Is Amillennialism Biblical?

Name: Ken J Lancaster
Question: Is Amillennialism biblical?

Answer: Thank you for the question Ken.

For all of my readers, Amillennialism is the belief that there is no literal millennium. There is no literal 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ. Instead, they believe the Millennium refers to the “church age” of today. Adherents simply believe, the millennium is symbolic in nature.

I don’t believe that to be true and I’ll explain why…

It’s very true, the Book of Revelation is filled with symbology. However, this subject is not symbolic in my book. In fact, I have a very detailed study on the Millennium that I would like for you to read.

What Happens During The Millennium?

So here’s the deal…

We know Jesus Christ will return to earth after the Tribulation.

The Disciples asked Jesus…

“…What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”

Matthew 24:3

If we keep reading Matthew 24, we’re told about the Great Tribulation, where the Devil himself will be released on the earth. More details can be found on that subject 2 Thessalonians 2.

Then,

“…They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Matthew 24:30

Jesus will even “send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other,” (Matthew 24:31).

As we read, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ will be on earth.

Now, that begins the Millennial reign, which is very literal, as the verses we just read are literal in meaning.

In Revelation, we have more details of this event.

Let’s take a look…

Revelation 19:11
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

This marks the return of Jesus, just like we read in Matthew 24.

Look what else we find…

Revelation 19:14
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Those armies are the Angels that we read about in Matthew 24.

So we’re linking some things together here…

Now, as soon as Jesus returns, the Devil will be cast into the bottomless pit, (Revelation 20:2).

What happens next?

Let me show you…

Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Now, the highlighted portions help clear up the passage.

We’re being told, judgment was given to certain people. As in, they’ll be judging other people. In fact, they’ll be “kings and priests” during the Millennium, the time we’re reading about, the time when Jesus and His Angels are here on earth, (Revelation 1:6, 20:6).

Now, what happens to the people who received the power of “judgment?”

“They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

Where?

On earth, where Jesus returned too.

So I’m not seeing where some believe this is symbolic. To say it’s symbolic is to create an entirely new belief system, but then again, Christianity is filled with different belief systems. So we have to ensure ours properly aligns with all of Scripture, to ensure nothing contradicts itself.

Let’s have the next verse…

Revelation 20:5
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Now this sounds confusing, but it’s not.

In verse 4, we learned that some Christians will take part in the “first resurrection.” Now, they were already alive, so how could they be resurrected?

They couldn’t, so we know that part is symbolic.

Nevertheless, we’re simply being told, the people outlined in verse 4, were good Christian people throughout time, all the way down to the Tribulation. They followed God, and for that, they were granted an immortal body and soul, on the first day of the Millennium, (1 Corinthians 15:52-55).

In addition, they are a part of Christ’s government, where they reign as “kings and priests.”

Hey, it’s reward day for them!

Now, “the rest of the dead” is simply a reference to those who are on the wrong side of the Gulf in Heaven. They are the opposite of those outlined in verse 4. They don’t take part in the “first resurrection,” so they have the Millennium to potentially correct themselves.

I have more on this in another study.

When Will There Be A Resurrection Of The Dead?

So “the dead,” are spiritually dead people.

Look, no one is really dead…

God is the God of the living, (Mark 12:27).

Remember, we know for a fact, Moses, Elijah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets are alive, (Mat 17:3, 22:32, Luk 13:28, 16:23).

So don’t let that part hang you up and lead you to believe the entire Millennium is symbolic.

One more verse…

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

We’re told twice now, the people who take part in the “first resurrection” will reign with Jesus for a thousand years right here on earth. Then, at the very end of that period, the Devil will be released from his pit, and that leads to an entirely different subject.

Now, I went through all of that with you, to hopefully help you understand, the Millennium is literal, not symbolic. When Jesus returns, He will return to earth, and we will reign with Him for a 1,000 years.

What a time it will be!