by Tony Warren
INTRODUCTION What position we take on the millennial reign of Christ's kingdom is very important to the Church. And despite the many voices of denial, eschatological agnosticism is akin to blindfolding ourselves to a large part of the scriptures concerning the kingdom of God. And it is doing so while endeavoring to preach on the nature of that very same kingdom. The reality is, whatever God has inspired written in His word is a revelation to us, and thus cannot ever be looked upon as a non-essential or unimportant. As faithful Christians we should have the mindset that all of God's word is essential and necessary for sound theology and spiritual growth in living to the glory of God in this world. This is the way that I believe we should approach eschatology.
Eschatology, or the study of the Kingdom of God in His plan concerning the last or final events of history, can be a very complex subject. However, it is also very spiritually profitable and rewarding for the conscientious Christian. The reason that this subject may appear rather confusing to some is the different scriptures that (when not considered circumspectly) often seem to support one point of view or another, are often challenged with strong and convincing retorts. And because many scriptures are used out of context and haphazardly (and yes, even deceitfully), they really don't prove what they are being purported to prove. Thus the end times are often viewed in a rather insular fashion, wherein parts of the scriptures are seemingly in conflict with other parts. As a result, we have competing groups with tunnel vision, unwisely building their eschatology upon their favorite passages, set apart from the big picture of the entire Biblical record.
The four major eschatological positions regarding Christ's Kingdom are called, Amillennialism, Premillennialism, Postmillennialism, and Praeterism (Preterism). Despite the objections by many theologians, these positions are biblically incompatible with each other. Therefore at best only one of these views can be the truth of scripture. And so it is incumbent upon those who desire truth, to search out the scriptures and earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. True understanding comes through the diligent study of God's word (2nd Timothy 2:15), via the Spirit, and is born of the faith of Christ. Nothing that God has planned and foretold in His word concerning the human race, is insignificant with regards to our sojourn on this earth. Nor can it be without some planned spiritual bearing on our lives. In other words, God didn't inspire the doctrines of the millennial reign of Christ to be penned and incorporated into scripture just to take up space. They are there because the Lord wants us to know about the things to come, and glean just how they are intimately identified with the body of Christ, the things that have been, and things that are. Thus, whatever is in God's word is basic, necessary, and even essential for living a good Christian life according to the divine purpose and will of God. The bible is the blueprint, the guidebook, and the revelation of what God has given us to know of these things. So in order to have a truly accurate understanding of eschatology, we must search these divinely inspired scriptures, rather than the dogmas and traditions of men. Whatever prophecy is recorded "within" scripture, is the true authoritative eschatology that God inspired. By the same token, whatever prophecies are from "outside" of the scriptures, are of personal opinion, and thus are an eschatology of private (personal) interpretation, supposition or speculation. As the prophet Joseph so rhetorically and wisely asked, "Do not interpretations belong to God? (Genesis 40:8)" ...indeed they do! Thus His word interprets His word, or as is commonly stated, "the Bible is its own interpreter."
With this basic "Principle" of sound exegesis in mind, I can tell you that Amillennialism is not a word that you will find in the scriptures. That is to say, unless you know exactly what the word delineates. Then you will discover that (like the word trinity), though it's not a word literally written within scripture, it is clearly a word that is used to define and describe the sound biblical doctrine that is. Therefore, what the word represents is taken "directly" from the pages of the word of God. What we will see in this study is that everything that Amillennialism has stood for is explicitly expressed on the pages of Holy Canon. And in this exposition, we will endeavor to show this conclusively, and without ambiguity. For what is today commonly called Amillennialism, is "nothing more" than what the scriptures themselves plainly declare. In its pure form, it is the undeniable and biblically validated truth that the prophesied coming of Messiah, the deliverance of Israel, the binding of Satan, the Peace, Safety, Government, Rule, Temple Building, Righteousness, Prosperity, Kingdom and Millennial Reign of Christ, has indeed already come. And if this is the truth, then the word Amillennial is simply the testimony to the witness of the word of God itself. It is nothing more than a declaration of God's kept promises, and their ultimate fulfillment in the extension of Christ's Kingdom of heaven, on earth.
Millennial Positions
So that we can better understand the debate, we will start with a brief definition of the four major millennial positions in the Church today. Because in understanding these different eschatologies, we will get a better awareness of how each doctrine views the Church's mandate, plan, and final victory in accomplishing this mission.Amillennialism
The word millennium is a Latin term meaning one thousand years. It's from the root words [mille], meaning thousand, and [annum], meaning years. In Greek (yes Greek, not Latin), placing the letter "a" before a word negates the word. So a-millennial literally means "no millennium."
However, we should note that contrary to false claims, Amillennialists do in fact believe there is a millennial reign of Christ, but not on an temporal physical throne upon this sin cursed earth. They believe that the Messiah has come to reign upon the throne of David in the Kingdom of heaven. So the word Amillennial itself is literally accurate as it is understood to mean, "no millennial reign on an earthly or worldly throne." Use of this word in any sense other than a "no future earthly kingdom reign," would be a misnomer.
This view of eschatology maintains that the present reign of Christ (Revelation 20:4), began with His ascension to the throne of God, and that this is what the apostle Peter was speaking about in Acts 2:30-32. Christ instituted His kingdom reign by His death, resurrection, and ascension to the throne of David, and it will be fully realized and manifested in heaven at His second coming.
The Amillennial Christian does not support the idea that the Kingdom of Christ is an intangible, but that it is incontrovertibly real, effectual, substantive, factual and essential. The kingdom is of a spiritual, rather than worldly (earthly) or carnal nature. They believe that the Kingdom of Christ on earth is now being extended and advanced through the preaching of the gospel of Christ, by His witnesses.
Premillennialism
By contrast, the term Premillennialist (or Chiliasm) identifies Christians who believe that the thousand year reign spoken of in Revelation chapter 20 is earthly or physical in nature. It is where Christ literally returns to earth as potentate, to set up a temporary kingdom where the saints will rule with him. Pre-millennial literally means before millennium, or before the thousand years. This doctrine teaches that sometime in the future Christ will return to earth, but will not execute the last judgment at once. He will begin a literal one thousand-year reign upon a physical throne in the Middle East. In this eschatology Christ will reign and govern physically from Jerusalem, and peace will have rule on earth from the nation of Israel. Generally, Premillennialists believe in two separate and unequal programs. A national (rather than individual) salvation plan for the genetically Jewish people, and another separate plan for everyone else (any non-Jew or Gentile). They generally hold that future redeemed Israel will be the center of government and the spreading of the gospel to the nations of the world. In this, they generally reject the contention that Christ has already come to redeem and deliver Israel, and that He is already presently the center of rule and Government as prophesied.
There are different forms of Premillennialism (Dispensationalism, Historical, etc.), but in general, they do not believe that many Old Testament scriptures that were obviously fulfilled, are "completely" fulfilled. They often take the position that fulfillment in Israel (if any) is incomplete, and the pertinent scriptures dealing with this have yet a further future "literal/physical" fulfillment. For example, some Premillennialists look for Elijah to literally/physically come back to prepare the way for Christ's rule, because they don't believe that John the Baptist "completely" fulfilled that prophesy.
Postmillennialism
Another view that has seen some increase in popularity within some Reformed circles recently, is Postmillennialism. This is the view that the millennium will produce a future golden age of the Church that will precede the second advent of Christ. They (as do the Amillennialists) offer up the scriptures that declare that Christ is ruling in His kingdom now, and that the kingdom of God is now being extended through the servants of that kingdom preaching the gospel. But they differ greatly from the Amillennial view in that they believe that at the end of this kingdom age, there will be an age of righteousness and worldwide turning to Christ.
The word "post," means after, and thus Post-millennial identifies those who believe in the return of Christ after this future golden age or period. This belief system usually holds that this golden age of the Church will feature the exercise of Christ's power and authority demonstrated in this world, whereby its rulers will be hindered in their wickedness. The influence of Christianity will excel and spread until a future time when most of the world will be in obedience to God's laws. Those who hold to this view generally expect that after they have created this just, God-fearing society, Christ will then return, and the judgment and resurrection will occur.
Praeterist
The Praeterist (or Preterist) view means it's past fulfillment. Praeterit is Latin and means Pre (before) in fulfillment. i.e., [L. praeteritus, gone by]. It is expressing time fulfilled. There are many different types of Praeterists including, partial and full. They generally believe that most or all of Bible Prophecy has already been fulfilled in Christ, and the on-going expansion of His Kingdom. They hang this belief of Past-fulfillment on many different verses, including the witness that Jesus and his apostles said that his coming (or presence) and the end of all things, would occur soon (they surmise, in that physical generation).
Most full Praeterists spiritualize the majority (or all) of Matthew chapter 24 as having already taken place in the past, and often believe that Christ actually returned in 70 AD, fulfilling the prophesy of the second advent.We should understand that in all these different views of eschatology, it is not simply a matter of opinion about chronology, it is actually a matter of a different hermeneutic, and of different type of exegesis. These systems differ not only in their methodology, but also in the way those who hold to them understand biblical history and its examples. So in coming to an understanding of what each eschatological doctrine teaches, we come to better understand the very structure, purpose, and nature of the Kingdom of Christ, and His/Our reigning within.Of all these diverse and adverse millennial positions, only the Amillennial view can be "totally" supported in all of its pertinent declarations concerning the kingdom with unambiguous scripture. Not with a scripture that we claim should be interpreted to mean these things, but scripture that actually says them! Of course, I fully realize that this is a bold statement from which I should expect skepticism and cynicism. But in this study we will go through the verses one by one to prove that this is the truth. For we all know that making these bold declarations is the easy part, but an "undeniable" defense of them requires the unquestioned "unadulterated" witness of scripture. That is what we shall provide.
Interpretive Liberty or License
Some of the critics of Amillennialism joy in labeling it a pessimistic view of God's kingdom. But nothing could be further from the truth. Postmillennialists in particular often charge that the Amillennialist does not believe that the world as a whole will be evangelized or discipled. This is a false and indefensible charge. We most certainly do believe that the whole world will be evangelized, but in the exact same manner as God says Christ came to save the whole world. I.e., as God defines the terms, not as man does. The problem is that there are those theologians who confuse pessimism with a scholarly and biblically sound view of the fate of the world. This is a view in full agreement and accordance with the whole Bible. There are no "pie in the sky" theological theories of a temporal earthly glory in the end of the world in true Amillennialism, only the realistic and scriptural view that Christ's Kingdom triumphs by the spread of the gospel that all of the elect are saved. Its glory is in the realization that many will "overcome the world" and be translated into the kingdom by the blood of Christ. We don't triumph by converting everyone (or nearly everyone) in the world, nor did our God ever prophecy conversion of the whole world that way. The Church was commissioned to call a remnant whom the Lord has Chosen, "out of" the world. It was not commissioned to create a righteous world. Rather, that in the success of the Church "calling many out" of the world unto the Kingdom, Christ's Kingdom increases exponentially. The advancing of Christ's Kingdom was never prophesied to be such that the Church would one day make the world righteous. It was prophesied that the Messiah would make righteous an elect remnant from the world, whom God would call through preaching. In this most obvious of truths is found our unfailing optimism, and our unshakable faith in the ultimate success of the Church age. It is a success not defined by any misunderstanding of changing the world, but in that we successfully call a remnant in the world "to change." This is not the pessimism charged by many Postmillennialists, it is the very same "good news" of the gospel message, which has been preached for centuries. It wasn't pessimism then, so it cannot be pessimism now. Selah! John 17:9
"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine." John 17:20"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;"The Evangelization of the world is not God's plan, except as it is defined by the measured Choosing "of a remnant" from every nation of the world. Christ came to save the world, not everyone in the world. Again, that's not pessimism, that's the optimistic faith in our assurance that Christ indeed will build His Church, even in the midst of this desperately wicked world. God forbid we should call that plan pessimism. On the contrary, we are confident that Christ will successfully build His Church, and that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. He's done that for the last 2000 years. The commission of the Church has always been to spread the gospel and advance the Kingdom of Christ, as so plainly illustrated in the parable of the pounds (Luke 19:13-25). And unless Christians from the time of the cross until today have labored in vain, it never was, and it never will be pessimism. Those kinds of charges are simply another form of ad hominem rhetoric. They are disingenuous accusations made simply for effect. The implication being that those who do not believe as they do, do not believe God's righteous Kingdom triumphs. This is blatantly false, but vain accusations are used this way in a futile attempt to defeat plain scripture concerning the end time period.Humanistically speaking, it would indeed be very easy to offer a rosy unrealistic outlook on the world, but it would also be unjustifiable from the scriptures. There has always been the evangelization of a chosen few, a remnant of the world that is made righteous. And the closer to the end of the world that we come, this remnant will become smaller than ever. Because Satan will be loosed from the chains of his pit onto the world to deceive. The work of the Church is to spread the gospel message to a world that is desperately in need of it. Its task is to shed light upon a world that will suffer the wrath of God. To bring a spiritual peace to a world that isn't ever going to have earthly peace, because the heart of mankind is desperately wicked. The world isn't going to get better, it will get (and has gotten) progressively worse, until the Lord returns to a world where love of God has grown so cold that there is rampant Apostasy.
Luke 18:8
"I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"It's a rhetorical question illustrating the bankrupt nature of the world when Christ returns. He will return to a world where iniquity abounds because love of God has grown cold, and man in his arrogance thinks to rule himself in God's house. He will return to a world that has had Satan loosed upon it as judgment. He will return to a world where the Dragon has gathered the nations from the four corners of the earth together against God. This is the end of the matter. It will not be a golden age of worldwide bliss or of spiritual awakening of the world, but a world that is come under judgment of God. There will be faith found only in the remnant.While the Postmillennial view appeals to the humanity of man, the Premillennial view appeals to the traditions of man. It is basically an offshoot of the old Judaic tradition in the law-bound beliefs in nationalism, earthly governments, and genealogical glory. When studied carefully, it is both inconsistent and contradictory. Unfortunately, like its namesake Judaism, Premillennialism continually denies God's fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies (which scripture clearly declare have already been fulfilled).
Amillennialism gives us an authoritatively consistent and biblically tenable doctrine that doesn't undermine God's Word of fulfillment. We need a recognition in the Church that when God's Word says something is fulfilled (completed), then it's fulfilled. And this makes perfect sense, because it testifies to the emphasis of God's Word on the inward man, the spiritual nature of Messiah's Kingdom, and of those who reign in it. It confirms that we are citizens of that kingdom (now), as prophesied, and presently reign in true peace as kings and priests unto our God. Not in a carnal or political government in the middle eastern city of Jerusalem, but in a spiritual government that is upon Christ's shoulders. We are part of the rule of a spiritual city from above. Earthly Jerusalem remains in bondage, rejecting this rule of Christ.
Galatians 4:25-26
"For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all."We are ruled in a government wherein we are subjects who obey the laws thereof "in Christ," who rules over us. Amillennialism is the Historic Protestant Church view in which "every point" can be unambiguously justified with scripture quoted word for word. The only detail that can even be honestly debatable as not "explicitly" stated in scripture, is the spiritual length of the time of the one thousand years. And even this belief is made abundantly clear by the context, the nature of the millennium, and other scriptures that deal with the subject of the reign of Christ. i.e., when compared with all other scriptures, it is seen to be God breathed and the only possible way that the one thousand years can be understood.To use an analogy, if you are told to go south for ten miles, then west for ten miles, and then north ten miles, it doesn't take a Ph.D. to figure out that your position must be ten miles west of your starting point. Even though you are not explicitly told that you are ten miles west of where you started, it is the "only" possible place you can be, considering your movements. Likewise, God has given us all the information needed to understand what is the New Covenant Millennial reign of Christ, spoken of in Revelation chapter twenty. The problem is not that the evidence is not there, the problem is in Church indoctrination and traditions. And ironically, many theologians that claim they take the scriptures very literally, have accused those of us who literally follow these scriptures concerning the reign of Christ, of following tradition instead. Nevertheless, we know that:
"If God inspired it written, it cannot be man's private interpretation, it's God's explanation. And if God, through His word, reveals what was hidden, it cannot be man's personal creation, it's God's light of illumination."
-WiseManSayA fundamental principle of sound hermeneutics is that no scripture can be looked upon as "not true." God's Word is inerrant so that even the difficult passages that we may not yet understand, we must unquestionably receive as true. Our understanding has to be brought into agreement with what is written. e.g., John the Baptist said He was not Elijah (John 1:21). But Jesus said if we will receive it, this was Elijah which was prophesied to come. Which declaration of scripture is the truth? Is this a mystery? The answer is, both statements are truth, because John was not the Elijah who lived years before, but He was the Elijah that was prophesied to come before Christ. So shall we wave our hands in the air and condemn Christ for "spiritualizing" a clear prophecy calling for Elijah to come before Christ? Of course not, but this is often how Premillennialists react to God's Word when it is to be understood spiritually. Luke 1:17
"And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."Thus the answer is not in stubbornly insisting that Elijah literally be reincarnated in another body to fulfill scripture according to tradition, but in our "receiving" the testimony of the whole of scripture. We discern by the Spirit of God that the prophesy was for one to come walking in the same spirit and power that Elijah (Elias) did. Both the witness of John, and the witness of Jesus was true. But scripture has to be defined and interpreted by God, not modern day teachers or by traditions. Let God define His own terms. As righteous Joseph declared of mysteries:"..do not interpretations belong to God?"
-Genesis 40:8Indeed they do. So we must read scripture with the mind of Christ (1st Corinthians 2:16), that we humbly receive what God has inspired written, rather than choose to ignore it or twist it for our own purposes. It should never be about what we think is right, but about what God says.
Historic Misconceptions
There is the common misconception by some Christians that Augustine (Augustin, AD 400) was the author of what is today called the Amillennial view of the kingdom of Christ. Others credit Origen (3rd century) as the chief architect of this teaching. But neither of these conclusions are true. We should be careful to understand that the term Amillennial was not known to either Origen or Augustine. While it is true that these people were somewhat instrumental in bringing this teaching back to the forefront of the Church of their day, this doctrine by no means originated with them. As we will see, it is straight from the pages of scripture. So in the same way that the Reformation was the restoring of doctrines faithful to scripture (not the start of them), likewise Augustine's noted preaching of what the scriptures said about the Kingdom was in response to teaching error. It was not the beginnings of a new teaching, it was the returning to what Christ taught, just as the reformation was. What is commonly called Amillennialism is as old as the scriptures themselves. And though obviously not known by this name, it has always been the "biblical teachings" of the Church. Of course, man has a penchant to label everything in order to separate (for better or worse), but the truth signified by this label is found clearly on the pages of Holy canon. And not that consensus validates anything, but nearly the entire Protestant Reformation, the faithful revitalizing and restoring of the Church to leaning upon the authority of scripture, took a distinctly Amillennial view of eschatology. Looking at the Protestant Churches which grew out of that Reformation, you would never know this by where Protestant eschatology has fallen in our day. Reformation leaders like Martin Luther held to the present kingdom view of the thousand years of Revelation chapter twenty because it was delineated on the pages of scripture. He did not blindly accept it because of Church tradition, he recognized that the millennium reference was to all of New Testament Church history. He found by scripture that it could not refer to a thousand-year earthly event. The truth is, Nearly all of the Great Christian Reformers, from John Knox, Ulrich Zwingli, to Philipp Melanchthon (to name a few) understood the scriptures to teach what we today call Amillennialism. These men believed it not because they were taught this, but because they believed in sola scriptura, they were thereby convinced of its sound "scriptural foundation." And anyone who insists that nearly all the Reformers were Amillennialists simply because they were blindly following tradition (as some have hypothesized), doesn't really understand much about the Reformation, nor about these reformers.Amillennialism was always the majority view of the Historic Protestant Reformed Christian Church. It's only relatively recently that Protestants (to a large degree) have forgotten their Historic Reformation roots which were grounded solidly in "sola scriptura" eschatology. Sadly, most Protestant Churches today have strayed from that faithfulness, and fallen into the snare of Premillennial Dispensationalism, and other unsound doctrines.
Proverbs 22:20
Remove not the ancient landmarks which thy fathers have set."The faithful men of old who wouldn't go beyond the marks or boundaries of what the scriptures said, today, seem rare breeds. Church leaders in greater and greater numbers appear to judge by supposition, assumptions and Church tradition. They seem to depend upon what their theological teachers theorize, or judge by what seems right in their own eyes. They have gone outside the boundaries and guide posts of scripture. The early Protestant Reformers knew the error of this, and judged the millennial reign between the ancient landmarks of scripture. I.e., they defined it by what was in God's Word, not by popular opinions or books. It is not insignificant (as some would have you believe) that the early Reformed Protestant Church almost exclusively held this eschatological view. These were not men who blindly followed tradition (as their break from the Roman Catholic Church demonstrated), and so for detractors to claim that they were merely following Catholic tradition, shows either an inherent ignorance of these men, or an acute bias and lack of Historical objectivity.Many of the Christians in our day do not really know Protestant Church history, and so are very often quite surprised (even shocked) when they discover that nearly all of the Protestant Reformers and the entire Reformed and Lutheran traditions were (what today is called) Amillennial. The reason that this history is not widely known in Christendom is primarily because the advocates of Premillennialism today so dominate Christian Radio, Books, and TV, that people easily get a biased and warped view of Church history and theology. And unfortunately, they are deluged with half-truths, diatribes against stated and commonly understood scriptures, and even deliberate distortion of the Amillennial teaching. Moreover, Amillennialism has suffered from the failure of Reformed Church writers to defend the position against those who label the position heretical and anti-Semitic[1]. As a result of this neglect, there are a great many people who only know Amillennialism by what self-serving Premillennialists and Postmillennialists tell them it is. Which in most cases is unbiblical, misleading, and very often deliberately inaccurate.
In addition, some theologians today put forth the claim that early church history (before the Reformation) is that Premillennialism (called chiliasm at the time) was the prevailing view of the Church until the introduction of Amillennialism in the fourth century. This is neither an innovative tactic, nor can it be proven. Many scholars have studied and written on this issue and shown it to be false. Included on this list are many respected theologians such as Alan Patrick Boyd, graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, Louis Berkhof, D.H. Kromminga, Philip Schaff, Ned Stonehouse, and W.G.T. Shedd. Alan Boyd declared boldly that the best that can be said of the early Church fathers is that they were "seminal Amillennialists." [2].
That there were a few early professing Christians holding to a Chiliast eschatology is not debated. Men like Barnabas, Papias, and Irenaeus held to this view. But it is also very clear from their writings that they didn't have a learned or sound understanding of eschatological scriptures. For example, Barnabas incredibly believed that the events of his day were the fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel (7:7-8) concerning the little horn and the ten kingdoms. Their eschatology is by and large a simplistic layman understanding born out of a naive form of "literal at all costs" exegesis.
No one should really look to men to form their doctrines anyway, we should look to the Word of God for what is correct. But I only include these facts to illustrate that the prevailing view that the historic early church was Premillennial is quite misleading and unproven. And they are quite often applying the name Premillennialism to the historically traditional Old Testament Judaic belief that an earthly Messiah would come to reign in Israel. After the cross, this Old Testament tradition found its way into some parts of the early Church, as did many other Jewish fables (Titus 1:14; 1st Timothy 1:4; 2nd Timothy 4:2-4). These fables about an earthly reign for the nation Israel, where Christ would come back to earth as a man, was the lifelong dream of the Jewish nation. However, this was not what the prophesy truly declared. And that is why Israel missed recognizing Christ at His first advent. And Dispensational Premillennialism is just a modern day name for the same old doctrines of Chiliasm, or Judaism.
Just as Amillennialism was not called amillennialism until relatively recently, yet the doctrine is as old as the Church, Likewise, Premillennialism was not called Premillennialism until recently, but this doctrine is likewise as old as the Church. Because its foundation is in the expectations of the old Jewish tradition of a coming worldly kingdom advent. History reveals that Chiliasm (or what has become known today as Premillennialism) was simply a rebirth or offshoot of the Old Testament Judaic Kingdom beliefs cloaked in New Testament apparel. Simply a modification and continuation of the very same erroneous doctrines and misconceptions about the Messiah, His Government, Reign and Peace, that Israel harbored when Christ first appeared unto them. Author William H. Rutgers said in his thesis, "..that chiliasm roots in this particularistic Judaic Apocalyptic mold cannot be gainsaid" [3] The truth is that Chiliasm (the age old belief and expectation of the Jews that the Deliverer's kingdom is of this world), was really not considered important enough for the Church to counter until the time of the outbreak of the chiliasts (literally, 1000). It was not the predominant doctrine.
This word Chiliasm historically took on the added meaning of a time of universal peace when the downtrodden would prosper. This of course due to the fact that the Jewish tradition held (and still holds) that this prophesy of peace was an earthly peace, rather than an inner Peace with God that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7). Their view was that since the pattern of six days in God's creation process was followed by a day of rest, likewise this pattern carried over into the Kingdom. Namely, after six thousand years of history there would then be 1000 years of peace (rest). This belief was thought to be supported by the scripture that says 1000 years is as one day (2nd Peter 3:8). As the 6000 years came and passed, this has of course been proven inaccurate. These teachings were obviously in error.
The Chiliasts of the middle ages who are so proudly embraced as the forerunners of Premillennialism by many theologians, were generally a sect of revolutionaries with visions of grandeur in the misconception of a literal kingdom Israel in which Christ would physically return to the earth to reign. This compromise (blending Old testament Judaic traditions and beliefs of a coming earthly Messiah establishing a political government, with New Testament Christianity that Messiah reigns 1000 years) was an accommodation to Judaic carnal ideas. They (as the nation of Israel before them), refused to accept that Messiah had already established His Kingdom in everlasting Peace, and delivered His people from bondage by His death and resurrection. These early ideas about the millennial reign are rooted in these same erroneous Judaic traditions, rather than in sound hermeneutics that deal honestly with New Testament truths.
In times of severe persecutions or despair, there would be those who would arise again with this interest in Chiliasm, which became their hope under trying times. The Chiliast zealots believed they were going to take up arms and overthrow the government physically, to make way for the coming king. It was only "after" these heresies began to grow in the Church, that Augustine and others considered the Chiliast doctrine important enough to speak out about it, to restore the major schools of thought in what is now known as Amillennialism. The very same "restoring" or returning to sound Biblical principles which characterized the Reformation.
Augustine's exhortation to the Church to understand the millennial kingdom in the light of God's Word rather than worldly or carnal rules and thrones, for all intents and purposes sent Chiliasm to an early grave. Calling this, "a doctrine of worldliness," His testimony that the scriptures bear witness that the Church is the spiritual kingdom of God upon the earth, and that Christ was presently reigning on His throne, galvanized the Reformation and most all of the then Christian world to this view. The fact is, the only Premillennialists of the period of Protestant Reformation were radical reformers [4]. So this belief was for all intents and purposes non-existent in Protestant Reformation times. And most all of the Church creeds and confessions are distinctly Amillennial, including two of the preeminent creeds of the early Church, the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. The Apostles' Creed reads "He shall come again to judge the quick and the dead," and the Nicene Creed reads, "shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end." In these creeds we see both the judgment and the resurrection takes place at his second advent, and that Christ's Kingdom is not temporal (literally 1000 years) but everlasting. Even the Lutheran Augsburg Confession contained a rejection of the Premillennialism of the Anabaptists. John Calvin condemned historic Premillennialism as a theory that makes the rule of Christ a temporary and transient kingdom, which negated the true hope, which is seen in the eternal Kingdom. So this tradition soon died out as Reformers faithful to scripture almost universally taught what we today call Amillennialism. The second Helvetic Confession (1566) specifically condemned Premillennialism as being "Jewish dreams." This eschatology was clearly seen as incompatible with scripture, and was as a dead issue for the historic Protestant Church of the day.
Sadly, it was revived after being delineated by Baptist layman William Miller [5] in the early and mid-1800's. In the late 1850's John Nelson Darby [6] put forth a new form of this Premillennialism, calling it Dispensationalism. In this was taught that God interacts with man in epochs (periods of time) or dispensations. This view was brought into the mainstream by Cyrus Scofield with the publication of his "Scofield Reference Bible." Many others, getting ideas from his bible, wrote their own conclusions about it, one building on the writings of another, until we have the Dispensational doctrine in its present flavors today. After the rise of these errors in the first half of the nineteenth century, Dispensational Premillennialism finally gained general recognition, and eventually domination among Protestants.
In our day, Christians have been told over and over again by Premillennial authors (and their advocates) that God has a special love for the Jewish race, no matter what evil they might do or how they may continue to deny God's Anointed Christ. This (besides being in direct contradiction to God's own written Word), makes no biblical sense. Scripture makes no such claim. As it is written, "they are not all Israel, which are of Israel -Romans 9:6". Clearly, there is individual salvation, not national or racial salvation. The bottom line of this doctrine is that it teaches that a person's racial descent (being physically Israel's seed) makes them God's chosen People. I.e., merely by being born of that blood, and regardless of lifestyle, faithfulness or obedience, they are deemed chosen people by genealogy. Israel (to these theologians) is a matter of race or ethnicity, and not faith in God. Again, in direct contradiction to all that God stands for. The truth is that all Israel is not Israel, and all Jews are not Jews. God has declared that He will define Israel, and men in their pride and arrogance have no part in that defining. Truly, if Christ makes the captivity of Israel free, then the Kingdom of God has come, and those who wait for another kingdom of Christ, are waiting in vain.
What is the Kingdom of God/Heaven
The theme of the Kingdom of God is found in both the Old and the New Testaments, and it embodies the divine purpose of God for man in heaven and earth. The Kingdom is spoken of both as a present realized rule and reign, and also from the perspective of being our future habitation. There the saints will spend eternity with their Christ in His Kingdom. Using an analogy, it would be as if you received an inheritance from one who has died. By law the inheritance is yours from the moment of death. But when you take possession of the inheritance left you (days, weeks, months or years later), that can also be spoken of when you received the inheritance. Likewise, Christ died and left us the inheritance of the Kingdom. It is lawfully ours right now. Yet it is also reserved for us undefiled in heaven (1st Peter 1:4). So we both realize the kingdom now, and shall receive it as the purchased possession at the consummation. There are practical examples in scripture of both these senses of inheritance. The kingdom is spoken of as a "present realized reign" in passages like 1st Corinthians. 1st Corinthians 15:24
"Then cometh the End, when He shall have delivered up The Kingdom to God, even the father.."Here the Kingdom of God is represented in the body of Christ. We reign as Kings and Priests unto God on earth "now" because he dwells within us, and we are His representatives on earth. We are the body of Christ. Therefore, the Kingdom being spiritually within us, when the end comes and we are caught up together to be with the Lord, that is the delivering up of the Kingdom to God that 1st Corinthians speaks of. As is written, we are kings and reign in Christ's kingdom now, and will also reign with Him in eternity. Revelation 1:5-6
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen". Revelation 1:9"I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."So God's Word declares plainly that we are companions in the "Kingdom of Christ," because we collectively make up His body, and He rules over us, and governs us. This makes us part of the Kingdom of God on earth. There are many who have the misguided idea that the Kingdom of Christ will come as an earthly reign, and be established over in the Middle East city of Jerusalem. But God has always made it clear that His Kingdom doesn't come that way, because it is not of this world. In other words, it is not that type of Kingdom. Luke 17:21
"Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."The kingdom of God is not "over there" in the middle east, it is within us because Christ is within us. He is the Kingdom, and we are the body of that kingdom on earth. It's not a Kingdom that can be seen here, or in once holy locations like Jerusalem, nor could it be such an earthly Kingdom after the fulfillment of "that" shadow or type by Christ. He is the true of whom these types foreshadowed. Everyone who is Saved has a part in the Kingdom by being in Christ, and Christ in them. That's what Christ meant when He said that the kingdom doesn't come with observation, it was within them. And even as Christ was talking about this as He told the Apostles that He gives them the keys of the Kingdom, and whatsoever they loosed "shall have been" loosed in heaven. It's the bringing many into the Kingdom by the preaching of the gospel, where God's will is done on earth, as it is in Heaven. That's the hallmark of the Church. They do God's will on earth by the promulgation of the gospel. It is with this that they loose and bind, and it is this gospel which is the keys to open and shut the Kingdom. We were given the power of the gospel (Acts 1:8) when Christ ascended to heaven, and the Kingdom of Christ on earth is being extended by the preaching of Word. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).On the other hand, we also see the Kingdom from the perspective of the inheritance that we will receive after the consummation. This is because Christ (Thee Kingdom) returns just as He went away, and that is when we shall physically possess that which is already ours. This is the consummation of the bride as we join Christ and shall be like Him. The perspective of the consummated Kingdom can be seen in passages such found in Corinthians:
1st Corinthians 15:50
"But this I say brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption."This is the Kingdom of heaven from the perspective of after the consummation. So the Kingdom of God that we are of now, will eventually be delivered up to God to its final state. And this state is the Kingdom that flesh and blood cannot inherit. It is the Kingdom "in" heaven. And so clearly we see that the Kingdom is both now, and it is also the state which we will be in after this earthly life. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the coming Kingdom, which is future. And that is yet another direct contradiction to the teaching of Premillennialism concerning God's coming Kingdom. The future Kingdom in heaven is the consummation of what has already been established on earth. The analogy God uses is of a bride who is already married, but hasn't yet consummated the marriage. Or again as the actual taking physical possession of an inheritance that is already legally ours. The Kingdom we reign in is now, and the consummated Kingdom is our final state. Likewise, we are positionally already saved, and yet we will be saved from Hell at Christ's return. Just as we have already been redeemed, and yet also will be redeemed at Christ's return. In other words, His return is the consummation, the culmination or bringing to "completion" the realized Kingdom. Christ's resurrection from the dead is what made the kingdom of God a reality, and His coming again is what will consummate it.Critics excel in trying to create the illusion of a contradiction, when (as you can see) it is quite evident from scripture that we both reign in the Kingdom now, and the kingdom to come, flesh and blood cannot inherit. We understand by scripture that the present Kingdom does not in any way contradict the future consummation or coming of the kingdom of God. To deny we reign in a present Kingdom is to deny the Word of God. Likewise, to deny that the future Kingdom cannot have flesh and blood in it, is also to deny scripture. Therefore, the truth of these statements is self-evident.
So we have read of Christ's present reign in His Kingdom (Colossians 1:130), and we read of the state of the eternal Kingdom (1st Corinthians 15:50) which flesh and blood cannot inherit. But there is not one single word in all of scripture about an "in-between" kingdom that will be established upon earth as Christ comes back to rule in Israel. It is not insignificant that scripture only explicitly declares this present Kingdom, and the Kingdom of God which flesh and blood cannot inherit. So Amillennialism triumphs biblically in declaring these truths, because obviously it is the witness of the Word. The Kingdom of God is open now, and now is the acceptable time to receive it.
Luke 18:17
"Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.."Humility, as a Child, is how we receive the Kingdom of God as a present reality. If there were no Kingdom of God yet, then God wouldn't encourage us to receive the Kingdom humbly, as a child would. The unfortunate part is that most of those who speak against Amillennialism either don't know what the word means, don't want to know what it means, or don't want others to know what the word means. Because anyone looking at the doctrine honestly will understand that it is simply the solid unadulterated testimony of what the Bible itself says about Christ's reign.I read one Premillennial publication that decried the fact that:
"..Amillennialists insist that the New Covenant with the Church is the Kingdom of Christ, and that His kingdom has already started."I honestly had to ask myself, who could actually disagree with this assessment? Yet this publication stated it "as if" it was untrue. Another writer stated the exact same thing, and then proceeded to soundly condemn it as "Augustine's theory." But the truth is, unless Augustine wrote the Bible, this isn't theory at all, and it's hardly Augustine's authorship. What book could these theologians possibly be reading that denies that Christ already established His Kingdom? It certainly is not the Bible. This teaching is not of Augustine, it's not theory, and neither is it a private interpretation. It is a solid Biblical fact! Why so many choose to deride this truth as if it was some sort of lie, or some un-biblical theology, is a question that only they can answer. Because Jesus Himself told us that the Kingdom was now and that He was sowing seed (Children of God) in this Kingdom. So unless Christ didn't know what He was talking about, or these authors do not believe what Christ said, then His Kingdom indeed has come and the Children of His kingdom are those of the Church. There simply is no getting around what God says, unless we choose to change times and laws or twist His words to conform to our own views. The scriptures speak volumes on the matter, and they speak it so very plainly. Matthew 13:37-38
He answered and said unto them, he that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
the field is the world, the good seed are the children of the Kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one."Clearly this is not Augustine's theory that Christ is now bringing His children into the Kingdom of God, it's the Word of truth. The Kingdom (according to God) is now. And believers are children of this (His) kingdom, which are sown of God. From Pentecost until now, Christ has planted the children of His Kingdom in the world. Is that Amillennialist rhetoric, or is that the plain Biblical truth which Christ taught? If it is the truth of scripture, then the real question is "why does man fight against these truths?"I find it amazing how Jesus spoke over and over again about His Kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God, and the nature of this kingdom, and yet said not one solitary word about His (alleged) future Kingdom or reign on earth at His second coming? If that doesn't tell us something, then what will? Something as significant as Christ physically descending to earth again to rule from Jerusalem, we would expect to read it somewhere in the Bible. Not only don't we read it, all we have is man's personal interpretation that this will happen. This is quite different from God actually saying these things. What He actually said was that the Kingdom and the children thereof are now, and that His reign in this Kingdom is now, and that the future Kingdom is one which flesh and blood cannot inherit. To find any writing of an earthly reign in between, we would have to add that to the scriptures. And indeed many have "read into" the scriptures their own political views and private opinions concerning a coming earthly reign.
Why would anyone decry the fact that Amillennialism teaches that Christ is now reigning from His throne in heaven, and that we are reigning with Him? Yet many theologians loudly protest this, and claim that it is a product of faulty exegesis. But the scriptures declaring this are unambiguous. i.e., they don't say this implicitly, they say it quite "explicitly." If we accept the authority of scripture, this point shouldn't even be a source for debate. Yet, because of the modern Church traditions that seem to override scripture, it has become debatable.
Colossians 1:13
"Who hath delivered us from the Power of darkness, and hath translated us into The Kingdom of His dear Son."If we accept that the Word of God alone is the "ultimate" authority, then why is this doctrine that is taught so clearly in the scriptures, so hard for some people to receive? Why is it so reviled, so spoken evil of, and so vilified as error when it is obviously unadulterated Holy writ? That is the question of the hour. This is God's Word of truth and yet (incredibly) modern theologians try and use it as some sort of proof text which they claim shows Amillennialists are not following scripture literally. But truly, doesn't it show just the opposite? What it shows is that we understand the Kingdom literally the way God inspired it to be written, and intended it to be understood. We understand it as a spiritual Kingdom, not as a pile of bricks in a plot of dirt located in the middle east. God's kingdom is not meat and drink, and God's word precludes a worldly (physical or earthly) Kingdom to come. The truth is, we could not have been translated into the Kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13) if Christ had not yet established His kingdom yet, could we? That would be the height of foolishness and confusion. Either what God inspired written of our having been translated into Christ's kingdom is the truth of God's word, or it is a lie. It can be one or the other, but not both. So again, the Amillennialist doctrine triumphs Biblically. It's not something "read into" scripture, it is something that is scripture.The Kingdom of God has been present with us all throughout Church history, and it is being extended to the entire world, the fulfillment of God's great commission. Are we preaching the good news to the world of a King which has no Kingdom, or are we preaching the gospel of being regenerated and translated into His Kingdom? The Kingdom of Christ has extended from the past, into the present, and also into the future.
Matthew 24:14
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."The gospel of this Kingdom was to be preached as a witness from that time Christ instituted it, until the end came. And there was no other kingdom of Christ mentioned that should come in between. There's a good reason for that. There is no other earthly Kingdom. Christ never spoke of it at all. When the end comes, this Kingdom shall be delivered up unto the Father (1st Corinthians 15:24). By Grace of God in dealing honestly with these scriptures, we understand that what is called Amillennialism is nothing more than the Bible truth of this present Kingdom being extended to the nations. And who will condemn Christians for believing what the Bible plainly and unambiguously says about Christ's present reign in this Kingdom?Some theologians have come to understood this contradiction (claiming that Christ has no kingdom as yet), and so they have begun splitting hairs by confessing, "Yes, Christ is in a kingdom, but He does not yet reign." In essence, they make Christ a refugee in heaven just waiting to take rule of His Kingdom on earth. God Forbid! Christ is set on the right hand of God and now rules the destinies of nations and individuals, all for His own purposes, and in the interest of the Elect whom He has bought by His shed blood. The idea that He does not yet reign in His Kingdom is contrary to what scripture declares, and should clearly be seen as obvious error. The questions just cannot be reconciled with the answers. Has Christ established His kingdom and is reigning right now in that kingdom? Has Christ brought the promised Peace, and are we translated into His kingdom with Him? Has He already gone to the cross "and redeemed Israel?" All these questions are never effectively answered by the proponents of Premillennialism, but are answered clearly by God's word. And that alone (being the ultimate authority) is what both theologian and laymen alike should surrender to. Not to modern day televangelists views, but to the authority of the word. Interpretation by Sola Scriptura, the scriptures alone. For as righteous Joseph under inspiration of God declared, "do not interpretations belong to God?" Indeed they do. And so the question is, what does God say on the matter? Let us allow scripture alone to be the final authority.
Christ 'Has' established a Kingdom, not will..
Colossians 1:13
"Who hath delivered us from the Power of darkness, and hath translated us into The Kingdom of His dear Son."
Luke 1:33
"and He shall reign over the House of Judah for ever, and of His Kingdom there shall be no end."
It's not a Kingdom that lasts 'literally' a thousand years as some believe, for it's not an earthly kingdom. His kingdom is not of this world, and we reign on earth until Christ returns, and in heaven forever. A literal thousand-year kingdom on earth just doesn't qualify considering what God has said about it. We were translated from the Kingdom of darkness, and into the Kingdom of Christ, are become part of the Kingdom of Light. We are now as strangers and pilgrims here on earth because our real home/kingdom is in Heaven. But when we are in Christ on earth, we are in Heaven on earth. We are waiting the time when we'll possess the Kingdom, which we have already received in Christ Jesus. A Kingdom which is reserved for us. Christ 'Is' a king right Now, not will be.. Matthew 28:18
"And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, All Power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.
go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
He is not going to be a King someday, and we will be servants of that King someday; He is King now, in both heaven and earth, and does reign until He hath put all things under His feet. We are now the servants of that King, and he has all rule and authority. Note carefully that it says in both heaven, and earth. David's Son will forever be, "King of kings and Lord of lords." An earthly kingdom (which Christ rejected) has absolutely nothing to do with that fact (see acts 2:30-31). Christ "now" reigns on the throne of David. Again, that's not Amillennialist rhetoric, that's the Biblical facts that any Christian can plainly read for themselves.
Christ 'Does' Reign in His Kingdom, not will..
1st Corinthians 15:25
"For He must reign, until He hath put all enemies under His foot."
Romans 15:12
"and again Isaiah saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and He that shall rise to reign over the gentiles, in him shall the gentiles trust."
Though many arrogantly deny this, what does the scriptures say? Christ is already reigning over His kingdom. He is our now our king, and we are now His servants worshipping and serving him in this kingdom. He will reign in this established Kingdom until He hath put all enemies under His foot, and then will be the consummation of the Kingdom. NOTE: the last enemy will be death. Which of course means, He must reign from now, until the white throne judgment. Once again, condemnation of Postmillennialism and Premillennialism. This reign 'obviously' must be now, started at the ascension, and 'must' last from the ascension to the throne, to the judgment when the last enemy death, is put under His feet. CLEARLY, to deny this is to deny what is written here.
We 'Do' Reign with Christ in His Kingdom, Not will..
Ephesians 2:6
"and hath raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
In our soul we have been raised up with Christ, in our bodies we reign on the earth as Kings and Priests unto God (As prophesied and fulfilled; Ex. 19:16; 1st peter 2:9; Rev. 1:5-6; 5:9-10) because He redeemed us to God by His blood, and raised us to sit in His Kingdom with Him. Therefore are we kings and priests unto God and reign on earth. These aren't theories based on assumptions, these are not Augustine's words, this is the witness of scripture. We reign with Him in His Kingdom right now according to God's Word. Else, He hasn't redeemed us and made us a Royal (king is the same Greek word) Priesthood, as 1st Peter says.
Christ 'Has' brought Peace to the earth, not will..
Luke 1:79
"To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the Way of Peace."
Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth Peace, good will towards men."
John 14:27
"PEACE I leave with you, My Peace I give to you. Not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither be afraid."
Messiah already brought a kingdom, and brought peace to the earth. It's not a peace as the world defines it, or as Premillennialism defines it, or peace as the world gives peace (between two earthly nations), it's peace between God and man. Not peace between the Arabs and the Jews, but a peace wherein your heart will not be troubled, because the enmity between you and God is gone. It is the peace wherein you have no need to fear the wrath of God. This is The peace Christ brought to the earth, the peace that passeth understanding. It is not a peace between the earthly nations. It is a peace that is far superior, which is far more precious and lasting. The unspeakable Gift of the Kingdom sent into all nations! Christ 'Has' redeemed Israel, not will.. Luke 1:68
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and Redeemed His people."
Luke 24:21
"But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel; and besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done."
Galatians 3:13
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."
Christ has redeemed Israel from the curse by being cursed and dying on the cross in their stead. Christ became sin for His People (2nd Corinthians 5:21) and redeemed Israel. Unfortunately, many theologians today are making the exact same mistake that the children of Israel did at Christ's first advent. They rejected Him because they didn't understand how the redemption of Israel takes place, or how the captivity of Israel must be set free. It was by the death of Christ on the cross, not by some action or event that takes place in the future. They misapply, misunderstand, and misuse the scriptures to teach that these things are to be understood in a carnal or worldly fashion. Worldly peace, worldly government, worldly redemption, freedom from worldly prisons or literal earthly captivity, and worldly reigns, kingdoms and nations. This was the error of Israel, and is the error of Premillennialism. And to some degree it is also the error of Postmillennialism in their looking for worldwide conversion in global Christianity, and not the conversion of the remnant "out of" the world. The age-old Judaic errors of literalism, wrapped up in New Testament clothing.In the book of revelation we read that John speaks of being a "brother, and companion in tribulations, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ," (Rev. 1:9). How can he be a companion with us in the Kingdom of Christ, if Christ has not established His Kingdom? It makes no sense at all. And the whole Bible is a witness of scripture that says the very same thing. The Israel of God is Christ, and he whom is in Christ is in the Kingdom of God. He who is servant of a Kingdom, must of necessity have a Kingdom in which to serve, and a King to which they serve. This is simple logic and theological common sense. We can't have Christ as our established ruler (King), without His rule being over the people of a principality or Kingdom. But some theologians are doing theological gymnastics in order not to "receive" these most obvious truths of scripture. This is not the humility before God so divinely demonstrated by the Bereans of Thessalonica (Acts 17:11).
The First Resurrection
Another point that some detractors of the Amillennialist position condemn is that we say that the scripture teaches that "The First Resurrection" is the new birth. But again, either that is true, or our God is not telling the truth when He says it! One or the other, take your pick. God's Word teaches us that Christ is the first born from the dead that in all things he might have preeminence. That's the first resurrection from the dead. So the question is, "is Christ the first born from the dead or not?" Because if that's not true, then the resurrection wherein God says "we were raised up in His death," is frankly all a monumental deception. If it is true, then as Christ is the first raised from the dead, and we who were raised up with Him have part in the first resurrection. And if it's not true, then when Jesus told Martha (who thought that Lazarus would be first raised up in the last day) that, "HE was the Resurrection," it was all a lie, and all those raised in Him are not really raised up in His First Resurrection. We must then ask ourselves, "are believers raised up with Christ in a Pretend Resurrection, or was it with Christ as the first born from the dead?" Were we ever dead and raised up before Christ raised us up? The answer is no. So then this must of necessity be the "first" resurrection, just as we are told Christ is the first raised from the dead. If we really believe that Christ was the