"Was Satan bound in the First Millenium?"

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The differing approaches to the Millenial Reign of Christ, help to define the doctrines and dogma of many Christian and even cultic denominations. The three basic approaches, as we have addressed before are:

  • Amillenialism
  • Pre-Millenialism
  • Post-Millenialism.

    • A-Millenialism
    Amillenialism, in which the Church stands in Proxy of Christ, is the belief that the 1000 year reign or millenial reign of Christ and his Saints; is to be seen as metaphor, or spiritualized where, depending on the brand of Amillenialism one may have a literal 1000 year reign with the Church as the governing agent, or an 'era' of time in which the Church representing Christ on earth reigns (sometimes seen as from literal Jerusalem sometimes as 'spiritualised" Jerusalem but where no literal return of Christ in physical form occurs. There are 'newer' forms of Amillenialism in which the Church reigns in preparation of the return, and the return is seen in a variety of ways. Among Churches espousing a form or type of Amillenialism are: United Methodist; United Presbyterian USA, Roman Catholicism, some more Liberal Evangelical and Assembly of God theologians espouse the view; and among those with new brands are 'dominion theologians' and some 'replacement' theologians.

    Pre-Millenialism


    Pre-Millenialism, most firmly held by Evangelical, Baptist, some Pentecostal and other Fundamentalists is the belief that Jesus Christ, in His Full Person and Godhead, will literally, as he covenanted with Israel return as he left
    Dan 7:13 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, [One] like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.

    Mat 24:30 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.

    Mat 26:64 Jesus said to him, "[It is as] you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."

    Mar 13:26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

    Mar 14:62 Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."

    Rev 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

    Visibly and on the clouds, to rule and reign. A literal interpretation of the Scriptures is expounded and a hopeful watch for a real Messiah is taught.

    Post-Millenialism
    Post-Millenialism is the most unusual of the positions. Post-Millenialists interpret the 1000 year reign of Christ as having already occurred in the past. It is similar to Amillenialism in that it sees a Church age, a church in proxy of Christ as fulfilling scripture. It differs significantly in the belief that the 1000 year reign of Christ, promised in peace and prosperity with Christ ruling with a rod of Iron, already occurred, following the early church period, with Christ reigning figuratively.

    The difficulty many have with this position is that the descriptions of the Millenial Reign do not fit with historical descriptions: there has been no place in history where for a thousand years, world peace was established, with no sorrow, pain or trouble, or where 'the wolf lies down with the lamb' or children play on asps nests. Even if one takes these passages broadly and metaphorically, the Thousand years following Christ's death were bloody with massacres, persecutions, false church systems and brutality. While the Roman Catholic Church growing out of the Holy Roman Empire did reign, the corruption was so massive that it could hardly be described as reigning metaphorically as Christ. Secondly, the events described in the Bible detail Satan as being bound, not just restrained but removed from power during the Millenium. If anything, the opposite was true.

    Post-Millenialism & the Jews

    The reason Post-Millenial views can pose doctrinal problems regarding the Jews is similar to the reasons for Amillenialism. The Church in a Post-Millenial Period, would be under the reign of Christ, although most find it difficult to grasp this position in this century of Genocide. The Jews become absolutely displaced as God's Chosen, not held in suspension as scripture advocates [Romans 9-12]. If the Church has taken the reigns and is not pre-millenial, then Christ is not on his way in a second advent: He may return at the end in a final judgment, but the events of Revelation have already occurred. This leaves out the "bringing back" and gathering of Israel yet to occur in the future, when the " true" branch is grafted back into the vine which is theirs: instead of a slumbering which is God ordained for the grafting in of the Gentiles who will believe, there is a complete 'lopping' off of the branch of Israel. Some post-millenialists will argue against this premise, but behavior toward Israel is in effect the same. Until the beginning of this century many held this position, but after two world wars and multiple genocides, many abandoned the notion that we had seen the fulfillment of the Millenial Reign, even in proxy. Post and Amillenialism are similar in their views of the Church as proxy for Christ-in-the-World some viewing a literal return as preposterous and others looking for an final endtime return, but not as head of a 1000 year millenial kingdom. Interestingly, the 1000 year reign of Christ around which these doctrines argue, was emulated by the Third Reich, or 3rd Reign, which was to be headed by Hitler and his men. Theologians of many backgrounds often note the demonic emulation of the Gospels in events of Evil in the world. In summary, the Jews lose their place as the chosen people, and except for a few, most are not seen as potential believers in a future gathering.

    Helpful Outside Links

  • What Is Eschatology?
  • Post-Millenialism & Views of the Rapture
  • Post-Millenialism by Post-Millenialists
    © 1999,2002, E.K. Best, PhD, all rights reserved.