In our first article, we talked about how the Greeks, following the ideas of their great philosopher Plato, began to spurn the natural world and the flesh and concentrate on the spiritual realm. We dealt with the fact that this emphasis was wholly opposed to the Hebrew and biblical idea that the natural world was important and so was our fleshly existence. The Hebrews balanced out the natural and spiritual in a wonderful way and refused to neglect either one.
We spoke about how many of our early Christian leaders were greatly influenced by Greek ideas. Let us continue to say that the Greek influence grew rapidly in Christianity’s early years. The philosopher Philo Judaeus of Egypt (d. 45-50 AD) did much to increase this emphasis. Philo was certainly influenced by Greek philosophers. He interpreted many things in the Old Testament as mere allegory. The church fathers continued on with the allegorical interpretation. Clement of Alexandria (c. 150 – c. 215 AD) used it and Origen (c. 185–c. 253) became a master at it. Of course, with this type interpretation the Millennium soon began to be looked upon as simply an allegory with no natural meaning. Israel was also allegorized in this way and early Replacement Theology was born. This is the idea that the church has become the true Israel and has completely replaced the natural Israel.
Later, another highly influential Egyptian philosopher was Plotinus (c. 205 – 270 AD). Plotinus became the founder of a system of thought that was later called Neoplatonism. Like Plato, Plotinus greatly distrusted materiality. Plotinus influenced Augustine and did much to mold Christianity of the Middle Ages. All this is a very quick and short summary of how the Greeks and Greek thinking stole the Millennium.
CONFUSION CONCERNING THE MILLENNIUM
The Millennium is probably one of the most confusing subjects for Bible students. The Millennium is presently understood in three different manners: premillennialism, postmillennialism and amillennialism. Of course, the premillennialists believe that Jesus will come back before the Millennium. This today is the predominant view. The postmillennialists believe he will come after the Millennium. The amillennialists do not believe in a literal thousand years of the reign of Christ and the righteous on the earth. They feel that the thousand years is symbolic and can refer even to the past and present history and victory of the church. All this has made a subject that was once exciting, extremely drab and confusing. We have lost something very, very precious.
THE OLD EARTH WILL NOT BE DESTROYED BUT WILL BE RENEWED
It appears that the Millennium is a necessary transition period between the old Earth and the New Earth. We read in scripture that terrible times will come in the last days. Humanity will be grossly corrupted and the natural world and universe will be shaken. The Bible says everything that can be shaken will be shaken (Heb. 12:27-28). The hot fires of tribulation will try everything and what is not of God will be burned up. At this terrible time, God will have his overcomers and his soldiers fully equipped with the spiritual armor we see in Ephesians chapter 6. Many will die as martyrs and others will survive the tribulation of the last days. Christ at his coming will consign the Beast (Antichrist) and the False Prophet to Hell and soundly defeat their armies (Rev. 16:16). He will also bind Satan and his activity for a thousand years.
When we read 2 Peter 3:10, it sounds like the world will be burned up and totally destroyed. However, as Alcorn says, “…the word translated ‘burned up: does not appear in the oldest Greek manuscripts, which contain a word that means ‘found’ or ‘shown.’ The NIV translates it ‘laid bare,’ and the English standard version renders it ‘exposed.’” (Alcorn 154-55) The Bible is clear that the earth will never be destroyed (Psa. 78:69; 93:1; 96:10; 104:5; Eccl. 1:4).
The earth will be totally renewed (2 Pet. 3:13). Several ancient writers have spoken about this. “Jerome often said that Heaven and earth would not be annihilated but would be transformed into something better. Augustine wrote similarly, as did Gregory the Great, Thomas Aquinas, and many medieval theologians.” (Alcorn155) Alcorn shows how the Greek word kainos (new) means new in quality. It is the very same word that Paul uses when he talks about us becoming new creations (2 Cor. 5:17). We are still the same physical persons but we have been renewed in Christ. (Alcorn155) We see the same principle in the flood which “destroyed” the world. What the flood actually did was cleanse the world. The world was not destroyed.
I liken all this to a person buying an old wreck of a house. We can imagine that the roof leaks, the plumbing doesn’t work, it is dirty and infested with mice and termites. The person has bought the house but he certainly will not move in immediately. He will spend a lot of time repairing and refurbishing the house before moving in. It seems that Christ will come to earth and publicly take over its ownership but he will not fully move in for a thousand years. It appears that overcoming resurrected Christians will become a part of the earth’s repair and clean-up crew. Psalm 149:6-9 tells us a lot of what we will be doing during that time. We will be ruling for Christ on the earth. With Christ’s help we will be pulling down all the high places and demolishing all the strongholds and arguments against God (2 Cor. 10:5-6). The Bible talks about the victorious saints actually ruling over cities (Lk. 19:17). Do we wonder why Paul exhorts us to practice reigning over evil while we still live on this present earth (Rom. 5:17)?
HOW DID WE GET OUR THINKING SO MESSED UP?
In our modern theology, we have everything going up while the Bible has everything coming down. The Kingdom is coming down; the New Jerusalem is coming down; the Bride is coming down and the Lord himself is coming down. Our theology has us flying off to heaven in some divine Dunkirk retreat operation while the battle of the ages is happening on earth. Do we ever wonder why Christ so carefully equips us with spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:10-18? Do we wonder why Jesus so lauds the overcomers or the victorious in Revelation chapters 2, 3, and 21?
Christian Overman says: “From its earliest days, the church has been troubled by those who have taught that holiness is a matter of retreat, detachment, or withdrawal from this present life.” He continues: “Christians retreated from active roles in such ‘worldly’ pursuits as politics, the arts, and science, withdrawing from the mainstream of life itself. But denial of the physical world, or detachment from it, runs counter to responsible stewardship over it.” (Overman 166, 168).
God has given the earth to victorious humans. Jesus promises: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5). Psalm 115:16 says, “The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind.” We read some astounding verses in the Book of Revelation: “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:10); “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6).
The truly interesting thing about the Millennium is that there apparently will be resurrected saints present on earth as well as people still in the flesh. According to my count, Isaiah alone has some 90 verses on the Millennium. (See also David Reagan) In Isaiah 65 we learn that some people will still be doing fleshly things like planting vineyards, building houses and dying at very old ages (65:20-22). At the end of the Millennium, we see a vast fleshly army coming against Israel. After God slays this army Israel will spend seven months just burying the dead (Ezek. 39:11-16).
GOD WILL NOT GIVE UP ON THE EARTH OR ON HIS PEOPLE
The earth is central in God’s plan so we can see what Adam destroyed, Christ had to repair. We through Christ now get to join his repair crew. After all, the Bible does say that we are laborers together with God (1 Cor. 3:9). We are also joint-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). Our work on the earth as it is being renewed will not be boring. How can rulership over cities or over nations be boring (Rev. 2:26)? Until that time evil men have ruled over cities and nations but that will surely change. Today most people in the world live under oppressive rulership and have few freedoms in their belief. People are starved, imprisoned, abused and murdered everywhere.
As we rule for him we can help execute his benevolent care. We can think God’s thoughts and do God’s perfect will without being hindered by flesh or sin. Just one example of thinking God’s thoughts: A grain of sand is a very common and disinteresting thing but someone meditated on that grain of sand and discovered silicon. With that discovery the Cyber Age was born. Just think of what all remains for our discovery and understanding!
As the earth is renewed we will see Christ change all of nature. “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them” (Isa. 11:6). An infant could have a cobra for a pet and not be harmed in the least (v. 8). Maybe cobras really like to be petted. Simply, the ancient curse will be removed from the earth. We will see long-contested Jerusalem become the world’s capital and all nations will flow to it seeking to learn about God’s law (Isa. 2:1-4).
God will not put up with rebellion in the Millennial Age. He will rule with a rod of iron and dash rebellions to pieces (Psa. 2:9; Rev. 2:27). It appears that the Lord’s overcomers will also rule with a strong hand. All this helps us see that some fleshly people will still be on the earth. It is interesting that a near-perfect environment does not put an end to the evil of humankind. In fact, at the end of the Millennium Satan will again be released, as we have said, and will be able to raise a very large army to fight one last battle against God and Israel.
Clearly, the Millennium is the doorway into an eternity with God in the New Heaven and New Earth. When we understand it better it might become one of the most exciting and joyous periods in our future.
-Jim Gerrish
wordofgodtoday.com
Published, 2022
Randy Alcorn, Heaven
Christian Overman, Assumptions That Affect Our Lives
David Reagan: For a list of Millennium scriptures see: http://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-millennium-in-the-old-testament/