God And His Word - A Question And Answer Approach To Understanding The Bible

--------- What Do the Interpreters Say? ---------

The amillennial interpretation does not deny the Millennium of Revelation 20, but interprets it as taking place right now, rather than in the future. It is identified with the present spiritual reign of Christ at the right hand of God, where by faith His people are raised and seated with Him; thus there will be no literal millen nial Kingdom. Christ's advent will be after the Millennium (or Church age). Satan is presently bound through Christ's ministry. Some see Christ's reign as beginning in His earthly ministry or at His resurrection. Amillennialists view the Kingdom promises to Israel as symbolic and apply them either to the Church age or to eternity.

Amillennialism

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Before Christ New Heaven and Earth Notations: FC=First Coming; FJ=Final Judgment; M=Millennium; SC=Second Coming; R=Resurrection (general) Church Age=M

Comments. Anthony A. Hoekema, in presenting the case for amillennialism, writes:

The term amillennialism is not a happy one.It suggests that amil lennialists either do not believe in any millennium or that they simply ignore the first six verses of Revelation 20, which speak of a millennial reign.Neither of these two statements is true. Though it is true that amillennialists do not believe in a literal thousand year earthly reign which will follow the return of Christ, the term amillennialism is not an accurate description of theirview...."Amil lennialists" believe that the millennium of Revelation 20 is not ex clusively future but is now in process of realization. 5

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