Date written: September 30th, 2005<\/p>\n
Scripture ref: Revelation 20:1-10<\/p>\n
SUBJECT: End Times<\/p>\n
TITLE: The Tribulation and Thousand Year Reign<\/p>\n
PROPOSITION: In this lesson we will look at what the Bible has to say about the tribulation and the thousand year reign.<\/p>\n
Objectives: That each would understand the Bible’s teaching on these subjects.<\/p>\n
Aim: To convince those listening to reject the premillennial notions of these subjects.<\/p>\n
INTRODUCTION:<\/p>\n
1. Read: Revelation 20:1-10<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
2. About the Text:<\/p>\n
1) There is no one text in the Bible that has been more misused than Revelation 20:1-10.<\/p>\n
2) The doctrine of premillennialism is, in large part, based upon one specific interpretation of this text.<\/p>\n
3) Multitudes of individuals believe, mostly based on this text, that Jesus is coming back to the earth to reign on the literal throne of David for a period of one thousand years.<\/p>\n
4) In addition to that belief, there is the concept of the “tribulation.”<\/p>\n
5) This is the concept that at the event known as the “rapture” all of the faithful will be taken to heaven.<\/p>\n
6) After this point, there will be a period of seven years of tribulation.<\/p>\n
7) After this seven year period, Christ will return to reign for 1000 years on David’s throne in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
8) Are these biblical concepts?<\/p>\n
9) Do the texts really suggest that this course of events will unfold?<\/p>\n
10)Let’s look at what the Bible says about these two issues.<\/p>\n
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.<\/p>\n
DISCUSSION:<\/p>\n
I. THE TRIBULATION<\/p>\n
1. The word “tribulation.”<\/p>\n
1) The word “tribulation” in the Greek is (thlipsis).<\/p>\n
2) The word means to be pressed together; symbolically, therefore, it means distress, tribulation, or afflictions.<\/p>\n
3) This word is found 45 times in the New Testament.<\/p>\n
4) It is translated “tribulation” 21 times in the NT (KJV).<\/p>\n
5) It is translated “affliction” 17 times in the NT (KJV).<\/p>\n
6) The remainder of times it is found it is translated troubled, anguished, persecuted, and burdened.<\/p>\n
7) There is no special reason within this word to consider it as referring to a special period of time.<\/p>\n
2. Requirements of a premillennial “tribulation.”<\/p>\n
1) The doctrine says that after the rapture there will be period of seven years in which the church will suffer extreme persecution.<\/p>\n
2) Notice what is required for such a doctrine to be biblical.<\/p>\n
3) First, there must be a seven year period.<\/p>\n
4) Second, there must be persecution for the church as a whole, not just individual congregations.<\/p>\n
5) Third, there must be persecution ONLY for Christians.<\/p>\n
6) Fourth, these events must happen AFTER the rapture.<\/p>\n
3. What does the Bible say about this concept of “tribulation?”<\/p>\n
1) First, some periods of tribulation are discussed in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Revelation 2:10.<\/p>\n
a. Matthew 24 and Mark 13 are speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
b. Moreover, this “tribulation” was for the city of Jerusalem, not Christians only.<\/p>\n
c. Revelation 2:10 is speaking about the persecution of one church alone.<\/p>\n
d. So, these passages don’t meet the requirements of the premillennial doctrine.<\/p>\n
2) Second, the number seven is never in the same context as the word “tribulation.”<\/p>\n
3) Third, the only place in the Bible where the concept of “rapture” is mentioned is 1 Thessalonians 4.<\/p>\n
a. Where, in this passage, is the tribulation?<\/p>\n
b. Where, in this passage, is the reigning of Christ on the throne of David?<\/p>\n
4) Fourth, in contrast to the idea that there will only be a period of seven years of persecution, the Bible teaches that the church is constantly under persecution. Consider these passages.<\/p>\n
a. John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”<\/p>\n
b. Acts 14:22 “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”<\/p>\n
c. Romans 5:3 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”<\/p>\n
d. 2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”<\/p>\n
e. 1 Thess.3:4 “For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.”<\/p>\n
f. Is there a period of time when the church has been persecuted greater than others? Yes.<\/p>\n
g. But nothing in regard to a seven year tribulation.<\/p>\n
4. The requirements of the doctrine aren’t found in scripture.<\/p>\n
1) No “rapture” followed by tribulation.<\/p>\n
2) No seven year period of tribulation.<\/p>\n
3) No limited persecution of the church as a whole for seven years.<\/p>\n
4) No special time of persecution for Christians ONLY.<\/p>\n
5) We must conclude that this doctrine comes from the fancies of men’s imaginations and not from the Bible.<\/p>\n
II. THE THOUSAND YEAR REIGN<\/p>\n
1. We do have a passage in the scripture that discusses this, Revelation 20:1-6.<\/p>\n
2. What are the requirements of the thousand year reign according to premillennial doctrine?<\/p>\n
1) It must be a literal one thousand years.<\/p>\n
2) Christ is going to come back to live on the earth.<\/p>\n
3) Christ must reign on the literal throne of David in the literal city of Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
3. What does the Bible say about these items?<\/p>\n
1) Does Revelation 20:1-6 teach a LITERAL 1000 year reign?<\/p>\n
a. What about the context?<\/p>\n
b. Is the book of Revelation literal or figurative? Revelation 1:1 “signified.”<\/p>\n
a) That’s the verb form of the Greek word for “sign.”<\/p>\n
b) What is a sign?<\/p>\n
c) It is something that points to something else; it’s not literal.<\/p>\n
c. What about Revelation 20, is that literal or figurative?<\/p>\n
a) Is the “key” literal?<\/p>\n
b) Is the “pit” literal?<\/p>\n
c) Is the “chain” literal?<\/p>\n
d) The immediate context is obviously figurative.<\/p>\n
e) We also know that number 1000 is used figuratively in the Bible also (2 Peter 3:8).<\/p>\n
d. To suggest that this passage teaches a literal thousand years is to take it out of context.<\/p>\n
2) Is Christ going to come back to live on the earth?<\/p>\n
a. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 teaches we will be with him in heaven.<\/p>\n
b. Notice the order in 1 Corinthians 15:23-24.<\/p>\n
c. After Christ’s coming comes THE END.<\/p>\n
d. There is no passage of scripture that teaches that Christ is going to come back to live on the earth.<\/p>\n
3) Is Christ going to reign on the literal throne of David in the literal city of Jerusalem?<\/p>\n
a. There is no plain passage of scripture that says so.<\/p>\n
b. Acts 2:30-36 teaches that Jesus is sitting on the throne of David right now.<\/p>\n
c. But this is not an earthly throne in literal Jerusalem; it is in heaven.<\/p>\n
d. Moreover, this passage in Revelation 20 doesn’t discuss the duration of the reign of Christ, but the duration of the reign of the saints.<\/p>\n
e. It really doesn’t speak to the extent of Christ’s reign at all.<\/p>\n
f. Was Christ NOT reigning prior to this period?<\/p>\n
g. Will Christ NOT reign after this period?<\/p>\n
h. That is not consistent with 1 Corinthians 15:25.<\/p>\n
4. What does Revelation 20 teach?<\/p>\n
1) We need to consider some rules of interpretation.<\/p>\n
a. First, we need to ask ourselves what this meant to those to whom it was originally written.<\/p>\n
a) What were their circumstances?<\/p>\n
b) How would this comfort those Christians?<\/p>\n
b. Second, one doesn’t understand something that is literal in terms of the figurative, but one understands the figurative in terms of the literal and this is a figurative passage.<\/p>\n
c. Third, we need to consider the context of the passage.<\/p>\n
a) In Revelation there are four great enemies.<\/p>\n
A. The dragon.<\/p>\n
B. The false prophet.<\/p>\n
C. The beast.<\/p>\n
D. The great harlot.<\/p>\n
b) In chapter 19 we see the defeat of …<\/p>\n
A. The harlot (Revelation 19:2).<\/p>\n
B. The beast and the false prophet (Revelation 19:20).<\/p>\n
c) Now in chapter 20 we see the defeat of the dragon.<\/p>\n
2) What does the text say?<\/p>\n
a. An angel comes with a key and a chain.<\/p>\n
b. He binds the dragon with the chain.<\/p>\n
c. He casts him into the pit and seals the door.<\/p>\n
d. Why? So that he can no longer deceive the nations.<\/p>\n
e. The word “nations” here is the word which is normally translated “Gentiles.”<\/p>\n
f. Those who were martyred and those who didn’t worship the beast reign with Christ 1000 years.<\/p>\n
g. This is the first resurrection.<\/p>\n
h. Again, the 1000 years is the reign of the saints, not of Christ.<\/p>\n
i. The rest of the dead don’t live until the 1000 years are finished.<\/p>\n
j. Then Satan is loosed for a short time.<\/p>\n
k. Why? To deceive the nations\/Gentiles.<\/p>\n
l. Satan’s influence brings the nations\/Gentiles into conflict with the saints and the beloved city, Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
m. But instead of completely annihilating the saints, fire from heaven destroys the nations and they, along with Satan, are cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.<\/p>\n
3) Now, what is a plausible explanation?<\/p>\n
a. The angel represents the messengers of the gospel (angel means messenger).<\/p>\n
b. The key and the chain represent the gospel and it’s power to bind Satan (see Acts 26:18).<\/p>\n
c. Satan is bound by the message of the gospel and Satan can’t break nor escape the gospel (Hebrews 2:14).<\/p>\n
d. The pit and the seal indicate that the gospel has been believed by many and defeated Satan for a time.<\/p>\n
e. And so Satan no longer deceives the nations\/Gentiles as they now have the gospel.<\/p>\n
f. In this period of time, it is those who believed, preached and taught and died for the gospel that reign with Christ for a long period of time (a figurative thousand years). (2 Timothy 2:12).<\/p>\n
g. The first resurrection seemingly refers to Christian baptism (see Romans 6).<\/p>\n
h. After the long period of time, Satan is loosed because people stop many Gentiles stop believing the gospel.<\/p>\n
i. DURING THIS TIME, THE GENTILES RISE UP TO FIGHT AGAINST THE SAINTS AND THE JERUSALEM, WHICH IS THE CHURCH (SEE HEBREWS 12:22).<\/p>\n
j. Just as it seems that Satan is about to defeat the saints and the church, Jesus returns, destroys them with fire (see 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9) and sends them to the lake of fire.<\/p>\n
k. Satan is ultimately defeated and the church lives gloriously with Christ throughout all eternity.<\/p>\n
CONCLUSION:<\/p>\n
1. What can we learn from all this?<\/p>\n
1) God’s people have always been and will continue to be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).<\/p>\n
2) This persecution ought to encourage us to be faithful to God (Romans 5:3).<\/p>\n
3) These light afflictions will produce for us an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).<\/p>\n
4) The gospel is man’s only hope for salvation from the clutches of Satan (2 Timothy 1:10).<\/p>\n
5) If we obey the gospel and take part in the first resurrection (baptism and the new life, Romans 6), then we won’t have to worry about the second death (Revelation 20:6).<\/p>\n
6) Those who obey, live, and die having been faithful to the Lord, shall reign with Him (Revelation 5:9-10).<\/p>\n
7) Satan will ultimately be defeated and all of those who served him will be cast into hell (Revelation 20:10, 15; 21:8).<\/p>\n
2. Invitation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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