Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Revelation 20 introduces the Millennial Kingdom, the literal 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ on earth (likely using the Jewish lunar calendar of 360 days per year). Six times in this passage, we read of “a thousand years” or “the thousand years” (verses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). The Latin equivalent of these words is “millennium,” the word we use to describe the period immediately after the Tribulation. The Biblical view that Jesus will set foot on earth to reign at the end of the Tribulation (see Zechariah 14) is called premillennialism. This interpretation has been the Church’s doctrine since the beginning of the Church in the first century. Amillennialism, the hopeless teaching that the “KING OF KINGS” (Revelation 19:16) will not sovereignly rule, arose in the fourth and fifth centuries as the Catholic Church consolidated its power and unfortunately fell into an allegorical interpretation of Scripture. It reduces this passage in Revelation 20 and others like it to meaninglessness. Postmillennialism is the weak doctrine that the Church – not Christ! – will inaugurate a period of peace and prosperity. It arose within the Protestant Church in the 1600’s, in part based on the belief that scientific progress would ensure improvement in all areas of life, including the spiritual. This naive view is dishonoring to Jesus, for it teaches that we can attain what only “The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) can accomplish. Remember, the literal campaign of Armageddon (Revelation 19:17-21) will take place in Israel right here on earth (see also Revelation 16:16). This destruction of the enemies of our Lord will inaugurate His actual reign upon earth. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20b).