Amillennialism vs The Premillennial Reign of Jesus Christ

Thank you for listening to this message from the ministry of Morse Corner Church in Leverett, Massachusetts. Morse Corner is a non-denominational church that is committed to the preaching and teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our church was founded in 1896 by two students of the famous evangelist D .L. Moody. We seek to encourage and edify the body of Christ through the proclamation of God's word through the ministries of the local church.

If you'd like more information, visit our website, morsecornerchurch .com. We hope you enjoy the message. There is a teaching out there that is mistaken. You know, these are nice folks. We're not questioning their salvation or anything like that.

But there is an error, I think, that we need to address and warn about. And this is the error known as amillennialism. When you put an A in front of a word, it negates the word. So, amillennial means, literally, it means no kingdom.

Now, you've heard me preach on the kingdom of God and the millennium. Imagine if I got up one Sunday and said, oh, guess what, surprise, there actually is no kingdom. That's a problem. The Bible talks about the kingdom.

How can you say that there is no kingdom? And actually, they would say this is the kingdom or the church is the kingdom. So, I think the majority of professing Christians and the majority of professing Bible teachers hold to this teaching, amill or amillennialism.

What happens? They don't take the Bible literally or they don't take Revelation literally. They take more of an allegorical approach. So, if someone attends a church where the book of Revelation is just ignored, and that's very common.

But if somebody attends a church where the book of Revelation is ignored or the pastor never preaches on Bible prophecy, they're probably amillennial. Why? Well, they don't really have much to say because they don't actually think these things are going to happen.

And I don't want to be unkind or unfair. And again, they would say probably, well, there is a kingdom. It's just spiritual and we're living in it right now. This is the kingdom. And they believe that the book of Revelation is symbolic or it's already taken place.

I just want to say this. I've said it before. I'll say it again. If this is the kingdom, no offense, but I am sorely disappointed. I mean, well, the church is the kingdom. I love the church. But if this is the kingdom, I mean, it ain't much of a glorious kingdom.

It's nothing like the Bible describes. No, the kingdom is going to be amazing. It is going to be glorious. This is not it. That should be obvious. It should be so obvious. And part of the kingdom, let's go to Revelation 20 verse 1.

Part of the kingdom is that Satan is bound during the kingdom. This is another problem. And by the way, if there's ever a disagreement, somebody, you know, we're talking about the Bible, reading the Bible.

If somebody, if there's ever a disagreement, here's a basic principle. We talked about this in Sunday school. The Bible is right and you're wrong. You're not always wrong, but the Bible is always right.

And I say that in the spirit of charity and love. But the Bible is always right.

You're not.

We look to the Bible.

Amen.

Take the Bible literally.

All right.

Revelation chapter 20. This is the kingdom. Everything that offends must be removed. Antichrist and his false prophet have been cast alive into the lake of fire. But obviously Satan needs to be dealt with.

Right.

Look at Revelation 20 verse 1. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit in a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon. That serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him.

How long? 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.

So this section is titled the saints reign with Christ one thousand years. So during the kingdom, Satan is bound. We just read that.

Right.

Is there any question about what was said?

No.

The devil is bound during the kingdom. The devil is bound for one thousand years. You know, if you try to claim that this is the kingdom, you're going to tell me that Satan is bound. Have you looked around lately?

Have you turned on the news lately? Are the nations deceived right now?

Oh, yeah.

So this idea that the devil is, and they say, well, the devil is bound during the church age, or the devil is bound through the preaching of the gospel. Well, that's funny because the Apostle Peter didn't think the devil was bound.

He said Satan is like a roaring lion walking around seeking whom he may devour. The Apostle Paul didn't think Satan was bound. He's called him the God of this world and the prince of the power of the air.

The Apostles didn't think the devil was bound.

Why?

Because he's not. Obviously. Now, there's a few things we need to be solid on that. The kingdom is literal. Satan is bound in a last for how long? Thousand years. Bible keeps saying thousand years, thousand years, thousand years.

And it's located where?

On the earth.

Well, is that just something the pastor says? Or is that what the Bible says? Well, let's look. Verse four. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped 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 how long? A thousand years. Verse five. But the rest of the dead did not live again until what? The thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Verse six. 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 how long? A thousand years.

Verse seven. Now when the thousand years have expired. Do you get the idea that God is trying to tell us anything? Oh, that's just symbolic. That's not what it means. Satan will be released from his prison.

But he keeps saying a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand years. Six times he says it will last for a thousand years. And then after the thousand years, what happens? Satan is released from his prison.

Verse eight. And he will go out to deceive who?

The nation.

Where are the nations located?

On earth.

Okay.

Good.

You're following along. Satan will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth. Verse nine. And they went up on the breadth of the earth. So you keep seeing it. A thousand years, a thousand years on the earth.

That's what the Bible clearly says. If you disagree with that, the Bible is right and you're wrong. So all of that to say this. There is no question. There is no debate. That the kingdom is on earth and it lasts for one thousand years.

Now there is a question that comes up. And I think this is a good question. Satan is bound for the kingdom age. And then he's released. And the question is why if Jesus is on earth ruling and reigning as king.

And it's this glorious age here on the earth. Why would you let the devil out?

How many of you have wondered that?

Okay.

More than a few. So why would the devil be let out? Well it's the same reason that we already saw at the battle of Armageddon. That through satanic deception. God uses the devil. The devil is not in charge.

God is in charge. And he uses the devil to bring about his purposes. So at the battle of Armageddon. The Lord uses the devil to gather all his enemies into one place. So he can destroy them. That's why the devil is going to be let out.

So he can go out and gather all the rebels in the kingdom. Gather them to one place. So the Lord can destroy them. You say wait a minute.

Hold on.

You're telling me that there's going to be rebels in the kingdom? Who don't love the Lord? Absolutely there will be rebels in the kingdom. Let me explain how that works. You basically have three groups of people entering into the millennial kingdom.

You have Old Testament saints. You have New Testament saints. Both of which have received their glorified bodies. And then the third group is those who survived the great tribulation. They are still in their natural mortal bodies.

And even if every single one of them is saved going into the kingdom. Because they still have their mortal bodies. What do they do? They procreate. So there's going to be a lot of children being born.

You have a thousand years of peace and prosperity and abundance on the earth. There's going to be a lot of babies born in the millennium. Isaiah 65 verse 20 tells us this. It talks about that people in the millennium will die.

There will be people who die in the millennium. Not old and New Testament saints who have been resurrected. Obviously they can't die. We can't die. But there will be people who die during the millennium.

These are the children. These are the people in their natural bodies. But it also says the person who dies at age 100. That's like dying young in the millennium. So, in other words, the 1 ,000 years over this period of time the earth will be repopulated.

The tribulation brought the population of the earth way down. Like way, way down. During the millennium it's going to be repopulated. So, even though it is a perfect environment with Jesus Himself ruling and reigning with a rod of iron.

There's still a problem. What's the problem? These people in their natural mortal bodies, they still have the sin nature. They're going to be conforming. There's not really any bad influences. The devil's bound.

Jesus rules and reigns with a rod of iron. If anyone does get out of line it's going to be swift and it's going to be dealt with. So, they're conforming on the outside. But on the inside there's rebellion in their heart.

Not everybody, but there's going to be enough who are rebels in their heart against the Lord. And the Lord knows it. So, He lets the devil out to gather them all together. So, basically when the devil is released that rebellion in their heart will quickly bubble up to the surface.

Look at verse 7. 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.

This is the final battle of Gog and Magog. Final battle on the earth. Whose number is as the sand of the sea. And 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. So, that's what the devil did. Go out gather all the enemies of God together into one place. Just like he did at the battle of Armageddon. So, the good news is as soon as this rebellion gets going.

It's crushed immediately. And now. Okay, now the end will come. Just make a note of this. We don't have time to turn there. In 1 Corinthians 15, 24 through 26. The apostle Paul says this. Then the end comes.

When he, that is Christ, delivers the kingdom to God the father. When he puts an end to all rule and authority and power. For he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. There's still one enemy that remains.

And what is that enemy? That enemy is death. Death will finally be destroyed. Death itself will be cast into the lake of fire. This is point number three. The final judgment. Look at Revelation 20 starting in verse 10.

The devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. Where the beast and the false prophet were. No, that's not what it says. Where the beast and the false prophet are. They're still there.

And they will be tormented day and night forever. And ever. Thanks for listening. I'm Pastor Michael Grant from Morris Cornick Church. If you'd like to listen to the complete message, or if you'd like more information about the ministry, visit our website, MorrisCornickChurch .com.

And we'd love to have you join us some Sunday morning here in Leverett. Until next time, may the grace of God be with you.