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Covenant Eschatology - Spirit of the Word - Introductory Note - New Stuff
Here is why I believe...
The 1000 years of Revelation Happened in the First Centuryby Greg Kiser
Here is why I believe: The 1000 years of Revelation happened in the first century
1. Evidence that the 1000 years must fall within the time scope of all prophecy in Revelation and thus in the first century AD (Luke 21:20-22; Revelation 1:1-3; 22:6,7,10,12,20).
2. Evidence that the 1000 years represents a shorter period of time rather than a longer one (Psalms 90:1-4; 2 Peter 3:8-10; Matthew 24:22; Mark 13:20).
3. The possibility exists that Peter is actually explaining the 1000 years of Revelation 20 (i.e. Revelation may have been written before 2 Peter).
4. Evidence for Satan being bound in Jesus’ ministry (Matthew 12:28-45).
5. Evidence for Satan being loosed in Revelation which is bound by the time statements of #1 above (Revelation 9:1-11).
6. Evidence for Satan being cast out in Jesus’ ministry (John 12:31).
7. Evidence for Satan’s power already lost after Jesus’ ascension (Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 1:18).
8. Evidence that “they” were seated on “thrones, judging” (Matthew 19:28; Luke 12:30; Titus 3:5; Luke 1:32; 24:26; John 17:5; 1 Timothy 3:16; Acts 2:30,31,34; Matthew 26:64; Mark 12:36; 14:62; 16:19; Luke 20:42; 22:69; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3,13; 8:1; 10:12; Revelation 3:21; 4:2,3,9; Ephesians 2:6)
9. Evidence that the first Christians were already living and reigning with Christ after His ascension (John 5:24,25; Romans 5:17,21; 6:11-13; 1 Corinthians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Galatians 2:19,20; Ephesians 2:5,6; 5:14; Colossians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:12; 1 Peter 2:9,24; Revelation 1:6; 5:10)
10. Evidence that the first Christians were experiencing “first” resurrection after Jesus’ ascension (Romans 6:4,11-13; 8:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:19; 6:15; Ephesians 2:1-6; 4:22-24; 5:14; Colossians 2:12,13; 3:1-3,10; 1 Peter 2:24)
11. Evidence that the first Christians were already made priests after Jesus’ ascension (1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10).
12. Evidence that the 1000 years ended in the 1st century because of an expected resurrection (Matthew 3:7; 12:32,41,42; 16:27; Luke 3:7; 11:31,32; 14:14; 21:36; John 5:29; 6:39,40,44,54; 12:48; Acts 17:31; 23:6; 24:15,25; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:22,23,52; 2 Corinthians 4:14; Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 3:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; 2 Timothy 2:18; 4:1; Hebrews 2:5; 6:5; 10:27; James 2:12; 5:9; 1 Peter 4:5,17).
NOTE: A coming Judgment, Kingdom, Christ and Resurrection are all linked together in various ways in the NT.
12a. Resurrection associated with judgment (Matthew 12:41,42; Luke 11:31,32) and the judgment is about to come (Acts 17:31; 24:25; 2 Timothy 4:1; James 5:9; 1 Peter 4:5,17).
12b. Compensation (“judgment”) associated with the resurrection (Luke 14:14).
12c. Compensation (“judgment”) associated with judgment and the second coming (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
12d. A resurrection of life tied to the same event as a resurrection of damnation (John 5:29).
12e. A resurrection and the last day associated (John 6:39,40,44,54).
12f. Judgment and the last day associated (John 12:48 – judgment at the last day).
12g. Hope of resurrection (Acts 23:6) and the resurrection is about to be (Acts 24:15).
12h. Promise of resurrection anticipated (1 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 4:14).
12i. Resurrection associated with the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17).
12j. Paul might live unto the resurrection (Philippians 3:11).
12k. Resurrection associated with the second coming (1 Corinthians 15:22,23; 1 Thessalonians 4:17).
12l. Nature of resurrection and its timing are critical (2 Timothy 2:18).
12m. Judgment, resurrection, second coming and the coming kingdom all associated together (2 Timothy 4:1).
13. Evidence that Satan was given back power in the first century (Revelation 13:2-4).
14. Evidence that the promises to the 7 churches of Revelation 2,3 had to be fulfilled in the first century before they disappeared from the pages of history (Revelation 2:5,16; 3:11).
14a. The church at Ephesus is promised that if they overcome they would eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God (Revelation 2:7). This paradise of God is the one described at the end of the book and contains the city of God (new Jerusalem). The leaves of this tree are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2,14). Why would there be a need of healing in heaven, if this “paradise” is supposed to be heavenly? And are the people in the church of first-century Ephesus still waiting for their rewards some 2000 years from which they were told “quickly” and “at hand”?
14b. The church in Smyrna was promised a crown of life and not to be hurt by the second death (Revelation 2:10,11). Paul expected this crown also (1 Corinthians 9:25) and even associated his receiving it at the coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Timothy 4:8). Peter also associated this awarded crown with the coming of Christ (1 Peter 5:4). Why did they seem to expect all of this at the coming of Christ? Because Jesus told them that when he came in His glory that He would reward every man according to his works and then told them that some of them would be alive when this occurred (Matthew 16:27,28). When do we see this occurring? (Revelation 20:6-15; 21:8) places this award at the end of the book where the definition of what the “second death” is given also. Thus the reward of the crown and the second death are associated at the same event, and that event is the coming of Christ, and that is tied by the very short rope of Matthew 16:27,28). Wow!
14c. The church in Pergmos is promised to eat of the hidden manna and to be given a white stone with their name on it (Revelation 2:17). Now I couldn’t find anything on the manna and the white stone, but it is stated that God’s name is written on their foreheads in Revelation 22:4. And also that Jesus had a name written that no one knew except Himself (Revelation 19:12).
14d. The church in Thyatira is promised power over the nations, and rulership with a rod of iron, and they are promised the morning star (Revelation 2:26-28). Then we see that Jesus comes and will “shepherd them with a rod of iron” (Revelation 19:15), and that the saints of God will “reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). Also, the statement of the “morning star” being Jesus is given in the closing chapter (Revelation 22:16). How could Jesus make such promises if they were not fulfilled to these churches in that generation and to that particular church?
14e. The church of Sardis is promised “white clothing” and that their names would not be blotted out of the “book of life” (Revelation 3:5). Then we read that the saints are clothed in “fine linen, clean and white” in Revelation 19:8. Also, the reading from the book of life is stated at the end of the book also (Revelation 20:12,15; 21:27; 22:19). Therefore, was the book of life opened in that generation to fulfill His promise to the church of Sardis? Must’ve been, because not only is Sardis no longer in existence, but neither are any of these 7 churches.
14f. The church in Philadelphia is promised to have God’s name and God’s city’s name, New Jerusalem, written on them (Revelation 3:12). Then, of course, we read about New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:2,10, and also about God’s name being written on the saint’s foreheads in Revelation 22:4.
14g. To the church in Laodicea is promised to sit in Jesus’ throne. Although there is no direct reference to this in the latter chapters of Revelation, we have already discussed this ruling and reigning with Christ as pertaining to the 1000 years.
NOTE: Since all of these 7 churches are no longer in existence today, and they were real churches that John wrote to in the first century, wouldn’t all these promises have to be fulfilled to them before they ceased to exist? Or are we to believe that they are still awaiting their specific promises from Jesus to yet be fulfilled?
I hope I have made the creek bank a bit more slippery for you to slide on into the full preterist creek!
Sincerely your brother in Christ,
Greg Kiser
The Early Date Of Revelation - Study Archive
Grek Kiser's articles and others can be found here
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