Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/1300894
ENGAGE 17 I DIDN'T GROW UP IN THE CHURCH AND WAS NEVER EXPOSED TO THE HISTORIC CHRISTIAN FAITH UNTIL THE AGE OF NINETEEN. BUT AFTER HEARING THE GOSPEL THROUGH SOME FRIENDS, I EVENTUALLY GAVE MY LIFE TO CHRIST AND STARTED READING THE BIBLE. MANY THINGS ABOUT SCRIPTURE SURPRISED ME, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH WAS ITS CONSISTENT EMPHASIS ON CHRIST'S RETURN. SPOKEN OF IN VARIOUS PLACES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE REALITY OF THE SECOND COMING REALLY JOLTED ME WHEN I FIRST READ THE BOOK OF REVELATION. Filled with symbolic language, weird imagery, and strange numerology, Revelation seemed to describe a cosmic battle between good and evil that played itself out in the flow of human history. While the book ends with a vivid description of Christ's return, the destruction of the devil and his minions, and the arrival of a new heaven and a new earth, Revelation raised as many questions in my mind as it answered. As I eventually came to learn, I wasn't the first person nor would I be the last to wrestle with Scripture's focus on eschatology (the doctrine of last things). Believers throughout church history have struggled mightily to define and describe how Christ's promised return will bring history to a close. Filled with symbolic language, weird imagery, and strange numerology, Revelation seemed to describe a cosmic battle between good and evil that played itself out in the flow of human history. One of the key issues at the heart of this widely debated and controversial subject revolves around the concept of the millennium. The idea of Christ's millennial kingdom is primarily drawn from Revelation 20:1–6, specifically verse 4, where John proclaims, "I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God… They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Above any other text of Scripture, John's vision of these martyred saints ruling with Jesus for a thousand years has captured the imagination of Christians far and wide for the past twenty centuries. It stands at the center of any discussion about Christ's second coming and the events that surround that fearsome and glorious occasion. While the biblical teaching on eschatology involves several other events and factors such as the rapture, the tribulation, and the place and role of Israel, the idea of a millennial kingdom stands at the forefront of the discussion. It has forced Christian scholars, teachers, and preachers through the centuries to explain how the golden age of the messianic kingdom predicted by the Old Testament prophets aligns with a thousand- year reign envisioned by the apostle John. Given the complexity of various biblical texts and the challenge of interpreting them in a consistent and accurate way, how are we to understand the mystery of the millennium? Historically, Christian believers have opted for one of three major views. The first and earliest interpretation is known as premillennialism. It argues that the present age will climax with a period of dire tribulation and the return of Christ. The Lord's second coming marks the judgment of the Antichrist and the resurrection of the righteous. At the Parousia (Christ's return), Satan is bound and a thousand-year—or long time—era of peace and righteousness will prevail on earth. However, at the end of the millennium (Rev. 20:7–10), Satan is released and allowed to lead a final rebellion against God and His people. The Lord then intervenes to consign the devil to Hell, which is followed in turn by the general resurrection of all humanity, the final judgment, and the inauguration of the eternal state. In addition to its emphasis on two distinct IN THE CLASSROOM belterz/iStock