Those on an Amill belief don't understand, because the only time in God's Word where a literal time is written and we are to interpret it symbolically instead of literally, is when God says to, like in Ezekiel 4 with the day for a year, or in Daniel 9 where a seven is given to point to a period of seven years by marking certain events of history that came true. And expressions using numbers are still nothing but expressions, and not the same idea at all when God gives a prophecy involving a literal span of time.
Hi Davy, thanks for your reply. I have to disagree with your interpretation of numbers here, as do a lot of scholars. In fact one of your own, Jack Kelley, has several articles on his site, Grace Thru Faith, that deal with how number are often symbolic of a larger, spiritual truth, all the way through scripture. This is not just an Amil position.
Ephesians 1 does not say our Lord Jesus is ruling in His Kingdom as of yet. When He died on the cross He defeated the devil and death for us, but if you look you should notice the devil has not been destroyed yet; he is still being allowed to work evil in this world today and is free to do so (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus is over His Church on earth right now; He has not taken reign over the nations just yet. All things were created through Jesus in the beginning we are told (Col.1:15-16). So how is it that our Lord Jesus allowed himself to be born lowly of woman and submit to being crucified on the cross, if... since even then He had all power too, since all things were made through Him? Didn't He even say He could command His servants to fight if He wanted to, and prevent His crucifixion?
John 18:36
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence.
KJV
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, - Ephesians 1:20–22
Well, sorry to disagree, but I'd have to say that Ephesians 1 actually says that Jesus is reigning now, not just over his Church, but over "all rule and authority and power" and "every name". And not just in the next age, but in this one. So...if Jesus tells us that his Kingdom is not of this earth, but we know he IS ruling NOW...we must either make up some in-between de-facto kingdom, or we start looking at the Millennium being now.
But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. - 1 Corinthians 15:23–26
Paul clearly lays out the expectation of what will happen for us here. When Christ returns he will put an end to death by giving believers their new, glorified bodies; the dead first, then those who are still alive. Then, when death is defeated by our transformation, he will deliver the Kingdom over to God. But to do this, the Kingdom must have had to have been. You cannot hand over a Kingdom that has not yet started, or has only begun moments ago.
He showed by that His Kingdom is not of this present world, meaning not of this present world time. And there is plenty of Bible prophecy easily understood to show that God is going to end this present world by fire (2 Peter 3:10-12). Thus Satan is still in control over the kingdoms of this world, as was shown in Luke 4 when He offered them to Jesus if He would bow to him.
It's a mistake to think that just because Satan is the Prince of this World, that God (and Christ) is not in ultimate control and is ultimately King. We know, as Christians, that Satan can only do what is permitted him. The book of Job shows us that, as does Christs claim to Peter that Satan was "asking to sift him like wheat".
Do you believe that because Satan and evil is present that God's will is not being done? That he is not ultimately steering history exactly where he wants it to go? How is that not ruling and reigning? The reason that Satan is still present during this time, and evil with him, is because death and the sin in man's heart is also present. Until Christ returns and does away with those things, even should Satan be defeated, this world would still be as it is. God chooses to prolong it because every day sinful people are choosing to willingly submit to him and be saved. And every soul Christ wins enrages the dragon. This is the Kingdom triumphing, the kingdom in power. How do you explain those Christians in Iran, or North Korea who have the heart and courage to suffer torture and horrifying death for their Lord?
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. - Revelation 2:10
Kingdom promises that come to pass because Jesus is on the throne, not Satan.
Like Rev.11 shows on the 7th trumpet, that is when Jesus' Kingdom in the world to come will begin here on earth, over all peoples and nations, and not just over His Church on earth which is only a small portion of this world today.
Well, again, I question the theological idea that Christ, being God, does not already have complete rule over the world. Even Satan is playing into his hands, as he did when he thought he had triumphed by killing Jesus on the cross.
And as for Rev 11:
The nations raged,
but your wrath came,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
and those who fear your name,
both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” - Revelation 11:18
This is the time when the evil are judged and the just are given their rewards. This is the time when the New Heavens and New Earth are ushered in. It is not the beginning of the Millennium. It is the same events as these:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats...And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:31-32 ,46
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” - Revelation 20:11–21:4
While each account is slightly different, there is no mistaking the event and the ultimate outcome: people are judged and are either sentenced to hell or heaven. And once that has happened, the New Heavens and New Earth begin and death is no more.