Answering Questions raised against
the Biblical Millennium
[Jesus taught that the reward for the righteous was to inherit the earth, not heaven. Jesus said Heaven is not our home: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matt. 5:5)]
Sure, but the righteous will inherit the earth after the 1000 year millennium in heaven. Revelation 19:1-2 teaches that immediately after the destruction of Babylon (Revelation 18:8-24), John beheld God’s saints in heaven. “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God.. ” (Revelation 19:1-2). Why are the saints in heaven if they are not supposed to be there?
[Jesus taught that heaven is not the habitation of humans: No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man. (John 3:13; see also Acts 2:29)]
In the context of John 3:12-13, Jesus is using an idiomatic phrase in which He is saying that no one has gone to heaven and come back "come down from heaven," to tell them what heaven is like other than Him! John 3:13 does not say that no person before Jesus has gone to heaven. John 3:12-13 aligns well with Deuteronomy 30:12, “It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
[Jesus taught his disciples that they could not go where He was going: My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: where I am going, you cannot come. (John 13:33)]
Jesus actually taught his disciples that they would follow him afterwards to where he was going (heaven): John 13:36, "Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
[So where did Jesus go after the resurrection that his disciples could not follow? I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17) Jesus went to heaven to sit at the right hand of God. But He explicitly stated that where He was going, we could not come!]
He explicitly stated that where he was going, the disciples could not come “NOW”, but surely follow him “AFTERWARDS” (John 13:36).
[Instead, Jesus told us He was going away to prepare mansions for us: I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also. (John 14:2-3)]
Since we are to follow him "AFTERWARDS" to Heaven where He has prepared a place for us, Jesus is saying that, when he comes, he’ll receive us; that where He is (??? see below), we may be also.
[SDA's use this passage as a proof-text that the Millennium is in heaven, but follow the location of Jesus carefully: Jesus said He was going away (presumably to heaven) to "prepare a place for you..." Jesus said He was going to "come again" and receive the saints. Now stop right here. Where is Jesus located? At this point, He is on the earth.]
He is actually “in the air”: 1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord”.
[The passage never says the saints are going back with Him to heaven.]
The passage never says we’ll come down to earth either. However, the other texts makes it clear that we’ll follow him to heaven (John 13:36).
[John describes the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2-3) as a "bride adorned for her husband", indicating a pristine and "virgin" city, not one that the saints are about to re-occupy after having already lived in it for 1,000 years! If the saints had already been living up in heaven in their mansions in the New Jerusalem for 1,000 years, this could hardly be the special event John is describing. ]
The main point of this objection fails for the bible is simply describing the purity of the city. The city is not actually "bride" only, "as a bride". There are many aspects we can choose to describe a bride. Virginity need not mean that no human is in it. This understanding is very foreign to the text under consideration.
[This verse also announces a new era for mankind. The Father will be physically with them. They will live together in the same city. Think this through: This announcement, that God will now be dwelling with men, would not make any sense if the righteous had already been dwelling with God in heaven for the past 1,000 years!]
NO, God will live with them on the same planet, not only the same city. This is the newness that occurs at the end of the 1000 years. The righteous shall "inherit the earth".
[Is the Earth Void in the Millennium? The Bible teaches that Birds are found on earth during the Millennium: (Rev. 19:17,21). Plants and animals will inhabit the destroyed cities of the wicked during the Millennium. (Isa. 34:2,11,13-15)]
Birds and animals will have a truly wonderful time on this planet during the 1000 years. No doubt vegetation will flourish. Rev.19:17, 21 cannot be used to prove that people are alive on the earth during the millennium.
[The Bible also teaches that humans occupy the earth during the Millennium. Parts of Isaiah 24 are often quoted by Adventists to describe the condition of the earth during the Millennium. Other parts of the same chapter clearly state that there are inhabitants on the earth during that time: Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. (Isa. 24:1) This verse proves that there are indeed inhabitants of the earth and that they are "scattered abroad" throughout the planet. Isaiah continues: Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. (Isa. 24:6). This verse describes in detail the status of the inhabitants on the earth during the Millennium. They "dwell" on the earth and there are "few" left. Isaiah does not teach there are "none" left. He says there are "few" left. The Hebrew word for "few" is miz`ar, which means "a remnant, a very few".6 Adventists want us to believe that "few" means "none" but this is not the case. Isaiah used a different Hebrew word, 'ayin, when he wanted to say "none" (Is. 41:24; 45:21).]
The key to Isaiah 24 is verse 3. There are a few men "left" in verse 6, but the earth is "utterly emptied" in verse 3. Then those men must be elsewhere. And where else might they be? They are in heaven. The term, few men left is the exact language Jesus used to describe the second coming in Mt.24:40 (one taken the other left). The ones taken are destroyed, given to the vultures, the ones left are left alive, not left on earth. A remnant, (few men), are then taken to heaven just as Jesus promised Peter when He said in John 13:36, "Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
[Is Satan Roaming Earth During the Millennium? Revelation teaches us that Satan is bound for 1,000 years in the "bottomless pit"(Rev. 20:2,3). Paul makes it clear that the Abyss is not the inhabitable earth: But the righteous which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep {abussos}? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) (Rom. 10:6,7). This verse tells us that Jesus went into the "bottomless pit" when He died. We are incapable of fully understanding the nature of this abyss, but it is evident that it is some place other than the inhabitable regions of the earth.]
Exactly, it is not an inhabitable region of the earth but an uninhabitable one; the condition in which this world will be when Christ comes again (See also Jeremiah 4:24,25). It is a region of death. Satan will be bound in this abyss surrounded by the carcasses of humanity.
[Isaiah 24 says a small remnant of people are left alive. 'Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.' 'The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word.' The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; 'Because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned', and few men left. (Isaiah 24:1, 3, 5, 6)
Notice several important facts out of the Holy Bible's account:
1. There are "haughty" people living on the earth who are now languishing, or in mourning.
2. There are inhabitants of the earth that are defiling it.
3. The Bible clearly says there are "few" men left (not none).]
The haughty inhabitants are “burned” and hence cannot be alive (v6); the vast majority have been destroyed by the brightness of Christ coming (2 Thess. 2:8). A remnant, (few men), are then taken to heaven just as Jesus promised Peter in John 13:36.
[The prophet Daniel teaches that Christ's Kingdom is established upon the earth and is described by Daniel as a "mountain" upon the earth: …and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth… And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Dan. 2:35,44; see also Micah 4:1, Isa. 11:9)]
The image Stone image depicts the entire millennium period, not just the second coming of Christ. The stone coming represents the second coming of Christ, shattering is at the end of the millennium when all the kingdoms are destroyed "together", as well as the filling of the earth also occurring at the end of the millennium. In other words, as each part of daniel's image represents a time period, not a specific event occurring in a matter of minutes, or days, so the rock represents a time period, not one specific event that happen instantaneously.
[The book of Revelation states that the resurrected righteous will reign with Jesus for 1,000 years: But who will the saints rule over?]
The Bible also says the saints will “reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). Thus this “reign” idea implies we will be in some position of authority, just as Adam originally exercised dominion over the earth, that’s all.
[Aren't all the unsaved killed when Christ returns? As noted above, Isaiah 24 says a small remnant of people are left alive.]
See above!
[For some reason God does not destroy all the wicked. Perhaps these are descendents or relatives of the saints or others for whom there is still some hope of salvation. Perhaps these are people whose services are needed during the Millennium to maintain the earth, farm its land, and provide other needed services for the saints. A "few" people can turn into many millions over the course of 1,000 years. During this time the righteous saints will "reign" on the earth" over these nations.]
The living wicked will be slain by the very presence of Christ at the second coming. "With the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." Isaiah 11:4. "When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God." 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8. "Let the wicked perish at the presence of God." Psalms 68:2. The ones left are left alive, not left on earth (See above).
[The word "reign" used in Rev. 20:6 is from the Greek word basileuo, which means: "to be king, to exercise kingly power, to reign."9 Reigning may indeed include the aspect of judging (not reviewing), but it also means to exercise kingly power and authority. There is a vast difference between "reiging" and "reviewing cases of the dead"! If the only reigning the saints are going to do during the Millennium is reviewing cases, then why didn't John use the word "judge" (Greek krin) instead of "reign"? John was certainly familiar with the word "judge" (krin), since he used the word 24 times in his writings, including Rev. 20:12 (a mere 6 verses after Rev. 20:6). If John had wanted to convey the idea that the saints would be judging, not reigning, during the Millennium, he certainly could have chosen to use the word "judge" (krin). However, he did not. He said the saints would "reign" with Christ.]
He did use it. See Revelation 20:4.
[Job's idea of the Second Coming of Christ contrasts sharply with the SDA view. Instead of God grabbing the saints in the air and whisking them away somewhere into heaven without ever touching the earth, Job says that he will witness his redeemer standing upon the earth: "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God". (Job 19:25,26)]
The very verse (1 Thess. 4:17) says that, the saints meet him "in the air". (v.17). Is this for him to bring us right back to earth? No, this is confusing the third coming (after the 1000) with the second coming before the 1000 years.
[The angels explained to the disciples how Christ would return: "...Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven". (Acts 1:11)
What was the "manner" of Jesus being taken up into heaven?
Mountain ==> Air ==> Clouds ==> HeavenHe was standing upon a "mountain" (Matt. 28:16)
He ascended up into the "air" [atmosphere] (Acts 1:9)
He went up into the "clouds" (Acts 1:9)
He disappeared from sight and ascended into "heaven" (Acts 1:11)
So, think this through. If He is going to return "in like manner", then what is the reverse of this process?
Heaven ==> Clouds ==> Air ==> Mountain
He descends from "heaven" (1 Thes. 4:16)
He appears in the "clouds" (1 Thes. 4:17)
He descends through the "air" [atmosphere] (1 Thes. 4:17)
He will stand upon a "mountain" (Zech 14:4)]
Come again in like manner simply means visibly! To try to use this argument would cause us to wonder about verses which say, when He comes, the world will be destroyed; he'll come with billions of angel's, with a shout, etc. He didn't leave like that, did he? (Also see john 14:1-3).
[The book of Revelation states that the resurrected righteous will rule with Jesus for 1,000 years. The Bible clearly states that the righteous shall reign "upon the earth": And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Rev. 5:10)]
Yes, the saints will reign on earth but this "reign" clearly takes place after the earth is made new, that is, after the 1000 years!!!! As Rev.22:5 indicates, "and there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. The "reign" spoken of in Revelation.20:4 is not taking place on earth, but rather in heaven. One is for 1000 years, the other is "forever and ever". It is obvious that these are two different "reigns".
The 1000 year reign is judgment of the wicked.( 1 Cor.6:1-3) :
Isaiah 32:1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
The second and forever reign will be as victors over sin and death:
Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord (See also - 1 Co 15:54,55)
[Adventists are forced to twist the chronology of events in Rev. 20 because they erroneously teach the earth is empty of humans during the Millennium.]
Quite the opposite. Revelation, like Daniel, is written on the repeat and enlarge principle. Just as there are not two different creation accounts between Gen 1 and Gen 2 but rather, Gen 2 repeats and enlarge, so Rev.20:11 onward is repeat and enlarge. Otherwise we have the wicked being destroyed by fire (v9), only to be immediately resurrected (v11-13) to be cast into fire again?! (14-15) followed the holy city descending a second time on earth? (see Revelation 20:9 and compare Revelation 21:1-2).
Referenced:
[Jesus taught that the reward for the righteous was to inherit the earth, not heaven. Jesus said Heaven is not our home: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matt. 5:5)]
Sure, but the righteous will inherit the earth after the 1000 year millennium in heaven. Revelation 19:1-2 teaches that immediately after the destruction of Babylon (Revelation 18:8-24), John beheld God’s saints in heaven. “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God.. ” (Revelation 19:1-2). Why are the saints in heaven if they are not supposed to be there?
[Jesus taught that heaven is not the habitation of humans: No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man. (John 3:13; see also Acts 2:29)]
In the context of John 3:12-13, Jesus is using an idiomatic phrase in which He is saying that no one has gone to heaven and come back "come down from heaven," to tell them what heaven is like other than Him! John 3:13 does not say that no person before Jesus has gone to heaven. John 3:12-13 aligns well with Deuteronomy 30:12, “It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
[Jesus taught his disciples that they could not go where He was going: My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: where I am going, you cannot come. (John 13:33)]
Jesus actually taught his disciples that they would follow him afterwards to where he was going (heaven): John 13:36, "Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
[So where did Jesus go after the resurrection that his disciples could not follow? I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17) Jesus went to heaven to sit at the right hand of God. But He explicitly stated that where He was going, we could not come!]
He explicitly stated that where he was going, the disciples could not come “NOW”, but surely follow him “AFTERWARDS” (John 13:36).
[Instead, Jesus told us He was going away to prepare mansions for us: I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also. (John 14:2-3)]
Since we are to follow him "AFTERWARDS" to Heaven where He has prepared a place for us, Jesus is saying that, when he comes, he’ll receive us; that where He is (??? see below), we may be also.
[SDA's use this passage as a proof-text that the Millennium is in heaven, but follow the location of Jesus carefully: Jesus said He was going away (presumably to heaven) to "prepare a place for you..." Jesus said He was going to "come again" and receive the saints. Now stop right here. Where is Jesus located? At this point, He is on the earth.]
He is actually “in the air”: 1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord”.
[The passage never says the saints are going back with Him to heaven.]
The passage never says we’ll come down to earth either. However, the other texts makes it clear that we’ll follow him to heaven (John 13:36).
[John describes the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2-3) as a "bride adorned for her husband", indicating a pristine and "virgin" city, not one that the saints are about to re-occupy after having already lived in it for 1,000 years! If the saints had already been living up in heaven in their mansions in the New Jerusalem for 1,000 years, this could hardly be the special event John is describing. ]
The main point of this objection fails for the bible is simply describing the purity of the city. The city is not actually "bride" only, "as a bride". There are many aspects we can choose to describe a bride. Virginity need not mean that no human is in it. This understanding is very foreign to the text under consideration.
[This verse also announces a new era for mankind. The Father will be physically with them. They will live together in the same city. Think this through: This announcement, that God will now be dwelling with men, would not make any sense if the righteous had already been dwelling with God in heaven for the past 1,000 years!]
NO, God will live with them on the same planet, not only the same city. This is the newness that occurs at the end of the 1000 years. The righteous shall "inherit the earth".
[Is the Earth Void in the Millennium? The Bible teaches that Birds are found on earth during the Millennium: (Rev. 19:17,21). Plants and animals will inhabit the destroyed cities of the wicked during the Millennium. (Isa. 34:2,11,13-15)]
Birds and animals will have a truly wonderful time on this planet during the 1000 years. No doubt vegetation will flourish. Rev.19:17, 21 cannot be used to prove that people are alive on the earth during the millennium.
[The Bible also teaches that humans occupy the earth during the Millennium. Parts of Isaiah 24 are often quoted by Adventists to describe the condition of the earth during the Millennium. Other parts of the same chapter clearly state that there are inhabitants on the earth during that time: Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. (Isa. 24:1) This verse proves that there are indeed inhabitants of the earth and that they are "scattered abroad" throughout the planet. Isaiah continues: Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. (Isa. 24:6). This verse describes in detail the status of the inhabitants on the earth during the Millennium. They "dwell" on the earth and there are "few" left. Isaiah does not teach there are "none" left. He says there are "few" left. The Hebrew word for "few" is miz`ar, which means "a remnant, a very few".6 Adventists want us to believe that "few" means "none" but this is not the case. Isaiah used a different Hebrew word, 'ayin, when he wanted to say "none" (Is. 41:24; 45:21).]
The key to Isaiah 24 is verse 3. There are a few men "left" in verse 6, but the earth is "utterly emptied" in verse 3. Then those men must be elsewhere. And where else might they be? They are in heaven. The term, few men left is the exact language Jesus used to describe the second coming in Mt.24:40 (one taken the other left). The ones taken are destroyed, given to the vultures, the ones left are left alive, not left on earth. A remnant, (few men), are then taken to heaven just as Jesus promised Peter when He said in John 13:36, "Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
[Is Satan Roaming Earth During the Millennium? Revelation teaches us that Satan is bound for 1,000 years in the "bottomless pit"(Rev. 20:2,3). Paul makes it clear that the Abyss is not the inhabitable earth: But the righteous which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep {abussos}? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) (Rom. 10:6,7). This verse tells us that Jesus went into the "bottomless pit" when He died. We are incapable of fully understanding the nature of this abyss, but it is evident that it is some place other than the inhabitable regions of the earth.]
Exactly, it is not an inhabitable region of the earth but an uninhabitable one; the condition in which this world will be when Christ comes again (See also Jeremiah 4:24,25). It is a region of death. Satan will be bound in this abyss surrounded by the carcasses of humanity.
[Isaiah 24 says a small remnant of people are left alive. 'Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.' 'The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word.' The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; 'Because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned', and few men left. (Isaiah 24:1, 3, 5, 6)
Notice several important facts out of the Holy Bible's account:
1. There are "haughty" people living on the earth who are now languishing, or in mourning.
2. There are inhabitants of the earth that are defiling it.
3. The Bible clearly says there are "few" men left (not none).]
The haughty inhabitants are “burned” and hence cannot be alive (v6); the vast majority have been destroyed by the brightness of Christ coming (2 Thess. 2:8). A remnant, (few men), are then taken to heaven just as Jesus promised Peter in John 13:36.
[The prophet Daniel teaches that Christ's Kingdom is established upon the earth and is described by Daniel as a "mountain" upon the earth: …and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth… And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Dan. 2:35,44; see also Micah 4:1, Isa. 11:9)]
The image Stone image depicts the entire millennium period, not just the second coming of Christ. The stone coming represents the second coming of Christ, shattering is at the end of the millennium when all the kingdoms are destroyed "together", as well as the filling of the earth also occurring at the end of the millennium. In other words, as each part of daniel's image represents a time period, not a specific event occurring in a matter of minutes, or days, so the rock represents a time period, not one specific event that happen instantaneously.
[The book of Revelation states that the resurrected righteous will reign with Jesus for 1,000 years: But who will the saints rule over?]
The Bible also says the saints will “reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). Thus this “reign” idea implies we will be in some position of authority, just as Adam originally exercised dominion over the earth, that’s all.
[Aren't all the unsaved killed when Christ returns? As noted above, Isaiah 24 says a small remnant of people are left alive.]
See above!
[For some reason God does not destroy all the wicked. Perhaps these are descendents or relatives of the saints or others for whom there is still some hope of salvation. Perhaps these are people whose services are needed during the Millennium to maintain the earth, farm its land, and provide other needed services for the saints. A "few" people can turn into many millions over the course of 1,000 years. During this time the righteous saints will "reign" on the earth" over these nations.]
The living wicked will be slain by the very presence of Christ at the second coming. "With the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." Isaiah 11:4. "When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God." 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8. "Let the wicked perish at the presence of God." Psalms 68:2. The ones left are left alive, not left on earth (See above).
[The word "reign" used in Rev. 20:6 is from the Greek word basileuo, which means: "to be king, to exercise kingly power, to reign."9 Reigning may indeed include the aspect of judging (not reviewing), but it also means to exercise kingly power and authority. There is a vast difference between "reiging" and "reviewing cases of the dead"! If the only reigning the saints are going to do during the Millennium is reviewing cases, then why didn't John use the word "judge" (Greek krin) instead of "reign"? John was certainly familiar with the word "judge" (krin), since he used the word 24 times in his writings, including Rev. 20:12 (a mere 6 verses after Rev. 20:6). If John had wanted to convey the idea that the saints would be judging, not reigning, during the Millennium, he certainly could have chosen to use the word "judge" (krin). However, he did not. He said the saints would "reign" with Christ.]
He did use it. See Revelation 20:4.
[Job's idea of the Second Coming of Christ contrasts sharply with the SDA view. Instead of God grabbing the saints in the air and whisking them away somewhere into heaven without ever touching the earth, Job says that he will witness his redeemer standing upon the earth: "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God". (Job 19:25,26)]
The very verse (1 Thess. 4:17) says that, the saints meet him "in the air". (v.17). Is this for him to bring us right back to earth? No, this is confusing the third coming (after the 1000) with the second coming before the 1000 years.
[The angels explained to the disciples how Christ would return: "...Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven". (Acts 1:11)
What was the "manner" of Jesus being taken up into heaven?
Mountain ==> Air ==> Clouds ==> HeavenHe was standing upon a "mountain" (Matt. 28:16)
He ascended up into the "air" [atmosphere] (Acts 1:9)
He went up into the "clouds" (Acts 1:9)
He disappeared from sight and ascended into "heaven" (Acts 1:11)
So, think this through. If He is going to return "in like manner", then what is the reverse of this process?
Heaven ==> Clouds ==> Air ==> Mountain
He descends from "heaven" (1 Thes. 4:16)
He appears in the "clouds" (1 Thes. 4:17)
He descends through the "air" [atmosphere] (1 Thes. 4:17)
He will stand upon a "mountain" (Zech 14:4)]
Come again in like manner simply means visibly! To try to use this argument would cause us to wonder about verses which say, when He comes, the world will be destroyed; he'll come with billions of angel's, with a shout, etc. He didn't leave like that, did he? (Also see john 14:1-3).
[The book of Revelation states that the resurrected righteous will rule with Jesus for 1,000 years. The Bible clearly states that the righteous shall reign "upon the earth": And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Rev. 5:10)]
Yes, the saints will reign on earth but this "reign" clearly takes place after the earth is made new, that is, after the 1000 years!!!! As Rev.22:5 indicates, "and there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. The "reign" spoken of in Revelation.20:4 is not taking place on earth, but rather in heaven. One is for 1000 years, the other is "forever and ever". It is obvious that these are two different "reigns".
The 1000 year reign is judgment of the wicked.( 1 Cor.6:1-3) :
Isaiah 32:1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
The second and forever reign will be as victors over sin and death:
Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord (See also - 1 Co 15:54,55)
[Adventists are forced to twist the chronology of events in Rev. 20 because they erroneously teach the earth is empty of humans during the Millennium.]
Quite the opposite. Revelation, like Daniel, is written on the repeat and enlarge principle. Just as there are not two different creation accounts between Gen 1 and Gen 2 but rather, Gen 2 repeats and enlarge, so Rev.20:11 onward is repeat and enlarge. Otherwise we have the wicked being destroyed by fire (v9), only to be immediately resurrected (v11-13) to be cast into fire again?! (14-15) followed the holy city descending a second time on earth? (see Revelation 20:9 and compare Revelation 21:1-2).
Referenced:
1000yearmillennium.com (External Link)