Unlike Amillennialism, Premillennialism is based on assumptions and speculation rather than on any clear, straightforward scriptures

[Spiritual Israelite]

The foundation of the Premillennialism doctrine is based on some of the most highly debatable scriptures in the entire Bible and not on any clear, straightforward scriptures.

It seems that the two main pillars of Premillennialism are Revelation 20 and Zechariah 14. Any honest person will acknowledge that those are difficult passages to interpret.

Premills assume that what is described in Revelation 20 follows what is described in Revelation 19 chronologically. I believe that they manipulate the rest of the book and the rest of prophetic scripture to fit that assumption. I shouldn't have to convince anyone that the book of Revelation is not all chronological from beginning to end. Revelation 11 and 12 is the most obvious example where it is not written in chronological order. So, to make that assumption about Revelation 19 and 20 is not wise.

Not all Premills interpret Zechariah 14 the same way, but almost all of them use Zechariah 14 as one of their main support passages.

Interpreting Zechariah 14 as relating to a future thousand year earthly kingdom and interpreting it all literally, as many Premills do, creates contradictions with other scripture. These Premills believe in animal sacrifices being reinstated and taking place at a temple which currently does not even exist. This belief blatantly contradicts Hebrews 8-10 which teaches that Christ's once for all sacrifices made animal sacrifices obsolete forever. Animal sacrifices served the purpose of foreshadowing Christ's sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1) and that's it. These Premills typically also use Ezekiel 40-48 to support their view and some of them try to say the animal sacrifices would be done for the purpose of a memorial of Christ's sacrifice even though there is nothing written anywhere in scripture to support that theory. In Ezekiel 45:15-17 it very clearly talks about the animal sacrifices as being done as sin offerings for the atonement and reconciliation of sins. There is no longer any need for any animal sacrifices for that purpose because of Christ's sacrifice, so that can't possibly occur in the future.

Another problem with interpreting Zechariah 14 as relating to a future thousand year earthly millennial kingdom is that this means you believe that people will be required to go to Jerusalem to worship the Lord in the future despite Jesus saying long ago that people no longer had to go to worship God in Jerusalem, but instead were required to worship Him in spirit and in truth wherever they are (John 4:19-24). It makes no sense that God would no longer require that, but then require it again in the future. It makes just as little sense as thinking that animal sacrifices will be reinstated.

Some Premills try to say that the new heavens and new earth are ushered in at the beginning of the thousand years. That is a completely unsupportable position. When the new heavens and new earth are ushered in it will be a place "wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13) and where there will be no more sorrow, crying or pain (Revelation 21:4, Isaiah 65:19). And there will be no more death when the new heavens and earth are ushered in (Revelation 21:4). Some try to say there will be death in the new heavens and new earth because of what is written in Isaiah 65:20, but that contradicts what is written in Isaiah 65:19 and in Revelation 21:1-5. In Isaiah 65:19 it talks about no more weeping or crying at that point (just like Revelation 21:4), so to interpret Isaiah 65:20 as saying there would be death at that point would mean no one would cry after they experience extreme pain and no one would cry when a loved one dies and so on, which is obviously completely unreasonable.

So, Premillennialism is based on scriptures like I mentioned above that are highly debatable and are difficult to interpret. Premills often interpret those scriptures in such a way that contradicts other scriptures.

But, the question is, where are the clear, straightforward scriptures that support Premill? It seems that they are nowhere to be found. It makes for a very shaky doctrine when there are no clear scriptures to support it. It's based instead on assumptions, speculation and contradictions.

In the next post I will show how Amillennialism, unlike Premillennialism, is based on clear, straightforward scriptures.

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

Revelation 20 talks about the reign of Christ. Scripture explicitly teaches that Christ began to reign after His resurrection.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Revelation 1:5 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,

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Revelation 20:6 says that those who reign with Christ are "priests of God and of Christ". Scripture teaches that Christ's followers are priests right now.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Revelation 1:5 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, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture teaches that all believers will have their bodies changed to be immortal while inheriting eternal life in the kingdom of God when Christ returns at the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:50-54, Matthew 25:31-46). And it teaches that all unbelievers will be destroyed when He returns which would not allow for any mortals to populate the earth at that point, as the following scriptures indicate.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

2 Peter 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men....10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

1 Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

2 Thessalonians 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Revelation 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”

Scripture also teaches that the saved and lost will be resurrected at generally the same time or hour and then judged.

John 5:28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.

Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

Scripture teaches that all people will be judged at the same time and not that there will be multiple judgments as Premills believe.

Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world....41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Matthew 13:40 As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Matthew 13:47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

All of these clear, straightforward scriptures I have referenced support Amillennialism. Some Premills try to accuse Amills of over-spiritualizing scripture, but, as I've shown, the foundation of Amillennialism is clear, straightforward scriptures which are used to help interpret more difficult passages. Premillennialism has no such clear, straightforward scriptures to support it.

 

[WPM]

The foundation of the Premillennialism doctrine is based on some of the most highly debatable scriptures in the entire Bible and not on any clear, straightforward scriptures.

It seems that the two main pillars of Premillennialism are Revelation 20 and Zechariah 14. Any honest person will acknowledge that those are difficult passages to interpret.

Premills assume that what is described in Revelation 20 follows what is described in Revelation 19 chronologically. I believe that they manipulate the rest of the book and the rest of prophetic scripture to fit that assumption. I shouldn't have to convince anyone that the book of Revelation is not all chronological from beginning to end. Revelation 11 and 12 is the most obvious example where it is not written in chronological order. So, to make that assumption about Revelation 19 and 20 is not wise.

Not all Premills interpret Zechariah 14 the same way, but almost all of them use Zechariah 14 as one of their main support passages.

Interpreting Zechariah 14 as relating to a future thousand year earthly kingdom and interpreting it all literally, as many Premills do, creates contradictions with other scripture. These Premills believe in animal sacrifices being reinstated and taking place at a temple which currently does not even exist. This belief blatantly contradicts Hebrews 8-10 which teaches that Christ's once for all sacrifices made animal sacrifices obsolete forever. Animal sacrifices served the purpose of foreshadowing Christ's sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1) and that's it. These Premills typically also use Ezekiel 40-48 to support their view and some of them try to say the animal sacrifices would be done for the purpose of a memorial of Christ's sacrifice even though there is nothing written anywhere in scripture to support that theory. In Ezekiel 45:15-17 it very clearly talks about the animal sacrifices as being done as sin offerings for the atonement and reconciliation of sins. There is no longer any need for any animal sacrifices for that purpose because of Christ's sacrifice, so that can't possibly occur in the future.

Another problem with interpreting Zechariah 14 as relating to a future thousand year earthly millennial kingdom is that this means you believe that people will be required to go to Jerusalem to worship the Lord in the future despite Jesus saying long ago that people no longer had to go to worship God in Jerusalem, but instead were required to worship Him in spirit and in truth wherever they are (John 4:19-24). It makes no sense that God would no longer require that, but then require it again in the future. It makes just as little sense as thinking that animal sacrifices will be reinstated.

Some Premills try to say that the new heavens and new earth are ushered in at the beginning of the thousand years. That is a completely unsupportable position. When the new heavens and new earth are ushered in it will be a place "wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13) and where there will be no more sorrow, crying or pain (Revelation 21:4, Isaiah 65:19). And there will be no more death when the new heavens and earth are ushered in (Revelation 21:4). Some try to say there will be death in the new heavens and new earth because of what is written in Isaiah 65:20, but that contradicts what is written in Isaiah 65:19 and in Revelation 21:1-5. In Isaiah 65:19 it talks about no more weeping or crying at that point (just like Revelation 21:4), so to interpret Isaiah 65:20 as saying there would be death at that point would mean no one would cry after experience extreme pain and no one would cry when a loved one dies and so on, which is obviously completely unreasonable.

So, Premillennialism is based on scriptures like I mentioned above that are highly debatable and are difficult to interpret. Premills often interpret those scriptures in such a way that contradicts other scriptures.

But, the question is, where are the clear, straightforward scriptures that support Premill? It seems that they are nowhere to be found. It makes for a very shaky doctrine when there are no clear scriptures to support it. It's based instead on assumptions, speculation and contradictions.

In the next post I will show how Amillennialism, unlike Premillennialism, is based on clear, straightforward scriptures.

Well put! The truth speaks for itself!