A great debate about the reign of Christ has been on going for many years. The debate revolves around the notion that Christ will return and have a literal rule or reign at some point. The periods of time are pre-millennial (before the thousand years) and post-millennial (after the thousand years). Without going into particulars of either one, it is best to search the scriptures to find the truth which is far different than what is generally believed by those who tout one view or another.  

Included in the millennial mix is the idea of a rapture which is gotten from Matthew 24:40-41 where Jesus was speaking about the end time due to a question asked in Matthew 24:3, And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?  Jesus spoke at length about the conditions of the time and the troubles the believers would endure (verses 4-39).  In Verse 36 Jesus said he didn’t know when he would return: But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  He compares his second coming to the time of Noah (when he speaks in verse 37, 38, and 39) and then said that normal activities of living will be going on as usual verse 41. He inserts a warning in verse 42: Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. The verses in Matthew don’t imply or teach a rapture since the comparison is to the time before the flood. People were unaware and Jesus said watch and don’t be like those in Noah’s day who paid no heed to Noah when all but eight perished. When he comes the second time, some will be saved and some won’t.

That admonition is continued in the letters of Paul and the end told by Peter. In I Thessalonians 5:2-8: For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  (Compare these verses to Matthew 24.) Jesus will return suddenly and unexpectedly and then this earthly time will be over.

The thousand year reign is taken from Revelation 20:1-7 wherein John wrote in symbolic form about the conditions which existed in the Roman Empire. The thousand years isn’t literal and means an indeterminate period of time denoting God’s perfect action toward his creation and man’s responsibility to God during his time on earth. We find in 2 Peter 3:8: But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. God doesn’t keep time as does his creation and he works in his own time without regard for how we view our earthly events. He will fulfill his promises in his own time, however long that may be in man’s method of reckoning.

The idea that Jesus will set foot and rule on this earth can’t be supported by scripture. Such a notion is in direct conflict with scripture. Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 4:15-17: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Then Peter in 2 Peter 3:9 speaks of God’s promise: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  Then in verses 10-13, Peter wrote: 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Not one word from either Paul or Peter that Jesus will set foot on this earth when he returns for the saints. The earth will burn and there will be a new heaven and earth and as Paul wrote, we will ever be with the Lord.

John wrote: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1) John saw what Peter said would come to pass. Those who are reigning with Christ now in his spiritual kingdom, the saved which comprise his body, the church will be the ones with the Lord in the new heaven and earth.

06-15-2007 DEC

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