Beyond the Sunset

What about the millennium?

What about the millennium?

Agenda

• Millennialism defined• Common end-time beliefs• What we believe • Opinion or doctrine?

Millennialism defined

• Belief in some form of a 1,000 year reign of Christ

• Based on Revelations 20:1-7• Belief dates back to 1st Century AD

Common end time beliefs

• The “isms”– Pre-Millennialism– Post-Millennialism– Amillennialism– Preterism– Pan-Millennialism

• Common themes– Crucifixion– 1,000 year reign– Christ’s return– Final judgment– End of the world

Pre-Millennialism

• Literal 1,000 year reign

• Includes tribulation and rapture

• Second Coming and Last Judgment separatedMatthew 24:21

I Thessalonians 4:16-18; I Corinthians 15:50-58

Post-Millennialism

• Some think literal, some symbolic 1,000 year reign

• Second Coming and Last Judgment together• Good eventually overcomes Evil

Symbolic Millennium

Amillennialism

• Symbolic 1,000 year reign• Second Coming and Last Judgment together• Evil eventually overcomes Good

Preterism

• Symbolic 1,000 year reign• Second Coming already occurred• Full-Preterism – all prophecies fulfilled in AD 70• Partial-Preterism – most prophecies fulfilled,

a final judgment still to come

AD 70

Second Coming

Symbolic Millennium

Last JudgmentPreterism

Pan-Millennialism

It will all “pan out” in the end.

Which one?

Discussion: Which view do you think the Westside Church of Christ espouses?

AD 70

Second Coming

Symbolic Millennium

Last JudgmentPreterism

Symbolic Millennium

What we believe

• Crucifixion• Figurative 1,000 year reign• The fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 fulfilled some

things that Jesus prophesied• There will be one “second-coming” of Christ• There will be a Final judgment• The world will come to an end

Unsupported Views

Definitely not Pre-millennialism• Denies Christ’s kingdom was only spiritual

– John 18:36; Mark 9:1• Denies all resurrected at same time

– John 5:28-29• Denies all judged at the same time

– Acts 17:30-31; Matthew 25:31-46• Denies end of the world follows Christ’s return

– 1 Cor 15:20-28; 2 Peter 3:4-13

Unsupported Views

Definitely not Full-Preterism• Denies need for communion

– 1 Corinthians 11:26• Denies a bodily resurrection

– 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58• Denies visible return of Christ

– Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 1:7• Denies end the of the world

– 2 Peter 3:10-13

Opinion or doctrine?

• Discussion: Are end times beliefs matters of opinion or matters of salvation?– 2 Tim 2:16-18

Conclusion

• Our view of the millennium must not change our readiness

• Our view of the millennium must not lead others astray

• Our focus must be on evangelism and not furthering our views