Hey You Pre-Tribbers!!!

[watchman F]

With this in mind, notice that the following passage mentions the wedding of the Lamb, and then the wedding supper of the Lamb, and then the Second Coming:

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These are the true words of God." At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty." (Revelation 19:7-15)

In the above passage we see the wedding of the Lamb, and a mention of the wedding supper, and then the Second Coming of Christ.

Not quite, the marriage of the Lamb has come, the Bride has made herself ready, and blessed are those invited to the wedding supper of the lamb. These are statements not event. The event is the return of Christ at which time He does call His Bride up who had made herself ready and had adorned herself with righteousness. The wedding itself is the union between the church/Bride and Christ in the air, and the supper takes place here on Earth after Christ conquers all.

 

[glorydaz]

Awaken,

Do you believe the bride will be taken all together? If so, what about this verse?
And the 144,000...they aren't gathered until the end of the tribulation.

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

 

[watchman F]

Awaken,

Do you believe the bride will be taken all together? If so, what about this verse?
And the 144,000...they aren't gathered until the end of the tribulation.

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

And where does the bible say this?

 

[awaken]

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

The dead in Christ will rise first!

Now as far as the 144,000...it is late and I will get back to you on this.
But something to think about..These are Jews...they are from the 12 tribes...from the children of Israel.

 

[awaken]

if I am wrongabout the rapture... my faith is still in God protecting me through it...but I lean toward the pre-trib..and I believe the Old Testament shows us pictures of the rapture

When we consider Noah's time...Enoch was translated before the flood, Noah and his family was saved through it (trib. saints that I believe will re-populate the mill.)...and then there are those when the wrath of God comes are destroyed (unbelievers).

Also another picture of this is in Abraham, Issac, servant, Rebecca...After Issac was to be sacrificed we do not here any more about him until the servant(Holy Spirit) calls out the bride(church). When he comes for his bride...she is brought to his home, not the other way around.

Even another picture...Where was Ruth during the threshing floor scene (Ruth 3:7-9)

Where was Daniel when the other three was in the fiery furnace? Another country? Aren't we from another country (heaven)?

I see different saints through the Bible..
I see Old Testament saints..those saved before Jesus died on the cross.
Church saints..those in the body of Christ.
Trib. saints those that go through the tribulation...

Sometimes the scriptures speak of the church and sometimes they speak of those going through the trib.

As far as Noah..I believe Enoch is a picture of the church, Noah and his family are a picture of the trib. saints.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego represent the trib. saints...Daniel represents the church.

Ruth represents the church in Ruth.

Rebecca represents the church , Issac represents Jesus, sevant represents Holy Spirit that draws out the church. Abraham sent the servant to find a wife for Issac out of the family. Again..this picture shows that the wife went to Issac...not Issac to the wife. A picture of the church raptures to meet her groom for the wedding supper.

We are also his ambassadors...what happens when war comes...we bring our ambassadors home first!

I have posted most of these before..but thought I would bring them back to the discussion....

 

[Mysteryman]

if I am wrongabout the rapture... my faith is still in God protecting me through it...but I lean toward the pre-trib..and I believe the Old Testament shows us pictures of the rapture

When we consider Noah's time...Enoch was translated before the flood, Noah and his family was saved through it (trib. saints that I believe will re-populate the mill.)...and then there are those when the wrath of God comes are destroyed (unbelievers).

Also another picture of this is in Abraham, Issac, servant, Rebecca...After Issac was to be sacrificed we do not here any more about him until the servant(Holy Spirit) calls out the bride(church). When he comes for his bride...she is brought to his home, not the other way around.

Even another picture...Where was Ruth during the threshing floor scene (Ruth 3:7-9)

Where was Daniel when the other three was in the fiery furnace? Another country? Aren't we from another country (heaven)?

I see different saints through the Bible..
I see Old Testament saints..those saved before Jesus died on the cross.
Church saints..those in the body of Christ.
Trib. saints those that go through the tribulation...

Sometimes the scriptures speak of the church and sometimes they speak of those going through the trib.

As far as Noah..I believe Enoch is a picture of the church, Noah and his family are a picture of the trib. saints.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego represent the trib. saints...Daniel represents the church.

Ruth represents the church in Ruth.

Rebecca represents the church , Issac represents Jesus, sevant represents Holy Spirit that draws out the church. Abraham sent the servant to find a wife for Issac out of the family. Again..this picture shows that the wife went to Issac...not Issac to the wife. A picture of the church raptures to meet her groom for the wedding supper.

We are also his ambassadors...what happens when war comes...we bring our ambassadors home first!

I have posted most of these before..but thought I would bring them back to the discussion....

Hi awaken

Well, someone has to go through the tribulation of God. And it does say in Rev. 6:11 that "fellowservants" and "breathren" (not brothers !) will be a part of the tribulation of God. And that they will be killed.

Critera: 1. You must be a Jew and 2. You are going to have to be one of the 144,000 and 3. you will be beheaded.

Now, since I am not a Jew, and since I am a christian gentile by birth. And since God chose me from before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blame in Christ, in love. And since God has promised me and the other members of his church, that we will not be a part of the wrath of God. I then pass all the qualifications of not going through the tribulation of God. So I guess I can say, that I am safe and secure and I might add, comforted by the fact that the church will be gathered up prior to the tribulation of God, which starts with the opening of the sixth seal.

Praise God !

Only for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, let them hear !

 

[glorydaz]

Awaken,

Do you believe the bride will be taken all together? If so, what about this verse?
And the 144,000...they aren't gathered until the end of the tribulation.
[quote="Matthew 24:21-23":wnnsthlv] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

And where does the bible say this?[/quote:wnnsthlv]

I've quoted the verse.

Or, are you talking about the 144,000?
Well, here are the 144,000 being sealed before the wrath of God is poured out on the earth.

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

We see tribulation saints already before the throne.

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be
unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Here we see they're in heaven when it's announced Babylon has fallen.

And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

 

[archangel_300]

I'm quite aware that a lot of revelation is symbolic. I just absolutely do not and can not believe that we are already in the tribulation. Makes absolutely no sense. Why would God even bother to have John write the book if it essentially means nothing?

Who says that we are in the tribulation already?

 

[archangel_300]

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

The dead in Christ will rise first!

Now as far as the 144,000...it is late and I will get back to you on this.
But something to think about..These are Jews...they are from the 12 tribes...from the children of Israel.

The dead in Christ arise when Christ returns does that passage not say that?

When does Christ return?

Matthew 24 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

 

[awaken]

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

The dead in Christ will rise first!

Now as far as the 144,000...it is late and I will get back to you on this.
But something to think about..These are Jews...they are from the 12 tribes...from the children of Israel.

The dead in Christ arise when Christ returns does that passage not say that?

When does Christ return?

Matthew 24 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Does it say Christ returns to the earth...I see us going to meet him.

I will get back to you on Matt. 24

 

[glorydaz]

I'm quite aware that a lot of revelation is symbolic. I just absolutely do not and can not believe that we are already in the tribulation. Makes absolutely no sense. Why would God even bother to have John write the book if it essentially means nothing?

Who says that we are in the tribulation already?

Not me.

 

[awaken]

"Immediately after the distress of those days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." (Matthew 24:29-30)

"But in those days, following that distress, 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory." (Mark 13:24-26)

"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:25-28)

In these passages, the expressions "Immediately after the distress of those days" and "following that distress" indicate the timing of when these things will happen. The "distress" refers to the seven-year Tribulation period, so Jesus was saying that immediately after the Tribulation there will be cataclysms and complete darkness and then the whole world will see Jesus coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. Here Jesus answered the disciples' second question (about the sign of His coming). Since these passages say that Jesus' coming will be after the Tribulation period, this "coming" is the Second Coming when Jesus will return to the earth.

At this point, Jesus had answered all three of the disciples' questions, and then He began giving us more information about the end-times.

And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." (Matthew 24:31)

"And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens." (Mark 13:27)

The Old Testament prophets had provided various details about the final regathering of the Jews back to Israel, and here Jesus simply pointed out that this regathering will take place after the Second Coming. Some people interpret these passages as being a reference to the Rapture, but these passages are referring to the final regathering of the Jewish survivors of the Tribulation back to Israel before the Millennium begins.

I will stop there for now...I have pages and pages of notes on the rapture...

 

[Mike]

You believe that in looking at all of heavenly hosts, there was counted a number of 144,000? He counted 144,000? You have completely dismissed the possibility that this could be a symbol of the tribes to the point that you find it incomprehensible to be otherwise. As much as I respect and admire your faith, I think you're holding to this number simply to remain constant to the 1000 year literalism. He wouldn't count 144,000! 12x12=144. 10 is a perfect number. 10x144=144,000. No one will condemn you or count your faith out if you at least acknowledge this!

I wouldn't be so hung up on this number if you haven't been completely dismissing that every number, reference and figure in Rev is to be taken literal.

I'm waiting, as have others in the past, looking up in the sky, wondering when Christ will turn off the lights, cast the stars down and bring His prophecy to fulfillment. THAT will be the end of the story! Every eye will see, every ear will hear...

I'm quite aware that a lot of revelation is symbolic. I just absolutely do not and can not believe that we are already in the tribulation. Makes absolutely no sense. Why would God even bother to have John write the book if it essentially means nothing?

FaithTransforms, in reference to your other post to me, we have disagreed a lot on various threads , but you have never been anything by very kind. (you made reference to not insulting me) I think the situation between yourself and glorydaz was just an unfortunate misunderstanding that got out of hand. watchman is clearly not trying to be cordial in this matter - very aggressive and insulting.

In both of your responses, you didn't address the 144,000 and the implications it has on the figurative and symbolic 1000 year period. The 144,000 seems to be as symbolic and figurative as a number can be. The 1000 year period follow suit. Can you re-read the quote above and comment? You say you see a lot of symbolism in Revelation, but for some reason you take the numbers completely literally.

I think you might misunderstand aminnelliumism. We recognize that there is strife and we are going through tribulation in our lives, but not THE tribulation you are referring to. We reject this sharp reference to a literal 1000 year period. The last paragraph of my quote speaks to our belief of the second coming of Christ. That's the end of the story as we understand it.

 

[archangel_300]

"Immediately after the distress of those days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." (Matthew 24:29-30)

"But in those days, following that distress, 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory." (Mark 13:24-26)

"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:25-28)

In these passages, the expressions "Immediately after the distress of those days" and "following that distress" indicate the timing of when these things will happen. The "distress" refers to the seven-year Tribulation period, so Jesus was saying that immediately after the Tribulation there will be cataclysms and complete darkness and then the whole world will see Jesus coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. Here Jesus answered the disciples' second question (about the sign of His coming). Since these passages say that Jesus' coming will be after the Tribulation period, this "coming" is the Second Coming when Jesus will return to the earth.

At this point, Jesus had answered all three of the disciples' questions, and then He began giving us more information about the end-times.

And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." (Matthew 24:31)

"And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens." (Mark 13:27)

The Old Testament prophets had provided various details about the final regathering of the Jews back to Israel, and here Jesus simply pointed out that this regathering will take place after the Second Coming. Some people interpret these passages as being a reference to the Rapture, but these passages are referring to the final regathering of the Jewish survivors of the Tribulation back to Israel before the Millennium begins.

I will stop there for now...I have pages and pages of notes on the rapture...

LOL...

OK...

1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

Ahh some believers are left alive until the coming of the Lord.

When does the Lord come?
As you have stated in your post...

Since these passages say that Jesus' coming will be after the Tribulation period, this "coming" is the Second Coming when Jesus will return to the earth.

 

[awaken]

1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

Ahh some believers are left alive until the coming of the Lord.

When does the Lord come?
As you have stated in your post...

Since these passages say that Jesus' coming will be after the Tribulation period, this "coming" is the Second Coming when Jesus will return to the earth.

Lets take this all in context...
Paul wrote concerning the Day of the Lord in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica:
1 Thessalonians 4:13: "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope."
1 Thessalonians 4:14: "We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."
1 Thessalonians 4:15: "According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep."
1 Thessalonians 4:16: "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first."
1 Thessalonians 4:17: "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."
1 Thessalonians 4:18: "Therefore encourage each other with these words."
1 Thessalonians 5:1: "Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,"
1 Thessalonians 5:2: "for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night."
1 Thessalonians 5:3: "While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."
1 Thessalonians 5:4: "But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief."
1 Thessalonians 5:5: "You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." ...
1 Thessalonians 5:11: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

In the above passage, Paul wanted to encourage the Christians in Thessalonica who were grieving over deceased loved ones. In verse 13, he began explaining to them about the Rapture because he didn't want them to be ignorant about what will happen to those who have died in Christ.

According to some views, the Church will experience some of the horrors of the Tribulation period. In that case, it would certainly be comforting for the Thessalonian Christians to know that their deceased loved ones were spared from experiencing those horrors. Paul did comfort them by explaining about end-times prophecy, but notice that he specifically explained to them about the Rapture, and then he told them to encourage each other with that information (verse 18).

In other words, Paul did not comfort the Thessalonian Christians by saying that someday they will see their loved ones again in heaven. Paul did not comfort the Thessalonian Christians by saying that their loved ones had been spared the horrors of the Tribulation period. Instead, Paul specifically comforted them by saying that at the Rapture, "we who are still alive" will meet our deceased Christian loved ones in the clouds with Jesus. Think about that for a moment. Paul expected the Rapture to happen in their lifetime, and this was comforting to them because they would soon be with their deceased loved ones again at the Rapture. There is almost two dozen passages which demonstrate that the apostles and most of the New Testament authors expected the Rapture to happen at any moment. There is only one view of the Rapture which is consistent with Paul's statements here, and that is the pre-trib view. In verse 4:18, Paul told them to encourage each other with this knowledge about the Rapture, and then Paul turned his attention to a different topic in chapter 5 (above).

In chapter 5, Paul pointed out that the Thessalonian Christians knew "very well" (or "accurately") that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night while people are saying "peace and safety". Recall that the Day of the Lord will consist of a period of darkness and wrath (the seven-year Tribulation), followed by a period of light and blessings and the Lord's reign over all the earth (the Millennium, which will begin after the Second Coming).

In verses 4 and 5 (above), Paul specifically said that the Church does not belong to the darkness. The Church only belongs to the light. My article called Beyond the Second Coming shows that the Church will be on the earth during the Millennium (in our immortal bodies), which is consistent with Paul's statement in verse 4 that the Church only belongs to the light. As we have seen, the Millennium is described as being the "light" portion of the Day of the Lord. The seven-year Tribulation period is described as being the "darkness" portion of the Day of the Lord, and Paul said in verses 4 and 5 that the Church is not in darkness and does not belong to the darkness. There is only one view of the Rapture which allows for the Church to be in the Millennium ("light") but not in the Tribulation ("darkness"), and that is the pre-trib view.

 

[archangel_300]

I hate to burst anyone's bubble here, but here are my reasons why I don't believe in a literal 1000 year future reign of Christ.

From reading Matthew 24 we can know that the next time we will see Christ is when the "Son of Man" returns like lightning from east to west... indicating his second return will be well known. Anybody claiming to be Christ BEFORE his return is COUNTERFEIT. This means no Christ before his glorious return.

Matthew 24:23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Christ also returns as a thief... that is his return will be COMPLETELY unexpected.

Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour[f] your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Revelation 16:15
“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.â€

So where is Christ going to reign for a 1000 years if the entire UNIVERSE IS DESTROYED?

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.[c] 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

 

[awaken]

Just a few scriptures about the 1000 year reign

When Jesus returns to the earth (at the Second Coming) He will set up a new government, and then He will physically reign on earth for one thousand years. This thousand-year reign of Christ on earth is often referred to as "the Millennium."

However, some people feel that this view takes the book of Revelation too literally when it talks about the "thousand years." In order to determine whether the "thousand years" is meant to be literal or symbolic in the book of Revelation, let's first look at all of the occurrences of the Greek word chilia ("thousand") throughout Revelation:

"And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days [literally "one thousand two hundred sixty days"], clothed in sackcloth." (Revelation 11:3)

"The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days [literally "one thousand two hundred sixty days"]." (Revelation 12:6)

"They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia [literally "one thousand six hundred stadia"]." (Revelation 14:20)

"He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:2)

"He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time." (Revelation 20:3)

"They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years." (Revelation 20:4)

"(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:5)

"they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)

"When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison" (Revelation 20:7)

These are all of the places where the apostle John used the Greek word chilia ("thousand") in the book of Revelation. In the above passages, if we set aside the "thousand years" for a moment and we focus on the other uses of the Greek word chilia, Bible scholars point out that the apostle John always used chilia in a literal way in those verses. Therefore, it is reasonable to interpret the "thousand years" as being a literal period of time based on John's normal usage of the Greek word chilia.

 

[archangel_300]

Just a few scriptures about the 1000 year reign

When Jesus returns to the earth (at the Second Coming) He will set up a new government, and then He will physically reign on earth for one thousand years. This thousand-year reign of Christ on earth is often referred to as "the Millennium."

Again... please refer to my previous post...
Where is Christ going to reign if the entire universe is DESTROYED?

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.[c] 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

 

[awaken]

Just a few scriptures about the 1000 year reign

When Jesus returns to the earth (at the Second Coming) He will set up a new government, and then He will physically reign on earth for one thousand years. This thousand-year reign of Christ on earth is often referred to as "the Millennium."

Again... please refer to my previous post...
Where is Christ going to reign if the entire universe is DESTROYED?

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.[c] 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea." (Revelation 21:1)

 

[awaken]

John used the expressions, "the thousand years," and, "a short time," in the same verse:

"He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time." (Revelation 20:3)

Some people believe that the "thousand years" in Revelation 20:3 (above) is meant to be a symbolic way of saying "a long time," but notice that "a short time" is being used in a literal way (not a symbolic way) in that same verse. Since John did not use a symbolic way of saying "a short time" (above), it is inconsistent for us to claim that John used a symbolic way of saying "a long time" in the very same verse. Therefore, the grammatical evidence leads many scholars to the conclusion that John was speaking of a literal thousand-year period of time.

Another reason for taking the "thousand years" literally is that John emphasized this phrase by using it 6 times in the space of 6 verses ( Revelation 20:2-7 ). This form of repetition in the Bible is always significant because it was a method of teaching which was used by Jewish Rabbis throughout history, and it is used periodically throughout Scripture. For example, in Genesis 2:4-9 there is a repeated emphasis on "the LORD God" (5 times in 6 verses), and this repeated emphasis on "the LORD God" is also found a few verses later in Genesis 2:15-22 (6 times in 8 verses). So the fact that John repeatedly emphasized the "thousand years" (6 times in 6 verses), plus the fact that those verses describe specific events which will happen before and after the thousand years, all support the conclusion that the Millennium will be a literal thousand-year period of time.