Millennial Kingdom Views

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Millennial Kingdom Views</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id158.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Doctrine of Last Things 2"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Article</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U>Biblical and Theological Studies</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Ministry Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U><B>Sermon Notes</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Three Views on the "Millennial" Kingdom of Jesus Christ: An Introductory Study</B></div> <bR> <div> I. Amillennialism - There is no "eschatological" kingdom that is earthly based. (Eschatology refers to the last days.) Jesus is the true Israel (Isa 42.1-7). All the promises to Israel have been fulfilled in him (Luke 1.30-33). The resurrection of Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise to David of an everlasting throne (Acts 2.30-31). Thus, the "kingdom of God" includes the time from Christ's first coming to his second coming, at which time the eternal state will be begin. Thus, the covenants promised to Israel were spiritually fulfilled in Christ.</div> <bR> <div> II. Postmillennialism - Jesus will return to earth at the end of the earthly eschatological kingdom. This kingdom will be established on the earth through the preaching of the gospel, the faith of the majority of people on the earth, and the "Christianization" of societal structures worldwide. Righteousness on the earth will prevail, as Christ rules in the hearts of people. Isaiah 2.2-4 teaches that in the last days, the gospel will have worldwide appeal as people worship and obey God. The "last days" are the last days before Christ returns, at which time earthly history will end and the eternal state will begin.</div> <bR> <div> III. Premillennialism - Jesus will return and set up his literal, earthly 1000-year kingdom.</div> <div> Premillennialism is based on a natural, "literal" reading of the various covenants God made with Israel.</div> <div> 1. Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12.1-3, 13.14-18, 15.1-21, 17.1-27): God unconditionally promised to bless Abraham and make his name great and make of him a great nation which would be a blessing to all the people of the earth. Land was also part of this promise.</div> <div> 2. Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 19-20): This was a conditional covenant by which Israel should obey God's Law in order to walk in fellowship with him and be distinct from the nations. Blessings were promised for obedience, curses were promised for disobedience. The Law was a statement of how Israel should live as God's covenant people (who had already put their faith in him).</div> <div> 3. Palestinian Covenant (Deut 30.1-8): This involves unconditional and permanent ownership of the Promised Land, although possession of the land at any given time was based on obedience.</div> <div> 4. Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7.8-16): David's "house" was established forever. David would be the head of the dynasty which would rule Israel forever. Thus, David's throne was established forever, unconditionally. Jesus was the last in the kingly line of David.</div> <div> 5. New Covenant (Jer 31.31-37, Ezek 36.16-38): God unconditionally promised the forgiveness of sins, the indwelling of his Spirit, and a new nature, which would allow his covenant people to obey him willingly.</div> <bR> <div> A distinction between the church and Israel is maintained. The church of the New Testament does not replace Israel of the Old Testament. "One new man," the church, is made out of both Jews and Gentiles (Eph 2), but the promises given to Israel are still in force (Rom 9-11). In addition, prophecy is to be fulfilled literally (according to context), as were many prophecies which have already been fulfilled (e.g., Micah 5.2). Note also the expectation of an earthly kingdom in Acts 1.6.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Revelation 19-20 discusses the return of Christ and the establishment of a 1000-year reign on the earth. This will be the beginning of the full and total fulfillment of the covenants to Israel. Note also the prophets of Israel who told of a future glorious kingdom in Israel (e.g., Dan 7, Zeph 3.14-20, Zech 14.1-21).</div> <bR> <div> Within the framework of premillennialism, one can begin to discuss the tribulation and the rapture of the church (pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib). These are not issues for the amillennialist or postmillennialist.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> For Further Study:</div> <bR> <div> Darrell L. Bock, ed. <I>Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond</I>. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999.</div> <bR> <div> Donald K. Campbell and Jeffrey L. Townsend, eds. <I>A Case for Premillennialism: A New Consensus</I>. Chicago: Moody Press, 1992.</div> <bR> <div> Robert G. Clouse, ed. <I>The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views</I>. Downers Grove, Ill: Intervarsity Press, 1977.</div> <bR> <div> Charles L. Feinberg. <I>Millennialism: The Two Major Views</I>, 3d ed. Chicago: Moody Press, 1980.</div> <bR> <div> Charles C. Ryrie. <I>Dispensationalism</I>, revised. Chicago: Moody Press, 1995.</div> <bR> <div> Wesley R. Willis and John R. Master. <I>Issues in Dispensationalism</I>. Chicago: Moody Press, 1994.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 1999</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>