Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
My study on the Millennium part 1
Throughout Christendom, the subject of the thousand year reign of the Messiah is one of the most talked about doctrines. Historically, the Church has believed that the millennial reign of Jehoshua with His saints equated to the new covenant Church age ranging from the ascension of the Son of God to His second advent. This view is called Amillennialism as it denies a future literal thousand year reign of the Messiah on earth, centered in earthly Jerusalem, after His second advent. In this view the second coming concludes the millennium. This is the view held by Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox Churches, Anglicanism, Lutheranism, Reformed Churches, First day Adventists and some others as well. In the 1800's, the doctrine of dispensationalism was given birth and along with it the teaching of a literal future millennium where Jehoshua would rule on earth from earthly Jerusalem. This doctrine is called premillennialism and teaches that the second coming of the Messiah precedes the millennium. Part of this dispensational doctrine is the teaching of a pretribulation secret rapture. While the dispensational version of premillennialism is the predominant view there are other versions of premillennialism that exist such as the Seventh Day Adventist version that teaches the heavenly millennium with the earth being desolate for the thousand years. There is post tribulation premillennialism that keeps many of the same features as the dispensational version other than the timing of the rapture. This version is gaining popularity within Christendom. There is also a less popular version that believes in a mid tribulation rapture. There is also a version that teaches a pre wrath rapture which sometimes overlaps with the post trib version. Other than the Seventh Day Adventist version of the heavenly millennium, all the premillennial views share much of the same features such as Geo-political Israel being a fulfillment of prophecy and being the center point of the end times including a third temple in Jerusalem. Also, the ethnic Jews still being God's chosen people along with some type of separation and distinction between Israel and the Church. Many with the premillennial view teach that Jehoshua's instructions were for the Jews only or primarily and that Paul was for the Church. Many if not most premillennialists believe that Christian's are obligated to support Geo-political Israel as that is the Israel of God. They believe that Geo-political Israel will be restored to prominence and rule over Gentile nations during the future thousand year millennium on earth with Messiah sitting on the throne of David for the first time in earthly Jerusalem in a physical temple with animal sacrifices and the Levitical priesthood restored. Premillennialists claim that their eschatology is the original view of the Church and reference the Church father Irenaeus as teaching their view. However, when reading Irenaeus, his version of the millennium didn't have a restoration of the Levitical priesthood system and animal sacrifices, nor did it have any Jewish-Gentile distinction. He taught that Christian's alone comprised the Israel of God and that they would be the ones to rule with Messiah from a restored earthly Jerusalem. The ones they would rule over would be those who converted after the rapture of the Church and subsequently lived through the outpouring of God's wrath on the wicked. These would be Christians who would go into the millennium as mortals. It appears that Irenaeus had a prewrath rapture view or mid trib view. In Irenaeus view, the saints do go to heaven after the rapture and then return to earth when the Messiah returns to establish His earthly thousand year Kingdom. Aspects of Irenaeus view disagrees with both pre-trib and post-trib premillennialists and for sure disagrees with much of dispensationalist premillennialism. Irenaeus view is called Classic Premillennialism. Those who hold a post-trib view claim this title of Classic Premillennialism, however modern post tribbers hold to many of the tenants of dispensationalism which are at odds with Irenaeus Classic Premillennialism. Modern Post tribulation premillennialism is more akin to the dispensational version of premillennialism than it is of Classic Premillennialism. Classic Premillennialism lacks many of the views of the modern pre trib and post trib premillennial views. In this study, I will present the amillennial view as being the most biblical. Too often times, we in the modern Church throw out the baby with the bath water. For example if a particular doctrine is held by a denomination we consider false or apostate then we by association consider it false. The fact that a particular doctrine was traditionally held by the visible Church doesn't make it true, but it does add some weight to that doctrine as being true if it can be backed up by the bible. As stated before, the Amillennial view of the millennium is held by much of the Church, basically most if not all of the Non-Protestant Churches (RCC, EO etc.) as well as the liturgical Protestant Churches and the reformed Protestant Churches. There are others Churches that don't fall into the above categories that also hold to the amillennial view. History certainly supports the Amillennial view as being the eschatological view of the Church. While it is important to have history as support for doctrinal truth, the bible is ultimately are final authority. Let's go to the word of God and determine which view is biblical, Amillennialism or Premillennialism. Revelation 20:1-15 (KJV) 1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.7And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20 is the passage that identifies a millennial reign of Messiah with His saints. During this millennial reign Satan will be bound with a significant decrease in his ability to deceive the nations. There will be a short space where Satan will be loosed which means his ability to deceive the nations will increase to a great degree. During this millennial reign, the saints will sit on thrones and judge. Among these are those who are martyred for the gospel. They will also not worship the beast nor take his mark. Those who reign are part of the first resurrection and they are priests and kings and reign with the Messiah for a thousand years. Verses 8 and 9 speak of a final battle between Satan and God's people. We then see that the earth will be devoured by fire. Satan, the anti-Messiah and false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire. The white throne Judgment takes place at the conclusion of the millennium where the unbelieving will be cast into the lake of fire. Chapter 21 of Revelation details what follows which is the new heavens and new earth. This is a basic rundown of Revelation 20. It will be my intent to show that the description of the millennium in Revelation 20 runs parallel to the new covenant Church age, basically from the ascension of the Messiah into heaven to His second advent. We will go verse by verse in Revelation 20 and identify what they mean in terms of the Church age. First let's go to the old testament that some falsely attribute to a future earthly millennium. Isaiah 2:1-4 (ASV) 1The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.2And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah`s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.3And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.4And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Verse 2 of Isaiah 2 speaks of the latter days which was identified in the new testament as the time of the Son of God's exaltation. Also verse 2 reads "that the mountain of Jehovah's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it" Mountain represents a Kingdom in bible prophecy and this verse is saying that when the latter days arrive that Jehovah's Kingdom will be established above the earthly kingdoms of this world. As stated before, the new testament teaches that the latter days began when the Messiah ascended to heaven (Hebrews 1:1-3; Acts 2;15-21; 1 Peter 1:18-21). The mountain of Jehovah is also equated with His house which the bible teaches us is His temple. The new testament teaches us that the temple of Jehovah in the new covenant is not a building of brick and mortar but rather the Church: Ephesians 2:19-22 19So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,20being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;21in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord;22in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. Paul makes it crystal clear that the household of God in the new covenant is not a physical temple but rather the Church. The Church is identified as the Commonwealth of Israel in Ephesians 2 and the New Jerusalem in Hebrews 12: 22but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,23to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made 24and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel. Going back to Isaiah 2, verse 2 says that Jehovah's Kingdom will be exalted above the hills. Whereas Jehovah's Kingdom is pictured as a mountain the nations of the earth are merely hills. Verse 2 says that all nations will flow unto the mountain of Jehovah God i.e.His Kingdom. This shows us the mystery of the gospel in that all nations (Gentiles) will be saved by the purpose and will of God. These Gentiles will be brought into the Commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2). While dispensationalists look to a future earthly millennium for a fulfillment of this passage the new testament teaches us that the fulfillment of this passage has already begun all the way back to the day of Pentecost: Acts 2:16-18 (KJV) 16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: Peter identifies the last days as beginning with the ascension of the Messiah into heaven. He also says that the prophecy of Joel 2 has been fulfilled on that particular day of Pentecost in which he was preaching. On the day of Pentecost, there were Jews and proselytes of all nations. Proselytes are Gentiles who are in the process of conversion to the Israelite faith. Also, the gospel ended up going out into all the world i.e. the nations (Gentiles) as Jehoshua commanded (Matthew 28:18). Paul called this the mystery of the gospel: Colossians 1:26-27 (KJV) 26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Paul says that the mystery of the gospel is now (present tense) and as of Paul's writings here, now is AD 61 or 62. The mystery is the bringing in of the Gentiles into the House of Israel and having the Messianic Spirit living in them. Clearly the prophecy of Isaiah 2 regarding all nations flowing unto the mountain (Kingdom) of Jehovah has already begun all the way back to the apostolic age and continues to this very day. Paul confirms the fulfillment of the Isaiah 2 prophecy in Ephesians chapter 2: 11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. In the old covenant age (times past) Gentiles were largely aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel (verses 11-12) but now are made nigh by the blood of Jehoshua (verse 13). Jehoshua's death on the cross made both believing Jews and Gentiles into one body making one new man. Verses 19-22 quoted earlier in this study further make clear the bringing in of the Gentiles into the House of Israel. Peter the apostle also makes it clear that Isaiah's prophecy has come to it's fulfillment in the new covenant Church which is identified as an elect race and the Israel of God. 1 Peter 2:1-10 (KJV) 1Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:3If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. In this passage, Peter is talking to believers in the Son of God (verse 7) not ethnic Jews unless of course they are believers in the Messiah. Clearly he is addressing all believers in Jehoshua in this passage as he references those in time past who were not the people of God an obvious allusion to the Gentiles in the Church. In verse 10 Peter says that believing Gentiles were once not the people of God but now have obtained mercy and are now the people of God. This of course also includes those Jews who have obtained mercy through repentance but the obvious intent of the passage marks out both the Gentiles who are now in the Commonwealth of Israel and the Jews who were brought back into covenant with God. All Christians/Messianics, wheresoever they be, compose one holy nation; they are one nation, collected under one head Jehoshua Messiah. All true Christians/Messianics are a chosen generation; they all make one family. All true servants of Jehoshua are a royal priesthood. Peter applies titles used of Israel to Christians (Ex 19:5-6; Deut 4:20; 7:6; Isa. 43:20). Let's get back to Isaiah 2, in verse 2 we see that Jehovah's Kingdom (mountain) will be established above the earthly kingdoms of this world (hills). Some would say this is a future thing because they say that Jehovah's Kingdom is not here yet and isn't ruling over the kingdoms of this world. However, new testament teaches us differently: Matthew 3:1-2 1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John the baptist said that the Kingdom of God was at hand (near). Would it really make any sense for John to say this when the Kingdom wouldn't come for over 2,000 years? At hand means "near" not far away. The truth of the Kingdom being near is why John was urgent in calling Israel to repentance. Why was John saying the Kingdom was at hand? Because the King of the Kingdom was on the verge of being anointed into that office: Matthew 3:16-17 16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. The language used at Jehoshua's baptism is taken from Psalm 2:7 which is a coronation Psalm about an Israelite King. Psalm 2 applied to both David and Solomon and the Davidic kings as a whole but finds it's ultimate fulfillment in Jehoshua. This begetting is not one of literal birth but rather an anointing of installment into office i.e. the office of King. A King cannot be a King without a Kingdom and the arrival of Jehoshua onto the scene marked the arrival of the Kingdom of God also known as the Kingdom of God's dear Son (Colossians 1:12-14). Jehoshua even tells the religious Jews that by His works (Jehoshua's) that the Kingdom of God had come upon them: Matthew 12:28 (KJV) 28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Jehoshua was already defeating Satan and his kingdom by bringing the reign of Jehovah into people's lives through the Holy Spirit with which God anointed Him. For the Pharisees and other religious Jews, the concept of the Kingdom was all about power, real estate and pomp and circumstance. The Son of God was showing us that the Kingdom was far more than those things and that it was about healing, love, joy, and peace. This is why the religious leaders rejected the Messiah of Israel because they didn't fit their materialistic ideas of how the King should bring about the Kingdom of God. Why can we connect the baptism of Jehoshua with His being installed into office as King of Israel? Besides the aforementioned coronation Psalm being quoted in the baptism accounts, Jehoshua was acknowledged as the King of Israel right after His baptism. Let's go to the confession of a fellow Israelite whom Jehoshua said had no guile: John 1:49 (KJV) 49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. Nathanael made the stunning confession that Jehoshua was already the King of Israel and Jehoshua affirmed Nathanael's confession. This took place 2 days after Jehoshua's baptism clearly linking His baptism with His Kingship. Jehoshua's baptism into water by John the Baptist and being anointed with the Spirit of Jehovah is similar to when David was anointed by Samuel the prophet with literal oil and with Jehovah's Spirit. They both were anointed as the King of Israel yet they both did not receive the literal throne and crown at the time of their anointing. They both received the throne at a later time after going through a period of tribulation.
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