Millennium

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1. Introduction

In this study on the Millennium, we compare Realised Millennialism with the recently popular heresies of Dispensationalism and Futurism.

A. Millennium Heresy

These heresies have crept into present-day Christianity and keep believers in fear of the Great Tribulation in the future. This fear prevents people from stepping into signs, wonders, and miracles that believers can witness happening through the power of God.

Until after the horrors of the First World War, the prevailing view was not of a future millennial reign. Neither the early church fathers nor Augustine, Luther, or Spurgeon, to name a few, believed in a coming Millennium as described in the Dispensational View towards the end of this lesson. On the contrary, these giants of faith believed that the kingdom’s reign began when Jesus ascended—that is, the Kingdom is here now.

Those who believe in the Futurist view think that Jesus will return and establish a kingdom from Jerusalem. They will reign with Him for one thousand years. Such a future Millennium does not hold up to scriptural challenges.

B. Millennium Truths

Awakening Impact Ministries, along with many other rapidly growing ministries, upholds the following core truths, which we will explore in detail in this lesson.

1. Christianity’s eschatology (end times) is victorious. We are a glorious warrior bride, not a remnant that will face the Antichrist and great tribulation in the future.
2. The kingdom’s reign started when Jesus ascended; therefore, the kingdom is here now. Because of this truth, we can move more effectively in the power of God to see miracles and healings happen regularly.
3. The Millennium is not a literal one thousand years, but the term is used here to label the current reigning of God’s kingdom.
4. The Millennium started after the Great Tribulation of 66-73 CE.
5. The last days commenced on the day of Pentecost and finished in one Hebrew generation.
   

C. Post-Tribulation Millennialism

Like the early church fathers, Awakening Impact Ministries are post-tribulation millennialists. Most New Testament books were completed before the destruction of Jerusalem, so they were looking ahead to the Millennium beginning after Jerusalem’s destruction. Therefore, believing we are already in the Millennium,  we agree with the church fathers. We will explain why further in the study. Firstly, we need to establish that the Millennium does not mean a literal one thousand years.

2. Book of Revelations: Millennium is Not Literally One Thousand Years

The word Millennium is not in the original Hebrew or Greek translations. However, Judaism and Christianity both refer to one thousand years.

A. Not a Literal Thousand

Firstly, we must realise that the Book of Revelations does not support one thousand years of being literal.

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison

Revelation 20:7

In the Book of Revelation, there is only one Greek word used for a thousand.

χίλιοι chilioi; plural of uncertain affinity; a thousand

Affinity means understanding, so we can’t be definitive that it is the number one thousand.

B. Whenever the Thousand Years are Finished

We have found that the word for thousand is indefinite. Another term in this verse also indicates that the thousand years are not literal. It is the word when:

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison.

Revelation 20:7

The Greek word for ‘when‘ is:

ὅταν Hotan; whenever (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertainty) as long (soon) as, that, + till, when(-soever), while.

As you can see, one thousand years is merely an estimate. Firstly, the word for one thousand has uncertain affinity. Secondly, “whenever” is not a definite article.

C. A Literal Thousand is a Different Greek Word

When one thousand is a literal number, it is a different Greek word. For example:

Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;

1 Corinthians 10:8

A literal one thousand is a different word in this and other scriptures:

ιλιάς chilias; one thousand (“chiliad” ): — thousand

The Greek word used in the verse, which has a specific number, differs. Unlike the word used for the Millennium, which is of uncertain affinity, this word is specific and not an estimate.

If the Millennium were exactly one thousand years, we would have used the chilias word rather than chillioi.

3. Old Testament Millennium

We have observed that one thousand years in the Book of Revelation is symbolic; we should examine the Old Testament for other instances where one thousand is not meant literally.

A. The Non-Literal One Thousand Hills

For every beast of the forest is Mine
And the cattle on a thousand hills.

Psalms 50:10

One thousand hills are not meant to be taken literally because the earth has more than one thousand hills.

B. Forty Thousand or One Hundred Thousand Year Millennium Reign?

Fundamental to the Futurists and Dispensational View is that Jesus will reign from Israel for a literal one thousand years. However, the literal interpretation encounters an issue when we examine this scripture in First Chronicles:

Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel for an everlasting covenant,
Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
As the allotment of your inheritance,”

1 Chronicles 16:15-18

If we interpret the Millennium as exactly one thousand years, as the Dispensationalists and Futurists do, we must also interpret this scripture literally.

There are two biblical Hebrew definitions of a generation: 40 years or 100 years. For a Dispensationalist, the natural reign of Israel during the Millennium is crucial to their theology. If that were true, 1 Chronicles would teach that Jesus must return 40,000 or 100,000 years after His death and resurrection, not 2000 years, as Dispensationalists suggest.

4. Prelude to the Millennium

A. Requirement One: The Coming of Christ

Theologians agree that the Millennium will commence after Jesus Christ returns to destroy the Antichrist. The Millennium will conclude following a final battle on the day of judgment. Due to a misunderstanding of the Greek word for “coming,” most people believe there are only two comings of Christ mentioned in the Bible, whereas our lesson on “Jesus’ Comings” recognises six comings in the Greek and Hebrew “texts”. 

• His Birth
• Commencement of His Ministry
• Jesus’ transfiguration
• His Ascension and Coronation
• Judgment of Israel
• His future return (incorrectly called the Second Coming)

The Millennium began sometime after Jesus’ fifth coming on the clouds of glory with His armies, 21 May, 66 CE. Three historians attest to this sign, which occurred three and a half years before the final destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE.

B. Antichrist’s Rise and Fall

The next requirement is that the Antichrist appear, make war on Israel, and then die. In our lesson on the Antichrist, we looked closely at Nero. 

• We found that Nero’s character met the criteria for the Antichrist.
• His number was 666 in Hebrew and Latin.
• In another lesson, we learned that Nero began the Great Tribulation on 27 December 66 CE by declaring war on Israel.
• We found he was the fifth of the ten heads of the beast
• John said the AntiChrist was already in the world when he wrote the epistles in the 60’s.
• Paul said that Nero, the Antichrist, would soon be revealed to the Thessalonian church in 54-56 CE. They understood this to mean the newly crowned emperor would soon change from being a good Caesar to one who would persecute Christians. In less than a decade, he started the fire of Rome, using this as an excuse to kill Christians, including using them as human torches to light his parties.
• He was killed half way through the Great Tribulation.

C. Abomination of Desolation

It is another requirement that there be an abomination of desolation in Jerusalem. 

• The Abomination of Desolation is the army sent by God in the book of Joel.
• The Abomination of Desolation surrounded Jerusalem in 66 CE, and the Romans were defeated, allowing the Jews to flee Jerusalem
• We learned that the abomination of desolation was the Roman armies.
• The Holy Place is not the Temple but the city of Jerusalem.
• The eagle and the carcass refer to the Roman army.
• Vespasian’s army is the abomination of desolation.

D. Apostasy

There must be a great falling away. In our lesson on False Christs and Prophets, we learnt that one-third of Christians fell away in the first generation due to the false teachings of Gnosticism. We also learnt that there were many false Christs and Prophets.

E. Gospel Preached to All Nations

Before the Millennium, the gospel was preached to all nations according to multiple scriptures and agreed upon by the earliest church fathers.

F. Famines, Pestilences, Signs and Earthquakes

Our lesson on this subject showed that all of these occurred frequently during the first 40-year generation.

G. Red Heifer

The red heifer is not part of Jesus’ prophecy, as it is not necessary; it is part of the law. However, some are still looking for the red heifer, needed for a future temple before the Messiah returns. However, this was fulfilled on 8 April 67, when a heifer gave birth to a lamb as it was being led to be sacrificed.

H. Wars and Rumours of Wars

We have a complete lesson on this subject; suffice to say that there were nearly constant wars for the first forty years, and the percentage of Jews who died during the first generation was higher than during the Holocaust.

I. Euphrates Army

The Euphrates River dried up to allow the armies to cross it: one army of 10,000 horsemen and another of 10,000 men bearing the lightning sign. This was fulfilled by the Xth Legio Equestris and the XIIth Legio Fulminata, each numbering 10,000 men, crossing the Euphrates six weeks before joining Titus with two additional armies (thus forming the four “angels” of Revelation) to lay siege to Jerusalem. The Jews living in the Euphrates region understood that building the bridge across the river was a sign that the Euphrates was “drying up,” allowing these armies to cross easily, as we learned in our lesson on the Euphrates armies.

J. Great Tribulation

The Great Tribulation began on 27 December 66 CE, when Nero declared war on the Jews, and ended on 10 April 73 CE, when the last Jewish stronghold, Masada, fell, marking the conclusion of the First Jewish–Roman War.

K. Forty-Two Months 

Another prerequisite to the Millennium is forty-two months during which Gentiles trample the temple courts and the city. The Idumeans (Edomites)—the only Gentiles whom God is said to have placed beyond redemption under the Law—fulfilled this from April 67 to September 70 CE, when they were all killed except for 700 who were taken to Rome to die in the games. This period equals forty-one of our modern months, but forty-two Hebrew months.

L. 144,000

For the Millennium to begin, there must be at least 144,000 Jews—12,000 from each tribe—who are born again, and all of them must be sexually pure. This condition was fulfilled before the fall of Jerusalem.

5. Post-Tribulation Millennium

Most theologians agree that the Millennium began after the destruction of the Antichrist, which occurred on 12 June 68 CE, and the destruction of Jerusalem on 8 September 70 CE. I believe that it did not begin after the fall of Masada for the following reasons.

The early church fathers believed in a post-tribulation millennium. Awakening Impact Ministries’ Statement of Faith agrees with their theology. We believe that the Great Tribulation, apostasy and destruction of the Antichrist have already been fulfilled within one generation of Jesus’ prediction of these events. Futurists are still looking for a future tribulation. To reiterate, Jesus prophesied the Great Tribulation would start within one generation of 30CE.

A. Masada

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:4

After Jerusalem, no other cities were taken. Masada was never conquered by the Romans, nor was anyone beheaded. Instead, the men killed their wives and children, then drew lots, paired up, and killed each other by stabbing their companions. Only two women and five children survived.

B. The Mark of the Beast was Finished

Nero died in June of 68 CE, so his mark, which was his coins for buying and selling were no longer in use.

C. Jesus’ Robe Dripped in Blood

He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

Revelation 19:13

This is a direct fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the Edomites:

The LORD in Judgment and Salvation
Who is this who comes from Edom,
With dyed garments from Bozrah,
This One who is glorious in His apparel,
Traveling in the greatness of His strength?—
“I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?

Isaiah 63:1-2

We learned from the Forty-Two-Month Prophecy that the Edomites were inside Jerusalem from the Passover in 67 CE until its destruction on 8 September 70 CE. For this reason, I do not believe that the Millennium was delayed until 73 CE.

D. Sabbatical River

We have a comprehensive lesson covering the period from 8 September to 13 December 70 CE, as it fulfills Daniel’s 1290-day and 1335-day prophecies. Titus and the captives arrived at the Sabbatical River around 4 December 70. This river was said to flow only one day each week. 

He then saw a river as he went along, of such a nature as deserves to be recorded in history; …for when it runs, its current is strong, and has plenty of water; after which its springs fail for six days together, and leave its channel dry.

Josephus, War of the Jews 7.5.1

After witnessing this miracle, Titus changed his attitude toward the Jews, realising that the captives had nowhere to live, since Israel had been destroyed. A few days later, when the people of Antioch came to meet him and asked him to expel the Jews from their city, Titus replied:

“How can this be done, since that country of theirs, whither the Jews must be obliged then to retire, is destroyed, and no place will receive them besides?”

Josephus, War of the Jews 7.5.1

E. Blessing of the New Covenant

There is no evidence that any captives remained with him. Instead, they stayed in Antioch, the center of Pauline Christian theology, a city that endured for another thousand years. Being left behind by Titus in the city of Antioch directly fulfilled Daniel’s final prophecy:

“And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

Daniel 12:11-12

The blessing for the Jews was that they arrived in Antioch, stayed there, and experienced the blessing of being born again. As they did, they were discipled by the Christians there.

It is at this time, I believe, that all the prophecies of Jesus, Daniel, and John in the Book of Revelation have been fulfilled, beginning the Millennium on or after 13 December 70 CE.

F. Days Shall be Shortened

Jesus said these words:

And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

Matthew 24:22

After this, only Machereus was attacked, and 1,700 people were killed by the Romans. The date that marked the end of the Great Tribulation, 14 April 73 CE, is also when the last city, Masada, was captured, and the First Jewish–Roman War ended. However, the Romans did not kill anyone; the Jews committed mass suicide. We can confidently say that these are the days Jesus prophesied would be shortened.

From that point onward, the Roman Empire’s influence declined as the millennial age began. Christianity ultimately became the dominant religion, and it remains so two thousand years later.

6. Ruling and Reigning

During the current Millennium, we are ruling and reigning with Jesus.

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Revelation 20:6

Believing that ruling and reigning is reserved for a future Millennium can limit your faith today. It may lead you to assume that when a healing breakthrough doesn’t happen, it’s because the time for that level of miracle hasn’t come yet.

A. The Devil is Bound

The Millennium is the time when the devil is bound.

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

Revelation 20:1-3

Since Stephen’s martyrdom, the devil initially had authority over the Jews and later over the Gentile believers. However, once the Millennium started, the church grew in its role of ruling and reigning.

B. Church Arising over the Devil

There are two stages in the devil’s regression described in Revelation 20. First, he is cast down to the earth. The war in heaven began on the day of Jesus’ enthronement.

There’s an additional aspect of binding in the Millennium. During this period, Satan is cast into the pit. As the church rises in its kingdom authority and anointing, it will further bind the works of Satan on the earth. Our cornerstone teaching, “Fellowship of the Mystery of His Will,” highlights our purpose as sons and daughters: to displace principalities and powers. The binding of Satan is poetically described as his confinement in the pit, awaiting judgment day. Before this final judgment, the devil is loosed on the earth again.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:18-20

Understanding the truth about ruling and reigning is important. The devil is bound when we take our authority seriously. The devil is under our feet.

Notice the similarity of Revelation 20 to Matthew 16. The devil is only bound as much as the church binds it! The devil is bound, and the church needs to enforce that.

7. Is the Millennium the Seventh Day of Rest?

We have learned that neither the Book of Revelation nor the Old Testament supports the idea that the Millennium is literally one thousand years. Before we examine Dispensational teachings, I want to provide some background about the person who initiated this theology. Jesus said that we should judge people by their fruits, and the fruits of the founder of Dispensational Millennialism were poor.

A. John Darby

John Nelson Darby, the founder of Dispensationalism and Futurism, was a member of the Plymouth Brethren and founded the Exclusive Brethren. Both denominations are sectarian in their relationships with other churches. As the nephew of Lord Nelson, Darby’s influential upbringing gave him some credibility.

John Darby’s heresies included the idea that righteousness is neither imputed nor given. Instead, Jesus kept the law for us! (Jesus did not keep the law; He fulfilled the law through the New Covenant).

B. Charles Spurgeon on John Darby

Talking about these serious heresies, Charles Spurgeon continues to criticise Darby’s teachings on Dispensationalism, Futurism and a future rapture:

In light of the deadly heresies held and taught by the Plymouth Brethren regarding some of the most momentous doctrines of the Gospel—errors to which I have already alluded at some length—I am confident that my readers will not be surprised by any further views, however unscriptural and pernicious, that the Darbyites have adopted and now zealously seek to spread.

Grant, James (1875). The Plymouth Brethren: Their History and Heresies.

Interestingly, Spurgeon saw many thousand healed, yet there is no evidence that John Darby saw anyone healed because he held to the Cessationist heresy that healing is not for today.

Spurgeon would say the same about much of today’s “preaching” on rapture, futurism and dispensationalism.

In Victorious Eschatology, we see how Darby fell into his numerous deceptions.

C. Dispensational Error #1: Millennium is the Sabbath Rest

Dispensational and futurist teachings hold that four thousand years passed from Adam to Jesus, and that another two thousand years will pass from Christ’s death to His return. Therefore, they suggest a total of six thousand years from Adam to Christ’s return. Since God created heaven and earth in six days and rested on the seventh, dispensationalists conclude that there will be one thousand years of “rest” starting six thousand years after creation. Following this, they believe there will be a one-thousand-year period—the Millennium—during which Jesus will reign from Jerusalem on earth.

However, the Sabbath rest has nothing to do with the Millennium, which Jesus Christ fulfilled two thousand years ago.

Unfortunately, from the Dispensational view, we now know that we have 214 years remaining before the 6000 years are complete. We are currently in the year 5786 in the Jewish calendar.

D. Dispensational Error #2: One Day As One Thousand Years

This error comes from a misinterpretation of Peter:

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

2 Peter 3:8

The Greek word for “as” is hōs, which means “like.” Peter is not saying that one day is for God and a thousand years is for us.

E. Context is Living in the Last Days

Thirdly, the context of this verse is not about the future; it is about the last days.

that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

2 Peter 3:2-3

Jesus’ Last Days Prophecy explains in detail that Jesus distinguished between the last days and the end of the age. When Jesus accurately predicted the last days, He stated they would occur within one generation; He knew exactly when they would conclude within that timeframe.

Peter understood that the last days had already begun before the Day of Pentecost, as he showed when he quoted Joel:

But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

Acts 2:16-17

Peter knew He was living in the last days. We do not live in the last days, but we are coming to the end of the current age when Jesus will return.

After talking about the false teachers in the church of that time, in Chapter 2, Peter confirms that they are in the last days in the next verse:

knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

2 Peter 3:3

Therefore, we cannot use this verse to argue that the thousand years refers to a future day, since it relates to the last days, which concluded in 70 CE.

F. Context is Evangelism Before His Coming Judgment

The apostle Peter wrote his second epistle shortly after 60 CE. In this passage, Peter warns that Jesus’ judgment would come quickly—indeed, within a decade of his writing these words. Furthermore, in the next verse, he turns to the topic of evangelism.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

Emperor Nero ordered Peter’s martyrdom sometime between 64 CE and 68 CE. A few years earlier, he penned the epistle urging families to remain diligent in their evangelism.

When Peter wrote this, he was addressing those who believed Jesus was not returning as soon as He had promised. Jesus had told them that the Temple’s destruction would occur within one generation. Yet, from their perspective, He was delayed, and His coming seemed as distant as a thousand years. When we endure intense trials—as they did under Rome’s persecution—it can feel as though everything God has promised is being delayed.

G. One Day is Not a Literal Millennium

So when Peter said one day is as a thousand years, he was not implying that there are seven dispensations! Peter meant that it might seem like a long time because nothing appears to be happening. What Jesus promised would happen in one generation will still occur.

H. A Millennium is Not a Literal Day

When Peter said that one thousand years is as a day, he meant that what Jesus prophesied would happen, and when it does, they are not to delay because it will happen suddenly.

Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

Matthew 24:17-20

Exactly what Jesus predicted happened when believers saw the Roman army surround Jerusalem on 30 October 66 CE, only for it to be defeated, with 6,100 Romans killed. The Jews who trusted Jesus’ warning left Jerusalem over the following five weeks, recognising that “the abomination that causes desolation” referred to by Jesus was the Roman army.

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

Luke 21:20

8. End of the Millennium

The Millennium we live in won’t last forever. Eventually, it will end, and another battle will come.

A. The Final Battle

Now, when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

Revelation 20:7-9

As we near the end of Revelation—with its account of the Great White Throne Judgment and the dawn of eternity—one major event from both the Old and New Testaments still remains unfulfilled: the battle with Gog and Magog. We know this does not refer to the Great Tribulation, because Ezekiel writes:

“It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land.

Ezekiel 39:11-12

The only significant defeat of the Romans by the Jews occurred on 8 November 66 CE, with 5,500 Jews killed that day. It would not have taken the Jews more than a few days to bury the dead.

B. Gog and Allies Attack Israel

Ezekiel states that God will gather the nations to the land of Israel to fight against it.

and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the Prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, … Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.

Ezekiel 39:3-6

Some of these nations can be identified, while others are no longer recognisable, but they at least include Turkey. It is unlikely that Russia is among them, as some have suggested, because it is now severely weakened, no longer involved in Syria, and there is no indication that this battle involves nuclear destruction.

Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you…

Ezekiel 38:15

But the Hebrew word for “far” is rarely used to indicate physical distance. Instead, it is often used to mean “beside,” as in the planks that formed the interior of Moses’ Tabernacle. It is unlikely that Russia is included among these, as some have suggested, because it is now severely weakened, no longer involved in Syria, and there is no indication that this battle involves nuclear destruction.

Nor does it refer to Rome, which is no longer significant—militarily or biblically—having been defeated. Nor do they refer to the European Community, as some have claimed. We will address this more fully in a separate lesson on the Beast of Revelation in the near future.

C. Return to the Land of Israel

Ezekiel states that this final battle is connected to the return of the Jews to Israel.

‘…You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’— to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against … a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.

Ezekiel 38-10-12

There are two extremes in the theology of the return of the Jews to Israel.

One extreme says that the return of the Jews to Israel means nothing at all. This is called Replacement Theology.

D. Replacement Theology

Replacement Theology or Supersessionism teaches that the Church has replaced Israel and that God now sees the Jews as no different from the Gentiles. However, there is a problem with this view, because Paul states that Israel’s rejection is not final.

I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

Romans 11:11-12

He says the reason for this is so that the fullness of the Gentiles can come in:

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Romans 11:25

Over the past ten years, there has been a significant rise in Jews being born again or recognising Jesus as the Messiah. This indicates that Jesus’s return is near.

E. Overemphasis on Supporting Israel

The other extreme is believing we must support Israel as if it were an essential prerequisite for receiving God’s blessing. I believe we should support Israel, but not to the extent of endorsing everything it does.

There is no doubt that much of the media has a pro-Palestinian bias. People are being harmed, and even killed, in Afghanistan and other countries because of their stance on Israel. However, this is not the same as genuine persecution for the sake of Christ.

We should pray for Israel, but not at the expense of other nations and people of other religions who also need Christ.

9. Summary of Millennium

• The early church did not embrace a future-millennium view until 1909, when the Scofield Reference Bible was published.
• A careful study of the biblical text reveals that the ‘thousand years’ is not meant to be taken literally.
• Some futurists claim that Jesus will return 6,000 years after creation. If that were true (which it is not), we would still have 214 years to wait. Moreover, if we take the idea of 1,000 generations literally, that would imply 40,000 to 100,000 years remain until Jesus’ final return!
• The Millennium began sometime after the safe arrival of the Jews in Antioch in December 70 CE, as Jesus had prophesied.
• Many early Church Fathers believed that the Millennium began sometime between 66 and 70 CE.
• With the restoration of the nation of Israel, we are likely approaching the end of the age, the release of Satan, and the final judgment.
• If you believe that you rule and reign now, you will have faith for the impossible.

© Use by Permission Awakening Impact Ministries/ Dr Neville Westerbeek van Eerten D. Miss. BVSc. 2026