The Biblical basis of
Postmillennialism.
(Dan 2:35 NIV) …But the rock that struck
the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
(Mat 13:31-32 NIV) He told them another
parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took
and planted in his field. {32} Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet
when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that
the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
(Mat 13:33 NIV) He told them still another
parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed
into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
Contents (Part 1):
- Summary
- Conclusion
- Introduction.
- Definitions:
- The scope of the Gospel and the Great
Commission.
- The mandate of the Great Commission. go
- The scope of the gospel. go
- The Kingdom Parables (Mat 13): go
- The Abrahamic covenant. go
- Salvation to the ends of the earth (Acts 13:47). go
- Other postmillennial considerations.
- I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (Mat
16:18) go
- The Lord's prayer: (Mat 6:9-13) go
- The Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms (1647)
go
- The conversion of the Jews to Jesus: go
- The authority of Christ in the earth now:
- His authority over Satan during his public ministrygo
- His authority due to his death and resurrection.go
- "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your
feet." Psa 110:1 go
- Plundering Satan's kingdom. go
- The power of the Gospel.go
- Rev 20:1-10. go
- Imminence: go
- Bibliography
- Links
Contents Part 2
- The Old
Testament.
- The Prophets:
- Psalms
- Objections to
Postmillennialism.
- The pessimism of traditional eschatology:
- War will continue to the end
- A time of great distress
- The last days will be terrible days
- The man of lawlessness must be revealed before Christ comes.
- But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a
few find it.
- Many are invited but few are chosen
- Are only a few people going to be saved.
- The Olivet discourse Mat 24:4-34.
- When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
- Revelation in General
- Appendix 1 - The
message of NT preaching.
- Bibliography
This article is based on the book
Postmillennialism:
An Eschatology of Hope by Keith A. Mathison.
Postmillennialism expects that the gospel will be successful
in winning a majority of people to faith in Christ, such that righteousness
will triumph over evil.
My first conclusion after evaluating the claims of
postmillennialism is how clear scripture is about the extent, scope and indeed
the success of the great commission. God sent Jesus to save the world, who in
turn commanded his disciples to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Scripture makes it clear that the gospel will penetrate not only all nations
but all languages, tribes and peoples as well. It also shows these same people
groups in heaven (Rev 7:9), thus fulfilling God's covenant with Abraham that
"all peoples on earth will be blessed" through him (Gen 12:3). Ethnic
Jews will be converted and usher in a period of great blessing for the church
(Rom 11:12)[1]. Satan was defeated at the
cross and his kingdom is being progressively plundered. The New Testament
parables make it clear that the kingdom of heaven will be fully distributed
among the nations like yeast in dough (Mat 13:33) and that although, with small
beginnings, it will become large (Mat 13:32). Scripture is also clear that
Jesus reigns and has authority on earth now and that the end will come, when he
hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all
dominion, authority and power (1 Cor 15:24).
Some of the clearest passages on the size of the kingdom
come from the Old Testament "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your
inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession" (Psa 2:8). "All
the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families
of the nations will bow down before him" (Psa 22:27). "The nobles of
the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the
earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted " (Psa 47:9). "All kings
will bow down to him and all nations will serve him" (Psa 72:11).
"But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the
whole earth." (Dan 2:35). "It will crush all those kingdoms and bring
them to an end, but it will itself endure forever" (Dan 2:44). Of the
increase of his government and peace there will be no end (Isa 9:7). "for
the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the
sea" (Isa 11:9). "all mankind will come and bow down before me,"
says the LORD " (Isa 66:23)
Conclusion:
My own conclusion is that the church in the West has been
deceived into taking a negative and short term view of the future, believing
that the inevitable decline will happen. Jesus will return soon, in our
generation and it has therefore taken a neutral attitude towards the decline in
moral standards within society, and thus handed the world back to Satan.
While postmillennialism is not the total answer, it is one
concept that will start the pendulum of (church) history in the other
direction. We do not know when Jesus will return and I think it is prudent to
plan for the long term. The Lord's prayer tells us to pray that God's will be
done on earth as it is in heaven, we need to pray the kingdom in as well
as to pay for harvesters to bring in God's harvest (I am sure that 'pay' was a
typo and should have been 'pray', however in the prosperous West we should be
financing indigenous evangelism in poorer countries, see my
India
Bible School page). We should continue our great work, that of preaching
the gospel and making disciples of all nations until Christ returns. I am
convinced by scripture of the success of the Great Commission in penetrating
every area of society (linguistic, national, tribal, cultural). All these are
matters of obedience and faith, it is only our unbelief that prevents our
obedience in these areas.
I am not quite so convinced of the numerical success or the
success in reducing wars or human greed. However the belief that the conversion
of the Jews will bring in a new era, so far unseen in human history, indicates
that there is as yet uncharted future blessing ahead (see Rom 11:12, 15, 31).
The reason for writing this article is because I feel that
in general Christians are pessimistic about their eschatology. Now of course
there may be good biblical reasons for this and I will not dispute that,
however there are equally good biblical reasons to adopt an optimistic
eschatology about the future and it is these biblical reasons that I want to
examine. After all the Y2K hype is behind us, now is a very good time to
re-examine our eschatology about the future. While I do not believe that this
short analysis of postmillennialism will convert everyone to full blown
optimism about the future, I hope that it will at least challenge our thinking
and spur us on to fulfil the great commission.
For the unbeliever what he thinks about his origins will do
much to shape his attitude about himself and how he acts in this life. For the
Christian the question about our origin has been settled, God created us. Our
ultimate future has also been settled, we go to heaven. It is the bit
in-between especially the future of Christians and Christianity on earth that
is uncertain. Will there be a tiny remnant in a world dominated by evil and the
evil one when Christ returns, or will the world have been transformed by the
gospel of Jesus Christ such that the kingdom of Satan is a tiny remnant.?
The question, about our future, is crucial because it
affects how Christians act in society and also, how it will affect our attitude
to the great commission. While premillennialism is most pessimistic, and
amillennialism is neutral, postmillennialism is optimistic about the future.
With the popularity of dispensationalism and the view that Christ is coming
soon (in our generation) we have adopted a neutral position with regard to
society. It has been rightly said that 'all it requires for evil to flourish is
for good men to do nothing'. As a result we have handed the world to Satan
rather than plundered his kingdom (Acts 26:18 ), and we have forgotten that the
reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work (1 John 3:8).
Are we to revert to monastic position of the Middle Ages,
which rejected interaction between Christianity and culture?[2]
(Mat 5:13 NIV) "You are the salt of the
earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It
is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
Our pessimistic view about the future when combined with the
imminency of the return of Jesus Christ when combined produce a strong cocktail
which tends to prevent us making long term plans for the future. This may
include such simple things such as not making provision for our retirement. We
neglect the future and therefore do not invest in the next generation through
our children. In our evangelism the training of children through Sunday school
and Christian schooling is important. It should come as no surprise that the
father of the modern christian home schooling movement was a
postmillennialist.If we believe in a bright future then we will invest in our
children who will be the next generation.
My heart is that that we fulfil the Great Commission and I
believe that postmillennialism is the eschatology that motivates us the most in
actually doing this. How we interact with society is really a secondary issue.
However, establishing Christianity within a nation will have social
consequences. If nothing else this essay should make clear the wide scope of
the Great Commission and its success.
As always, if I have misrepresented a position, or if you
have a comment or contribution, let me know:
rossuk12@hotmail.com
Gentry contends that postmillennialism is amillennialism
extended to its logical conclusion [3] and
certainly they have much in common. Gentry defines the basic idea of
postmillennialism as:
Postmillennialism expects the proclaiming of the Spirit-blessed
gospel of Jesus Christ to win the vast majority of human beings to salvation in
the present age. Increasing gospel success will gradually produce a time in
history prior to Christ's return in which faith, righteousness, peace, and
prosperity will prevail in the affairs of people and of nations. After an
extensive era of such conditions the Lord will return visibly, bodily, and in
great glory, ending history with the general resurrection and the great
judgement of all humankind. [4]
Mathison also gives a definition of postmillennialism:
'Like amillennialism, postmillennialism teaches
that the "thousand years" of Revelation 20 occurs prior to the Second
Coming. Some postmillennialists teach that the millennial age is the entire
period of the time between Christ's first and second advents, while others
teach that it is the last one thousand years of the present age. According to
postmillennialism, in the present age the Holy Spirit will draw unprecedented
multitudes to Christ through the faithful preaching of the gospel. Among the
multitudes who will be converted are the ethnic Israelites who have thus far
rejected the Messiah. At the end of the present age, Christ will return, there
will be the general resurrection of the just and the unjust, and the final
judgement will take place.' [5]
Charles Hodge (1797-1878) explains his optimistic theology
thus.
As therefore the Scriptures teach that the
kingdom of Christ is to extend over all the earth; that all nations are to
serve Him; and that all people shall call Him blessed; it is to be inferred
that these predictions refer to a state of things which is to exist before the
second coming of Christ. This state is described as one of spiritual
prosperity; God will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh; knowledge shall
everywhere abound; wars shall cease to the ends of the earth, and there shall
be nothing to hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord. This
does not imply that there is to be neither sin nor sorrow in the world during
this long period, or that all men are to be true Christians. The tares are to
grow together with the wheat until the harvest. The means of grace will still
be needed; conversion and sanctification will be then what they ever have been.
It is only a higher measure of the good which the church has experienced in the
past that we are taught to anticipate in the future. This however is not the
end, After this and after the great apostasy which is to follow, comes the
consummation. [6]
It is important to distinguish postmillennialism from
theonomy (Dominion Theology or Christian Reconstruction) which is one
particular branch of postmillennialism. This believes that both the civil and
moral law of the Old Testament is still binding on society today. However this
is not the model given to us in the New Testament in which Paul says
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is
no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist
have been established by God" (Rom 13:1 NIV).
It is also important to distinguish postmillennialism from
the optimism of evolutionary thought, the idea that man improves progressively
with the flow of history. Postmillennialism agrees with the depravity of man
but also believes in the power of the gospel to transform man.
Mathison lists some of the things that postmillennialism is
not. [7]
- Postmillennialism is not liberalism
- Postmillennialism is not the social gospel
- Postmillennialism is not universalism
- Postmillennialism is not perfectionism
- Postmillennialism is not nationalism
What it is. [8]
- The kingdom of Christ has been inaugurated
- The kingdom is Redemptive
- The growth of the kingdom is progressive
- The kingdom grows supernaturally
- The growth will lead to worldwide conversion
- The kingdom will be perfectly consummated only at the Second Coming.
Whereas postmillennialism sees a gradual overcoming of evil
in the world; amillennialism sees a parallel growth between good and evil in
this present age.
Regarding the social gospel, let us remember our Lords
command to sell our possessions and give to the poor so that we will have
treasure in heaven.
Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to
the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in
heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth
destroys.
The great commission is stated in each of the gospels (Mat
28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:46-49, John 20:21-23) and in Acts 1:7-8.
Firstly note that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to
Christ and not to the devil. Are we to say that a spirit being such as the
devil has more power than Jesus Christ. Secondly notice that each version of
the great commission has a reference to the Holy Spirit or His gifts. If we are
to witness it should be in the power of the Holy Spirit.[9] We should notice that the Father so loved the
world that he sent his only Son to save the world and it is now through the
indwelling Holy Spirit within the believer that makes this possible. The
fullness of the trinity is involved in the salvation of the world.
We are to make disciples and to teach them to obey Christ's
commands, we make disciples by preaching the gospel and teaching. The effect of
Christianity on society will be determined by who gets converted and how many.
Consider the effect on society by the conversion of Constantine ~AD 313.
The extent of the Great Commission is highlighted in Rev
14:6 - 'to every nation, tribe, language and people' see also 5:9 and 7:9. The
Great Commission should rightly be regarded as the great work of the church, we
should go and make disciples of all nations (Mat 28:19). Mark 16:15 says
'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation'.
Luke 24:47 says 'repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his
name to all nations'. John 20:21 says 'As the Father has sent me, I am
sending you' the Father sent Jesus to be the saviour of the world. Acts
1:8 says 'you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth'.
(Mat 28:18-20 NIV) Then Jesus came to them and
said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. {19}
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age."
(Mark 16:15-18 NIV) He said to them, "Go
into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. {16} Whoever
believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be
condemned. {17} And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name
they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; {18} they will pick
up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt
them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get
well."
(Luke 24:46-49 NIV) He told them, "This is
what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third
day, {47} and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name
to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. {48} You are witnesses of these
things. {49} I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in
the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
(John 20:21-23 NIV) Again Jesus said,
"Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
{22} And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
{23} If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive
them, they are not forgiven."
God sent his Son to be the saviour of the world and
therefore we are to go into the entire world and preach the gospel to all
mankind.
(Acts 1:7-8 NIV) He said to them: "It is
not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
{8} But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will
be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of
the earth."
In the Great commission passages above both Matthew and Luke
refer to all nations. The phrase all nations also occurs
in relation to evangelism in Mat 24:14, Rom 16:26, Rev 15:4.
(Mat 24:14 NIV) And this gospel of the kingdom
will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and
then the end will come.
(Rom 16:25-27 NIV) Now to him who is able to
establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to
the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, {26} but now revealed
and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal
God, so that all nations might believe and obey him-- {27} to the only
wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
(Rev 15:4 NIV) Who will not fear you, O Lord,
and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come
and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
Let us contrast the mandate of the great commission with the
creation mandate in Gen 1:28, we are to fill the earth and subdue it, and rule
over the other living creatures.
(Gen 1:28 NIV) God blessed them and said to
them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.
Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living
creature that moves on the ground."
Nothing is said about one section of society ruling another
section of society, which seems to be what theonomy is saying. If Christianity
has dominance it will be by democracy and consent, not coercion. The kingdom of
God is within us (Luke 17:21). Jesus rules his kingdom from heaven (John
18:36). While there are many earthly kingdoms there is one heavenly king of
kings who rules his subjects from on high.
(Luke 17:20-21 NIV) Once, having been asked by
the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The
kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, {21} nor will
people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is
within you."
(John 18:36 NIV) Jesus said, "My kingdom
is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest
by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
We have already noted that the Great Commission is to 'make
disciples of all nations' (Mat 28:19) and that Revelation indicates the
universality of the great commission to be preached to 'every tribe and
language and people and nation' Rev 14:6. In fact Rev 5:9 indicated the extent
of the atonement ' because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased
men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.' Rev 7:9
indicates the success of the gospel, once again people from every 'nation,
tribe, people and language' are found in heaven. The dough of Mat 13:33 has
indeed been extensively penetrated by the yeast and has been successful.
(Rev 7:9-10 NIV) After this I looked and there
before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation,
tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the
Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their
hands. {10} And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our
God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
John 3:16-17 tells us that God loves the world and sent
Jesus to save the world (Gk. kosmos).
(John 3:16-17 NIV) "For God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. {17} For God did not send his Son into
the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
See also 1 John 4:14
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that
the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
See also 1 John 2:2
(1 John 2:2 NIV) He is the atoning sacrifice
for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole
world.
1 Tim 2:4 tells us that God wants all men to be saved
and that Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all men (v6).
(1 Tim 2:1-6 NIV) I urge, then, first of all,
that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--
{2} for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet
lives in all godliness and holiness. {3} This is good, and pleases God our
Savior, {4} who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of
the truth. {5} For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus, {6} who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the
testimony given in its proper time.
In John 12:32 Jesus says " But I, when I am lifted up
from the earth, will draw all men to myself "
In the parable of the wedding feast (Mat 22:1-14, Luke
14:16-22), a king prepared a wedding feast for his son. Those who were first
invited refused to come so therefore the king told his servants to invite
anyone they could find, both good and bad (Mat 22:10), the poor, the crippled,
the blind and the lame (Luke 14:21), in order that the wedding hall be filled
with guests. The scripture makes it clear that God wants his house to be full
(Luke 14:23) in fact the Greek anagkazo, means compel them to
come in.
(Mat 22:9-10 NIV) Go to the street corners and
invite to the banquet anyone you find.' {10} So the servants went out into the
streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the
wedding hall was filled with guests.
(Luke 14:21-23 NIV) "The servant came back
and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and
ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town
and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' {22} "'Sir,'
the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'
{23} "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country
lanes and make (anagkazo) them come in, so that my house will be full.
Take note of Paul's words to the church of the Colossians
"All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it
has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace
in all its truth." (Col 1:6 NIV)
(Rom 5:15-21 NIV) But the gift is not like the
trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more
did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus
Christ, overflow to the many! {16} Again, the gift of God is not like the
result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought
condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.
{17} For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one
man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and
of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
{18} Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all
men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that
brings life for all men. {19} For just as through the disobedience of the one
man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man
the many will be made righteous. {20} The law was added so that the trespass
might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, {21} so
that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through
righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
From a more theological viewpoint see Rom 5:15-21, which
contrasts sin and God's provision for sin.
- (v15) …many died. …the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ,
overflow to the many
- (v16) ….judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the
gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.
- (v17) … death reigned through that one man, how much more will those
who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness
reign in life
- (v18) …condemnation for all men … justification that brings life
for all men
- (v19) ….many were made sinners …. Many will be made righteous
- (v20) … where sin increased, grace increased all the more
- (v21) …sin reigned in death …grace might reign through
righteousness.
While the parable of the sower says that some seed is sown
on the path, some is sown on rocky places, some is sown among thorns, that
which falls on good soil produces a crop yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty
times what was sown. (Mat 13:20-23). Postmillennialism focuses on the good soil
rather than the path, rocks and thorns.
In the parable about the wheat and weeds, Gentry points out
that it was a wheat field not a weed field.[10]
The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast.
(Mat 13:31-33 NIV) He told them another
parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took
and planted in his field. {32} Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet
when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that
the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." {33} He told them
still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman
took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the
dough."
Mathison makes the following points: [11]
1. The Mustard Seed. The main point of this parable
is that despite unimpressive beginnings, the messianic kingdom will grow until
it is huge
2. The Leaven. This parable illustrates the
extensive, pervasive growth and influence of the kingdom.
We should note that in the parable of the field explain in
Mat 13:37-43, there will be both good and evil right up until the end, a point
affirmed by postmillennialism. Evil will not be totally eradicated in this age.
The progressive nature of postmillennialism is paralleled by the childen of
Israel defeating their enemies little by little.
(Exo 23:27-30 NIV) "I will send my terror
ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make
all your enemies turn their backs and run. {28} I will send the hornet ahead of
you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. {29} But I
will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become
desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. {30} Little by little I
will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take
possession of the land.
God first spoke to Abraham in Gen 12:1-3 in which he
promised that 'all peoples on earth will be blessed through you'. Paul makes it
clear in Gal 3:8-9 that 'all people' includes the Gentiles. Thus 'all people'
is universal in scope, but not everyone will receive the good news so it is not
universalism.
(Gen 12:1-3 NIV) The LORD had said to Abram,
"Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the
land I will show you. {2} "I will make you into a great nation and I will
bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. {3} I will
bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all
peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
(Gal 3:8-9 NIV) The Scripture foresaw that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to
Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." {9} So those who
have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
(Gal 3:16 NIV) The promises were spoken to
Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds,"
meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who
is Christ.
Interesting the word translated 'peoples' in the NIV is
translated 'families' by the KJV and comes from the Hebrew word
mishpachah which means family, circle of relatives, tribe or people. It
has previously been used five times [12] in
Gen 10 in the description of the descendants of Noah who would form the nations
of the earth. Gen 10:5, 10, 21 also mentions the descendants of Noah's sons
also had there own language. Mathison points out that in choosing Abraham, God
chose one of the descendants of Noah through whom He would bless all the
descendants of Noah [13]. Later in Genesis
the word gowy is used which means gentile nation. When it is quoted in
the NT in Acts 3:25 we find that patria is used which means paternal
descent, i.e. a group of families or a whole race (nation):- family, kindred,
lineage. When it is quoted by Paul in Gal 3:8 he uses the word ethnos
which means a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; spec. a foreign
(non-Jewish) one (usually by impl. pagan):--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
Thus the description of those saved and in heaven in Revelation 7:9 from every
nation, tribe, people and language expresses the original intent of God's
covenant with Abraham.
(Gen 18:18 NIV) Abraham will surely become a
great and powerful nation, and all nations (gowy) on earth will be
blessed through him.
(Gen 22:18 NIV) and through your offspring all
nations (gowy) on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed
me."
(Gen 26:4 NIV) I will make your descendants as
numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and
through your offspring all nations (gowy) on earth will be blessed,
The promise to bless all peoples on earth through Abraham
would be realized through Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham
(Mat 1:1). The New Testament takes great pains to make it clear that the
Gentiles as well as the Jews are to be blessed through the gospel of Jesus
Christ [14]. However to apply it to
everyone meant that the gospel has to be preached to all nations, languages,
tribes and peoples: this can only be done by the body of Christ.
Peter also refers to the Abrahamic covenant in Acts 3:25,
the blessing would come to individuals, in this case Jews, by them turning from
their wicked ways. This confirms the response required of the central preaching
of the gospel, which is repentance for the forgiveness of sins (see Acts 3:19
and Appendix 1).
(Acts 3:24-26 NIV) "Indeed, all the
prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. {25}
And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your
fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will
be blessed.' {26} When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to
bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."
While all eschatologies should believe in the scope of the
gospel as outlined above, postmillennialism believes both in the fulfillment of
the scope and with great numerical success. In Genesis 22:17 God promised that
He would make Abraham's descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as
the sand on the seashore. In Rev 7:9 we find this fulfilled with a great
multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and
language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.
(Acts 13:46-47 NIV) Then Paul and Barnabas
answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since
you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now
turn to the Gentiles. {47} For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
"'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation
to the ends of the earth.'"
At Pisidian Antioch Paul and Barnabas preached to the Jews
and God fearing Gentiles. Many Jews rejected the words that Paul and Barnabus
spoke and thus Paul and Barnabus turned to the Gentiles saying "For this
is what the Lord has commanded us: "'I have made you a light for the
Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'""
(Acts 13:47). They were quoting as a command Isa 49:6 see also Isa 42:6-7
which were words speaking about the suffering servant Jesus Christ.
(Isa 49:6 NIV) he says: "It is too small a
thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back
those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
Here Paul applies these words to themselves. Mathison
comments:
Because of their covenantal union with Him, the
body of Christ shares His mission and goal. As in the Great Commission, Christ
delegates His authority to His church. He will accomplish His purposes through
the work of His body. The church, in union with the Messiah, has been placed as
a light to the Gentiles for the purpose of bringing the covenant blessings of
salvation to all the families of the earth.[15]
As Christ's body on the earth we are his mouthpiece to the
world to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. As Paul puts it in 2 Cor 5:20
we are 'Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.'
(2 Cor 5:20 NIV) We are therefore Christ's
ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on
Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Jesus said "While I am in the world, I am the light of
the world." (John 9:5 NIV) elsewhere he says that we are the light of the
world (Mat 5:14).
God's method of spreading the gospel of His Son is through
the foolishness of preaching (Rom 10:14, 1 Cor 1:21).
(Mat 16:17-19 NIV) Jesus replied, "Blessed
are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my
Father in heaven. {18} And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I
will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. {19} I will
give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in
heaven."
Lest we become too despondent Jesus has given us the promise
that He will build his church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. It
is usually interpreted, as the forces of Satan will not overcome it. The
difference between postmillennialism and other eschatologies is that
postmillennialism sees the church victorious over Satan's forces while others
see only a remnant remaining when Christ returns.
We should also remind ourselves that the one who is in us is
greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:44).
(1 John 4:4 NIV) You, dear children, are from
God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the
one who is in the world.
- "This, then, is how you should pray:
- "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
- {10} your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
- {11} Give us today our daily bread.
- {12} Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
- {13} And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
Along with carrying out the Great Commission in the power of
the Spirit, we are to pray that His kingdom comes and that his will be done on
earth as it is in heaven. In other words we are to pray the kingdom in
on the earth.
Note the words of Jesus to His disciples:
Then he said to his disciples, "The
harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. {38} Ask (deomai) the Lord
of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
(Mat 9:37-38 NIV)
deomai - 1189. deomai, deh'-om-ahee; mid. of G1210; to beg (as
binding oneself), i.e. petition:--beseech, pray (to), make request. Comp.
G4441.
On the second petition of the Lord's prayer it says:
In the second petition, (which is, Thy kingdom
come,) acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the
dominion of sin and Satan, we pray, that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be
destroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the
fullness of the Gentiles brought in; the church furnished with all
gospel-officers and ordinances, purged from corruption, countenanced and
maintained by the civil magistrate: that the ordinances of Christ may be purely
dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their
sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already
converted: that Christ would rule in our hearts here, and hasten the time of
his second coming, and our reigning with him forever: and that he would be
pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as may best
conduce to those ends.[16]
The Westminster Confession Chapter 35 - Of the
Gospel of the Love of God and Missions
1. God in infinite and perfect love, having provided in the covenant of grace,
through the mediation and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, a way of life and
salvation, sufficient for and adapted to the whole lost race of man, doth
freely offer this salvation to all men in the gospel.
2. In the gospel God declares his love for the world and his desire that all
men should be saved; reveals fully and clearly the only way of salvation;
promises eternal life to all who truly repent and believe in Christ; invites
and commands all to embrace the offered mercy; and by his Spirit accompanying
the Word pleads with men to accept his gracious invitation.
3. It is the duty and privilege of everyone who hears the gospel immediately to
accept its merciful provisions; and they who continue in impenitence and
unbelief incur aggravated guilt and perish by their own fault.
4. Since there is no other way of salvation than that revealed in the gospel,
and since in the divinely established and ordinary method of grace faith cometh
by hearing the Word of God, Christ hath commissioned his Church to go into all
the world and to make disciples of all nations. All believers are, therefore,
under obligation to sustain the ordinances of the Christian religion where they
are already established, and to contribute by their prayers, gifts, and
personal efforts to the extension of the Kingdom of Christ throughout the whole
earth.
In an article on credal postmillennialism Andrew Sandlin
says: For while it is true that neither the creeds of early catholic orthodoxy
nor the great confessions of the Reformation era contain a discussion of
millennial terms (which, in any case, were not invented until last century),
the eschatological notions of some of the latter documents cannot be understood
equally well in any of the three main millennial frameworks (pre- , a- , and
post-millennialism). A chief example is the Larger Catechism of the Westminster
Confession of Faith, whose postmillennial eschatology seems implicit. For
instance, Question 45 asks, How doth Christ execute the office of a king? The
answer is
Christ executeth the office of a king, in
calling out of the world a people to himself, and giving them officers, laws,
and censures, by which he visibly governs them; in bestowing saving grace on
his elect, rewarding them for their obedience, and correcting them for their
sins; preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and
sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully
ordering all things for his own glory, and their good; and also in taking
vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel.
There is no room in this answer for an increasingly evil
world as posited by dispensationalism and much amillennialism. Lest the
dispensationalist get the impression that the expressions "restraining and
overcoming all their enemies" and "taking vengeance on the rest, who
know not God, and obey not the gospel" refer exclusively to Christ's
exercise of kingly prerogatives after his second advent, he should note the
answer to Question 42 declares that Christ "execute[s] the offices of
prophet, priest, and, king of his church, in the estate both of his humiliation
and [present] exaltation." Moreover, lest the amillennialist deduce that
these exercises of imperial rule pertain only to the increase of the church and
not to the wider society, he should observe the texts the framers of the
catechism offer as proof for their assertion: 1 Corinthians 15:25, Psalm 110:1,
and, significantly, "the whole Psalm throughout." Verses 5 and 6 of
the Psalm state, "The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in
the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the
places of the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries."
Although the language employed here is largely figurative and symbolical, the
extent of Christ's rule clearly transcends the church to include the Gentile
nations and political rulers.
Further, the answer to query 54, How is Christ exalted in
his sitting at the right hand of God?, includes the statement, "[He] doth
gather and defend his church, and subdue her enemies," employing again
Psalm 110:1 and "the whole Psalm throughout" as Biblical proof.
Obviously implied as enemies that Christ will subdue in his regal authority are
the Gentiles and kings of the earth. This subdual, contra dispensational
premillennialism, occurs in Christ's present session, and contra much
amillennialism, extends beyond the church to include the entire Gentile world.
[Confessional
Postmillennialism by Andrew Sandlin ]
One of the distinctive features of postmillennialism is the
expectation that the Jews will convert to Christ. This is alluded to in the
Westminster confession above. In fact the puritans believed that this would
usher in a golden age for the church. This belief is based on Rom 11:12 and 15.
(Rom 11:11-15 NIV) Again I ask: Did they
stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their
transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. {12}
But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means
riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness
bring! {13} I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to
the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry {14} in the hope that I may somehow
arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. {15} For if their rejection
is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life
from the dead?
Paul spends three chapters in Romans chapters 9 to 11 in
which he discusses the Jewish problem. Paul asks three questions:
- 1. Did God's word fail? (Rom 9:6)
- 2. Did God reject his people? (Rom 11:1)
- 3. Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? (Rom 11:11)
The answer to all three is No!
If the gospel is to be preached to the whole world and if
every tribe, nation, language and people will be in heaven then we should
expect that to include both Jew and Gentile. Whether a mass conversion of Jews
to Christ will occur is speculative, but we should still pray that many eyes
and hearts will be opened. It should be noted that Rom 9-11 refers to ethnic
Jews not national Israel.
In our pessimism about the future, we are pessimistic about
two things. Firstly the power of Satan in the earth and secondly the power of
sin over the hearts and minds of men. It is quite clear from the scriptures
given below that Jesus has already dealt a decisive blow to Satan so that we
can now plunder his kingdom as Jesus commanded Paul (Acts 26:17-18 see also Col
1:13). We also pay lip service to the power of the gospel to win the souls of
men to Christ, we ourselves are examples of this. However we have a tendency to
look around us at society and to wring our hands and to say to ourselves 'it
can only get worse'. Such defeatism, while understandable, is simply unbelief.
We have been given a clear mandate to fulfil the Great Commission, let us do
it. The Lords prayer indicates that we need to pray the kingdom in on the
earth as it is in heaven, 'your kingdom come, your will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.' Mat 6:10. This is a matter firstly of faith, we cannot see
much evidence on earth of the kingdom and secondly obedience. We also need to
pray 'the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers
into his harvest field.' Mat 9:38 Luke 10:2. It is His harvest, but he
wants us to pray it in as well as going and making disciples. The other
condition is that we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to have
the power to evangelize (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8, 5:32 ). It is not just us but
the Holy Spirit who does the work, we are the body of Jesus Christ on the
earth, his mouthpiece and his ambassadors..
(Mat 12:28-29 NIV) But if I drive out demons by
the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. {29} "Or
again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions
unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
(Mat 16:18-19 NIV) And I tell you that you are
Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not
overcome it. {19} I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will
be loosed in heaven."
(Mark 9:1 NIV) And he said to them, "I
tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they
see the kingdom of God come with power."
(Luke 10:17-19 NIV) The seventy-two returned
with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
{18} He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. {19} I have
given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the
power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
(Luke 11:20-22 NIV) But if I drive out demons
by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. {21} "When
a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. {22}
But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor
in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.
(Luke 13:16 NIV) Then should not this woman, a
daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set
free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?"
(Luke 16:16 NIV) "The Law and the Prophets
were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of
God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
(Luke 17:20-21 NIV) Once, having been asked by
the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The
kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, {21} nor will
people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is
within you."
(Luke 18:29-30 NIV) "I tell you the
truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or
brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God {30} will
fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal
life."
(Luke 21:31-32 NIV) Even so, when you see these
things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. {32} "I tell
you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these
things have happened.
(John 12:31-32 NIV) Now is the time for
judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. {32}
But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."
(John 16:8-11 NIV) When he comes, he will
convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: {9}
in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; {10} in regard to
righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no
longer; {11} and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now
stands condemned.
(Acts 10:38 NIV) how God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and
healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
(Acts 26:17-18 NIV) I will rescue you from your
own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them {18} to open their
eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God,
so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are
sanctified by faith in me.'
(Col 1:13 NIV) For he has rescued us from the
dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
(Rev 12:10 NIV) Then I heard a loud voice in
heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of
our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who
accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
Phil 2:9 shows us that after Jesus death on the cross God exalted him to the
highest place and gave him a name that is above every name (both in heaven and
the earth).
(Phil 2:5-11 NIV) Your attitude should be the
same as that of Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in very nature God, did not
consider equality with God something to be grasped, {7} but made himself
nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. {8}
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient
to death-- even death on a cross! {9} Therefore God exalted him to
the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, {10} that
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth, {11} and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.
At Jesus resurrection he was seated at God's right hand far
'far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can
be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come' (Eph
1:19-21). Not only so but his incomparably great power is for us who
believe (verse 19) and that he is head over everything for the church
(verse 22).
(Eph 1:18-23 NIV) I pray also that the eyes of
your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he
has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, {19} and
his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working
of his mighty strength, {20} which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from
the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, {21} far
above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be
given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. {22} And God
placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything
for the church, {23} which is his body, the fullness of him who fills
everything in every way.
All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Jesus and
therefore he sends us to make disciples of all nations (Mat 28:18-20).
(Mat 28:18-20 NIV) Then Jesus came to them and
said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. {19}
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age."
Jesus is now exalted to the right hand of God and he has poured out the Holy
Spirit, so that we might have the power to accomplish the great commission. He
sits at God's right hand until his enemies are destroyed (Acts 2:32-35).
(Acts 2:32-35 NIV) God has raised this Jesus to
life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. {33} Exalted to the right hand of
God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured
out what you now see and hear. {34} For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet
he said, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand {35} until
I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."'
(Acts 5:30-31 NIV) The God of our fathers
raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. {31}
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give
repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
(1 Cor 15:24-26 NIV) Then the end will come,
when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all
dominion, authority and power. {25} For he must reign until he has put all his
enemies under his feet. {26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
He has disarmed the powers and authorities at the cross (Col 2:15).
(Col 2:15 NIV) And having disarmed the powers
and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by
the cross.
He destroyed the power of the devil at the cross (Heb 2:14).
(Heb 2:14 NIV) Since the children have flesh
and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might
destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--
The reason that Jesus appeared was to destroy the devil's work (1 John 3:8).
(1 John 3:8 NIV) He who does what is sinful is
of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason
the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.
Jesus is the the ruler of the kings of the earth now (Rev 1:5).
(Rev 1:5 NIV) and from Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of
the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
No less than five times in scripture we are told that Jesus
Christ waits for his enemies to become his footstool Psa 110:1; Luke 20:43;
Acts 2:35; Heb 1:13 and Heb 10:13. In the context of Acts 2:35 it is clear that
the reign of Christ started happened either at the resurrection or ascension
(Acts 2:22-36). Mat 28:18 states that Christ has received "all authority
in heaven and on earth". This is enlarged upon in 1 Cor 15:20-28. 'he must
reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be
destroyed is death' if the last enemy is death then when he returns all his
enemies will be destroyed. While there are scriptures that indicate a
cataclysmic destruction of his enemies at his return (1 Th 5:3; 2 Th 1:7; 2 Th
2:8; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev 19:20). The verses above leave room for a progressive
destruction of the enemies of God.
(1 Cor 15:20-28 NIV) But Christ has indeed
been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
{21} For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes
also through a man. {22} For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made
alive. {23} But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he
comes, those who belong to him. {24} Then the end will come, when he hands over
the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority
and power. {25} For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his
feet. {26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death. {27} For he "has put
everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything"
has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who
put everything under Christ. {28} When he has done this, then the Son himself
will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be
all in all.
The proto-gospel is given in Gen 3:15 in which the seed of
the woman, Christ, would crush the serpents head.
(Gen 3:15 NIV) And I will put enmity between
you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your
head, and you will strike his heel."
While the concepts about plundering Satan's kingdom belong
to amillennialism they also belong to postmillennialism.
(Mat 12:28-29 NIV) But if I drive out demons by
the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. {29} "Or
again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions
unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
(Luke 10:17-19 NIV) The seventy-two returned
with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
{18} He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. {19} I
have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all
the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
(John 12:31 NIV) Now is the time for judgment
on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.
(John 16:8-11 NIV) When he comes, he will
convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: {9}
in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; {10} in regard to
righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no
longer; {11} and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now
stands condemned.
(Acts 26:16-18 NIV) 'Now get up and stand on
your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness
of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. {17} I will rescue you
from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them {18} to
open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of
Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among
those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
(Col 1:13-14 NIV) For he has rescued us from
the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
{14} in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
(Heb 2:14 NIV) Since the children have flesh
and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might
destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--
(James 4:7 NIV) Submit yourselves, then, to
God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Twice in 1 John we find that the young men have overcome the
evil one (1 John 2:13 and 14). Overcoming is also a feature of Revelation, see
Rev 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:26, 3:5, 3:12, 3:21, 21:7. However one of the paradoxes
of the Christian faith is that we overcome the devil by being obedient to death
(Rev 12:11) just as Jesus was obedient unto death.
(1 John 2:12-14 NIV) I write to you, dear
children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. {13} I
write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I
write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write
to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. {14} I write to you,
fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you,
young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you
have overcome the evil one.
(Rom 1:16 NIV) I am not ashamed of the gospel,
because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:
first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
(Eph 1:13 NIV) And you also were included in
Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having
believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
(Eph 6:11-18 NIV) Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. {12} For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms. {13} Therefore put on the full armor of
God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,
and after you have done everything, to stand. {14} Stand firm then, with the
belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness
in place, {15} and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the
gospel of peace. {16} In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. {17} Take
the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
{18} And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and
requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the
saints.
(Col 1:4-6 NIV) because we have heard of your
faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints-- {5} the
faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven
and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel {6} that
has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing,
just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood
God's grace in all its truth.
(1 Th 1:4-5 NIV) For we know, brothers loved by
God, that he has chosen you, {5} because our gospel came to you not simply with
words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You
know how we lived among you for your sake.
(1 Th 2:1-5 NIV) You know, brothers, that our
visit to you was not a failure. {2} We had previously suffered and been
insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to
tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. {3} For the appeal we make
does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.
{4} On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the
gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. {5} You
know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is
our witness.
(Rev 20:1-10 NIV) And I saw an angel coming
down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great
chain. {2} He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or
Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. {3} He threw him into the Abyss, and
locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore
until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a
short time. {4} I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given
authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because
of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not
worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their
foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand
years. {5} (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years
were ended.) This is the first resurrection. {6} Blessed and holy are those who
have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them,
but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a
thousand years. {7} When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released
from his prison {8} and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners
of the earth--Gog and Magog--to gather them for battle. In number they are like
the sand on the seashore. {9} They marched across the breadth of the earth and
surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from
heaven and devoured them. {10} And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown
into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been
thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Unfortunately Rev 20:1-10 is the hinge upon which all the
millennial positions rest. This is unfortunate because Revelation is one of the
most symbolic books of the bible and therefore one of the most difficult to
interpret. The word millennium (mille Latin for 1000) comes from the
thousand years mentioned in verses 2,3,4,5,6 and 7. As a general rule we should
get our teaching from those passages of scripture that are clear rather than
obscure passages. While Rev 20:1-10 will continue to be debated
postmillennialism does not in any way depend on it.
Premillennialism says that the Second Coming occurs before
(Pre) the millennium.
Amillennialism says that the millennium occurs throughout
the current age, as does postmillennialism, which says that the Second Coming
occurs after (post) the millennium.
- We should note that postmillennialism does not depend on Rev 20 but on the
rest of the bible.
- The thousand years is symbolic of a perfect period of time (10x10x10), see
also its use in 5:11, 7:4-8, 11:13, 21:16.
- The purpose of binding Satan is to to keep him from deceiving the
nations anymore until the thousand years were ended (20:3, 8)
- Those who reign with Christ are those who had been beheaded because of
their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God.
- It does not say whether those who reign with Christ are on earth or in
heaven (he sees the souls..).
- It teaches two resurrections which is hard to reconcile with the rest of
scripture which teaches one
- It teaches a last deception and rebellion by Satan and the people of the
world before Satan is finally destroyed, then follows the final judgement.
- There appears a time sequence between Rev 19:20 and this passage because
the beast and false prophet were thrown into the lake of fire in 19:20 and the
devil is thrown into the lake of fire in 20:10.
In recent years we have emphasized those scriptures on the
imminence of the Lords return while neglecting those that refer to his long
delayed return.
'My master is staying away a long time,' Mat
24:48
The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all
became drowsy and fell asleep. Mat 25:5
"After a long time the master of those servants
returned and settled accounts with them. Mat 25:19
While it is true that Jesus will return at an hour we do not
expect, we should be about our masters business when he returns.
(Mat 24:45-46 NIV) "Who then is the
faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in
his household to give them their food at the proper time? {46} It will be good
for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
Go to Part 2
- Keith
A Mathison. Postmillennialism: an eschatology of hope, 1999, 287 pp.
This book gives a detailed description of postmillennialism. It deals with the
history, OT and NT, and theological considerations including objections to
postmillennialism. It includes a brief 14 page critique of full preterism (see
J S Russell). For a deeper look at postmillennialism see Gentry's 'He Shall
Have Dominion'.Amazon
- Darrell L Bock. Three views on the Millennium and Beyond.
Premillennialism, Postmillennialism, Amillennialism. Zondervan, 1999,
333pp. The postmillennial side is by Gentry.Amazon
- John Jefferson Davis, The Victory of Christ's Kingdom: An
introduction to Postmillennialism.
Amazon
- Kenneth L., Jr. Gentry, He Shall Have Dominion : A Postmillennial
Eschatology Hardcover (September 1992) Inst for Christian Economics; ISBN:
0930464621
Amazon
He Shall Have Dominion is as convincing as it is Biblical! This book is the
most biblical, insightful, common-sense eschatalogical (sic) treatise in print.
This book is about victory! Jesus is Victor. Dr. Gentry leaves no stone
unturned. He deals seriously with ALL of the arguments typically leveled at
Postmillennialism. Read it for yourself. Gentry proves that Postmillennialism
is the eschatology and philosophy of history that is contained in HOLY
Scripture.
- David Chilton, Paradise restored: A Biblical Theology of Dominion,
1985. Postmillennial.
Amazon
See free books from the
Institute of
Christian Economics
- Stanley J. Grenz, The Millennial Maze: Sorting Out Evangelical Options.
IVP, 1992, 239 pages.
Amazon.
- Gary North, Gary Demar, Christian Reconstruction: What It Is, What It
Isn't. Paperback - 219 pages (June 1994) Inst for Christian Economics. In
today's world, Christians have been told that there is nothing they can do to
improve society. This idea is the devil's own lie. Christians have believed
this, but the results have been anything but neutral: secular humanism, New Age
mysticism, and abortion on demand. In the name of neutrality, Christians have
handed the world over to Satan and his covenanted disciples.Amazon
- J. Marcellus Kik, Eschatology of Victory Paperback (February 1992)
Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Company;
Amazon
For those Christians who think the world is going to get worse and worse, with
the Church becoming more and more impotent, until we're all taken up by the
so-called "Rapture," this book provides a seriously different, and
more Biblical, perspective. It gives the clearest, most coherent interpretation
of Matt. 24 I have ever read. I would like to challenge all dispensationalists
to read this book and see if your perspective isn't changed.
- Kenneth L. Gentry The Greatness of the Great Commission : The
Christian Enterprise in a Fallen World
Amazon
- George Eldon Ladd, Presence of the Future : The Eschatology of
Biblical Realism.
Amazon
After surveying the debate over eschatology, Ladd discusses the promise of the
kingdom, the fulfillment of the promise, and the consummation of the promise.
Throughout the book he develops his thesis that the kingdom of God involves two
great movements--fulfillment within history and consummation at the end of
history.
- Iain H Murray, The Puritan Hope: Revival and the Interpretation of
Prophecy. Banner of Truth Trust. 1971.
Amazon
From a historical survey, Murray details the relationship of Puritan
postmillennialism to their motivation for world missions. Missionaries went
boldly into various parts of the earth knowing that Christ has already won the
victory over Satan's kingdom at the cross and had promised the victory of the
church in history. "All authority has been given unto me in heaven and on
earth, go therefore and teach...make disciples of all nations...I am with you
even unto the end of the age." "I will build my church, and the gates
of Hell shall not prevail against it."
- T Omri Jenkins, The Great Commission. Evangelical Press, 1997
- Mustard Seed Vs. McWorld : Reinventing Life and Faith for the Future
by Tom Sine, Ravi K. Zacharias.
Amazon
Emphasizes how Christians can adopt Jesus mustard seed perspective by
recognizing that God works through the seemingly small and insignificant to
bring about lasting change. For McWorld, the ultimate is economic growth and
efficiency; from a mustard seed perspective, spiritual and societal
transformation are the ultimate goals.
- A Force in the Earth : The Move of the Holy Spirit in World
Evangelization by David Shibley
Amazon
Both the power of the Holy Spirit and Prayer are needed to fulfill the Great
Commission
Links
- Eschatology
Comparison Chart By Kim Riddlebarger
- Babylon - The
Great City of Revelation Author: Joseph R. Balyeat Book Review by Kenneth
J. Davies
- Postmillennialism
by Loraine Boettner From The Millennium by Loraine Boettner Postmillennialism
and the Reformed Faith
- Postmillennialism
and the Reformed Faith - The following is a synopsis of the evangelical
postmillennial position by the late Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen
- How You Can
Help Fulfill the Great Commission - Campus Crusade
- Eschatology: The
Doctrine of Last Things What Presbyterians Believe
- "Theonomic
Postmillennialism" A Continuation of the Princeton Tradition? (Highly
recommended)
- Doomsday Prophets
Biblical Views on the Future Dennis Bratcher
- Moses' Law for Modern
Government: The Intellectual and Sociological Origins of the Christian
Reconstructionist Movement by J. Ligon Duncan, III,
- A
Response to the False Witness of Keith Mathison: as Found in His
Presentation Named Playing With Fire by Kenneth J. Davies
- Dominion and
Eschatology: A Review of Dr. Kenneth Gentry's He Shall Have Dominion By
Richard Bacon. See also
Postmillennialism
Today by Grover Gunn, III
- The Covenantal
Kingdom A Brief Summary of the The Biblical Argument for Postmillennialism
by Rev. Ralph A. Smith (Highly recommended)
- The
Messiah’s Return: Delayed? Fulfilled? or Double-Fulfillment? Author:
Timothy A. James Book Review By Jeffrey B. Kessel
- "Theonomy" A
Reformed Baptist Assessment by Samuel E. Waldron
- William
Carey, Postmillennialism and the Theology of World Missions by Dr. Thomas
Schirrmacher
- A
Christian's view of the end times will dramatically color his understanding of
our Lord's words, "Thy Kingdom Come" Dr. Kim Riddlebarger
- A Defense of
(Reformed) Amillennialism Prof. David J. Engelsma (excellent)
- Confessional
Postmillennialism by Andrew Sandlin The
Chalcedon Foundation
- Applied
Presuppositionalism Dedicated to the memory of Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen
- Worldwide
Missions
Footnotes:
- See also Rom 11:15, 11:23-24, 11:31
- Darrell
L Bock. Three views on the Millennium and Beyond. Zondervan. 1999. p 34.
- Bock p 130.
- Bock p 13.
- Keith
A Mathison. Postmillennialism An eschatology of Hope, P & R Publishing
Company 1999. p10.
- Mathison p 46.
- Mathison p. 187
- Mathison p. 190
- Compare with the two witnesses in Revelation who are 'the two olive trees
and the two lampstands', two olive trees refers to the Holy Spirit. See also
Acts 5:32; John 15:26,27; Matt 10:18-20 and Rev 22:17
- Bock p 41
- Mathison p 108
- Gen 10:5, 18, 20, 31, 32
- Mathison p 63.
- See Acts 10, Acts 11:18, Acts 13:47, Acts 15:16-17, Rom 9:25-26, Eph
2:11-22, Eph 3:6, Gal 3:26-29
- Mathison p 119
- Mathison p 43
- Mathison p 197.
- Mathison p 84.
- Mathison p 209.
- G. B.
Caird, The Revelation of St John the Divine, Black's new testament
commentaries, A & C Black. 2nd Ed 1984.
- http://www.apocalipsis.org/ see
essays
- Mathison p 212.
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