The Strand Study Bible

REVELATION

2175

Written From the Island of Patmos

Second Coming and establish a 1,000-year Millennium. H.A. Ironside in Lectures on the Revelation notes: It is often said by those who object to the doctrine of an earthly Millennium, that the term itself is not found in the Bible. They insist that neither in the Old nor in the New Testaments do we ever read of a millennium, and they argue from this that the teaching is man-made, not derived from the Word of God. We might reply that the mere fact that a certain term is not used in Scripture does not necessarily prove that the doctrine for which the term stands is not taught there. The word Trinity is not found in the Bible, but all sound Christians admit the doctrine of three persons in one God. The word substitution is not there either, but it is written, “He was wounded for our transgressions,” and that is substitution. Where will you find the terms , Eternal Sonship, Deity, Fall of man, Depravity, Incarnation, Impeccability (as applied to Christ), and many more of similar character? Certainly not on the pages of the Authorized Version of our English Bibles. But all these terms mentioned stand for great truths unmistakably taught in the Book, and are a vital part of the teaching of Christianity. So the mere omission of a title or name of a doctrine does not prove the absence of the doctrine itself, nor does it prove that it is but man-made. 6 Interestingly enough, early Millennialism, found in the works of Papias, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Methodius, Commodianus, and Lactantius, appears to have been pre-millennial , their apocalyptic interpretation being based upon the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. 20:4 d This word ( thousand ) is the Greek word FLOLD ( chilia ). Chilia refers to the 1000-year Millennial Reign of CHRIST (the word “millennium” being derived from the Latin word for thousand ). There are three different views of Millennialism: 1. Pre-Millennialism – Christians who believe that the Kingdom of CHRIST will come supernaturally via the Second Coming. 2. Post-Millennialism – Christians who believe that the Kingdom will come slowly via Christian preaching and teaching. 3. A-Millennialism – Christians who don’t believe that the Kingdom of is coming at all. According to these Christians, there will be a continuous development of good and evil until the Second Coming. Early Millennialism, found in the works of Papias, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Methodius, Commodianus, and Lactantius, appears to have been pre-millennial, their apocalyptic interpretation being based upon the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. 20:5 The 2nd resurrection ( lived not again ) is not part of the 1st resurrection (which is a series of resurrections – I Cor 15: 20- 23 ). The 2nd resurrection deals with the lost that are brought up from hades for the final judgment (Rev 20:11-15). 20:6 This phrase ( with HIM ) speaks of CHRIST’S own personal reign. There are 321 verses that prophesy about the MILLENNIAL REIGN OF JESUS CHRIST ( Rev 20:4d ). The Millennium will be a greater period in which to live than the pre-flood Garden of Eden. Why? Because there will be no worldly or Santanic influences (Rev 20:1-3). 20:8a Although Satan has already lost (and will lose again – vs 10), still, he continues to fight ( And shall go out to deceive the nations ). Why? Because he is blinded by his pride. 20:8b The question arises as to where Satan gets his people ( them ) for this battle, called the Second Armageddon. Jack Hyles in Let’s Study the Revelation notes: At the beginning of the millennium we will be in our glorified bodies, having come back with Jesus to start the thousand years of peace; however, those who have been saved during the tribulation will enter into the millennium in their natural bodies. They will have children during the millennium, and some of those children will never accept Jesus. After a thousand years of this, many will be unsaved and will be willing to follow the Devil in a war against Jesus. 7 20:9 One would think that after a thousand years of righteousness, peace, and prosperity, mankind ( they ) would be completely won over to the Lord Jesus. Harold L. Willmington in Willmington’s Bible Handbook notes:

Incredibly, even after enjoying the blessings of the Millennium, apparently a significant portion of humanity will support Satan in his last great rebellion… This last great rebellion will show, once again, the total depravity of unredeemed human nature…While utopians dream of a better world, the Bible shows that our most basic problems are of a spiritual, rather than a socioeconomic, nature. 8 The human heart is incurably wicked, and what happens at the close of the Millennium is proof conclusive that no amount of good external influence can change the corrupt nature of men. No amount of education, no high standards of living, no exposure to righteousness, can take the sin out of human nature. Only when men are transformed by a personal encounter with Christ–only when they become partakers of the divine nature by putting their trust in God’s Son, the Saviour, do they become new creations (2 Cor. 5:17). That is why, at the end of the thousand years, when Satan is released from his dungeon, he will find it easy to deceive men and to round up an innumerable multitude (v. 8) to make an attack on Christ and the holy city. 5

Henry Jacobsen in The War We Can’t Lose agrees. He notes:

NOTE – Without a doubt, the greatest enemy facing man is not the Devil or the world –it’s the flesh. 20:10 a There are 19 verses that prophesy about the Eternal Punishment of Satan and his Demons ( was cast ): * 7 verses are from the OT - Gen 3:15, Isa 14:15, Ezk 28:16-19 and Dan 7:9 * 12 verses are from the NT - Mt 25:41, Jn 12:31 & 16:11, Rom 16:20, I Cor 15:24-25,27-28, Heb 2:14, Jude 6, II Pet 2:4 and I Jn 3:8 THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Just because you win doesn’t mean you’ve won; winning a battle doesn’t mean winning the war The devil may win a battle every now and then, but he’s already lost the war (Isa 14:12-15 and Ezk 28:16-19). 20:10 b Revelation 20:10 is one of the strongest verses in the Bible proving the "eternal" ( for ever and ever ) existence of a literal Hell.