Program 264
Amillennialism: A hard look at the evidence

The Millennium is a spiritual, not a literal, time period. Scripture proves this with its doctrine of “two ages.”

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of World’s Last Chance Ministries, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44]

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

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Part 1: (Miles & Dave)

Miles Robey: “The Millennium.” It’s something Christians have been anticipating for nearly 2,000 years. Of course, there’s a bit of difference of opinion as to just when the millennium occurs and what happens during that time period. Many people believe that after Yahushua returns, he takes the saints back to heaven with him where they reign for a thousand years before returning to earth to judge the wicked and set up Yahuwah’s kingdom.

Others believe that the millennium will be spent on this earth, with Yahushua and the saints reigning over the earth from Jerusalem. They believe that both the saints and the wicked will be alive during this time. While the location of where the millennium is to occur differs, both groups believe it will happen after Yahushua returns.

But if you haven’t joined us before, I’m Miles Robey and you’re listening to World’s Last Chance Radio where we cover a variety of topics related to Scripture, prophecy, practical piety, Biblical beliefs, and living in constant readiness for the Savior’s sudden return. Personally, at different points in my Christian journey, I have believed both views on the millennium. I was raised believing that we’d go to Heaven for a thousand years after Yahushua’s return. As an adult, digging into the Bible for myself, I believed for a time that the millennium would be on earth, giving the rebellious a final opportunity to repent.

After much diligent study, I no longer believe either of those are consistent with the weight of evidence in Scripture. Rather, I now know that the Bible clearly teaches the millennium is a symbolic time period during which Yahushua reigns. It actually occurs before his return. If this is new to you, we have previous programs and a lot of articles on our website covering this from many different angles. I’d encourage you to check them out.

One of the biggest proofs that the millennium as a spiritual symbol is occurring now is found in the fact that Scripture states two clear facts:

Number 1: Christ reigns during the millennium. And, number 2: When he returns, Yahushua will finish setting up the kingdom, conquer all enemies and, at that time, turn the position of ruler back over to Yahuwah.

That’s clearly stated in Scripture and we cover that in other programs. But today we’re going to look at this from a different angle. “Amillennialism”—the belief that the millennium is a symbolic time period happening now—is the position that is most consistent with Scripture. It best fits what Scripture has to say about eschatology and it’s also consistent with the language used in Revelation.

So, we’re going to take a look at that today. Later, Jane Lamb has prepared a beautiful promise regarding Yahuwah’s forgiveness. Have you ever felt so ashamed that you felt you couldn’t go to the Father and ask for forgiveness yet again? I know I have. If you’ve ever felt that way, I know you’ll want to stay tuned for today’s daily promise.

Now, I’m going to turn the time over to Dave Wright. Dave? The time’s all yours.

Dave Wright: Thank you, Miles. Let’s begin by defining what we mean by “eschatology.” Eschatology is that part of theology that deals with death, the judgment, and the end of the world. So obviously the return of Christ and the events surrounding that are an integral part of eschatology.

Now when you look at everything the Bible has to say about Christ ruling, the millennium, the judgment, the return of Christ, the end of the world, and the final setting up of Yah’s kingdom on earth … a fascinating image begins to emerge. Jonathan Menn has done a lot of study into this, and he calls the image that emerges an “interpretive grid,” It absolutely disproves premillennialism.

Miles: Premillennialism being …?

Dave: Premillennialism is the widely-held belief that Yahushua will return before the millennium. It’s also believed his return is preceded by a period of tribulation.

Now, as we all know, truth is consistent. This “interpretive grid,” as Menn calls it, is consistent with Scripture and it’s complete: it takes into account all aspects of eschatology.

Miles: What, precisely, is it?

Dave: It’s the idea that there are two “ages.” There’s this age; and there’s the age to come. You will find references to these two different ages throughout the New Testament and what you’re going to find is … consistency. This is why, as Menn puts it, the very consistency with which this idea is presented throughout the New Testament creates an “interpretive grid” that “provides a truly structural concept for biblical eschatology.”

Miles: So, what you’re saying is, because Scripture is so consistent in how this term is used, it creates its own framework by which we can interpret the passages of Scripture that talk about the end of the world.

Dave: Exactly.

Now, I brought in my copy of Strong’s Expanded Dictionary. I’d like you to read the Greek definition of this word. It’s number 165. Would you read that for us, please?

Miles: Sure, uh … it says:

Aiōn [ahee-OHN] The primary stress of this word is time in its unbroken duration. Aion … means “an age, era” and signifies a period of indefinite duration, or time viewed in relation to what takes place in the period. The force attaching to the word is not so much that of the actual length of a period, but that of a period marked by spiritual or moral characteristics. … The phrases containing this word should not be rendered literally, but consistently with its sense of indefinite duration.

Dave: This is an important definition. This age—the time we’re living in now—is indefinite in that no man knows the day nor the hour of Christ’s return. This age ends when he returns, and the next age (the “age to come”) starts at that time.

Miles: And, being eternity, is indefinite.

Dave: Right. That first sentence you read. Read it again. This is very important.

Miles: Uhhh … “The primary stress of this word is time in its unbroken duration”?

Dave: Yes. That. We’re going to get into that some more a bit later, but as we go through today’s study, I want you to bear that definition in mind: “The primary stress of this word is time in its – unbroken duration.” That’s important. We’re not talking about disparate time periods separated by gaps, but one continuous flow of time.

Miles: Okay. So, there’s no gap. Are there any differences between this age and the age to come?

Dave: Yes, there are. This age is temporal; it’s going to end. The age to come is eternal. Now, let’s think about this age as opposed to the next. What sets this age apart? What do we experience in this age that won’t exist in the next?

Miles: Well … death. And taxes!

Dave chuckles: True. And sin. Suffering. Sickness. Everything that goes along with life in a sinful world with a fallen nature: that’s what we experience in this age.

By contrast, what characterizes the age to come?

Miles: Um, life! Eternal life. No sickness or suffering. No sin. It’s all holiness and happiness.

Dave: Newness of life. That’s right. These two ages encompass the full span of time.

I’ve got here a quote I’d like you to read. It’s by Geerhardus Vos from his book, The Pauline Eschatology. Starting on page 25, would you please read there where it’s marked?

Miles:

The very name 'coming aion' is not merely expressive of futurity, but also carries within itself the element of direct successiveness… To say that a sin will not be forgiven either in this age or in the age to come could never have served as a formula for absolute unforgivableness ad infinitum, Matt. 12:32, if there were conceivable a gap between the two aions.

Dave: This is an extremely important point I don’t want to rush past. What he’s saying is that the very word itself—aion in Greek, “age” in English—carries with it the idea of direct succession: one age following the other directly, with no gap in time whatsoever. We’ll say more about this in our next segment, but this is an important principle to keep in mind: the very definition of an “age” encompasses the concept that one age immediately follows another age in direct succession.

In Hebrews 6 verse 5, we read that believers, quote, “have tasted the good word of [Yahuwah] and the powers of the age to come.”

Miles: A foretaste of what awaits us in the age to come.

Dave: Exactly! But it’s just a foretaste because we’re still in this age. However, the time is coming when this age will end, and it will be a very specific point in time. And just as soon as this age has ended, the next will begin. There’s no gap in between the two ages.

Miles: What is that specific point in time?

Dave: Kim Riddlebarger, in A Case for Amillennialism, says it the best. Quote: “The Scriptures explicitly tell us that the line of demarcation between these two ages is our Lord's second advent.”

Miles: So the return of Christ is the—the “event horizon,” if you will, that delineates one age from the next.

Dave: Correct. And what’s interesting is that when you read through the passages of Scripture that talk about the Second Coming of Christ, you find that there is only one coming—not a secret coming, followed by a more public one; there’s just one coming—or they speak of it as a single “day,” and this transition from one age to the next involves three distinct elements:

• A resurrection
• A judgment
• And a restoration

I want to take a few minutes now to look at each of these in Scripture, and as we go through these, I want you to notice how these three elements are repeatedly associated with the end of this age and the start of the next.

I’ve printed off the verses for you so it will go faster. Here … just go ahead and start reading through those if you would.

Miles: All right. The first one is Daniel 12 verse 2. It says: “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”

Dave: Okay, we’re dealing with the resurrection aspect here. What’s next?

Miles: Matthew 13:30. It says: “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

Uhh … the next passage is from this same chapter where Christ is explaining the parable. He says:

The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Dave: Notice how, in just one short passage, he refers to “the end of the age” twice.

Go on.

Miles: Still Matthew 13, verses 47 to 50.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Dave: Again: the “end of the age” where there will be a separation between the wicked and the righteous.

Miles: It's interesting how there’s an obvious crossover regarding the resurrection and the judgment.

Dave: Yes. Because the judgment takes place immediately after the resurrection.

Any more?

Miles: Revelation 20, verses 11 to 15.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Dave: This next section deals with the second element, which is the judgment, when the wicked will be punished and the righteous will be rewarded. Go ahead and read a few of those.

Miles: Acts 17:31 says: “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Next is Romans 14:10 to 12:

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of [Yahuwah]; for it is written,

“As I live, says [Yahuwah], every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to [Yahuwah].”

So then each of us will give an account of himself to [Yahuwah].

2 Corinthians 5:10 says: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

Dave: The third aspect we find repeated when talking about the end of this age and the beginning of the next is the restoration of the world back to what Yahuwah originally intended it to be. Let’s read a few of those.

Miles: Um … Acts 3:19 to 21 says:

Repent, then, and turn to [Yahuwah], so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that He may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Yahushua. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for [Yahuwah] to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets.

Romans 8:19 to 21:

Repent, then, and turn to [Yahuwah], so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that He may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Yahushua. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for [Yahuwah] to restore everything, as hH promised long ago through his holy prophets.

And finally, 2 Peter 3:11 to 13 says:

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of [Yahuwah] and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Dave: So the destruction of this world plus its recreation is part of what happens with the transition from one age to the next.

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Part 2: (Miles & Dave)

Dave: In our last segment, you read where the definition of aion—or “age,” in English—has as its primary stress the concept of time in its unbroken duration. In other words, time in a continual, uninterrupted flow, without any gaps. And that’s the problem with the belief that the millennium is a literal time period following Christ’s return. Premillennialism is inconsistent with Scripture’s repeated explanation of “two ages.”

Miles: How so?

Dave: Scripture is very clear that when this age ends, the next begins. We already looked at the differences in the ages, but with premillennialism, there’s a gap where, after Yahushua returns, evil co-exists with righteousness; the lost still living after the redeemed have been gifted with immortality.

You could call it an overlap, I suppose, but it’s really more a gap – a period of time out of time where it’s neither this age nor the age to come. But again, this contradicts what Scripture repeatedly asserts: that Yahushua’s return signals the end of this age and the beginning of the next. At that time, there will be the resurrection of both the just and the unjust. The just will be rewarded with eternal life, the unjust will be punished. This is followed by the recreation of the earth. This all happens at Christ’s return which is the transition point of this age to the coming age.

You can’t stick a gap of a thousand years in there. To which “age” would that belong? This age? But how? The righteous will have been granted immortality, so it doesn’t fit this age.

The coming age? But Scripture says that sin will not exist in the coming age. So, again, it’s a gap. A thousand-year long gap.

Miles: Yeah, that’s not consistent with Scripture, is it? If you try to stick the millennium in after Christ’s return, it obviously would have to be accounted as part of the coming age, but then you’ve got the problem of sin and sinners still in existence. It doesn’t work.

Dave: That is the fatal flaw in the logic of premillennialism. It doesn’t fit. It creates a time out of time, and that contradicts Scripture.

I want to take a look now at the closing chapters of Revelation. Most of Revelation has already been fulfilled back in the first century, but the last few chapters deal with the end of this age and the commencement of the next with the return of Christ. Turn to Revelation 19 and let’s start reading at verse 11. We don’t have the time to read the entire chapter, but let’s read enough to get the gist of it.

Miles: “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.”

Dave: What follows is a description of Yahushua in very warlike terms. What do verses 14 and 15 say?

Miles: ^“And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”

Dave: Again, a very war-like image. He strikes down the nations. This is the language of victory.

Drop down now to verses 19 to 21.

Miles:

And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

Dave: This is describing a victory so complete that the conquered—Satan and his followers—will never rise again. Christ has won. Sin will never rise a second time.

Now, turn to the next chapter, Revelation 20. Remembering that when John wrote this book, he did not insert chapter and verse divisions, we have to read Revelation 20 in the context of this complete victory gained in the previous chapter. Read the first three verses of chapter 20.

Miles:

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

Dave: Do you see the problem? Premillennialists will tell you that this is Satan being bound during the first thousand years following the Second Coming. But my question is: what nations? What nations is he being prevented from deceiving when, in Revelation 19, Christ has already soundly defeated all the nations?

Miles: Hmm. That’s a good point.

So how do you reconcile this?

Dave: Well, turn to 1 Corinthians 15 and read verses 24 to 26. This is a key passage that, when properly understood, proves we are even now in the millennium. It doesn’t happen after Yahushua returns. His return is when the spiritual millennium—and this age—come to an end.

Go ahead: 1 Corinthians 15, verses 24 to 26.

Miles: “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

Dave: Then … comes … the end. And what happens then?

Miles: “He delivers the kingdom to God the Father.”

Dave: After doing what?

Miles: Uh … “after destroying every rule and every authority and power.”

Dave: So Christ reigns until all his enemies are destroyed. What we haven’t understood is that we are currently under Christ’s rule. He’s been reigning ever since he ascended to Heaven and was exalted to sit on the right hand of Yahuwah. This isn’t some future rule. It’s our current reality.

And we know this because of what else is said in the passage. The last enemy to be destroyed is … what?

Miles: Death itself.

Dave: And that happens when Christ returns. Drop down to verses 51 to 55. What do those say?

Miles:

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”

Dave: This is the “end” referenced back in verse 24. The end of this age comes when death itself is destroyed. And this brings us to something we’ve not seen before. This also brings to an end Christ’s rule.

Read verses 27 and 28.

Miles:

For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that He is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to Him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

Dave: Premillennialists would have us believe that Yahushua reigns during a millennium that occurs after his return. But these verses right here show the impossibility of that. Why? Because Yahushua reigns only until “all things” are in subjection to him. Once Christ has conquered, he then turns the reins of government back over to Yahuwah and places himself in subjection to the Father.

Miles: I find it interesting that Paul used the title “God” in this passage. It makes it clear that Yahushua is not “God.” By using “God” to refer to Yahuwah here, Paul is making it clear that only Yahuwah is God; Yahushua isn’t. He’s fully human.

Dave: How did we never see this before?

Miles: I don’t know.

Dave: Okay. Turning back to Revelation 20, read verses 7 to 9.

Miles:

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven^[b] and consumed them.

Dave: Remember, just before this, Yahushua had conquered his enemies. The way Revelation is written, it frequently circles back and describes the same events from a different angle. That’s what’s happening here. The destruction of his enemies brings an end to this age. This means that the millennium must occur prior to Christ’s return, not afterward.

Miles: And certainly not linger for a thousand years afterward!

Dave: There are clear similarities between Revelation 19 and Revelation 20.

I have here a copy of The Promise of the Future by Cornelis Venema. Would you please turn to page 314 and read where it’s marked there near the bottom?

Miles: “The parallels between these visions—in language, symbolism, use of Old Testament prophecy, and content—is so pervasive and compelling as to yield but one likely explanation: they are describing the same period of history, the same episodes and the same conclusion at the end of the age.”

Dave: Another point to bear in mind is that, at his return, Yahushua will resurrect the righteous. Remember 1 Corinthians 15:53? “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality”? With the wicked destroyed and the righteous made immortal, there are no unrepentant sinners left for Christ and the saints to rule over in a post-Second Coming millennium. It’s all over. The new “age” of righteousness where Yahuwah alone rules has begun.

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Mid-point call letters: (Sharon)

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WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

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[Words in italics may be deleted to fine-tune timing.]

Yahuwah shaped ancient Israel’s culture to be a shining light to the world. Part of the very foundation of their culture was giving to others. In fact, ancient Israelites viewed giving to others as an act of worship because they understood that when giving to the poor, they were in reality giving to Yahuwah.

This is a concept that has largely been lost in our modern world, but when you understand what Yahuwah intended the act of giving to really be, you will be inspired and encouraged to pass on the blessings you have received to others.

Program 146, “Radical Faith and the Gift of Giving,” can be found, along with other previously aired programs, on WorldsLastChance.com. Listen to “Radical Faith and the Gift of Giving” on World’s Last Chance today! Learn the lessons Yahuwah intended to teach as you realize that it’s impossible to outgive Yahuwah!

* * *Part 3: (Miles & Dave)

Dave: So let’s talk, now, about the two resurrections.

Miles: Two! How can you have two if the millennium is spiritual and not literal? I mean, I was taught, growing up, that there would be a resurrection of the righteous at Yahushua’s return, followed by a resurrection of the wicked after the millennium. So, how can you say there are two resurrections when we know that the millennium itself is spiritual?

Dave: That’s a great question. We’ve seen how the millennium is spiritual. It is concurrent with Christ’s reign which commenced after his ascension when he was exalted to sit on the right hand of his Father. With this being the case, the first resurrection is also spiritual. It’s symbolic of our new life in Christ that believers experience now through faith.

I see you’re looking rather skeptical. You’ve still got your Bible open to Revelation 20. Read verses 4 to 6 for us, please.

Miles:

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Yahushua and for the word of God and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Dave: Notice, again, that “God” and “Christ” are two separate individuals. Only Yahuwah is God; Yahushua isn’t.

Okay. There are parallels between this passage and other passages that I believe support that the “first” resurrection is spiritual and takes place before the physical resurrection that happens at Christ’s return.

Miles: For example?

Dave: Uh, John 5. Read verse 25.

Miles: “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”

Dave: This is talking about the spiritual life. All who hear the gospel and believe on the merits of the blood of Christ will live. It’s a spiritual resurrection which is why he could say “an hour is coming, and is now here.” Contrast this with verses 28 and 29.

Miles: Uh … “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

Dave: Notice that here Christ doesn’t add “an hour is coming and is now here” this time. This is talking about the physical resurrection which is yet future.

Let’s look at another passage that has parallels to Revelation 20:4 to 6. Please turn to Ephesians 2 and read verses 4 to 7.

Miles: Okay, it says:

But [Yahuwah], being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Yahushua, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Dave: Here Paul refers to believers as being made alive and raised up and seated with Christ in heavenly places. This is all clearly spiritually speaking. We’re not physically sitting with Christ in heavenly places, so the resurrection he’s describing is also, in this context, a spiritual one.

I have here a quote from The Resurrection of the Son of God by N. T. Wright. Would you read it for us, please? By the asterisk.

Miles: "Without downplaying the future hope of actual resurrection itself, the fact that the church lives in the interval between the Messiah's resurrection and its own ultimate new life means that the metaphorical use of 'resurrection' language can be adapted to denote the concrete Christian living described in [Ephesians] 2:10."

Dave: In other words, Ephesians 2 is using these terms spiritually, just as John does in Revelation 20, verses 4 to 6. This is a metaphorical use. And these aren’t the only two places! This metaphorical use of likening the spiritual life to a resurrection appears throughout the New Testament.

What does 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17 say?

Miles: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Dave: And Galatians 6:15?

Miles: “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.”

Dave: Colossians 2, verses 11 through 13?

Miles:

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

Dave: One more: Colossians 3 verses 1 to 4.

Miles:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of [Yahuwah]. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in [Yahuwah]. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Dave: So clearly, a metaphorical death and resurrection is a recurrent theme in Scripture. We see this also in Christ’s words in Luke 20, verses 37 and 38. Would you please read that for us?

Miles: Sure, um … “But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls [Yahuwah] the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.”

Dave: The word “raised” in verse 37 comes from the Greek egeirō. It’s one of the main words in the New Testament that is translated as “resurrection.” My point is that Yahushua is using very clear “resurrection” language in talking about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and yet: have they been raised back to life yet?

Miles: No. Not physically. Not yet.

Dave: So there’s clear precedence for “resurrection” being used in a symbolic, metaphorical sense.

But there’s more. Revelation 20 contains contextual clues that support interpreting the first resurrection in verse 4 spiritually while, at the same time, interpreting the second resurrection in verse 5 literally.

In fact, would you read it for us again? Let’s have this clear in mind what we’re talking about.

Miles:

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Yahushua and for the word of [Yahuwah], and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of [Yahuwah] and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Dave: This is the only place in Scripture where we have clearly delineated the “first resurrection” and the “second death.” The “second resurrection” and the “first death” are implied, but clearly understood.

Now. Using the word “first” to describe “resurrection is what lets us know that the first resurrection is different from the second.

Miles: How so?

Dave: The first resurrection is qualitatively different from the second. I have here a quote that explains what I mean. It’s from Alexander Fraser’s book, A Key to the Prophecies of the Old and New Testaments which are Not Yet Accomplished.

Miles laughs: Must be an old one with that unwieldy of a title!

Dave: You’re right. It was published in 1802 but is in the public domain and available on Google Books. Anyway, I printed off the part I’d like you to read. Here you go.

Miles: It says: “The terms, first and second, are used in Scripture to distinguish subjects which are in some respects similar, but in others are very different, lest we should mistake the one for the other.”

Dave: We see this throughout Scripture. The words first and last, old and new, uh … first and second. They’re all used to draw a contrast; to demonstrate a qualitative difference as opposed to making a statement about sequence. It’s not saying, “These things are alike, just one comes first and the other comes second.” Instead, it’s drawing a comparison to show the differences.

Miles: Sooo … let me see if I’ve got this right. What you’re saying is that when Revelation 20 refers to the “first resurrection” it’s not a reference to two separate resurrections that are, for all intents and purposes, alike. Instead, it’s contrasting it with the “second death” and an implied “second resurrection.”

Dave: That’s correct. In fact, when you think about it, the very fact that the “second resurrection” is merely implied and not explicitly listed is further proof that the two resurrections are qualitatively different.

J. Webb Mealy did an in-depth study of this in his work, After the Thousand Years: Resurrection and Judgment in Revelation 20. Would you please read that paragraph just … yes, there.

Miles:

John refuses to mention the 'second resurrection' by name in 20:13 [or in 20:5-6], not because resurrection is not in view, but because he wishes to discourage the very idea … that the 'rest of the dead' will experience 'life' in the deepest sense when they finally 'stand again' in their bodies… The second 'resurrection,' that of the unrepentant, can hardly be called such because it issues not in everlasting life, but in the second death.

Huh! That’s a really interesting take on it.

Dave: It’s very insightful. We find this method of contrast throughout the New Testament.

Here’s another quote by Alexander Fraser I’d like you to read. His insights were really profound.

Miles: “The Scriptures frequently mention the second or new birth. The first birth is that of the body. Is it necessary that the second should be so too? … The second birth is doubtless an allegory. But does it follow that the first birth is an allegory too?”

Dave: His point is that we can have two applications: one physical; the other metaphorical.

We see this in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Why don’t you turn there for us? This is contrasting the first Adam, who had a perishable body, with the second or last Adam who has a spiritual body.

Read verses 42 through 48, please.

Miles:

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.

Dave: The first Adam brought death; the second Adam brings life. These are drawing qualitative contrasts. Paul summarizes this clearly in verse 49. Why don’t you go ahead and read that, too.

Miles: “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.”

Dave: Yahushua did the same thing in his parables. Read his use of this literary device in Mark 2:21 to 22.

Miles:

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.

Dave: Paul does this a lot. What does he say in 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17?

Miles: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Dave: Another theme Paul repeats is the contrast between the “old” man and the “new.” Would you read Ephesians 4 verses 22 to 24, please?

Miles: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like [Yahuwah] in true righteousness and holiness.”

Dave: It’s even more clear in Colossians 3 verses 9 and 10.

Miles: Uhh … “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

Dave: So, now that you’ve seen how this is, really, a literary device used to draw contrasts, let’s apply that to Revelation 20.

In verse 4, those who came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years—that’s all metaphorical. They came to life spiritually. This is the first resurrection mentioned in verse 6 and it’s because they experienced this spiritual resurrection that the second death, also mentioned in verse 6, has no power over them.

Miles: So. To summarize: the first resurrection occurs now, while we’re still living in our physical bodies. Only believers experience this resurrection because it’s spiritual.

Dave: That’s correct.

Miles: The “second” resurrection that’s implied is the physical resurrection that occurs when Christ returns.

Dave: Yes, at the end of this age.

Miles: The implied “first” death is, clearly, physical. The second death, then, is … spiritual?

Dave: You could say that. It’s both spiritual and physical. For all who have rejected the first resurrection with Christ, they die spiritually, and their punishment is physical death which lasts forever. They never make it to the second age, the age of righteousness when Yahuwah rules His kingdom forever.

Once we apply Jonathan Menn’s “interpretive grid” to Scripture, we can see clearly that Scripture presents two ages. Our current age, and the age to come. Everything earthly, and temporal and sinful exists in our present age. The age to come commences when death itself is destroyed at Christ’s return. All of eternity future is in the “age to come.”

This leaves no room whatsoever for a thousand-year time-gap following Yahushua’s return. So the idea that the Second Coming is followed by a millennium, either in Heaven or here on earth, is not consistent with Scripture. When Yahushua returns, that’s it, folks! What we need to be doing today is choosing to accept salvation by faith so that we can, now, be “resurrected” with Christ in a spiritual resurrection. Then, whether he returns in our lifetime or at some point in the future, the second death will have no power over us.

Miles: Amen! “Even so, come Lord Yahushua, quickly come.”

Up next: Jane Lamb with today’s Daily Promise.

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Daily Promise:

Hello! This is Jane Lamb with your Daily Promise from Yah’s Word.

According to Chaplain Wendell Hawley, when the Moravian missionaries first took the gospel message to the Eskimos, they encountered an unexpected difficulty. They discovered that in the native language, there was no word for forgiveness!

In the end, they had to create a new, compound word to communicate the idea. The word is a very formidable-looking assembly of letters. I’m probably not pronouncing it quite right, but it is something along the lines of: Issumagijoujungnainermik. Whew! I said it! Issu-ma-gijou-jung-nainer-mik.

It’s quite a mouthful in English, but the meaning is actually very beautiful. It means: “Not-being-able-to-think-about-it-anymore.”

Most Christians cling to the promise found in 1 John, chapter 1, verse nine which says: “If we confess our sins, He is able and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” That’s a precious promise!

The problem is, too many of us start listening to Satan when he comes in and burdens us with guilt. From feeling guilty, it’s a quick step to doubting that we have, in fact, actually been forgiven! If this happens to you, remember Isaiah 43, verse 25, which says: “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.”

And if Yahuwah has forgotten them, if they don’t even exist in the mind of the Creator, can they actually exist at all?

The book of Micah ends with an incredibly beautiful glimpse into the Father’s attitude toward sinners. It says:

Who is an Eloah like You,
Pardoning iniquity
And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?

He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in mercy.
He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.

You will cast all our sins

Into the depths of the sea.

There are so many promises packed into that one short passage! He delights in mercy! Did you catch that? He finds joy in treating us better than we deserve.

He will subdue or bring under control our iniquities. He’ll cast our sins into the depths of the sea and then, as one gospel preacher said it, he puts up a sign that says, “No fishing!”

We’ve been given great and precious promises. Go, and start claiming!

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Part 4: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: I want to thank you for joining us today. If you enjoyed today’s program and would like to share with a friend or family member, you can find it on our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Look for Program #264 called “Amillennialism: A hard look at the evidence.” Again, that’s Program #264 entitled “Amillennialism: A hard look at the evidence.”

We hope you can join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

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This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage.

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.