Amillennial Eschatology
What is Eschatology?
The word eschatology comes from two Greek words ἔσχατος meaning “last”, and λόγος meaning “word”.
Put together, it means the “study or doctrine of the last things”.
It is a study of the time period leading up to Judgment Day.
Important points to keep in mind
when studying eschatology.
Point 1:
This is a study trying to interpret Biblical end-time prophesies. This is very difficult to do, and there are some things that we just simply do not know or understand.
Because of this, there are many different interpretations of these prophesies throughout the Christian world. Some closer to the truth than others, so take everything with a grain of salt.
Point 2:
We must refrain from harsh judgment of those who interpret these verses differently. Most everyone who studies this topic are Christians of many denominations.
We are all simply trying to understand these prophesies to the best of our abilities.
Point 3:
We must use the Bible to interpret the Bible.
Often times, someone will begin seeing things in the newspaper or on TV news and they will try to fit these current events into their eschatological interpretation. This is incredibly dangerous to do and has led to all kinds of strange beliefs that have ultimately been proven wrong in the long run.
Point 4:
Similar to the last point, we must use the New Testament to interpret the Old Testament, for the New Testament is a clearer revelation than the Old, because Jesus Himself explained the truths of the Old Testament to His disciples.
If we do not do this, we will also develop false interpretations.
Point 5:
Also, we must begin this study using clearer passages, before trying to interpret harder or more confusing passages.
Many people, for whatever reason, like to jump to the Book of Revelation to begin this study. But that is a mistake, for we must first build a solid foundation from the easier passages, to put the Book of Revelation into context.
Let us start with Matthew 24 and 25, since this is a straightforward answer to the disciples' questions, without having to interpret symbolic language.
Matthew 24:3-44
"Now as He [Jesus] sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many."
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
And there will be famines,
…pestilences,
and earthquakes in various places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
“Then they will deliver you [Christians] up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!.. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
Matthew 25:31-46
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
Continued from above.
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:… “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: … And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
That was an overview of the End Times.
Now let us take a look at the Book of Revelation for some added detail.
First off, it is important to think of this prophesy as many separate “visions”. One flash of a vision may end, and another vision begin. Some of these visions are even repeated multiple times in different ways, meaning that the Book of Revelation is likely not in chronological order. Granted this may be confusing but there is biblical precedent for it. Think back to Josephs’ dream where he sees two separate visions using different imagery, but they represent the same reality.
This seems to be the case when reading of the Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls. All describing basically the same events of the Tribulation, as they progressively become more severe over the centuries.
We do not need to go over the specifics of the Tribulation here, as it basically echos Jesus' words in Mathew 24 as we have just outlined. With that said, let us begin.
One of the first things we notice, is that the Apostle John believed he was living both in the Kingdom of God (the Millennial reign of Christ) and under the Tribulation, at the same time.
Revelation 1:9 “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
The "Tribulation" began with the execution of Jesus Christ, and continued against His Church after He rose into heaven. This is why the apostle John, from the prison island of Patmos addresses his readers as "companions in the tribulation." We see Jesus' disciples and followers brought before tribunals, tortured and executed and it continues globally till this today.
We see this tribulation in Chapter 12 when it introduces us to the woman and the dragon. The woman had a garland of 12 stars around her head (signifying the 12 tribes of Israel). The dragon, we are told, is Satan. The woman who was pregnant with Jesus, gave birth and Satan (the dragon) was ready to devour the child, but God took the child up to the throne of heaven. After this...
the woman fled into the wilderness (Gentile regions) prepared for her by God. This is the spreading of the Christian church.
Later we find that Satan pursues the woman and wages war against her offspring, those (“who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ”).
And this Tribulation continues till this present day.
We are in the Tribulation period and simultaneously the Millennial period.
Jesus is currently reigning as king.
The 1,000-year-period of Christ's reign (the Kingdom of God) spoken of in Revelation 20, began with the first advent of Christ and continues forever, because He is truly the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and His Kingdom will have no end. The wise men asked Herod:
“Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?"
Matthew 21:4-10
"This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
John 18:33- 37
"Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
Continued from above
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
But Satan is bound in that 1,000 -year- reign of Christ in Revelation 20.
How do you explain that?
For thousands of years, demons have been demanding worship and pretended to be gods.
They have been deceiving the nations all around the world desiring worship and sacrifices.
Psalm 106: 34-38
"They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them: But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood."
1 Corinthians 10:20,21
“Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.”
Think back to one of the main activities that Jesus performed while here on earth. He (and His disciples) were routinely casting out demons. They were, in a sense, binding them. When the Book of Revelation tells us that the devil is bound for a 1,000 years, it is simply saying that much of the devil’s power, to deceive the nations, has been restrained so that the gospel will easily spread across the earth.
This is what is spoken of in Revelation 6:2 when the first of the four horsemen came forth by the opening of the first seal.
"And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."
This white horse is a symbolic picture of the Gospel conquering the earth (binding devils).
Everywhere Christianity spread - it conquered, and the old pagan religions were silenced.
Christianity took over Rome, then all of Europe, the New World and on and on. The other horsemen are simply manifestations of the Tribulation.
Matthew 12 :27-29
"And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house."
Jesus is the one who came into the world (the devil's house) to plunder the goods of the strong man. The strong man is the devil who needs to be bound before his goods (us) can be stolen away. (This is not the first time that Jesus referred to Himself as a thief, for He will also come as a thief in the night.)
This is what Jesus did when He was with us, it is what He told His disciples to do, and it is what the Gospel itself does whenever it takes hold in a new land - the demonic activity dies away.
As has been shown, the millennial period and the tribulation period exist simultaneously. The tribulation continues throughout this age and increases in intensity as the years progress, including wars, pestilences, famines, natural disasters, ext.
Just as a woman's birth pains increase in intensity as she gets closer to giving birth.
So do not be surprised when Christian persecution grows in intensity, even in lands that were once part of Christendom. If you watch the news at all you should easily see that Christian persecution is increasing all around the world.
Muslims kidnap girls from Christian school.
What about the Beasts of Revelation
and the antichrist?
Revelation 13:1-8 "The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
This beast is some secular government, possibly the United Nations or New World Order. They will make it difficult for Christians to buy or sell without having the mark (666). There is much speculation on this number and what it means, some say that it will be a micro-chip.
But it seems more likely to be a willing submissiveness toward the beast system. God wants His word to always be at the forefront of our minds (Deut. 6:8), the beast wants his world system and all the sins that go with it to be at the forefront of our minds.
Revelation 13:11-18 "Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.
By all indications this seems to be fulfilled in the office of the papacy. For the antichrist (man of lawlessness, man of sin, son of perdition) sets himself up in the church, even claiming to be God.
2 Thessalonians 2: 3,4
"Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God..."
“We hold upon this earth the place of God almighty.” — Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter, June 20, 1894.
“The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of human flesh.” — Catholic National, July 1895.
“The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth.” — Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, “Cities Petrus Bertanous.”
1. The seat of his residence would be in Rome, which is built upon seven hills.
2. When the Roman empire fell, European kings took control of the fallen (or wounded) empire while the Pope would take the place of the emperor and rule from Rome.
3. He would reintroduce pagan idolatry, and the worship of images, that was once outlawed by Constantine the Great. He would make this idolatry compulsory, punishable by torcher and death.
4. He would be worshiped and receive great honor. He would require everyone to declare allegiance to him by accepting the mark of the beast (666). Whoever refused would not be allowed to buy or sell.
5. He blasphemes God and His church.
6. He conducts “holy” warfare.
7. He would reign for forty-two months.
8. Much of the world would be loyal to him and follow him.
9. He would have an appearance of piety, as shown by having the horns of a lamb, but he speaks as a dragon.
10. He would deceive many by his lying wonders.
Martin Luther (1483 – 1546)
“...nothing else than the kingdom of Babylon and of very Antichrist. For who is the man of sin and the son of perdition, but he who by his teaching and his ordinances increases the sin and perdition of souls in the church; while he yet sits in the church as if he were God? All these conditions have now for many ages been fulfilled by the papal tyranny.”
Before we go any further, it must be understood that not all biological or national Jews are Jews.
A person is only a Jew if they are a believer in Jesus Christ, a "spiritual" Jew.
John 8:39-44
“They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.”… Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth…”
Romans 2:28,29 “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.”
Romans 9:6-8 “But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.”
Christians (including O.T. believers) are the
children (seed) of Abraham.
Those who do not hold to a amillennial eschatology, miss out on some very beautiful and comforting passages. For many of the prophesies that were given to the Old Testament prophets were meant for us New Testament believers.
In fact, many of the names for Israel in the Old Testament are used again for the Church in the New Testament. Such as “Children of God”, “Kingdom of God”, “Priests of God”, “Bride of God”, “Vineyard of God”, “Chosen People”, “Children of Abraham”, and “Israel”.
Who are the 144,000 sealed people?
In chapter 7 we are given a glimpse of the 144,000 who were sealed from all the tribes of Israel. In truth, this is speaking of Spiritual Israel (all believers, the elect). We know this because:
The Bible tells us that not all those who call themselves Jews are Jews, only those who accept the promise (the promise of Christ) are true Israelites.
We know that this is the case here, because in verse 9, directly after it lists the tribes, it tells us that “there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Obviously a number larger than 144,000, telling us that the number 144,000 is a symbolic number.
We also know it is Spiritual Israel because the listed tribal names in Revelation do not match the Old Testament names. This was intentionally done to show that these were not national / biological jews but were spiritual jews.
Even the prophetic numbers testify to this fact. The number 12 signifying believers. A pair of 12s signifies believers from the Old and New Testaments. 12 x 12 = 144 x 1,000 (which is a number of an indefinite large amount) = 144,000. Later, in Revelation 21, we will see this same number arrangement.
In Chapter 14, we are given another glimpse of the 144,000. These are the elect who have the name of God the Father written on their foreheads. It is noteworthy that they are virgins, they have not committed adultery with the Scarlet Harlot. These believers sing praises to God, while standing before the lamb (Jesus).
Throughout the Tribulation, persecution will continue and increase in intensity
all around the world.
Matthew 19:16-23 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
Continued from above.
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Christian pastor arrested for Hate Speech.
Continued from above.
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another."
Chapter 17 presents the Scarlet Harlot who reigns over the kings of the earth and commits fornication with them. She is also called the “Great City” or “Babylon the Great”. She seems to represent the city of Rome or some unknown city of wealth and power, who delights in sinful pleasures and has a desire to persecute the Saints. This should remind us how Rome persecuted countless protestant believers while controlling the "kings of the earth" demanding that they do the same.
In Chapter 18, the kings of the earth turn on her and she falls. Chapter 17:17 "For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish His purpose..."
When she does fall, the City becomes a place for demons.
Kings and “merchants of the earth” weep over her because she was making them extremely wealthy through her trading.
Eventually, there will be a great war called Armageddon, discussed in Ezekeal 38 & 39 and Revelation 16, where the nations of the world will fight against Israel. This is not just Russia and Syria as some suggest, for Rev 16:14 says that they are the "kings of the whole world". Nor is this the modern nation of Israel but rather it is the "spiritual Israel" (all believers).
The antichrist and his allies (the nations of the world) will be on the verge of destroying the church.
But for the sake of the Elect, God cuts this time short.
The heavenly bodies will be shaken. The stars will fall from the sky. The sun will be darkened and the moon will cease to give its light.
Revelation 19:11-14 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.”
Revelation 19:19
"And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army."
Revelation 19:20
"Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone."
God’s Judgment continues:
“the dead, small and great, [were] standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.”
"Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."
Sadly, all those who wanted nothing to do with God all their lives, suddenly get exactly what they desired.
Those who were found written in the Book of Life however were saved.
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
At some point, after the Judgment, we will meet the Patriarchs, the Apostles, and all believers throughout time, including our loved ones, who have gone before us.
1 Thessalonians 4:13,14
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.”
Chapter 21:1 “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.”
Revelation 21:9-14 “Then one of the seven angels…came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God…
Continued from above.
"Also, she [the Bride of Christ] had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel… Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."
(the number 144,000 again)
From these verses we know that the New Jerusalem is another name for the Bride of Christ, and from other passages in the Bible, we know that we, the Believers (the Saints), are the Bride of Christ. Therefore, we are the New Jerusalem. These twelve gates, with the twelve tribes of Israel written on them, represent all believers from the Old Testament. The twelve foundations, with the twelve names of the Apostles written on them, represent all believers from the New Testament. Therefore, the Bride of Christ, the New Jerusalem, consists of all believers from all time.
At this point, God recreates a perfect earth, a new paradise, a reborn Eden. His creation is restored. The damage which Adam and Lucifer had wrought, all those many years ago, has been made whole. There is no more death, nor pain.
The lion peacefully lays down with the lamb.