennium” does not appear in the Bible, yet there is more preaching on it than any other current topic.
II. There are three main schools of thought on this subject. A. POST-millennialism, which teaches that the world is getting better and will eventually enjoy a golden age of one thousand years, after which (“post”) Christ will come and set up His kingdom. B. PRE-millennialism, which teaches the world is getting worse and worse and will continue to do so until Christ returns and overthrows all governments and sets up His kingdom on earth and will reign a thousand years with His headquarters at Jerusalem. “Pre” means He will come before the millennium, while “post” means He will come after it is over. C. A-millennialism, or non-millennialism, which teaches there is no need for a millennium, because Christ has already set up His kingdom; there is no time for a millennium because, at His second coming everything, including time, will end; and there is no place for a millennium because the world will be destroyed when Christ comes again.
III. Why the Post-millennial theory cannot be true. A. The world will be wicked in the closing days of the age, 1 Timothy 4:1-2 and 2 Timothy 3:1-5. B. Scoffers will point to wicked times to prove that things are like they have always been—no better, 2 Peter 3:3-4. C. The good and the bad will be growing together when Jesus comes, Matthew 13:38-41.
IV. Why the Pre-millennial theory is wrong. A. There is no need for a millennium. 1. Christ has already set up His kingdom, Matthew 3:1; 4:17; Luke 16:16; John 18:36; Luke 17:20-21; Romans 14:17. 2. God’s people are reigning now, Romans 5:17; Revelation 5:9-10; Luke 10:19. 3. A millennium would require at least two more comings of Christ, and the Bible teaches only one more coming, John 14:3, 28; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 1:7. 4. Christ’s work on earth is finished, John 17:4; Ephesians 1:7-10. 5. Christ is reigning now, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Acts 2:29-34. 6. Christ will offer up the kingdom to His Father when He returns, 1 Corinthians 15:24. B. There is no time for a millennium. 1. The righteous will be raised at the last day, not a thousand years before the last day, John 6:39, 40, 44, 54. 2. The wicked will be judged on the last day, John 12:48. 3. Both righteous and wicked will be raised at the same time, John 5:28-29; Daniel 12:2; Acts 24:15. 4. Both the righteous and the wicked will see Him when He comes, Revelation 1:7. 5. There are no two literal resurrections taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 (NOTE: The purpose here is to teach that the righteous dead and the righteous living will go to heaven together. The wicked dead are not even mentioned.) 6. Both the righteous and the wicked will be at the judgment and get their eternal rewards at the same time, Matthew 25:31-34, 41-46. C. There will be place for millennium after Christ returns. 1. The earth will be burned up, 2 Peter 3:10. 2. The earth shall pass away, Revelation 20:11. 3. The earth will perish, Hebrews 1:10-11.
V. Conclusion: The only way ever to enjoy a “millennium” is to get enough of God’s grace to reign with the devil turned loose now, Luke 1:73-75.
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WE’LL CROWN HIM LORD OF ALL D. Otis Teasley
We’ll shout and sing our Redeemer’s praise, Contending for the truth and right; We’ll crown Him King in every heart, And conquer in Jehovah’s might.
Tho’ the hosts of sin should about us camp, We’ll shout and sing the victor’s song; For Christ, our Savior, within us dwells To save and keep us from the wrong.
To Christ all power on earth is giv’n, See now His mighty scepter’s sway; While others dream of an age to come, He’s reigning in our hearts today.
Soon Christ shall come with the trumpet sound To raise the dead from land and sea; Then we shall meet Him in the air And reign with Him eternally.
Then in that heaven and earth anew, Where love’s eternal blessings fall, We’ll sing His praise while the ages roll, And crown the Savior Lord of all.
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