Thread: Revelation 20: 7-8, An Amillennialist Problem
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Revelation 20: 7-8, An Amillennialist Problem
Posted : 26 Jun, 2011 07:38 AM
Revelation 20: 7-8, An Amillennialist Problem
When the Catholic, Calvinist and orthodox Lutheran amillennialists allegorize away Revelation 20: 1-8, there is some information in those verses that is lost, especially Revelation 20: 7-8. "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison. and 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."
If, as the amillennialists say, the thousand years is an allegory for the entire period from the Cross until the appearing of Christ, then Satan would be released at the end of that period.
Or maybe an amillennialist would just ignore Revelation 20: 7-8.
There is a kind of abstract formula in scripture that would predict that Satan might be released at some point. Revelation 17: 11: "And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition."
Man was created on the sixth day (Genesis 1: 26, 2:2), and the number of man in Revelation 13: 18 is said to be 666, or 6 repeated three times. Genesis 2: 2-3 says "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." And so the seventh day of the week, which is Saturday, was to be a day of rest in the Lord for man. Sunday is the first day of the week. Or, maybe it can be considered to to the the "eighth" day.
Hebrews 4: 3-4 says "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works."
Number seven is being in God's rest. This does not get into a Harold Camping kind of complex numerology. Its there in scripture.
The kingdoms in Daniel 2: are Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome, and the kingdom of Egypt and the Assyrian Kingdom make this list add up to six kingdoms. In Daniel 2: 44 a seventh kingdom arises during the Roman Empire, the kingdom of God.
Being in God is being in number seven. But man, not being content to stay in God as number seven, moved into number eight, which is a mingling of the Kingdom of God with the kingdom of man.
We can then see that Talmudic Judaism moved from number seven to number eight. Roman Catholicism moved from the early church period, number seven, to number eight, a mix of man's religion, or pagan religion, with the kingdom of God. Protestant dispensationalism is doing the same thing, but going back to Judaism rather than Catholicism in this process of moving out of number seven to number eight.
The six, seven, eight cycle shown in Revelation 17: 11 can apply to Satan, who was, is not, and comes back. Satan is not during the thousand year reign of Christ, but then he is released and he is again. We have to have faith that he will be done away with permanently later.
I don't think the statement in Revelation 20: 7-8 that Satan will be released can be simply ignored. It has a meaning that must be considered.
�WILL THE RESURRECTION OF GOD'S SAINTS BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TAKE PLACE EXACTLY 6,000 YEARS AFTER GOD'S FIRST 7TH DAY REST??
Hebrews 4:9: �THERE IS AN ETERNAL SABBATH OR 7TH DAY REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.�
������ God�s Most High Eternal 7th Day Rest or Sabbath Rest is mentioned 10 times in Hebrews 3:11 to Hebrews 4:11 as follows:
** GOD�S REST is mentioned 1 time in Hebrews 4:10 ** MY REST is mentioned 3 times in Hebrews 3:11;4:3;4:5 & also Psalm 95:11
** THAT REST is mentioned 3 times in Hebrews 4:3;4:6 & 4:11
** HIS REST is� mentioned 1 time Hebrews 4:8
** THE SABBATH or 7th DAY REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD is mentioned 1 time in Hebrews 4:9�
** ANOTHER DAY is mentioned 1 time in Hebrews 4:8.� God also mentions His first 7th DAY REST after creating the present heavens and earth in 6� {24 hour} days 2 times in Hebrews 4:4.
����� This 7th Day Rest was for God the Father and God the Son {See John 1:1-3 & Col 1:16 below} after Their work in creating the present heavens and earth in six 24-hour days ALMOST 6,000 years ago. This first 7th Day Rest did not include the people of God.�� Exodus 20:11: �In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is� in them, but He rested on the 7th Day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath or 7th day and made it holy.�
������� John 1:1-3: �In the beginning was the Word {Jesus}, and the Word was with God {The Father}, and the Word was God� Through Him {Jesus} all things were made, without Him nothing was made that has been made.�� Col 1:16: �By Him {Jesus} all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible� all things were created *BY* Him and for Him.�
����� But God says that His 7th DAY REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD will occur on ANOTHER DAY in Hebrews 4:8b and then calls it �SABITISMOS� {In the inspired Greek} which could be translated the Most High Sabbath Rest for the people of God or 7th DAY REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
����� Hebrews 4:8b,9: �God spoke about ANOTHER DAY. There remains, then a Most High Sabbath Rest or 7th DAY REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD; for anyone who enters GOD�S REST also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. {Almost 6,000 years ago} Let us, therefore make every effort to enter THAT REST!� {OR REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD which will come on ANOTHER DAY}
����� NOTE: The exact science of Bible Chronology shows that God�s 6-day creation began between 4000 BC and 3964 BC; and the reason for this 36 year spread is because part of this Bible Chronology depends on the ages of 20 patriarchs {When they became fathers} from Adam to Abraham {See Gen 5:3-28; 11:10-26} and 16 Judean kings from David to Josiah who did not all rule the exact number of years mentioned to the day. For example: The 40th year could be from 39 years and one day all the way to 40 years. If for example the Last Day is on September 16th, 2014 then the 6,000 years or 6 Lord's Days would have began exactly 6,000 years earlier or on September 16th, 3987 BC since you must deduct 1 year going from BC to AD since there was no year Zero. 3987 plus 2014 equal 6,001 years minus 1 year equal exactly 6,000 years.
�
����� God originally made this statement about HIS REST in Psalm 95:11 in the OT era and repeated Psalm 95:11 in Hebrews 3:11; 4:3 & 4:5. In Hebrews 4:1 God states that �THE PROMISE OF ENTERING HIS REST STILL STANDS� which means that his promise STILL STANDS throughout the entire NT era.
������ In Psalm 95:7-11 God states that all those who harden their hearts when they hear My voice are always going astray and shall never enter �MY REST� while those who believe {Heb 4:3} and who are the people of God {Heb 4:9} shall enter My Eternal Rest!
������ I Cor 3:9: �We are God�s fellow workers.� Eph 2:10: �We are God�s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.� During the Great tribulation a Voice from Heaven will say: Rev 14:13: �Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.� �Yes� says the Spirit, �they will REST from their labor, for their deeds will follow them. Heb 4:9,10: �There remains a MOST HIGH SABBATH REST or 7th DAY REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD: for anyone who enters GOD�S REST also rests from his own work.�
������ Hebrews 4:4,5,8,9 tells about TWO 7th DAY RESTS. God�s first 7th Day Rest took place after the Father and Jesus created the first heaven and earth in six 24-hour days and Rev 21:5 shows us that God�s 2nd 7th DAY REST with His fellow workers will take place after He creates a New Heaven and a New Earth and the Heavenly New Jerusalem which will be our ETERNAL HOME with the Father and Jesus.
������ The phrase 7th DAY REST in Heb 4:9 implies that God and His fellow workers will have been working hard for 6 days before enjoying their eternal 7th DAY REST. We know that God and His fellow workers have been working hard since God�s first 7th DAY REST after creating the present heaven and earth which occurred ALMOST 6,000 years ago. Could the 6 days work for God and His fellow workers actually be exactly 6,000 years?? The answer to this question is in Psalm 90:1-4 and in 2 Peter 3:8 which will be quoted next. Will God�s Last Eternal 7th DAY REST with His people begin exactly 6 days or 6,000 years after God�s first 7th Day Rest after creating the first heaven and earth?
������� Psalm 90:1-4: �Lord you have been our dwelling place throughout ALL GENERATIONS�.. Before you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God� for 1,000 YEARS IN YOUR SIGHT ARE LIKE A **DAY** that has just gone by.� {And so 6,000 years in God�s sight are just like 6 DAYS!}
����� 2 Peter 3:8: �But do not forget this one thing dear friends: WITH THE LORD **A DAY** IS LIKE **1,000 YEARS** and **1,000 YEARS** ARE LIKE **A DAY**!� And so: With the LORD, 6 DAYS are just like 6,000 years and 6,000 years are just like 6 DAYS! And God�s 7th DAY REST could occur after exactly 6,000 years which are exactly like 6 days with the Lord.
����� The context of this 1,000 year statement in 2 Peter 3:8 is related to the reason why the 2nd Coming of Jesus has not yet occurred when Peter wrote this epistle around AD 66 {See 2 Peter 3:4&9a}. This statement is also sandwiched in between statements concerning God�s creation of the present heaven and earth {Almost 6,000 years ago} and God�s destruction of the present heavens and earth when Jesus comes as a thief in 2 Peter 3:10, and finally God�s creation of a New Heaven and a New Earth {See Rev 21:1-5}: The Home of Righteousness on the �Day of Eternity� {RSV} in 2 Peter 3:13,18.
������� Now let us look at the inspired statement in 2 Peter 3:8 in context: 2 Peter 3:3,4,7-13: In the Last Days scoffers will come...They will say. �Where is the coming He promised?...Everything goes on as it has since the beginning of Creation.� {Almost 6,000 years ago} But they deliberately forget that by God�s Word the heavens existed and the earth was formed {Almost 6,000 years ago}� BY that same Word of God the present heaven and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men.� {Exactly 6 Days or 6,000 years later?}
���But do not forget this one thing dear friends: �WITH THE LORD **A DAY** IS LIKE 1,000 YEARS AND 1,000 YEARS ARE LIKE **A DAY**! The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise {Of His 2nd Coming}, as some understand slowness!�������� But THE DAY OF THE LORD {The Coming Jesus promised} will come like a thief {To unbelievers--See I Thess 4:15-17; 5:2-4; & Rev 3:3}. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be burned up� But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a New Heaven and a New Earth, the Home of Righteousness� 2 Peter 3:18 {RSV}: But grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and to the �DAY OF ETERNITY!� Amen.�
����� The time period for the creation of the present heavens and earth was exactly six 24-hour days before God�s first 7th day rest almost 6,000 years ago.� Does God�s inspired Word in 2 Peter 3 and Hebrews 4 just discussed imply that the time period between God�s first 7th Day Rest and God�s Eternal 7th DAY REST is also 6 days and that these 6 Lord�s Days are exactly like 6,000 years WITH THE LORD??
������ It should come as no surprise that when Jesus paid the full price for our admission to God�s eternal 7th Day Rest; that God�s people should no longer commemorate God�s first 7th Day Rest by resting every 7th day according to OT law. The last time God�s people rested on the 7th day according to OT Law was on the DAY BEFORE {See Luke 23:56} the resurrection of Jesus on April 5th, AD 33; when Jesus had completed the Atonement for sins for God�s people from every generation of man�s 6,000 year history. God now wants us to concentrate on entering God�s eternal 7th DAY REST with all its countless eternal rewards for faithful and loving service.
������ Jesus taught in the new Covenant that God's people no longer have to obey OT Sabbath Laws {See Luke 6:1-9 & John 5:8-11,16.17}. In the NT God's saints worshiped and evangelized EVERY DAY {See Acts 2:46,47; 17:27}. And their preachers preached EVERY DAY and EVERY NIGHT {See Acts 19:9,10; 20:31; 28:31b; Heb 3:13}. Making one day more holy than another is a sin in the NT era according to Galatians 4:9-11 & Col 2:14-17. In the NT era EVERY DAY is holy especially TODAY.� {See Hebrews 3:13-15; 4:7}
����� Colossians 2:13-17: "When you were dead, in your sins and your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins, having canceled the written code with its regulations, that was against us, He took it away, nailing it to the cross... Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Month celebration or a SABBATH DAY.� These are just a *SHADOW* of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ!" For when Jesus, the "Lord of the Sabbath" {See Matt 12:8 & Luke 6:5] or 7th Day Rest; comes again God's people will enter their 7th Day Rest or Sabbath Rest.
������ The above passage from God's Word states that OT Sabbath or 7th Day Rest Laws were just a *SHADOW* of the things that were to come. It would seem completely obvious that the OT Sabbath Rest Laws were then just a **SHADOW** of our eternal 7th DAY REST WITH GOD which may occur exactly 6 Lord's Days or 6,000 years after God's first 7th Day rest just after His creation of man on the 6th Day.
������� Exodus 31:15: "For 6 days {A SHADOW of 6 Lord's days or 6,000 years of work for man after His creation} work is to be done, but the 7th Day is a Sabbath of Rest." {A *SHADOW* of our eternal 7th DAY REST WITH GOD after 6 Lord's Days or 6,000 years as fellow workers with God}
������ John 5:16,17: So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath {Or 7th Day}, the Jews persecuted Him. Jesus said to them, "My Father is ALWAYS at His work to this very day, and I, too am working!" I Cor 3:9: "We are God's fellow workers!"" I Cor 15:58: "ALWAYS give yourself fully to the work of the Lord."
"NOTE: The exact science of Bible Chronology shows that God�s 6-day creation began between 4000 BC and 3964 BC; and the reason for this 36 year spread is because part of this Bible Chronology depends on the ages of 20 patriarchs {When they became fathers} from Adam to Abraham {See Gen 5:3-28; 11:10-26} and 16 Judean kings from David to Josiah who did not all rule the exact number of years mentioned to the day. For example: The 40th year could be from 39 years and one day all the way to 40 years. If for example the Last Day is on September 16th, 2014 then the 6,000 years or 6 Lord's Days would have began exactly 6,000 years earlier or on September 16th, 3987 BC since you must deduct 1 year going from BC to AD since there was no year Zero. 3987 plus 2014 equal 6,001 years minus 1 year equal exactly 6,000 years."
Harold Camping had his "exact science of Bible Chronology" down.
On http://departout.com/index.php?f=4
There is a discussion of the problems in Camping's Bible Chronology.
But even if Camping had Bible Chronology right, there is no reason to believe that it is there to predict the end of the world.
The purpose of scripture and of faith is not to lead Christians to become preoccupied with time lines and Bible chronology - but to lead us to Christ.
Again, prophetic774 has gone off topic. The issue of the thousand year reign of Christ on earth with his saints is not one of Bible chronology. The simple six,seven, eight cycle found in Revelation 17: 11 is something different from Bible chronology.
�IS THE 1,000 YEAR FIRST RESURRECTION IN REVELATION 20:4-6 FOR THE 24 ELDERS ON THRONES AND MARTYRS ONLY??
Jesus promised to 12 Apostles who followed Him {Including Paul?} that they would be given 12 THRONES and the authority to JUDGE in Matthew 19:28 & Luke 22:30. In Revelation 4:4 Before the beginning of the Great Tribulation John saw exactly 24 thrones surrounding God's Throne in Heaven. The other 12 thrones were most likely given to 12 prominent OT Elders such as Abraham, Joseph and Isaiah. One of these 24 Elders speaks in Rev 7:13-17 and after the 7TH angel sounds the 7TH and Last Trumpet in Rev 11:15 ONLY the 24 Elders state in Rev 11:16-18: �The time has come for JUDGING the dead and for rewarding your saints.�
��It is completely obvious that the 1,000 year reign mentioned in Revelation 20:4-6 is for 24 ELDERS on Thrones and MARTYRS ONLY according to God's Word in Revelation 20:4,5b,6a: "I saw Thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to JUDGE and I saw the SOULS of those who had been beheaded {Or martyred} because of their testimony for Jesus {NT Martyrs} and because of the Word of God {OT Martyrs}. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands {Tribulation Martyrs}. THEY {THE 24 ELDERS & MARTYRS} came to life and reigned with Christ for 1,000 years... This is the FIRST RESURRECTION... Blessed and holy are those who have part in the FIRST RESURRECTION.
Rev 20:5a: �The rest of the dead {Those saints who are not martyrs or the 24 Elders on Thrones} did not come to life until the 1,000 years were ENDED.� Which, of course, would be the SECOND RESURRECTION at the 2nd Coming of Jesus. There are only TWO RESURRECTIONS for all saints mentioned in Rev 20:4-6: The FIRST RESURRECTION is for Martyrs and the 24 Elders only and INCLUDES the Tribulation Martyrs. And therefore the SECOND RESURRECTION must come on the Last Day of the Great Tribulation and must include all saints {Both OT & NT} who are not martyrs or the 24 Elders on thrones.
The Heavenly rewards for the faithful and courageous *MARTYRS* is one of the most important central themes in the book of Revelation. For they will reign with Jesus in Heaven during the 1,000 years before His 2nd Coming; and according to Revelation 7:14-17: They are before the Throne of God and God will spread His tent over them. They will receive White Robes washed in the blood of the Lamb. Never again will they hunger or thirst and God Himself will wipe every tear from their eyes. Jesus will be their Shepherd and will lead them to springs of Living Water.
FOR EXAMPLE: Let us suppose that the SECOND RESURRECTION takes place on December 2nd, 2014; then the continuous 1,000 year FIRST RESURRECTION for MARTYRS AND 24 ELDERS ONLY would take place from December 2nd, AD 1014 to November 25th, 2014. The 24 Elders and all of the OT & NT saints martyred before December 2nd, 1014 were awakened to reign with Jesus in Heaven and every Martyr martyred after December 2nd, 1014 were and will be immediately awakened to reign with Jesus in the continuous 1,000 year FIRST RESURRECTION to be completed on December 2nd, 2014 at the SECOND RESURRECTION when "The rest of the dead come to life when the thousand years are ENDED." {Rev 20:5a} Rev 20:4b �I saw the *SOULS of those who had been martyred because of their testimony for Jesus... they came to life and reigned with Christ for 1,000 years. The Martyrs SOULS will only get their New Heavenly bodies when the 1,000 years are ENDED at the 2nd Coming of Jesus.
This seems to contradict John 6:40: Jesus says, �EVERYONE who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life and I will raise him up at the LAST DAY.� However, the LAST DAY RESURRECTION could last 1,000 years for in 2 Pet 3:8 we read: �With the Lord a DAY is like 1,000 years, and 1,000 years are like a DAY!!
"There are only TWO RESURRECTIONS for all saints mentioned in Rev 20:4-6: The FIRST RESURRECTION is for Martyrs and the 24 Elders only and INCLUDES the Tribulation Martyrs. And therefore the SECOND RESURRECTION must come on the Last Day of the Great Tribulation and must include all saints {Both OT & NT} who are not martyrs or the 24 Elders on thrones."
Christians have long understood Revelation 20 to say there are two resurrections, the one called the first resurrection in Rev 20: 5-6 , which is the resurrection to eternal life,and the other in Rev 20: 11-12, which is the great white throne judgment for those not saved. You cannot make up resurrections that are not in scripture. Dispensationalism has tried to do that in saying that somehow the "church" is resurrected before the tribulation and then Christ comes back for some more at the end of the tribulation, making two resurrections of believers.
WE ARE ALL EAGERLY WAITING FOR OUR GLORIOUS ETERNAL RENDEZVOUS WITH JESUS! �
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I Peter 1:13: �Therefore, prepare your minds for ACTION, and set your hope *FULLY* on the grace to be given YOU when Jesus Christ is *REVEALED*. I Cor 1:7: �YOU do not lack any spiritual gift as YOU eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be *REVEALED*.� Now the pre-tribbers claim that this glorious *REVEALING or *REVELATION* of Jesus will be *CONCEALED* BEFORE the beginning of the Great Tribulation.� However, every other time the Word *REVEALED* {Greek-Apocalipsis} is used related to resurrection events it refers to the glorious REVEALING of Jesus on the *LAST DAY* of the Great Tribulation {See 2 Thess 1:7-10 & Luke 17:26-31}. And *CONCEALED* is the exact opposite of *REVEALED* and *APPEARED* according to every dictionary!� Titus 2:13:
Titus 2:13: �*WE* wait for the *BLESSED HOPE*�the glorious *APPEARING* of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. �Hebrews 9:28 �Jesus will *APPEAR* a 2nd time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him!�� Matthew 24:29,30: Jesus says, �IMMEDIATELY AFTER the distress of those days {The Great Tribulation} the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will *APPEAR in the sky and the nations will *SEE* the Son of Man COMING on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory!!� I John 2:28: �Dear children, continue in Him, so that when He *APPEARS* WE may be confident and unashamed before Him at His COMING!� {See 2 Thess 1:7-10; I Tim 6:14; Heb 9:28 & Col 3:4}� 2 Tim 4:8: Paul said, There is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on THAT DAY�and not only to me, but to *ALL who have longed for His *APPEARING*!!�
2 Thess 1:1,6-10:� �To the *CHURCH* of the Thessalonians�God is just; He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.� This will happen *WHEN* the Lord Jesus is *REVEALED* {See I Peter 1:13} from heaven in blazing fire�.� He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.� They will be punished with everlasting *DESTRUCTION* and shut out from the presence of the Lord *ON THE DAY HE COMES* to be glorified in His holy people!!�
A meeting at an appointed place and time is called a RENDEZVOUS. We have a RENDEZVOUS with eternity at the glorious *APPEARING and *REVEALING of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ *IMMEDIATELY AFTER the Great Tribulation.
There is no problem with Rev.20:7,8 from the Amill interpretation.
7And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison
8and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.
Lets remember John is telling us what he saw.
One cannot see a thousand years. John was saying that it was a long time, and a perfect amount of time.
Satan HAS been restrained, and Jesus is the one who defeated Him during His ministry.
Satan IS bound, and restrained and he does NOT "deceive the nations" at this time. Jesus even SAID Satan was bound by Him:
Mark 3:27
"But no one can enter a strong man�s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house."
The Christian faith has literally changed civilization in the northern hemisphere, from Ancient Rome, to America.
So Satan IS restrained during the church age, and He will be loosed at the very end, right before Christ returns.
The biggest problem with the amillenial position you believe in is that you believe that the 1,000 years that Satan was stopped from deceiving the nations is now almost 2,000 years. Generally amilleniialists like Calvin don't believe that Revelation is inspired by God so they make it into a symbolic fairy tale that you can interpret any way your little old heart desires.
WHEN WAS SATAN STOPPED FROM DECEIVING THE NATIONS SO THAT THE GOSPEL COULD BE PREACHED TO EVERY NATION IN THE WORLD AS PER MATTHEW 24:14 AND REVELATION..7:9??�
������ Let us assume that the Great Tribulation will last 1260 days from June 27th, 2011 to December 8th, 2014.� As you know Satan was successful in stopping the Gospel from spreading past 5% of the earth; or southern Europe and Northern Africa for almost 1000 years. Suddenly the Gospel was being preached throughout the pagan kingdoms of Russia, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden around AD 1011.� And in the past 1000 years the Gospel has spread to all of Africa and Asia, North and South America, and all the remote islands of the earth.� As you know the gospel must be preached to every nation of the earth before the end can come as per Matthew 24:14 and Revelation 7:9.�
And so about 95% of the world�s nations have heard the gospel for the first time during the past 1,000 years. ������ Rev 20:2,3: �He {The angel} seized the dragon, who is the devil or Satan and bound him for 1,000 years {FOR EXAMPLE: June 27th, AD 1011 to June 27th, 2011}.� He threw him into the Abyss to keep him from deceiving the nations until the 1,000 years were ended {June 27th, 2011}.� After that he must be set free for a short time.� Or 1260 days from June 27th, 2011 to December 8th, 2014 during the Great Tribulation when Satan will again deceive ALL the nations until the Last Day.�
�� Rev 3:1,3: Jesus says, �To the angel of the {*CHURCH*} in Sardis write�But *IF you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.�� 1 Thess 1:1, 5:4: �To the {*CHURCH*} of the Thessalonians�But you brothers {*CHURCH SAINTS*}, are not in darkness so that *THIS DAY*{Just Mentioned In I Thess 4:16,17} should surprise you like a thief.� You are all sons of the light and sons of the DAY.�� And so once the 1260-day Tribulation begins all of God�s {*CHURCH*} saints will know the exact day that the Tribulation will end at the Second Coming of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the *LAST DAY*.� And so the resurrection day of I Thess 4:16 to I Thess 5:4 will not be a surprise to the saints resurrected in I Thess 4:16,17 just as the resurrection day at the end of the 1260-day Great Tribulation will not be a surprise to *ALL* of God�s saints which proves that the resurrection day mentioned in I Thess 4:16,17 will also come� on the LAST DAY of the Great Tribulation!!!
����� Also in the context of I Thess 4:16 to I Thess 5:4 is this interesting statement in I Thess 5:2,3:� �You know very well that the day of the Lord {Just mentioned in I Thess 4:16} will come like a thief in the night. {to unbelievers}� While people are saying �peace and safety,� DESTRUCTION WILL COME ON THEM SUDDENLY� AND THEY WILL NOT ESCAPE!!� {See 2 Thess 1:6-10 and Matthew 25 :31-33,41-46}� After 6 of the last 7 bowl plagues of the Great Tribulation Jesus will make this statement in Rev 16:15: �Behold, I come like a thief!�{See 2 Pet 3:7,10 & Rev 3:3!!} Christ Himself says that He is coming like a thief at the end of the tribulation just before the battle of Armageddon!! This destruction of the lost in hell will occur on the LAST DAY of the Great Tribulation as shown above in Matt 25:31-33:41-46: John 5:28,29; 12:48; Daniel 12:1,2,7b & 2 Thess 1:6-10, which firmly places the resurrection mentioned in I Thess 4:16 to I Thess 5:4 on the Last day of the Great Tribulation and not a *CONCEALED* pre-trib rapture 1260 days or 7 years BEFORE the LAST DAY of the Great Tribulation!! �
The biggest problem with the amillenial position you believe in is that you believe that the 1,000 years that Satan was stopped from deceiving the nations is now almost 2,000 years. Generally amilleniialists like Calvin don't believe that Revelation is inspired by God so they make it into a symbolic fairy tale that you can interpret any way your little old heart desires.
James replies:
Lets review shall we? The "1000 years"that is mentioned only in Rev.20 was John describing what he SAW in a vision.
How does one "see" a thousand years?
If I go outside at night, and say, " wow, there are a thousand stars in the sky tonight." Do you think I mean that I counted the stars and there were exactly one thousand? OR...
do you think I was using an expression and saying that there were MANY, MANY, stars out that night?
The term "one thousand" used by John, means a LONG and PERFECT AMOUNT of time.
It could end up being four thousand three hundred and seven and a half years for all we know.
747said:
WHEN WAS SATAN STOPPED FROM DECEIVING THE NATIONS SO THAT THE GOSPEL COULD BE PREACHED TO EVERY NATION IN THE WORLD AS PER MATTHEW 24:14 AND REVELATION..7:9??
James replies:
When Christ ended His public ministry. And The gospel HAS been preached to MOST of the world at this point, and I dare say EVERY nation as well!!!
Wow you all what have been ahead, if you had not of said anything, throw all this carnality in the trash and be still, for your words are stout against the lord.
The Six, Seven and Eight Cycle of Revelation 17: 11 Applied to Revelation 20: 1-8
In Revelation 20: 1-3 Satan is bound and cast into the bottomless pit for a period of time. It says a thousand years. Then Revelation 20: 7-8 says "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And 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."
It says after the thousand years, or some period of time, is expired, Satan will be released to go out and deceive the nations, or peoples.
Verse 7 says after this period of time is over, then Satan is released. It does not say near the end of this period he is released.
John is writing about what he saw, but he is also writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The Catholic and Calvinist amillennialists say that this release of Satan in verses 7 and 8 refers to Satan's being bound by Christ when he begin to set up his kingdom.
"But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." Luke 11: 20-22
Christ overcame Satan when he began the kingdom of God.
"And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house." Matthew 12: 27-29
Christ bound the strong man, so Christ could set the strong man's captives free (Isaiah 61:1).
II Thessalonians 2: 7 does say that the restrainer, called "he who now letteth" is to be taken out of the way.
The restrainer is not the Holy Spirit. It probably is one of the faithful archangels.
So all or some of the restraint on Satan will be taken out of the way, and we assume this happens in the end times, perhaps gradually.
But Revelation 20: 7 says Satan will be released at the END of the thousand years, or the end of some time period.
How can the Catholic and Calvinist amillennialists say that Satan is to be released at the end of the tribulation period?
Satan does persecute people on earth more during the tribulation. Revelation 12: 12 says "...for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."
Satan knows that he is going to be fully restrained soon, as Revelation 20: 1-3 says, that he will be bound and thrown into the bottomless pit.
But Satan is less restrained and more fully able to harm people on the earth in the end times and during the tribulation, though God's saints will have some protection from him, if they put on the full armor of God to do spiritual battle (Ephesians 6: 11-18).
The period when Satan is more free to harm those on the earth is not at the very end of the tribulation, because thats when Christ is back on earth. The amillennialists could change the wording of Revelation 20: 7 to say "But near the end of the thousand years, Satan shall be released out of his prison." Then, their interpretation that the thousand years is an allegory of the entire period from the Cross until Christ's return would not be quite so much of a misinterpretation.
Revelation 20: 1- 8 shows two stages of the three stage cycle in Revelation 17: 11, where the beast was, and then is not, and is again as the eighth. This is, more abstractly, a three stage cycle, the beast is, is not, and is again, or, in other words the beast exists as a nation in stage one, and receives a deadly wound (Revelation 13: 3), as stage two, but in stage three his deadly wound is healed (Revelation 13: 3), and the beast exists again. The beast existed before 70 A.D. as a nation, but then in 70 A.D. the nation received a deadly wound, but in 1940 the deadly wound was healed.
So, in Revelation 20: 1-8 it is assumed that in stage one Satan is the strong man running around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5: 8). Then in Revelation 20: 1-3 Satan is bound and thrown into the bottomless pit, which is stage two, but in Revelation 20: 7-8 Satan is released again, which is stage three. In verse 10 he is thrown into the lake of fire.
